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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

I don’t know what to do, advice needed

81 replies

SurreyH · 18/03/2018 10:34

Hello, it’s my first time posting on here, sorry if I go on.
I’ve been with my husband for 17 yrs, married for almost 3 yrs; we have three children between us but none together (miscarried 4 yrs ago but that’s another story).
I’m interested to know how others would feel in my situation.
We both work (him full time, I do 33 hrs avg per week) but I do 100% of the housework. This is how it has always been, my fault for letting it be like that I think. He comes food shopping with me most 75% of the time, he pays when he’s there, I pay if not. We have separate bank accounts, no joint account, no mortgage/rent outgoings each month as the house is part of his job; I realise how lucky we are in that respect.
I’m at the point now where I have had enough. Clothes are aimed at the washing basket or dropped down the stairs for me to wash, he doesn’t know how to use the washing machine he says. He wears shirts everyday for work, I have to iron them all; he will ask me to rather than do one himself.
He doesn’t cook, tidy up after himself, do any household chores at all (not even the garden or remembering to put bins out, I text him from work to remind him).
I’ve recently started to wonder what I am in this marriage for as apart from some food and that he pays for our holidays every year (where he chooses, never my type of holiday) there is little else. I suggested we have a joint account a few weeks ago and he said no as I’m “s* with money”. I’m not.
Our intimate life is almost non existent, I feel so resentful that I have lost all interest. We don’t socialise together, he has weekends away where he takes his son (19) as he doesn’t do anything on his own. It seems that my daughter and I have one life, they have another. Our family is very divided at the moment.
Another problem is my stepson, I have been in his life since he was 3. He left college almost 2 yrs ago and has not yet found, or applied for, a job. He is being given work by my husband as he sometimes needs extra help in his department at work, is earning around £11 ph extremely part time, so has no inclination to find a job which pays around half that. He spends most days in bed til 3pm, spends hours on his xbox/iPad, eats once a day, washes clothes when he’s run out of clean ones, reluctantly empties dishwasher or recycling bin when I ask and that’s it. Contributes nothing financially but my husband still pays for his phone and buys his food.
Mother’s Day last weekend made me really think. My husband turned down an invite to go to his family for lunch, saying we were doing something else. We didn’t do anyth8ng else, except he came with me to get some food so I could make afternoon tea and bought his deceased wife some flowers to take with his son to the crematorium. This was the first year that I did not get flowers/card/mention of mother’s day from my two stepsons. I am well supported by my daughter (17) who is almost as frustrated as me.
I could go on but I think you probably get the picture.
I realise that I need to talk to him but I’m delaying things as he has the worst temper and will think he has done no wrong, he will turn things to make it seem like it’s me who is in the wrong. I’m not perfect but all I want is a happy home life, a loving husband and to feel like I’m supported.
Any advice will be greatly received.
Also, I have left him once before in 2008 for almost a year, lived apart for 6 yrs before moving back in and getting married.

OP posts:
AgentJohnson · 10/07/2018 07:47

What a toxic relationship for your daughter to be subjected to. This has stopped being about him a long time ago, it’s about you and your reluctance to be your own person.

No one is going to rescue you, the balls in your court not his.

LizzieSiddal · 10/07/2018 07:57

Even if you can’t make the desicion to leave for your own sake, you should be doing it to protect your Dd.

He’s made it very clear he won’t change. Listen to him!

Velvetbee · 10/07/2018 08:03

This is your one precious life. You deserve for it to be much, much better than this.

Pringlemunchers · 10/07/2018 08:10

Just read through your thread. What more do you need ? It is never going to change, is it ? How many years do you need to spend ( waste ) with this man to prove it to yourself. When was the last time you truly felt happiness in this relationship? If it had taken longer than a couple of seconds to think of answer , then that is your answer !!!

kitchenrollinrollinrollin · 10/07/2018 08:16

I would insist on couples therapy, if you don't want to leave this minute.

ferrier · 10/07/2018 08:19

It will never get better and it will almost certainly get worse. Is that really what you want for the rest of your life - for 30 years or more?

hellsbellsmelons · 10/07/2018 09:15

I can't believe you are still there putting up with his shite!
WHY???
Please look into why you don't believe you deserve better.
You know what to do so get a plan in place to get it sorted out.

AlwaysTheEnd · 10/07/2018 09:28

You need to leave him. Think how relaxed and relieved you would feel if you were in a flat of your own with your daughter.

Granville72 · 10/07/2018 12:59

Why are you still with this person? It's been 4 months since you started the thread, he made it crystal clear that he wouldn't change his ways and here you are, no further forward.

I wouldn't waste another 4 hours on the prat, let alone another 4 days, 4 months - 4 years.

Get out now, you at least owe your daughter that much

Allfednonedead · 10/07/2018 13:44

Why are you still there? He’s no better, is he? Why would you stay with that slug, instead of going off and living a happy life elsewhere?

