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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

Staying together for the sake of the children...

109 replies

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 16:21

That's pretty much the choice I've made. And there are of course many problems with it. Has anyone did it? Did they regret it? How did they make it work?

Just wondering if it's possible to talk the problems over with someone,

OP posts:
FabulousBakerGirl · 09/05/2009 17:28

1 he has cheated on me. Can you forgive and move on?

  1. sex is a problem Is it fixable?
  2. we seem to have differing views on many things (aside from teh children.) This doesn't always have to be a problem.
alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 17:29

As to why I dread divorce:

I think my husband would be a bad ex. I think he would deal with divorce by separating himself from the children except for random flashy gestures.

I think my children (my son in particular) would be devastated.

I think we would be broke and the kids would do without things.

I think I would hate the sharing aspect to divorce. Being without the children for long periods of time.

I think that if I had to miss out n

OP posts:
debs05 · 09/05/2009 17:29

sounds like most marriages at some point (apart from the cheating).Is the cheating the biggest problem, how long ago was it?

mumnosbest · 09/05/2009 17:30

I think I've made a similar decision. I've stayed with my DH for the sake of the DCs and tbh we don't get on too badly now.
I think you have to think about the reason for possibly splitting and if you could live together. We used to argue all the time and both had our affairs (though in my defense mine was never physical and his was a reaction to my too-close friendship). In the end we talked, argued and talked again and agreed to live together for our DS. We now also have a DD and get on quite well, even sometimes in the bedroom department. I think if you can get on with eachother and don't expect miracles then you can build friendship and work together as parents. Who knows maybe as the kids grow up, there might be something more (here's hoping)

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 17:30

I can forgive but I can't trust. And it's demeanign to live with someone you don't trust.

Re: sex. It's never good enough for him.

I agree - the last is the least of the problems.

OP posts:
debs05 · 09/05/2009 17:33

Trust is very complex (after an affair). I dont even want to go into trust because mine has been broken, If I thought my husband would cheat again then I wouldnt stay with him. Lifes not perfect, no-ones is. Mumsnobest - thats what I meant before, if you are still friends then its worth it.

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 17:34

mumnosbest. Please tell me more. I appreciate everyone's comments and am touched that people have been so kind. It sounds as if you know what I am going through. And glad to hear it can work out.

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FabulousBakerGirl · 09/05/2009 17:41

I don't think it is your problem (fault?) if sex isn't good enough for him with you.

My friend lives with his wife and she doesn't trust him at all. Tbh I don't know how either of them can live like that though I do know their reasons for staying iyswim.

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 17:44

I'm not irrationally jealous or anything like that. I only became distrusting after he became dishonest.

OP posts:
mumnosbest · 09/05/2009 17:47

I think our issues arose because we were drifting apart and I found a colleague/friend who really understood me and had things in common with me. We became very close and almost took it further. DH got wind of this and assumed more had happened so had a drunken 1 night stand with a very young and pretty work mate. I think from then on we argued about such petty things. Eventually he said he was leaving and we talked seriously about DS. Once we'd got everything out in the open, things were much better.
We're about 3 yrs on now and although there are no sparks or romance, I don't think we're any different to most couples with 2 young children and a good few years of marriage. We bicker but get on most of the time. I think if you can get on with eachother it's worth giving it a go. I don't think the fun and lovey dovey stuff lasts for ever anyway. If any1 of my friends marriages were different I might think I was missing out but tbh I don't think I'd want to start again with some1 else and I wouldn't be a very happy single mum.

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 18:00

I think I could live with friendly but no romantic sparks. But he can't. He wants passion and ectasy and hot five times a night sex and someone who thinks he's wonderful. And I just can't deliver it.

OP posts:
mumnosbest · 09/05/2009 18:01

I think you can trust again after an affair if you understand the reasons and give it time

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 18:01

I don't like being lied to. I think it's disrespectful.

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FabulousBakerGirl · 09/05/2009 18:01

Sorry but if that is what he wants let him go. He is an idiot.

mumnosbest · 09/05/2009 18:06

Sounds like he's going to be sorely dissapointed in the future, noone can live like that forever!

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 18:06

I know he's an idiot but the kids love him.

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FabulousBakerGirl · 09/05/2009 18:10

They can still love him when divorced from their mother.

What is really going on here?

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 18:11

You sound cross, FBG. Do I sound that wimpy?

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dizietsma · 09/05/2009 18:13

"I think my husband would be a bad ex. I think he would deal with divorce by separating himself from the children except for random flashy gestures."

