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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

feel so alone....and he wonders why????!! long post and a bit of a rant...sorry!

76 replies

lonelymumof3 · 04/07/2004 11:40

DH works long hours (6.30am-8pm) I am a SHAM to 3 children. We have been married for nearly 6 years.

I feel so trapped here and very very alone. I don't like leaving the house anymore. I feel like I am bringing up the children on my own. I have no friends and hardly any family.

DH won't even look at me lately and all I want is a cuddle and for him to tell me that things will get better, but he doesn't. He always used to buy me flowers, chocolates etc and tell me that he loves me. But now he doesn't. He will if I say I love you first and pressure him into it, but not if his own accord. If I ask him if he still loves me and wants to be with me, he just says 'you know I do'....(which I don't)

When he is at home he is always busy doing something else.

I never get any time for me as I am always looking after the children. If I say anything then he will tell me to go and have a bath. But I always end up doing this when the kids are in bed anyway, then he interrupts me wanting the toilet.

He spends 2 hours every other night doing weight training/exersizing. If he comes home early, he just spends even longer doing exersize. He goes mad and moans like crazy if the kids interrupt him during this time. All they want is a cuddle before bed and to spend some time with their daddy as they haven't seen him all day.

On the nights he doesn't exersize, he does something else, like spend hours in the bathroom or has to go to the shops for something, or running errands for his mother and father.

If I ask him to have a night off and spend some time with us or help me with something, he gets grumpy. If he does say he will, he spends the rest of the night in a strop saying that he never gets to do what he wants. I end up in tears.

The last time we had sex was weeks ago. I made a real effort to make myself look nice. He wasn't bothered though, then just went to sleep and didn't talk to me the next day. It has to be through his initiation or not at all. If I dare refuse he moans that I don't love him anymore, or accuses me of having someone else (which I don't)

I can't remeber the last time we spent a weekend together as a family.

If he comes home and the place is a mess cos I've been run off my feet all day, he moans 'oh I suppose I have to tidy this lot up later as well then don't I??' I can't win.

He has even started saying that he doesn't like me in certain clothes, saying that I look scruffy. Ok I never buy new clothes, but the ones I have I thought were ok. Besides, I would rather clear the debt and the kids have clean clothes than me be dressed up to the nines.

We are in debt by about £15,000 but he still keeps spending. I had to buy a new fridge and freezer the other day as ours had broken. This is the only thing I have bought in ages, and as far as I saw it, we needed it....our old one was leaking everywhere, got cracks in it and the doors didn't close as the magnets have gone on the doors. He went mad at me, even though I bought the cheapest one I could find that was the size we needed. I pointed out that it was dangerous to have a fridge below a certain temperature, especially with baby bottles and meat in the fridge. He said there was nothing wrong with the old one and that if there was then I probably did it on purpose so I could get a new one.

He never gets up to the children and I cannot remeber the last time I had a full nights sleep. Not that I mind. At the end of the day, its not forever, but the offer of help would be nice. If I wake him, he stomps around moaning and waking up everyone in the house. Its easier to do it myself.

He is always saying he cannot understand why I am the way I am....when I tell him he just says I am being stupid and goes off in a huff.....AGAIN.

It feels like we are leading separate lives but under the same roof. I am so alone. Is it me or him? Or is it my fault? My head is racked at the moment. I am so miserable. If it weren't for the kids I think I would do something stupid. I am sure if is wasn't for the kids, we wouldn't be together. I am sorry for ranting but I really need to talk to someone

OP posts:
beetroot · 04/07/2004 14:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mummytosteven · 04/07/2004 15:27

Hi lonelymum - HV finally gone - sorry not around to have a proper chat earlier. am around now if that's convenient

beetroot · 04/07/2004 15:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

wilbur · 04/07/2004 15:54

What does your dp do, lonelymum? Sorry if you've already said and I missed it.

