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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

would you leave your husband if....................

62 replies

sadder · 12/02/2005 01:52

you did not love him.
he was cold ang grumpy at least half the time
his being aound meant you could go on holiday on your own
you had three kids aged 6,5,2
you liked is family and they liked you
your kids love him (he is their dad)
life would be hard day to day withou him around.
you had not made love in over a year and dont want to
you see no prospect of the relationship getting better.
its the kids tht keep you together

OP posts:
rickman · 15/02/2005 11:58

Message withdrawn

Toothache · 15/02/2005 12:06

Oh sadder - I know how you feel. Although I 'think' I still love DH. Is that enough?

FineFigureFio · 15/02/2005 12:07

I couldnt stay ina loveless marriage. I know it's easier said than done, but I dont think i could even do it for the sake of my children

FineFigureFio · 15/02/2005 12:07

and living with someone who doesnt talk to you must be hell and you must feel so lonely

Sponge · 15/02/2005 12:14

There are so many strains on a relationship when you have young children even when you do love each other that I really don't think I could stick with it if there was no love.
I do understand the practicalities though. I would be terrified at the prospect of having to look after the kids on my own but I know that lots of people do and I would learn to cope.
Scary and sad though. I hope you find a resolution.

Sponge · 15/02/2005 12:16

Toothache, if you think you love him then you probably do. Just lots of other strains and problems are making it harder to find that love. So even if not enough by itself it does give you some basis to work from.

Rhubarb · 15/02/2005 12:22

I've gone through patches like that with my dh. Right now we are going through a toughie. And there are times I wonder if I ever loved him. Like yours, he is a good dad and I get on well with his family. But I also know that these bad patches eventually heal over. We do talk together and we are good friends, which makes all the difference.

My feeling is that he is as unhappy as you are. So here you have 2 very unhappy people, neither of which is willing, or able, to make the first move to resolving things. Perhaps he has the same fears as you about leaving. You need to talk to him, ask him what he wants to happen. But you need to be non-confrontational. If you have both made a mistake, then you should set each other free to pursue happier lives. But you cannot have been drunk all through your courting and marriage, you must have had sober points when you had the choice to call it off, but you didn't. So something inside you must have been attracted to him. Perhaps that attraction can be rediscovered?

You say he is grumpy and doesn't speak to you. Perhaps that's how he sees it too? I'm just trying to look at both points for you. If there is something there worth saving, then I would go all out to find it personally. Leaving him now seems a bit rash and premature.

How long have you been married? Have you had counselling? How often do you get to go out as a couple? You say you are free to go out on your own, so presumably your husband acts as babysitter then, do you return the favour to him? Have you suggested a night out on your own?

Please look at the wider picture before contemplating leaving someone, because leaving him has many implications and involves many people. Loving someone is often bloody hard work, you're not in love all the time, you can have periods of 'falling out of love', but believe me, you can fight back and begin to love again, and so can he, you need to give each other a chance.

StealthMouse · 15/02/2005 12:33

My parents stayed together for the 'our' sake (mine and my borthers). My brother and I are now both grown up and live outside their home; I feel sad for them!

If they had split when my brother and I were young we would have got over it and they would have both been young enough to move on and settle down with new people who do make them happy.

If they spilt now it would hurt me more because I am old enough to worry about the consequences and praticalities - I can understand the pain. How would they cope? etc

So they are stuck together in a hum-drum amrrigae for the rest of their lives. I think that's sad. My ramblings are getting to a point; the younger the children when you split the easier it is on them and if staying together for the sake of the children is no reason to stay together - it's just an excuse not to leave.

I'm a single mum. Because I didn't want to follow in my parents footsteps. Because I think love iin a family is important and because I want my dd to grow up knowing that she never has to settle for someone she doesn't love even if they do have children

Rhubarb · 15/02/2005 12:41

But Stealthmouse, not all children are happy if their parents divorce. Mine did when I was 9 and both re-married, but when you are young you think it is all your fault, something you did. At least when you are older you can rationalise it a bit. No, you shouldn't stay in a marriage if it is only for the sake of the children, but to give up on a marriage, without even trying, seems to be such a waste. I'm not saying that Sadder has not tried, that's why I asked her, but too many people (not Sadder) seem to just walk away from their marriages at the first sign of trouble. It's precisely these troublesome patches that make a couple stronger. If you can go through something like this, and come out the other end, then you have a greater respect for each other and your love is deepened. I want to encourage Sadder to see if she can find this out, I have been a year without sex with my husband, we didn't communicate, I dreaded hearing him come home from work, but then I discovered that it wasn't just him that I resented, it was my life as a whole. So I made some changes, he stood by me, we went through a very testing time for any marriage, but we're still here and the stronger for it. Yes it is a fight, that is what marriage is, it's not easy, but it's damn well worth it!

