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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

What do you say when your wife says she does not love you anymore

103 replies

Gutted75 · 06/06/2022 11:26

My wife and I have been married for 27 years, but together for almost 30. We have 3 grown up sons who all live at home.
As I have gotten older I have put some weight on and this has led to less intimate moments with my wife.
I still fancy her and love to get up close, but with getting older, my weight gain and her menopause I have reduced the intimate moments (stupidly) as I thought that was what she may have wanted.
We get along really well, we laugh and generally have good times, so I felt like I was kidney punched when she made her announcement.
She wants to separate, not divorce, to allow her the time to see how she feels and find out why she is unhappy...... what do I do?

OP posts:
EightisEnough · 06/06/2022 18:36

Sorry, just to add that you don’t have to be strong. If you want to cry then cry. Being strong at a time like this is highly overrated. Just be you and how you feel.

Notaneffingcockerspaniel · 06/06/2022 18:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Spohn · 06/06/2022 19:43

‘I really wish men wouldn't perpetuate this "fight for her" idea. It's so unhealthy. She's been completely honest and clear that she doesn't love you and doesn't want to be in the relationship any more. "Fighting for her" would therefore simply mean fighting her, and the truth she has told you’

This.

SmiledWtherisingsun · 06/06/2022 19:58

Have you asked her if she would try marriage counselling op?

Gutted75 · 06/06/2022 20:03

Spohn · 06/06/2022 19:43

‘I really wish men wouldn't perpetuate this "fight for her" idea. It's so unhealthy. She's been completely honest and clear that she doesn't love you and doesn't want to be in the relationship any more. "Fighting for her" would therefore simply mean fighting her, and the truth she has told you’

This.

I don’t see it as that, fighting for her is a figure of speech. I’m hoping the words she used were not the real ones she wanted to use, but chose them to absolutely tell me that there is a problem.

if I am wrong and she truly means the words she said, then I know it is over and we can both move forward, but only if she really meant them

OP posts:
MolliciousIntent · 06/06/2022 20:10

Gutted75 · 06/06/2022 20:03

I don’t see it as that, fighting for her is a figure of speech. I’m hoping the words she used were not the real ones she wanted to use, but chose them to absolutely tell me that there is a problem.

if I am wrong and she truly means the words she said, then I know it is over and we can both move forward, but only if she really meant them

Urgh. LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE! Hear what she's saying to you, and believe her! If you've done this your whole marriage, taken what she's telling you and decided to hear something different because that suits you better, then it's small wonder she's leaving.

MyOtherNameIsMyName · 06/06/2022 20:30

You've been together 30 years. You've been blindsided.

There's nothing wrong with trying to save your marriage under these circumstances and you are not an automaton so it's understandable from my pov.

You could regret not trying but you could also regret trying.

But if you do try be realistic and accept that it may over and there is no way back with her.

It is possible that letting her go is the right thing to do but you should do what you'd regret the least.

I'd echo all the stuff about looking out for yourself in the coming months. It's going to be tough. There's no sugar-coating it. But you are human- forget stoicism and find an outlet for your emotions (not her).

I'm wishing you the best. It must be very tough.

EightisEnough · 06/06/2022 20:31

Gutted75 · 06/06/2022 20:03

I don’t see it as that, fighting for her is a figure of speech. I’m hoping the words she used were not the real ones she wanted to use, but chose them to absolutely tell me that there is a problem.

if I am wrong and she truly means the words she said, then I know it is over and we can both move forward, but only if she really meant them

You’re correct in that ‘fighting for her’ is a figure of speech.

Spohn · 06/06/2022 20:38

Are you saying you think she’s stupid? That she doesn’t understand words that she says? Trying to force her to stay married to you when she has been pretty clear isn’t……great.

Spohn · 06/06/2022 20:44

It’s fine to be upset, and you do not have to be strong.

It’s not ok to try to make someone do something they do not want to.

jaffacakesareepic · 06/06/2022 21:04

Gutted75 · 06/06/2022 20:03

I don’t see it as that, fighting for her is a figure of speech. I’m hoping the words she used were not the real ones she wanted to use, but chose them to absolutely tell me that there is a problem.

if I am wrong and she truly means the words she said, then I know it is over and we can both move forward, but only if she really meant them

I think this comment shows how she has got to this point. Shes not only telling you something shes going to all the effort of moving put and you still dont believe she means it

I appreciate this may be your grief and desperation showing, but if its not you may want to consider whether this attitude of not really believing her if she says something you dont want to hear is the root of the problem

linesric · 06/06/2022 21:30

My ex husband wouldn't take no for an answer after I made it quite clear I wanted to end the relationship. He would say 'we need to spend more time together' or 'go out together more' like I'd said nothing.

