December 2015 Moms

I hate my husband

groovylocksgroovylocks member
edited February 2016 in December 2015 Moms
HATE him. More every day. I have no idea if it's because of hormones or what. I know it's not all hormones. He's not a nice person. At all. But I never hated him before Olive was born. Is it at all normal? Am I just less willing to put up with bullshit because I have her to think about too? This is hard and I have nobody to really talk through this with. 
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Re: I hate my husband

  • Yes it is. Yes it is! I wish we could just hit the pause buttons on marriages during the first few years of having children- esp the first. I don't know a single person that didn't hate their husband for months after the first baby was born, it's totally normal. 
    Unless of course he's abusive. 
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  • How is he not a nice a person? It's ok to vent/talk things out here. We are a pretty rad group if I say so myself. 
  • Ken122014 said:
    I just have to say, I definitely do not hate my husband.. and I'm sorry you guys do.  It was difficult the first month to adjust... but I never would say I hated my husband.  And, I know I can speak for many other moms on this board, and IRL. 

    I don't say that to be rude or condescending.  I have read other posts from @groovylocks regarding her husband...  I hope you guys can get counseling or some help in some way...
    Yeah I've talked a bit about it before. I feel like other women are dealing with worse and I would always sort of start talking about it and then think "How is this helping this woman right now?" and I'd stop. I realized if i wanted to vent, it was right for me to vent apart from other women's complaints. 

    My husband has always been a really rigid person. Think Monica from Friends without the sense of humor. I didn't mind that about him at first but i quickly began to realize that it's not just that he's rigid. He always needs to have his own way. He calls me stupid in front of our daughter. He has also called me lazy even though I'm doing more, sleeping less and complaining less. He sits on his ass doing what he wants, then demands to know if "i've finished the laundry yet" while I'm lugging around a crying baby and trying to finish my dishes because "I dirtied them so it's my responsibility to do them asap". Bitch, the laundry in this house is neverending, fool. What do you THINK?

    He yells at his mother all the time. His mother is a bit overbearing, true. She does a lot of overbearing things. But she's a good woman who loves her son and loves me and loves her granddaughter. 

    My brother in law says they "laugh" about it. I don't find it funny, personally. 

    He is constantly in a bad mood unless he's being catered to. 

    I was talking to my friend about this and said that I feel like I'm a single mom of two kids. One, my biological daughter who is a pleasure to care for at her worst, and the other, a petulent, 12 year old stepkid that I'm saddled with that it is a trial to care ABOUT at his best. 

    Before we had Olive, when he got like this, I'd go out. I'd grab a drink with friends. I'd stay late at work. My god, I miss work.. But now that I have Olive, we're all together all the time and he's jsut constantly picking on me, nagging at me and bitching about everything. I have to spend hours justifying every decision i make. Everything is an essay question with this idiot.

    I should say at this point that he is NOT mean or hateful to our little girl. He's kind and loving to her. For now at least. But he's unsafe with her. He took her for a walk today. No coat, no hat, no mits. Just a carseat cover. He has put her to sleep on top of a pile of clean laundry "because it's funny" and he's let her "cry it out" beacuse sometimes "babies need to cry it out" which sounds like a difference in opinion until you consider that her diaper was filthy and he didn't even check.

    I don't want to say the situation is abusive. It's sort of different. It's abusive in the same way that, again, the angry 12 year old spoiled douche is abusive. It's more horrifyingly annoying. He's annoyed me to the point where I don't see any redeeming qualities left in him at all. I would like to save my marriage but then i can't figure out why I'd ever want to. 

    It's very upsetting and causing me a lot more stress than my infant daughter has during her entire life. 
  • I feel your pain, I don't hate my husband but I have less patience for his bullshit. I'm sure hormones are part of it, but I think lack of sleep, being a 24 Hr caretaker and physical changed after birth also contribute to me having less tolerance. Try to talk to him about how you are feeling before you explode. If you truly hate him, try to picture what life would be like without him. 
  • groovylocksgroovylocks member
    edited February 2016
    Two of his friends and his brother have approached me on separate occasions to tell me "I'm not alone" - that they get treated rudely constantly by him too. 

