Breakups & Divorce Support Group
Just broke up with someone or in the midst of a difficult divorce? Breaking up is difficult no matter what the circumstances are. They say that time heals all wounds, but sometimes a listening ear or a hug can work wonders for the heart. Whether you need a place to vent, someone to hold you to No Contact, or need advice about what to do, we're here to help.
So I dont even know where to start. I have other posts that I have explained in pretty great detail how my marriage has been. Rocky is probably an understatement. I left him last summer and then stupidly took him back. I was trying to raise our 3 kids literally on my income and nothing more which I was doing successfully. However, I did not have support here at all that could take my kids to their sports or school if I was working and no one to stay with them overnight and get them to school if I had to work an overnight shift so I broke down and let him come back. I of course got the promise that he changed and was a better person and would never treat me wrong again and blah blah blah. I however had not changed and had told him as much. I still had no emotional connection, I thought of him as a friend. Yes I loved him but only in the sense that I wanted to know he was ok, after all at that point we had been together 13 years. I needed actual space and time from him without contact unless it was pertaining to our kids and I was never afforded that opportunity for more than about 48 hours, once it was 72. If I didnt talk to him or didnt want to he would call our middle child and tell her it was really important so of course she would give me the phone. I still could not have a conversation with him without going off the deep end and then it would turn in to an all out screaming match. When we talk, if it is not somethin he agrees with or something that he thinks should happen he will belittle me or demand an answer to something or talk down to me. I ask him not to do this and thats where the anger comes in because I get told immediately that he isnt doing those things. I realize that I need to better control my anger but truth be told he is the only person that I get like this with, not an excuse for my behavior but an acknowledgement. So since then he has not worked at all until today. Along with the issues I spoke about here there is also the fact of the house cleaning and running around etc. I work anywhere from 36-62 hours a week depending on how many calls I receive for my casual job. So since he has come back and was not working I didnt feel that it was too much to ask for him to be the one cleaning the house, doing the laundry, making supper and the daily running around for the house. I do more than my share of all of these things on my days off. We discussed this several times prior to him coming back because I managed to take care of our 3 kids, work 8-12 hours a day 5-6 days a week and spend my day off with our kids AND keep my house clean when he was not here. Of course it was going to be better cause he changed. I still spend my days off cleaning because "the kids just wont listen and clean up" or "i just didnt have the energy but i promise ill do it tomorrow" or "your standards are ridiculous how are we supposed to keep it clean to your standards" or "i had it clean before they come home but they are savages". We have seen a marriage counselor who seemed more interested in beating me up over my affair just about 2 years ago(which i had attempted to leave prior to even having contact with the guy) and defending my husbands issues due to this despite the fact that my husband made it clear that we had worked through that and he had forgiven me. I dont think he has forgiven me. Theres issues in the bedroom as well because he feels like i should let others in our bedroom to satisfy his fantasies because hed do it for me if i wanted it. He also lacks any ambition to do anything it seems, I leave for work and hes watching tv, i come home and hes doing basically the same thing. He is diabetic and has probably gained 10-20lbs again since he come back and he was already overweight before.(doc figued he should be around 230-240 at absolute most and he was just over 300)
So I guess I am asking what does a normal relationship look like? Most of what I have mentioned are all the main reasons I dont feel we can stay in this marriage. But that being said, when we do have one good day I start to question if i am just being too hard on him and then i also worry how hell do if i leave again. Ideas??
but i would say "Normal" is when you are happy and at peace with each other. when you respect each other and when you disagree with each other you still would discuss in a civil manner.
it does not matter what both you do. what matter is how both of you see it.
When you are in love, even the loudest noise is beautiful. when you are in hate, even the faintest noise is irritating.
ChelseaLeigh, that is exactly how it is with me in so many ways. And I'm like 99.9% sure on what I need to do but its that .01 that seems to keep me in this vicious cycle. I have guilt for the things I have done to hurt my husband and then he knows just what to say to get me to doubt anything and everything so then I figure well hey we had a good day so tomorrow will be too and then it lasts for a couple days or a week until we have to talk about something or until he's on my case about our lack of intimacy or how hard I am on him and the kids with the house etc and then it all falls apart. But again, his timing on starting a conversation is perfect because it is either right before I need to go to work or late at night so basically at times he knows are safe because I wont pack up and leave with the kids at those two points through the day. It sounds horrible, especially because so many people here wanted their marriages to work and were blindsided, but I sometimes wish that he would find someone else and just move on. Unfortunately I think I only wish this because it would be easier for me to get out of it. I guess I will just keep plugging away.
Nick2017, I have never thought of it in the sense of noise but you are so correct with it. I agree with all that you had to say as well. Unfortunately I don't think we will ever be able to communicate in a healthy way. He is always right and I am always wrong. Seeking counselling both together and separate didn't help at all and communication is very important in any relationship.
If he wants to bring other people into your bed and you're against that, you are also doomed.
If he tricks your children to gain access to you, what an immature jerk. Doomed.
Use your energies not just plugging away every day, hoping for better, but for getting out of the marriage. You tried, got no where. This guy is no prince. My stbx watches tv on the weekends for an average of 11 - 12 hours a day. There's absolutely no time for anything else when you're that busy! As far as normal, well people tell me what normal is for them, and it's not what you write. What you write is like what I've lived for the last 30+ years (minus a few things). I waited and waited till things got better. I believed him when he said I was selfish because I wanted to have conversations with him at the end of the day and wanted to do things with him. Imagine that, wanting to go out with your BF or husband. I'm not talking every day, but how about once a week? Hell, I'd take once a month. Also not talking about a big dinner out and a broadway play, how about a walk? Nope. I wasted too much time hoping things would get better, but they can never get better if one one person is trying and hoping. I finally stopped kidding myself and realized that he never really cared about "me". For him, it was about having a wife to cook and clean and a mother for his kids. Lazy guys just don't want to ever let go of their caretaker.
Start looking into getting a babysitter. There are lots of young college girls or maybe highschool seniors who can drive kids to/from practices, or stay at home with the young ones. There are options out there for you, maybe not the ones you love, but you can find something to work. It took me a full year of plugging away before I called it quits. I'm happy I did.
Staying in a bad marriage for the sake of convenience can only be done for so long until it becomes totally soul suckingly crushing.