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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

Can I sort this out?

14 replies

Blackfellpony · 09/07/2017 16:32

Maybe it will help to write it down.

Been together 11 years. One DC who is 1.5.

We have always been independent people but since DS I in particular have really struggled with the lack of freedom. I am a selfish person if I'm honest and felt trapped lots of the time. I absolutely love my DC and as a SAHM most of the week and do everything I possibly can for my child however need an hour a day to be 'me' in order to stay sane, DH begrudges me this and complains every time I go out.
He calls me selfish and says I am a bad mother for going for a walk with the dog or riding my horse for an hour once he comes in from work. Maybe he is right I don't know.
He has lots of time before I go and also when I return but he goes to bed at 8pm out of choice so does nothing. Given the choice he will stay at home and watch TV and never goes anywhere.

I now feel guilty every time I leave without my son, even though he is out of the house so much. He works away lots and I hold the fort all of the time in that respect but if I go out he hates it and creates a terrible atmosphere.

DH does nothing at all. He is lazy, given the chance all he wants to do is sleep or laze about which I hate with a passion. I look at him and it annoys me that he is doing nothing productive. He never suggests days out or going anywhere. That I can live with but he criticises everything that I want to do and moans constantly even though I invite him along. I love being outside, keeping fit, riding, walking...everything he thinks is 'pointless'
He has no interests at all, nothing to do or talk about. When he does talk it's moaning about work, the dog, money etc etc etc

I work 2 night shifts per week and he does nothing to help on these days despite me being up for 16 hours straight both nights and having our son during the day.
He asked me to give up my hobbies, to stop going out when he gets in from work for the hour and to stay in at weekends but I really don't want to do this- I feel he is asking me to give up everything I love to do Sad

He does nothing around the house. He hates our pets and complains about them constantly which annoys me as short of getting them put down there isn't much I can do about it. He wanted them jointly as much as I did however I walk, feed and interact with them and he refuses to even take them to the end of the street to the toilet if I'm busy.

We don't talk really except to argue. I have 0 sex drive and no interest in that side which annoys him. I just feel like he never speaks to me and isn't nice to me so why would I want to sleep with him. I do find him attractive but mainly when he's made an effort, not when he's slobbing about which is most of the time. I'm also knackered most of the time. He said he never tries because he's given up with me as I always turn him down.

Basically, I can't be bothered to sort it out. I have no energy for this any more. We are both treading water and I think he hates me. He certainly doesn't like me that's for sure. He never texts, asks how I am, makes conversation. Nothing.

I watch my friends having fun and happy relationships and it makes me sad, however I could do a lot worse. We are financially comfortable, have a lovely home and family and we are great friends most of the time. He is a kind and considerate man and has never raised his voice to me or our child once. If I left I would be uprooting my DC for my own selfish reasons, he is a fantastic dad and my son would miss out on so much. I also don't think I can cope with DC on my own, I wouldn't be able to manage without the breathing space he provides however I'm not sure this is reason enough to stay. I also am terrified of being alone forever Sad

There's no salvaging this is there?

OP posts:
Want2beme · 09/07/2017 16:41

I suppose the obvious answer is for both of you to have counselling to see if it'll help. You don't sound compatible at this stage of your relationship. You sound jaded but maybe you can both make things work. He needs to be much more positive about life and realise it's not all about him. It's brilliant that you have things to do that bring joy in to your life. Maybe DH could join you sometimes, if he realises how serious things have become.

LesisMiserable · 10/07/2017 14:46

Its amazing what a good sex life,can mask isnt it. I know that sounds flippant but it isnt...once that side dies down and intimacy is lost,everything else, our differences and foibles come into glaring focus. If you've both lost interest in your relationship beyond the day to day parenting and the trappings of relative comfortable living then no its not salvageable. But if any spark to bond again remains then you need to both get on it and fast.

SaltySeaDog72 · 10/07/2017 14:58

Kind and considerate? That's not how I would describe him from what you've written. More like controlling, misogynistic and dull.

Doesn't sound salvageable to me, sorry.

yetmorecrap · 10/07/2017 15:09

I feel your pain, but I think you are being a bit generous when you say he is kind and considerate because you really dont want to think that he is a bit on an arse. None os us do, we dont marry someone who is and then all of a sudden it creeps up on us that they have become one. I have a lot of the same but with a bad temper too. In my case instead of "kind and considerate" substitute "talented, good looking and interesting pretty well paid job" -- but the other stuff you mention applies to. I guess we all try and find the positives to get us through stuff

LesisMiserable · 10/07/2017 15:13

I disagree on that, nobody is all bad. Its just that we all start off relationship.on one side of the looking glass seeing only the positives in each other.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 10/07/2017 15:51

What do you get out of this relationship now?. What is really keeping you within this at all? Is it your fear of being alone?. What breathing space does he really provide you; the man seems hardly ever home and when he does deign to be there he is neither of use nor ornament.

