I’m thinking about talking to my partner about my fears or uncertainties regarding our future. I am actually in limbo – whether to just walk away, or still talk to him and see where it takes us. I think it would be fair to talk to him. But I also think that the issues are pretty big and it would exhaust me to try to resolve these and it would be really difficult path. Really confused.
My problems are that he has told (and also showed me) that after work he prefers to ‘relax and play’, he does not want any commitments or obligations (this includes basically going somewhere on time (except a concert)), promising to help someone out, manage paperwork or stuff related to boring admin or taking up volunteering or hobby which involves set dates/times). He can manage, but it is really difficult for him (I have to push him and/or it takes very long time for him).
Also, while he has told that he likes DIY and renovating with his own hands, when he has the opportunity he is not showing initiative and waiting basically for me to tell him when and what to do. He has showed interest in doing some DIY, but then mostly it never resulted in action - it has turned out that these are too difficult for him and he has no place to do these and no tools etc (and he has never brought those issues up himself, he just says he will do it, but then total silence for a long time and when I start asking about it, then all those problems are laid out). When I have suggested him solutions, he has dismissed those and the things have remained undone. Recently, he proposed doing something DIY again, and I just pointed out that it should be thought through as those problems he had previously are still present (no tools etc) – he then sulked and said “fine, let’s just order it…”. To me it seems he actually has anxiety about doing these things, wanting to do but then finding excuses and he has also trouble seeing additional solutions? When he has finished something, I have always praised him, so I think I try to encourage him. If he tries and it does not work out, he gives up and then I suggest 100 other solutions. This is apparent in many areas.
He has a rather low-paid job which he finds faulty in many areas (expect the job field itself) and sometimes whines about it. He could hunt for new job in the same field and earn more and have better boss and conditions, but he only thinks about it and doesn’t try (I think – anxiety again). I have tried to encourage him, but no success. I do not mind his wage, I just wish he had good working conditions and he would be happy or at least mostly satisfied going to work. He hates his wage, wants to earn more, but is afraid no one will hire him and so does not even try.
So my future fear is that we are currently in our early 30s. We live in flat, where we could not fit children (we do not have any yet). We would need something bigger. Our wages would not allow us something bigger in perfect condition. So we would need to renovate it over time. No problem for me, I find it very fun to be honest – to save, to build our own home, achieve something together. But seeing his mindset and how he lacks initiative and energy etc, I think we would be stuck in half-build house if we bought it. I could organise and do it myself (I own our current little place and I have renovated, organised etc prior to meeting him), but then I would feel resentful in the end. Even doing all the paperwork and looking for houses and communicating with banks etc would be so exhausting, because he finds faults in everything and everyone all the time and the admin stuff would be on my shoulders I think.
Regarding children, as I have seen they bring along many obligations and commitments and if he sees those things already exhausting, then why would I think he would suddenly change after children? He would be fun dad, would organise for all of us nice days out and would cook a meal also. But is this enough? I have this mental picture in my head, how I storm around, organise admin stuff, renovate house and clean, while he just lays on the couch, cooks on weekends and waits for Saturday to have a nice day outside. I would be exhausted by the evening, but he would want romance and cuddle and sex, while I would need sleep. He probably would do some things, but this would mean I have to remind him, push him, ask whether he has done this or that etc - mental load, which is also exhausting. When I push, he comes along. But the moment I stop talking about something/doing, then he also stops and never mentions it again.
He is a good man mostly, really. But those big things scary me. I’m afraid he will listen to me and promise to change, but won’t and I’m wasting my time. But it feels unfair to just break up and not giving him a chance. Not sure what I’m asking really. How to approach it with him, I guess? He is very sensitive and I am afraid to hurt him.