StealthMouse · 15/02/2005 12:54

Sorry Rhubarb our posts crossed - mine was written before I had seen yours.

I don't mean to imply that children will be happy if parents split while they are young. I was just giving mho as a child who comes from two parents who staye dtogether 'for the children'. My dd will never remember living with her father and for that I grateful.

Rhubarb, you are lucky then to have a man who would support you in making those changes and I wasn't relating directly back to Sadder either with my comments. I was just pointing out that staying for the sake of teh children isn't always in the childrens best interest. My mother is a very bitter woman.

IMHO everyone deserves to give and receive love and respect. being ignored when your talking and having your children manipulate in the way that Sadder describes is not right imo and if he won't go to counselling then what? put up and shut up?

Not trying to start a row, I just think it's interesting

Toothache · 15/02/2005 13:00

Stealthmouse - My Mum has stayed with my Dad allegedly for us kids! She is miserable, openly insults him to us. Tells us when she's been to a lawyer about divorce. Wanted us to help her get a divorce by talking about his unreasonable behaviour. It's been awful and has been for as long as I can remember. My Dad knows nothing about the lawyer. He has advised my Mum to wait another 2 yrs until the mortgage is paid off.

They should've split up. I realise that its not always the best solution, but rather than listen to my Mum go on and on and on daily about how much she hates my Dad I wish they had split up years ago. My brothers are only 16 and 13 yrs old. They are still at home are stuck right where me and my sis used to be. Miserable and traumatic for those poor boys.

Rhubarb · 15/02/2005 13:16

No she should not put up and shut up, but even Sadder will realise that here on MN we only have one side of the story. Three good points in his favour is that he is a good dad (may not be directly manipulating the kids btw, kids overhear and they are nosey little beggars), he babysits whilst she goes out, and he has a good family. Lots of men can't face counselling, they simply don't deal with their problems that way, they find it embarrassing, but he might consider mediation. The CAB will be able to tell you where to go for family mediation.

And is he ignoring her, or is he depressed? We can only give Sadder the best of our advice, but it is limited as we don't know the whole story. My thoughts are that once you have tried your level best to save your marriage, but failed, then it is time to call it a day.

galaxy · 15/02/2005 13:21

I think thsat if you are that unhappy and your children realise you are that unhappy, you are not doing them any favours by staying together for their sake.

I went out with a guy who's parents did just that and when he left home at 21, they immediately split up. His mother became an alcoholic and his father died living in a squalid Birmingham flat. He blamed himself for their "demise" and became a crap father and husband himself.

On the other hand, it's easy to sit back and think that you could have a better existence without your partner. Personally, I would try and work out what's gone wrong to bring you to this position and first of all think about trying to get back some of what you've lost.

Either way, if you make a rash decision based on your gut instinct, you may well live to regret it.

Tinker · 15/02/2005 13:31

sadder - you say he's cold and grumpy at least half of the time. What's he like for the other half? Do you like him? Think like is more important than love sometimes.

sadder · 15/02/2005 22:12

I dont know where to start.
Apart from to say thanks.
Lot of insight here.
I agree with every single one of you.
Tinker I don't think I do like him.
Today was typical.
I got home from work at about 7 and he was in a foul mood. Just glowered at me. I asked what was wrong, he insisted nothing but continued to scowl and slam doors.he then left for his snooker club. Before he left I asked what he wanted for dinner when he got home. I made what he asked (chicken in black bean sauce -lovely!) and it was waiting for him in the oven. He got in five minutes ago and slammed a few doors then said he was going to bed. I asked don't you want your dinner and he said "no I'm not hungry"

I know you are only getting my side and yes I think he may be depressed but he insists he is not. I try very hard to b kind and not get too exasperated but honestly he is far more stress to me then the three kids all put together.

OP posts:
sadder · 15/02/2005 22:20

yes he does go out himself (to a snooker club and a gym) at least three times a week, often more.

Yes I do arrange a night out just the two of us from time to time-hav one booked at a lovely restaurant in two weeks time.

Yes we have discussed separation. I have made it clear I am going nowhere and will not leave the family home or the kids. If he does not want to live with me/us I have told him I will not make it hard for him to go but made it clear I don't want him to go and I tell him I love him (even though I am unsure-I figure it would be VERY unhelpful to say otherwise)
He knows whatever happens I would never restrict his seeing the kids.

