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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Curious to hear from people who have left marriages that weren't AWFUL but just unsatisfying

1001 replies

All0vertheplace · 15/03/2016 13:02

Have you made the tough choice to leave a marriage -- not because of abuse or an affair, but just because you were mismatched and things weren't working out.

If so, how was that decision, and how have your life and relationships been since?

OP posts:
WhatWouldKimDealDo · 20/04/2016 15:01

Ordinaryman, I'm so sorry, I owe you an apology, I totally did get the wrong end of the stick when I read your message - Sorry to everyone on the thread actually, I know we can all do without someone being all narky on here . I am a total psycho at the moment, I'm in a bad place with all that's going on and I'm finding I'm very quick to get on the defensive and jump down people's throats. Sorry, Ordinaryman, genuinely. Your relationship sounds much like mine in reverse, and you have my complete understanding and sympathy, it really sucks.

Re the problems still being there, allovertheplace, yes, I totally get what you mean. I'm finding myself now worrying about dh when we split, because I know the things that he will not do that I usually do - maintain and decorate the house, make an effort with health and curb drinking and so on. I worry that he will totally let all that go when I leave. I really hope he finds someone else in time that he falls head over heels for, I would like to see him happy. However, on the other side of that, I feel like although I will worry still about all the things that I found frustrating, I won't be in a battle with him over them any more. If he wants the house to disintegrate around him while he watches history documentaries, that will be sad, but not my responisbility any more and I can't wait for that. I think that for me, spliting will give me the freedom to make decisions about my life without knowing that I have a husband that will either ignore what I want to do or just flat say no.

He told his parents yesterday, they wonder why we aren't going for counselling, why were rushing into everything and why I'm so dissatisfied (after all, says his mum, "it takes two to tango" - Yes. Yes it does. That's the whole point, I've been tangoing on my own for the last ten years or so...).

Lisbet1945 · 20/04/2016 17:20

Hi. My name is Ellie and I am 70 years old - yes, I know! I am still a mum but a much older one - my children are grown up and I have grand children. But - the reason for going on here is that last year I decided to leave my husband after 36 years of an unhappy marriage. It was not an easy decision to take, but one I am now 100% sure was the right one. If would be happy to give help, advice or support if anyone would like it.
Cheers

FlounderingWildly · 20/04/2016 19:20

Hi Ellie, just out of interest, what made you finally do it? Why we're you unhappy?

WhatWouldKimDealDo · 20/04/2016 19:22

Hi Ellie :) It's really not an easy decision. Wow, thirty six years, it must have been quite tough to leave after such a long time? I'm finding seventeen years hard.

BlueUggs · 20/04/2016 19:34

I left my marriage because me and my exH were just incompatible - sexually, financially, emotionally. He had a tough upbringing and thought that it was acceptable to never want to do anything or do house repairs or improvements. He wanted to do his own thing and used to criticise lots of things I wanted to do.
I'm now very happily married to someone else and now I look back, I realise it was even shitter than I thought it was!!

All0vertheplace · 21/04/2016 08:40

Lisbet -- Wow, what a life change! How are you feeling now? How did your kids react?

OP posts:
mzmum78 · 21/04/2016 18:16

I've recently been having these thoughts too.

SicknSpan · 21/04/2016 20:44

Allover- I haven't ready every post here but I am in exactly the situation you describe in your first post. 3 kids, together 20 years married for 15 but so so unfulfilled. I feel like I have just existed for the last few years rather than lived. We came to a mutual "kill or cure" situation- dh moved out last week into a rented place and we are going to see how it goes. Both very open minded about whether we will get back together or not. This is easily the hardest thing I have ever done but it feels so right to be listening to my heart and doing what I know is needed. Dh is still very much dh and not just h- I don't think I love him any less than I did 3 years ago for exmple- but it's no longer sustaining me. I recently turned 40 as did he and we've both questioned whether what we have is enough- we only live once. I could say so much more.
So this will either kill or cure. I'm just not sure I want it to be cured which says everything doesn't it :(

Good luck with whatever you decide xx

All0vertheplace · 21/04/2016 21:14

Wow, Sicknspan _ what an inspiring post. You must be pleased to at least be taking action. How are the kids doing?

OP posts:
Hiddlesnake · 21/04/2016 21:25

I'm finding the book Too Good To Leave, Too Bad To Stay really helpful in clarifying my thoughts.

SicknSpan · 21/04/2016 22:12

Thanks allover, I am having a few Beyonce moments each day where I feel like I am OWNING my life and fuck me am i doing it well, and a lot more where I can't see where to put my next foot but am positive that because i am working at this so hard, the future will work out exactly as it should whichever way that is.

