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Wife doesn't want to try anymore.

45K views 116 replies 39 participants last post by  aine 
#1 ·
My wife had a talk with me the other day. She told me she is not sure she loves me anymore and thinks she wants to separate. She says our 5 years of marriage has worn on her. She says i'm not emotional enough for her and don't show her enough attention and affection like I did when we were dating. She feels like I always reject her in public when she trys to kiss me or hold hands. Ive told her im not a PDA person and it makes me uncomfortable. We have to young children, and she doesn't work.

I apologized for not paying enough attention to her and promised I would be better and told her I was actually thinking I wanted to spice up our marriage a little more. It seemed to fall onto def ears.

So the plan is to sell the house in 4 months and go our separate ways(as much as we can) I told her Id like to try in those four months to turn our marriage around, she said ok. Then, the next day she text me while I was at work and said she changed her mind, she doesn't believe I will change and we will be right back to square one again. So basically she wants to just be roomates til she finds a job and we sell.

She has talked me before about these issues. I guess I didn't take her seriously enough. I don't want a divorce and am at a loss. I feel like she is being selfish in a way and is going to blow up our family to see if the grass is greener somewhere else..
 
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#2 ·
I don't know it sounds like she is reaching for an excuse meaning another man in the mix.
But if she is set to walk away do the 180 and focus on yourself.
If she sees you happy with yourself and moving on she might snap out of this.
There will be others way smarter than me that will help you.
If you could give a general timeline when her attitude changed.
 
#3 ·
I give this 90% chance that's there another man. 80% that's it's an old BF she reconnected with through Facebook.

There is hope you can turn this around, but your going to have do some digging to see if there's a third party involved first. Do not ask her, just verify on your own. Start with the phone bill, look for an unusual amount of call and texts to a certain number. Also check her social media accounts and emails.
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#115 ·
If you hunt game and take your sweet time finding it, the hyenas will find it for you. :D
 
#5 ·
I was this person 6 months ago. What made me "try" was the counsellor telling me "you can't work on relationship from the outside of one, so if you are willing to make an effort, and it doesn't mean you'll stay together, but to work on the issues at hand, if and when you walk away, you won't walk right back into the same relationship, ie same guy in a different body".

It has been very useful to "stick it out", though we still don't know if we want to stay together, (well I don't anyhow), we are communicating way better than we ever have and I have earned a new level of respect for him. Doesn't mean I'm back in love with him but it means that we are working it out like adults (in my opinion).

My ultimatum to him however was that he go for personal counselling with a therapist and I would too, AND we do MC.
 
#6 ·
Before you start working on being a better husband or working on your self by emotionally distancing your self even more then you. You have to know which direction to take...even before counseling.

See if she is cheating..you being the best husband (or MC)won't work cuz you already have been replaced and you can't compete with new love.

But if she is in fact being honest and you are in fact not competing with a new man then working on your self to be a better husband (and MC) in the hopes of yeilding some reward.

Alls I'm saying is time after time guys beg and plead and try to be the best husband in the world only to find out that no matter what they do they have already been replace and in reality there "best husdand" tactic just pushes the wayward wife further towards the OM(other man).

So please investigate whats really going on and do the snopping to find the facts that what ever tactic you choose is best in saving the marriage.

I pray that there is no other man and your attack on being a better husband pay off.

But to be honest...I have been here way to long and have read way to many post just like yours were the husband spends months being a more attentive husband only to be played the fool for not investigating the reason his wife wants to leave the seacurity and stablity of the family unit.

Something very strong is influencing your wife to break up this family unit so please go James Bond on your old lady and fight for this marriage with real facts, not with what your old lady is telling you.
 
#7 ·
5 years seems kind of short for a WAW.

Someone is influencing her...even if its not OM.... investigate and see if its a TF(toxic friend=an enemy of the marriage).

Please investigate, knowledge is power, you need to know what exactly you are up against before you choose on how to fight this.

I'm all for MC and IC but if there is a 3rd party infecting the marriage all the work being done in MC in the afternoon is constantly infected by this 3rd person at night.
 
#9 ·
I agree with the Guy. You need to look at this from all angles here. Why all of a sudden is she walking away? You need to dig deeper here and find the truth. She is not giving that to you at all. The 180 works for me and still is. Focus on yourself and go dark on her while you look for clues.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Hello,

I'm in your wife's shoes. I'm going to go against the grain here and suggest to you that your wife has been honest with you and is not cheating as several others here suspect. It's important that you decided what you want to believe regarding this because your belief about this issue will dominate how you choose to proceed.

