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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

DH not enjoying family life

33 replies

RBJ72 · 02/07/2010 22:36

Been with DH for 13 years, married for 5. 3 failed attempts at IVF and 4th was succesful leading to birth of DD in March 09 (she's now 15 months). DH has been cool and distant in past month. Going out a lot more after work. Not seeming to want to spend any time with me and DD. Got to a stage when communication almost broke down without us realising. When confronted he says that he isn't enjoying family life as much as he thought he would and that I'm not affectionate enough either in the bedroom or out of it. He feels that DD gets all my love and emotions.He says he doesnt want to be in one of those marriages where the husband and wife just end up as friends and that he'd prefer to find love elsewhere!

I'm pretty upset and confused about all this and also starting to get quite angry about it. I admit that I never initiate sex but we do have it fairly regularly. Since this all came up I have been trying to make an effort to be more affectionate. Quite frankly I feel that he's prepared to throw it all in at the first hurdle when I never once thought I would go off and find someone else to have kids with when we are in the darkest period of the IVF process.

The icing on the cake is that I've just discovered that I am pregnant which has happened naturally! This should be the most amazing thing ever but I'm so confused and upsate about our relationship that I can't get excited. Things between us probably took a turn for the worse when I told him about being pregnant. He now probably feels trapped. He hasn't asked me once how I'm feeling.

Any advice from anyone who's been through something similar in their relationship would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
kalo12 · 02/07/2010 22:43

first of all congratulations on your pregnancy, your first priority is to relax.

i think having a child does push your relationship onto the back burner, its so tiring just being a parent. it took till my ds was 2.5 til me and my dh started having a laugh together again

i think you need to just step back and look after yourself a bit and let your dh have a bit of space for reflection.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 02/07/2010 22:46

Can only add that yes having DC's definiyly puts 'you' on the backburner but it will come back soon. He just need sto be paient.

congrats on the pregnancy.

chattymitchie · 02/07/2010 22:48

DH has been cool and distant in past month. Going out a lot more after work. Not seeming to want to spend any time with me and DD.

I haven't been in your situation, but I'd say his behaviour is pretty immature. It just sounds like he's sulking because he's not the centre of your universe any more.

chattymitchie · 02/07/2010 22:49

and massive congratulations on your pregnancy

teaandcakeplease · 02/07/2010 23:20

I'm so sorry, this must be really difficult. I think he needs to be open and honest with you. Perhaps a night after the DC is in bed you sit down together and really talk about everything. Clear the air properely. Try to not get offended but take it all on board and then see what you both can do to improve things. Assuming his requests are all reasonable. You should also share your feelings as well of course on things that could be improved and then both try and do it. Now's the time before the DC2 arrives, to strengthen your relationship.

My H wasn't honest with me about how he felt, and he felt like yours, never shared his feelings with me and then went off with OW. I can't help feeling that you could use this opportunity to try and fix things together, improve things, maybe consider having some counselling with Relate and really work on the things that you both need? But to do something about it together?

I think he is in a deep selfish place in some ways, judging from what you've said but there's no reason you cannot both work through this and he can start to see things clearer, with some help.

I'm hoping someone like WhenwillIfeelnormal will be along soon, as I think I'm not doing the best job here on expressing my thoughts to you and that she'll have a better idea

CarGirl · 02/07/2010 23:23

I think having such a long road to parenthood does take a huge toll on your relationship.

I would ask him to go to relate with you so you can improve your relationship.

LadyLapsang · 03/07/2010 16:10

DH has been cool and distant in past month. Going out a lot more after work. Not seeming to want to spend any time with me and DD.

Could he be having an affair?

teaandcakeplease · 03/07/2010 16:43

Is he more interested in his appearance? Working out more at the gym? Buying new clothes? Hiding his cell phone from you, taking it to the bathroom with him etc. All key indicators. To be honest Lady it's probably nothing to do with an affair, every couple/ person goes through peaks and troughs. Read Shirley Glass's book though if you want more insight into it all, just in case.

FortunateHamster · 03/07/2010 16:48

I hate to jump to the affair assumption but the fact it's suddenly happened over the last month would make me wonder.

IVF does take it's toll (been there, done that!), but it sounds like your husband is being rather unfair. You're still affectionate and intimate and I don't like the idea that now he doesn't want family life after all that medical treatment. I know everyone's different but am sure my DH would be delighted if we got pregnant naturally after our IVF baby.

My worry is that he will blame the IVF/baby for your issues, when actually he just doesn't like family life (guh), and/or he's a selfish twat and/or he's having an affair - ie it's his issue and his fault.

