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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

I don't know if I want to be with my husband anymore...

37 replies

Rosie215 · 06/10/2022 16:16

I've been married to my husband for 4 years (together 8). I'm 27 & him 29 so obviously we met & married pretty young. He is not a bad person at all and this is why I'm struggling. I feel like I want 'more' but it's hard sometimes to put my marriage into perspective.
Lets start with the good parts...He is very loyal, I trust him completely and he makes me laugh everyday. He is very kind and everyone that meets him thinks he's great and he's fully part of my family who all seem to adore him. He is all I've ever known really. He will compliment me etc, and we hold hands, normal couple stuff. We enjoy spending time together for the most part & have a busy life doing things together.
However, I've also had a few niggles shall we say, and over the years I feel like they've built up to the point now where I'm questioning if this is actually the man I want to be with. He is a very placid person, I wouldn't go as extreme to say lazy but I do have to always ask him to help me with everything around the house. If I don't take the initiative and ask for help with something, I wonder if it would ever get done. He would never willingly go & empty the dishwasher for example or plan a food shop, do a washing load, or clean the house.
I plan our entire life, days out, holidays, finances (he doesn't even know how to see our online banking despite me telling him what he needs to do so never knows what money we have each month left over), so I feel like all of life's burdens are on me as he has no clue about anything. He would never randomly book a surprise trip for us, plan a meal our for a special occasion or buy me flowers, the thought wouldn't' even cross his mind.
The other major niggle I have is his drinking habits. He is not an alcoholic or violent or gets nasty with drink whatsoever, but he seems incapable of going just 1 evening without a beer. I often get home around 45 minutes after him and he's sitting in his pants gaming with a few cans of beer around him. Every night it's the same and he will continue having cans of beer until bed time. If we plan a meal out somewhere he doesn't really want to go if he can't drink so I drive which again makes me resent him.
The gaming is another niggle. Although in the same room (he has a separate TV) he games all night and I watch TV. He doesn't seem to want to watch anything together as he says TV doesn't interest him. We end up filling our evenings up with going to the pub with friends, seeing family, going out for dinner as I find it so boring being at home all evening feeling alone.
...now all this has built up and we are now at the point where kids is the next step and I know people around us are expecting this. I do want kids but I just can't imagine having kids with this man currently. I feel like I'll always have to ask for help with things, he will continue gaming and my life won't be any easier with him in my life...also just to add that we also haven't been intimate for nearly 6 months as I just have no desire to and he hasn't really initiated anything for the past few months either...
I have no idea if I can look past these 'negatives' or if he will eventually be on the same page with me, or if I'm being too harsh as he is such a lovely man. Any advice would be gratefully received. I honestly think I may have fallen out of love with him which does make me sad.

OP posts:
WeThreeKingsofOrientAre · 06/10/2022 16:19

From reading your message, my thoughts are that you have outgrown him and your romantic relationship has run its course.

WeThreeKingsofOrientAre · 06/10/2022 16:20

My advice is to raise your feelings in a discussion with him. Tell him what you want and describe what it looks like and then consider his reaction and response.

DoodlePug · 06/10/2022 16:27

Have you spoken to him about it?

A lot of what you've said applies to my DH, I took on all the life admin and he let me. I possibly got annoyed when he did things that weren't top of my list first or not in the way I'd want it done so I think I taught him to wait until asked. Once asked he's excellent, does it straight away to a reasonable standard and doesn't expect a medal.

It took me years to realise it was an issue. Then I spoke to him. Its very hard to untangle now because I know everything but he's trying.

Anyway that would he a good place to start on that issue.

The tv:gaming is interesting. Why should he watch TV with you rather than you join him in gaming?

But honestly, it sounds like you're realising this isn't the man you want in life. Have a really good think and move on quickly if that is the case. Then you will both be able to find someone for a new happier life.

Unanananana · 06/10/2022 18:43

Have you accidently married a 16 year old? Because that is what he sounds like.

He needs to contribute to the household and grow up. Please don't get pregnant by him.

I would advise leaving though. You are worth more than being someones skivvy for life.

Hitatiks · 06/10/2022 18:49

Don’t have children with this lazy fucker. You will grow to hate him.

He’s not lovely. He’s lazy and entitled. He seems to see you in terms of what you give to him. The compliments about about the nice feelings he has about you.

A good man would see you as a person he respects and would not leave all the housework and life organization and life thinking to you. If he could see you as a person, he would see all you do and contribute equally. He doesn’t as he is entitled.

You’ll end up miserable if you procreate with this man.

GoneBeserk · 06/10/2022 18:51

My first partner was somewhat like this (but without the drinking). For me it was with some very peculiar fetishes that gave me major ick and really that was the end of that, but even without that I know we would have split up. I had no interest in carrying a passenger through life; I wanted a partner not a pet.

