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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

Husband left me but still wants a sexual relationship but i still love him, help

385 replies

user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 14:39

My husband left me around 6 weeks ago, I have added a screenshot of my post detailing the situation, we have been together 11 years (since we were 15 and 16) married for 8 and have a 5 and 7 year old together please read if you can it will make more sense to the rest of this .

Following the events in the previous post, we are now at a point where he is back living with us while he finds a place of his own to move out to, I and the kids have enjoyed having him around as it's felt like normal before he left and he has been sleeping with me consistanly since he's been home, I have tried everything to make him see how good it is with us at home and make him want to stay but he just doesn't. He reminds me all the time he's now single and makes jokes out of it which really hurt me.
He sends me very mixed signals as he knows how I desperately want him back despite what he's done and how he's acted but he tells me it's not what he wants and he wouldn't be happy coming back to a relationship but then 2 days ago he texted me and asked if I would go on a date with him, I said yes and then he txt saying don't label it, no boyfriend or girlfriend stuff it's just a date..
So we went on the date for dinner and had a nice time.. we came home and he was saying we'll always be friends yeah and I said no, you either want me or you don't and he replied I do want you, I want your body...
And that it's much better now were just friends (I don't feel this way I love and miss my husband and want him back as that again)
Once we got home he also said if we are going to carry on a sexual relationship I need to go on some contraception (we always used the pull out method) and I said why that's been good enough the last few years and he said yeah we were together then.. I got really upset and said this isn't sustainable, he said so you don't want to be my sex buddy then, ok I'll respect your wishes...
I'm in pieces because i love him I always have and he's treating me like he really doesn't care how I feel. I have sex with him because it's all I have left to cling onto but after a nice date and that talk I turned over and cried while he slept.. I know if I carry on he will just do it with me until he meets someone else then throw me to the kerb and he said to me he's happy to be my sex buddy until I meet someone else but I just want my life and husband back Sad I don't want to meet someone else but I can't change his mind and I really thought when he asked me out it was going in a good direction but he has no intention of wanting to get back with me, I'm so so lost :( thanks for any help/advice x

Husband left me but still wants a sexual relationship but i still love him,  help
OP posts:
user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 19:38

And as i said I really believed if faced with the situation I would end it but being in the situation I have reacted differently than I thought I would as the fear of losing him is worse than the thought of what happened as wrong as that may be.. i am being a mug for him but I can't help how I feel, the post has helped to see though that there really is no other way than to end whatever this is

OP posts:
HazelBite · 10/06/2017 19:39

O P read Hulder's post once then read it again, and again and take it on board.

You are making yourself very unappealing by your behaviour, he is laughing at you and playing with you.

Grow up, fast, you have Dcs, why do you you think that the way you are both behaving is not going to upset and affect them. They are innocents in all this if neither of you can behave as adults you don't deserve them!

I'm sorry to be harsh, but please stop dreaming, wishing him back, no man is worth losing your self respect for.

Your Dcs do not deserve this chaotic emotional atmosphere they are being subjected to.

Whocansay · 10/06/2017 19:39

OP, you are trying desperately to justify his behaviour. He is not making a 'mistake'. He has made choices. He made a choice to leave. He is back, but not for you. He is continuing to make choices that will hurt you. He is not a victim here. Please try and see him for the user that he is. The way he is treating you is horribly cruel. And he seems to have no thought whatsoever for his children.

Concentrate on what he does and ignore what he says. That's who he is.

onanotherday · 10/06/2017 19:40

...I know you don't want to believe it..and I also know you don't want to 'give up'..but ok none of this changed anything. By refusing to accept what is happening you are casusing you and importantly your dc's pain ...

what are you going to do?...how long are you prepared to carry on like this?

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 10/06/2017 19:47

OP, you don't sound very devastated actually. Your posts just remind me of (usually an OW) who just wants to talk about someone she cannot have. You're not an OW but just the same, you cannot have the man you want. So you just want to talk about him.

If it were possible to hate somebody I've never met, I would hate your (ex) husband for what he's doing to you. The next wave of damage will be from your children when they realise that you put him first, last and always - and then yourself because you won't get out of this doormat mode.

Do you want to know what your husband thinks of you? I'll tell you because I was in the same position as you (although not with children) - and my ex never blamed me for our break-up, not ever, but I asked him WHY he thought it was ok to treat me like this - and he said, "Because I could, because you loved me so much. I was testing you to see how far you'd go. I thought you'd accept it but I was wrong, at the start I just wanted to punish you for putting up with me doing this so I kept upping the ante, doing more and more to hurt you and I felt better in myself when you ended it. I wish I'd never done it but I did and I lost you".

Now, I'm friendly with my ex to a degree but I will never, ever trust him again. The difference between you and I, OP, is that I was never as dependent as you are but I did love him and that 'love' made me put up with crap far longer than I should have.

Just how far are you going to let him push you? Humiliate you? Will you be watching when he brings other women to your home and fucks them in your bed? Will that be alright? Don't discount that he would do that because if you are in line to be 'punished' for loving him then that could be on the cards.

