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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

I married a very nice person thinking my love for her well grow with time. Now I don't know how to become single again.

270 replies

desolatelover · 13/08/2025 20:21

I'm from originally from South Asia, but I've built my life in Europe. I never really found true love. Some how, my luck never favoured me in terms of romance.

At the age of 33, I decided that I'll try something different because I didn't want to be single anymore. I decided to marry from the country of my origin, through the help of my mother. She asked me to meet this girl. I felt she was a nice down-to-earth person, not high maintenance. Most importantly I felt that she was really into me. I could feel that she really liked me (many women did tell me that apparently I'm handsome). That was always very important to me, that the girl has to be head over heels about me. But I never really found her that attractive, facially. But I thought beauty fades with age and hopefully love will grow in time.

However, after 5 years of marriage, love isn't in my heart for her. In fact, first 2 years I felt great deal of affection for her but now if I could, without breaking her heart, I'd divorce her.

I've tried to give her the best possible life I could. She moved with me in Europe. We traveled many countries together. Before marriage, I had promised that her studies won't be affected. I kept that promise. I helped her getting as much educated as possible since she's been here. I always encourage her to learn skills so she can also build a career.

She also really wanted a baby. It got very complicated. We had to try a lot of medicines because of her PCOS. Now she's pregnant. But truth be said, I have been regretting marrying her just after the first 2 years of our marriage. But it's not her fault. She's a truly loving wife, always wanting to make me happy. And that's why I didn't ask for divorce because I can't break her heart. That's why I wanted to do the best I could for her. Even with the baby, I did my best to help her because she was getting really depressed, feeling she was an incomplete woman, incapable of being a mother.

But deep in my heart I don't feel love for her. In our country divorce is a devastating matter. It's like killing a woman. I feel deep regret not thinking about what a grave deed I was committing into by getting into a marriage from that country. I feel guilty of marrying her and failing to truly love her.

Now, I feel may be I just don't know how to love women the way they would like to be and I realise more and more that I'm actually happier single. Before getting married I was single and alone for 11 years, only visiting my family every few years. I guess it's just my nature to be alone, I'm a loner.

I'd like to be free and single again. I've been to nearly 40 countries. I just would like to travel and explores beauties of the world and not bother about love anymore.

But now I don't know how to get out of this marriage without breaking the heart of a person who has been so loving and kind to me. I'm totally at a loss.

OP posts:
desolatelover · 13/08/2025 23:54

EveSix · 13/08/2025 23:38

What I find so puzzling is that you are talking about making your wife and child effectively homeless, perpetual house-guests in multigenerational set-ups passing between extended family, without a base of her own to call home, as if this isn't a particularly big deal. Mind-boggling.This is a woman who has upped sticks and moved continents, leaving everything behind to be with you. Such a massive sacrifice, yet you whinge about her being needy and clingy. So sad for her, being resented for being and doing exactly what was expected of her.

Edited

She'll actually have more than one apartment on her name in her home country. She won't be homeless. But she will have her parents and my mother to support her with the baby.

OP posts:
vegetarianlouise · 13/08/2025 23:56

desolatelover · 13/08/2025 23:28

She definitely won't alone during her pregnancy. My plan is to continue everything as it is until the baby is has had all the vaccines and then mother and child can move to home country. I hope she agrees to it. My mom and sister will visit during the baby birth. Afterwards my wife's mother will also visit to continue supporting her here. After that, when the vaccinations are completed, they can live in the home country.

I don't lack empathy. I just realised in recent years, it's just worth being empathetic. Life is better being alone for me.

Yes I lack trust in humans. That's one of the reasons I didn't pursue any relationship here. I didn't feel women here are trustworthy with so much adultery that goes on among both genders.

And are humans actually trustworthy? Look at the bad things humans are doing around the world every living moment. Humans are the worst creature, given the ability to think they have.

Edited

I've never seen so much projection of the self on a post. You're complaining about humans not being trustworthy while you're the less trustyworthy person ever, you're deceiving and future facking your innocent wife who has no clue you're about to leave her. The double standards are alive n kicking!

Boulevard88 · 14/08/2025 00:00

My husband is like you, talks like you, humanity is meaningless, we’re 8 billion what do we matter, he wants and dreams to go to space alone etc.