I found it unsettling and obsessed as he then decided he was in love with me again. Not saying it's the same in your case, OP, but I got to the point where I despised my husband. It was very difficult to get out of the relationship. I can't bear any contact I need to have with him now, though that won't be forever.

MargotMoon · 06/06/2022 21:43

I find it interesting that you've identified the problem/reason your wife doesn't love you any more without actually discussing it with her. If you suspect it's because you've put in weight and stopped being intimate with her, why haven't you asked her about it and opened up emotionally to her?

If you want to try and save things then 'fighting for her' (whatever the hell that means? Arguing/bullying/pleading?) means both listening to her and then behaving differently.

momtoboys · 06/06/2022 21:57

Gutted75 · 06/06/2022 13:28

I am not sure that would completely be my fault though !!

We have always been honest and open with each other and if she was unhappy for a time, I would've known/seen. I would have also thought if she was to reassess her life and something wasn't right, to talk about that and try to sort things. Equally, if someone is unhappy, what do you do?.....I think you try and and address the reason and move forward where possible, it is certainly what I would want to do for us

I don't think any of this is completely your fault. Marriages change, people get older and want different things out of life. You will handle this the best way for you but I agree with the others who say the marriage is over. I don't think there is anything you can do to change that. I hope you can see your way through this with your dignity intact. Everyone has been in a "please love me" situation at some point. They rarely end the way we want them to.

Gutted75 · 23/06/2022 09:09

UPDATE

Whilst I normally like to keep my personal life to myself, I just thought I would give some hope to anyone who has been (or is) in the same situation that I found myself in only a few weeks ago.

I took a lot of advice from this forum and prepared myself for the worst.

I did some soul searching and managed to talk to my wife in the most open and honest way, probably the most we have talked about 'us' in years. I could understand how she had got to the position we had found ourselves in, but I had not realised how things had got to this state.

We talked and I accepted my failures in our marriage and friendship but as I did that, she also started to unravel her part in our situation and we have started to communicate like never before.

She had decided she was moving out and whilst that left me heartbroken, I accepted her decision and without trying to emotionally trap her, I just told her how I felt and that no matter what, I would always love her and that I would always cherish the time we had spent together (a reminder that it was 30 years!).

The day came for her to move out (the hardest moments of my life) and I thought my life was over. We had made a plan to not talk/message/phone until she was ready, which was hopefully going to help her clear her head and find out how she really felt and to try and understand what had made her so unhappy.,

To my delight, she phoned me 3 hours later and came home......

We have work to do, but I have taken what was said between us and I am trying to make the effort to be the husband that she really wanted. Communication was the real key here, and clearly I just wasn't listening (even though I thought I was).

We have even regained some intimacy as we continue to build on our marriage again.

There were lots of matter of fact opinions on my situation (on here), so I just thought that I would post this positive story update for anyone else who is going through something similar.

There was also some great advice and I thank those people for giving some clarity on what I could/should/maybe do to try and save my relationship. I am not saying everything is back to normal, but I am saying that whilst I always knew marriages are a 2 way affair, it is vital to remember that you should never take anything for granted.

I love my wife, I had clearly started to take her for granted and I had stopped working on our relationship. We had become flat, but I had just accepted that all was fine. All relationships need that spark and when it starts to dim down, you need to recognise that and work to keep that spark burning brightly. Thankfully my soul partner has given me the opportunity AND is happy for us to work together to reignite what we had.

I am sure there will still be a few pessimistic people who read this message, but whilst my 'relationship turnaround' is still in its relative infancy, I honestly believe (maybe naively) in the power of true love, but love still needs to be worked on even in the very best of relationships.

I feel like a kid again and I am enjoying the moment of starting to date the love of my life again xx

OP posts:
peridito · 23/06/2022 11:13

Bless you for updating OP .Has brought tears to my eyes .I wish you everything for the best in the future .
What an inspiration .

