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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

Unsure about whether to end marriage -we have very young children

65 replies

EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:22

My husband and l have been together 8 years and have 6 month old twins. Twins were much wanted after 5 years of fertility issues and a few rounds of IVF. Issues started whilst he was on paternity leave e.g. asking me if l actually need a shower (l had just had a c section and was breast feeding so yes), taking forever to get me a drink -l couldn’t walk well for a while due the c section and fluid retention in my legs.

He genuinely doesn’t get how burned out and tired l feel most of the time. I go to baby groups and people ask how much help l get. It’s not much, just my husband in the evenings and weekend. He rings me during his lunch time at work to check on how we all are but he’s annoyed lm not more “thankful” for this. At the moment he is quite focused on me thinking him for things he does -l won’t thank him so he gets annoyed. For clarity he doesn’t thank me for anything l do. It feels like he often does the bare minimum but l should still be very grateful. At social occasions he usually high tails it off leaving me to care for both babies, l have reminded him that l am also entitled to some time out, he needs to be more thoughtful and not just wander off to relax. He doesn’t demonstrate much initiative and l have to prompt him a lot of them time -l also find this very draining

I haven’t talked about it much to people. One person l mentioned it to kindly told me she thought it was due to my hormones 🙄. Plus to put it bluntly as he engages with his children then he is like father of the year to a lot of people

We have been arguing a fair amount and twice in the last month or so he has hit me. I am scared to call the police as they will involve social services and due to the nature of my husbands job is could make things difficult for him there

I cheated on him during the summer with a work friend, we were drunk and had a kiss / grope. I was mortified, confessed to my husband the next day and apologised. He then tells me he had a similar thing with one of his female friends before we got married. She even came to our wedding! He also had a bit of an infatuation with someone he met through his work, whilst l was pregnant.

Personally l think too much has gone on, fundamentally our expectations are very different. Let’s call it quits. He thinks it needs more time and things will improve. Which in many way feels like l need to accept the way he is e.g. when l requested that he didn’t wander off at social occasions leaving for me to care for the twins. Then he basically said he was sorry l felt that way but didn’t reflect on his behaviour or offer to make any changes going forward. It’s like he wants things to change but doesn’t want to do any changing himself

OP posts:
Fullspectrum · 14/09/2023 10:25

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Fullspectrum · 14/09/2023 10:27

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Fullspectrum · 14/09/2023 10:27

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VeridicalVagabond · 14/09/2023 10:28

Posts like this always astound me, way to leave the actual problems as an afterthought.

At the beginning I was thinking "well he sounds a bit of a bellend, some counselling might do them good to help him understand the strain of motherhood and what his role actually is" etc. etc.

...and then we reach the cheating. And hitting.

Of course you should end the marriage, it's a mess. And quite honestly fuck his job, report him to the police for domestic violence! Who cares if it impacts his job, he should've thought of that before he hit you. You really can't stay in a relationship with violence, it's a line that once crossed you can't just come back and pretend it didn't happen. Literally everything else aside, the hitting is enough to end it.

EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:29

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Yep. If a friend just told me that bit then l would say that is enough. I feel like l have justify us splitting up -not sure why

OP posts:
EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:30

VeridicalVagabond · 14/09/2023 10:28

Posts like this always astound me, way to leave the actual problems as an afterthought.

At the beginning I was thinking "well he sounds a bit of a bellend, some counselling might do them good to help him understand the strain of motherhood and what his role actually is" etc. etc.

...and then we reach the cheating. And hitting.

Of course you should end the marriage, it's a mess. And quite honestly fuck his job, report him to the police for domestic violence! Who cares if it impacts his job, he should've thought of that before he hit you. You really can't stay in a relationship with violence, it's a line that once crossed you can't just come back and pretend it didn't happen. Literally everything else aside, the hitting is enough to end it.

The order was done chronologically rather than in concern order

OP posts:
EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:31

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He minimises and dismisses that too much has gone on. I disagree

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Fullspectrum · 14/09/2023 10:32

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Namechangedforthis25 · 14/09/2023 10:34

Yes leave him

it’s a strange post - I honestly thought it was all pretty normal until you mentioned - he hit you in a blase way

and then that you cheated

then that he cheated

should have started with those

yes obviously this is not a normal, decent marriage - there’s nothing there so leave him and report him

EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:34

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I do remember that. I’m post-partum not senile

OP posts:
Palomafaithless · 14/09/2023 10:34

OP I'm so sorry you've faced this physical abuse. This marriage is over, there is no question about it. Do you feel safe enough to tell him to leave? Or do you need to go to a friend/your parents? Do you have support around you? It's time to make a plan. I suggest calling Women's Aid at least for some initial advice.

Fullspectrum · 14/09/2023 10:34

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Namechangedforthis25 · 14/09/2023 10:35

There is violence and cheating

what more needs to happen for him to think there’s been too much?!

if he can hit you he can hit your kids - what are you waiting for

Kerrylass · 14/09/2023 10:35

Your marriage is a shit show. You don't appear to like each other, thats why you treat each other like shit. As for love and respect for each other well it seems to be non-existent.

Hitting you is the last straw. You need to get out. Have a family member with you when leaving, his clearly volatile and you leaving may make him violent again.

Take care. Learn from this and move on.

Palomafaithless · 14/09/2023 10:36

Why are posters focusing on the fact that OP has posted before? Surely that's missing the point?

Fullspectrum · 14/09/2023 10:36

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caerdydd12 · 14/09/2023 10:36

EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:34

I do remember that. I’m post-partum not senile

Their point will have been that everyone told you to leave and you'll get nothing but the same sentiment this time. What are you waiting for? Nobody in their right mind is going to suggest staying together.

AgnesX · 14/09/2023 10:38

He's hit you? What are you waiting for?

EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:42

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It was more your hectoring tone and multiple posts from you querying what l had written

OP posts:
EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:42

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Yes, that’s what happened 🙄

OP posts:
Palomafaithless · 14/09/2023 10:42

What do you think is stopping you OP? Are you able to access some counselling? I'd imagine Women's Aid might be able to help with that.

EL8888 · 14/09/2023 10:44

Palomafaithless · 14/09/2023 10:36

Why are posters focusing on the fact that OP has posted before? Surely that's missing the point?

Unfortunately that’s how posts often go. People focusing on minor issue. Plus thinking their on AIBU, when it’s actually relationships

OP posts:
Fullspectrum · 14/09/2023 10:46

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LadyDanburysHat · 14/09/2023 10:46

I am not going to waffle here, but there is no marriage to keep here. You have both cheated, he has physically assaulted you. Do you want this life for you and your babies?

Fullspectrum · 14/09/2023 10:47

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