Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

should I send H this email? unsure of self (again)

268 replies

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 14:11

I've posted before about my H of six months. Things haven't gone as hoped. I have 2DC who love him to bits.

We have some key issues and I try to address them but in truth they are his issues - drinking and porn/not wanting sex.
And we argue about it.
Or I try to address and he ignores emails or says he won't talk.
Sometimes he does talk.
He says I am pushing and pushing and not leaving it alone and that the curent problems are down to me.

I am at the end now and have said so, but cowardice and low self esteem mean I find it so hard to just stick to it and "be the bad guy" and all his friends hating me and so on. And only married in Jan!
I know it's pathetic.

He's cried and asked me to go to Relate. We have an appontment this week.
I've confided in a couple of friends and they say go so that he can't say you didn't try.
I think I am looking for his agreement to end it Confused
Anyway we've had a discussion again this morning and he doesn't, to me, appear to be taking responsibility and I have drafted this - shall I send it??

Dear Mr42,

Before we moved in together, we agreed that one or two nights a week with no booze to be together was what we'd do so that we could strengthen our relationship and also it might help the sex life.

We agreed drinking in front of the boys to be kept to maybe once a week at pub tea etc. These two seemed to be OK for a while but since our wedding they haven't happened.

You also said you wanted to drink less and you've done that and although it is at a level very damaging for your health , I know you have made a lot of effort with the intake.

On many but not all dry nights (when it's not an early shift so in bed at 8) you tell me you feel anxious and you appear down.
Dry nights have diminished since wedding.

These are facts.

In discussion/argument you make excuses or seem to try to get away from the facts saying for example: "Well if I do a dry night you tell me I'm fucking miserable " as if I am being unreasonable, when it is a fact, you DO look miserable and you say yourself that you're anxious. I have never said that to you at the time, just tried to distract you or be there for you.

You also said you don't do dry nights because I am not supportive, but even if that were true, it's another excuse.
You feel there's "nothing you can say" to make me happy, implying that I have unilaterally decided on the above and demanded that you stick to it.

What we agreed hasn't panned out.

IMHO this is because you have an alcohol problem which persists despite your success in reducing your unit intake.

You appear compelled to put drinking before your health, our relationship and the commitment you made to be a parent to the boys.
Not always, but too much of the time.
You say you're trying but you won't get help.

The nasty words when you're drunk and the accusing me of lying to hurt your feelings and then lying to cover it up - you are saying is my fault. You slagged me off in my own house when the boys could hear some of it. Not OK.

You said you would book a counselling appointment. Now you won't, and it seems you weren't going to tell me that.

You're also now saying the no sex is my fault for being sad and "the atmosphere". That might be true now, as we have the impasse as described above.

But, from the start of our relationship you've been reluctant and say that you have not been able to think of why, saying you do want a sex life, even if your actions say something different - you have turned down kisses and my initiating sex a lot of times.

I think you prefer going solo and aren't admitting it.

We have slept in separate rooms from just a few weeks after we married - with a reason, but one that's not been investigated. I miss you and want to sleep curled up with you but given that you don't come in to me (apart from a couple of times) or work on the snoring, it appears that you're OK with the separate rooms. I have tried to come in to you but as I told you when we moved the rooms, it is hard for me to do that because I get rejected.
Last time I came in for a cuddle you actually pushed me out.

Well it is not words but change in behaviour that is needed.
I have tried and tried and tried, to talk, to not talk and give you time (which you have thanked me for, but now is forgotten) to email to give you chance to think.

I sometimes ask you to delay drinking for a while and it's a "no".
I got a book for us to read you didn't.
You said you'd plan the dry nights and other things the counsellor you went to once suggested but you haven't.

I've tried initiating intimacy and not initiating, I've tried underwear and waiting for the right moment. I've tried to understand about you liking it only when showered...I've masturbated you cos you like it even though that doesn't include me.

I have grown sadder and sometimes cross and then the problems have been blamed on me as if it'd all go away if I were nicer.

I thought I was nice and that you thought I was nice.
I am now uncomfortable around you because you're angry and blaming me.

If you do feel I am unreasonable and unpleasant I would question why you married me?

I am fucking fed up. There's promises been broken and I am now suffering acute anxiety I think, unless my arms and legs are really broken.

I am always ready to try and to take on 50% responsibility, are you? As that would look like going for help, planning the dry nights etc....

My expectations are - what we agreed about drinking or at least you getting help towards it, being treated with respect not nasty words or accused of things and a loving intimate life with my husband.

Can you be clear about what you want and what you're going to do about it?
If the answer is "nothing more" could you be honest about that?
You can have expectations of me/the relationship as well.

If these expectations of mine aren't acceptable and aren't going to happen, YOU SHOULD SAY SO.

If you still want to go to counselling we can do and that's partly why I've set this out here to help me be clear about my point of view.

