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Relationships

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Am i wrong in feeling this way?

97 replies

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:16

I've been with my partner for nearly 20 years, we are mid 30s and have 4 children age range 18 to 5. I feel a constant ache for more and to experience a connection with someone else, or just to feel at peace and not so stressed. Partner is selfish, he barely gives me any money, I'm lucky if he gives me £500 a month, I work part time he is a self employed builder so earns more than me. Although he does pay gor holidays and the odd takeaway when we have one but thats beside the point. I see to the children mostly, sort their things, appointments, he's never been to a parents evenings or school play/sports day, pick ups and drop offs is mostly me but he does if he's in the mood, most nights he goes to walk the dogs where he usually ends up at a quiet pub with his friends and I'm left to sort the washing up, the little one and pick my daughter up if shes been out with friends. When I go to work and am out the house for 13 hours I come home to barely anything done, he refuses to do any washing as he says hes not sorting through our dirty knickers, moams at me when i've not washed his work clothes, washing up is usually left, bathroom never cleaned, he says the elder children should do it, which I agree but so should he, and they will if they're told. He is emotionally unavailable, he's difficult to get a conversation out of him and has no sense of humour, I find I am not my true self with him as I feel stupid. Many many times over the years I have tried to talk to him about how I feel and tried to raise the issues I have but he doesnt listen, he becomes argumentative and turns things round on me and says I'm in a mood then we just go round in circles, we're fine for a bit then I get fed up and try to tell him his wrongs and how I feel etc but nothing works. I have no where to go so I cannot leave, no family only my grandparents and I certainly wouldnt mither them. I had a one night stand with someone we both know many years ago and he has never gotten over it, he cant understand why i did it, he was suicidal when he found out and still says now if he ever hears anything else he will kill himself and I feel he would feel this way if i did break it off completely and that worries me. He has his good points believe it or not, everyone I speak to say hes a good bloke, he's always been faithful, we do nice things together as a family, the sex is good and I've told him thats probably the only good thing going for us. I've had to have time off work due to stress and burnout with other things going on and couldn't cope with everything. I crave an emotional connection with someone else, I feel now I'm in my mid 30s I want to live and not waste my life feeling miserable and disrespected but I feel completely stuck and obviously dont know any different hence why I've put up with this for so long. Any advice/thoughts welcome, please be kind!

OP posts:
category12 · 07/08/2026 10:19

Sugarplum5 · 07/08/2026 10:15

I agree and maybe very stupid of me not marrying and also having 4 children but I dont regret them, I'm letting him have this hold over me because I'm frightened of the future and his mental state if I made him leave. He wouldnt cope at all 🤦‍♀️ I know that's not my responsibility but its a massive worry

Basically shoulda woulda coulda is a horse that's already bolted.

Your situation now is what matters.

He's a full grown adult man, why couldn't he cope on his own? You're not obliged to be another adult's emotional crutch and wellbeing coach at the expense of your own life.

It's also not a great dynamic to give your kids as a model for their own futures.

SusanJJ · 07/08/2026 10:29

Problem is that you are enabling him to continue in a very bad way without any impetus to get help or change anything, and meanwhile your state of health is also declining. He may be better off without you. Weirdly my DD was in a similar situation for years , and eventually decided to leave her depressed and useless DH despite fearing for his safety . It was awful for him at first but 5 years later he is happily married to someone else. They were bad for each other.

Sugarplum5 · 07/08/2026 18:48

SusanJJ · 07/08/2026 10:29

Problem is that you are enabling him to continue in a very bad way without any impetus to get help or change anything, and meanwhile your state of health is also declining. He may be better off without you. Weirdly my DD was in a similar situation for years , and eventually decided to leave her depressed and useless DH despite fearing for his safety . It was awful for him at first but 5 years later he is happily married to someone else. They were bad for each other.

I have told him he will probably be happier without me as he cant forget the one night stand I had, hence the drinking and anxiety he has. I would want him to be happy. But he cant see a life without us

OP posts:
SusanJJ · 07/08/2026 19:39

Sugarplum5 · 07/08/2026 18:48

I have told him he will probably be happier without me as he cant forget the one night stand I had, hence the drinking and anxiety he has. I would want him to be happy. But he cant see a life without us

He can't see a life without you now but that doesn't mean it can't happen. He sounds very depressed and hopeless. I think you should leave for your own sake, which must come first, but also that most likely nothing will change for a very long time unless you make a move, because he is desperately clinging to the miserable present.

