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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

Husband doesn’t know if he loves me any more…

33 replies

Frenchie18 · 08/02/2025 11:38

I don’t want to share too much identifying info about our circumstances but we have been together over 15 years, married since Covid times and we have a three year old. That all being said, I am devastated about this revelation.

I have felt something has been off for a few months but brushed it off for a while because he just seemed fed up of me “nagging”, we’ve had pretty standard disagreements about chores etc. I’ve also had a rough time at work since maternity leave ended so I also wondered if it was me that was depressed or something.

However, he’s become so distant now that I flat out asked if he loves me because it doesn’t feel like it and he kept saying “I don’t know”… why? “I don’t know” I said why haven’t you talked to me when I’ve asked? I’ve said we need to communicate better since I started feeling things we’re off and he just said “I can’t” as if he doesn’t know how to.

I feel so stupid but obviously I hope we can work through this even though deep down I know it could also go the other way. Does anyone have any advice or can empathise with this? I feel so alone as I’m currently too embarrassed and emotional to tell my friends and family.

OP posts:
username299 · 08/02/2025 11:44

You need to have a conversation about your future. What does he want to do? What do you want to do?

Frenchie18 · 08/02/2025 11:52

I agree, he had to take his car to the garage today so I’ve asked him to consider while he’s out whether he is willing to work on it or not and let me know. Ideally I want to know this weekend as I am already struggling with the idea of work on Monday. If he is then I guess we will discuss what that looks like.

OP posts:
SpringBunnyHopHop · 08/02/2025 11:53

I’m currently the one who doesn’t know if I love my partner and it makes me feel so guilty.

I struggle to talk about why I feel like this because I can’t express how I feel without him glossing over everything and burying his head. This makes me pull away even more so I’d say talk as much as you can, make time for each other and if that doesn’t work end it for him.

SecondMrsTanqueray · 08/02/2025 11:56

How devastating. Are you sure he’s not having an affair, or is heading towards one?

Frenchie18 · 08/02/2025 11:56

Thanks for this perspective. I am absolutely not glossing over anything, I have asked to talk so many times and even suggested some potential issues about myself yesterday and he said it’s not those so I guess that doesn’t give me much hope until we get out of the “I don’t know” phase (if that ever happens).

OP posts:
Chersfrozenface · 08/02/2025 12:06

"I don't know' normally means "I do know but I won't tell you because it will make me look bad".

Some possibilities
Liked you well enough when you didn't need anything but now you're having a hard time at work + want him to pull his weight, not so much
Is fed up of family responsibilities, wants to be free of them
Has a new woman already or one lined up or wants to be free to look for one

Sorry to be so cynical but the above is based on what I've seen over the years.

User757675 · 08/02/2025 12:10

I didn't want to read and run on this one, as I felt in a slightly similar situation recently. Very long term relationship, two small children, I felt things were slightly "off" and when I asked he shared he felt unappreciated, worn-out, and like I was constantly negative and hard to be around. Obviously not at the same point as the conversation you had with your DH, but I felt like it was a warning sign I didn't want to ignore because it could snowball very quickly. It's very unlike my DP to share emotions so the fact he said it, meant he had been seriously thinking about it.

I think step one is deciding what you want. Do you want the relationship to work? How do you ideally want it to look like? What's your best case scenario, what would you settle for without being unhappy, and what's your LTB boundaries.

Typically in these scenarios other women will tell you to communicate more, and that's the advise I found most when I looked online. However, one of my friends gave an honest opinion that men are fundamentally different than women, with very different wants. Over-communication can leave them feeling pressurised. Whereas what they want is feeling appreciated, occasional time to themselves, good-looking wife, happy kids, full stomach and empty balls. It sounds so base when you type it out, I know.

