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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

I want to cheat

116 replies

Loanne12 · 02/09/2021 13:06

Hear me out before you come to any conclusions.

Me and dp have a dc. Our dc is nearly one years old. In this whole time we have been out once together. I know that having a dc is time consuming however I just dont think this is acceptable. We are both very young and should still be , at least attempting, to have some form of a relationship together. Our sex life has dwindled since my pregnancy, initially on my behalf but now it's simply because I feel no romance there and cant go from "mummy mode" to " sexy girlfriend" based on nothing.

Recently though things have got worse. Dp is always tired. Fair enough so am I. But he is too tired to go out, or we are too broke. He is too tired to talk. When we do have a quite moment he is guilty of just sitting on his phone and doing nothing. In his words he needs "down time" and when it does come about he wants to do nothing. We dont even talk anymore.

Our routine goes as follows:
he wakes up for work
I wake up look after baby
He comes back by the evening
We tend to baby
Baby goes to bed by 7
We have dinner by 8ish
He is too exhausted to do anything else and wants to be in bed by 9/10 and is always asleep by ten.

I cant do it anymore. I have CONSTANTLY tried to communicate how disconnected I'm feeling from him emotionally. And he either falls asleep whilst I talk to him or doesnt want to hear me out because its always "late" when we finally have time to talk. I'm sick of it. He shuts me down and says this is what having a baby is. Yes it is to a degree but I think we could at least make an effort to go out once a week even if its just for a walk! We should have time to talk. Now all we talk about is the baby. It's got to the point where talking or any intimacy just feels awkward and like it's with a friend.

I feel so shrugged off and it hurts me that he has no good answer as to why we have only been out once together since dc was born given she is nearly ten months old.

We've been arguing about it alot as well. So whenever we do communicate it's pretty negative and depressing.

I'm not even mid twenties! What sort of life is this. I'm so unhappy and recently been realising this is why people start feeling neglected and pushed into cheating. Obviously I dont want to. That would be going against my own morals. But I'm desperate just to feel that connection with someone again. I dont see why, just because I have a baby someone that I must have a life sentence to a dp those does the bare minimum effort towards our relationship. I've been secretly thinking about speaking to an ex, and getting back with him. It's so wrong. What can I do though? Things dont seem to be getting better and all my life consists of is looking after a baby rinse and repeat. Me and dp had dc quite quickly together so there is still so much we didnt get to do together. Simple things like going to a museum ect...

OP posts:
Sugarntailsnluvlyspicysnails · 02/09/2021 13:11

Have you told your partner what you've said here?

Loanne12 · 02/09/2021 13:12

@Sugarntailsnluvlyspicysnails not that I want to cheat but everything else yes. I told him I dont feel connected to him emotionally, like we are just co parenting rather than actual partners. Seems to have all fallen on death ears. Hence why I feel like cheating

OP posts:
AndTime · 02/09/2021 13:14

Don't cheat. If you are seriously unhappy then break up and figure out how to coparent.

Cheating just causes animosity and bad feeling and there is little chance you will end up with an amicable environment for bringing up your baby as a team.

Freddy12 · 02/09/2021 13:15

If you do cheat you will be effectively ending your marriage as it is
When he finds out, which I think likely what will the fallout be?
If he does not find out you will have to spend a lot of time and energy lying making things up and covering for your time
Better to have a serious talk and tell him exactly how you feel
Seems like you need to have regular time together that you both commit to 100% effort

Loanne12 · 02/09/2021 13:15

@AndTime we practically already co parent so not much to figure out there...

OP posts:
Loanne12 · 02/09/2021 13:17

@Freddy12 I have had serious talks with him! He doesnt listen. I'm at my wits end. What else do you suggest I do when I've done it all?

OP posts:
AndTime · 02/09/2021 13:17

[quote Loanne12]@AndTime we practically already co parent so not much to figure out there...[/quote]
It is a whole different ball game when you live apart and have to agree access, maintenance, introducing new partners, rules in both homes.

Much easier to navigate this if you have simply fallen out of love rather than the acrimony and hurt when he finds out you have cheated.

PlantDoctor · 02/09/2021 13:17

What do you do at the weekends?

Loanne12 · 02/09/2021 13:19

@PlantDoctor nothing. He is usually too tired from working all week and I hate to nag and beg someone persistently to do something with me. On the odd occasion we will take dc out if the weather is nice to get her out. Nothing ever crazy just for a walk or to a garden centre ect

OP posts:
Palavah · 02/09/2021 13:20

Read the whole thing. Still think you need to end this relationship before you start getting in touch with anyone else. How would you feel if the shoe was on the other foot?

Loanne12 · 02/09/2021 13:20

@Palavah honestly? I'd feel like I'd deserve it if my partner constantly tried to reach out to me but I sat on my arse and did nothing and took them for granted.

