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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

DH has just told me he's not sure he wants to stay married to me!

388 replies

shockedandsad · 01/04/2007 17:04

Sorry, have changed name here for the usual reasons.

Have had a tough couple of months at home for one reason or another. This afternoon dh has just told me that he's not sure he wants to stay married to me anymore. He can't give me much more information than that, he just feels like the two of us don't get on like we used to (he cites since dd was born) and he feels we might be better apart.

Although we have had a difficult time, I really haven't felt it's more than that, and that we'd get over it. He has scoffed at this. He says he doesn't know yet whether he wants to give us another try or not. Our sex life has not been good since dd was born, and now we are in a position to right this, he doesn't know if he wants to. He says he doesn't have any answers.

I am shocked, and sad, and don't know what to do. Also having bursts of great anger towards him. Now I'm meant to just sit back and wait for him to decide whether he will grace with the honour of giving it a go. If he doesn't want to, I don't know what I'll do. I love him and want to stay with him. We do have our ups and downs, like anyone, I thought, and I am so shocked that he feels this way. Can't stop crying and poor dd (3)is very concerned. Anyone been in this position?

OP posts:
contentiouscat · 12/04/2007 21:46

Followed by me with pan no 2!

lilybubble · 12/04/2007 21:49

I know, when I see him he keeps saying how hard it is for him to think of life without dd, but he NEVER asks about her on the phone. Not once since this happened has he done and I am furious about that.

I am too nervous to call his bluff in case he does just walk away. It feels like he would and then I could never forgive myself. I do understand how that might be able to work to my advantage, but I don't think I'm up to it at the moment.

Still no call from him. Why such a lowlife?? I don't get it, I really don't understand who he has become in such a short space of time.

NurseyJo · 12/04/2007 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ernest · 13/04/2007 10:32

lily, I'm so sorry to read he's still being s o unbelievably shitty to you.

My gut reaction is to contact the solicitor and get the ball rolling. Not to play games or call his bluff or anything like that, but to protect yourself, your dd and to signal to yourself and ghim, that enough is enough.

It made me so angry to read that he'd suggested he might phone you, then didn't then texted you to say he'd forgotten. he's really being so hurtful and nasty. It is really like he's goading you. And you, out of fear for yourself and obligation & love of your dd are taking it, in the hope that he'll see sense.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it comes across. I am 100% on your side, don't forget, I've been in very similar situation a very short time ago, I know the hurt and fear you're feeling. It's still fresh and raw with me too.

But one peice of 'relationship' advice I was given which helped me was, If what you're curently doing is not working, then you MUST do something else. You're being nice, you're being reasonable. He's repeatedly letting you down. It's just not working. You need to do something different. It's not about playing games, it's about solving a problem. Imagine your dd is young toddler again & she's not eating. You put the food down. She doesn't eat. You get frustrated and shout, she doesn't eat. You shout more, she doesn't eat etc etc etc. So what do you do? The shouting doesn't work, so you try a different tack, you try smaller portions, or different meal times, or different food altogether or whatever, loads of different possibilites. But with our kids we constantly get creative to solve problems or improve things. YOu need to work out a different strategy with H, becasue this one isn't working.

Also, I'm guessing you're feeling unbelievably miserable, black, hopeless, terrified, zero self esteem. Bloody hell, sounds bleak, sounds like me last week.

Do something for you, do anything, an evening course if you can arrange childcare, or join a gym with a creche, or go out with friends, just something for you. If you end up as a single parent, you'll need to do stuff to make yourself happy and confident, but if, and I hope it does, it works out, there's no harm in doing something for yourself within the marriage either, is there? You are in a very scary place right now. I keep popping in and out of the same place. Today I'm out and trying to organise something for myself.

MAybe if you show your dh how confident, assertive and happy you are he'll wake up to how wonderful you are and see sense. Maybe, as with others, you'll feel so much better about yourself you won't even want him, or you'll take him back ON YOUR TERMS:

I really really wish you the hope and strength and confidence and wisdom to deal with this horrible situation. I'm also here if you need.

