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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

Marriage is so very hard.....

15 replies

Onthevergeofsomething · 17/12/2023 22:49

Feeling so unsure and mixed up about life at the moment. I am married to a wonderful man, he's kind, considerate and always supports me. More importantly he's a fantastic father to our 2 children.
The problem is that he works all the time in a job that makes him miserable. He joined his family business just befor we got married. This involved us moving further away from our friends and my family, frankly our relationship has been on a downward spiral ever since. His mum who he works with is a bully and honestly acts as if she doesn't even like him. His dad is a nice man but is just reduced to a bit of a shell after 40+ years married to her! He will not stick up for my husband and just turns a blind eye in order to have an easier life.

My husband works 60+ hours a week for these people and is always so miserable. He moans about the staff as well as his parents and seems to have lost all the passion he previously had for his profession. i dread him coming home as he brings such a grey cloud back with him. I have tried everything i can to encourage him to leave (he woukd find another job very easily) Unfortunately he just will not. This is simply non negotiable in his mind.I have accepted this now and I've created a nice life for us here, we have lovely friends and a community around us.

We spend time together as a family and generally have a nice time. Our children are happy and we do nice things together.

Is this enough?? We never spend time together and if we do we often just argue about domestic things such as house work, childcare arrangements, Jobs that need doing etc. We do not have any fun. We havent had sex in over a year (we are in our 30s)
He is always tired and stressed. I do the lions share of household tasks including looking after the children. I work 4 days a week in a busy job too! The difference is my job makes me happy. I have worked hard to be in the position I am in career wise. I have a great work life balance, earn decent money and can work flexibly (up to a point!)

I don't think my husband particularly loves me anymore, he's probably just too tired and fed up to even give it much thought honestly. I'm not sure if I love him either....... though I think he is a really great person. We have admitted during a previous low point that we would not still be together if it wasn't for our children.

Should I really throw away a happy family just because we don't really love eachother anymore?? The thought of being with anyone else makes me feel a bit sick so it isn't that I want someone else. I just want to be happy and not be dragged down my such misery all the time, especially when he flatly refuses to do anything about it!

OP posts:
DGConsultant · 17/12/2023 22:53

Had a kind of similar situation, at least in terms of job. Eventually gathered the conviction, courage and left in the summer. Not married, single, no pressures like that, but was bloody miserable. Gently persuade him to look for a new role, don't pressure him, but help him, maybe with the practical. Probably needs a confidence boost.

DGConsultant · 17/12/2023 23:02

You shouldn't stay just for the concept of a "happy family, either". But lots of variables.

Onthevergeofsomething · 17/12/2023 23:07

Well done to you for leaving (and hopefully making yourself happier!)
Thanks for your reply, I think your right about a confidence boost. I'll try to think how I can do this!

OP posts:
bananablues · 17/12/2023 23:08

Baby steps with this one. Does he not want to look for another job because of loyalty to his parents or because he does not think he will get on (had his confidence shot to pieces). If it is the latter just ask him to apply for a couple of roles and see how far he gets - he may surprise himself.

Why did he join the family business? Was it in trouble, did he want to work with his parents?

Work should be an postive part of your life, not a burden.

cestlavielife · 17/12/2023 23:08

Your post is confusing he is fantastic snd wonderful but also miserable and dragging you down. Which is it?
What do you want?
Go see a counsellor in new year for six one to one sessions ,then ask him to do the same.
Then discuss together what you both want

DGConsultant · 17/12/2023 23:10

The post is a little confusing, good point...

Onthevergeofsomething · 17/12/2023 23:17

Yep it IS confusing!

OP posts:
determinedtomakethiswork · 17/12/2023 23:26

Give him the way his mother behaves, I think it would be well worthwhile getting him to couples counselling. It's very sad as he and you could have a lovely life elsewhere. It's not as though he's enjoying himself there is it?

LeavesOnTrees · 17/12/2023 23:40

His mother sounds toxic and nothing will change as long as he is working for her.

You need to talk to him about how miserable he is making your family life. If it keeps going then he'll most probably have to choose between his job and his family.

What was his childhood like ? Maybe he doesn't even realise things aren't right.

SunflowerTed · 17/12/2023 23:40

You’re saying how wonderful he is but he’s not doing anything about his miserable situation?!

Pippy239 · 17/12/2023 23:46

I think you have some potential to turn this around with some couples counselling and really talking to each other. Yes, its hard to weigh up all the pris and cons, nothing will be black and white, definite stay or go, but I think you've got good foundation to build on. Both of you will have to focus on the relationship to find contentment. And if having tried you still feel this way well at least you can say you tried and you'll probably learn a lot. Lots of great experts out there. Check out Terry Real and Andrew G Marshall

Flyhigher · 18/12/2023 04:40

What's his job? If he can find one easily can't you just look for jobs ads? Is it a trades profession like plumbing? Is he an accountant? Why such long hours too. If it's making money why 60 hours a week.

Summerhillsquare · 18/12/2023 09:29

SunflowerTed · 17/12/2023 23:40

You’re saying how wonderful he is but he’s not doing anything about his miserable situation?!

Yeah, this. This will only change if he wants it to.

DGConsultant · 19/12/2023 21:20

Good luck. It's hard to be a bloke with a difficult mum.

GreyCarpet · 20/12/2023 06:51

I get it, OP. Situations aren't always clear cut or black and white.

Does this ever get properly discussed or does it rarely come up except at flash points?

Would a proper 'cards on the table' conversation help? Where you both gave the freedom and space to identify and recognise problems and work out solutions together?

That might look like him finding a new job or the two of you splitting up.

I this time of year is a reflective time for a lot of people and my starting point is what do I want my life to look like this time next year and how can I make that happen?

If your starting point is that you don't want it to look like this this time next year, what do you want it to look like? What would being you peace?

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