Did your parents show you a similar type of relationship as well; what did you learn about relationships when growing up?.

Re your comment:-
"He is a kind and considerate man and has never raised his voice to me or our child once".

That also shows me how so very low your own relationship bar is and has been to date. He does not have to do that anyway in this relationship because its already working out way nice for him and at your overall expense.

Women in poor relationships like you describe also write the fantastic dad comment when they themselves can think of nothing positive to write about their man. If you think this is fantastic example of a father then you are very wrong indeed. You need to think about why you have written that at all.

If you have counselling go on your own and do not attend any joint sessions under any circumstances. He's managed to manipulate you and will likely manipulate a counsellor as well to take his side, you need to be able to talk in a calm and safe environment.

You've also written that you as a couple don't talk really but to argue. He wants you to stop going out as well and to have your pets put down. So how does that square with the above; it does not does it?.

Robin Williams once wrote the following:- "I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone".

You are really with someone who makes you feel alone and there is no salvaging this because he is too selfish, self absorbed and entitled.

What do you want your son to learn about relationships here; surely not this model of one where his dad is a lazy arse who wants her pets put down, for her to have no life of her own outside the home and disrespects his mother at all and any opportunity?. You want him to talk to you like that as well; currently you are teaching your son that this is acceptable to you. Well it should not be at all.

Make plans to leave this individual before you are really destroyed by him. You son too cannot afford to absorb such damaging lessons on how to treat women.

whatsmyname2017 · 10/07/2017 16:30

He is a kind and considerate man he is a fantastic dad and my son would miss out on so much. I wouldn't be able to manage without the breathing space he provides*
All of these statements completely contradict the rest of your post!! How is he kind and considerate if he does nothing around the house, and refuses to help out. How is he a fantastic Dad when he does nothing with your child and never wants to do anything? How does he provide breathing space when he doesn't want you going out?

This is a very selfish man. He is a bit like my ex. He used to do nothing with the kids and would never suggest going anywhere. He would spend most of his time on his laptop. He would also moan at me if I wanted to go for a run or out with friends. he would also spend most of his time moaning and complaining.

We are now separated and its the best thing I ever did. I have 2DC and am managing fine. I feel free in my own home now and don't have to worry about him coming in from work and moaning about the slightest thing. I can leave dishes in the sink if I want to!!!!

Giraffey1 · 10/07/2017 16:40

He doesn't sound either kind or considerate from what you've written there. But it does sound as if you have both got into a bit of a rut. Have you tried talking about things with I'm? Would he go to counselling with you?

The other thing I'm wondering is has he always been begrudging of the time you need for yourself? And always lazy around the house?

runninggranny · 10/07/2017 16:56

Totally agree with Attila.

Blackfellpony · 10/07/2017 17:00

Thankyou to you all.

What do I get from him? Financial support mainly. He earns 4-5 times more than me and runs the household. We can afford to give our son pretty much everything and live comfortably, without this I'm not sure what I would do.
Maybe go full time and put DS in nursery, however that's not what I wanted for him at all Sad

Everyone who meets DH says how lovely and nice he is. He makes friends with everyone he meets and is always glass half full. It's with me he seems to be miserable and he says it's my fault as I've made him that way.

My parents are divorced and had an awful relationship very similar in that my dad was/is massively controlling.

I feel guilty every time I go out now, even for half an hour and it shouldn't be like this!

OP posts:
Adora10 · 10/07/2017 17:09

He sounds truly horrible, controlling, nasty, belittling and no help either domestically or with his own child and I never even got to the end.

Sorry OP, nothing to save here, best thing you can do for yourself and your child is to get away from the horrible git.

He's got you so conditioned you don't know what is right or wrong; look at the way he treats you OP, not right!

Blackfellpony · 10/07/2017 17:16

Thank you Adora. I think the straw that's broken my back is that I was away for 3 days with work and not once did he message me or make contact at all.

I came back to a mess, our dog hadn't been walked since I left,cat litter tray overflowing,no food in the house. Apparently it's my fault and I don't have any right to be annoyed though as I don't appreciate the things he did for me while i was away Confused

OP posts:
isitjustme2017 · 10/07/2017 17:26

Hi OP, there is more to life than money. yes its nice to live comfortably and have a nice house etc but what use is that if you have to put up with this daily abuse?
I currently live in a lovely big house which I'm having to sell as I can't afford it on my own. I don't actually care though as feeling happier and free of constant shit from my ex is way better than the house and more money.

Adora10 · 10/07/2017 17:44

Yes you can have a happy life without him, maybe less money but he will need to provide for his children.

It's worrying that you are preferring to be abused through fear of you being alone.

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