Hiddlesnake (ha! Fnar!) Someone recommended that book and I'd forgotten about it- thanks, will go off and search Amazon x

shandybass · 21/04/2016 22:22

Fair play Sicknspan that's really good to be doing something positive. Mind you unusual that you and dh agree. I'm still in no man's land wandering where to turn and what to say and feeling sick and tired of it all.

SicknSpan · 21/04/2016 22:30

Ive delayed saying anything for literally years. And bugger me if he wasn't feeling it too after all. Which was (totally hypocritically) pretty devastating for me! Fickle much?!

Do you think there is a chance that as one of you is feeling it, then the other is too? If all was hunky dory you wouldn't be fed up and if he hasn't noticed then that's a sign in itself isn't it.

shandybass · 21/04/2016 22:40

So how did you start your conversation. I don't want to go in criticising and ending up in an argument and I don't want to make any ultimatums or pre judge the outcome. He was so peed off and angry last weekend with me I almost said something but didn't and the next night he was totally ok and it seemed wrong when he'd just for like I'm fine kind of attitude

All0vertheplace · 22/04/2016 09:29

Maybe you start by asking a question rather than making a statement or anything that could be interpreted asva criticism.

OP posts:
shandybass · 22/04/2016 11:32

Ok ta Allover - so like. Are you happy? Or what do you think of our marriage? Both sound lame to me.

SauvignonPlonker · 22/04/2016 13:45

Same situation here. I think both of us have realised we can't do it on our own financially or in terms of childcare . I feel pretty trapped, for the next couple of years until DD starts school. I don't think he is happy either.

I'm fed up with it going round in my head all the time; emotionally I'm ready to have the conversation but practically we can't split for the above reasons.

He checked out emotionally years ago, am pretty sure he had an affair (which he denied, of course). No sex for 3 years + 9m (since DD was conceived) & he was losing interest in the years leading up to that.

It's always me bringing things up, saying I'm not happy & why. When asked, he will admit he is not happy but never does anything much to improve things. And he's highly passive-agressive, which never makes for an honest conversation anyway.

I don't see us ever having sex again & am not prepared to go the rest of my life without it.

I worry about how life will be when the inevitable happens; no family support nearby, children being in f/t childcare 8-6 Mon-Fri & only seeing them alternative weekends. Money worries (childcare costs the same as my salary), I don't think I could even afford a 2-bed flat. Life will be very much harder for us all.

I just feel between a rock & a hard place. Can't seem to see a happy outcome either way.

IronNeonClasp · 22/04/2016 15:39

SauvignonPlonker Thanks It really feels like a hamster wheel sometimes day in day out doesn't it?

IronNeonClasp · 22/04/2016 15:39

SauvignonPlonker Thanks It really feels like a hamster wheel sometimes day in day out doesn't it?

SauvignonPlonker · 22/04/2016 15:51

Thanks, It sure does! I thought I had got my head around staying for the next couple of years. It just seems like such a long time. It's pretty horrible waiting for the inevitable.

dustybrother · 22/04/2016 16:06

Allovertheplace/SauvignonPlonker/IronNeonClasp - its so difficult when things are so complicated. It's not as if everything can be dropped and we can go off travelling or something! My daughter is almost 3 years old and as you may have seen from my other post, my wife and I are just not compatible. We go from things being fine, to massive arguments (including a little bit of hitting from her) back to 'fine' again, and it's exhausting. Emotionally I have checked out and we are just going through the motions.

All of her family live abroad and mine live in the west country, whereas we live in London.

Hiddlesnake · 22/04/2016 19:40

I've been researching counsellors today. I need some therapy to get my mind straight, work out what I really want.

DH cried this morning, telling me how much he loves me and couldn't even contemplate life without me and the DC. I feel like a royal bitch because I smile and nod and make all the right noises, but I just don't reciprocate those feelings.

SicknSpan · 22/04/2016 20:16

Dustybrother there's physical abuse? I'm so sorry. That's utterly unacceptable, but I'm sure you know that. Please please please seek some help even if just to get your head straight. Don't know if you've been round he houses with discussions on here about that but man or woman, you don't deserve that.

SicknSpan · 22/04/2016 20:30

Re: raising the issue as a question- that's how I approached it. "We aren't happy together any more are we?" Whilst we sat on the sofa with a beer and our phones. Discussion started from there really.

SicknSpan · 22/04/2016 20:39

Hiddlesnake don't feel bad for being unhappy. Xx

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