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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

Partner resents me

19 replies

Earmuffs · 12/05/2018 12:53

He's never said it. But from the odd line he'll come out with in an argument he clearly does.
We've had 2 DCs close together and I was really poorly throughout both pregnancies so it meant him doing the lions share at home whilst working full time, which must have been really hard for him, but I didnt get a lot of empathy at how unwell I was, severe nausea and time off work, SPD to the point I couldnt walk, infections, diabetes etc. Utter rubbish.
I began exploring alternate therapies and he was annoyed at me asking him to accompany me, completely inflexible when it came to seeing anything from a different perspective, so felt I lacked emotional support. He would mock the classes I took him to with colleagues at work and tell me what theysaid when he got home and I found it quite hurtful.
I also have anxiety and he likes sponanaeity, a bit too spontaneous at times as childrens bedtimes etc often go out of the window unless I try to reign him in a bit. But he hates it. But then we're left with miserable tantruming children and he gets exasperated so I try to avoid those situations if we can help it.
I havent wanted to take the children abroad due to anxiety (I have regular therapy for this) and I'm happy holidaying in England for now but DH has thrown at me during an argument this morning "you're holding me back. You wont do anything." Ive asked him to elaborate and he won't. The anxiety has improved tremendously and I'm happy to work on going abroad with the children and have said this to him on the past, he always seemed patient about it, but now it seems hes holding back a lot of resentment. I dont think he's happy with me at all, I think I make him quite depressed actually.
I feel he's quietly seething away at the life he has with me. I think he'd rather I returned to working full time as opposed to part-time due to finiancial constraints too, again something hes never said but a feeling I get. My argument is that the housework often falls on my shoulders and if I worked full-time he wouldnt pick up the slack so why should I? On occasions ge does pick up the slack, hes miserable with me as a result but again, says very little.
Before I cam along and the DCs, he had plenty of hobbies, was chaotically busy with a full-on social life and things have obviously now changed. I get annoyed if he assumes he can go off at weekends and leave me with DCs as I get no break. I feel he resents me for this too.
I feel like Ive ruined his life.
But, he never says anything directly, just the odd line in an argument or silent treatment for a day or 2.
I am trying to be more spontaneous, I pay a lot in therapy and have done for a few years, but I also know that the anxiety is a part of me and I do my best to manage it.
I am trying my best.
I dont know what to do, particularly when he's not really talking to me about it.
I feel I'm constantly letting him down.

OP posts:
category12 · 12/05/2018 13:11

Hang on, he chose this - he chose to have dc with you, so unfortunately yes, hobbies and social life end up taking a backseat - that's normal, that's having a family.

For the rest, maybe relationship counselling would help you talk these issues through together?

FASH84 · 12/05/2018 13:15

I'm not sure what to say OP you seem to have very different attitudes to life. I have a lot of sympathy for your anxiety a good friend of mine has very severe anxiety (she no showed to my wedding), however I have thought how hard it must be for her DH too, he loves and supports her, but she can't go to different places even what i would consider fairly locally eg with 60-70 miles, won't go abroad or do social things with groups of people, won't eat out or go to the cinema. He liked to do all of those things before and I sometimes wonder how far you should compromise yourself for a partner even if they have issues. He never complains but I wonder if he misses the life he had before.

Aw12345 · 12/05/2018 13:17

Poor you :-( he should have sympathy for you suffering that much in pregnancy ESPECIALLY. And you've given him 2 DC's? He should give you a huge amount of respect for that. Making a human is hard work.

You feel like you've ruined his life? Like you're letting him down? What about your life? What about him letting you down?

Have you tried to talk to him about it?

Singlenotsingle · 12/05/2018 13:20

He's like a big kid stamping his foot. Is he very young? I suppose you could go back to work and get a cleaner in, but with the cost of childcare as well, it wouldn't necessarily leave you any better off financially. Do you get any help from dp's or ILs? It sounds as though you need a break

Earmuffs · 12/05/2018 13:34

ILs are great and help out a lot. My parents are not reliable. He comes from a much more stable background than myself so I guess its why hes more stable than I am with change/spontaneity etc.
We tried relationship counselling once and it was pinpointed that lack of communication is our biggest problem (no surprise there!) We, uhum I mean I,put some routines and ideas in place to create space for us to talk and things inproved dramatically. I then got fed up of reminding DP about our 'talking time' and he seemed to become resentful of that too, so I let it go and its since faded out. I stopped the relationship counselling after she said that perhaps it was my 'role' in the relationship to ensure talking took place which I thoight was ridiculous when I'm a talker and DP just isnt.