Instead of focusing on division of labour, communicating feelings, talking about how we wanted our partnership to work, I decided to remind him why we go so well together. I organised babysitters for date nights, initiated intimacy (obviously only when I actually wanted too), focused on showing him I care in his own love language, sat us all down to eat as a family every night (ready meals a lot of the time but still), bit my tongue every time I wanted to complain about the state of the house, and started leaving the kids with him two evenings a week to go to the gym, and encouraging him to do the same. Within a few weeks we were easily back in a good place. I also felt more positive, having carved time to myself each week, and that benefited our whole family unit.

Then from there, I reframed division of labour conversations in a positive way. I led with appreciation and understanding of what he does for the family. Sometimes this was difficult, as tbh I was doing a lot more IMO. We're now in a much healthier place. Yes, it was frustrating to have to be the one to ask about the issues, and then problem solve them. It for sure felt like a lot of the mental load and in an ideal world I wouldn't have had to do that. For me though, I love my DP and truly wanted our relationship to work, so it was worth it to me to do that.

I can really empathise with your situation right now, and hope it works out for you. 💐

Frenchie18 · 08/02/2025 12:23

I have questioned this but it’s not at the top of my suspicion unless it’s somehow at work, I can tell by the time he arrives that he leaves work pretty much straight away so nothing really unusual. The only place he really goes without me is the gym and that’s usually with his brother or our neighbour/friend who confirm he’s there through their general conversation.

OP posts:
Frenchie18 · 08/02/2025 12:30

Thank you, I really want this to work too so will take what you’ve said on board. I think we would both say we feel unappreciated at the moment, especially as he has become more distant so I’ve already said we need to prioritise spending more time together if he wants to “stay”. Of the two of us, I am the one with no hobbies or time “alone” as he’s at the gym almost every night with his brother or our friend while I stay at home with our son. I’ve been ok with making that sacrifice as I know how much he enjoys it but now I feel so sad about it. (Also, I am not meaning to make him sound like he’s done something wrong here at all, I’ve been fine with it and he does spend plenty of time with our son etc.)

OP posts:
User757675 · 08/02/2025 12:35

I felt the exact same way, like I'd willingly given everything to the relationship and our family, and then it was like an extra slap to the face he wasn't happy with it.

Would highly recommend marking one or two days a week for you to have that time too. If the gym daily is important for him, he can go after you come back, but you need time for yourself to be a priority in your partnership. I really did find it worked so well for my family.

I also found when I made a point of telling him what I appreciated about him that day, he started to naturally reciprocate.

AnonAnonmystery · 08/02/2025 12:42

@Frenchie18 the only thing I just want to say it stop being so selfless. As women we tend to put our man and children first all the time. Make some time for you to make you feel good whether that’s going shopping or getting your nails done. And I would also ask him to spend less time at the gym so you have a few evenings together when kids are asleep. You need to reconnect but he needs to make the effort too. I tend to put something easy going like master chef on with my dp and we will chat all the way through., commenting on the food and anything else we want to talk about. It encourages emotional connection and with that hopefully the physical stuff will come that’s so important for a relationship. I hope he talks to you with an open mind. Sending you a hug x

Twaddlepip · 08/02/2025 13:11

Of the two of us, I am the one with no hobbies or time “alone” as he’s at the gym almost every night with his brother or our friend while I stay at home with our son. I’ve been ok with making that sacrifice as I know how much he enjoys it but now I feel so sad about it

He’s a truly selfish cunt.

Frenchie18 · 08/02/2025 13:28

Honestly I see how it looks like that but as I said, I’ve been ok with it, I don’t necessarily feel like I’ve missed out as I tend to be too tired in the evenings any way. What upsets me is that it’s clearly contributed to the distance between us.

OP posts:
youlied · 08/02/2025 13:30

Watch out for another woman. My ex DH began an affair with a colleague and his behaviour changed overnight

AnonAnonmystery · 08/02/2025 13:36

@Frenchie18 I am divorced and now now in a relationship ( 5years). I leant a lot from the failures of my marriage , those being complacency, routine without dates and time for each other and not putting the effort in. 100% in my current relationship I put slot into it and so does my dp. We are not perfect but when there is an issue, one of is will raise it and we will try and resolve it. It’s really easy in marriage to fall into the trap I described as you would be busy with kids and life. We forget about ourselves and sometimes our partner. Not putting it all on you, it takes two.

