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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

Think DH is competing against me

115 replies

Chocolatt · 19/01/2020 06:50

Has anyone ever experienced this?
I don't feel like DH is on my team at all.

  • He seemingly sabotages my organisation- won't use the family calender or 'forgets' to, creating chaos when he has to work late and he's not told me in advance on my late working day and we have no childcare!
  • Never seems happy for me when something goes well at work.

-Never compliments my cooking, particularly when I've made a lot of effort. But will say a wonderful a pre-cooked pie is or a shop bought cake- feel like he is doing it on purpose. I am pretty good at cooking and other family and friends will say so, but he never even musters a thank you.

-seems unhappy when I am happy, but as soon as something upsets/saddens me, becomes happy himself.

  • will make me feel rubbish and inferior by always disagreeing, being overly pedantic, or saying I am wrong about some minor insignificant detail. Yesterday, it was after I kicked a football at DC1s head (instead of at the goal!) and she was crying with a big red mark on her cheek and I felt awful. I told her she had popped up from nowhere as she had been crouched down and suddenly stood up. Infront of her, DH was saying "no she wasn't at all, she was stood up the whole time." Which I felt was implying I'd aimed for her! I became obviously upset and his mood lifted (he had been grumpy all day previously) and he started calling me "sweetheart."
  • He will correct me infront of friends and completely derail my story.
  • Will delay bedtimes, bath times, leaving the house on time with the DCs as if subconsciously to make everything late and me anxious and irritable. He knows I hate being late and appears to go out of his way to do so. This makes him look like happy Dad and me, miserable mummy.
  • I the past has kept money to himself and has complained in the past that I should not have the same amount of disposable income as him as I "only work part time" due to having pre-school DCs.
  • Is only intimate on his terms, will turn me down claiming to be tired but will particularly want it if I'm tired. Also will want it if I have my pyjamas on and never if Im already naked, which I find odd!
  • Ensures he has his freedom and hobbies etc but doesn't seem too bothered about me getting my free time. He will say " you know you can do what you like" but does not support me in doing so.
  • He won't plan our lives with me, he won't sit and discuss finances easily.
  • seems to say the opposite and do the opposite of what I say and want. I just don't feel he's on my side at all.
OP posts:
puds11 · 19/01/2020 06:53

He sounds awful! You’re supposed to build each other up, not tear each other down.

Why are you with him bar children?

Finfintytint · 19/01/2020 06:54

Sounds like you’d be a lot happier without him.

Juliette20 · 19/01/2020 06:56

I'd confront him directly about it, giving all these examples, and if he does it again, challenge him on it at the time, every time asking him exactly what his problem is.

I think some relationships do go through power struggles and get through this phase, but it depends on both of you being reasonable and wanting to make it work.

You can only do so much- you can only point out what he is doing and ask him to stop.

cece · 19/01/2020 06:57

He is being abusive

Weenurse · 19/01/2020 06:58

Have you asked him about this?

funmummy48 · 19/01/2020 06:59

I think it's time you discussed divorce. A relationship should be one of mutual respect and should make you happy. It doesn't sound as though either of you like each other. Sorry. 💐

YouJustDoYou · 19/01/2020 06:59

Sounds like a fun relationship.

leopardandspots · 19/01/2020 07:01

Will delay bedtimes, bath times, leaving the house on time with the DCs as if subconsciously to make everything late and me anxious and irritable.

Ensures he has his freedom and hobbies etc but doesn't seem too bothered about me getting my free time

seems to say the opposite and do the opposite of what I say and want. I just don't feel he's on my side at all

Never seems happy for me when something goes well at work.

Yes all of these things are completely familiar to me too. What are your DHs good points?

In the case of mine I oscillate between thinking it's selfishness and innate feelings of male superiority but then think
perhaps he could be on the autistic spectrum, plus mine has an emotionally disengaged, dominant controlling father so he didn't learn normal mature ways of communicating.

Fallsballs · 19/01/2020 07:46

Sounds like hard work and don’t make excuses for him because he is behaving badly, spectrum or not.
He’s being manipulative from what you’ve described and he’ll only get worse imo. Sounds spookily similar to my ex.

TheReef · 19/01/2020 07:54

He sounds exactly like my ex husband, note the ex. I'm now with a man who celebrates my successes and compliments me. It's such a difference and makes me realise just how wrong and soul destroying my other relationship was.

