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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

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Struggling relationship

4 replies

whatstheworsethatcanhappen · 28/05/2019 11:08

Morning all. Apologies for long post, just trying to get all info in one post. Not sure if I'm after advice or just wanting to have a moan.

Bit of background - together 11years, 2 kids, house part way done. He's never been social with me, and doesn't tend to go out with friends either. He's pretty much a hermit. He does work with friends though and takes the kids to a lot of kids clubs where he is very sociable but he's just not interested in nights out, friends BBQ's etc. That is fine, slightly annoying, but I'm use to it and happy to go solo.

Anyway, the last couple of months our relationship feels extremely strained. We haven't had sex for at least 3 months (this is a long time for us) so I'm aware this is adding to the tension. The only time he actually touches me is to initiate sex and I don't even remember the last time we hugged or kissed. But now there are all these other issues and I know I really need to talk to him, but communication is at an all time low and I'm no good with confrontation (although all I want to do is have a talk and see what's going on, I worry he's going to just sulk and not actual offer anything useful to the conversation).

Issues ........Not wanting to do anything together, or even as a family – it’s hard enough persuading two kids without having to try persuade an adult too. He works quite a bit of overtime at the weekend and whilst I appreciate he may just want to stay home, once a month it would be nice to go out for the day.

Not interested in discussing plans for the house/ future or to book any holidays. I’m aware money is may be an issue, but if that is the case then why can’t he just say – we can’t afford to do that, and I’ll stop spending time looking at holidays etc!

No interest in my life or work. I feel I could disappear for the day and he wouldn’t care who I’m with or where I am. I become self employed beginning of this year (with dp approval), so I work from home, alone. This is great for me and I do see people on a daily basis, but I find it rude and upsetting that he never once asks me how work is going. I ask him everyday how work was, his response – fine/busy/ok. I do at least try to get conversation going.

Feels like he doesn’t want to be in the same room as me.
Begrudgingly sits at the dinner table until he has finished eating and then leaves regardless of me or the kids still eating.

Currently feels like I have a third child in the house. His day off yesterday and he spent the day playing fifa or football with our ds. Comes to tea time and he has to go in to work – another meal time avoided!

I don't know if I'm just being too sensitive, or is he behaving like a child? Part of me wants to try sort it out but part of me just thinks what is the point.... people don't change and maybe he's always been this way and I've just grown too tired to put up with it.

Just to add, our son was diagnosed with a chronic illness last year, he's doing okay but I know that has affected us all - I did say the other week that all we talk about is our sons toileting issues (not even joking)! Also, it's his 40th bday end of the year - doesn't want to do anything..... (although he is going with friends for weekend next year - which I'm happy about). mid life crisis????? depression?? aspergers??

OP posts:
MelMumsnet · 04/06/2019 16:34

Just bumping this thread for you, OP. Hopefully some MNers will be along soon with some advice and support.

Mishappening · 04/06/2019 16:40

I have always described my OH as a "lighthouse keeper" by nature - i.e. he would much rather be at home than out socialising, or indeed on holiday. Every outing and holiday over the last nearly 50 years has been organised by me. In the end I just had to accept that this is who he is.

Now he is disabled and helpless he wants to go out! Perverse! - and bloody irritating.

Maybe this is just who he is - you have to decide whether that person is someone you can spend the rest of your life with or whether you need to get some joint counselling.

RLEOM · 04/06/2019 16:52

I was going to ask if he's possibly depressed?
Could you try and get someone to have the kids for the night so you two can try and spend some time together? It might give you a chance to have an open discussion about his behaviour.

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 04/06/2019 17:05

I'm not surprised you feel like you've got a third child - it sounds to me like he contributes very little to family life.

Two ideas to start with (thinking of small changes initially): when he's told you about his day at work, do you volunteer information about your day? If not, start that. "That sounds a good day. My day was great, too. (Continue with one anecdote.)" It'll point out his rudeness without making a big thing of it. Do it enough times and he might take the hint?

Secondly, see if you can get him to be more proactive with the DC's by giving him time where he's responsible for them. Don't be there yourself, so he has to do something. "DP, can you do something with the DC's on Saturday afternoon? I'm going to do xyz so I won't be around. They won't have gone out, so they'll be ready to do something fun." That gives you some more child-free time and lowers your resentment about his lack of contributions.

If he reacts badly to these ideas, you might have a bigger problem.

And yes, I would already resent having to "train" him like this. He's acting like a child. You shouldn't have to behave the right way to get him to grow up. So don't feel it's in any way your responsibility to do any of this. Just if you want to.

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