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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

AIBU fiance seems miserable all the time

61 replies

amyjane1989 · 11/04/2024 20:56

I am like two different people: one that is super happy. Love my children (even though they are going through the teenage years), love my job, love my friends and love life.
Then there is me that's around my fiancé - miserable, sad, strict with the children, irritated, stressed.
My fiance has been miserable since I started my new job - had a quiet wfh job before but now I go into a big office with travel and I love it! Finally having a career after a 15 year career break!
My fiance always seems miserable around us:talks in monotones, always criticises my children (his have left home now and rarely see him), rarely asks about my day even though I ask about his. I am affectionate with him, but he isn't with me. I have to initiate everything. He isn't very loving. He just always seems in a mood but always super happy with his friends or at work. They alll think he is patient, calm etc. Every evening my children annoy him.
For example, tonight I cooked tea but after eating only had 5 mins to get back onto a work call. So my 11 year old offered to wash up. It's normally my fiancé's job as I cook, but as he was still at work and I was keeping his dinner warm, my son offered to help out. Unfortunately when I got off my work call, all hell has broken loose... my fiance was miserable (no change there). I couldn't figure out why. I received the usual one or two word answers to even my open questions etc. when he left, my daughter explained that she had witnessed what happened. He moaned at my son for not drying up. My son explained he had washed up so felt he shouldn't have to do his usual chore tonight and that my fiance would dry up instead. My fiance didn't like that. My fiance moaned that nothing had been washed up right and it was rushed and the dishwasher was loaded in correctly... what he meant was the dishwasher wasn't loaded as he wanted it but my son had rinsed the dishes and cutlery. My son had washed the cups and crockery fine but not the colander or masher. My fiance just moaned on etc.
I ask him if he's ok and he says he is fine. He looks depressed. I try everything to keep the home nice and keep him happy. But little treats he likes etc but he always moans and complains and it's bringing me down and it's affecting the children. AIBU?
My fiance had an affair 4 years ago with a work colleague and nothing has been the same since. He's always looking out for my flaws rather than realising that he is the one with the problems. I had counselling and it was from that I realised that there isn't anything wrong with me. I am gaslighted and in a controlling relationship with someone that gets miserable before I go on a night out. Then he is always an asleep when I come home even if I know he went to bed ten mins before I got back as the children tell me. Why does he play games? I stay up to see him and hear about his night. He just seems to avoid me. It's clear he doesn't like my children - he said it's awful to have to put up with the way they speak him in his own home etc.
what should I do: stay or go?

OP posts:
Dery · 12/04/2024 01:19

Why is this happening, @amyjane1989? Why have you kept this miserable man in your and your DCs’ lives? Makes no sense at all. Just get rid of him.

RogueFemale · 12/04/2024 01:22

@amyjane1989 what should I do: stay or go?

Go. Run at high speed.

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/04/2024 01:27

Ummmm you didn't write one, single good thing. Why on earth would anyone say 'stay'?

ClareBlue · 12/04/2024 02:08

You have an 11 year old who helps out when you have to go on a work call and a moaning selfish partner who complains and drags everyone down all the time and cheats on you. Think how much happier you would be with just your helpful children in the house and not the partner sucking all the joy out of life.
Move on. Enjoy your life and children and responsibilities of your new job, without the negativity.

QueenBitch666 · 12/04/2024 02:40

Get rid. Raise your standards

sprigatito · 12/04/2024 02:44

Please don't marry this sulky manipulative tosser. You and your kids will thrive without him, a couple of weeks and you won't believe how much brighter everything feels. Just get rid of him!

Tristar15 · 12/04/2024 02:51

Put your children first.

Ihadenough22 · 12/04/2024 05:27

He is sitting their feeling sorry for himself. He is looking to find fault with you and tells you all the things wrong with you. Meanwhile he cheated on your a few years ago and according to him it was probably your fault.
He is complaining about your job because he is jealous that your making a life for yourself.
Then he is picking on your kids and his mood is just dragging the whole house down

I would tell him that it is over between you as you can see he is not happy and you can see he finds living with your kids hard. If it your house he can leave.
If your renting you need to look into finding a more suitable house/apartment for you and your children and this may take awhile.

You and your kids deserve a happy home and he is just making everyone miserable. Your kids learn from you. Do you want them ending up as adults with someone like him?
Can you image what this man will be like as he gets older say with health issues and or a natural decline in health or fitness?

fedupwithbeingcold · 12/04/2024 07:13

Why are you putting up with this shit? You seem like a happy fun person. Don't make your children put up with this miserable boring man. The sooner you kick him out, the better

FinallyHere · 12/04/2024 08:43

My, haven't you got yourself a prince amongst men in that there Fiancée?

Why are you putting up with his sh*t?

Guiltypleasures001 · 12/04/2024 08:55

I hope it's your house and can kick him out op

MyWhoHa · 12/04/2024 09:06

Do you really need to ask? Kick him out or leave.

