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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

Nothing in common

11 replies

Retromumma · 01/03/2021 10:02

How did I get to this stage, after 13 years I’m ready to throw in the towel but I find it impossible to walk away from this man ... I do care about him but he treats me like shit. His first wife died of cancer when she was 39. That’s tough, yes... it was very sad and he went to pieces after losing her, camping by her grave etc... playing her favourite songs over and over at the cemetery, spending hours there ... I though eventually he would be able to move on and I would make him happy. We’ve had 2 children together that he loves and he’s a good loyal husband but his heart just isn’t in it .., he isn’t interested in anything - it’s as though he is existing, not living. He works from home and he never leaves the house unless I drag him out. He has no interests or friends. I love walking, swimming and exercise, restaurants, concerts, gardening, art etc ... he isn’t interested in food and can never eat what I cook (he doesn’t like fresh veg - prefers a frozen pizza)

But the biggest issue for me is his attitude towards my eldest daughter (who I bought up on my own for 14 years prior to meeting him) he never rings her (she now lives away from home) and the icing on the cake was over the weekend I asked him what he would like to do after lockdown if he was to choose a day doing everything he’d dreamed of doing over the past year - he said “nothing” ... as if that wasn’t bad enough (you would have thought he could think of something/someone he’d like to see after 12 months lockdown) when I said “well I would like to go to London, see Sophie (my daughter) and take her out for a slap up meal, maybe see a show ..” he snapped “how much is that going to bloody cost” ... and looked furious. I felt like bursting into tears of frustration and anger there and then but held it together for the sake of our 2 children.

I’m sick of holding it in, pandering to him, trying to keep him happy, cajoling him and placating him the whole time ... I get little back ... little conversation, interest or anything ... he is always a false ‘jolly’ with me or a angry resentful person who I have to tread carefully around ...

I do everything in my own (if I drag him out in a walk he races along wanting it ‘over’ it’s always such an effort I’d rather be alone now) and if we are together alone he will go for hours without speaking to me - he has no conversation, there seems to be little joy in his life, he has no interest in making plans or looking forward ...

OP posts:
bookworm34 · 01/03/2021 10:04

He sounds severely depressed if I'm honest. This will hurt but are you sure he was over his past wife before getting with you? Sad
Has he seen a doctor about his depression?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/03/2021 10:11

Why do you find it impossible to get away from this man?. That is something you really do need to ask yourself here. Is it because you still feel responsible for him?. Are you codependent in relationships?. Why are his needs seemingly more important than yours here?. Do not furthermore be bogged down by your sunk costs. The sunken costs fallacy basically causes people to keep on making poor relationship decisions.

Remember too that the only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is none. You do not seem to be getting anything out of this relationship personally so if you are staying now only because of the kids do not do this for them. Its a mistake and one they won't say "thanks mum" to you for.

What do you want to teach your children about relationships and what are they learning here?. Your eldest daughter moved away from the two of you (and likely because of your joyless H's attitude towards you and in turn she. Given that too she likely does not want to visit you both all that often if at all). You are both showing your children now a really poor relationship example, would you want them as adults to be in a relationship like this awful, not just to say abusive, example?. No you would not and its not good enough for you either.

I would urge you to seek legal advice asap with regards to ending this marriage. You do not have to act on the legal advice immediately but knowledge is power here.

NotAgainNoMore · 01/03/2021 10:34

I also think he's suffering from depression as his behaviour is not normal.
I don't think him not ringing your daughter is a huge concern, after all, you brought her up alone for 14 yrs. It's not like he brought her up as his own as a young child. But it would be interesting to get her view on him/your relationship, which might be very revealing. I wouldn't normally suggest dragging kids into it but she's an adult now and he's not her biological Dad.
Ultimately, I think you should seriously think about leaving before he sucks the joy out of your DC's lives too.

RandomMess · 01/03/2021 10:39

Assuming he is depressed and always has been if he's done nothing about it in 14 years how is he ever going to change?

It seems like you feel pity/sorrow for him and you were his rescuer.

You and your DC deserve to like in a happy home with hope and joy.

ruledbynine · 01/03/2021 10:40

You get one life OP and he’s pissing all over yours. You’ve so much to give and get from the world. This really isn’t enough for you. When you told him about seeing your daughter his first thought was to smack down your joy. For gods sakes get out. He has to find his own way. Like when an airplane goes down, you have to put on your oxygen mask first! You could have a wonderful life but he isn’t the man for you. How did you even end up with him? Did you get caught up in saving him?

autumnalrain · 01/03/2021 12:15

Sounds like depression OP, has he ever seeked help?

AnotherKrampus · 01/03/2021 15:06

So fecking what if he has depression! It still does not excuse putting his wife and DC through hell. Getting really rather sick of this being used as though this completely vindicates a person from behaving badly and being cruel to their partner.

Retromumma · 01/03/2021 18:35

Thanks all for your messages. You are all right ... he is dragging me down and I do dream about a life without him ... I get out and don’t let him limit what I want to do, prior to lockdown I was regularly going out independently and I fully intend to do that again, as for leaving him financially that’s very difficult - it’s not that easy but I’m determined that he is not going to blight my life ...

OP posts:
isitmeorjusteveryoneelse · 01/03/2021 22:09

Is he a lot older than you Op? Maybe it's age thing?

I have a difficult DH and I dream of not being with him. Although in my heart I don't want to be with anyone else either. I have young children and it would be detrimental for me to leave financially, I'd have to move to a flat from a house or move areas / schools. I can't mover closer to my family as it's too expensive and to be fair they aren't any support. So I understand the I can't leave, but I want it better, but they have to change themselves. It's very frustrating and draining.

MingeofDeath · 01/03/2021 22:34

How long had he been widowed before he met you?

Retromumma · 02/03/2021 10:48

He had been widowed for 2 years before I met him

OP posts:
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