I'm going to put two options in front of you.

If you begin to act on suspicion and start checking up on her (phone records, emails, etc), then you will also begin to doubt everything she tells you. As your mind tries to grasp for meaning behind this, you will naturally gravitate toward explanations that are not your fault. Thus, it will be even easier to be suspicious.

The problem with this road is that your heart becomes hardened to her and you pretty much solidify her decision to leave.

Let's assume you travel this path and find nothing. She will still leave you because you have been focusing on finding blame rather than focusing on listening to her needs, admitting your failures, and attempting to reconcile.

Let's now assume you travel this path and find that indeed, she is having an affair. Let me ask you; what have you accomplished besides causing yourself anguish? If she is having an affair, will you really want to reconcile at that point? If she is having an affair, your marriage is over.

In both of the above scenarios you still end up apart.

Now suppose you make the decision to believe she has been honest with you. You have four months to work on yourself. You cannot change how she "feels" day to day and you shouldn't focus on whether or not she says she doesn't want to try anymore. If you just focus on LISTENING to her needs, and focus on becoming a better you, then at the end of that four months, your actions will speak to her heart and she will either stay with you, or leave. It really depends on whether or not she sees by your actions that there is any hope.

Her behavior is out of your control. What is in your control is becoming a better you. I'm not suggesting that all the problems you are having are entirely your fault. There are always two sides to a story in every relationship and very seldom is one person entirely innocent or entirely guilty.

I want to point out something you said in your post.

She has talked me before about these issues. I guess I didn't take her seriously enough.

I can tell you that with that statement, she has just given up. She's tried too many times to convey her needs to you and you have ignored them. If you want any chance to save your marriage, it's time to change that.

I feel like she is being selfish in a way and is going to blow up our family to see if the grass is greener somewhere else.

This statement is a huge red flag to me that you are still not ready to accept your part in the demise of you marriage. She is not the one being selfish. From her perspective, she has been trying for years to get your attention and you have been too selfish to even hold her hand in public. That is a rejection to her womanhood.

I've been begging for scraps of my husbands attention for most of 23 years. Your wife is giving up much sooner (as she should). No one should spend 23 years begging to be loved.

One last bit of advice. So many times here people suggest doing the 180 to save your marriage. Not sure if you are familiar with that but if I understand correctly, it's basically becoming more alpha, withholding affection, focusing on yourself and being careful not to beg her to stay.

While I am going to agree that you should definitely not show her you are desperate, and you should certainly not beg her to stay or even to meet you halfway, I think that if you withhold affection and become a stern alpha male, you will only re-enforce to her that you don't understand what she needs and the marriage is over.

She has made it clear that affection is a big deal to her. I don't know what the other issues are in your marriage but you need to find out and address them.

I suggest that you ask her out on a date. Wait for the right moment and be clear that you have no expectations and you are not looking for promises. You simply want to take her out. Handle everything. Make babysitting arrangements, make the decision about where your are going and what you will do. PLEASE do not take her to a movie. There is no interaction in a movie theater unless you are in the back row at 15 years old. Then just enjoy your time together. At the end of the evening, thank her. Do not try to kiss her unless you sense that she wants you to.

Make a point of asking her out again for a more casual meeting within the next week. Say... something like lunch together. During that second date, apologize for neglecting her. Be honest. Explain that your intentions are to show her that you have finally heard her and will be attempting to show her with your actions over the next four months that you love her.

Make it clear that you do not have any expectations of her helping you in this effort and that you are okay with that. Make it clear that you will also be doing things to get yourself prepared in the event that at the end of four months she does leave. Make it clear that you will allow her to go without any drama. Also, ask her for permission to date her. If she says no, respect that. Do not get angry. Do not ask why. Do not beg. Give her space.

One more thing.

She says i'm not emotional enough for her and don't show her enough attention and affection like I did when we were dating. She feels like I always reject her in public when she trys to kiss me or hold hands. Ive told her im not a PDA person and it makes me uncomfortable.

This is your wife's primary love language. If you are unable to speak love to her in this way, you will not make it.