HADitUPtoHERE · 07/07/2004 10:10

Lonelymum I too am facing the same problem day in day out. I am so fed up I have toyed with idea of leaving him for good but am too spineless and ashamed to do it altho i am CERTAIN I wd be much better off without the git.
i have thought of just leaving the house for a few hours at night to force him to take care of the kids but am too weak to do it. am planning to leave the house tonight and not come back until tomorrow or sunday. dh is exactly like yours, never back til late, exercises all the bloody time and never bothers to take care of the kids even tho he made me have them. i never wanted to have kids. in fact may god strike lightning on me now, but i have always disliked children, but have grown to love my own and i love them fircely. which is part of the reason why i could never bring myself to leave them alone with him, cos he is so clueless about taking care of their needs, would feed them junk and plonk them in front of the tv all night and let the little one bawl her eyes out in her cot before attending to her needs.despite making me have kids, he is so uninterested in their wellbeing and being involved in bringing them up. he seems depressed or unhappy at the way our family has grown and uses any excuse to run away from the hassles of everyday family life but i personally dont give a shit about his unhappiness because he is the one who wanted them in the first place and if he is unhappy about the state of our marriage, he shd see that its his fault. I am so sorry for having hijacked your thread, lonelymum, but what i'm trying to say is that you deserve to be happy and you deserve more.I personally would leave in a flash but like I said, I am a wuss and I am too obsessed with what the neighbours and so on would say. Isn't that sad. And I am sure the MIL and his family would blame it all on me and try to make him fight for custody and the house, cars and so on.They already hate me. and try to make him spend as much time as possible with them and not me. When will they WAKE UP and see that he has his own family to take care of???They just cant let go.they can all rot in hell.they caused me to have severe depression while i was pregnant the first time, i was suicidal and wanted to end my life and the baby's.I may be going through PDD now but havent bothered to go back to the stupid quack i went to the first time round cos she never helped me and suggested i write it out in a diary and tear it up afterwards altho i begged for drugs as I really didnt want to end my life or the baby's but was driven by irrational fear and sadness. Sorry I am doing it again, hijacking your thread lonelymum. I'm really sorry, but all I can say is I hope you get through this somehow and emerge happier and stronger for it, whichever path you choose. Hang in there..keep strong. (((HUGS AND HUGS AND HUGS))

wobblyknicks · 07/07/2004 10:18

Hadituptohere - sorry things are so bad - big hugs to you. I'm not good with advice but I left my exh 8 months ago after spending about 3 years trying to get up the nerve to. I was scared of what he'd do, embarrassed that my (very young) marriage had gone wrong and worried that I wouldn't be able to cope financially. In the end, I couldn't stay but I wish I'd made the jump a LOT sooner, I would have had more of my life back but its much better late than never.

I spent the first couple of weeks worried that I'd done the wrong thing, that I'd hurt him (what was I thinking!!!), that there'd be a terrible custody battle that I might lose, and that I wouldn't be able to manage. In the end, its nothing like I imagined. My life certainly isn't perfect but its 'ok' - not horribly bad as I thought.

Just think of the years you've still got left in your life and think whether you want to spend them with him or living your life exactly the way you want. If you don't want to be with him, you're not doing either of you any favours and you do need to leave. I can gurantee it won't be as bad as you think.

Is there anyone you could stay with for a couple of nights if you leave?

jampot · 07/07/2004 11:03

Lonelymum - it sounds to me like your dh is resenting marriage/children and clearly likes to behave as he expects a single man would (maybe this is how he behaved before marriage/kids). You don't say how old you both are but I suspect he is youngish and finding the transition from carefree lad to responsible adult quite scary and is trying to rebel. I'm sorry that you don't have much family or friends around and that you've suffered some great losses over the last couple of years. However, does your dh's family/friends live close by. I think you both need time for yourselves as a couple and of course you need time for yourself as a woman!!! (((hugs)))

gscrym · 07/07/2004 11:59

I went through the same thing when DS was born. DH just ignored him and kept telling me that he needed time for himself and his life couldn't completely revolve around a baby. I almost had a breakdown and spent many nights crying on my own because I felt lonely and scared that I now had this little one to look after and could end up on my own with him. DH started to come around when I asked him if he was going to be a father to DS, and if not, that was fine and we'd manage but he'd have to explain to him when older what was so important in his life that he ignored his son.

