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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

Husband thinks I'm a leech

110 replies

queenofcandleford · 24/07/2021 15:36

Husband thinks of me as a leech and blames me for his life. I read part of notes he makes and left in the study. He talks about feeling trapped. Reading this makes me feel so sad and confused. He has a lovely family life and we have a lovely daughter. We have no money worries and live a fairly relaxed life. He doesn’t seem able to appreciate what he has or to settle into life. He always refers to our family home (we are both in the deeds and mortgage and the mortgage was taken out based on my finances alone although he actually pays the mortgage) as HIS house. His mum have him some lump sums of cash which we put towards to house but nevertheless, as a married couple it is our house. I work full time and probably more hours than him but I earn less. I try to be glass half full and count my blessings but he is so depressing to live with. He is dofficult Eg will complain and say “I haven’t had any holiday this year” as if he is a martyr but the reality is that he hasn’t bothered to book time off! I asked him about paint samples a few days ago and he brushed it off saying he’ll think about it. I’ve decided to just choose one myself as getting him to engage is too much effort, but then I feel he will moan once it’s painted and say what he would have done. Hard work. I'm not leaving him but do need help with how to communicate with a difficult person like he is.

OP posts:
SheldonesqueTheBstard · 24/07/2021 17:04

A comfortable life isn’t necessarily a happy and fulfilling life.

He has already checked out and is only staying as he thinks it is easier than the alternative.

I think you are the same.

He left his notes where you can read them as he hasn’t got the courage to end it and is hoping you have.

Admit it to yourselves, divorce and seek out the happiness you both deserve.

Because this is absolutely nothing like happiness.

OliveToboogie · 24/07/2021 17:14

You cannot live like this. It will eat away at you. Your contempt for him and frustration will just keep growing. Time to call it a day. It is scary but millions of us have done it and lived to tell the tale.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 24/07/2021 17:24

He can’t have always been like this as you’d never have married him and had a child so when did this behaviour begin?

queenofcandleford · 24/07/2021 17:27

@BigSandyBalls2015 he's always been quite distant but used to be more affectionate. I suppose it started after our daughter was born. He also qualified then and so started proper work... perhaps didn't live up to expectations.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 24/07/2021 17:28

Would you want your children as adults to be in such a relationship?

What are you getting out of this other than a so called comfortable life?
Which it is not. And you transferred him funds to pay off the mortgage, how is it that you’ve allowed yourself to live like this?. Are you that much of a people pleaser you do not know which way is up or who you even are?..

I am not at all surprised he has had no friends since primary school, why do you think that is?

Ellie56 · 24/07/2021 17:28

I'm not leaving him but do need help with how to communicate with a difficult person like he is.

Why not? He sounds utterly joyless and you can't make someone communicate who does't want to communicate.

Get out now OP and find someone who actually wants to be with you and actually share things and you know, have fun. You deserve better than this and so does your daughter.

Bluntness100 · 24/07/2021 17:32

Gosh that sounds soul destroying, what a way to live your life op. With a man who doesn’t wish to speak to you, thinks you’re a leech and controlling, and doesn’t even want to share a bed with you. You’re just house mates.

PurpleOkapi · 24/07/2021 17:35

Obviously he's not happy. It doesn't matter who's right or who's wrong about holidays or repainting the living room, because your options are the same either way. Those options are:

  1. live with it until he decides to change things (perhaps by leaving)
  2. leave
  3. try to improve the situation by addressing some of the reasons he's not happy. Marriage or individual counseling might be a good start.

If it were me and I had a child with him, I'd give 3 a try.

Hadalifeonce · 24/07/2021 17:42

It is just do tiring living with someone who won't think for themself. Especially when you also have a child to think for.
I even had to push my ex into getting a solicitor when I filed for divorce because I knew he wouldn't do it for himself. I had to talk him through every single letter his solicitor sent him, and to tell him what he wanted from our divorce.
I was so angry about having to do all his thinking for him, but I knew it was the only way I would get the result I needed.

QueenBee52 · 24/07/2021 17:46

OP Im so sad for you 🌸

SpacePotato · 24/07/2021 17:48

in his head it's my fault because he's trapped by me

So tell him to fuck off and be free.

I assume even though you aren't paying the mortgage you are paying other things? Men like this never only ever see one thing. So him paying the mortgage means he feels the house should be his because he paid for it.

He quit his job. Why? Is he intending to get another or does the sudden need to pay off the mortgage so he doesn't have to?

You haven't answered the question everyone asked. Why won't you leave? The man doesn't even like you.

DamnUserName21 · 24/07/2021 17:50

He is unlikely to change and you will waste the best years of your life on someone like him.