OP posts:
Earmuffs · 12/05/2018 14:21

He's not young, hes 39.

OP posts:
SandyY2K · 12/05/2018 14:25

This relationship doesn't sound great for either of you tbh.

Communication is important like the therapist said. If communication doesn't take place, it'll be a matter of time before you really drift apart and become nothing but roomates.

You can only see it from your side and I expect it's the same with him too.

I enjoy foreign travel and it would have annoyed me to have to stay in the UK ...except I would have gone on my own and left DH. Or I would have taken the DC on occasion too, so that he didn't hold me back.

It takes the both of you to sort this out.

BoxsetsAndPopcorn · 12/05/2018 15:46

I can see both viewpoints. Yours is he choose this to some extent so should stop moaning or wishing for better.

His in that he likely never wanted his children to be held back by your anxiety and wasn't happy he was forced into being the main earner.

Splitting with joint custody would mean you could both live how you want and the children get to experience everything he wants them too on his time.

HollowTalk · 12/05/2018 15:54

I think you're both unhappy with each other, to be honest. He sounds as though he didn't mind picking up the slack while you were pregnant, but thought he'd enjoy life with you afterwards. It doesn't sound as though he does.

I can understand both of you. I know a man who lives with a woman who suffers from anxiety and I would say 100% she's held him back from living his life how he wants to and how he thought he'd live it. They don't go anywhere and I know he's really bored with his life and really resentful of her.

I can understand that you think if you worked full time you'd have to pick up all the housework, too. But you've said he did the lion's share of all that when you were pregnant. Why are you assuming you'd have to do it all if you worked full time?

You say, I began exploring alternate therapies and he mocked this, but honestly a lot of people don't have time for alternative therapies. I know someone who refuses to see a doctor or take meds which are available for her condition but will pay to have alternative therapies and it's quite frustrating talking to her about her condition. Is this what was happening?

PrizeOik · 12/05/2018 15:55

It sounds like you both have to work so hard just to be minimally compatible though.

Why did you have kids together? I'm trying to understand what drew you together when your ideas about what constitutes a happy life appear to contradict each other.
How long were you together before children?

You sound like you are very likely to make each other unhappy long term.

Is it possible to have some therapy to explore splitting up?

SandyY2K · 12/05/2018 16:15

I have to agree with a pp... lots of people think alternative therapies are a waste of time and a total con.

rainingcatsanddog · 12/05/2018 16:17

You don't sound very compatible any more. As a pp said, you should explore splitting up so that the adults can live how they want and the kids gets fun from him and calm from you.

AtrociousCircumstance · 12/05/2018 16:21

He sounds like an unsympathetic self-obsessed tosser.

Chippyway · 12/05/2018 17:31

He sounds very insensitive when you’re ill and laughing with his friends about your classes is just nasty. He could really become more supportive for you.

However, I would find it quite frustrating, if after years of therapy, there wasn’t much sign of improvement. Don’t get me wrong I’m all for in sickness and in health etc but I like to explore the world and explore things/places and will not let children hold me back, and so I imagine how he must feel

I wouldn’t say he chose this life. He didn’t chose your anxiety preventing him from doing stuff. I’m not saying that to be nasty OP, but realistically speaking it’s the truth - the only reason why you don’t have family holidays abroad is because of your anxiety. That isn’t his fault. And if there’s no sign of your anxiety improving I can see why he gets frustrated.

Perhaps you need to change your therapist? Couples counselling? Or maybe you’re just too different..

Sparkletastic · 12/05/2018 17:35

You really don't sound compatible from what you've said. What are the good things about you as a couple?

BonsaiBear · 12/05/2018 17:39

Being with someone with this amount of anxiety and inability to engage with reasonable adventures as a family is wearing. No matter who much you live someone it sucks the joy out of life.

I don't think he's handled some things well but I can understand his resentment. It's up to him to voice that though not be passive aggressive.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 12/05/2018 17:47

You don't sound compatible. You might both be happier living apart.

Amaried · 12/05/2018 17:48

Honestly it sounds like you really aren't compatible any more. I have sympathy for both of you to be honest. You can't help your anxiety and he can't help feeling regretful for the things he is missing out on. Maybe take some time apart.

Sisterlove · 12/05/2018 22:28

I'm happy to work on going abroad with the children and have said this to him on the past

After a number of years you're still working on it, not actually doing it. It probably doesn't seem like an improvement to him, because you've nor gone anywhere else.

I can see how he feels held back.

It's not unreasonable for him to still do hobbies. Getting married and having kids shouldn't mean you can't do anything else. It's about finding a balance, where you both get to do your own thing.

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