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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

Should I try to save us?

9 replies

lialiana · 04/08/2017 16:52

Hi
So..... I'm really struggling with what to do with my relationship. I've been with my partner for 11 years and we have children age 8 and 5.

The good things:

  • We share the same politics and general philosophies on life and parenting.
  • He is supportive of everything I do, whether or not he understands it.
  • He's very loyal.

The bad things:

  • He has anger issues. He's not abusive, but when things go wrong (eg bad day at work) he doesn't just rant and then get over it, like most people. He shouts, gets angry with me, and takes days to calm down fully again. We had an issue with a hire car on holiday recently and his angry response and inability to move on meant it spoiled a lot of our holiday. I'm sick of it.
  • Our main passions in life are completely different, although he is accepting and supportive of mine.
  • I don't fancy him and our sex drives are completely different.

I've reached the point where I wonder whether this is really what I want for the rest of my life. But then I know I'm not the easiest to cope with in a relationship and I wonder if the grass is really greener or, if I moved on, would I find myself in this position again in another 10 years.

And of course there's the kids. Our eldest is very emotional and would really struggle if we split up, I think. I'd also feel like I was splitting up from his parents, who I adore (unlike my own who I have no relationship with).

I'm struggling to view this objectively and in a balanced way. Am I being lazy and unrealistic, expecting things will be perfect in another relationship? I've had 6 serious relationships before this one, I don't have a great track record of making things work.

I just need a bit of help trying to see the way forward as I feel like I'm in a bit of a fog :-/

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 04/08/2017 17:16

You can't make it work on your own. The rage and sex issues would each be a fair enough reason to break up on their own. He has no right at all to treat you like that when he's "having a bad day", he needs to find ways to deal with the everyday frustrations of life without shouting AT you and ruining holidays. Choosing to let his moods and outbursts shit all over the atmosphere in your home IS abusive and it's something he could control but doesn't want to.

The sex thing might be fixable but I'm pretty convinced once you completely stop fancying someone it's dead.

You might not be perfect. No one is. But it's not failing to decide the relationship doesn't make you happy. And you deserve a chance to be happy. Your children deserve happy parents.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/08/2017 17:21

Ah the old making things work issue that so many women get hung up on. It is not down to you solely to rescue and or save a relationship; besides which being a rescuer and or saviour in a relationship never works out well.

What is your relationship history like to date; if you have chosen poorly then it may well be that your own relationship template is warped and that could have started in childhood. What did you yourself learn about relationships when growing up; the fact that you now have no relationship with your parents may well have some bearing here.

Maybe you simply adore his parents because yours seem so awful.
His parents could also choose to see these children post separation; its up to them and you to keep that relationship going.

Your bad points listed well outweigh any positives you write about him and the positive points re him are actually quite weak ones to make. What emotional needs does he meet in and for you?. He does not meet any of those needs really does he.

Your children must not be the glue either that binds you and he together. They will not thank you for you as a couple doing that to them. Staying simply for the sake of the children is rarely if ever a good idea also because it teaches them that your relationship was based on a lie and actively stops you from meeting someone else.

If you do not fancy him any longer then cut your losses and make a life for yourselves without him in it day to day. Staying with someone whom you no longer fancy is soul destroying and teaches your children damaging lessons about relationships.

He could co-parent amicably if he chose to do so post separation. Your children need to learn positive lessons about relationships from the two of you and they cannot afford to learn that a loveless relationship is their norm too.

Adora10 · 04/08/2017 17:21

Nah sorry Id not carry on with this not unless he got professional help, that's not normal and will be having a terrible affect on your children, it will be damaging them already.

I'd have to say to him it's either go get help for it or it's over; the kids will at least be free from anger and worry; that's a horrible atmosphere for children.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/08/2017 17:27

I would say as well he has a problem with anger, your anger when you call him out rightly on his behaviours towards you.

When he has a bad day at work he does not stand there and shout at his work colleagues does he?. No I would think not. He does not have an anger management problem if he can control himself around others.

Who does he get angry with the most, it looks like you on the face of it. The fact that you cop all his angry outbursts is extremely concerning and damaging for your children to hear as well (sound after all travels and they pick up on all the vibes). Their home should be a sanctuary; it is not that to them currently. On a wider level the conflict within the home is perhaps one reason amongst many why your eldest is so emotional. I sincerely hope that this young person does not blame himself or herself for his/her parents relationship problems.

AnneLovesGilbert · 04/08/2017 17:51

Couldn't agree more ^

My ex had the occasional outburst which I dealt with by pretending it hadn't happened. It was shit. And it escalated, badly, interspersed with him saying he'd get help which never happened, excuses because his dad used to hit his mum which had messed him up, and blame that I'd made him angry and deserved it.

He never let rip at anyone but me. And he used to scream and shout, rant and rave, punch walls and kick cars but be outraged when I got upset or tried to get away when he said it wasn't at me but just in front of me.

Well no one else could hear him could they, so of course it was at me! Even when I wasn't the cause but bad drivers, work, money, food, his mother, etc etc etc.

Not long later he was screaming in my face because I'd ask him to stop raging about whatever it was and calling me a fucking bitch because I wanted to live in a peaceful home with the man I thought I'd known.

It's not acceptable to behave like that and it's a shit way to live. I cannot tell you the relief of being away from it. Life is so easy!

I'm now married to a man who's never raised his voice to me and thinks I'm worth talking up, not bellowing at. I know I'm good enough to deserve being treated with kindness.

I remember the first time we went on holiday there was a fuck up with the rental car at the airport. Even though he's such a different person I could feel myself tensing up out of habit waiting for the storm. We calmly discussed what to do, had a chuckle, made a plan and got on with things. It was easy, calm, almost fun. It was a bloody revelation. And so life has continued. No rage, abuse, swearing, screaming. And I fancy the pants off him. It's hard to feel attracted to someone who uses you as their emotional punching bag.

You're so used to it you probably don't know what's normal anymore. I didn't.

Things can be better.

lialiana · 04/08/2017 19:42

Thanks everyone. I'm going to take some time to process what you've all said before I come back with more but I wanted to let you know I'm reading and appreciating your thoughts x

OP posts:
ChicRock · 04/08/2017 19:45

I'm not surprised your eldest child is "very emotional" having to witness his fathers outbursts and the aftermath lasting for days - essentially watching his father be downright abusive to his mother.

user1492877024 · 04/08/2017 19:53

Ltb

BadHatter · 05/08/2017 00:09

You deserve being with someone you fancy. You partner deserves having an OH that fancies him.

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