If you choose not to reply again, I will assume you don't want to go into all this anymore at all

OP posts:
LoreleiGilmoreIsMyBFF · 31/07/2016 16:16

42. I have to go out, but will keep an eye on your thread; my warmest wishes and love to you xx

AnyFucker · 31/07/2016 16:17

Bottom line, you cannot reason with an alcoholic

Use your precious time and energy to disengage from him

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 16:18

Thank you so much lorelei, I will perhaps do an update when something changes, as it surely must X

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 16:20

AF I know that's right, it's a hard habit to break, people pleasing.
I just need to tell him I am sticking to what I said in the first place about not going to Relate because of the alcohol. It was like the world ended.

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 16:23

but I can weather that Sad

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 16:25

am going to collect my lovely DSs now from the first ex.
Good grief.
I am VERY grateful for MNs continued support.
I'll do an update when there's more.

OP posts:
gingerbreadmanm · 31/07/2016 16:25

42 your dh sounds like a functioning alcoholic. unfortunately he cant see it yet and even if he could it doesnt sound like he is willing to do anything about it.

someone very close to be is the child of an alcoholic. please dont raise your children in that environment.

counselling will help you i think. it wont help your dh. he would need to engage in a detox programme with support groups etc.

sadly there is no rock bottom for a lot of alcoholics. you need to think of you and your dc. sounds like you are putting some great plans in place.

gingerbreadmanm · 31/07/2016 16:26

Also, i would be very surprised if relate would carry out counselling for a couple where one half is an alcoholic so something to think about / declare.

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 16:28

gingerbread yes they are the priority and I won't allow them to be made unhappy by this. It has been my mistake and I will put it right.
Thank you for your support.

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 16:28

I have thought about that. Will phone them.

OP posts:
gingerbreadmanm · 31/07/2016 16:34

it's not just about them being unhappy it will have a massive affect on them for the rest of their life.

not to mention things they will be exposed to depending on how much he drinks.

Speak to relate independently and see what they say. not all alcoholics are lost causes im sure but the first step to getting better is recognising there is a problem.

Roseformeplease · 31/07/2016 16:42

I grew up with an alcoholic mother. It is not OK at all. She ruined birthdays and weddings and refused to do anything where there was a chance of alcohol being limited. She was vile, shouty and bitter.mplase, please don't put yourself or your kids through that.

Run. Fast.

Janecc · 31/07/2016 16:46

My sil was brought up by alcoholics (mother and father). SIL's a functioning alcoholic. Brother is too - or perhaps borderline, not sure. He's happy to skip meals in place of alcohol in any case, drinks 3 pints and drives.

I am concerned for my nephew. If he becomes addicted, he will be the third generation.

Please protect your babies. You are all worth more.

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 16:51

Thank you.
ginger he doesn't "do" anything but he can be angry and unpleasant to me - but they're little and in bed. But they won't always be.
rose and Jane he doesn't do those things,not exactly, but shades of. And I guess it'd only get worse.

OP posts:
juliascurr · 31/07/2016 16:53

www.al-anonuk.org.uk/public/what-al-anon

xx

CalleighDoodle · 31/07/2016 16:57

Leave him. He is an alcoholic and your children deserve netter. He Isnt their dad so they dont have to put up with this.

Lilacpink40 · 31/07/2016 17:02

You keep blaming yourself, e.g. you were too quick to settle and you haven't been able to make him understand. Swap that with the truth...you were together over 2 years before marriage and he led you to believe that he would be a responsible person.

His fault, as is the not dealing with his alcoholism. He may need to lose everything before he'll give up alcohol.

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 17:31

Thanks lilac it IS his problem and he did say he'd make the changes and he was doing then...then we got married Confused
doodle they do deserve better and they deserve a happy mum

OP posts:
gingerbreadmanm · 31/07/2016 17:33

youre clearly down and hoping to find a better way of life so i wont keep going on but dont underestimate the affects this will have on the dcs even if you feel like they are not exposed to anything right now.

even a parent having a drink every time you go out for a meal isnt really normal.

i hope things get better for you and i completely understand the position you are in hoping and wanting things to change. fingers crossed.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 31/07/2016 17:41

I agree with lilac, please stop blaming yourself and put the blame where it belongs.

He made those promises, he changed his drinking, he married, and then he broke everything he made, and wants to blame you so he can continue being the lowest of what he can be.

I know it's hard to see the person you love in distress, and with all the messages people pleasing people internalize, it's hard to think beyond 'alcoholism is an illness', to feeling able to defend yourself (& your children) from the effects of that illness. But it's really important for you to know, mentally and emotionally, that you should let this person impose his behavior on you and your children. It's absolutely ok to walk away. It really is Flowers

theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 17:44

julia thank you
ginger I'm not underestimating. I know it has to change and that it is me who must change it.
Thanks for the encouragement.

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 17:46

Miscellaneous I am coming around to it - I need to find some anger

OP posts:
theansweris42 · 31/07/2016 18:02

the guilt is there too. He'll say I am giving up on him, he's doing his best ...Sad

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 31/07/2016 18:29

No. He has given up on you

Alcohol is his wife now. You come very low down on the list of priorities. It's a very misguided person that stocks around for more of that sort of treatment

He is using emotional blackmail. It's one of the staple ways that alcohols keep their enablers on the merry go round with them

Step off. You will help yourself, but you will also help him. He just doesn't see it yet.

AnyFucker · 31/07/2016 18:30

Sorry for the typos in there.