I'm only asking this rhetorically, but have you ever asked your wife to do something for you that perhaps she wasn't completely comfortable with? Anything at all? Did she do it? Sometimes, saying I love you is all about getting out of your comfort zone for the sake of your spouse.

I know this has been a long post and I hope it hasn't come across as being judemental in any way. I'm not standing in judgement. I'm posting because your situation resonates with me and I hope I can give you some practical advice to save your marriage.

Regardless of the fact that she says she doesn't want to try, there's no reason why you can't try. Her feelings will change from day to day. Read my threads and you will see that is true.

When I came on here, I didn't want to try either. There are still days that I don't but there are more days that I do. This is your time to prove to her that you love her. From her perspective, she has already proven it to you and is tired of trying. Respect that. Do what you can and let go of expectations.

Best regards,
Daisy
 
#11 ·
Women need to know they are loved and admired by their men. Maybe you should try and step out of your box a bit. Take her by surprise by a date; remind her of the good times. But also, if you have trouble showing affection, maybe it's time for you to try and work on yourself a bit. Guys seldom think there's a problem whereas women always think there's a problem. I guess it's just how we are different. But she'll never believe because she tried to reach out to you already. Actions are bigger than words, at this point.
 
#12 ·
So you can't be bothered to meet your wife half way and even hold her freaking hand once in a while because it's important to her and she's selfish? And saying you want to spice up your marriage means sex, it has nothing to do with the affection she's craving. If anything it conveys that the only affection you wish to give is sex, which will drive her away. You've basically told her that you are who you are and regardless of what she thinks she can deal with it. She's chosen not to deal with it. .I bet that even if there another man this is why.
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#14 · (Edited)
By spice up I didn't mean sex really, take it easy.

I also believe there is a toxic friend. She has been talking with one of her friends a lot. She said she was ok with trying then she went to this friends house for a couple hours to talk and changed her mind. She even said her friend said we probably aren't good for each other. Her husband is a super emotional guy. So she keeps telling me he does this and that for her and he always agrees with her etc.

I really believe there is something triggering this. She even admitted I had been getting a little better before the talk. I just can't see when she would have time to cheat. I think it might just be the friend. I actually liked this girl and her husband, now I get frustrated when the hang out. I don't say anything tho.

Right now she is really stand offish. She doesn't attempt to hug or kiss me, but will take them. She is also planning a bday party for my mom, which kinda confuses me, and wants me to go to Christmas at her families.

She told me during the talk she almost wants me to go date other women, just not sleep with them. She thinks I will find that I don't really love her. I kinda didn't know how to take this, maybe a red flag. I told her I wasn't interested.
 
#15 ·
She told me during the talk she almost wants me to go date other women, just not sleep with them. She thinks I will find that I don't really love her. I kinda didn't know how to take this, maybe a red flag. I told her I wasn't interested.
That's a very big red flag!!!! You better start snooping and learn the truth.
IMO, she's already dating...hell it could even be the toxic friend husband!!
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#18 ·
i I never said she was dating. if i knew for a fact she was seeing someone else i would file myself. she tries to convince me that I dont really love her bedause of how ive acted over our marriage. She thinks if I dated someone else id realize that.

I just dont see how she would be cheating. She is with our two young children 24/7. Only thing I could think of is someone at the gym. She swears up and down she isnt talking to or seeing anyone.

I AM taking this oppurtunity to better myself as a person and husband. I am going to dig a little to see if there is someone else tho.
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#19 ·
Yes...I think it would be wise to investigate.

Check the phone records and her computer use, especially Facebook.

If you know what room she typically talks on the phone with her friend in, you can try placing a VAR to see what they are talking about.

If there is a POSOM, you can bet dollars to donuts that this friend knows all the details and they talk about her situation endlessly.
 
#21 ·
Honey? Is that you? Kidding, but my H could have written this because those are my exact complaints plus a few others.

What is wrong with being affectionate to your wife in front of the kids?

What is wrong with showing her your love for her through words, like I love you, through actions like affection, through deeds like dancing in the kitchen with her while you wait for the water to boil for Mac and cheese?

How much alone time do you and your wife get each day? How often do you two go out on dates? How often do you give her sincerely compliments?

She takes care of other people's needs for love, affection, sympathy, attention, TLC...but (if you're like my H used to be) you rarely show her the same kind of TLC she gives out each and every damn damn of the year.