It sounds like you've tried everything and you're very down. Have you spoken to your GP about this? If his behaviour has been like this for all your kids, then you've coped with this through 5 years and 3 pregnancies. I think you've done enough. If he won't listen to you, then what choice do you have? I agree that 2 separated, happy parents are better than 2 together, miserable and depressed. If you did split up, do you think he would have less to do with the kids?
I'm really sorry things are bad, but you need to get some help. Hope you can find some.

boudicca · 07/07/2004 12:17

Dear Lonelymum and HaditUptoHere,you've both been through the rigours of pregnancy and childbirth and are bringing up your children (alone),just think how brave you've been already!.Nothing out there is any scarier than living with a person that doesn't value you-you both deserve better and only you can grab that possibility,you've got tremendous support on this site for whatever decisions you must make and there is always someone on here to listen to you .Love and hugs to you both

lonelymumof3 · 10/07/2004 11:59

well that was the weekend....been and gone and virtually alone. I forced him to take us all to the park yesteraday after deciding to spend saturday doing the housework (he was totally igmoring me) We went and within the hour we were home again cos dd was ill.

I am so alone, tired and fed up. My nightmares I used to have years ago have returned, so I am very frightened now, as they only happen when things go very very wrong

OP posts:
boudicca · 10/07/2004 12:18

stick with us love,we won't ignore you,hug from me

lonelymumof3 · 10/07/2004 16:10

thank you.....

OP posts:
yingers74 · 10/07/2004 16:39

Lonelymum,
am very sorry to hear of your experiences, is there anyone you could leave your kiddies with for half a day or something so you could spend some time with your dh to chat about what is going on? If he refuses then I think you should leave the kids with him for a day and just go out even if it is just to the park or a cafe to have some time alone to think about what you want to do, and what will make you happier. Your dh sounds like he needs a shock to his system in order to see what is going on around him. You deserve better and much more respect.
Hope things get better soon and your nightmares stop.
yingers74

lonelymumof3 · 10/07/2004 16:45

i have booked to have my hair done on saturday....im dreading it...he is already asking how long am will be, where it is I am going, how much it will cost (the cheek considering he has just spent 800 quid on alloy wheels for his bloody car!!!!) I dread to think of the state of the kids when I get back

OP posts:
DLP · 10/07/2004 16:54

Hi lonelymumof3. i am new here and just browsing. i am sorry to hear about your problems. if i was you i would leave your hubby - at the moment you are living separate lives. The government now give parents money towards childminding for working parents. Have you thought about just working two days a week - if just for the social aspect of it. i only have one child and i cannot stand to be at home 24/7 - i know that sounds bad!!!! i work four days a week and find that it keeps me sane. i get to meet people and have conversations about things other than kids - the money comes in handy also. i am fortunate in that my mother looks after my child when i am at work and understand what you say when you say your money would be eaten up by childcare fees - look into seeing how much you would get from government. Working makes me feel more like a human being rather than just a mother. as for your husband, without him you would be more financially stable - as i beleive the debts are in his name? - if your hubby is not prepared to talk then i don't think things will get any better. sorry. if you do decide to leave him then you could do plan it all and then walk out when he is at work. in the short term could you not book yourself a week away with the kids at a holiday park. that way you will find out how he really feels about you cos if he cared when you go home he will haev missed you.

Caribbeanqueen · 10/07/2004 16:59

Don't feel guilty about spending a bit of money on yourself and don't let him bully you into feeling guilty. You are perfectly entitled to a bit of time and money for yourself. On Saturday, don't rush to/from the hairdressers, make sure you can have a browse round the shops and go for a coffee on your own as well.

If you want to email me, I can add you to my msn and we can chat whenever you want - I am usually around at this time of day. Hugs

yingers74 · 10/07/2004 17:10

I agree with Caribbeanqueen don't rush back, enjoy your time away and let him see how hard it is to look after three young children on your own.