You don't know. You suspect, and may well have good reasons for this. The truth is that if he becomes a bad parent and difficult ex post divorce, well, that's on him.

"I think my children (my son in particular) would be devastated."

You are assuming. You don't know, you haven't asked and your kids cannot form a good understanding of this until you are honest with them about what is happening.

My mum, to this day, still thinks I'm angry at her for divorcing my dad. Couldn't be further from the truth. They were a terrible couple, I could see that clearly even aged 3. She wont accept or listen to my opinion about it though, because she made up her mind about how I feel. That is awful parenting IMO, she is projecting her feelings onto me. Don't make that mistake.

Your kids will most likely be upset by a split. It's inevitable. Some things have to hurt to heal. That's not a bad thing for kids to learn. Not something any mother wants her kids to go through, but with the right approach it can be an ultimately positive experience. Really.

"I think we would be broke and the kids would do without things."

a) He'll have to pay something towards you and the kids.

b) Find out your entitlements re benefits and tax credits. I don't know what your income level is like, but you'll not starve.

c) Money isn't everything. Remember when I told you that the happiest time in my childhood was when my mum was single? She was also a full-time student. We had no money, and I didn't care because everyone was happy and homelife wasn't hard anymore. Quality time as a family is worth more than gold. They'll remember the happy times with you more than they'll remember happy times with a PS3.

"I think I would hate the sharing aspect to divorce. Being without the children for long periods of time."

I imagine that is hard. But not without its benefits. You could spend that time rediscovering yourself, finding someone who'll really love you, retraining, gettting some much needed me-time that us mums go without. The kids would come back and you'd be SO happy to see them, and they you. You'd appreciate the time with them more.

TBH it sounds to me like you've made up your mind to stay. I think that's very sad. You deserve better.

At least try working it out in counselling. Listen to your kids, don't project. Look after yourself, do something to build your self-esteem and perhaps raise your income potential in case he decides to leave you for OW.

Good luck.

alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 18:21

Thank you. Thank you. What you have said is clear. I do deserve better. I keep thinking that one day it will happen. In some ways, I'd like him to leave me for another woman. That's pretty tragic isn't it?

OP posts:
alwaysindoubt · 09/05/2009 18:22

We are going to try counselling. The thing is he is in individual counselling for somehting else. And apparently you are not meant to do both. I realise that we have different expectations of couples counselling. I want (if I'm honoest) to use it to negotiate as amicable as possibe a separation. He will want it to work out how we can have hot sex again.

OP posts:
SamJamsmum · 09/05/2009 18:26

I think a lot depends on how you are able to work things out on a day-to-day basis. Are you able to be friends? Are you able to show kindness to each other and show respect in front of the children and when they are not around too? Are you able to have some people in your life who meet your needs for intimacy (not just sex)? This shouldn't be an arrangement where you are the one making sacrifices and he has the cake, the biscuits and everything else. If he has demands for a romantic and sexual life as you are describing it seems unlikely he is going to be a partner to you in family life as you may perceive it to be.

I am not in your situation but I was a child of your situation. My mother has an affair when I was 9 (I knew - she thought I didn't). My parents stayed together for another 5 years and then she met someone else and left my dad. If your husband is pursuing other relationships it is very possible that one day he would seek to end the relationship. Perhaps it would be better to get out now while the situation is still (relatively) calm and you have some control. The 5 years when my parents were together I remember as pretty miserable but perhaps my situation was different as I was aware of the initial affair and conscious of the fact my parents didn't really want to be married to each other.

I think your children's feelings are important but YOU were a child once too and what life did YOU dream of?
Children need a loving home which feels secure and comforting. I think you should consider very carefully whether staying with your husband will enable you to provide this. All of us tend to overestimate our own acting abilities and it is very easy to underestimate the awareness of children.
I certainly think some counselling would be useful before you make such an enormous decision.

FabulousBakerGirl · 09/05/2009 18:28

I am not cross.

I am trying to help, really.

SamJamsmum · 09/05/2009 18:29

Posted at the same time.

If you say that you are secretly hoping that he may one day leave you for someone else, that speaks volumes.
It sounds as though you are frightened of the possibility of being alone - the practicalities and the responsibility of having made that decision and living with it. It sounds as though you find it unlikely to imagine a world where you can stay together 'for the sake of the children' (or for anyone else). It sounds as though you are ready for a separation.

I wish you lots of bravery and happiness.

mumnosbest · 09/05/2009 18:43

Although staying together for the kids can work and has for me, it doesn't sound like that's what you want and if you or he are hankering after something different or better it wont work.

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