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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

Losing our connection

15 replies

If1knewiwouldnotbehere · 09/09/2017 06:25

So I've NC. Not that anyone would care but I told my Dsis my username, so here we are.

Been with DH for 20 years and every year or so, since having our DS we have a relationship audit, see where we are try to make any improvements where we can and generally find time for us.

Recently I've noticed we're not doing this. The sex has gone down to once or twice a week and my sex drive feels as though it's through the roof, whereas he is not hard enough these days. Of course I'm taking this as rejection. He says it's not, I can only take from him what he says. If I show I'm hurt or upset, he performs, but it feels like an obligation and I'm even less satisfied. But that's not actually bothering me. I mean it is but it isn't.

So to explain how we work. I have men friends I prefer them. He has women friends he prefers them. Everybody is cool. He's got one friend going through a divorce. She found our relationship illuminating because I don't tell him who he can be friends with, not assume the worst. For us it's normal, she didn't get this within her relationship. It's one of the things we (DH and I) like about each other. He see's other relationships his few male friends are in and dare I say, when he talks it sounds a little smug.

So anyway to get where we're content with all of this, there were a couple of bumps in the road with both of us. But we ensured we got through the other side with communication.

Back to present day, my DH and his friend like house music and he and a group of them to to festivals. Obviously they get talking about where she is and she's going through a difficult divorce. This is where it gets dodgy for me. He literally is begging her to talk to him or someone cause she clearly needs to.

I've discussed it with him because I see a clear pattern to his behaviour. Where someone is unhappy, going through things he feels it's up to him to be their sounding board, their confidante (personally I think he likes gossip, or living vicariously through other people). At first I thought I needed to warn him that he could be giving mixed signals, and I thought I was being unnaturally jealous. If I'm jealous, I think I have reason to be, as I'm quite intuitive, and feel things before they manifest. Can't explain it just am always right based on a feeling.

But then I realised that's not it all. I've been trying to speak to him about sex (Mr Floppy), about making time for us, not just us and the kids. He can't seem to think I need to talk and that it's affecting me, but a woman he has known for two years not 20, he needs to fix because she's not expressing herself emotionally. So that's what the jealousy part is I guess. I kind of think he doesn't want to talk to me about it because of the sex aspect.

Okay that's all not sure what I'm expecting advice wise.
BTW I'm not perfect.

OP posts:
Libs1980 · 09/09/2017 06:30

Hi all,
Any advise much needed!
I'm starting a new job on monday, however ive jusy split with my partner. Im anxious and can eat and sleep. Im not acruallu terrified starting my job and dont want ro go!.
Could say its my own fault as i acrually rold him i didnt want it anymore as hes messed me about 2.5 years, the last 5 months he actually decided he was in love with ne so tried makinh it work. However we had a chat about the future a couple of days back and he said he never wants to live together as likes his own space. I said we may as well end things then as i want to settle down and 'eventually live together.
He text me yesterday and aaid he would ring last night, however he didnt and went out drinkinh instead and ignored my phone call and text.
Im at a loss. I love him so much.

Libs1980

LEMtheoriginal · 09/09/2017 06:47

Libs I think you posted this in error as you have started your own thread about it.

LEMtheoriginal · 09/09/2017 06:50

OP I am not sure from your post what is bothering you most. I think you are feeling threatened by this other woman and I would be too. With regards the sex life - could there be a medical reason for his issues? I can see his reluctance to talk because he doesn't want to face his own problems. Much easier to fix someone else.

If1knewiwouldnotbehere · 09/09/2017 06:57

LEM I don't think I am feeling threatened by her in terms of affairs. If not her it would be someone else that needs fixing. It's the not seeing what's going on under his roof, I think. One of his faults, and this has been the way from the beginning when his family hated me (and I actually cared). It's "I'll geal with this now, If1knew can wait".

OP posts:
If1knewiwouldnotbehere · 09/09/2017 07:04

Actually I know what the problem is.I'm not being heard or taken seriously. And I've resorted to MN for something real. Not "my MIL is taking too much time", not "mySIL is taking the piss" (which she does), not "myDS is not taking his studies seriously", but "I don't feel we're on the same page, I feel we're going through the motions and I feel it dissatisfies me". MN is a lifeline for some people, I've always been secure in my relationship to not require it.