This did remind me a bit of RareBird's situation (found out husband was having an affair whilst pregnant after IVF - he blames it on not wanting IVF in the first place, the swine!) - might be worth a search - but 'hopefully' in your case it's just a bit of midlife crisis or something similar that he can snap out of. Otherwise he's being dreadfully unfair, especially considering that you're pregnant (CONGRATS!).

RBJ72 · 05/07/2010 14:03

He does have a case when he says that I'm not very affectionate. It wasn't a conscious thing I suppose it just happens over time. Since I first posted I've been really making an effort to be more affectionate but he some how seems to make me feel uncomfortable and self conscious when I do it and he hasn't done anything affectionate for the past week. I have asked him outright if he has met someone else and he says no. I'm not sure there are any other signs that he is having an affair.

He was always keen on the IVF route. The problems with conceiving were mainly on his side anyway. In fact we had gone back to the same clinic in March to discuss trying again. Things do seem to have changed since he had a health scare where symptoms suggested he could have MS. He hasn't got a positive diagnosis and it doesn't look like it is MS but this seems to have changed the way he looks at life. At first he was all emotional about DD but now he seems to use it as an excuse to go out on the lash all night.

Anyway I've said I want another talk this evening so will let you know how I get on.

Thanks for the advice so far.

OP posts:
teaandcakeplease · 05/07/2010 14:57

Be patient, I don't think in your situation he's having an affair RBJ, my most recent comment was aimed at LadyLapsang. He probably has a variety of reasons for his current behaviour and none of them maybe related at all to an affair. A lot of men struggle when family life changes after children. Also having a second baby can sometimes bring even more realisation to the man about how much harder it may Possibly be with 2 DCs and how he may not be able to go out on the lash, boys weekends, have as much money for what he wants etc. I know I could be wrong here completely but some men do honestly struggle. Maybe they need to grow up? Maybe they're not as ready as they thought for how much DCs can change your life. Keep being positive RBJ, keep the communication open so he can share with you and try to arrange nights for just the two of you out or even just a nice meal at home. He does need to do his fair share to work on the marriage too so keep both being honest about things with each other. Consider Relate marriage counseling perhaps? I'm sure you can both work through this from what you've written on here so far Now is the time to strengthen your marriage before baby no 2 arrives but from what I can see here there's no reason things can't improve again but I am no expert and someone wiser than me, may say otherwise

booyhoo · 05/07/2010 15:03

can i ask, are you the main carer for your DD?

i ask because i am for our dcs and i notice that because OH doesn't have to do alot of the caring and looking after, he doesn't actually realise how tiring it can be. there rae days when i dont have energy enough to change the channel on the tv after the dcs have gone to bed. i just want to lie down. OH sometime sgets frustrated with this, he says i am old before my time. if this is the case for you would it help if your DH became more involved so that he could actually see what is sapping your energy?

IsGraceAvailable · 05/07/2010 15:42

Totally agree about getting him more involved with DD. Just as some women don't automatically love being a mother, neither do all men bond with their children. He's pretty much said this to you, with his 'family life' remark. It's not as much fun as being childfree and, if the parental love thing hasn't kicked in, there's little compensation.

Ask him to include himself more in family stuff - especially the nice things like bathtime/bedtime - and to think up things to do with DD. She's old enough to enjoy stuff like feeding the birds and going 'swimming', etc. Also, make the effort to show & tell him how she learns and how she sees things. This is not at all instinctive for many adults. If you don't know about the wonders of a toddler's mind, all you see is a midget with no conversation!!

Good luck with this. Please make sure you do properly listen to him - and, maybe, focus your suggestions more on what he can do, rather than how he "should feel" iyswim.

RBJ72 · 05/07/2010 15:42

I am the main carer but he does appreciate how tiring it is. Although now that I am pregnant again he thinks that it's only going to get worse rather than better.

I have suggested counselling and think I will look into Relate. Anyone had any experience of using them?

I think deep down he would have been happy with 1 DC which I find bizarre as he is an only child and was always originally keen on us having 2.

OP posts:
WhenwillIfeelnormal · 05/07/2010 16:37

Sorry, I think there is more behind this. If you feel self-conscious being affectionate with him, I suspect it's because contrary to what he says, he doesn't want affection from you at the moment and he's showing that.

Added to the other things you've said - and his threat (because that's what it was) that he'd prefer to find love elsewhere and I'd be pretty convinced that either he's having an affair right now, or he's got a likely candidate in mind.

It was obviously in yor mind too, because you asked him if there was anyone else. His denial means nothing I'm afraid. This man seems too mired in justifications for why he is looking elsewhere, to actually confess that he is.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope I'm wrong - or that if he is on the precipice of an affair, he will pull back.

