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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

20 years together!!

9 replies

Jessiep23 · 20/04/2025 14:17

My husband and I have been married 10 years together for 20 years. Have 2 children one of whom has recently been diagnosed ASD/ADHD. Over the last 5 years we have had one thing after another thrown at us. Family feuds, serious accidents, redundancy, diagnosis of our child. We have got through this.

Just recently my husband is increasing withdrawn from myself and the children, he barely speaks and interacts with us. He’s extremely irritable and short tempered. It’s got to the point he will only interact with the children when it’s to give them an instruction like dinner, bed etc. He shows me no affection, I try to spark a conversation up with him and it’s a 1 word answer. I’m also withdrawing from him and now barely taking any notice of him. I’m bored and fed up with it all…it’s currently 1.30pm on Easter Sunday and he’s asleep on the sofa!!! Is this 20 year relationship? We used to have such a laugh together.

I do 90% of things around the house and he does the bare minimum and over the last year this is something that’s really grating on me. It’s also something that never used to be an issue he pulled his weight.

I’ve tried to address this and he will say he’s ‘fine’ or ‘ there is nothing wrong’ or ‘you know we’ve got a lot going on’ or he’s ’ill’ or ‘tired’

Honestly I’m sick of it and the atmosphere, I have asked him if this is what he wants and he’ll say ‘I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t’ etc.

We have no time to ourselves as we have no childcare and my ASD/ADHD child can be very challenging

He’s always here if he’s not at work, he has no hobbies or anything.

He’s refusing to get and form of therapy for all that we’ve been through as ‘he’s not receptive to that sort of thing’ even though he’s never tried it.

What could all this mean?

OP posts:
RunningJo · 20/04/2025 14:22

How old is he?, I ask because a lot of 50 something year old men seem to go through this, or similar.
I don’t know what the answer is, especially if he says he’s fine, and won’t do counselling, other than to sit down when the kids are in bed and be brutally honest with him about how he’s making you feel etc.

333FionaG · 20/04/2025 14:27

He sounds depressed. Confront him. Tell him you’re worried. Encourage him to seek medical advice.

Jessiep23 · 20/04/2025 14:28

RunningJo · 20/04/2025 14:22

How old is he?, I ask because a lot of 50 something year old men seem to go through this, or similar.
I don’t know what the answer is, especially if he says he’s fine, and won’t do counselling, other than to sit down when the kids are in bed and be brutally honest with him about how he’s making you feel etc.

He’s 45.

OP posts:
Jessiep23 · 20/04/2025 14:28

I agree, but what do you do when they refuse help 😬

OP posts:
Maitri108 · 20/04/2025 14:40

I have asked him if this is what he wants and he’ll say ‘I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t’

If I had someone taking care of my children, doing my laundry, cleaning up after me, doing my admin, shopping, making my dinner and my life pretty pleasant, I wouldn't leave either. Especially if it meant losing my house, part of my pension and my housekeeper.

He's coasting.

Justsmileanwave · 20/04/2025 14:56

333FionaG · 20/04/2025 14:27

He sounds depressed. Confront him. Tell him you’re worried. Encourage him to seek medical advice.

I was thinking the same whilst reading.

Justsmileanwave · 20/04/2025 14:59

You have both been through a lot, and it takes its toll. Could you maybe do an at home date night as you don't have access to childcare. I get it's exhausting by the end of the day or maybe could you have a day date when the kids are back at school? I think time to be you as a couple is really important otherwise you just get into a rut don't you.

Jessiep23 · 21/04/2025 15:22

Maitri108 · 20/04/2025 14:40

I have asked him if this is what he wants and he’ll say ‘I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t’

If I had someone taking care of my children, doing my laundry, cleaning up after me, doing my admin, shopping, making my dinner and my life pretty pleasant, I wouldn't leave either. Especially if it meant losing my house, part of my pension and my housekeeper.

He's coasting.

Very true! Today has been another awful day, he has a cold so has been horrible and moody all day! You know the same cold I’ve had all week and have had to crack on as it’s the school holidays!

OP posts:
Maitri108 · 21/04/2025 15:27

Jessiep23 · 21/04/2025 15:22

Very true! Today has been another awful day, he has a cold so has been horrible and moody all day! You know the same cold I’ve had all week and have had to crack on as it’s the school holidays!

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope things improve for you soon.💐

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