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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

Things are not good, what can I do.............

42 replies

Pinkfox · 12/01/2009 17:28

Not sure where to start but I am a married mum of 2 gorgeous children. Things have not been ?right? for a while between my husband and I, lots of unspoken tension, sniping at each other, we speak but curtly, just a general feeling of unhappiness.

Things came to a head a couple of weeks ago when I brought up a subject and things were said from there, he said things haven?t been right between us for a long time (about 4 years), gradually over months getting worse, we live together but that?s basically it, we live together and look after the children, we do get evenings to sit down together but most times we either just watch tv (usually in silence) or one of us will potter about upstairs or in kitchen.

When we do sit together we have nothing to talk about, I feel he is not interested in anything I have to say and vice versa, sometimes his very presence irritates and annoys me. When he is not at home I am fine, when he comes home I am tense and irritable, not with the children, that?s part of the problem, keeping up the act and pretending everything is fine, its tiresome and draining and to be honest, I find it pointless.

It?s a lonely and miserable life, I would rather live on my own with the children and struggle than live like this. During our ?talk? he said we would have to sell the house and blah blah and I just keep thinking, no I don?t want to lose the house, I don?t want to affect the kids, so the easiest thing to do is carry on but I know we cant carry on this way. We are both in our early 30?s and I really don?t want to spend the rest of my life like this.

There are a number of factors which have led me to feel like this, he does things which I disagree with, which leads him to lie and hide things, he is secretive and deceitful, it has happened a number of times and the last time I told him in no uncertain terms (as anything I had said previously had fallen on deaf ears) that if it ever happened again (not an affair) he would have to leave, cos I felt he was taking the piss, I told him the way he was behaving was making me feel less for him. I felt he had no respect for me to keep doing what he was doing and on top of that, to keep lying to me about it, to me that shows little or no respect, he must think im thick to think he can hide stuff and I wouldn?t find out.

I have since found out he has done this thing again and lied about it AGAIN and then told MORE lies to try and cover up the fact he is lying and it was like someone turning off a light inside me, I just felt sad, previous times I have felt a mixture of anger, sadness, hurt, never knowing whether to scream or cry. There is no affection or intimacy between us, hasn?t been for a long time, although we get along fine, we don?t argue as such, no raised voices or anything.

My question is this, if we have lived like this for 4 years, what happens next, do we carry on living like this or do we do something about it, I tried to say to him during our talk that I felt we should not live together and see if it helped, some time and space apart might help us see how to make things better, to see if we can make them work, I don?t feel I can do anything to fix things while are are still living this way, things are not going to change while we continue this way.

Realistically I have nowhere to go, I wouldn't go on my own, my two children would have to come with me for childcare reasons which I don't think my parents would welcome, I wouldn?t know where else to go ? I have considered an easier option would be for him to move out for a while but I doubt he would relish that prospect either, I dont even feel I can suggest or approach that option. I dont know what to do but we really cant carry on like this, im not going to let this be brushed under the carpet now we have finally started to talk about it. HELP!!!

OP posts:
HolyGuacamole · 12/01/2009 17:30

What's the thing he has done?

GypsyMoth · 12/01/2009 17:32

relate? that sort of place maybe. do you both want to salvage the relationship?

liahgen · 12/01/2009 17:33

Pinkfox, life without him cannot be worse than this surely?

You have no respect for him, sounds to me like you don't actually like him very much atm.

Please don't let the children keep yopu together, they will not thank you for it.

solidgoldsoddingjanuaryagain · 12/01/2009 17:33

What is the thing he does, and lies about? Is it burgling the neighbours? Going to BNP meetings? Viewing porn? Eating meat when you're a veggie household?
You see sometimes when one partner insists that another partner changes an aspect of his or her behaviour for no other reason than that the partner dislikes the behaviour, it actually damages the relationship quite badly, because the forbidding partner is putting the other in a postion of either feeling resentful or having to lie.
OK it does depend on what it is he does that you have forbidden him to do, but the possibility is there that you are in fact being controlling and unreasonable.

NotQuiteCockney · 12/01/2009 17:34

It's an obvious suggestion, but is Relate an option?

