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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

How to cope with workalcholic husband

47 replies

Mumtothreeandadog · 27/07/2023 09:01

DH is either working, talking about work when he is not working or Whatsapping female colleagues. When we were on holiday he WhatsApp his female colleagues saying his was thinking about them! He sent them photos from our holiday and frankly i felt very much an afterthought. It has caused arguments but DH refusing to acknowledge any problems. I have started to carve out a life of my own but while I'm out I've discovered that he has been logging on and working and/or WhatsApp these colleagues. I read a couple of messages on his phone and one said we have been chatting for over an hour....

I am running the house and the kids and feel so incredibly lonely. Is carving out my own life the best way forward?

OP posts:
Mumtothreeandadog · 29/07/2023 08:58

I've posted before about him dozing during the day too, ever since then I've started to carve a life out for myself. So to conclude he is either working, talking about work, messaging colleagues or dozing off in the chair like some old man. Is a new thing? I keep asking myself the same question, when DC were smaller he was very involved, maybe I was so busy with them I didn't notice or maybe it is new, tbh I'm not sure. Married 27 years and together 31. He is turning into his father 😪

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 29/07/2023 10:17

do feel incredibly lonely and working on building a life for myself. Can't leave him as have DC still at home.
But are not very late teens, 17 and 19? It's not like they can't be left at home either yours or his unsupervised. I can't see where you've said if you do work/have worked as an outlet for yourself?
Are you with him purely for financial reasons?

Wallywobbles · 29/07/2023 10:26

Please tell us you have a career.

Mumtothreeandadog · 29/07/2023 10:35

I have a job, hardly a career. I work from home doing admin stuff that is dull. Pays well though which is why I stick it
Also means I can shove a load of washing on or get the dinner ready while I'm at home so I can make sure I have time to go and do my own thing in the evening

DC are late teens and early 20s so yes i leave them to go out and pursue my own hobbies

OP posts:
needhelpgivelove · 29/07/2023 10:37

Mumtothreeandadog · 27/07/2023 09:01

DH is either working, talking about work when he is not working or Whatsapping female colleagues. When we were on holiday he WhatsApp his female colleagues saying his was thinking about them! He sent them photos from our holiday and frankly i felt very much an afterthought. It has caused arguments but DH refusing to acknowledge any problems. I have started to carve out a life of my own but while I'm out I've discovered that he has been logging on and working and/or WhatsApp these colleagues. I read a couple of messages on his phone and one said we have been chatting for over an hour....

I am running the house and the kids and feel so incredibly lonely. Is carving out my own life the best way forward?

There are two sentences that stick out to me in your post. Firstly the WhatsApp if female colleagues and secondly the carving a life for yourself.

Now I'm not idiot, yes the opposite sexes can talk and I'm not going to be controlling BUT there's a boundary. A family holiday is one massive one. Yes depending on the intensity of a persons job it may be harder to come home from work and leave it at the door however a family holiday is where family are the main focus. Open communication is important, perhaps stress to him that you and the kids can see his priorities aren't correct and you'd like a bit more attention. Even if he can put his phone away from 7pm or something. Work is not more important then family. With this though it is important to be gentle with wording and reassure that you see he's working hard and that you respect and appreciate him for that however you don't want him to miss out on family milestones and important memories that are being made daily.

If you're already carving a life for yourself, you sound similar to me. Only assumptions here but I feel you are already preparing for the worst outcome (which isn't a bad thing, it's sensible and I fully understand this mindset) however it's important that you look at your happiness in this. If you're already assuming you're going to 'check out' or that you may need to put your contingency plan to action, are you happy? You're doing absolutely bloody amazing with your family. You're keeping the house together and your babies are priority one. You deserve to be happy too. You ARE valuable too. Please take time to step back and see what you want from life and if you'd be happy in this predicament for the foreseeable.

You've got this OP! Keep strong and do what makes you smile aswell as your babies.

behonesthun · 29/07/2023 10:56

He sounds like the office creep that younger women feel obliged to reply to because he's senior. We've all been through it. Ask him does he honestly think these women want to spend their time talking to a 50+ man from work?

Watchkeys · 29/07/2023 10:59

Is carving out my own life the best way forward

How do you think it gets decided about what's 'best'?

goingtotown · 29/07/2023 11:12

His female colleagues will think he's a twat sending messages & pics.

Mumtothreeandadog · 29/07/2023 11:21

I'm trying to work out whether my feelings are due to the menopause or whether I'd be feeling like this anyway.

needhelpgivelove I thought it was unacceptable too messaging while we were on holiday. It was just the two of us and supposed to be celebrate our Wedding anniversary 🙄i did lots of biting my tongue and tried to enjoy it. I hadn't considered that I was preparing for the worse outcome but I am thinking ahead to when DC completely leave home

What does happiness feel like? I go back to my first point of whether I'm feeling menopausal or would I feel like feel like this anyway? I am certainly getting other menopausal symptoms

OP posts:
Watchkeys · 29/07/2023 11:40

I'm trying to work out whether my feelings are due to the menopause or whether I'd be feeling like this anyway

Why does this matter? You can't be the control in the experiment of your own life. We're never a 'blank canvas', and we don't need to in order for our feelings to be valid. You're not happy. That's where you're at. He needs to give shit about that, otherwise he's a shit partner. Menopause isn't a reason to dismiss your feelings.

billy1966 · 29/07/2023 11:49

OP, his lack of professionalism could well bite him in this arse.

If you think life would be better and easier without him, then start planning both financially and socially.

Your children wil be independent soon and at an age where you should not feel your life is still of service to them.