2025willbemytime · 08/02/2025 13:41

I'm so sorry. I told my husband I didn't know if I loved him anymore as was too scared to say I don't. Eventually I did and while he was willing to stay and wait I had to divorce him as he'd hurt me too much. Hence the not loving him anymore.

It almost doesn't matter why he doesn't love you anymore, but please stop waiting for his lord and master to decide what he wants. When he comes back tell him since he doesn't think he loves you anymore you'll be filing for divorce as soon as possible so he should book somewhere to stay this weekend to give you some space.

If he says okay it will hurt like hell but no more faffing around and you've taken control back. You have nothing to feel embarrassed about.

backpnceagain · 08/02/2025 13:44

Would he be open to couples counselling together with you? Marriage vows are worth working to maintain and it's maybe worth exploring that. I would ease off on demanding an answer by X date because it's unlikely to lead to open communication anyway.

AnonAnonmystery · 08/02/2025 13:44

It’s also very important to differentiate between loving someone and being in love with them.

category12 · 08/02/2025 13:54

Frenchie18 · 08/02/2025 12:23

I have questioned this but it’s not at the top of my suspicion unless it’s somehow at work, I can tell by the time he arrives that he leaves work pretty much straight away so nothing really unusual. The only place he really goes without me is the gym and that’s usually with his brother or our neighbour/friend who confirm he’s there through their general conversation.

Hmm, men will sometimes cover for each other. Or he might be there most times, but not always.

Lack of opportunity is never a good indication in my experience: if someone wants to cheat, they create the room for it.

Not saying it is the case, but I wouldn't rule it out only due to supposed lack of opportunity.

Frenchie18 · 08/02/2025 13:56

backpnceagain · 08/02/2025 13:44

Would he be open to couples counselling together with you? Marriage vows are worth working to maintain and it's maybe worth exploring that. I would ease off on demanding an answer by X date because it's unlikely to lead to open communication anyway.

Counselling is definitely an idea I’m willing to explore, I’m not sure what he would think yet. I’m not necessarily expecting a solution or “yes or no” immediately, just an indication of whether he actually wants to try and find one. If not, he is going to have to leave I guess (we live in a house owned by my family).

OP posts:
reallynormal · 08/02/2025 13:58

Ive seen two sides of this op.

  1. my sister her husband said the same thing she was a nagger and he could never do right even when he tried she wore him down.
    We all told her she needs to look at her self sometimes she wanted to work on it but it was to late they got divorced.
    She has a new man now and and has learned that not everything is going to be her way they are very happy 6 years on her ex moved on as well happy for the both of them.

  2. Was me i was with my ex for 3 years and over the last year of it i new i didnt love him i liked him but not love.
    I couldnt tell him outright as i didnt know how.
    But i just couldnt put up with the moaning over things that were simple to do or just his moaning over everything i did or what others did not arguments just moaning as above it wore me out.
    So i had to pluck up and tell him he wanted to change but it was over for me and he needed someone that was going to love him and that was not me.
    9 year on very happy im single and love it hes now married and i wish him the best.

reallynormal · 08/02/2025 14:00

AnonAnonmystery · 08/02/2025 13:44

It’s also very important to differentiate between loving someone and being in love with them.

This is so very true.
And sometimes there is no other woman men have feelings just like us.

backpnceagain · 08/02/2025 14:04

@Frenchie18 I hope you're both able to find a way that works best for the two of you. And sorry you're going through this.

CoolPlayer · 08/02/2025 14:18

We’ve been through similar a few times and he don’t mean it and we are fine again. Honestly though I’ve given up being bothered now if he ever wanted to go he can get on with it x

Gettingbysomehow · 08/02/2025 14:21

So he doesn't like your "nagging" in other words he doesn't want to do anything other than go to work and carry out his gym sessions. He s left you to do everything and work. Selfish bastard.
I'd have told him to fuck off out of the house by now!!!

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