What is the Dreadful Thing he does that you disagree with? Could you just stop minding? Husbands and wives are not the same person, and may make different choices.

loopylou6 · 12/01/2009 17:34

soundsa like you really dislike him, i suggest a split, lifes to short for staying in unhappt situations and its not fair on your kids as they will pick up on the tension

Pinkfox · 12/01/2009 17:40

The thing he does is basically stealing, I was too ashamed to write it as it makes me feel physically ill it makes me feel somehow involved. The other thing he did was get some extra money from work and not tell me about it, at a time when extra money was needed (as always). I found out when I saw some paperwork, I brought the subject up and he lied about it, till I produced the paperwork then he went mad saying I had gone through his things (it was one the side in the bedroom).

OP posts:
liahgen · 12/01/2009 17:44

When you say stealing, do you mean from shops or big stuff to order, cars or the like?

Not that it makes a jot of difference obviously, but my exh used to be a car thief, (he still is) and my life was a nightmare. We were raided once when i was 9mths pregnant with 1st dc,in bed, 4am and was told to get up while they turned our house upside down. very depressing.

He needs to buck up or you need to get rid. He won't stop, prison didn't deter my ex, they have all kinds of contacts in there. stealing is a way of life for some sadly. No way to show your dc's to behave.

GypsyMoth · 12/01/2009 17:46

pinkfox....you have my sympathy....my ex was the same. was sacked twice,investigated for fraud twice. it was hell. the fraud cases involved officers coming round to search our house...the humiliation!!!

i know how you feel. you feel like you're condoning it and handling stolen goods. i have to say,get out!! sorry,but if he won't change,what example is this for the dc's....and how about you? are you scared whenever the doorbell rings?? i was...

Pinkfox · 12/01/2009 17:47

Sorry meant to say thank you for your replies too, I dont have a problem with him viewing porn, I dont particularly like it but he's gonna do it anyways (although he lies about it!!) and eating meat (I usually cook it!!!). We have never had the sort of relationship where we try to change each other.

As for relate, I used to go to a counsellor for other reasons (although I think she was trying to tell me my relationship WAS the issue), she gave me details for relate but he said we didnt need to speak to a stranger, he said we could say what we needed to say to each other.

OP posts:
liahgen · 12/01/2009 17:49

well of course you can say whatever you like to each other but if your dh is not listening or choosing to ignore your concerns then whats the point.

Stealing is a biggy imo, thieves don't gererally change ime. As Brie says, every knock at the door.

Do you love him?

HolyGuacamole · 12/01/2009 17:49

Aw, don't be ashamed. It's him that's doing it, not you, no one is going to judge you on that. What an arse he is. Not surprised you feel the way you do. Do you know why he does it? Is it because he thinks he is helping to support you by stealing? Is he mixing with the wrong people?

Sorry you're in this situation Agree with others about Relate.

Pinkfox · 12/01/2009 17:51

Dont really want to go into details, stealing is stealing and however its done, its not nice and its not good. I feel involved because its in my house, I only know when I accidentally come across something shoved in the back of a cupboard or some random place, if it wasnt wrong, why hide it????

My head hurts constantly, I cant sleep and my body is aching from being so tense, I feel close to exploding but I dont want things to be nasty

OP posts:
liahgen · 12/01/2009 17:55

Pinkfox, you need to look out for yourself and your dc's. Try not to worry about things turning nasty.

What do you want to happen do you think?

Him leave?
Work it out?

Pinkfox · 12/01/2009 17:57

I honestly cant say yes I love him and that makes me sad and yes I also hear the VERY loud bells which that sounds, I can say I dont like him very much, I told him that I dont think I know him as I used to think he was a nice, caring, kind person but now he is devious and sly and they are not things I like in a person. Everyime I found something hidden it knocked a bit of stuffing out of me and bit by bit, there isnt much left, if anything at all

I think he does this thing to try and make a few quid, although I would rather be skint all the time, we get by ok without it so to me it is no justification for what he does. Its not only the actual stealing, its the hiding and sneakiness and lying. He lets me find things and only then does he tell me about them, or worse he has denied knowing anything about them, making me look an idiot or like ive lost the plot and they were there all the time?!?!?

