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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

Straw that broke the camels back - what would you have done?

39 replies

ostrom · 15/04/2019 09:24

Been reading mumsnet for a long time now but first post. I think I just need to write this to someone.

Last Friday DH came home after having a week away, I was relaxing in the bath when he got in and then planning to cook good a nice dinner (hoping for an intimate evening). He comes in, has a five minute chat then goes out on his bike for an hour. By the time he's back, showered its late and I think it's unfair expecting me to cook. He happily then cooks for himself. I told him this straight that given what we have gone through in the last few months his behavior was unfair and I felt pretty rubbish. He didn't see what the problem was and I was made to feel guilty as he felt tired after a long drive and needed to clear his head. I then spent the weekend trying to make up for me getting angry, I now feel like a total idiot.

I know this sounds a minor issue. Context to all this is we have been struggling last 18 months with a lack of intimacy, he moved into the spare room within three months of us getting married saying he didn't like the mattress which may or may not be true but completely eroded my self esteem (we've bought 6 new mattresses in that time!!). We have been finally sharing a bed again for the last six weeks. I raised our lack of intimacy / disconnection repeatedly last summer and he shut down more and more. Until Christmas when I decided to leave and told him this was the case. He then opened up massively, saying he didn't mean to make me feel this way, he really loves me, what can he do to change etc. And also said that he had been diagnosed with depression when he was 19 and the only time he didn't need to use medication was when he was with me. We've lived together 8 years and married for three. He'd never told me this in all this time.

I always feel like its me doing everything, we both work full time (I have the longer commute) but I do all the food shopping / cleaning and majority of housework - he will do things when I ask but he never thinks!! He's 36 for christ sake!! And yes I have told him this. Repeatedly. We get on best friends, share a hobby together and rarely run out of things to talk about.

We also rarely have sex and when we do there is little connection, once a week tops but during the mattress saga maybe three times in a year... after we'd got married. We don't have children. I don't believe there is another women but I do know he used (whether he still) watch a lot of porn.

Sorry I know its rambling and there isn't really a question in all that. I guess am I just being a total fool (I'm only 30).

OP posts:
TheDailyCarbuncle · 15/04/2019 13:37

It sounds like you have a messy, lazy but friendly housemate who isn't really that bothered about you. That's not marriage. Not even close.

Atalune · 15/04/2019 13:41

I read your post and though immediately.

He’s gay.

And I know how utterly left field that is to hear. But it sounds like a friend of minds situation, almost to a tea.

hellsbellsmelons · 15/04/2019 14:17

It may just be a case of death grip.
But this isn't working for you.
You are 30!!!
Please don't waste anymore of you life on this guy.

Flicketyflack · 15/04/2019 14:35

Are you sure he was cycling? 'I lost track of time' ?!? It sounds nonsense!

This is not a healthy relationship for you and you sound really unhappy ☹️

It sounds like you are trying to salvage the relationship and it feels like you are acting like a mother not a lover.

I hope you find a solution that makes you feel more contented. Thanks

ostrom · 15/04/2019 14:51

FinallyHere and EvaHarknessRose

I did this last summer, stopped doing everything in the house for a month to see if he noticed. He did when he ran out of clean clothes and asked me to write a list of chores on the fridge for him (which I did do and thought this might be the start of a change) it just ended up with me living in a messy house which I then felt more rubbish about (as well as living in the spare room at the time...) I fell into doing the bulk of the household when we first moved in as I worked local at the time (10 minutes to work in a flexible job) and he had the longer commute (over an hour each way and strict hours). So I was happy to do this side of the household to give us more free time together. I guess then when I started working further away it just continued this way or I naively expected things to change / even out.

I also don't resent doing these things when they are appreciated, I enjoy cooking a nice meal for two etc I would do these things for myself anyway if I lived on my own. I also explicitly said it could be as simple as on a Friday night him saying lets get takeaway tonight, no need to cook, or a cheap bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates.

OP posts:
MoreProseccoNow · 15/04/2019 18:01

Oh dear; I don't think this is going to get any better - can you really live like this for the rest of your life, OP?