I wrote a big message about our story but hit the wrong button.

as I don’t have too much time in my hands I’m going straight to the point:

were you abused sexually as a child from an older relative ? were you raped or forced to do anything sexual?

Even touched inappropriate from your mum to put you oil on your body till you were very old or being watched naked and not respect your privacy or saw them having sex accidentally, counts as abuse too.

are you autistic or/and adhd? Learning disabilities or being exceptionally good in some subjects like physics and maths but struggling a lot with other things like writing down an email or keeping a conversation? Do you have social anxiety?

For me it’s obvious you’re already depressed and the baby coming in your life has triggered your trauma.
Childhood trauma that continues into adulthood because you still rely and need your family although you have said they even mistreated you. So there’s a split in your soul, for one you want to feel anger for them and stop being so enmeshed with them and create your own path but at the same time you feel you cannot be distant to them so you have essentially offer to them your own life, heart and soul.
what’s left? A body that wonders around the world. Eat, work, sleep, repeat.

Have you heard about narcissistic families? Maybe you grew up in a toxic and abusive family (even in subtle ways) who manipulated, used and took advantage of you or worse. But you haven’t processed all the pain.

would you consider therapy? Intensive therapy ? EDMR for trauma and also some talking therapy? Some couples therapy? And all these before the baby’s here!

PS: no one’s loves you on this earth right now more than your wife, not even your own mother or you your own self, but you will realise when it’s too late. If ever. My husband also wishes or has wished to die young. Also speaks about the pointless of getting old and stuff like this. Underachieving. Avoids responsibility and builds bad habits.

he’s a great father mostly but living with him it’s very difficult. I’m depressed myself now. I have a big battle but I carry on as his family is so toxic that if I divorce him I put my children in their mercy, they will love to be around more than they are now (I have fallen out with most of them and keep them at distance, they always hated me anyway) they would love boss my husband in the weekends about how to speak to the kids and how to raise them, how to shop do them, this and that, like his a little boy.

unlike you I’m not deluded: they don’t “love” children, they love having power over little, dependant people and boss them around because themselves are really toxic and damaged. That is my widow mother in law with an alcoholic partner and my childless, single witn a questionable sexuality (perhaps bisexual or gay who hides it) who never had a relationship, brother in law.

So if you think you’re a lost case tell her as soon as possible and she will decide what to do because maybe she doesn’t want to go back to your country to be close to a family that damaged so much a human being (you) …. I mean your family. She maybe want a better future for herself and her child.

you going to deeply, deeply regret being like this! I almost had my lucky escape (we were unmarried when I had my first baby) but I insisted I wanted a a United family and got married after the child was born. Still questioning my decision sometimes but had I gone back in my country to be a single mother under my family, that would be also tough as they are toxic too (although loving me).

It has been a bumpy road and waiting till my youngest to be 17-18 or some of them start dying. Yes I have become cynical with these cold hearted, toxic, damaging people… they really damaged my husband for life.

ChangingWeight · 14/08/2025 00:00

Listen up, the best thing you can do for everyone involved is tell her how you feel and start the divorce. Be amicable in proceedings ie don’t leave her with nothing. Give her something to stand on her own 2 feet.

I don’t think you should stay in an unhappy marriage and neither should she. If she’s in the EU now, chances are local men won’t give a shit about south Asian culture so she might very well have the opportunity to find love.

LouiseMadetheBestBroccoliPasta · 14/08/2025 00:07

vegetarianlouise · 13/08/2025 23:56

I've never seen so much projection of the self on a post. You're complaining about humans not being trustworthy while you're the less trustyworthy person ever, you're deceiving and future facking your innocent wife who has no clue you're about to leave her. The double standards are alive n kicking!

Agree. The projection is massive. Op trusts no one because he's utterly untrustworthy himself.

What a loser.

BooneyBeautiful · 14/08/2025 00:08

Ireolu · 13/08/2025 21:03

I'm glad you find your behaviour 'haha' funny. Crystallising my initial thoughts on your posts so far. I hope you wife sees you leaving her, (in whatever capacity you eventually decide) as a blessing in the end.