They love him and have pickedup on his unhappiness and sometimes ask me what's wrong with Daddy

OP posts:
sadder · 15/02/2005 22:21

Rhubarb both counselling and mediation are out of the question for him

OP posts:
sadder · 15/02/2005 22:25

Lulupop said this:

"gosh sadder, you could be me. our house is under the frosty spell of another weekend home alone together atm, and it makes me feel leaden with misery.

no ideas really, other than to say, yes, I would leave him, but then, like you, I haven't so far, mainly because the alternative, though better in some ways, is so much worse in others "

you understand my situation 100% . The last part about the alternative being worse than the problem is the very crux

OP posts:
Caligula · 15/02/2005 22:26

Would like to point out that a man who looks after his own children while his wife goes out is not babysitting.

He is simply behaving like a normal father. That's not extra good. That's normal.

Thank you.

sadder · 15/02/2005 22:44

thanks for that caligula but I am sure Rhubarb was just using it as shorthand for "the one staying at home while the other goes out" and not to suggest that either parent is actually "babysitting " their own children.i have been on mumsnet long enough t know Rhubarb quite well as a virtual chum

OP posts:
sadder · 15/02/2005 22:49

not meant as extra good he does this just to point out if we split up I would not be able to go out.

Does it make it clearer to say I have a lovely life, wonderful kids,great family,good friends , job I like, and a nice house, some nice outside interests and not in debt.

It's just that my relationship stinks . Do I put up with that so I can enjoy all the other stuff ?

OP posts:
SandyR · 16/02/2005 08:48

Hello, just found this thread (new to MN) and thought I'd put my two penneth in. If he won't talk to you, how can you sort this out? You could try shocking him into talking by saying you want to split up but even if he changed would you be able to love him again? (this happened to me & after all his trying I just couldn't love him anymore). If you truly think things are too far gone, I would concentrate on building a bit of independence for yourself first, eg. try to find someone who can do some babysitting for you. If you're not relying solely on him you'll feel in a better position to make some decisions for your wellbeing and for your kids. My parents split after years of being unhappy, everyones circumstances are different of course but it was a relief after such an awful atmosphere for so long. Do you want to spend the rest of your life unhappy, or the next 16 years if you are waiting for the kids to be old enough? Think what that will do to you all. Its such a hard thing to do, to split up like that but how hard are the next years going to be? Has he got any friends or family he confides in that might be able to give you an insight into what's making him so cold and grumpy?

Joanna3 · 16/02/2005 10:44

Hi Sadder, just read this thread and really feel for you. I know so well what it is like to be in an unhappy relationship with an uncommunicative partner. You feel so lonely and miserable. In your situation I would be thinking about agreeing to a trial separation of say six weeks. DH would have to leave the house during this period and you could both use the time to try and work out whether you love each other enough to pull things around. If there is love there (somewhere!!) on both sides you can make it work. I just think it would be easier to figure this out if you both took a break from each other. Something has to change - you can't just continue like this for ever and like others have said it would be very bad for the children to be bought up in this environment.

On a practical level, why won't you be able to go out for the odd night IF a split occured? You say your dh is good with the children and he would be able to come round one night a week say to put them to bed and give you a break. Also he will probably take them for holidays etc so you should be able to have the odd w/end away (funds permitting!!). From that point of view you might well find that things improve after a split, you actually get more time to youself. Being a single parent is hard but not as bad as you might think.

Caligula · 16/02/2005 11:24

Sadder, without wishing to encourage you to leave your husband (I think it is a last resort, not a first one) don't assume that you can't enjoy all the other good things in your life if your awful relationship ends. You might have to change your job, or your hours; you might have to move house; you might lose a couple of friends (but gain a couple of different ones); you might have less money to pursue outside interests. But what you gain is self-respect, pride in yourself and happiness, and children who are being taught to expect respect and fulfilment from relationships. There is so much negative publicity about being a lone parent, that women stuck in unhappy relationships like yourself are afraid of it. I'm not saying it's great - but it is better than teaching your children that living without respect and love is acceptable.

I think you need to get back the love and respect in your life, either by splitting or healing. What is the worst option, is carrying on the way you are now.

joesy · 16/02/2005 11:35

Hi Sadder I know what you must be going through. I have been there so many times. I have walked out on numerous occassions as I can take no more, but always end up coming back. I even went as far as seeing a solicitor and getting a letter sent to him, IT it so bad at times that none of my family want anything to do with dh because of the way he treats me. As you say people only hear our side. I have always come back as I hate the thought of being on my own, money and how will I cope with a 19 month and a 6 year old. I have talked to womans aid, have you tried this? It is just fear of the unknown.