You can save this marriage, but you have to get rid of that stick up your ass and romance your wife. You have to show your kids what a good husband looks like, not just what a good father looks like.

Go to Marriage Builders ® - Successful Marriage Advice and print out two Emotional Needs Questionnaires, one for each of you. THAT will be your game plan for what YOU need to do to meet her needs and have her fall in love with you all over again.

Yes, it's possible!
 
#23 ·
so we talked some more today. She admitted that she has been talking to a guy at the gym a lot. she works out with him twice a week. she told me about two month ago that she was gonna workout with this dude once or twice a week, and if i was ok with it. she knew him from high school. she says he actually talks to her and listens and tries to understand how she feels. she swears up and down she has no feelings for him, but it made her realize she cant confide in me and we dont communicate well. more like re-affirmed her feelings of how our marriage has been. she said she understands if im angry about it and that it sounds bad, but is nothing, they dont even have each others numbers.

i really dont know what to think, cant decide if i should tell her to f off, or try. i dont want to be played for a fool.
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#25 ·
Enter the "she's cheating" hysterics!

Look, you've been emotionally distant, aloof, cold and she doesn't feel like you are able to hear what she has to say.

If you want your marriage to work, YOU have to find a way to be emotionally connected to her. If, however, you pursue the cheating and tell her to F off, you may as well just start divorcing now.
 
#24 ·
So in fact she has met someone who has caught her fancy. She is chasing the grass is greener somewhere else. Whether it’s a PA or just an EA or they are just gym buddies. She is having at least an EA in my opinion. He sees her for an hour or two twice a week, he listens, he understands her etc. She can harp all she wants about not having feelings for him but she is at least getting ready to have feelings. And according to your post just a few days ago she was swearing she wasn’t talking to anyone.

You need to work on your issues and you know that. She needs to start seeing some real improvement and that takes time. But she has checked out. She wants a divorce and she is trickle truthing you. You said you planned on selling the house in 4 months then going your separate ways. Maybe you should really start to consider creating a faster plan, make this more real. I get the feeling that you are the deer in the headlights…..the semi is coming. You need to choose if you want to fight to save or move to divorce.
 
#28 ·
How exactly do i deal with it? she is still being wishy washy if she wants to try. Ive asked her twice if this is really what she wants(seperating) both times she said shes unsure, one time she cried. Sometimes she is receptive to me other times not. She will not have sex. She says she feels like we would be moving backward. Its hard cause im really physically attracted to her. I just failed to let her know that enough..

I hate the fact she holds all the power right now, its driving me crazy
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#30 ·
Why would she want to have sex with someone who's completely emotionally unavailable? Go ahead and tell her to f!ck off and treat your next woman the same way, see how that works for you.
Have you admitted to your wife that you've been aloof and unavailable and you'd like to change that? That's why she's on the fence, she doesn't want more of the same. If you're going to dig your heels in regarding your own attitude just file now and get it over with. Myex was very much like you describe yourself and eight years after our divorce I'm remarried and he's still single, because that attitude of unavailability unless he wants sex doesn't serve him well.
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#33 ·
where did this no affection in front of the kids come from?? I said in public. I have told her I was sorry for how id been, and I want to try and change. She admits its not all my fault either. She knows she can be overly emotional and it could have made me push away. I now understand where she is coming from, cause she is acting distant now and im trying. She is not a bad mother, im not saying confiding in some other guy is right, but i can umderstand where she is coming from
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#36 ·
Well with that attitude I think you can be worked with. it looks like you're willing to own your part, but do you think you can really change it? If so I would tell her that you can't change anything while there's another guy around so you're going to file and go on with your life. Do you really love your wife? I see where you've said you're really attracted to her but not where you love her. Forgive me if I've missed it....I suspect she thinks you don't love her with all the affection she was missing.
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#35 ·
No, but she guards her phone now. Ive also thought that maybe there was more to the gym guy. I have to decide weither to believe her ornot. I asked her if she was still working out with him. she said yes and they actually talk a lot about our marriage. She claims that he tells her that she shouldnt leave me unless she is 100 percent sure she wants out, and that she doesnt seem sure. Appearently hes been through a divorce. Then again hes part of the reason she wants to seperate, cause some guy at the gym has better communication then her husband does with her.
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