I don't care whether you think you can turn off your feelings for him or not, your feelings for your children should be on full scale. Put an elastic band around your wrist and every time you think of that waste of space, twang it hard so it hurts. You'll stop. You have everything to live for and you have your children who are counting on you. Do NOT let them down.

I really thought long and hard about posting what I have as it's deeply personal but, if it makes you stop and think for a minute - and you can learn anything from it and stop being such a wet doormat for your (ex) husband, then it was worth it.

I really do wish you well but please, there is a reason why your family and friends are getting fed up listening to you... your obsession is unhealthy and grating. You will not keep getting understanding and sympathy here either if you carry on because nobody wants to listen to you gush on about your abuser, it's nauseating.

user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 19:49

Onanotherday I know there are only a few ways this can go, from my perspective best case, he wakes up from this, comes back and is who he used to be (very very unlikely borderline impossible)

Or he meets someone else and goes off with them and I'll be left in an absolute state because as I am now I'm not strong enough to live without him and seeing him in another relationship would kill me., so u see why against all odds I've been holding out hoping the first option might happen, I think the thought he might come back is what keeps me going even though realistically I'm sure he won't, obviously everyone here is saying how wrong that is so maybe I need to accept I'll need to get some help (therapy) over this situation

OP posts:
Astella22 · 10/06/2017 19:50

Oh OP at least it can only get better for u. I think you need to call time out in the situation. Go away yourself for a day or two or ask him to leave just for a weekend, you needs some space to think rationally about your future.

OhDearMuriel · 10/06/2017 19:52

The problem is OP, the more you sleep with him/love him/can't do without him/cling onto him, the more he will come to despise, resent you and disrespect you for your weakness - can you not see that - he's doing it already?

You are no challenge whatsoever, and he is literally shitting all of you - can you not see that? (sorry to repeat).

IF, and it's a very slim if, your relationship has any chance of turning around in the future, you need to toughen up (you'll have to Fake it), separate and file for a divorce. He needs a serious wake up call/shock and he needs it badly.

You have no choice :0( xx

user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 19:57

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe thanks for sharing something personal.., so if this is the case with my ex and he is doing what your ex did, then what do i do? Have a conversation with him and say this isn't happening anymore, if you want to be apart then we have to be apart? The problem with these conversations with him is I can't be strong while talking to him about the split I can't help but be emotional but will that still get my message across or he just dismiss it because I'm upset while saying it?

I'm confused where that leaves us with regards to texts/ calls he still calls me like he used to for a general chat? I don't want to be his doormat but I also don't want to make it as if we have to be shitty with each other whereas now we can talk as if we were friends?

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 10/06/2017 20:00

The thing is you not being able to live without him is an awful lot of pressure to put on someone. You have forgotten who you are without each other and it caused the relationship to implode.

You need to find yourself as a person without him, that kind of co dependency is unhealthy. I agree with ohdearmuriel that is what he resents

Tazerface · 10/06/2017 20:00

Sometimes people change though, make mistakes and learn from them, this is all i hope for from him.

He HAS changed. Into this prick who doesn't care how he hurts you because he knows he can give you the bare bones and you will agonise over what you can do to make him come back!

Seriously OP, you are going to give yourself some serious mental health issues by trying to live like this. He's behaved appallingly, and he is repeatedly telling you by words and actions he does not want to be with you.

I wish you luck OP but I have this horrible feeling in ten years time you'll post again but this time he's got a baby with someone else and wants to kick you out of the house to make way for his new family.

user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 20:00

Also do I tell him some of the points brought up here like you won't respect me for being weak, you'll resent me etc or pretend I don't know that

OP posts:
Tazerface · 10/06/2017 20:02

User - don't make the mistake of thinking you can go from husband and wife to friends overnight.

Just tell him you need him to move out, and to contact you only about the children. You don't want any chit chat because you are not the person for that anymore. You don't have to be shitty, just don't respond.

I did that with a boyfriend who eroded all my confidence by allowing me to do the 'pick me' dance. It fucked me up for a looooong time.

QuiteLikely5 · 10/06/2017 20:02

Lionthewitch is spot on. You are so desperate for this man to want you that you just want to talk about it here. You have got no intention of changing your RL approach to him.

I'm afraid you are coming across as quite desperate.

I understand that posters are under no obligation to take advice but your posts just utter the same excuses about him over and over.

If nothing changes. Nothing changes. So true

user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 20:03

Tazerface , that is the only thing that could make this any worse :( i really hope that doesn't happen!

OP posts:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 10/06/2017 20:04

OP... you don't need to have conversations with him at all now.

You've had advice - see a solicitor about a) getting finances and home sorted and b) getting him out and c) filing for divorce.

Let a solicitor handle that but you have to do it. No need for you to get upset or emotional with ex-husband, let the solicitor do it all formally.

You are NOT friends. Every poster has told you this. You are being one hell of a doormat. He doesn't need to speak to you, nor you him. For a chat? FFS. Keep any text/e-mail to talking about your children only.