TeachesOfPeaches · 19/01/2020 07:55

You're supposed to be a team OP. He sounds abusive and controlling.

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 19/01/2020 07:59

Well he’s an utter knob, isn’t he? I think you’d be much happier without him.

Mandarinfish · 19/01/2020 08:00

He sounds awful OP. This is the opposite of a kind supportive partnership. Do you think marriage counselling would help?

Thinkingaboutsummer2020 · 19/01/2020 08:02

Has he always been like this or is a or a change? I noticed a shift in not giving a shit about me when my ex started his affair.

Rosehip345 · 19/01/2020 08:04

Confront him about it. I just couldn’t live with someone like that it’d tear me down!

dottiedodah · 19/01/2020 08:11

I think you should consider Marriage Counselling if you can .He sounds abusive and somewhat controlling as well! Mutual respect is what makes a marriage work .Does he feel good about himself ,or is he lacking confidence ? How does he feel about his job ,is he happy there and in a reasonable position? He sounds like hes getting off on putting you down to make himself feel better! Does he have any good points at all?!

MrsPerfect12 · 19/01/2020 08:13

Gosh I'm exhausted reading that never mind living it. Time for a conversation and if he won't listen it's time to start planning your exit. He'll drive you to hate him if you're not there already. Flowers

Treacletoots · 19/01/2020 08:16

Sounds just like my exH. Note he's an ex.

He's reached a point where he genuinely appears to be getting enjoyment by deliberately making you unhappy. Mine used to constantly put me down to make himself feel bigger.

I spent 6 years trying to explain to him why his behaviour made me feel like shit. His response was that I had taken offence when there was none, that he hadn't said x or y, when he clearly had. That he'd always preferred tinned/microwave meals so home cooked which is why he didn't have to cook fresh food. I could go on...

I can assure you, your life will improve 100 times as soon as you kick him out. He won't change. Don't waste another minute on this abusive wanker. Flowers

overnightangel · 19/01/2020 08:17

He’s a bully who doesn’t see you as his equal, yet is also threatened by you.

He’s a cunt, get rid

AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/01/2020 08:23

Chocolatt

What are you getting out of this relationship now?.

Joint marriage counselling will be a non starter here; besides which such is never recommended if there is abuse of any type within the relationship. If you want counselling go on your own; you need to talk in a safe and calm environment. There is more than one type of abuse here present not least of all financial. My guess too is that your H is all bloody sweetness and light to everyone else in the outside world like many abusers are.

I would plan your exit now from this marriage with due care and diligence. Womens Aid would be certainly worth contacting here. He does this because he can and feels entitled to do so. It is also highly damaging for any and all DC to be witnessing such behaviour because you as their parents are providing the blueprint for their future relationships. They could well therefore go onto meet someone just like their dad and have a relationship with them.

reginafalange2020 · 19/01/2020 08:26

I feel your life would be significantly less stressful without him around!

I left my exH who had some of these traits and now I'm in a very happy loving relationship with someone who does nothing but build me up.

Your husband sounds like a twat!
If you think this relationship is worth saving perhaps show him this thread and tell him to sort his shit out or you'll be off!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/01/2020 08:27

Leopardsandspots

"In the case of mine I oscillate between thinking it's selfishness and innate feelings of male superiority but then think
perhaps he could be on the autistic spectrum, plus mine has an emotionally disengaged, dominant controlling father so he didn't learn normal mature ways of communicating"

We learn about relationships first and foremost from our parents and your abuser of a H grew up with an emotionally disengaged dominant controlling father. That is what your DH is now towards you and I doubt very much he is anywhere on the ASD spectrum at all, you cannot assume he at all is particularly if he has not been diagnosed. It shows a poor understanding of what ASD actually is on your part too, please do not think ASD here and even if he was on the spectrum its still no reason or excuse for how he treats you (and in turn your kids) now. What he is doing to you is abusing you.

HeidiHoNeighbour · 19/01/2020 08:29

This sounds like he is either screwing around or intending to.
He is training you so he can say “she became unreasonable and I had to leave to save the kids mental health” and be the hero.

Sorry Flowers

Starlight456 · 19/01/2020 08:31

And you stay because ......?

Sweetandawfulsour · 19/01/2020 08:36

What a prize belter. Pop on a pair of big girl pants and have it out with him. It’s one thing to belittle you in front of friends etc but not your wee ones.
Take no excuses. He sounds unappreciative and rotten!