    Before i thought nobody would ever believe me if i talked about it. He puts on this amazing show. I think that's the worst thing. I'm more or less the same person in public as i am in private except maybe I fart more at home. I might be an annoying person, maybe a lot of people don't like me. But at least I try to be consistent. He's like night and day. People are always talking about how "amazingly adorable" our family is and i just want to scream. But i can't because.. who does that?

    I had a breakdown during my pregnancy. I am the primary breadwinner. My job had me flying every week all week to the east coast to our office out there. I got to come home on the weekends where i would get nagged because i didn't unpack fast enough, left a fork unwashed on the counter. Didn't close the window. Let a cat get into the bedroom. Between my second and third trimesters, I fell apart. I was a bitch to be around. Here, out IRL, at work. At home.

    I don't blame that all on him of course. My job was demanding too. My family are demanding. But my point is that I fell apart for a few weeks. I felt really bad about that. I STILL get that thrown in my face. I left a knife in the sink once. In a sinkful of soapy water. In 2012. 

    He reminds me about that at least twice a week to this day. 

    I'm just really exhausted. I'm sorry. I'm done unloading now and thank you so much for listening. 
  • He really does sound like a dick. Do you want to work it out? Does he acknowledge his behavior at all? 
  • On top of having a new baby, we also sold our house, bought a new car, moved in with my parents for 3 months (my sister is also there with her "terrible two" son), I got a new job (I start next week) and we moved out of state. All that happened within the past 4 months... So I get stress! We are a lot more short with each other... Especially before we moved. We are finally getting settled in our new place and things are getting better, but I still find myself a lot more annoyed with him than I used to. I don't put up with his crap either and find myself voicing my opinion a lot more than letting it slide like I would even just a few months ago. Maybe it's Mama bear instincts or something. I'm sorry he's an ass and that your step kid is an annoying twatwaffle. Have you had a sit down convo with DH about this? Maybe he doesn't think anything's wrong... I mean, men are idiots the majority of the time;) 
  • Do you want to work it out? He sounds OCD, self righteous, and spoiled. Which is no excuse for treating you like crap. I too go through spurts where I can't find anything to love about my husband. I broke down this past weekend and couldn't take it. I threw divorce in his face and the past few days have been a lot better. He's watching his mouth towards me and actually helping with DD. I don't know if he just needed a reality check or what. Can you try counseling? Do you want to try? I'm sorry you're going through this. Parenthood is so rough, it's even rougher if you have no support. :( 
  • groovylocksgroovylocks member
    edited February 2016
    MomofEv+1 said:
    He really does sound like a dick. Do you want to work it out? Does he acknowledge his behavior at all? 
    I don't know if i want to work it out. We have a unique situation in that I am not a US citizen. I am a permanent resident. From Canada. My residency was gained through marriage and if we divorce between now and October, I lose my residency. I would have to return to Canada. We live near the border but my home in canada is a 22 hour drive away. I don't want to take her away from her daddy or her grandparents or her uncle. Because they DO all love her very much. In October, I become a "real" permanent resident in my own right. 

    So what would end up happening is that I move to Toronto. Because it's close to where we live in the US. Which is a fine city. My company has an office in toronto and my HR rep said anytime i wanted to cut and run home, to say the word and she'd help me transfer desks. But i have no friends in Toronto at all. At least I have some friends now here in Michigan. And we own a house. And I own a car etc. 

    What i have considered, if he can't get his act together, is to try a trial separation (which won't touch my residency i don't think) and if we decide life's better apart, then we can make it official in October, once i get my full residency.

    My daughter is a citizen of the USA and will be a citizen of canada once i send away for it. So my biggest fear is that he could get custody of her based only on the fact that her citizenship is US, her house is here. Her grandparents and father are here. That terrifies me.
  • I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. It sounds like your marriage is in an unhealthy place. I can honestly say that sure, it was a challenge to adjust, sure, we have bickered and have our different ways of doing things, and are trying to find our way through parenting, but I have never hated my husband. In fact, becoming a father has made me fall even more in love with him. So no, I don't think hating your husband is normal and I think if this is just his personality, it likely won't change, and might be time for some action. 
  • groovylocksgroovylocks member
    edited February 2016
    He acknowledges that he's a dick but insists that it's justified because people piss him off. Which is ridiculous. 

    The other thing i think I should say.. when he's NOT in a bad mood (and it really does appear to be related to mood) he's wonderful. Loving, funny, relaxed and happy. Kind and silly and patient and helpful. Until something sets him off. 

    He likely needs medication but he has said in the past that he won't do it. Which is too bad because i believe medication would even him out and would likely fix any issues that aren't my fault. And right now it's hard to see where i can improve because he's just so over the top. There are things i do that aren't working too. Of course there must be, nobody is perfect. But it's hard to see them. I just keep seeing myself as this victim and that pisses me off a lot. I HATE feeling like a victim.. So when i do talk about it, I end up making it into a big joke just like his family does. 

    Ugh.. 
  • That sounds like a horrible situation. I have no advice but I'll definitely be thinking of you. 
  • I definitely don't hate my husband, but even under the best circumstances having a new baby adds a lot of extra stress. If you're not on strong footing to begin with I think it would be even worse. The Washington Post had an article about how hard it is that I found interesting. No one really talks about the impact having a baby can REALLY have:

    TIL: Having a child can have a pretty strong negative impact on a person's happiness. On average, the effect of a new baby on a person's life in the first year is worse than divorce, worse than unemployment and worse even than the death of a partner. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/08/11/the-most-depressing-statistic-imaginable-about-being-a-new-parent/?postshare=7371439305730890
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  • If he's that much of a perfectionist and obsessive about the house being clean, I wonder if he has some kind of psychological issue causing this behavior.

    However, even if he does have some condition, he is clearly treating you more like a maid than a spouse and that is uncalled for. I hesitate to say it, but it also sounds as if he may be borderline emotionally abusive if he continues to make you feel inadequate for leaving a utensil in a sink nearly 4 years ago. He's good with Olive now, but if he thinks it's a woman's job to do all the cooking, cleaning, and caring for him she will probably be treated the same way once she is old enough to contribute to catering to him.

    I don't think that a person should hate her spouse, not if the relationship is going to work. If you truly hate him, and you need to decide if that is really how you feel, then you will never be happy in the marriage. And I wouldn't blame you if you really did hate him, he sounds like a real treat to live with. You need to really examine how you feel, and decide if staying is what's best for you and your daughter, because he is unlikely to ever change his ways no matter how hard you try.
  • pupsicle23pupsicle23 member
    edited February 2016
    I agree with @Gingermom15...let it out here. 

    I am worried that he calls you stupid and lazy. That's not ok. And if he yells at his mom,  that shows more about his treatment of women (or just other people) and I'd pay very close attention to how he talks to Olive when she's no longer a helpless baby and  he thinks she's taking more responsibility for her actions. When your parents,  who love you most,  say negative things to you as a child,  you'll believe them.  

    We're here for you :) I know that having a baby can feel very isolating.
  • I just have to say this. While it's normal to get frustrated and irritated right now, what you're talking about sounds like the same abuse I grew up with. My dad is an alcoholic and was sober from the time I was 3 years old until I was 16. He still acted like an alcoholic. Everything was all about him. If it wasn't his idea to do something he would make everyone miserable because of it. There was constant criticism, he'd act like a martyr, seem to not care. Yet in public could be quite charming. He moved out when I was 15 and all my mom, brother and I could say about it was that we all felt relieved. It isn't right to feel that way about your parent walking out (after two days of prior warning). But we were all more relaxed and just happy.

    Whenever I see you post about your husband I think of my dad. It isn't as obvious as if he was violent but it's damaging. It wears you down emotionally and leaves scars. He might be alright with your daughter now but what message will it send her to see you taking this?
  • Would your work sponsor you for a work visa?
  • misamimamisamima member
    edited February 2016
    I'm so sorry about your situation. It sounds awful
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  • ssn109 said:
    If he's that much of a perfectionist and obsessive about the house being clean, I wonder if he has some kind of psychological issue causing this behavior.

    However, even if he does have some condition, he is clearly treating you more like a maid than a spouse and that is uncalled for. I hesitate to say it, but it also sounds as if he may be borderline emotionally abusive if he continues to make you feel inadequate for leaving a utensil in a sink nearly 4 years ago. He's good with Olive now, but if he thinks it's a woman's job to do all the cooking, cleaning, and caring for him she will probably be treated the same way once she is old enough to contribute to catering to him.

    I don't think that a person should hate her spouse, not if the relationship is going to work. If you truly hate him, and you need to decide if that is really how you feel, then you will never be happy in the marriage. And I wouldn't blame you if you really did hate him, he sounds like a real treat to live with. You need to really examine how you feel, and decide if staying is what's best for you and your daughter, because he is unlikely to ever change his ways no matter how hard you try.
    He's not sexist about it. If I were a male roommate it'd be the same. 
  • MomofEv+1 said:
    Would your work sponsor you for a work visa?
    They say they'd do that if I ever had to leave. They don't know about this situation. But I've asked as a green card immigrant.
  • I just have to say this. While it's normal to get frustrated and irritated right now, what you're talking about sounds like the same abuse I grew up with. My dad is an alcoholic and was sober from the time I was 3 years old until I was 16. He still acted like an alcoholic. Everything was all about him. If it wasn't his idea to do something he would make everyone miserable because of it. There was constant criticism, he'd act like a martyr, seem to not care. Yet in public could be quite charming. He moved out when I was 15 and all my mom, brother and I could say about it was that we all felt relieved. It isn't right to feel that way about your parent walking out (after two days of prior warning). But we were all more relaxed and just happy.

    Whenever I see you post about your husband I think of my dad. It isn't as obvious as if he was violent but it's damaging. It wears you down emotionally and leaves scars. He might be alright with your daughter now but what message will it send her to see you taking this?
    This. I think this is why I laughed it off before but want to rid my life of him now. Best case scenario he turns her into his little nazi and she treats me the same way. Worst case scenario.. She becomes another person he nitpicks at

    he doesn't drink. He is allergic. But I always say he acts like an alcoholic. Without the alcohol. 
  • @groovylocks sounds very tough, I am a Canadian married to an American but he moved here to Vancouver. I'd say he sounds emotionally abusive to you, calling you stupid etc. I can't imagine going through this with a newborn, you and your girl Olive deserve better. It doesn't sound like you are stuck at least, you could move even though I know how difficult it would be. Vent here all you need it's safe. 
  • @groovylocks what I am getting from you is that your husband's behavior has been selfish and controlling for years, but now that you have a little girl she's #1 for you,  but he's not adjusting and putting her first (otherwise he wouldn't be letting her cry it out). I think you need to tell him that you both need counseling, but first maybe talk to a divorce attorney who knows about citizenship. Anytime you want to vent or want unsolicited advice I'm here. 
  • @groovylocks I think your trial separation idea sounds like the best thing once you figure out if it will affect your citizenship. That will give you an idea of figuring out if you miss any of his redeeming qualities (which don't out weigh it sounds like). Your relationship sounds toxic. The only piece of advice I can offer is to not be the victim, absolutely be the bitch. I'm just saying..I love my husband but I won't for a second allow him to speak to me as if I am a child, and he knows that. If I leave a dish in the sink, get TF over it I will clean it when I want to or clean it up yourself. Especially since you are taking care of little Olive 24/7. Sorry laundry isn't my number one chore anymore! I spent my life in a home where my mother was very belittled by my father and she catered to his every need and he was never happy and always criticized and I think I'm just hell bent that that will never happen to me. My husband and I have a very healthy relationship don't get me wrong we are both very laid back and we get along well, of course I get more irritated with him now and tell him I want to punch him (ha) but I don't hate him. Just the woes of everyday life. If you are throwing out the word hate and considering leaving, then somethings gotta give! Much love to you! Sorry to seem so forward. 
  • ammnam14 said:
    Do you want to work it out? He sounds OCD, self righteous, and spoiled. Which is no excuse for treating you like crap. I too go through spurts where I can't find anything to love about my husband. I broke down this past weekend and couldn't take it. I threw divorce in his face and the past few days have been a lot better. He's watching his mouth towards me and actually helping with DD. I don't know if he just needed a reality check or what. Can you try counseling? Do you want to try? I'm sorry you're going through this. Parenthood is so rough, it's even rougher if you have no support. :( 
    BINGO. He admits he's OCD and insists that that's just one of the many things that makes him so great. I don't necessarily disagree with this. He's a rigid person and being rigid has major advantages. I'm very laid back and if i were married to me, the house would be a complete disaster. Of course, if he were married to himself, nothing would ever get done because both of them would be constantly combing the house for specs the other one missed. 

    So the OCD part doesn't really drive me that crazy - i mean it does but if he weren't also self-righteous and spoiled, I'd love him for who he was. I knew he was rigid when i met him. I was able to get over that. 

    Part of me worries he might be a bit of a narcissist. This is a new thought but one that really frightens me. When I see how coldly superficially charming he can be, then what a total turd he is around us, i get worried. I am usually good at spotting phonies but... i don't know. Maybe i'm not good at it after all :)
  • Not saying you should file for divorce but what are Michigan's laws regarding divorce? Do they require a specific amount of time to be separated before filing for divorce?   

    In Virginia, they require one year of separation if kids are involved before filing for divorce unless adultery is the cause. 

    If you end up deciding divorce is best, you may make it to October before anything is filed if there is a separation period requirement. 


  • groovylocksgroovylocks member
    edited February 2016
    calbin00 said:
    Not saying you should file for divorce but what are Michigan's laws regarding divorce? Do they require a specific amount of time to be separated before filing for divorce?   

    In Virginia, they require one year of separation if kids are involved before filing for divorce unless adultery is the cause. 

    If you end up deciding divorce is best, you may make it to October before anything is filed if there is a separation period requirement. 


    Now that IS a good question. Since I have contemplated it but not looked into it yet, I have no answer to that but that loophole might be what we need. I'm not saying i want to stay in the USA for sure. I miss Canada terribly but mostly what i miss is Halifax. And Halifax is realistically too far away - she would be separated from her dad's family. Toronto or even Windsor (continuing to work in the US) is great for me but then there is that cross border issue. 

    Having her in canada would also be ideal because all health care for children is completely paid for until age 18 by the federal government, including dental. And my health care would once again be universally covered too. Freeing up some funds much needed by a single mom. 

    I have also thought about going back to montreal and living with my childhood best friend - her husband abandoned her and her baby. Terribly sad but she's so tough and taking it in stride. Having a roommate and a playmate for her new baby would be good. I haven't talked to her about it yet. But a thought. Montreal isn't that far away. I lived there once before.. 

    Anyway your post got me on a thinking tangent and i'm doing it out loud. 
  • I'm 100% certain my dad would be the same if he wasn't sure an alcoholic, minus getting drunk everyweekend.

    Something to look at if you decide to leave is custody laws. My mom admits to staying with my dad because of this. Here it's 50/50 custody unless it's agreed otherwise or there's child abuse. She says she figured it would be better if she could be there and try to make up for him than us being alone with him half the time when she couldn't do anything.
  • I'm 100% certain my dad would be the same if he wasn't sure an alcoholic, minus getting drunk everyweekend.

    Something to look at if you decide to leave is custody laws. My mom admits to staying with my dad because of this. Here it's 50/50 custody unless it's agreed otherwise or there's child abuse. She says she figured it would be better if she could be there and try to make up for him than us being alone with him half the time when she couldn't do anything.
    I wonder about this.. There is absolutely no child abuse. Sometimes he does things that aren't the smartest but that seems like a dadhack thing and not a neglect issue, if i'm being honest. 

    I have his nastiness in writing - and i often think well.. if nothing else, i can prove that he's nasty to people he cares about and could a case for potential FUTURE abuse be made? I don't want to remove custody from him at all. What i DO want however is to ensure that i can live cross border if need be and that his treatment of her is carefully monitored as she grows up. 
  • Ugh. I read about half the first page of responses and groovy locks let me just say this... Some marriages just aren't worth saving. I think you and your daughter would be better off w/o that prick. If you have talked to him/ gotten counseling and he's still treating you like his worthless brood mare then what's the point of staying with him??? 
  • This is from a few comments back, but one thing I want to say is it's not your fault he acts this way.  You mentioned things along those lines multiple times.  "If I did better" "I'm not perfect" etc.  Things are going to be messy around the house when you have kids.  You can't keep everything perfectly clean forever.  You said your husband said he wouldn't take medication... would he go to counseling? Start in couple's counseling, and then maybe do individual?  And then what if a professional suggested medication?  Do you think he would eventually be open to it?  Not saying you can wait around forever for that though. 

    I don't know.  I agree a trial separation seems best right now. It gives you both time to re-evaluate yourselves and your relationship.  Once you're separated, maybe he would be open to counseling... once he sees that you really mean it. 
  • @ groovylocks I'm currently in the exact same situation. I was just about to post on the board about our divorce, decided today. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I hope things can pan out for the best for you and the baby and hopefully your marriage! 
  • It sounds like he is verbally and emotionally abusive. While it is completely normal to feel frustrated and upset with him during this time it is not normal to hate. You need to stop making excuses and think about your daughter. Do you want her to grow up thinking that it is ok for a man to treat her the same way? I would look for a lawyer and start asking questions about separation and divorce if that's what you want to do. You should gather the information so you can be prepared if there are any rules on separation length or how it would all effect your green card. 
  • I could have wrote this myself about a month back. (Please excuse some rambling). We were both off on leave, sleep deprived and both very different people. I like you, could leave the house a disaster, he is ocd. His mother very over bearing. It sounds Sooo similar. He was so helpful at first! Then slowly started to get complacent. Granted a baby does have a ton of diaper changing but let's be real, that's not anything compared to nursing and pumping to increase my supply. 

    after a few comments of "you should take the bathroom trash out, it's being considerate" and "you were like this before baby, this is not an excuse"... We needed a talk. 

    I dont know your finacial situation but I read you were the breadwinner. My SO struggles daily with not being able to provide. It hits his ego. He works hard, risks his life working and gets promoted but it's not enough to even support himself comfortably. It hit me one day how much this affects our relationship and how delicate it is. 

    This is may be horrid advice but my SO has amazing qualities. I don't agree with your DH calling you names, at ALL, that's where I draw the line. But I choose to compromise sometimes. He's a great father, and after he got FULL baby duties he stepped back and realized It is hard. He values it because he sees how hard it is. I believe it's a human thing to judge until we walk that mile. It took me telling him look, if you want the house perfect , you can be in charge of that. I can pick up after myself, do my best, do the laundry, cook but I can't do it all. I can only do so much and if you can't handle my imperfections and mess than well, don't marry me. I chose to stand my ground and be firm, but in a loving way. 

    Needless as to say, he comes home, he helps with baby, takes the baby so I can get some me time, puts dishes away, cleans dinner, picks up after the dogs. I also chose to change my perspective. I don't give in when he comes off the wrong way, I walk away and choose to take myself out of the situation. Men have a very different way of going about things and look for validation in different ways. Sometimes it's very unhealthy and needs some adjusting. I also realize my husband isn't perfect. He's faithful, he's hard working, he is responsible, he's clean, he doesn't spend money stupidly, he's trusting of my views and choices. But he can say things very insensitively and be so clean to the point where it drives me batty. I choose to see him for his great things, because I have things about me that I know he loves me through so why can't I give him that same love? 

    Those things can be done respectfully and with compromise. I've noticed men respect more when they realize you put your foot down, but in a loving way. the first month with baby was hard then slowly started to get easier. I stopped trying to do "everything", including fixing things that we were both responsible to communicate about. And I've realized a lot by taking a step back and looking at his upbringing and his view. It's not wrong, it's just different. 

    But it the name calling, that's not ok and I suggest therapy for you and him, together and separate. I think there's a bigger picture and there's something deeper there. I hope you can find some love in him again and maybe you can fix the problems. In life no one will ever be perfect and I hope the problems can be fixed for a better future. It will only make you so much stronger as individuals and a couple. 


  • Yah - I feel the need to back peddle. My husband was useless after my high-needs son was born. He felt like he couldn't solve it so he took a back seat & I resented it. I hated that I couldn't leave my son & when I did he would cry the whole time. I hated he was sleeping (dh) and I wasn't. I hated being touched all the time & then when ds was finally asleep dh would want sex. I hated him like I hated the rain- temporarily & without a real good reason. 
    I could've made a real compelling argument to divorce. I could've easily left & felt totally justified. But I'm glad I didn't- that we worked it out & we are much stronger now.
    that said - he never name called me or made me feel less than. He never complained about what I did or didn't do. Your situation smacks of abuse. I think a trial separation is a great idea. 
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