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 02/09/2021 13:27

I'm not asking you this to be a dick. Quite genuinely, have you considered getting a job?

You say money is an issue and you don't get to do anything with your partner. I'm guessing if you're a SAHM on a limited budget you may not get much adult interaction.

You may well find that the social interaction of the workplace, as well as the financial benefits may help you both.

TeeBee · 02/09/2021 13:27

Deserve what? Half a life spent lying?
If he doesn't want a decent adult relationship, get rid and be with someone who does want that. Cheating won't make you happy.

MaizeBlouse · 02/09/2021 13:27

It sounds like a dead relationship OP.
The answer is to split, not to cheat.

Flowers500 · 02/09/2021 13:33

I agree with a PP--are you a SAHM? If so, getting a job so you both have more money and he has less pressure with work would be a good idea. You sound like your adult interaction needs are not being met, as much as your relationship ones.

If he's a low energy person, he must find being all your adult company exhausting. He might be more keen to date a date every week or two if you can (a) afford child care and (b) he gets days to genuinely do his stuff (i.e. nothing).

Sugarntailsnluvlyspicysnails · 02/09/2021 13:36

Agree with PPs, don't cheat, split. If he wants to be part of his child's life, you'll potentially create a hostile environment if he finds out you've cheated, whereas it might be more amicable if you just walk away.

Glad you've talked it through with him, although sorry he's not listened or taken it seriously. It is shit that he's taking you for granted so early on. I would be unhappy in this relationship too.

User135644 · 02/09/2021 13:36

Why would you cheat? If you don't want to be with him then end it, this isn't Netflix.

NowEvenBetter · 02/09/2021 13:37

Are you dependent on him for money? Why not dump him instead of cheating? Do you want to shag other men while the boyfriend houses and funds you?

Sittingonabench · 02/09/2021 13:37

The issues you have raised are valid but your solution to cheat is not going to solve anything is it? I’m also confused as to whether you want to fix your relationship or whether you’re done?
If you’re unhappy in your relationship and he is refusing to respond when you speak to him and you can’t see how it can continue then end the relationship. It may be that he responds or it may be that you both agree it won’t work.
If you ended the relationship - what would life look like? You could then pursue the connection you desire without adding fuel to the fire and basically decimating any working relationship you have with dc’s father (while using someone else).
I do think that the change to having dc can take a while to adjust to so if you want to fix the relationship and he is exhausted then could you arrange some time for just you two in a hotel?
It appears like this is more of a test to see if he will do something for you and it sounds like he can’t cope with tests right now.

MaddieElla · 02/09/2021 13:38

Just leave.

I promise you that the fallout from an affair will hurt far more and cause more trauma than you could possibly imagine.

Loanne12 · 02/09/2021 13:41

I dont have the expectations that the must fulfil my adults needs. I'm talking strictly relationship here. I dont want him tos it down after a long day of work and talk for hours but some cuddling and wind down time where we acknowledge each other would be nice. I think baby or not that is a necessity and basic for any relationship. I am a sahm and will be until baby is at least one year as we really cant afford child care and I'd have to dive in full time for that to work and am ebf. We always knew when I was pregnant that would be the plan. He has no financial pressure on him as we live with relatives. Most of the money he gets goes towards his loans and debts. I pay for everything dc related and most of our food. I have my daily adult fix interaction by seeing friends and family when I have the energy.

Again.... I only expect one day a week out of his precious time to just go somewhere me and him. even if it is for a couple of hours....

OP posts:
2boysDad · 02/09/2021 13:41

What time does he get up for work in the morning and what time does he get back? Is it a physical job?

if he's tired all the time, is there some kind of medical issue? I mean I've worked some long hours in the past but I usually managed to stay awake past 11.

Lots of jobs are switching to WFH these days, is that a possibility for him?

Why don't you switch to you working and he becomes the stay-at-home parent?

I think there are more options on the table before you press the nuclear button.

Loanne12 · 02/09/2021 13:42

@NowEvenBetter fund me! Ha! Good one. It's been the other way round for as long as I've known him. I've even helped him with his bloody payments so we didnt have people knocking on our door asking for money

OP posts:
mynameisbrian · 02/09/2021 13:49

I cant stand cheats, either work on the relationship and if the other person doesnt want to try , then separate.

girlmom21 · 02/09/2021 13:50

Sorry OP but you seem to resent him massively.

Were you living with relatives when you chose to have a child?
Does your child sleep in your room?

I can't imagine wanting too much intimacy with my other half if we were in his parents house and sharing a bed with a toddler or something similar, really.

You mentioned you have money issues, you don't work and you pay for everything but that you don't have bills. How does that work? Why wouldn't you be able to afford childcare if you were working full time?
Surely little one is weaned now so the EBF comment doesn't make sense either.

How would you be able to cheat if you always have the little one? Why wouldn't you just leave instead of cheating? Because of the security of a roof over your head?

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