OP posts:
solidgoldsoddingjanuaryagain · 12/01/2009 17:58

OK, it's not at all unreasonable of you to mind this (I was thinking of a poster who was going to leave her DH because he wouldn't give up smoking - she had forbidden him to smoke and kept searching his pockets for cigarettes and screaming at him). Unfortunately, even if he stops, the police might still show up at some point (ie when they work out that he has stolen whatever he steals). It really might be better to get out of the relationship so at least you don't get dragged down with him.

liahgen · 12/01/2009 17:59

for you Pinkfox, what a rotten situation.

Do you have dc's together?
Does he have anywhere he could go for some cool off time/thinking time for you both? I'm thinking couple weeks at least, not just overnight.

missingtheaction · 12/01/2009 18:00

I think it's over and it's time to start planning your escape. (sorry to be blunt).

Do you own your home or rent it?
Do you work?
Would your parents put you and dcs up temporarily?
If you said it was over would he leave?

Pinkfox · 12/01/2009 18:02

He says he would like ot make it work, to make things better but I am not sure if we can. I also KNOW they cant be worked out while we are living this way, something has to give if we stand any chance. I need time and space, I would like him to move out to give us that time and space but I doubt it would even be an option, if I suggest it all hell would break loose - I have considered talking to his parents as I know he doesnt talk to anyone and would not want to tell his family we are having problems, thats half the problem, he doesnt talk to anyone, he hasnt really got any friends, he is closer to his family but weirdly never actually TALKS to them, IYKWIM???

I have spent nights awake thinking of ways we could make life easy but mostly they involve us not being together, although that sometimes scares me. I know I would never, ever stop him being a daddy, ive also spent countless nights coming up with solutions which would work but havent actually voiced them - yet

Your replies are helping, thank you x

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 12/01/2009 18:06

pinkfox....he's stealing from where?? shops? internet? his place of work? if he gets caught and prosecuted it will be in your local papers.....nobody wants the shame of that!! i assume its smaller items,does he do it alone?

CatMandu · 12/01/2009 18:08

Why don't you run some possible solutions past us?

It does however sound like you need time apart, I know you've said all hell will break lose, but how long can this go on. It may be a make or break situation, if he wants it to work and giving you some space for a couple of weeks is the way to do it then he should be prepared to give it a go.

GypsyMoth · 12/01/2009 18:09

i have a cafcas case going on right now with regards to the ex's contact with our 4 kids. our eldest dd age 14 refuses to see him....he stole on a previous contact,he'd taken them to ford garage for new tyres,and a keyring from the counter "just jumped into his pocket"!! he showed our dd....she was apaaled,and i only found out recently too.

Pinkfox · 12/01/2009 18:10

Thanks for making me smile once today, the poster about the smoking!!

We have two LOs, aged 4 and 2, our home is on mortgage, we both work. My parents dont know anything about this, although I am on the brink of speaking to my mum about it as I am struggling to keep it to myself, we need outside help/support. I have considered asking if I could stay with my parents but I would not go anywhere without my children (I cant bear to think about living apart from them).

Last time we spoke he said he felt it was over (from an answer I gave which didnt convince him I wanted to make it work - I cant lie and give false hope when I feel so wrecked). He went on about selling the house and all sorts, but I owned my own house and sold it so we could buy this house together, I would not want to sell or lose the house, it is fundamental to the children not being affected. Another reason why I wouldnt really want to stay at my parents, it would confuse the children (although they would love it, LOL!!). It would be easier for him to stay with his parents (for example), he would still have to pick the kids up from school till I got back from work, so still keeping some form of routine for them.

OP posts:
Pinkfox · 12/01/2009 18:12

I have to go for a bit now, will log back on later, thank you for helping x

Brie5 - OMG, what a horrble situation for you, hope your DD is ok

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 12/01/2009 18:12

right,so he's the one who is going to have to leave!!
i wonder if anyone else is thinking what i'm thinking!!!