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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

DH says I've changed

67 replies

ScatteredMama82 · 10/01/2022 11:06

He said I seem unhappy, he doesn't know how to make me happy anymore. He said I'm not interested in him, in sex, I'm not grateful enough for things (e.g. Christmas presents). I'm never spontaneous.

I'm devastated he sees me like this.

OP posts:
trickytimes · 10/01/2022 12:01

So your life has had massive changes. That’s a big shift from him being away to being at home. That puts a lot more pressure on sharing the load and sex. When he’s away you don’t have to get sexy every day. Weekend/monthly sex is a lot more exciting/interesting. Is that part of it?

trickytimes · 10/01/2022 12:02

I was in a long distance relationship for 4 years. It was brilliant. Weekends were fun and great sex and good laughs. The problems started when we started living together.

trickytimes · 10/01/2022 12:03

Are you actually happy having him around all the time or were you happier when he was away? Time for some tough questions to yourself. You don’t have to stay married if you’d rather he wasn’t around. That’s ok.

Abbo552 · 10/01/2022 12:04

@ScatteredMama82

Thanks everyone, some really good points here. I'm still unpicking it myself, and the reason I'm not screaming 'he's wrong, i'm fine' is he does have a point to an extent. There is back story, we've had a hell of a lot going on in the last few years. He's not a dick, not at all. He isn't telling me I'm unhappy, he's telling me that I seem unhappy and he feels like he can't do anything right.

Some backstory - his mother is toxic. He's gone VLC with her in the last few months, lots of trauma in there for him historically. His Dad died in the summer. I think that has brought a lot of feelings to the surface for him.

He's military and was posted away for 3 years, home only at weekends and hols. I got into 'cope' mode and did everything. He's now home again with a local posting and we're finding it hard to readjust to being together all the time.

The adjustment period can be tricky, my father was military and was posted away for long periods as well and I grew up not really knowing him, when he got a local posting and was home every night, there was a period of having to get to know my own father again It’s hard work
IamGusFring · 10/01/2022 12:09

He's a bit like the men who travel for work who live in hotels , eat out etc . They struggle to adapt to everyday life . This is a big change for both of you but I also have thoughts about the "you don't seem happy " thing that he is trying to put this all onto you . Have your serious talks now , agree to review in a month or so but keep your eyes and ears open for anything suspicious .

TheVanguardSix · 10/01/2022 12:26

Oh that is so sad. But it doesn't sound unsalvageable. It sounds like during those 3 years apart, something got a little lost and you're getting to know each other again in a day-to-day setting, which can be tiring, hard, mundane, especially when raising kids (sorry kids! We love you but...). Also, you probably had your own 'system' while coping and that's been disrupted by his return. You probably feel a bit of guilt too because you're supposed to be overjoyed that he's back in the family home, full-time. Well, it's a huge adjustment. Go easy on yourself, OP. It's going to be a bit wobbly.
He too would have had ways of going about his day-to-day life when the pair of you were apart.
It really sounds like you've just got to tighten up the loose connections- easier said than done, I know.
How are you finding being home with him day in and day out? How is he adapting to life as it is now?
I had a similar marriage in this respect: My MIL was as toxic as they come but lived in another country which helped. FIL was local to us, in our lives, an amazing soul and a real second father to me. His death was, like almost every loss, enormous. It opened up lots of old wounds and trauma for my then-husband. Toxic MIL had been on NC status, then became VLC following FIL's death, then regular weekly Skypes became a thing, etc. and it was so invasive and so damaging to my then-husband, to our marriage really (which was going to fail anyway and not because of anything to do with me or even his own family in the end). I really understand the low-level threat that comes with having a toxic MIL, even one who is VLC. I wonder if having him home full-time brings your toxic MIL that little, teeny, tiny bit more into the family picture. That in itself is another discomfort to come to terms with.
Anyway, reconnecting... it's something to talk about together- getting to know each other again as a couple, as a family. How are the kids doing with dad home all the time?
Take it easy. Cut each other slack, hug each other, understand that you are facing this difficult task of reconnecting but do so with love and patience (and with some good days out as a family, as a couple, you can do this). I hope you can find peace again in your marriage.

There really is always the possibility that maybe you've outgrown him. Maybe his presence in the home isn't a positive one for you and he's picking up on that. Just a thought. But sometimes, time calls time on a marriage and it's very sad but something that can't be reversed. I hope that's not the case, but it's ok to explore that possibility too. Flowers

BlingLoving · 10/01/2022 12:31

Sounds to me like you need to work together to sort this. So, agree together a split of responsibilities. Please don't "delegate" him tasks. Rather, agree that he is 100% responsible for eg school uniform including washing, buying new, knowing the right day etc or cooking including meal planning, prep, shopping or whatever works for you both. The key is that you are no longer responsible for keeping it all in your head.

Also agree what you can each do as a couple to make things easier and better for each other. Eg something you'd like him to do and vice versa. Also, what time can you carve out to spend fun time together and/or as a family.

These things do take work I think but if you are both willing to do the work, it can be fixed.

StopStartStop · 10/01/2022 12:34

All your fault, eh?

SunflowerTed · 10/01/2022 12:34

Why don’t you get some child care sorted and go away for a night to reconnect/have some decent time to have frank discussion? He might have said all those things to open up a dialogue (albeit he did it clumsily)! If you both want it to work maybe there are things to work on x

SafeMove · 10/01/2022 12:47

You sound really fed up in your posts. I hope you are okay. I do hope you get this sorted. The fact that you are communicating about this is a good step. What do you think he is worried about? What are you worried about? Start with 'I' statements first. It will help you drill down what you are both feeling.