It WILL work out. My neighbour, whose husband did similar last year, went off with another woman, refused to give her up, split up from neighbour. Now the divorce is going through. She's having a great time, back at college, retraining, looks great, goes out all the time, loads of men interested in her. ANd her husband comes now regularly begging her, on his knees begging her to take him back, to forgive him. For her, he was too much of a shit for too long. He woke up, but for her too late. He is now miserable and desperate, she is the happy strong one, having fun and feeing great. Last year she didn't stop crying. Now she is in a fab place. She could have him back, but no longer wants him. But she found herself and her inner strength.

Cashncarry · 13/04/2007 10:44

Lilybubble - I've not posted on your thread before but have been following what you're going through. I do think you're being terribly patient with DH and unfortunately you're not getting anything in return.

I think Ernest is absolutely spot on (excellent post btw) - you have to start making decisions for your own life and take him out of the equasion. He seems to have filtered you and DD out of his life because he's being a selfish twt - you're have to do it because he's being a selfish twt!

We're all so angry for you - can you take some of that anger and use it for yourself? As so many others have said, you deserve so much better for yourself.

I like IOHW's idea of the frying pan over the head - give us his number, we'll do it

hurtwife · 13/04/2007 10:54

Thinking of you so much and to all others going through this.
I know how you feel - one part thinks you should go it alone and you could do it - you should not have to put up with this. yet another part does not want to give up on it if there is a chance. I know i was not strong enough to end it all and so let my h treat me really badly - but at the time i was just not prepared to do his dirty work and end it all. I thought if you want to end it then he had to do it and not try and blame me.

I do think if he does go off he will regret it - i have not meet anyone who has not - especially when they see your life moving forward and getting better. He will miss out on so much.

Be strong whatever you are doing is right there are no rules to play by. You have done nothing wrong remember that - it is all his guilt not yours.

Ifonlyhewould · 13/04/2007 10:56

Hi lilybubble

Just wanted to say i'm thinking of you. Also, i second both ernest and cashncarrys post's.

Hope you are bearing up ok xx

mylittlestar · 13/04/2007 10:58

Oh god lily I'm so upset to see this today.

I understand how you feel. Asking how can this person you know and love change so much and so quickly. Not calling and then that text message. is all I can say to that.

Don't beat yourself up about not being in a position where you feel ready to give him the ultimatum. If you're not ready to accept it's over, then don't give him an ultimatum that leads him to a decision you may later regret.

You have to do what's best for you, go with your gut feelings, so that no matter what happens you will never look back and regret your own actions.

Hopefully this weekend you can have a really good discussion about what the hell he's playing it. It's like the 2 personality thing my dh developed. When with me it was all positive, looking to the future, telling me what I wanted to hear (sort of!) but then he'd get all vague and 'confused', leave again and turn into a complete a* hole.

I'm here for you anytime xx

PeachyChocolateEClair · 13/04/2007 11:26

He's trying to get you to do all the 'guilt' work isn't he? Pushing you until you say oh forget it- then when DD / parents / Sarah etc all say 'oooooh what happened/' he can blame it on you. My former best mate and her ex got into a pattern of each tryng to do this to the other after a five year engagement (they were 17 when they got enaged and changed a lot) and it took two years of behaving ike toddlers, until she met someone else. They'd have still been doing it over a decade later I reckon ifone of them hadn't met a new partne. Some people just aren't 'man' enough to take the blame formdecisiosn they make themselves. And of course, when you're trying to rebuild your life / sort finances / get access sorted etc it feels much easier to play the dumped victim too, even if you have been behaving like a complete arse in reality.

I think he owuld love either you to go silent (well she clearly doesnt think I am worth fighting for so it doesnt matter) or dump him. At the same time I think he gets a kick out of being chased. So I don't think you can 'win' as such, he has dealt the cards in such a way that he is wellaware that he cant lose.

So the only thing you can do is protect DD and yourself. Its frankly unacceptable that he doesnt ask after dd, being as she must be upset by a situation HE has caused. If he is scared of hearing that, tough- he created the whole mess.