This is it, OP! There is no next life.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 24/07/2021 18:11

Why do you want to remain married to him?

tarasmalatarocks · 24/07/2021 18:15

Bad news— he won’t change- this is how he is

Good news— you are married , paid mortgage off and he has savings and investments

I suggest you leave him to his apathetic mid life cliche pity party and let him sort a flat out ( you might be surprised how quick he sorts this when other options aren’t on the table) —-

I think with enough assets and cash you will be totally fine and even thrive— you sound a very lovely intelligent woman and deserve far more than to feel someone is staying because they feel trapped OP.

ElspethFlashman · 24/07/2021 18:20

[quote queenofcandleford]@ElspethFlashman he chooses to sleep in the spare room because he needs space. He never wants sex. Yet in his notes he talks about wanting to be held and also lust!?[/quote]
Yeah, someone else.

He doesn't love you, he doesn't want you, he literally chafes living with you. He dislikes you.

Yet he won't leave his comfortable set up where he gets to be the martyr and simultaneously use you as the punching bag for all his complaints.

This marriage is OVER.

And you'd be far far better off without his dark presence in your life.

Maggiesfarm · 24/07/2021 19:06

I honestly think you should split, queenofcandleford.

There's no joy in this relationship.

Try to work out how a split is achievable - which it is. It's the best thing for both of you. You can still see each other sometimes but as friends.

pointythings · 24/07/2021 19:10

With a full time job, assets and savings and a mortgage free house, you will be in a very strong position in a divorce. And without this man dragging you down, you will blossom.

My late husband also tried to tell me the house was his because he paid off the mortgage out of his mum's inheritance. I told him tough, UK divorce law didn't see it like that after a 20 year marriage. I always worked too - paid half the mortgage until we had DC, then paid all the childcare and all the utilities and car costs. So yeah, he was trying it on.

LuluJakey1 · 24/07/2021 19:12

You deserve much better.

You need to know what he has in his account and in investments.

What is your house worth?

How old is your child?

Given you would be entitled to at least 50%- LTB and take you half and start again. You'll be much happier.

AdaFuckingShelby · 24/07/2021 19:13

Oh dear, it sound very much like this relationship is over.

Ifitquacks · 24/07/2021 19:15

OP, what is the reason that you aren’t even considering splitting, just out of interest?

Strikethrough · 24/07/2021 19:16

OP, when he married you did he vow, "All that I have I share with you?". Do you think his suggestion that he move out but you two stay married was because he is aware that in the case of a divorce ALL family assets would be split between the two of you (the house, the savings, his precious investments, pensions etc.), and additionally that if you had your child living with you more (which I presume he would want, he doesn't seem the type to want lots of sole care of his child himself) he would also have to pay you child maintenance?

Sounds like his plan to move out into a flat but stay married to you was a sneaky ploy at basically getting divorced without having to split any of "his" money with you, while you continue doing the vast majority of childcare without him having to pay you any maintenance Hmm

As a PP observed, contempt is one of the strongest predictors of relationship breakdown. Even if he doesn't ever actually leave you, it is vanishingly unlikely that he will ever stop treating you as his emotional punchbag, because then he would have to start taking responsibility for his own decisions. Heaven forfend.

queenofcandleford · 24/07/2021 19:26

Yes I guess I am not being very strong here. Sorry, just feeling tearful reading the responses because you are all right. I suppose I haven't left because I truly believe in my marriage vows. I also feel that on paper we should be good together. I also hoped that he would change. Unfortunately, as he gets older her just seems to get grumpier and more in his own world. A few months back he seemed really positive and everything seemed to suddenly improve... that's how it can be- really awful and then he makes an effort etc and he talked about wanting another child. So I am embarrassed to say this but I'm pregnant and too late to do anything about it. To be fair, he did actually initiate a conversation about baby names. It's such a mess. And this development has just made everything harder as I certainly can't leave in the next few years now. Please be kind.

OP posts:
SixesAndEights · 24/07/2021 19:32

My ex husband had no initiative, everything had to be led by me, then he could blame me when it didn't go as he wanted. He also blamed me for him not doing stuff. Eg. there was a hobby we thought we might both be interested in, we went to the first session, I didn't like it, so he never went back either. Years later it was my fault he never did it.

SixesAndEights · 24/07/2021 19:33

I also feel that on paper we should be good together.

You don't live on a piece of paper, OP.

SixesAndEights · 24/07/2021 19:38

I certainly can't leave in the next few years

Why not?

Anyway, he's not going to change so if you're not leaving you must put up with it.

Quite handy for him that he's trapped you with another pregnancy, of course he wanted another child and was nice to you whilst that was sorted.

I wish you strength, OP. Flowers