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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

Am I over reacting

4 replies

Lili93 · 06/05/2024 19:30

My husband of 10 years and I had a lovely daughter 5 years ago. We have struggled to spend time together since and our relationship has been impacted. He often escalates his concerns and says how unhappy he is about this. I try to ensure I spend time with him. I schedule date nights, I initiate romance at least twice a week but we don't often have a night away as we don't have any child care options. He says it's because I am obsessed with her, and I'll admit I felt she was too young to be left (even if we had options) but I suspect he just feels jealous / neglected.

He is very transparent about his life and recently, to prevent me getting insecure, showed me that he'd got a WhatsApp from an old female friend. She'd sent pictures of her children etc. The message was all in his native language (he is German) which I don't understand but I didn't feel any need to worry. But then I saw "what if" written in English. So I did the bad thing and went back and google translated it when he was at work. He'd initiated the conversation saying he'd been trying to remember her birthday and had to search for it and how he'd been triggered to message her as he'd had a "what if" moment when they were supposed to meet for dinner (before we met) but he had cancelled at the last minute and then she'd replied saying she'd secretly felt the same sometimes. He talks about our daughter but doesn't talk about me. There haven't been any messages since.

I don't know if this is a massive red flag or if he's just a bit bored and lonely. So I am I over reacting?

I know I should just ask him but in a way I think I am scared of the answer.

OP posts:
thanKyouaIMee · 06/05/2024 19:33

I don't think it's odd to occasionally think "what if" scenarios in your own head, or perhaps even with a partner! DH and I occasionally ponder how our lives would be different if he'd taken a different job before we met, if I'd ignored his message, etc etc.

I think it's odd that he instigated a message to someone from his past to speak to them about a "what if" scenario involving her - that's crossing a boundary to me.

Saying that, it sounds like he's perhaps not been happy and really vocalising that for some time. It sounds like you're perhaps in a "safe" routine of scheduling date nights / intimacy etc. Are you truly happy too?

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 06/05/2024 19:40

Showing you the messages is giving you a clear warning that your marriage is in danger. He had already told you, several times, that he needs more and feels you are over-attached to your child (and if you've never had a night away from her in 5 years then I would agree.)

Are you invested enough in your marriage to take action, or are you going to bumble along ignoring his concerns and wait for him to leave you?

Lili93 · 06/05/2024 19:41

No, I'm probably struggling too. We moved to Germany 2 years ago and I feel quite isolated and it has made the child care challenges harder. I also probably resent the fact I initiate the romance and schedule the date nights - it's like I have to prove that still love him.

Thanks for unpicking it a bit. I agree it's the covert bit that worries me and that he deliberately showed it to me - like hidden in plain sight.

OP posts:
Lili93 · 06/05/2024 19:49

We've had a night away probably once a year, but not more than that. We don't have family close by and my mother is now too old to manage I think, so it's primarily due to lack of choices but I did used to get nervous about it.

I think if you have family it's easier but I'm not sure what other people do.

OP posts:
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