I think OP meant to say, 'Aha' as opposed to 'Haha'.

desolatelover · 14/08/2025 00:10

vegetarianlouise · 13/08/2025 23:56

I've never seen so much projection of the self on a post. You're complaining about humans not being trustworthy while you're the less trustyworthy person ever, you're deceiving and future facking your innocent wife who has no clue you're about to leave her. The double standards are alive n kicking!

Look, I have owned up to my mistake that I made by marrying. And for that I've tried to fulfill her every wish. Did I deceive her by failing to truly love her? Hell I don't even fucking love myself, how can I love her? How did I betray her when I gave her everything she asked for within my limits?

Would you like to raise a child in a toxic environment? Isn't it better for a parent to distantly support and provide a happier environment?

OP posts:
desolatelover · 14/08/2025 00:13

LouiseMadetheBestBroccoliPasta · 14/08/2025 00:07

Agree. The projection is massive. Op trusts no one because he's utterly untrustworthy himself.

What a loser.

Lol you guys are so triggered because I mentioned people cheat on their spouses. I mentioned in my OP that first 2 years I felt a great deal of affection for, which is more gone. I did try to love, but just like I never loved myself because of my imperfections, I failed to love her too. How did I betray her here?

OP posts:
Boulevard88 · 14/08/2025 00:18

desolatelover · 14/08/2025 00:10

Look, I have owned up to my mistake that I made by marrying. And for that I've tried to fulfill her every wish. Did I deceive her by failing to truly love her? Hell I don't even fucking love myself, how can I love her? How did I betray her when I gave her everything she asked for within my limits?

Would you like to raise a child in a toxic environment? Isn't it better for a parent to distantly support and provide a happier environment?

Aw you see I told you! You don’t love yourself! Happier environment…? Which one …? The one that damaged you for life (unless you do something about it…) … your family/ relatives?

are you sure you’re not offering your wife and the poor child in the wolfs mouth?

I presume in your country as the “fathers” family they will have more saying and power in the raising of the child, more than the mother and all her family together, am I correct? Will she be in danger of having the child taken if she will be seen with another man or get into a relationship ?
Are you sure your family will not turn against her if she asks for a divorce? And demand they have the child instead of growing up with a strange man?

Are you sure your family is so loving? Then why you ran from them? There must be reasons.

Boulevard88 · 14/08/2025 00:19

BooneyBeautiful · 14/08/2025 00:08

I think OP meant to say, 'Aha' as opposed to 'Haha'.

He really did mean haha.

Blunderbussviking · 14/08/2025 00:23

ChangingWeight · 14/08/2025 00:00

Listen up, the best thing you can do for everyone involved is tell her how you feel and start the divorce. Be amicable in proceedings ie don’t leave her with nothing. Give her something to stand on her own 2 feet.

I don’t think you should stay in an unhappy marriage and neither should she. If she’s in the EU now, chances are local men won’t give a shit about south Asian culture so she might very well have the opportunity to find love.

Muslim women can’t date non-Muslim men. It doesn’t work like this. Especially as OP said she is very religious. I doubt she would want to live totally independently in a Western country anyway, especially without family help around her.
Maybe she could find another Muslim man, if (a BIG if) he is willing to take on a divorced woman with someone else’s child.

ChangingWeight · 14/08/2025 00:25

Blunderbussviking · 14/08/2025 00:23

Muslim women can’t date non-Muslim men. It doesn’t work like this. Especially as OP said she is very religious. I doubt she would want to live totally independently in a Western country anyway, especially without family help around her.
Maybe she could find another Muslim man, if (a BIG if) he is willing to take on a divorced woman with someone else’s child.

Sounds like she needs to break free of the shackles imposed on her then

Blunderbussviking · 14/08/2025 00:31

ChangingWeight · 14/08/2025 00:25

Sounds like she needs to break free of the shackles imposed on her then

Except, if one was born and raised in a cage in the zoo, it will be difficult to release one back into the wild and expect them to survive.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 14/08/2025 00:42

So you are heading for 40 or are you already there ?

40+ divorced with a child - no catch now / no longer a catch

FontSnob · 14/08/2025 00:43

desolatelover · 14/08/2025 00:13

Lol you guys are so triggered because I mentioned people cheat on their spouses. I mentioned in my OP that first 2 years I felt a great deal of affection for, which is more gone. I did try to love, but just like I never loved myself because of my imperfections, I failed to love her too. How did I betray her here?