BananaLambo · 12/04/2024 09:32

What’s the reason you’re keeping him around? Money? A golden penis? Great at DIY? Because you’re definitely not keeping him around for emotional support or because he brings happiness and joy to your lives. In what way would you be worse off without him?

amyjane1989 · 12/04/2024 09:51

Thank you everyone. Unfortunately it's his house. Well all in his name. I have paid half the bills for years. He moved the mortgage payment into his own current account when he had an affair - said he couldn't trust me with money or something. What he meant was he couldn't trust himself but I didn't realise that at the time. He hasn't changed it since. Not sure I have any rights to the house as not on the mortgage or deeds but have put money into it. Not sure where I stand legally and can't afford a solicitor. Don't want to be on the streets or move back with my parents. Not really sure what to do!? I feel so lost.

OP posts:
Lurkingandlearning · 12/04/2024 10:02

His attitude to your children is the only reason you need to end it.

But in your position I would be wondering if the OW ended the affair and he would much rather be with her. I think it quite likely that a man would lie and say he ended the affair if he thought there was no chance of continuing with the OW. Wives can be more forgiving on those terms (he’d come to his senses, realised it was his wife he truly loved blah blah).

Could that be the case and he settled back into your relationship with a lot of disappointment and resentment? If so, for me that would also be an extremely good reason to end it.

Brexile · 12/04/2024 10:03

Do you have a date for the wedding? If so, is it soon and is he likely to go through with it? If yes, you need to find out whether it's in your interest financially to marry Mr Miseryguts. (Not saying you necessarily should, but you need to be in possession of all the facts before deciding on whether to leave now or play a longer game.)

In any case, it's probably a false economy not to get legal advice about the house and whether you might have any rights to it? (IANAL obviously.)

It's really a question of when and how you leave, not whether. He may have checked out and be waiting for you to take the hint, or he may just be unpleasant - but you need a plan to leave.

Starlight1979 · 12/04/2024 10:20

amyjane1989 · 12/04/2024 09:51

Thank you everyone. Unfortunately it's his house. Well all in his name. I have paid half the bills for years. He moved the mortgage payment into his own current account when he had an affair - said he couldn't trust me with money or something. What he meant was he couldn't trust himself but I didn't realise that at the time. He hasn't changed it since. Not sure I have any rights to the house as not on the mortgage or deeds but have put money into it. Not sure where I stand legally and can't afford a solicitor. Don't want to be on the streets or move back with my parents. Not really sure what to do!? I feel so lost.

Oh FFS.

IsitaHatOrACat · 12/04/2024 10:37

OP you have sadly allowed yourself and your children to be in a much less than optimal financial and housing situation. However, that cannot be changed and you can only move forwards from here. Consider sunk cost fallacy if you need to.
Find a house to rent and move you and your children out of this unhappy home and move forwards with your life from here. Leave misery guts to wallow in his own misery and stop ruining your lives

Pinkdelight3 · 12/04/2024 11:08

amyjane1989 · 12/04/2024 09:51

Thank you everyone. Unfortunately it's his house. Well all in his name. I have paid half the bills for years. He moved the mortgage payment into his own current account when he had an affair - said he couldn't trust me with money or something. What he meant was he couldn't trust himself but I didn't realise that at the time. He hasn't changed it since. Not sure I have any rights to the house as not on the mortgage or deeds but have put money into it. Not sure where I stand legally and can't afford a solicitor. Don't want to be on the streets or move back with my parents. Not really sure what to do!? I feel so lost.

There's no need to be melodramatic. You're not going to be on the streets. You've paid half the bills all this time, you can find a place to rent for you and your DC and get that sorted. It's madness to stay with a guy who cheats on you and is shitty with you and your DC and doesn't even put you on the mortgage. It also can't have been that long as he's not your DC's father, so you must have fended for yourself not too long ago. Cut him loose and get your independence back - and your dignity and self-esteem. He'll really hate that! Don't marry him whatever you do. The engagement is going nowhere. You have a career now and a great way out of this miserable situation. Use it!

Yolo12345 · 12/04/2024 11:12

Start quietly looking for a small rental property for you and your children and saving for the deposit. Who cares if you have no rights to his property, just move on with your own life x

MyWhoHa · 12/04/2024 11:32

Is moving in with your parents temporarily while you get money together for a rental an option? You really do have to get away from this man if not for yours but for your children's sake.

icelolly12 · 12/04/2024 11:39

He's not happy. You're not happy. Time to go your separate ways and find your happiness

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 12/04/2024 11:49

You may just have to write off anything and everything you have paid towards his house, so just tell yourself that it was/is rent you were paying.

Now you have a choice: move back with your parents - at least that gets you and your children out of this situation and you will no longer be paying towards his house

or you find a rental - whether you can afford the deposit etc. now or if you need to save to do that.

Next time, get married sooooo much sooner - you get legal rights when married !

but yes, it's time to go: none of you are happy !

Anywherebuthere · 12/04/2024 11:55

You know what you need to do.

YouAndZee · 12/04/2024 12:48

If you didn’t contribute to the mortgage (I think you said only “bills”?) you won’t be entitled to anything there. But you could see a solicitor to double check.

It must have been an awful atmosphere in the home living with a man who openly dislikes your children. I feel sorry for them and they won’t thank you for staying.

It is time to move on and start afresh. I think you know that.

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