I don't know what else I can tell you because I'm repeating myself endlessly here but there's nowhere for this to go and the poster telling you that 'it can't get any worse' is doing you a disservice. It can.

See a solicitor and in the meantime, ex-husband moves out of your bed and you do nothing more for him. Nothing.

Cold and polite are all you need to manage. Do it for your children and ultimately, it will do good things for you. Pretend you're an actress and you have a part to play if that makes it easier for you.

user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 20:07

RL approach? I knew last night and this morning after the text something had to change hence the post, I've openly admitted I am very desperate and I believe in fight for what you have/want but I realise I can't fight for him to want something so again hence the post and people's comments have been very helpful to see from an outsiders point of view

OP posts:
NewDayDawning · 10/06/2017 20:15

Stop sleeping with him.

Be civil and communicate, but no deep conversations or friendly chit chat.

Get him out the house asap.

Get legal advice.

He doesn't love you, he is using you.

Please please find some self respect and stop doing the 'pick me' dance, he doesn't sound like a nice person at all.

Tazerface · 10/06/2017 20:15

User it will happen. I guarantee it. He's only 26. You're only 25!

You have to control whether it happens when you're still a couple or whether you're in another, better, relationship.

I know that hurts. But trust me, the more you do this now, the worse it will hurt when he finally just leaves for the woman that doesn't immediately kick him out.

user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 20:20

Tazerface he did always say after our second he didn't want anymore children and went to the drs about getting the snip but they said he was too young, so I really hope he doesn't have anymore but then it's not my place to say, as you say all I can do is hopefully be in a place that it doesn't affect me too much if it did,

I don't know if it came across well enough in original post but I didn't sleep with him last night, after the date and the chat about did I esntbto be his sex buddy I didn't sleep with him as I said no so that was already the first time id turned him down probably why he's not very happy today so first step has been taken

OP posts:
Notonthestairs · 10/06/2017 20:39

I was in a similar position to you twenty years ago (minus the children). I hung on in there and took scraps of attention. So I'm sympathetic to you but your posts make me flinch because now I know that nothing I could have done or offered would have changed things. I thought I could persuade him but it doesn't work like that.
Please take some control, no more sex, no begging. Let him go and start planning your future with your children. You should expect so much more from your partner - he's just not good enough, I know you don't believe that now but he isn't.

Your life will get better but only when you accept that your future has changed. There has been so much good advice on this thread - take your time and reread it.

PollyPerky · 10/06/2017 20:40

OP You cannot make someone love you no matter how much you want that.

You are also very young. You met your DH when you were both children. I was older than you are now when I met my DH - was still very much single at 25.

You have the rest of your life ahead. This is very sad for you, but having met him at 15 and settled down, with a child at 19, you've not really lived.

This will pass, you will survive and in time meet someone else if that is what you want.

But for now you have to be strong and take control of your life.

DileenODoubts · 10/06/2017 20:50

Op I'm sorry you're going through this.
What he did damaged you and the kids and wasn't your fault.
What you're doing now is damaging your kids and confusing them and you have to take responsibility in changing that because he won't.
You have to be the grown up now and I promise you you're stronger than you think.

Having him move out and no longer be your husband and best friend is really scary and huge so take small steps to get there.
The past is done, start right now and take it day by day.

Refuse to sleep with him, you did this last night, well done! Doesn't it feel good that you respected yourself than that awful feeling just after sex that you let him use you again. Keep it up!

Don't let him emotionally manipulate you. He knows you so well and what to say to scare you and make you back down. Email him with how things will be for co parenting. Tell him you'll only discuss it through email as it upsets you. He has the kids 2 nights a week and every 2nd weekend. Go out - even if it's just to your mum's to watch telly.

Get some counselling and read lots of books to help you become stronger. Your kids need you to be strong. The self damaging victim thing you're doing would be fine if you were just responsible for yourself but you're not. Now is your time to grow up, you can do it.

Go to a solicitor and see what your position and rights are. I know this is scary - at the moment all you're doing is getting information. You can build up to taking action.

Go out today, don't be around making his life and hangover easier. Tell him you're off out and he's to make the kids meals today. Go to the cinema, go to your mom's, buy a book and read it in a cafe - whatever.

You're stronger than you know

user1495964242 · 10/06/2017 21:03

Thank you all, I know I have to do this I'm sad and terrified but thank you really, I'll do my best to be strong as much as I can x

OP posts:
rosabug · 10/06/2017 21:04

The only way to change this dynamic is the break the pattern by changing the way you are responding to it. He's in lala land. Reality hasn't landed because it doesn't have to - you are carrying all of the pain. Just because it's his house I don't see why he can't leave while you sort this out. It would be the reasonable and fair thing to do. You need to be really tough and grow some balls. When you decide to stop settling for this and move on and grow yourself - he will wake up. But by then it might be too late. As long as you remain in this subordinate needy position he will exploit it. It's base power dynamics. It's a torture when you get trapped in this, but you are the only one who can change it. Hoping he will 'see the light' is false comfort and will keep the script going on and on. Good luck.

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