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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

Is there any way to make this work? Think my marriage is over :'(

54 replies

NameyMcChangerson · 16/10/2016 20:44

Apologies in advance for a long thread - everything is such a mess but I don't want to drip feed. I think my marriage is over, and I'm devastated.

Been with DH for eight years, married since 2011. We have a 2yo DC. We broke up briefly last year and I moved out with DC, but I moved back in and we've been trying to make things work.

The negatives

Things have always been a bit volatile between DH and me - we're both hot-tempered so lots of arguments. Verbal abuse from both sides, more from his initially but things devolved over the years; emotional abuse from his side, including horrendous threats when I'd just had the baby (having it taken off me, using his ££ to win custody and have me declared an unfit mother), calling me a dirty cunt etc.

We're from different cultures - I don't like his mum, whom we see every week, at all and there's a risk she'd end up living with us / expecting to live with us later in life. His younger (by one year) brother also has very mild learning difficulties (I suspect undiagnosed ASD also) and lives at home/doesn't work/doesn't leave the house. Again, I suspect later in life, he would want to come and live with us.

Mismatched sex drives - mine's always been higher, he's literally never (in eight years) brought me to climax Sad and now it's at the point where we've not slept together since I was pregnant. He tries to be affectionate, and I want to want him, but I don't. I get that things can't improve if I won't have him near me, but...I don't know. Sad We have separate bedrooms; I go to bed around 10pm (up around 6.30), he goes 4am (up around 12.30), although I get a lie-in on weekends.

I cheated on him last year. It's not an excuse, but I was massively ill with PND and I was targeted by someone who I thought was a friend. Turns out they weren't and I was being manipulated while vulnerable. It's the only time I've ever cheated on someone, but I know it's a shitty thing to have done.

I've recently got closer to someone I know from work. It's at imminent risk of turning into an emotional affair, although we've put the brakes on it because it's (see above) a shitty thing to do. It's really upset me, though - I'm lonely, and it's ridiculously hard to not want this colleague.

We don't share friends, interests or schedules - the whole permanent night shift thing means we can never have a day trip anywhere, for example, and I find that really hard.

The positives

DH and I have taken care of one another and been together a long time.

Over the last year, arguments have decreased - he's been working on his temper, as have I, and we do argue less.

He wants to work on things now and try spending more time together. With the now 2yo, family problems on my side etc., we've had less than a year since my brief move-out to try and sort things out. He's apologised for the shit he's pulled in the past (emotional abuse primarily) and outlined ways he wants to improve, and has improved.

He's honest and loyal, faithful and (outside of arguments, which are much less awful than in the past) respectful to me. He's doing more 'little things' for me lately and trying to be more thoughtful, communicative and considerate.

He pulls his weight in the house usually, and is relatively hands-on with DC.

------
In a nutshell, I don't want this to be it but I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to destroy my DC's life and family. I'm terrified of not just being alone, but moving on from DH. But at the same time, we're more like friends now and I'm desperately lonely and upset.

Is it possible to come back from something like this? Is it possible to make a marriage like this work? And if leaving is the right decision, why am I so completely devastated? Despite our problems, he does care and I think he's a good person.

So sorry for the giant post - I'd appreciate any insight. Please be gentle.

OP posts:
GinIsIn · 17/10/2016 09:29

Unless this man physically kidnapped you, yes you did choose to have an affair. You are responsible for your actions, nobody else. It doesn't really matter if he promised you the moon on a string - you chose to do it.

If your level of aggression here is you after you've been working at your temper for a year, I'm not really sure what you expect anyone to say. You and your husband are clearly not right for each other and clearly not happy.

You cannot stay married for your DC - what on earth to they gain from that? The shining example that marriage is something to be unhappily tolerated? The idea that partners in a marriage should have no respect for one another?

Yes your marriage is over. You need to accept that for all your sakes and move forward because a situation where both parents are volatile, distant and one is constantly on the brink of having an affair does not benefit your DC in any way.

MidsummersNight · 17/10/2016 09:33

Doesn't like advice - gets thread deleted Hmm

MatildaTheCat · 17/10/2016 10:03

You moved out last year but then moved back. Have you analysed that situation? Why you went, what it was like being separated, why you went back, what was the agreement between you and has any of that happened? Have any changes taken place....lots of questions that need answers.

I would suggest couples counselling to decide if there is anything to save and if not, how to make it a decent split. Not all marriages succeed and you've clearly had a lot of issues that make things harder.

No point in endlessly mulling over how miserable you all are and doing nothing to sort things out. Good luck.

IreallyKNOWiamright · 17/10/2016 11:35

I think you need some counselling op. It sounds like you have had affairs to avoid issues you don't want to deal with. Getting validation from men will not sort out your problems with your dh. You will only be hurting yourself, your self esteem and setting a bad example to your child. Focus on a new future focusing on yourself not relationships because until you are happy with yourself you will always be seeking affairs as a justification to feel good.

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