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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

Is this the end of the line?

16 replies

Mummatoaperfectgirly · 05/08/2022 10:16

I’ll start off by saying I never thought I’d be in this position.
When you hear of women splitting from their partners because they feel lonely in a relationship and are happier living alone, I never understood it, my view was that if you’re not leaving for another person and it’s just a case of you both living quite separate lives, you might as well still be together right?

How wrong was I…..

To start me and my husband have been rocky since 6 days after giving birth. I had a very traumatic birth that ended in an emergency C-Section and out of the blue 6 days after giving birth, still in pain and medicated to the eyeballs I get shouted at and hurled abuse for over 3 hours, told I’m moping around and crying too much (I had a bad case of the baby blues after the experience) I should stop sitting on my arse, I didn’t thank him enough for everything he’s been doing around the house and I never appreciated just how hard it was for him during the 3 days it took to give birth, all I’m bothered about is the baby and I’m already ostracising him from myself and the baby. WTAF?
On top of that I was told he’ll stay off work for 2 weeks to stay with me and the baby, instead he went back to work 3 days after we got home.
He did call the next morning to apologise profusely and said I didn’t deserve any of that, but that still didn’t stop him from going back to work though.

Since that point it hadn’t really got any better until 3 months later when we had an enormous fight that turned physical. Long and short of it is, he came home from work with nothing good to say, trying to start a fight for over an hour, I finally snap, he hits me and I hit back, hard, giving him two black eyes.
I do not condone this and have apologised again and again for what I did but he doesn’t seem to grasp the fact that if you start fights and come out worse off, don’t start them in the first place. Since that point however, he’s absolved himself of any responsibility and instead focussed on the fact I have injured him, throwing it up in my face at every opportunity.

Since that point he has been more distant than ever. Not just from me but from the baby too, he doesn’t show her much interest at all and it feels like a real struggle to get him to be a ‘part of our family’ if you get my meaning.

He hardly talks to me about anything, doesn’t involve me in anything he does unless I make the effort to get involved in his hobbies and comes home spending more time either watching telly or on his phone.

We had a blazing argument the other night to which I said I want to sit down and lay the cards on the table, no BS just honest thoughts about each other as without that we can’t move forward.
He eventually told me he doesn’t have really any regard for my feelings, when he’s not at home I don’t even cross his mind and when I try and involve him with the baby he feels like I’m being fake. I can’t tell you how much that all broke my heart to hear that.
Before the baby I thought we had a fantastic relationship, loving, caring and overall made a great couple and team, but apparently his regard for my feelings and lack of presence in his mind started years ago, again completely heartbreaking to hear, especially as after my first miscarriage he was the one to suggest trying for a baby again, it’s not like I had to convince him about the idea.

Another problem in our relationship is his relationship with his sister-in-law. They talk and message all the time, with him telling her about our relationship problems as well as just keeping in touch about life. I have raised that I find this disrespectful but his answer is that she is his friend and brothers wife who has been in his family as long as I have so it is not a problem in his eyes. What my real issue is that if I don’t cross his mind when he’s not at home (and presumably not the baby either as we both come together) then how is it so easy to think of her and take the time to message her but not me? This includes day to day things that he doesn’t even talk to me about or show me at times. Since that argument he has changed his password on his phone because he doesn’t want me to go snooping through and overreacting to innocent messages.

He says he loves me and wants to work things out but I can see and feel the resentment in him and it’s eating him up.
We have been together since we were teenagers and are now in our 30s so we have been through a lot together but in all this time I have never felt like such a stranger to him.

I listened to a song from years ago that we labelled as one of our songs and it reminded me of so many good memories and how good it was between us that it made me cry like a baby and instantly knew I wanted to make it work no matter what had happened. Although a few days later I’m feeling like it can’t ever be like that again as I feel he has changed so much and his resentment towards me will always get in the way.
I did tell him about the song but it didn’t seem to trigger any emotion in him at all.

The only thing that seems to be good between us is the sex which is so confusing for me because if we can connect on that level then why can’t we on any other?

I want to try and do nice things for him so that he still feels wanted but at the same time I’m struggling within myself to fully commit to doing that as I am so, so hurt over what has been said so it’s like a stalemate.