But in your shoes, I would be doing a lot of digging and snooping - and I wouldn't be asking him again until I'd done that.

RBJ72 · 06/07/2010 20:34

We had another talk last night. In summary:

Our lives aren't very exciting
I never do anything spontaneous (yeah right so how am I supposed to do that when I look after DD 3 days a week and work the other 2??)
He's wondering if there's something (or someone) better out there. I'm expecting this comment to raise a few of your eyebrows.
He doesn't want to end up just having our circumstances as the only thing we have in common.
He's not about to up sticks and leave me when I'm pregnant.

So after being a bit upset about the above which is quite harsh we did agree that we could have a bit more fun but it's not just up to me.

I've now decided not to let this get to me. I want to be excited about this pregnancy whether he is or not. We will make an effort to do more as a couple and as a family but I/'m not going to change my personality.

Obviously the above makes DH sound bloody awful but none of it was said with any malice. He just spoke his thoughts without tempering them!

OP posts:
teaandcakeplease · 06/07/2010 20:39

I think I'll leave the reply to whenwillifeelnormal.

I do think he sounds very very selfish though and he needs to do his fair share of improving the situation, instead of feeling sorry for himself and thinking only of himself, instead of you

"He's wondering if there's something (or someone) better out there" Good God! That comment is outrageous and just because it wasn't said with malice, doesn't make it better at all, sounds more like he has a personality disorder...

shimmerysilverglitter · 06/07/2010 21:16

"Our lives aren't very exciting
I never do anything spontaneous (yeah right so how am I supposed to do that when I look after DD 3 days a week and work the other 2??)
He's wondering if there's something (or someone) better out there. I'm expecting this comment to raise a few of your eyebrows.
He doesn't want to end up just having our circumstances as the only thing we have in common."

I don't know you or your dh obviously but when my ex said all this to me he was shagging around. I hope this isn't the case for you I really, really do but he sounds remarkably self involved and selfish.

My theory is that he got used to the majority of the relationship being about HIM. You probably didn't realise it but I bet it was, him being looked after, his choices being the ones for both of you because you "didn't really mind", basically him being pretty much your all and now he has to share you and probably (quite rightly) doesn't get much of you as is the case when dc arrive. Decent men understand this and get on with it but it seems to me that with this "I am not happy" speech the situation has swung around quite nicely to be all about HIM again. Now you will forever be wondering if HE is happy, if HE is about to leave etc etc. He sounds like a great, big toddler - just what you need!

I wish you are luck because I have a feeling you are going to need it. Personally I should have dumped my ex when he first said all the above to me but I didn't and at least I got dd by staying in the relationship longer.

for you having to hear all this when you are pregnant again and it is such a miracle after all you have been through.

thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 06/07/2010 21:50

Spookily similar to shimmery here - great post! I also wish I'd left my selfish git earlier - it never got better from that "I'm not happy" conversation, and the period of waiting and trying to improve things all on my own before he did eventually go off with an OW was excruciating.

I really hope you can recover it from here, I would really recommend getting to Relate as soon as possible.

WhenwillIfeelnormal · 07/07/2010 01:59

No surprises what I would say to this.

I'm trying to get into your mindset in that you've got a toddler and another on the way. The prospect of your H having an affair at this time particularly must be awful to contemplate.

But I am in no doubt from what you say that an affair is either happening now - or is about to happen. Putting your head in the sand and trying to jump through hoops isn't going to stop this. You cannot prevent infidelity in someone else - none of us can. Only your H can preserve his own fidelity and commitment to his marriage.

I don't know how much reading you've done about affairs and infidelity, but one of the truths of it is that with male infidelity, it is most often practised by the person who is over-benefitted in the relationship. The one that life must revolve around, where everything has got to be about his wants and his needs. Sound familiar?

Secondly, the birth of DCs or in fact any catalyst that forces someone to "grow up" and take responsibility at last very often sees them heading the other way into escapism and a selfish "high" like an affair.

Look at this logically. Another baby is going to reduce spontanaeity. You know better than most how unspontaneous life becomes with a baby and with a toddler in the mix too, that's only going to get worse. Grown-up parents realise this and rationalise that it doesn't last forever. So of course they plan time with their partner so that life is not all about parenthood. But nobody can be spontaneous with a baby, it's just not realistic.

You are already bargaining away his comments as being fair because this is how he feels. I don't see it that way. A man committed to his marriage would be taking joint responsibility for keeping it alive and flourishing, not pondering aloud that he wonders whether there is someone or something better than it.

