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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 think I'm heading to divorce

15 replies

Ladyluna63 · 15/08/2018 12:32

I dont kmow what to do and need some advice. Me and my dh have been married for two years together for 9. I've always worked and kept both of us, he flits in and out of part time jobs but never anything for more than a year of so. My job can be pretty stressful at times and I admit I can sometimes bring it home and not be as sympathetic or loving as I probably should be . I don't expect my dh to do much around the house, I know he gets stressed out about it so I usually just ask for a specific thing to be done like water the plants or wash up etc. I know he has anxiety so I don't mind keeping us both and don't mind doing things around the house when I get chance.

A few months ago out of the blue he told me he wants a divorce. I was devastated and angry that he hadn't mentioned he was unhappy. He left and went to stay with his brother. We did speak about it and he told me I'm always unhappy and ask him to do things without appreciating what he does. He told me I am impulsive and don't ever think things through, always take on too much at work etc etc. I told him we could work through it I would work on my mood and do more around the house to take pressure off etc etc, as you do.

Last week he announced that he is going to stay with his brother (100 miles away) because he can't deal with life at the moment, he needs to find a job so he will look there and come back at weekends and other couples live this way. He told me I again take on too much and the stress is too much for him. He said I make all the decisions and decide how we are going to live and what I'm going to do work wise without consulting with him.

I asked how long this arrangement is for, he told me I could change my job and work less if he finds a job and we can both contribute to the house. So after it had settled down I asked him what the plan will be if I leave my job and we move as I will take a significant pay drop and need to know how we are going to do it, like now or in a few months etc. He didn't have any answers. So I asked if the plan is for us both to move and then live together or not, he said nothing and told me he doesn't know.

We sho talk every day even though he's at his brothers, but he won't really speak out our marriage or the plan. The more I think about it the more hurt I feel. He seems so indifferent towards me and our marriage. I don't want a marriage where we live in two different places and only see each other now and then. And I don't want a marriage that falls apart every time there's hard times or I have a difficult time at work and therefore can't devote my time to my husband.

I love him and want my marriage to work I wouldn't have dedicated 9 years to us if o didn't. But I'm at a loss of what to do. I feel like I'm holding on to something that might not happen.

I think I just need someone to tell me life will work out ... I feel like such a failure and a bad person

OP posts:
Singlenotsingle · 15/08/2018 12:40

I'm surprised it's lasted this long tbh. You do everything, you bring in the money, you support him, you do most, if not all, of the housework. I know you say you want the marriage to work, but he doesn't. He whinges and moans, complains about stress (what stress?) and goes to live 100 miles away. Give up on this one, OP, it's never going to work.

Rednaxela · 15/08/2018 12:47

So he has got you coming and going.

Option a. You apparently are controlling him by making all the decisions.

Option b. You seek to stop doing option a and try asking him what changes he wants to see and what his ideas or plans are for you future together. Turns out he is silent and doesn't have any idea of what he wants.

Either way he gets to play the victim!

You deserve to be with someone who is 100% committed to you and excited to build a future with you.

Musti · 15/08/2018 12:50

Jesus leave him. He is acting like a spoiled toddler whilst you're running around doing everything and then has the gaul to accuse you of being impulsive???

HollowTalk · 15/08/2018 12:50

I would've ripped his head off by now! He does nothing all day and moans because you're busy? If he pulled his weight you wouldn't have to work so hard.

Let him go to his brother's. Let him find work there (good luck to him on that front, without you helping him.) Have a new life for yourself, eventually with someone who's an equal.

BunnyCarr · 15/08/2018 12:57

He's a cheeky bastarding cocklodger.
I'd tell him to jog on and proceed towards a divorce.
You need to research the idea of sunk costs and understand how it applies to you.

HollowTalk · 15/08/2018 13:05

Yes, Google "Sunk Costs Fallacy in Relationships" - this is what you're doing by saying, "I've invested 9 years..."

Oly5 · 15/08/2018 13:08

What exactly does he do all day while you’re working FT and doing most of the housework so he doesn’t have to?

mydogsayswoof · 15/08/2018 13:12

Aye he's a cocklodger op.

AynRandTheObjectivist · 15/08/2018 13:20

Oh just get rid. It's never too late to cut your losses.

RatherBeRiding · 15/08/2018 13:25

Why on earth do YOU feel like the failure/bad person? What have you ever done but work had to keep a roof over both your heads, and make the decisions your H obviously can be arsed to make.

He may well have anxiety - but that's not a free pass to play the martyr. Is he doing anything about it? Getting treatment?

Regardless of who is right and who isn't, you both sound deeply incompatible and the relationship sounds dead in the water.

Leave him where he is. Just live on your own for a bit and see how it feels. Much better, would be my guess.....

AgentJohnson · 15/08/2018 13:47

Wow! Isn’t he quite the CF. Complains about not be included in decisions and then makes a serious of unilateral ones.

In your desperation to hold on to this poor excuse of an adult, you’ve become quite the doormat and just when you were getting comfy in your role as doormat, he ups the ante. He doesn’t want a wife, he wants a Mum, someone who takes all responsibility but shouldn’t expect anything in return. If you want a partnership, you’re with the wrong guy.

I suspect he’s trialing a life without you (there’s sure to be a woman or women in the background) but isn’t quite ready to burn his bridges. So he blames you to keep you on your toes so that you’re distracted enough not ask the obvious questions.

If I were you I would cut this CF off financially and see how grown up he is to make all these decisions without Mummy bankrolling his entitled arse.

Why are you being such a doormat?

Trinity66 · 15/08/2018 14:17

Oh god, let him and go and stay gone, change the locks on his way out. What do you get out of the relationship? You do all the housework, pay all the bills, work all day and then come home to him telling you that you're still not good enough? Whaaat?

LozSimmo · 15/08/2018 14:27

You're being taken for a fool and over the last 9 years he has brainwashed you into your current way of thinking. I suspect he is somewhat intimidated by a strong, independent woman. He is definitely playing the boo hoo poor me victim card and you're 100% falling for it. If it were me and he wasn't working he would be doing 100% of the housework and possibly the cooking too. Make SOME contribution fgs man. Ditch him, he's used you for 9 years, don't dedicate anymore time to this waste of oxygen. And then, my dear, your life WILL work out perfectly well .....

AttilaTheMeerkat · 15/08/2018 14:34

I have some questions for you:-

What did you learn about relationships when growing up?
What do you get out of this relationship now?. Something has kept you with this person so what is it?. He was never your project to rescue and or save.

Read up on the "sunken costs fallacy in relationships" because that is what you have been saying here really. A bad investment however, is not suddenly going to become good. You really do need to divorce him.

Butterfly44 · 15/08/2018 14:45

I would leave. If my other half didn't want to be with me or make it work then he doesn't deserve all I have to give. I'm worth more than that! Sounds like he's made up bus mind...the blaming you is a cop out for his lack of feeling. You can't make someone feel the same way you do. It's a horrible lesson to learn. But you have a lot going for you and deserve more. Hard to imagine how but you will get through this. It's his loss. Leave and bake a new life for yourself. He's certainty doing the same 💐

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