GiantHaystacks2021 · 10/01/2022 12:51

Read The Script.
He's started using it.

Is he sulking 'cause he feels he doesn't get enough attention meaning sex ? That's usually their issue. diddums.

trickytimes · 10/01/2022 13:37

Is he now expecting daily sex now he’s home and not getting it? My friend went through this with her partner who worked away mon through Friday. Covid hit and he was furloughed and he had nowt going on and wanted daily “afternoon delight” because that’s all he had to worry about. She had home stuff plus still working full time on a Covid ward so her life was busier than ever plus cleaning up after him now but he was loving life. Does the home work now need to be divided out. Is he doing school runs and housework now he’s home?

timeisnotaline · 10/01/2022 13:40

I have two kids and a full time job, if my dh were away for most of 3 years I think I’d want a week in a beautiful resort on my own, not a romantic reconnect weekend as someone suggests tbh. That is quite a load. Can you take some time out now he’s around ?

PearlD · 10/01/2022 13:48

Sounds like a lot has changed in your relationship, not only you. It's a massive thing for him to be home from posting and around more, and that will take a load of adjustment from both of you. It's not you or him necessarily, but the situation is putting pressure on your relationship. It's not fair of him to place the blame at your door, and he should be pulling his weight now he's back. Sounds like you could do with having a bit of an "audit" and communicating about where your'e both at, maybe a third party could help keep that constructive, could you consider a relationship counselor?

Wreath21 · 10/01/2022 13:53

Also (you don't have to share details if you'd rather not) could he have PTSD? It's just that you mention him being in the forces and it is very, very common for military personnel to struggle when they return to civilian life, particularly if they have been somewhere with a high level of danger and conflict.

SunflowerTed · 10/01/2022 13:54

@timeisnotaline

I have two kids and a full time job, if my dh were away for most of 3 years I think I’d want a week in a beautiful resort on my own, not a romantic reconnect weekend as someone suggests tbh. That is quite a load. Can you take some time out now he’s around ?
That doesnt really relate to what OP is saying being by herself - what is that going to resolve? Also, who mentioned a romantic reconnect? Might be good if you re-read her post before commenting.
MizzFizz · 10/01/2022 14:13

I wonder if he's projecting... Hearing his dad has died, he could be having a midlife crisis, and is suddenly unhappy in your marriage (and, as some PPs have said, starting to use "The Script"). The death of someone close is a common trigger for a midlife crisis...

StopStartStop · 10/01/2022 14:19

@GiantHaystacks2021

Read The Script. He's started using it.

Is he sulking 'cause he feels he doesn't get enough attention meaning sex ? That's usually their issue. diddums.

That was my first thought, too.
ScatteredMama82 · 10/01/2022 14:33

Projection crossed my mind, but I have no reason to think he's cheating. Nothing suss on that front. I've gone through every emotion so far today, from sobbing to rage. I've taken the time to write down things that come into my head so we can have another chat tonight. We had a long chat last night, the outburst was down to me getting angry at him for being short-tempered with the kids over something that was entirely his own fault. He was quiet all day and visibly fuming by the evening. Once the kids were in bed this discussion came about.

OP posts:
ScatteredMama82 · 10/01/2022 14:34

The truth is I don't know what I want to happen next. I think I want to try and fix things, but I don't want to feel I can't every criticise him or be angry, or be a bit 'down in the dumps' one day lest I get accused of being miserable.

OP posts:
YukoandHiro · 10/01/2022 14:36

Can you go to couples counselling? It will really help you communicate as you go through this patch working things out one way or another

ScatteredMama82 · 10/01/2022 14:38

@YukoandHiro

Can you go to couples counselling? It will really help you communicate as you go through this patch working things out one way or another
I'll suggest it, I think that's worth trying
OP posts:
2DogsOnMySofa · 10/01/2022 14:42

My friend is married to someone in the navy and he's away for long periods of time. This has also caused issues now he's on shore leave for a long time. I think the issues are (and probably similar to yourself) is that when he got home they had a great time, always went on holiday, was lovely to see each other and 'life' was almost on hold for the few weeks or months, you could call it 'not real life', and then he'd go again. It did take some adjusting, but in a good way, plus she had a great social life whilst he was away to keep herself busy.

When this stopped and he went back to working on shore it was a bit of a shock, as life just 'happened', they couldn't maintain the holidays, evenings out, sex, intimacy that they did when he was home for short periods. Plus she still wanted to see her friends (not to the same level but wanted to keep some of her hobbies), he wanted to be entertained and they had the 'you're not as happy as you used to be'. But they were, just not in the same way.

Maybe you could both see a councillor to thrash this out, sounds like you've both been through a lot ontop of a change in lifestyle together.

notacooldad · 10/01/2022 14:45

Normal people don’t speak like your husband. They don’t “tell” someone they are unhappy they ASK are you ok?
But he didn't.
He said she seemed unhappy. He didnt tell that she was.

You’re married to a selfish prick
Bloody helll, calm down!!!

Abbo552 · 10/01/2022 15:02

@trickytimes

Is he now expecting daily sex now he’s home and not getting it? My friend went through this with her partner who worked away mon through Friday. Covid hit and he was furloughed and he had nowt going on and wanted daily “afternoon delight” because that’s all he had to worry about. She had home stuff plus still working full time on a Covid ward so her life was busier than ever plus cleaning up after him now but he was loving life. Does the home work now need to be divided out. Is he doing school runs and housework now he’s home?
Is he now expecting daily sex now he’s home and not getting it

Wow, I have some straws over here if you want to grasp at them