I agree with the post that you should see a solicitor. Just to get some direction in all this. She might for example say no way do you sign to sell the house at this point- that seems seriously dodgy to me! CAB can also ofer a free service. Build your wall and fortresses, and build them high. If you want to choose to ley down the drawbridge at any time, then fine. But he is ahrming you and your dd, and you need to rpevent that now.

Please dont sign anything re house without legal advice- I'm no expert but you might find yourself in a mess there then.

ernest · 13/04/2007 11:35

when I said to see a solicitor, I didn't mean issue an ultimatum. I think ultimatums are dangerous, and from the little I know of your H I don't think it would be a good idea.

But seeing a solicitor, getting real concrete advice about your situation, setting down some groundrules re money, visitation etc etc is only sensible. Vital. It will also be useful to have things in place if this goes any further. And as for house sales missed that. I would DEFINITELY not agree to anything along those lines for a long time.

I would tbh put as much aloof distance between myself & H as possible in this situation. Not nasty, not arguing., not ignoring, but also not friendly, eager, pleading. I would keep everything as business-like and cool as possible. I would also keep a record of when he sees/asks to see dd, not just for any possible court proceedings, but I find it difficult to see the detail amongst the big picture. I see generalisations (he alwys....)and find it useful to write stuff down to get a clearer view.

So sorry you're having to deal with this.xxx

mylittlestar · 13/04/2007 11:39

Really good post ernest I agree with all of that. Esp writing things down which will help to avoid the generalisations that he could easily throw back at you xx

PeachyChocolateEClair · 13/04/2007 11:48

Did mine sound like I meant that she should issue an ulitmatum? sorry I just meant for insurance and information purpioses.

mylittlestar · 13/04/2007 11:58

I don't think it did peachy.

I mentioned the ultimatum, but that was just in response to lily's comment that she wasn't ready to call his bluff as he may decide to walk away. I felt exactly like that too.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 13/04/2007 12:00

Phew!

ernest · 13/04/2007 12:40

no, not you peachy, lol, I was worried MINE was interpreted as issuing an ultimatum, cos I'd said to set the ball rolling with a solictitor, but I meant just to get a clearer picture of rights, advice on eg housing etc, I wanted to make it clear I wasn't saying A: issue an ultimatum, but also (in case it's not clear) B: I'm also not suggesting that seeing the solicitor = end of relationship.

Lily, you don't have to decide on the future of your relationship, indeed, as many people here say, maybe it shouldn't be you who makes that decision, ball in his court and all that. But going to see a solicitor is not the same as ending a relationship. I went and saw a legal advisor and got advice about where I stood, what the next steps were, re legal separation, divorce etc should I wish to take them. Knowing what's what and safeguarding your dd's & your future and home isn't the same as ending your marriage.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 13/04/2007 14:18

And please- can I reiterate- don't sign anything about the future of your house until you have taken legal advice, that sounds like a set up to me TBH.

Tanee58 · 13/04/2007 14:39

Hi Lily, hope you're having a great time with your friends today. Can't add anything to the great advice everyone else has given, and agree strongly that you should do NOTHING about selling the house until you've spoken to a solicitor etc. You need to be sure that you and dd have a good home and as little disruption to her life as possible - which ideally would mean staying put, but if that's not financially possible, you need to have good legal advice before making a move. It's far too soon to make such a move.

Am thinking of you and sending support vibes your way

mylittlestar · 13/04/2007 15:08

What does everyone think about the fact that Lily and her dh were looking to move back to London as they've only recently moved away to this new house.

Lily gave up a much loved job to make the move and they've only lived there for 9/10 weeks I think.

If they moved back to London lily could perhaps get her old job back, or get something similar that she enjoys, then build up her financial independence again.

Not sure if the move back to London will be closer to lily's friends and family too??

I completely understand everyone saying don't sell up and the reasons behind it. Lily may need the security of that house and cannot trust dh at this point in time not to just sell up in the pretence of buying something new, then when the sale goes through, just up and leave, no strings attached.