You have betrayed her by promising her a life as your wife, and are now planning ways to get rid of her and your unborn child. That is how you have betrayed her.

Regardless of this however, and what is more concerning is your lack of love and lack of desire to nurture and emotionally support your child and the impact that this will have on their whole life.

Have you ever considered therapy for yourself to explore why you are so detached? You do sound like you care for her wellbeing, so I don’t believe you to be an awful person. But I do think that you need some help, and maybe that should come before you turn her world upside down. I also think that you need to talk to her and let her decide her fate - why do you get to choose it for her?

cheercaptain · 14/08/2025 00:48

Your poor wife has likely been desperate for a child, perhaps thinking, “He doesn’t love me because I haven’t been able to have one,” not realizing that in truth, you don’t love her and see the marriage as a prison. You must stop letting these thoughts live rent-free in your mind and instead focus on your soon-to-arrive child. I pray she has a safe delivery and a joyful life with her baby-whether or not you are part of it.

desolatelover · 14/08/2025 00:50

Boulevard88 · 14/08/2025 00:18

Aw you see I told you! You don’t love yourself! Happier environment…? Which one …? The one that damaged you for life (unless you do something about it…) … your family/ relatives?

are you sure you’re not offering your wife and the poor child in the wolfs mouth?

I presume in your country as the “fathers” family they will have more saying and power in the raising of the child, more than the mother and all her family together, am I correct? Will she be in danger of having the child taken if she will be seen with another man or get into a relationship ?
Are you sure your family will not turn against her if she asks for a divorce? And demand they have the child instead of growing up with a strange man?

Are you sure your family is so loving? Then why you ran from them? There must be reasons.

Well she will have her own apartment. But the apartment is near her own family. So it's her own family support. She can visit my mom occasionally as well.

I left because I've always been like this. I always liked being alone. Because I can do whatever I want. I also needed to get rich, I wouldn't be so if I was there as I'm from an ordinary family. I needed to provide for my family as my father was nearing his death.

But yes, my mother betrayed at one stage of my life. She acted selfishly but that was much later in my life, by that time I was an adult. But I used to trust her with my life, never thought she'd be so selfish with me.

Nobody abused me sexually as a kid lol. But my mom did use to beat me up, but that's because I was stubborn and tremendously short tempered. But that's normal I guess.

And you guys as assuming too much negativity about my wife. She has had a pretty cushy life. She has never had to work. Her high education, good life everything is provided and that will be continued after having the child. It's just that I don't want to be with her all the time. I prefer living alone.

OP posts:
Deadringer · 14/08/2025 00:51

When you were single you wanted to be married, now that you are married you want to be single. It was very important to you that your potential wife should be in love with you, now her love for you is a burden. It wasn't one mistake, you set out to find a wife, you could have chosen someone who wanted to marry for practical reasons, but you wanted love, you knew you didn't return her feelings but you married her anyway, you got her pregnant despite the fact that you don't want a child, this is a series of deliberate acts, not one mistake. You are utterly, utterly selfish. There is no way of finishing with her without breaking her heart, so you are just going to have to get on with it. Whatever support she receives back home will not be the same as having a loving husband by her side, but she will cope. In time she might even meet someone else, by which time no doubt you will decide that you do want her after all.

desolatelover · 14/08/2025 00:53

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 14/08/2025 00:42

So you are heading for 40 or are you already there ?

40+ divorced with a child - no catch now / no longer a catch

Does it matter if I'll be 40 and divorced if I don't seek any more relationships? Relationships aren't worth effort. Life should be about fun. Relationships are often work and work isn't fun.

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 14/08/2025 00:58

Fun.

oh well one day you will grow up.

Onthemaintrunkline · 14/08/2025 01:00

I’m getting the feeling you are thinking about you way too much. Stop navel gazing and spend just a little time thinking about how your wife (the one you voluntarily married) is feeling currently growing a baby she assumes is wanted by both of you.