I may be projecting a bit here, but I was you 15 years ago OP. A partner who presented very well for the first year or two, then once I'd moved in the true colours began to show (lazy round house, selfish behaviour - probably a depression coping-mechanism where he can't think beyond his own needs), disengaged, playing computer till late at night, avoiding sex etc.

Unfortunately, I was 36 & my biological clock was singing loud & clear - so I stayed with him - with hindsight I should have run for the hills. He was not meeting my needs.

He has continued to be lazy, disengaged, selfish etc. And his depression has worsened with life stresses - to the extent he has had extended periods of time off work & has lost jobs through his mental health issues.

I have felt like a single parent for a long time, and these resentments have eaten away at my love for him, to the extent that I don't like him, never mind love him.

Don't be me! Run for the hills!

MoreProseccoNow · 15/04/2019 18:14

And yes, mine concealed his depression until 4-5 years in to the relationship. At which point, I'd moved away from my family & friends. So I've had no support throughout the shitstorm of having young DC either.

To this day, I consider it a huge betrayal.

fotheringhay · 15/04/2019 18:23

Oh my goodness MoreProsecco that was my husband too, exactly!

You poor thing Flowers

I got out, and now I'm doing everything/paying for everything on my own, and it's not a lot better if I'm honest!

Yes to the betrayal thing Angry

fotheringhay · 15/04/2019 18:24

No maintenance has transpired needless to say.

MoreProseccoNow · 15/04/2019 18:31

Wow, @fotheringhay - there are clearly 3 clones out there, with exactly the same personality!!

I'm working on my escape - it has taken me 10 years too long. I should have done it pre-DC, but I thought (at 36) - it was my last chance of having DC.

I'm so glad things are better for you, you deserve it!

ostrom · 15/04/2019 18:45

Wow @MoreProseccoNow and @fortheringhay - I have been struggling with my own guilt at feeling betrayed - I had also moved away from family and friends (he has too) but to read that you feel the same reassures me I am not such a bad person in having these feelings. Thanks for sharing this with me Flowers

I have been trying very hard to get my head around not being told about depression until after we were married (and living together for a long time before then - yes there were signs - but we'd also had very open and honest discussions about physical illness at a very early stage in our relationship which we dealt with as a strong team!) After he told me of the depression and anxiety last year I did struggle - one the one hand it gave me a lot of answers as to why there was somethings I felt were normal for couples to do (attending friends weddings together, christmas parties, drinks with other pals) which we weren't doing that I had at last got an answer for! But yes I also felt betrayed... (I'd also supported him through over a year of unemployment in that time too).

OP posts:
Drum2018 · 15/04/2019 18:59

My first thought was that he is gay. I wouldn't hang around in a one sided marriage where it appears you are simply a housekeeper for him. If he moved to another room because of the mattress why not just switch the beds? That is a feeble excuse for not wanting to share your marital bed. Don't put yourself through this. Leave and find someone who can be more to you than a lazy bloody housemate.

Sarcelle · 15/04/2019 19:04

My first thought was also gay. Could he have gone off to a hook up when he lost track of time?

MoreProseccoNow · 15/04/2019 19:16

The worst thing for me @ostrom is that I was married before & my ex had "issues" (drink & drugs). I'd promised myself that I would never get involved with someone with "issues" eg drink, drugs, mental health, debt, gambling, etc etc for my own protection.

So him not telling me is just such a massive betrayal. Don't they call it bait & switch? Where someone is on their best behaviour until you are "trapped" & then show their true colours?

And I look back now, and realise that he didn't truly love me - isn't love kindness, teamwork, supporting each other, looking after someone else's needs, communication? Someone else has said this up thread too.

Instead, it was all take, take, take from him, with very little give (with depression, he probably didn't have anything to give as was trying to get through the days).

So my questions for you are:

  1. What needs of yours is he meeting?
  2. What does he do for you emotionally?
  3. What kind of future do you see with him, especially if you have kids?

My best advice for you would be to have some counselling on your own, to see if you want this "marriage" to work.

I had counselling on my own & discovered that I have co-dependant traits. It has been life-changing for me & has explained why I have ended up I unhappy relationships.

Thanks for you OP. You have done tough decisions ahead.

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