But I think she has very valid reasons for considering the move.

Any advice?

PeachyChocolateEClair · 13/04/2007 15:20

Oh I am not saying don't sell up- seems quite sensible, but it also seems wise to check the lay of the land witha solicor- so she remains entitled to a % of the sale or whatever should it all go wrong,and so he can't take the cash and run.

mylittlestar · 13/04/2007 15:30

Yes perhaps legal advice is the best way to go.

I think lily used all her savings to pay the moving fees, legal costs etc too and her dh had said he'd give her all that money back if they do split...

I hope I'm remembering this correctly.

Perhaps the best move then would be to get all of this in writing. So if things did go wrong or he doesn't stand by his word she'll have something to back her up and get the money she deserves.

Good advice peachy. I just couldn't think myself what was the best thing to suggest.

Lily I remember people giving me this sort of advice when dh and I were separated and they told me to safeguard our money etc. I didn't listen at first - truly believed he'd stand by his word and nobody else was involved. It scares me now to think that if it had all gone sour and he'd have left me for the ow, god knows what position I'd be in now. He'd probably want all his money for the ow and new baby on the way!

Again, none of this means you'll split up or anything will turn nasty. But it's all practical steps to make sure you and dd are safe. Just to give you some comfort and security. The way dh is being right now, sadly, you can't be sure of anything.

Thinking of you xx

noddyholder · 13/04/2007 15:31

I hate to be harsh but I really think he is mistreating you to try and force your hand to leave him which would make his life and guilt a lot easier.He is definitely not doing anything that indicates he wants to really make thins work with you.The fact that you haven't called his bluff is making you look so vulnerable to him and he is walking all over you and you deserve3 better.Can't you draw some strength from your parents and child and walk away even temporarily?

mylittlestar · 13/04/2007 15:38

I agree noddy. My dh said that when we were going through this he just couldn't see a future for us at that time, but was too weak to completely end it himself, and in some ways it would have been easier for him if I'd made the decision and he then wouldn't have all the regrets.

He also says now that if I had ended it at that point when he was at his lowest, it really would have been over as he'd have just accepted it.

And now with hindsight he's so glad I stuck around and gave him the chance to come to his senses and glad he now has the chance to try to put things right...

I guess it depends if lily thinks the relationship is worth saving or not.

I do completely agree with you though noddy. We show the support and stick by them, then they use that to their advantage and walk all over us. It's a no win situation in most ways

mylittlestar · 13/04/2007 15:46

lily I'll stop rambling on your thread now

Hope you've had a lovely day with your friends. I've emailed you - thanks so much for your support. I may not get on much over the weekend but I'll catch up when I can.

xx

hurtwife · 13/04/2007 20:07

You are in a difficult situation - no win as far as i can see. I think you need to ask him if the relationship is over. If he says no then ask him what it is he wants from this relationship and come up with some rules that he will promise to stick to. If he says yes it is over then you need to keep your dignity and walk away - let him know how sad and sorry you are but then leave him to his guilt.

You will know you have done everything you could to save this relationship.

I too saw a solicitor and it helped in that i felt i had rights and gave me some power over what was happening.

I am afraid it sounds as though you will have to wait for him to come begging to you and only then will you know if it is too late for you or not.

Good luck with it all

contentiouscat · 14/04/2007 11:06

Hi Lily

I didnt say anything at the time but I have to say the idea of selling the house at this point in time did make me a bit nervous on your behalf. He does not sound overly responsible at the moment and im not sure you can rely on him to have YOUR best interests at heart.

I would support the idea of taking legal advice regarding your position - you dont need to tell him you have done this or make any decisions regarding you relationship but it will just mean you are in a stronger position.

I know what you are saying MLS about Lily returning to London but I am worried the house may be sold with all his getting another house in London promises then Lily may end up with nothing.

Obviously if you are moving together the best place for you to be will be where you both want to be, if you end up separating then your decision would have to be influenced by where you would have the greatest support with regard to childcare & work.

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