I'm sorry to say but i don't think you'll reform him; I think it's over.

SquishyGloopyBum · 06/10/2022 18:52

What makes you say he's not an alcoholic op? Drinking cans every night would suggest otherwise...

Don't bring kids into this.

hangryorhungry · 06/10/2022 18:56

He is not an alcoholic or violent or gets nasty with drink whatsoever, but he seems incapable of going just 1 evening without a beer. I often get home around 45 minutes after him and he's sitting in his pants gaming with a few cans of beer around him. Every night it's the same and he will continue having cans of beer until bed time. If we plan a meal out somewhere he doesn't really want to go if he can't drink so I drive

Sounds very much like he's alcohol dependent to me.. honestly, the 'niggles' are pretty huge and fatherhood will be a damn big shock for him. Sorry, but for me these things would not be what I seek in a partner for life.

funnelfanjo · 06/10/2022 18:56

Drinking every night, incapable of going 1 night without and only going on nights out where he can drink? Big red flag for problem drinking right there.

bigblueyonder · 06/10/2022 18:57

Sounds like he is quite immature and needs to do a lot of growing up. You need to decide whether you want to risk hanging around waiting for this to happen, or not.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/10/2022 19:16

What are you getting out of this?. You met this man when you were 19 and so had no real life experience behind you. What did you learn about relationships from your parents example.

indeed he not lovely but lazy and entitled. You’re enabling and facilitating him here, is this how you want to continue? I would hope not. And as for he being loyal that’s not much of a ringing endorsement for him either. Do not ever bring a child into this dysfunctional relationship.

You may not think he is an alcoholic but what is your own definition of alcoholism?. It’s how you are affected by his drinking that is important here and you are affected by his drinking. What is the longest period of time to your direct knowledge he has gone without alcohol?.

Aquamarine1029 · 06/10/2022 19:23

The drinking alone should be a deal breaker. The life admin stuff is every bit your fault as it is his. You've allowed him to get away with doing nothing for years, he certainly isn't going to change now.

Bottom line, you've outgrown him and this relationship just doesn't work for you. Please don't make the catastrophic mistake of thinking kids will miraculously change him into the man you want him to be. This never happens.

End it now while you're still so young on move on.

yougotthelook · 06/10/2022 19:40

bigblueyonder · 06/10/2022 18:57

Sounds like he is quite immature and needs to do a lot of growing up. You need to decide whether you want to risk hanging around waiting for this to happen, or not.

He's only 29 - so he likes gaming, and he's not great in the house.
Sounds like my sisters husband and he's 51!
Think carefully before you end things - the grass isn't always greener - I'd definitely sit down and talk to him, very honestly, about how you feel.
But be honest with yourself too...could you live with him for another 50 years?
Sending love x

EarthSight · 06/10/2022 19:43

You have entirely legitimate concerns and I think you are being sensible by thinking about all of this. There are so many warning signs so this is going to be long post, hopefully one that will help you.

he doesn't even know how to see our online banking despite me telling him what he needs to do so never knows what money we have each month left over

A long time ago I had a lazy boyfriend who got me to do things for him by infantalising himself. By pretending he didn't understand certain things, or saying he wasn't good at this or that, I usually had to step in otherwise it wouldn't get done at all. He could navigate porn websites very well, but somehow couldn't book plane tickets, and getting the money back off him was always harder work than it should have been. I was very young at the time, so didn't really spot what was going on until I was out of that relationship. Years later in his mid 20s, he mentioned his online bank account. I was suprised he was using that, but after I expressed this, he corrected me and told me his mum was still doing it for him....... IN HIS MID 20S.

What he was doing is called strategic incompetence. Look it up - it's how a lot of men get their partners to do everything for them. Their partners end up being a mixture of a P.A or a 2nd mother. Usually, the partner is enabling the man to do this by doing everything for them, but to be fair, they are often unfairly cornered into this position. They often feel sorry for their partner, or are guilt tripped into doing things they shouldn't have to do for another adult.

To the outside world, people may look at you as a couple and think how lovely he is, what a nice guy he is. You might be seen as 'the dominant one', the one that gets things done, who decides things, who plans things.......but actually, the woman is not dominant in this type of relationship. In fact, it's this type of man who is the dominant one here.

I call this 'dominating from the backseat'.

To the outside world, it looks like you're driving the car (the relationship) and the one in charge, but actually it's the person in the back who's dictating where you're going. It's you who has to drive, because they simply won't. They get to sit there relaxing as you drive them around like a chauffeur. They may not be the type of overtly loud, domineering man who shouts commands at their partner, but they are good at making sure they get to sit in that backseat and put their feet up.

he has no clue about anything

That's where he has you fooled, and when you realise that, you'll get angry. He is and adult man. He's got you to believe he can't manage, that he's somehow helpess like an infant. He will continue this illusion because so far, it's working out pretty well for him, isn't it? You're doing everything for him. He's got a nice P.A at home.

