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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

Do open relationships work

32 replies

Skateboard · 12/01/2018 10:54

My wife thinks we should have an open marriage because she thinks I then could find somebody that I can have lots of sex with and would love hearing me talk about how I know best, my wife would then be able to find somebody that does not criticise everything she does and appreciates her, she also tells me I am nothing special and she could do better. We do have 2 great children and she constantly tells me they are the only reason she is still with me.

Thoughts please

OP posts:
ClaryFray · 12/01/2018 16:50

They can work, but they can be horrific. In your shoes I'd leave personally.

Skateboard · 12/01/2018 17:09

joystir59- fare one as I did wonder how I would actually find the time to meet somebody else, currently have no spare time.

OP posts:
Skateboard · 12/01/2018 17:12

Branleuse - She is when we're not arguing

OP posts:
Moussemoose · 12/01/2018 17:18

If a woman poster said her DH didn't load the dishwasher properly loads of posters would pile in laughing at incompetent men.

OP's wife is causing more work. Should he just do it again with no comment?
I would certainly say if my DP did something like that and I hope he would tell me. No need to be rude just "if you did this than X would not happen."

OP in relation to your wife - LTB.

Joysmum · 12/01/2018 17:26

You sound like me and your wife is my husband.

I don’t enjoy chores. For things I don’t enjoy doing I like to be as organised and efficient as possible to get it over and done with. It irritates me immensely if something be else makes extra work for me because they can’t do one small thing differently that takes no extra time. The dishwasher is only one example. My husbands thinks in the here and now (or not at all and just does) whilst I’d rather put more effort in early doors if it makes a big difference to the time and effort needed for the whole task.

This is where the similarities end because we’ve found a way around it.

I used to see it as him doing it on purpose or not caring about my thoughts and feelings, my husband really isn’t playing games and just doesn’t think at all. He’d accuse me of always thinking the worst and not respecting him.

So now, we both have tasks that are more important to us and do them from start to finish so there’s not overlap or teamwork required. Eg I do all the washing, drying, ironing and putting away because it’s easier for me to do it start to finish and less cause for conflict. He used to ‘help’ which meant washing was left to fester and then all required ironing. I love my husband, but not enough to not resent him for creating ironing. I loathe ironing!

He does the things that he finds important or that I don’t have a system for that makes much of a difference to the completion.

I think the key things are:
Do you actually like each other and are you both kind to each other?
Does your wife deliberately do things to wind you up?
If not could you appreciate that she’s just different to you and accept that.
Could you both specialise in different tasks to make the minimum st of what’s important to you both and limit the potential for conflict.

From what you’ve written though, it sounds as if neither of you like each other much and she just wants the convenience of staying together without being tied to you.

NotTheFordType · 12/01/2018 17:31

I can't believe that loading the dishwasher difference of opinion has led you to consider taking different sexual partners.

I mean I'm a sex worker, I've seen a lot. But never have I heard this.

Easy solution, get rid of dishwasher and wash everything by hand.

Ohyesiam · 12/01/2018 17:49

She doesn't wasn't an open relationship, she wants to split up without splitting up. I imagine she days it's for the kids.
In your position I would take the kids and go, it sounds like a poisonous atmosphere to grow up in.

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