I have children that age.

You need to stop focusing and thinking about him.

You cannot fix him.

He's a work bore.

In your place I would wonder about retirement and how you will stick him.

Men like him whose whole life was work, often don't transition well.

In a similar situation my friends older sister had indeed made a full social life for herself as her husband was a complete workaholic who took promotions that involved huge travel.
She always said they didn't need his huge salary to be happy and worked herself.
When he retired 5 years ago he suddenly had a problem with her full life and work.
He wanted her to retire from her job that she loved and spend time with him.

They had a difficult first year when she made it very clear that she was now finally happy with her life and had zero interest in changing things, having had to build a life for herself over the past 30 years when he devoted himself to his priority, which was his career.

Their marriage is largely dead IMO but they remain sharing their lovely home.

She has now retired and prefers to holiday with her sisters and friends.

He was a kind disinterested father when he was around, but isn't close to either of his daughters.

She isn't interested in another relationship so is prepared to stay.

My friend has said that she hopes the issue of caring duties never arises as her sister has simmering unresolved resentment for having to parent alone throughout their marriage, and she couldn't see her doing it.

You would be wise to get some counselling to figure out what sort of a future you want.

In your place I would consider a job that isn't wfh if you think you would enjoy the buzz of the office environment.

Stop living your life around the young adults and your husband.

It is a really thankless way to life at this stage of your life.

Mumtothreeandadog · 29/07/2023 13:11

billy1966 what did your friends sister do to build herself a life for herself?

OP posts:
Wibbleswombats · 29/07/2023 14:02

And why are you biting your tongue?

It's pretty unacceptable behaviour. Reverse it to see if it's reasonable?

I'd agree menopause has an effect. My DH retired & there was some adjustments needed, the reserve of putting up with stuff reduces with age.

Mumtothreeandadog · 29/07/2023 14:44

Biting my tongue because I was cross that he was WhatsApping colleagues

OP posts:
billy1966 · 29/07/2023 15:02

First off she made a concerted effort to prioritise herself in the home with her daughters, whom she had been doing too much running after.

She encouraged them to do more for themselves and not to expect her to be at their beck and call.

She made herself her top project and priority by looking into what was available locally to her to do.

She did evening classes like bridge, art classes, gardening classes, book clubs, things that interested her.

She joined both a tennis and golf club, leaning more towards the golf.

She put herself out there because she was determined not to remain lonely and alone.

She also didn't know when he would retire and she was worried about the way retirement might pan out for them, through the experience of some of her friends.

He's not a bad man at all fr what I was told.

But his career, himself and HIS goals have been his priority.

He had a very successful career, but in retirement the bottom line is wife is ambivalent about him and their marriage.

She doesn't seek him or his company out.
He has now taken up golf too, but she still does her own thing there too.

She loves her girls holidays and from what my friend tells me periodically, she's carved out a good life for herself.

Unfortunately you cannot wait around and hope he will somehow seek you out and make you feel less lonely.

You need to take back the control you have handed over to him and your children and start thinking of yourself.

If your purpose in his life is to run the home, have his laundry done and a meal on the table for when he comes home?

Then give your head a shake and let him sort out his own shit.

Drop the rope and focus on yourself before its too late.

At heading to 60 myself, your friends are so important for the next chapter in your life.

appleroot · 29/07/2023 15:16

Mumtothreeandadog · 27/07/2023 09:01

DH is either working, talking about work when he is not working or Whatsapping female colleagues. When we were on holiday he WhatsApp his female colleagues saying his was thinking about them! He sent them photos from our holiday and frankly i felt very much an afterthought. It has caused arguments but DH refusing to acknowledge any problems. I have started to carve out a life of my own but while I'm out I've discovered that he has been logging on and working and/or WhatsApp these colleagues. I read a couple of messages on his phone and one said we have been chatting for over an hour....

I am running the house and the kids and feel so incredibly lonely. Is carving out my own life the best way forward?

How pathetic him doing that when you on holiday
I wouldn't be happy
Holiday is supposed to be family time

GrumpyPanda · 29/07/2023 15:30

Mumtothreeandadog · 29/07/2023 10:35

I have a job, hardly a career. I work from home doing admin stuff that is dull. Pays well though which is why I stick it
Also means I can shove a load of washing on or get the dinner ready while I'm at home so I can make sure I have time to go and do my own thing in the evening

DC are late teens and early 20s so yes i leave them to go out and pursue my own hobbies

Could you start looking for something more intellectually absorbing and that gets you out of the house? Even if it means taking a bit of a pay cut in the short term until you get settled. And screw the laundry, it's time for your DH and kids to step up here.

Wibbleswombats · 29/07/2023 18:06

Yep, why bite your tongue about him msging women when on holiday?

What would he say if you were chatting away with random men?

Mumtothreeandadog · 31/07/2023 17:21

Spoken to DH today and explained how I'm feeling. He understands why I've been feeling lonely and resolved to change
.

OP posts:
classylassie · 31/07/2023 19:36

Did you tell him you’re uncomfortable with the constant messages to his female colleagues?

Mumtothreeandadog · 01/08/2023 08:22

Yes I did and asked him how he would feel if the other way around

OP posts:
Mumtothreeandadog · 02/09/2023 08:35

Just bumping this, spoke to DH about all the WhatsApp messages to his colleagues. He is still doing it although seems to be reduced.

Really laid on the line for him, feeling very lonely and carving out my own life. At the moment I feel like I'm staying in this marriage for our DC. Feel like a housekeeper rather than a wife.

OP posts:
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