Slave2Avocads · 07/08/2026 19:59

Interesting how it’s you that has to deal with the birth control (he won’t have a vasectomy)
you have to to manage terminations or give birth.
you that has to do all the cleaning
you have to pay everything other than £500
you have to look after your children and only have friends at work
You that has to monitor your time and make sure that you’re not out late because he gets angry
you that has to tidy up when he gets home because he doesn’t like it being messy
you that has to cook and do all the washing

Whilst he gets drunk, goes out all the time
He criticises and shouts
He monitors your time
He berates you

The more children you have, less money you have, more anxious you get, you will be stuck spending more and more time at home and become a shadow of yourself.

I think that you sound like an intelligent, thoughtful and impressive person who has hopes and dreams. There would be nothing wrong with you walking away from this relationship.

Sugarplum5 · 07/08/2026 22:37

Slave2Avocads · 07/08/2026 19:59

Interesting how it’s you that has to deal with the birth control (he won’t have a vasectomy)
you have to to manage terminations or give birth.
you that has to do all the cleaning
you have to pay everything other than £500
you have to look after your children and only have friends at work
You that has to monitor your time and make sure that you’re not out late because he gets angry
you that has to tidy up when he gets home because he doesn’t like it being messy
you that has to cook and do all the washing

Whilst he gets drunk, goes out all the time
He criticises and shouts
He monitors your time
He berates you

The more children you have, less money you have, more anxious you get, you will be stuck spending more and more time at home and become a shadow of yourself.

I think that you sound like an intelligent, thoughtful and impressive person who has hopes and dreams. There would be nothing wrong with you walking away from this relationship.

I agree, thank you. I think I am just too soft and worry about hurting him 🤦‍♀️ I want the best for all of us

OP posts:
category12 · 07/08/2026 22:55

Sugarplum5 · 07/08/2026 18:48

I have told him he will probably be happier without me as he cant forget the one night stand I had, hence the drinking and anxiety he has. I would want him to be happy. But he cant see a life without us

Of course he's very resistant to splitting, he knows he's got a fantastic set up with you for £500 a month.

He couldn't find a room for that price. It'll really inconvenience him and cramp his lifestyle to have to pay a grown up rent and bills.

He's been mugging you off, OP.

He's not paying his way with you which means money out of your pockless which means less resources for your kids. So he can go out on the piss with his mates.

Find some anger instead of feeling sorry for his grubbing, using arse.

Sugarplum5 · 08/08/2026 16:07

category12 · 07/08/2026 22:55

Of course he's very resistant to splitting, he knows he's got a fantastic set up with you for £500 a month.

He couldn't find a room for that price. It'll really inconvenience him and cramp his lifestyle to have to pay a grown up rent and bills.

He's been mugging you off, OP.

He's not paying his way with you which means money out of your pockless which means less resources for your kids. So he can go out on the piss with his mates.

Find some anger instead of feeling sorry for his grubbing, using arse.

It will come, I wont put up with it for much longer. I know he wont go easily though and he will make things dofficult for me 😢 I worry it will get messy regarding our little boy, he absolutely dotes on him and I worry he would end up having some sort of mental breakdown or try to take him from me.

OP posts:
nc42day · 08/08/2026 16:16

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 19:55

Going to write him a letter because I'm done with talking and not being listened to

You don't need to write him a letter. You're not going to get his agreement, and shouldn't be looking for it.

Instead of writing a letter pleading to his better nature, he doesn't have one, work out exactly where you stand financially and how you're going to support yourself when you move into your own place with the DC.

You make the decision and you take the necessary steps to get where you want to be. Threats of suicide are none of your business. They are manipulation and coercion and nothing more.

For things to change, things are going to have to change, and if that means a new house and letting go of the one you're currently in, then so be it, if it means you can move forward.

Speak to the agencies advised previously, get some support and get yourself out of there. You'll find your Mental Health improves in spades pretty quickly.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/08/2026 16:20

Even more reason to pull the plug on this so called relationship now. This bloke targeted you when you were yourself a child. You likely had no family support then either.

You have no good future at all if you stay with him. It will just be more of the same from him. You are in a destructive and codependent relationship with him. He has made you feel responsible for him when you are not at all responsible for him.

Never be afraid to call the police if he threatens you and your kids. He’s not going to take the kids away from you though; that’s a veiled threat designed to keep you in line.

Sugarplum5 · 10/08/2026 22:40

nc42day · 08/08/2026 16:16

You don't need to write him a letter. You're not going to get his agreement, and shouldn't be looking for it.

Instead of writing a letter pleading to his better nature, he doesn't have one, work out exactly where you stand financially and how you're going to support yourself when you move into your own place with the DC.

You make the decision and you take the necessary steps to get where you want to be. Threats of suicide are none of your business. They are manipulation and coercion and nothing more.

For things to change, things are going to have to change, and if that means a new house and letting go of the one you're currently in, then so be it, if it means you can move forward.

Speak to the agencies advised previously, get some support and get yourself out of there. You'll find your Mental Health improves in spades pretty quickly.