This is not just about you.

desolatelover · 14/08/2025 01:01

cheercaptain · 14/08/2025 00:48

Your poor wife has likely been desperate for a child, perhaps thinking, “He doesn’t love me because I haven’t been able to have one,” not realizing that in truth, you don’t love her and see the marriage as a prison. You must stop letting these thoughts live rent-free in your mind and instead focus on your soon-to-arrive child. I pray she has a safe delivery and a joyful life with her baby-whether or not you are part of it.

Lol, no. She got desperate for the child because women fucking talk and make each other's life miserable, especially in our culture, if the don't become mothers soon. Women are their own enemies. They get a kick at making other women feel miserable.

I've always been affectionate with her. Just a few minutes back we shared an ice cream together. We did many fun things together, including secretly having sex on the beach in Spain, lol, while people nearby.

OP posts:
Onthemaintrunkline · 14/08/2025 01:01

What a child you sound.

Boulevard88 · 14/08/2025 01:07

desolatelover · 14/08/2025 00:50

Well she will have her own apartment. But the apartment is near her own family. So it's her own family support. She can visit my mom occasionally as well.

I left because I've always been like this. I always liked being alone. Because I can do whatever I want. I also needed to get rich, I wouldn't be so if I was there as I'm from an ordinary family. I needed to provide for my family as my father was nearing his death.

But yes, my mother betrayed at one stage of my life. She acted selfishly but that was much later in my life, by that time I was an adult. But I used to trust her with my life, never thought she'd be so selfish with me.

Nobody abused me sexually as a kid lol. But my mom did use to beat me up, but that's because I was stubborn and tremendously short tempered. But that's normal I guess.

And you guys as assuming too much negativity about my wife. She has had a pretty cushy life. She has never had to work. Her high education, good life everything is provided and that will be continued after having the child. It's just that I don't want to be with her all the time. I prefer living alone.

Edited

I’m sorry but I don’t completely believe you. I think your mother physical abuse curated who you are and damaged you.

My parents never beat me except one time a flying slipper came my way from my mother but the beatings of my older sisters damaged my in many ways and I’m doing psychotherapy for over a year now and discuss about it among other things regarding my cold husband.

You minimise everything in your mind. You say she was selfish much later in life and you still don’t believe it was serious and again you minimise it.

My husband also was betrayed from his mum as a teenager and adult and was still damaged from it. Felt deeply, deeply betrayed. For me it’s something new because for all the bad stuff of my mother she could never manipulate and betray like this her children, she was selfish occasionally but what my mother in law did to my husband from teenage years and onwards really affected the way he sees re world. And when he was little she didn’t respect his boundaries, saw him naked making a bath till almost he was a teenager for example, making him feel awkward. He couldn’t have a girlfriend living close to her and ran away for money and independence and I was his first relationship and woman.

My husband also was sending money back to the country for the youngest brother. Many inequalities there, when their father died he voluntarily offered his half inheritance to his brother witn the blessings (manipulation) of their mum. As the other brother is the golden child.

So you were “parentified” it seems , you didn’t truly find your path, and your inner self, you left them back but still carried them on your shoulders (your family).

A mother who beats physically breaks much more boundaries, maybe scratch your head better and remember. Have a good think. And you say this is a loving environment for a child???

Honeslty you need therapy. And I’m angry how you minimise what you have done to your wife. She would have been with someone who loved her, had you and your mother not snatched her. Did your mother really want this particular one because she’s well off and owing properties, right?

TheWildRobot · 14/08/2025 01:10

desolatelover · 13/08/2025 21:29

Well, I took care of in every way, financially, emotionally. I never wanted the child, she wanted it because she wanted to feel complete as a woman. Why should I be expected to be parenting when I was fine with being childless?

Wow.

You do realise a child is an actual human being, right?

What effect do you anticipate their father behaving in this callous manner to them will have on their life?

Not to mention the sheer arrogance of presuming all of the women in your extended family should step in and pick up your parenting responsibilities because you’re too lazy and selfish to actually spend any time with the child that YOU chose to create.

Yet it’s all “woe is me, I need some time alone”. Utterly, utterly selfish and verging on sociopathic.

Are you really so stupid that you think throwing a bit of money at a child constitutes meeting your responsibilities as a parent?

You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself, you are a pathetic excuse for a man.

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