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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

Marraige has been stagnant / going downhill for a long time

9 replies

HelpWendy · 30/03/2021 23:50

So as the title says my marraige seems to be coming to the longest slowest halt.

I am married to a good and kind man. He is a great father and he does his best in life, within the constrained parameters of how he wants to live, constrained of course being my opinion.

We married 6 years ago and have two small kids, reasonable steady jobs and a lovely home. We have it all and I know we are lucky in so many ways.

When we met he was a good natured steady guy, who was such a gentleman (and he is still such a gentle man). But almost to the marraiges detriment, he is so polite, curtious and obliging I dont know who he is, whether what he says he really means and i have no idea what he wants from us on an adult level. When we met I was bowled over but he good nature. His family were going through a funny patch where a aignificant illness came out of the woodworks and I remember being intensly protective of him. I knew we were different, but I thought that was a good thing, put me on a calm steady footing. I adored him but now when i look back in hindsight i was thr leader and he followed or amicably and agreeable went along with me. I didnt see at the time how this would drain me these years later.

I do not think of myself as right or perfect or blameless. I speak my mind, thinkink about life, I'm curious and while enjoying the pleasures of life and people and work hard, I look forward.

But the situation at home is grinding me down and really has been for years, but of course Covid has put an even bigger apot light on it. We have nothing to talk about
I mean he doesnt seem to have anything to say and i see now as weve talked about it, he tries but it feels so forced it feels wrong. We dont have any conversations or small giggle or adult connection at all. I thought for a long time that it must have been me, unrealistic expectation, unfair bordem, or just me generally dissapointed with life even though i had so much, i felt and still feel so ungrateful.

We I am so god damn lonely. I have wonderful friends and i had good relationships, i love getting to know people and occaisionally digging deep or just acting the tit. But with him, ita nothing. I cobsidered ASD, he is extremly monotone, doesnt really ever let go (if he ever laughs out loud it just sounds strange to me, like its a performance for a second). There is no flow or understanding between us. And right now, even though Im even and steady at home it just feels like me being myself just intimidates him. Just having normal banter just seems to make him uncomfortable. Though at a surface, polite and practical level he is comfortable. And i am at a loss.

Doing something special together doesnt really occur to him, and if i say anything he says he can never come up with anything. I mean how is fun and joy between a husband and wife such hard work consistently. How do i figure this out?

I feel like i have no option but i cannot bring myself to ruin our home life (which save for the kids is pretty lifeless) and essentially punish him for being himself. He has done nothing wrong.

He has brought me to dinner twice since we married and to the cinema once. 6 years! I feel a large part of me has died.

Please please help me ....

OP posts:
HelpWendy · 30/03/2021 23:55

Just to add - if we chatted about the future even in a whimsical way id have some hope - but he is so so in the here and now we never talk about the future and what we want to do with our lives and for the kids. The future is just blank. I really don't understand this, how someone is so disinterested in looking forward. To be honest if i feel cheated at all its about this the most.

Sometimes it feels like an arranged marraige we arranged ourselves.

OP posts:
HelpWendy · 30/03/2021 23:56

Grr sorry for all the typos!!

OP posts:
munchiemunch · 31/03/2021 03:38

You have to leave. This isn’t a healthy marriage. There’s a big world out there. It’s ok to want more

HelpWendy · 01/04/2021 15:55

Thanks Munchie, is it really that obvious. I guess i just feel guilty for being me and havibg my needs. Like i have no compassion.

It looks like a ridiculous problem to have in the context of everyone elses problems here. But the thing is its not an easy thibg to figure your way out of.

OP posts:
AaSaat · 01/04/2021 16:17

I am unsure as to why there is a reaction to leave when conversation seems the best approach. Of course it would be a very difficult conversation but nonetheless maybe it can be approached sensitively.

Given that he is polite then he will listen and maybe you can give him time to consider what you have said. Best to really understand what you want, what your needs are and how you feel those needs can be met beforehand.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 01/04/2021 16:21

I was married to a totally uncommunicative man for 20 years.
I think I actually went mad, he was never happy either, always looked miserable.
It was the happiest day of my life when he pissed off.

EssexLioness · 01/04/2021 16:29

Talk to him, before jumping straight to leaving. It is impossible to say whether there is hope or not, unless you have that conversation. Sounds like he is happy ticking along and if he is autistic then he probably hasn’t considered another way of doing things.

HelpWendy · 13/04/2021 22:21

Thanks everyone for these comments. I do feel like i am going mad and parts of me have fallen away and now i am just a robot. I dont know how to relate to him at all, always surface, always polite, always passive, I dont really know who he is. He is a good person but i cannot sctrach the surface of him, i dont think at this stage there is much beneath. But he's a good guy and i am riddled with guilt and heartbreak for him that i cannot love him. We are like different creatures. I do try to talk to him but am met with with a vacant glare, or he just repeats the things Ive just said.

I cannot get past the fact that he is not a bad guy, sometimes i wish he was, as all my doubt woild be easier to resolve.

I am just so beaten and sad by his lack of need or understanding of an 'us' in a couple sense.

OP posts:
Sunflower1970 · 14/04/2021 08:03

I’m not sure this marriage is salvageable. It seems that you have had plenty of time to think and what he has to offer as a person isn’t enough and never will be. Good luck xx

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