Unlike you, I don't think he is being honest with you at all. I think he is telling you why he is engaged elsewhere without admitting that he is. He couldn't be telling you in clearer terms that he has started to look outside of the marriage. Just because he says he won't leave you doesn't preclude him having an affair.

I agree with the suggestion of Relate, but this only works when the clients are not with-holding secrets. It is a complete waste of time if someone is hiding an emotional or physical affair.

If you pretend that you can fix this on your own by meeting his wish-list - and you don't resolve this now then I fear you will be parenting two small children with a man who has disconnected from you and ultimately might leave you. Whereas a radical shake-up now and some insistence on honesty could prevent that happening.

Now I have to tell you that in your shoes, I would be looking for some external verification about his fidelity and that means looking for clues. Not just snooping on phones/laptops, but thinking of likely OW candidates at his workplace or the places he frequents. If he is already involved or wants to be, he will not tell you the truth.

Please don't hope for the best with this one and act passively. Please don't jump through hoops trying to be the perfect woman. Trust what he is telling you - he is not committed to his marriage or fidelity at the moment. That is not going to get better through your efforts - it has got to come from him and the changes he makes to his behaviour and attitudes.

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 07/07/2010 02:23

I agree absolutely with WWIFN. He's said on more than one occasion that he'd prefer to look for love elsewhere and he is wondering if there is someone better out there.

And at the same time he is rejecting your advances/affection, and suddenly spending a lot more time out of the house after work. Your child is 19 months, the same as mine is; if he'd become distance when she was a newborn it'd be one thing, but suddenly to become distant now, at an age where things tend to get a lot easier and more fun? I don't buy it.

I'm really sorry. But as WWIFN said, don't jump through hoops trying to be the perfect woman.

Ozziegirly · 07/07/2010 04:33

I agree with tortoise and WWIFN. It's not up to him to blame you for the problems in the relationship and then just sit back and expect you to fix it.

You're married. He doesn't have the right or the option to go looking for something better elsewhere. Nor should he be placing a burden on you. What he is basically saying is "be more exciting or I will leave you" which is a really shitty thing to do to any wife, let alone when you're newly pregnant.

Is he the type to be truthful if you confronted him about an affair? Is there a work colleague who you could invite for a coffee and pump for info?

I would suggest going to a relationship counsellor. But if he is already having an affair, then it may be too late.

If he's bored (which happens to the best of people) can you put it back on him - what can he do to improve the situation? I don't know you - maybe you are stuck in a rut and obsessed with your child and he does legitimately feel left out. Have your weekends and evenings become "slump in front of telly silently" in which case, maybe it is time to concentrate on the relationship - nothing drastic, just maybe going for a walk or a drink together, planning nice things for the weekend like lunch out or whatever you both like doing. Even just turning off the TV and listening to music, whatever really.

It's hard as we only know your side, and tbh he sounds quite immature and possibly like he is already having an affair.

But maybe he is thinking "I didn't picture my life as; work, come home, dinner, telly, bed, and I feel like my only role is breadwinner and would like my lovely wonderful wife back", but is just going about it in a rubbish heavy handed way.

mathanxiety · 07/07/2010 04:54

Not only is he having an affair but he's blaming you for it, and worse, your DD, and how she has made your lives so boring and lacking in spontaneity. He has essentially given himself an option that he should not be thinking about. He has printed himself a Get Out Of Jail Free Card while you've been busy with your DD.

I agree -- put it back on him. If he doesn't want to end up looking elsewhere (assuming for one giddy moment that this hasn't already happened) ask him what he wants to do about it.

And as for not wanting to be in 'one of those marriages where the husband and wife just end up as friends' -- he should be so lucky. A lot of people have serious thoughts about killing each other by the time they've had a few children and the shine has worn off. What was he expecting from marriage? Fireworks wearing the pair of you out until you drop dead from heart attacks at the age of 92?

teaandcakeplease · 07/07/2010 08:52

WhenwillIfeelnormal is right. From what he said to you, I think he is already having an affair or at least an emotional one.

RBJ please take on board what has been said on here, no matter how unpalitable it sounds.

RBJ72 · 07/07/2010 09:13

Thanks mathanxierty for making me laugh as I was getting more and more depressed as I read everyone's comments.

There is a lot of "slumped in front of the telly" which he has said is boring but then he never does anything about it. He could easily ring me up and say I've booked a babysitter and am taking you out' but never has. I've booked us a nice lunch out on Saturday while MIL looks after DD so will see what he arranges after that.

Apart from that lots to take on board.

OP posts: