I don't really speak about my husband too much on this blog, apart from his surgery and job problems. I've been wanting to write this post for awhile but haven't because not many people know about my marital problems. Only a couple of my close friends know anything about this. My family knows nothing; they think everything is great.
My husband and I have been married for 8 1/2 years now. We have separated twice. The first time was for 9 whole months. I was a wreck. I couldn't eat (lost 25 lbs), couldn't sleep, it was awful. He did and said a lot of hurtful things but as soon as he said he wanted to work things out, I went running back.
The second time was only for a couple of months. It was kind of a mutual thing just for us to have some time to ourselves and then see where things lead. This time, I was not a wreck. I cried here and there, but most of the time I was just angry, angry that he did this again. Twice now, he's gone through this whole pattern of not showing me any affection any more, no attention, like I'm just pushed to the back. Then he just decides that he thinks he is not in love with me any more, and needs time to "sort things out". This hasn't happened since 2008. We've had brief periods where we kind of grow apart, but we always end up back where we should be.
When things are good between us, they are super good. He treats me like his queen (even calls me his queen), is very affectionate, grabs my hand in public, and is great fun to be around.
Since we moved into our new house, it's been back to his old pattern, the only thing different this time is that he hasn't said that he's not in love with me any more, yet. Other than that, in the last 6 months he hasn't been affectionate to me at all, not even a hug, nada, nothing. When we are with friends, I seem to be just completely ignored as if I'm not even there. We live look room mates, Hell he doesnt even sleep in the same bed with me any more. He started out sleeping on the couch right before his shoulder surgery, saying that his shoulder was hurting too much for the bed and he had to kind of prop up on the couch. Ok, that's understandable. Then after his surgery, it was for the same reason, and he couldn't get comfortable at all anywhere really. Now his excuse is that it's because he gets up so many times during the night and doesn't want to "bother" me. Which he does have some insomnia problems, but he hasn't said much about it lately.
He just acts like he doesn't care about me any more. When I graduated college back in October, that was one of the biggest days of my life. My husband didn't even say "congratulations", "great job", "I'm proud of you", nothing. When my graduation ceremony was over, while all of the other students were getting hugs and "congratulations", I got a bitchy husband that didn't even hug me or anything, just pretty much, "let's go" and we left. I feel like he stole that moment from me. .. I always seem to be at the bottom of his priority list, and everything else is above me. We live like friends, not husband and wife.
I've tried talking to him about this and ask him why he is doing this again. At first, his excuse was that it was because he was in so much pain from his shoulder, then it was because he was so stressed out about money. Now he acts oblivious to it all, like he doesn't know what I'm talking about if I mention any of these problems. If I mention my unhappiness, he says that I am the only one unhappy; that he is happy and loves me.
Over these past 6 months, my husband has changed a lot. It's like he's a different person. We really seem to have nothing in common apart from the kids. The only thing he really talks to me about is work or the kids. We never have serious late night conversations like we used to. I can't remember the last time he said ANYTHING nice to me, at all. When I say nice, I mean saying anything remotely flirty or loving. I don't ask him for much; I don't really ask him for anything any more. All I need is a few nice comments thrown my way here and there, and a little attention/affection now and then.
When I mention him changing so much, he says that maybe this is the REAL him. If this is the real him, then I don't like the new him, at all. I want my old husband back. The one that I could talk to for hours about anything and everything. The one that could always make me smile even when I was having a bad day. I want the husband that always called me "baby" (yes, I'm one of the few women that don't complain about that one, lol). The husband that I could have fun with and laugh with. The husband that loved me for me and could always put a smile on my face. The loving husband that would tell me I'm beautiful every day, even though I never asked.
He's not there any more. He doesn't take any time for ME any more. I feel invisible when he is around. I used to hate being away from him, now I'm much happier when he's gone. When his truck pulls in the driveway, I get that sinking feeling in my stomach.
Where do I go from here? Right now, I have so much anger and hurt inside of me, I wouldn't even begin to know how to get past that if things changed between us. We bought this house with money my grandmother left me, but it's in both of our names. Neither one of us is going to want to leave it. I'm stuck here anyway until I get a job and can get on my own. I feel like I've finally gotten to the end. I'm just tired of the same thing happening over and over again. When times get tough, he pushes me away, but expects me not to go anywhere. I've told him that I'm thinking of divorce. He says he doesn't want a divorce, but yet he does nothing to fix this mess. I just don't get it. He says he loves me and doesn't want a divorce, and he knows how much he is hurting me, but he is doing nothing to fix this. He mentioned going to marriage counseling. Again. We've been down that road before. Part of me doesn't want to bother with the fight any more. I almost feel like it's not worth it. I deserve better. I want better. I want the man I married back. I don't want our family to split up, causing so much stress on the kids. I don't know where to go from here. He always says, "we'll talk about it later" because it's difficult for us to talk about anything with the kids around.. but later never comes. I've told him that if he doesn't want me to leave, he needs to fix this, and he hasn't. I can't fix it myself.

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