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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

Is my Marriage worth saving?

8 replies

Searchingfortranquility · 15/07/2025 10:35

I have been with my husband for 17years, married for 13 and with two beautiful children. I feel like I have come to the end of the road in my marriage. After a long period of serious ups and downs, I thought we were in a good place. We've just returned from holiday, both just been offered great new jobs, plans were all on course. Then he went out with his friend and was thrown out of a bar for making a sexual comment to a bar maid. He defends this as an innocent joke but on speaking to the bar manager I can tell you it wasn't. His words to the bar maid were "you're husband must be a lucky man" when she was shaking a cocktail maker. I am absolutely mortified and cannot beleive he would say that. The version of him I get at home is usually great. He's attentive, hard working, good with the kids etc but there's a huge part of me struggling with his mood swings, he can be very irritable and act like he can't be bothered with anything. He sometimes swears in front of the kids despite me repeatedly asking him not to. He tells me I'm beautiful every day but then I saw on his phone that he had been scrolling through sexy pics. I realise some of this may not sound extreme enough to leave but there has been a pattern before and I have told him not do to treat me like that. He has agreed and we've moved on. Then he does it again. It's at the point where I never know which version I am getting. He can be a horrible drunk, cheeky, reckless and embarrassing. Again many arguments over the years, a short period of stopping drinking then slowly falling back into the patterns. I just can't take it any more. I have been through the most difficult time of my life in the past 2 years and instead of supporting me this is what I get. On top of that, my mum is very protective and already knew he made sleazy comments before so she is so mad at him and thinks I should leave. Her initial words were, it's like he's a good man 90% of the time and awful in the other 10. Now she just thinks perhaps she doesn't know him, she thinks I'm a fool. So on top of everything else I have that to contend with as the relationship with them is now fractured it would be very difficult if we were to stay together. We are normally a very close family that lots of things together. I feel so disrespected and betrayed. He knows exactly what I need from him and how I feel but has continued to do things he promised me time and time again would stop. We have always been very good at communicating. Always had a very loving, passionate relationship but I wonder is he unhappy and this is why he's so up and down or why he feels a need to look at pictures of other women. I just don't know. He is now pelad8ng for my forgiveness. Promising me he will do what it takes, not go out, get rid of his phone etc etc but that's not the life I want. I don't want to have to keep him beside me all the time for him to behave. He's never cheated and tbh I don't think he's that type of man but then I didn't think he would be the type of man to make disgusting comments to women and pass it off as a joke.
Any advice appreciated. What do i do !

OP posts:
Bittenonce · 15/07/2025 11:17

Is it just when he’s had a few drinks that he gets inappropriate and turns into a real knob?

FutureCatMum · 15/07/2025 11:25

He doesn’t respect or value you or your life together. He knows from your past behaviour that if he says the right things and puts a little bit of effort in for a while you’ll stop complaining. Then he gets to go back to doing whatever he wants.
If you want things to change, you have to change your response to whatever way he chooses to disrespect you this time.
If you keep doing the same things, so will he and this will always be your life.
Only you know when you’ve had enough and it’s time to end it for good. But if it was me, I would have passed that point already.

OchreRaven · 15/07/2025 13:48

Assuming you are going to end it if nothing changes I would tell him to give up drinking if that’s the main problem in your relationship. If he really is serious on changing he will. You don’t need to monitor it or check up on him but if you become aware he is drinking then it’s an automatic divorce and he needs to know you are serious.

MiloMinderbinder925 · 15/07/2025 17:34

When do his moods swing? Is it when you pull him up on his behaviour? Ask him to pull his weight? Is it because of stress?

Searchingfortranquility · 16/07/2025 13:54

Thank you for all of your responses. I can't even say the inappropriate comments only come when he's drunk no. I mean it's not a regular thing, that I know of, but it's enough to damage the trust. We've been through such a stressful few years which I know he hold himself responsible for not earning enough money for example. Not important to me at all but seems to be important for him to provide. He comes from a very stable, traditional family with traditional values. His Mum and Dad have been happily married for 45 years and his Dad is famous for making "jokes" that sound worse than they are. My Husband has always has a great zest for life after battling life threatening conditions when born and for some of his childhood. He has a big heart but also a big mouth. I have sat him down and explained to him that he can't say certain things. I have been very clear of the things he does that cross my boundaries yet he continues to do it. We'll go on for so long then he will do something else. I question am I reading into it all too much? Right now I feel like I've set my boundaries, he knows them but does what he does anyway. Thinks its all innocent and does not see the seriousness of it at all.

OP posts:
something2say · 16/07/2025 13:58

I think you either end it soon or accept how he is.

Loads of men think stupid comments are acceptable. Loads of men are getting sacked for it.

Searchingfortranquility · 17/07/2025 13:28

The only thing I can do right now is take time. I have told him everything that I am feeling
Explained again the things that he does and how it makes me feel. Huge part of me feeling like that's just him and I either choose to accept that or leave. I need to stop letting his actions, silly jokes, drinking or whatever feel like a reflection on me as it isn't. No decision reached yet but I do plan on being selfish, taking time out. Going to book a spa night away for myself to get the breathing space I need. Thank you again

OP posts:
Mmhmmn · 17/07/2025 13:34

I realise some of this may not sound extreme enough to leave

  1. It does (the moods alone do)
  2. You can leave for any reason including general unhappiness.
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