HADitUPtoHERE · 12/07/2004 05:30

800 quid on alloy wheels for his car?? ggrrr...Yes I agree with the last posts, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take your time on your mini-outing..and enjoy yourself..you have been so good and patient and understanding all this while..he is not the only who shd be allowed to enjoy himself. you're supposed to be in this together,and YUO of all people DESERVE 'SOME' time out, at least.
just to update everyone (and er, sorry to hijack your thread again i did go off on that friday night and had a girl's night out and watched a movie, but went home rather earlier than i'd hoped. i had planned to hoof it to my gf's place for the weekend but felt guilty and went home straight after the movie. in fact i felt so guilty for leaving dh at home (for what I thot was a long time) with the kids that i bought tickets for me and him to watch a movie the next day.Bah. shouldnt have bothered cos he tore up the tickets after we had a row about the bloody mil.i was so pissed off i left the house the next day and left the kids with him again! on hindsight probably shouldnt have, because when i came back that evening, dd had a red mark on her knee altho dh denies any knowledge abt it plus a mysterious rash on her face . and apparently she was only bottle-fed twice!! (in a space of 7 hours!!she is only 4 and a half mths and normally feeds every two hrs or so)and the other two had been stuffed with burgers and were glued to the playstation.god only knows what they had been up to. am seriously thinking of leaving this joint but am STILL too chicken.how ridiculous is that. Lonelymum, pls weigh your options carefully and bravely!!!think abt your kids, they need a happy mum, not a stressed out, lonely or sad mum!! (I can hear all of you saying who is SHE to talk, but my situation shd give exactly the impetus for you to leave!!) oops, must remain'neutral'..pretend I didn't say that..

(((hugs)))

HADitUPtoHERE · 12/07/2004 05:35

hi wobblyknicks, thanks for the support, sori didnt reply earlier, was a bit tied up as u can see fr earlier post! i am exactly like how u were, am so embarassed at the thot of my short-lived marriage failing, and i dont know what my parents wd say (prolly 'I told u not to marry that loser!'and the stigma of being a single mum wd, i imagine be too much for me to bear! and i dont know how i'd cope financially either...but i think its just the fact that i'm not able to admit i've failed at this marriage ...and i'm so angry at myself for having tried so bloody hard to please dh.. grr...lonelymum, dont let this happen to you!!!!!(((Love and hugs))))

gothicmama · 12/07/2004 10:42

hadituptohere that was the reaction I expected form my parents but tbh they totally fab and did not say a word just helped me through a difficult time and later said tehy wondered why it had taken me so long to leave - they are your parents and love you, do not be wooried by other people's reactions it is your life never feel embarrased by something that is not your fault. Hope you find teh strength you need right now

gothicmama · 12/07/2004 10:44

LMO3 hope you enjoy the hairdressers I would chill out and browse around. If you go back to a mess it will clean

HADitUPtoHERE · 14/07/2004 05:11

how are you lonelymum? feeling any better?

HADitUPtoHERE · 17/07/2004 12:09

lonelymum..hope you're alright..

lonelymumof3 · 17/07/2004 12:25

hi. im ok....things started to look as though they were picking up......then went pear shaped again. I went to the hairdressers on saturday. I loved my new style. When I got home the first thing he said was....oh....its different. He did say he liked it eventually on Sunday night but thats cos he knew I was upset about him not saying earlier. I left at 10.15 to go to the hairdressers, and didnt get back til 1.45. He had done some tidying up to be fair but the kids hadnt had any dinner and the bird had escaped from his cage and was dive bombing the kids. Well my hair style went out the window when I had finished chasing the bird round with a parif of heavy duty gloves and a towel (very vicious bird!!!) Then last night we had a huge row and things are back to square one...anyway....sod him....i am on a mission to buy some new hair straighteners to make myself look a a bit better so I can at least make myself feel a bit better about me.

OP posts:
HADitUPtoHERE · 18/07/2004 05:24

you go lonelymum! There's nothing like the little things in life to make you feel better abt yourself. I always like to lock myself in the bathroom, have a nice hot bath, and give myself a nice scrub down with a loofah and scrumptious mango body scrub.or anything really.Followed by a facial with mask, scrub and toner. aaahhh...
When u look good, you FEEL good. and that's important.sod everyone else!

oh and erm whose bird is it anyway????