Edited

Sorry just seen your reply. I feel awful as he has been really trying lately after i spoke to him about wanting to end the relationship, I am so confused now and feel completely stuck. I can see he doesnt want to lose us, he is very sensitive and he does care but struggles to show it, I've told him I feel confused and how he should of tried harder before, I am wondering whether a break would be better and make him maybe realise he needs to really step up, but its getting him to agree to the break

OP posts:
Bonkers1966 · 11/08/2026 03:12

Have you spoken to your housing officer about the situation?

AmnesiacsDream · 11/08/2026 07:24

OP your DP is a pretty abysmal partner, but I don't think that's the real issue here. The issue is that YOU keep making the choice to subsidise this dickhead instead of investing in your own life.

You are wondering if you will survive on your own but he's giving you 500 a month. That is peanuts, I'll bet he costs more than 6k a year just in bills, let alone in your effort and self esteem.

You can't change him. You can only change yourself. So do it. Don't run the rest of your life behind this user. Get out. Love yourself more than you love him. (Love your children more, come to that).

AmnesiacsDream · 11/08/2026 07:26

Sugarplum5 · 10/08/2026 22:40

Sorry just seen your reply. I feel awful as he has been really trying lately after i spoke to him about wanting to end the relationship, I am so confused now and feel completely stuck. I can see he doesnt want to lose us, he is very sensitive and he does care but struggles to show it, I've told him I feel confused and how he should of tried harder before, I am wondering whether a break would be better and make him maybe realise he needs to really step up, but its getting him to agree to the break

Is he giving you enough money that you could now lend hundreds to your friends if you wanted? Because if not, he isn't trying that hard, is he?

Sugarplum5 · 11/08/2026 12:59

AmnesiacsDream · 11/08/2026 07:26

Is he giving you enough money that you could now lend hundreds to your friends if you wanted? Because if not, he isn't trying that hard, is he?

No. Just keeps saying we will sort the money situation 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
category12 · 11/08/2026 13:26

Sugarplum5 · 11/08/2026 12:59

No. Just keeps saying we will sort the money situation 🤷‍♀️

If he was half a man, he wouldn't be ripping you off in the first place.

cordeliavorkosigan · 11/08/2026 14:04

He is not going to agree. You don't get consensus for a break up, usually, and especially not with this kind of situation. He has everything he needs at such a low cost, why would he agree?
You are going to have to break up without his agreement or keep on like this for many more years.

You could move.

You could tell him that you are now broken up, you are not doing his cooking cleaning etc any more and if he insists on staying in the same home as you, he will have to know that you are seeing other people, when that time eventually comes... But that might make you unsafe.

cordeliavorkosigan · 11/08/2026 14:07

He is not going to agree. You don't get consensus for a break up, usually, and especially not with this kind of situation. He has everything he needs at such a low cost, why would he agree?
You are going to have to break up without his agreement or keep on like this for many more years.

You could move.

You could tell him that you are now broken up, you are not doing his cooking cleaning etc any more and if he insists on staying in the same home as you, he will have to know that you are seeing other people, when that time eventually comes... But that might make you unsafe.

AmnesiacsDream · 11/08/2026 14:47

Sugarplum5 · 11/08/2026 12:59

No. Just keeps saying we will sort the money situation 🤷‍♀️

I think your confusion is probably really fear of the unknown. Wishing he was different and wanting him to do right and be the man you need him to be.

But it's clear he isn't.

As previous posters have said - breaking up isn't something you need him to agree on. You need to make the decision to make a better life for yourself and stop giving away so much of it to a man who isn't giving back.

cordeliavorkosigan · 11/08/2026 15:16

He is not going to agree. You don't get consensus for a break up, usually, and especially not with this kind of situation. He has everything he needs at such a low cost, why would he agree?
You are going to have to break up without his agreement or keep on like this for many more years.

You could move.

You could tell him that you are now broken up, you are not doing his cooking cleaning etc any more and if he insists on staying in the same home as you, he will have to know that you are seeing other people, when that time eventually comes... But that might make you unsafe.

cordeliavorkosigan · 11/08/2026 15:16

Omg I don't know why that posted 3 times sorry sorry

Sugarplum5 · 11/08/2026 20:26

cordeliavorkosigan · 11/08/2026 14:04

He is not going to agree. You don't get consensus for a break up, usually, and especially not with this kind of situation. He has everything he needs at such a low cost, why would he agree?
You are going to have to break up without his agreement or keep on like this for many more years.

You could move.

You could tell him that you are now broken up, you are not doing his cooking cleaning etc any more and if he insists on staying in the same home as you, he will have to know that you are seeing other people, when that time eventually comes... But that might make you unsafe.

I think i need to get our holiday out of the way in a couple of weeks that we booked last year then have another discussion non how I feel, I dont want anything to affect the children while we're away

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