I did also recommend going to couples counselling but that was a flat no, absolutely no budging on that one, not even for the sake of the baby.

Sorry for the long post, but if anyone else has been in even a remotely similar situation that can give me some guidance I’d appreciate it xxx

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 05/08/2022 10:21

You have got to get your yourself and your child out of that toxic nightmare immediately. There is nothing else worth discussing. This relationship needs to be over.

YoSofi · 05/08/2022 10:33

I agree completely.

This is an abusive relationship, it will get worse not better.

The sex always seems better in toxic relationships because it’s the only time you have their full attention, the only time they are giving you all of them and you cling on to that.

You need to leave.

VanillaParkersBowl · 05/08/2022 10:38

He eventually told me he doesn’t have really any regard for my feelings, when he’s not at home I don’t even cross his mind

yet He says he loves me and wants to work things out but I can see and feel the resentment in him

He's only saying he loves you to shut you up for the time being. Listen to his actions and behaviour, that is his truth.

Do NOT do couples counselling with him, it won't work.

The only direction this relationship is heading is downwards, please take action for yourself and your baby as soon as possible.

I recommend you contact Women's Aid and ask for help in getting your head round what is happening to you and building up your self esteem again Flowers

D0lphine · 05/08/2022 10:40

You need to leave with your baby. Sorry this is a mess that cannot be unscrambled.

yonce · 05/08/2022 10:41

This relationship sounds toxic from both sides, I don't think good sex is a reason to stay in a relationship that is being described the way you've done it here. Personally I'd be out asap

Wearefoooked22 · 05/08/2022 10:47

Leave he has no respect for you!

SleepingAgent · 05/08/2022 10:52

I couldn't get past the part where he HIT you FIRST and you end up apologising to HIM?????

This tells me so much about the relationship. It's doomed frankly. He's toxic and you're trying desperately to cling on.

Let go. You will both be much happier eventually out of this horrible situation.

PearlclutchersInc · 05/08/2022 10:53

I think you need to have a good hard think - do you really want to be in a relationship where you are so completely disregarded and he has no compunction about lifting his hand to you.

I know you have history but its not going to get any better; don't wait until you're completely demoralised and browbeaten to the point of having no self-worth.

hewouldwouldnthe · 05/08/2022 10:55

Leave or ask him to. This is a toxic relationship

Sexnotgender · 05/08/2022 10:58

You’re in an abusive relationship, please leave.

TedMullins · 05/08/2022 15:15

This relationship is abusive and toxic. There is nothing worth saving. You need to alter your mindset around this, it’s really depressing that in your first paragraph you say you think it’s better to be in a ‘might as well’ relationship than living alone. That’s really not true. Relationships are meant to enhance your life and support you, he is doing none of that. Your freedom to discover who you are as an individual will be much, much better. Go to counselling on your own to undo your beliefs around this. It’s also a really unhealthy environment to bring up your daughter in.

Dillydollydingdong · 05/08/2022 15:23

There comes a time when you have to accept that he's toxic and you'd be so much better off without him. Let SIL have him, then see how long that lasts.

Rowen32 · 05/08/2022 17:03

Omg, that's horrendous, your poor child, this isn't healthy, you have to leave.

Ryah76 · 05/08/2022 17:15

This man sounds absolutely vile!
im so sorry you’re going through this, but please know, his behaviour is solely on him. He is a vile, abusive excuse for a man, he will do nothing but water you down and erode your self esteem.
He is supposed to be the person who protects and supports you and your baby- he’s anything but!
please get out - it will not get better.

ThinkingaboutLangClegosaurus · 05/08/2022 17:36

YoSofi · 05/08/2022 10:33

I agree completely.

This is an abusive relationship, it will get worse not better.

The sex always seems better in toxic relationships because it’s the only time you have their full attention, the only time they are giving you all of them and you cling on to that.

You need to leave.

The sex always seems better in toxic relationships because it’s the only time you have their full attention, the only time they are giving you all of them and you cling on to that.

Very interesting point, YoSoft. That makes a lot of sense.

RedHelenB · 05/08/2022 18:22

He's having an affair, probably with his SIL.

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