Cricrichan · 10/07/2018 14:03

The man is pathetic and entitled. Hurling abuse at you because of your perfectly reasonable requests. Leave his lazy arse.

Seaweed42 · 10/07/2018 14:18

What he said just shows his attitude to women.
Just because you two live separately, that doesn't mean that your daughter can't see him, nor you see your stepsons.
All those relationships can still exist, just not in a situation where you live with him. Call it a 'trial separation' if that makes it easier for everyone.
Good on your daughter for saying something. She probably will never say anything like that again though...because she knows what she'll get. If she speaks up, she sees you getting verbal abuse from him.

Honeyroar · 10/07/2018 14:28

What would you say if your daughter picked someone like him? Someone who expected her to do everything and had such a low opinion of her and women in general? I bet you'd hope that she left- you'd think she deserved better.

Unless he has recently changed into this horrible man (in which case it wants investigating) he's not going to change. Surely you're better off on your own?

Gide · 10/07/2018 18:46

And again I ask: what are you getting from this relationship bar grief and abuse? What a terrible fucking attitude he has saying that about a single mum!

pog100 · 10/07/2018 19:08

Why are you still with him? I thought you'd finally realised in March that the marriage was horrible for you and you were better off apart. I was expecting this to be an update as to how everything was so much better now you no longer live with him. Please make it so that the one in two months time is just that? You know you can do it!

AnyFucker · 10/07/2018 19:20

You are flogging a dead horse, love

Do you not even feel a tiny bit embarassed that your teenage daughter had to step up and put him right ?

Where is your self respect ? This man hates women and he hates you.

springydaff · 10/07/2018 19:22

I'll join the chorus of ' why are you still there??'

I could see it was an old thread and read through expecting an update saying 'dd and I have our own lovely place and we're so happy! I can't believe it took me so long'

But no. It's crushing to see you're still there Sad

Of course it's difficult to leave - it was difficult for all of us in situations like this. But you have to do it. No dithering!

Do the Freedom Programme. Asap. That'll put a rocket behind you.

SurreyH · 10/07/2018 20:24

Believe me I am trying to sort this out. I know I’d be happier out of here, maybe not at the beginning, although the relief would be amazing. It’s just so hard, like I said, I have done it before when my daughter was eight. To admit that you’re marriage has failed at age 45 after only three years is not easy, but I will sort this soon. I’m off work unti September and so I have got to do something during this time. I do appreciate everyone’s comments, it’s just so hard and I’m an emotional wreck at the moment anyway trying to be strong for my Mother who is unwell.

OP posts:
springydaff · 10/07/2018 20:32

Do the Freedom Programme. Go along to a course near you. It really well help.

Who gives a fuck whether it's 3 years or whatever? It makes no difference at all. He is totally vile.

Do the freedom programme! Look it up today! Email the facilitators and go Flowers

Zaphodsotherhead · 10/07/2018 20:42

He's cast himself as the 'victim' in all this, hasn't he? He's wronged and put upon and...why, exactly? Because you speak up? Ask him to do something around the house? Ask for some support and him to pull his weight?

Good god, he sounds like a fourteen year old! Has he slammed any doors and told you that you are ruining his life yet?

But he's right on one thing, at 51 he's not going to change.

HeebieJeebies456 · 10/07/2018 22:50

he's not going to change......you've wasted almost two decades of your life being a skivvy and doormat for this pointless, useless wanker, how much more of your life are you going to sacrifice for zero return?

if you stay, god help you if you end up seriously ill or bedbound/needing a carer in your old age.
he's the type to either neglect you or throw you into a 'cheap' shithole care/nursing home.

get out and enjoy your life while you still have the capacity to do so.

SurreyH · 28/04/2019 20:25

Wow, re-reading my original post is really sad as it’s taken me this long to come to a decision. After several attempts at talking I have finally (on Thursday) decided I’m leaving my husband. I told him yesterday.
Nothing had improved and I’ve had as much as I can take.

I start my second job next week working as a bank nurse in a nursing home, I can work as much as I want to which is perfect as I get so many holidays (due to working in a boarding school).
I now have savings meaning I can move out tomorrow if need be, pay rent upfront and a deposit.
I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and wanted to say thank you to you all for your advice.
Now it’s time to find myself again and support my daughter as she prepares for uni in September.
😊

OP posts:
Chamomileteaplease · 28/04/2019 20:38

Brilliant news Surrey Smile. Congratulations on making the break. I am very excited for you!

Allfednonedead · 28/04/2019 21:26

That’s great news! Wishing you all the best in your new life.

Epona1 · 28/04/2019 22:00

Well done lovely. Keep us updated with your progress.

I hope you and your daughter find a lovey new home together and are very happy.

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