This is entirely different from two people simply having different standards. In that situation, there can be conflict because one person always wants to get things done first, but this doesn't seem to be just a clash of lifestyles. That's a man who has been babied all his life and needs a serious kick up the ass.

Every night it's the same and he will continue having cans of beer until bed time

That's not a niggle. That's a major red flag. I note that you end up driving because it's the only way you can spend time together out in the evening. Remember what I said about dominating from the backseat?

If TV doesn't interest him, that's fair enough. Lots of people are not lucky enough to have partner who like the same TV as them anyway. What matters is they're interested in spending quality time with you and make an effort to carve out time to do that.

I do want kids but I just can't imagine having kids with this man currently

Yes. No wonder.

OP, I would think very carefully before having kids with him. If you leave him, I can imagine he might do a U-turn and be wonderful for a few months. However, in such a situation, please ask yourself - what evidence have I been provided so far that he will be father material that I want? I think he's already shown you who he is. A lazy gamer who drinks too much. I'm sure he has nice qualities as well, but he's got you doing everything for him. Your family probably like him because he seems friendly enough, he's probably quite placid, is not totally crazy or getting wrecked in nightclubs. He probably seems safe to them.

It's so tragic to me when I hear about young couples going without sex for months or years. Obviously it's not important for everyone but it doesn't seem like you view him sexually any more. He hasn't helped himself has he? It's not really sexy for a woman to feel like her adult male partner is a manchild.

EarthSight · 06/10/2022 19:49

yougotthelook · 06/10/2022 19:40

He's only 29 - so he likes gaming, and he's not great in the house.
Sounds like my sisters husband and he's 51!
Think carefully before you end things - the grass isn't always greener - I'd definitely sit down and talk to him, very honestly, about how you feel.
But be honest with yourself too...could you live with him for another 50 years?
Sending love x

@yougotthelook Just because your sister has low standards, doesn't mean that they are the standards that should be the norm for women.

'Not great in the house'.

There is no such thing as 'not being great in the house' or being 'hopeless with housework'. There is such a thing as not caring about it very much, or doing a half-arsed job, but it's not quantum physics, is it.

ThisShipIsSinking · 06/10/2022 19:56

The drinking is the biggest concern, he may be a functional alchoholic now OP but further on down the road that could very easily change and then watch all hell break lose. Its not a good example for your children either, him sat there drinking every night, gaming. You will be left to do everything. You can do alot better.

yougotthelook · 06/10/2022 19:56

bigblueyonder · 06/10/2022 18:57

Sounds like he is quite immature and needs to do a lot of growing up. You need to decide whether you want to risk hanging around waiting for this to happen, or not.

Earthsight
Thanks for your lovely comments on my sister but for your information, although my bil is not great around the house and loves gaming, he absolutely worships the ground my sister walks on.
They've been happily married for 20 years and run a very successful business together.
They are absolutely compatible and probably the happiest married couple I know...he makes her cry with laughter.
So...with respect...you can take your comments and jog on.
Not everything is black and white.

Ballcactus · 06/10/2022 20:03

Don’t reproduce with him he sounds like he is still a child

OhIdoLike2bBesideTheSeaside · 06/10/2022 20:12

I mean when you said he sits in his pants, gaming and surrounded by beer cans drinking I just thought

🤮

No chance

Get rid - do not have children with this looser

SAH07 · 06/10/2022 20:12

Up until the part about your DH sitting in his pants gaming I thought he sounded OK. Lots of men aren't great at being spontaneous or doing life admin, but what a turn off coking home to that every night.

You feel lonely now, even in your relationship, I cant see how you'd feel lonelier on your own. You are still young and have time to have a family.

Don't settle for this

Startagain51 · 06/10/2022 20:20

You don't have to explain or justify yourself. If you aren't happy, get out. It doesn't matter what other people think, you don't have to stay with anyone you're not happy with.
And really, really - don't stay with someone in a sexless marriage. Life is too short.

BadNomad · 06/10/2022 20:46

Shit partners don't make good fathers. I'd pass on that one.

Wallywobbles · 06/10/2022 20:52

Fuck me your life sounds dull.

Darbs76 · 06/10/2022 20:56

It doesn’t sound to me like you are happy at all in your marriage. Get out now whilst you’ve got minimal ties. You only need to be on mumsnet for a few weeks to see what happens otherwise

Dave20 · 06/10/2022 20:58

GoneBeserk · 06/10/2022 18:51

My first partner was somewhat like this (but without the drinking). For me it was with some very peculiar fetishes that gave me major ick and really that was the end of that, but even without that I know we would have split up. I had no interest in carrying a passenger through life; I wanted a partner not a pet.

I'm sorry to say but i don't think you'll reform him; I think it's over.

What peculiar fetish ? Just curious.