Catherine57 · 23/06/2022 11:19

That's great news OP. Be happy.

PetersRabbitt · 23/06/2022 11:41

Awwwww. That’s so sweet.

Congratulations, don’t mess it up!

hedgiehedgehog · 23/06/2022 12:25

Thank you for updating, I am so happy for you and wish you and DW all the best and many wonderful years together. I thought the advice you were given on this page was excellent and I suspect will have helped many other people. I have taken on board some of the suggestions too. Thank you to everyone who took the time to post.

Bouledepetanque · 23/06/2022 19:29

OP,
If you don't want to give up, consider following this advice:

www.alturtle.com/archives/1326

Bouledepetanque · 23/06/2022 19:30

Sorry, just read your update. But read the rest of the website instead!

Dkinsh · 25/06/2022 23:41

I m happy that things worked (at least started to ) better for you op!
your post just reminded me of my own situ, except that i am the unhappy woman.
I have been with my husband for more than 10 years (but just married for two) . He has been the love of my life, my soul mate and my best friend. I have always been supporting for his career and everything and i do almost everything housework-wise. I listen to his sorrows etc etc… however i was not realize that i was so unhappy for a long time until i moved away for my new work (he was supposed to come after i settled down so i got several month living alone) …
i just felt he neglected me and got lazy / comfortable in our relationship and he also puts on weight and had same issue of lack of intimacy (and his explanation exactly same as yours)
anyway i was completely changed when he came to me, and he was shocked at my indifference to him. I told him i want divorce and i dont love / want be with him anymore …meanwhile he expressed regrets that he neglected on me and he has no idea how i felt etc…..so i asked him to leave and give me peace and he did.
5 months later, he came to see me again (obviously he was giving me the peace that i need and not wanting to give up on us because he said ten years together worth effort to rebuild and that “i was the best thing in his life and hated to lose me”) ….but i felt more or less the same way. He stayed in a hotel , and i came to meet him as he was here to see me. He told me that if i still decided to leave he will respect. So i remembered that day i was ready to leave his hotel room, telling him i still wanna leave, and just when i opened the door, he came and called my name, and hold me in his arm and said if i ever run into trouble i can always tell him, with tears. Then when i left he just stood by the window and watched me leave.(i just knew that and i turned and looked ) ….so I went back to my place, burst into tears, all i can think of is that i wont be able to hear him calling my name anymore as he just did. Thats the moment when i knew i cant do it. Because i just cant imagine not hearing him calling me in the most loving way for rest of my life. So i went back to his hotel room after three hours….
and he indeed started to change…
on the other hand my unhappiness is all true …. Its really conflicted…..

HopeIsNotAStrategy · 26/06/2022 03:37

Thank you for posting your update. Good luck!

daisychain01 · 26/06/2022 04:05

CornishGem1975 · 06/06/2022 13:28

It must have taken a lot for her to say I am leaving, especially without any prior indicators that I have seen. But once those words have been said, why isn't the right action to try and do something about it??

Because if she's got to the point of wanting to leave and separate - she doesn't want you to - otherwise she'd be asking you to try and fix whatever is broken.

I've been there, with a husband who wanted to try and try and try - but I didn't want to. It was a painful few months and I wish he'd just have let me go when I asked.

In my own personal experience, men don't want to accept, they insist on wanting to change the woman's mind.

Sometimes they don't even believe the woman knows her own mind and that all they need to do is keep trying to convince her they will change, they will do it differently, etc etc. rather than respecting that the woman is an autonomous and sentient human being who has thought through the situation and has made her own mind up. Hence why the OP continues to question their DWs decision rather than doing as has been suggested and respecting her wishes.

Didimum · 26/06/2022 07:41

daisychain01 · 26/06/2022 04:05

In my own personal experience, men don't want to accept, they insist on wanting to change the woman's mind.

Sometimes they don't even believe the woman knows her own mind and that all they need to do is keep trying to convince her they will change, they will do it differently, etc etc. rather than respecting that the woman is an autonomous and sentient human being who has thought through the situation and has made her own mind up. Hence why the OP continues to question their DWs decision rather than doing as has been suggested and respecting her wishes.

Because if a woman whose partner of 30 years expressed a desire to leave she wouldn’t be trying to fix the relationship at all. She’d be saying ‘OK, seems like you know your own mind, best of luck.’ OK then …