OP posts:
AdalindSchade · 09/09/2017 07:09

Yeah I get it
He likes being the knight in shining armour for these waifs and strays whilst ignoring the issues that are going on at home.
Why do you think he prefers having women friends?

paddlenorapaddle · 09/09/2017 07:10

Sounds like a good case of triangulation to me have a google

If this has happened before this is clearly a pattern. And you'll have to make some decisions about your future

If1knewiwouldnotbehere · 09/09/2017 08:19

Adalind yep that's it.

Why does he prefer women? Four days older sisters, youngest child (also known as prodigal son by his sisters). I don't know really, probably for the same reason I prefer men. I find them easier to talk to, but more importantly have a laugh with. Simple and less complicated than I find women try to make life (huge generalisation, I know, just the women I know unfortunately).

paddle I read the definitions and if he is I can only recognise it in one incidence. I was never pitted imo against any woman friend of his. But 17 years ago there was a work colleague who he fancied, he couldn't even deny it. She was unhappy in her relationship. She used to tell him everything that she felt was wrong. There was flirting involved. I felt at the time there was something seriously wrong and dealt with it by asking them both the question. I know not the favoured tactic on MN, but I was young.

My mum taught me to fight for no man and I truly believe if he wants to be with you, he will on terms agreeable to the both of you.
My now DH, at the time looked at the behaviour and did something about it. I never blamed her (except where she knew he fancied her and admitted to stringing him along). I will always blame him because he's in a relationship with me.

Surely to wait two decades later to find another victim is serious self-control. But I don't know enough about it. What I will say is one of those descriptions partially describe me, so now a little worried about my own behaviours.
I guess you don't always hear what you want to on MNWink

OP posts:
AdalindSchade · 09/09/2017 08:50

Thing is, that human relationships and connections aren't really that complicated. We see people we like, we make connections based on mutual interests and rewarding interactions. With opposite sex (or whatever sex you're attracted to) some of that reward is likely to be due to a level of attraction or just meeting needs on some level that a same sex friend wouldn't.
He's seeking out female friends for a reason. Not necessarily because he fancies them though there is likely to be an element of mutual attraction even if it isn't acknowledged by either. Probably because he has a need to be needed and can get that need met more easily by women than men.
There is probably something in the fact that you shy away from female friends too (more complicated? What a sad perspective to have) but I don't have any suggestions about that.

AdalindSchade · 09/09/2017 08:53

You're right to day fight for no man and if he wants you he will be with you. But human nature is fickle and connection has to be nurtured. It's too easy for new connections to seem more shiny and attractive and create fissures in the relationship. Your husband having a hareem of adoring female friends who dote on him and rely on him is paving the way for cracks to appear.

TheNaze73 · 09/09/2017 10:27

Do you think it would help if you took a step back?

Who's idea was the relationship audit? Sounds very formulaic.

I agree with Adalind. There's obviously a reason why he's seeking out relationships with other women

yetmorecrap · 09/09/2017 12:21

He suffers from 'white knight syndrome' and likes to feel he is'helping' whilst realising the rather capable wife at home doesn't need that. Believe me I have a partner the same on odd occasions

If1knewiwouldnotbehere · 09/09/2017 13:46

We're quite logical when it comes to our relationship. Audit very much my idea, one he says is great cause we can talk about good bad and ugly without issues or resentments. So a safe space. We do the same with the family to. Affording the kiddlywinks a say about how they feel. It's one of the things we use to truly listen, which we may not do in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

I can't really see that there is much difference between me having men friends and him having women friends, as all relationships are about intention.Our intention has always been to work together. I feel relationship- wise I'm on my own at the moment.

OP posts:
Brahms3rdracket · 09/09/2017 13:56

Have you told him how disconnected you're currently feeling? It's all very well conducting an annual audit (far too official and business like for me personally) but you need to feel able to raise this any of these concerns at all times.

I would definitely struggle to cope with the excessive support he's happy to give his friend while brushing your issues under the carpet.

If1knewiwouldnotbehere · 09/09/2017 14:02

Yet more exactly this, just as adalind said above it shows cracks when once again someone's needs are more worthwhile than mine.

Maybe the fact I'm so capable is his justification. I don't think it is. I've already spoken to him this morning as I was so angry. It doesn't help I'm on day 2 of a course that brings all this stuff up.

OP posts:
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