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need major advice *long*

Original post by cutthecord

i'm a regular on the boards but i don't want to post under my real name cause it's a little embarrassing.

here's my situation. i feel that my FH has a major problem cutting the cord from his family. i feel like when he says 'we' or 'our' he doesn't mean me and him, he means him and his family (mother & sister). about six months ago we were having problems because of his family and i asked him when he was going to be on my side and defend us. his answer was while you're dating and engaged it's different but after we're married. basically he'll defend us after we're married but not a minute sooner.

he also treats things he buys for 'us' as his. one item recently he wanted to give to his older sister. i told him i don't feel that we should cause she can afford to buy one herself and that was bought for us. he gave it to her anyway, regardless of what i said and regardless that the item was ours. i don't have a problem giving, i'm not greedy. but that was expensive and his sister can afford one herself.

another issue is that he owes his mother some $ from years ago that she gave him to open his own business. recently she told him to only give her back half and call the rest even cause she knows we're getting married and will be starting a family. she's now in the process of buying a townhouse, he's giving her the half she asked for as a downpayment and to buy furniture. but he's also going to be kicking in some $ every month cause she can't afford it on her own. so i said last night that in reality she's not gifting us the other half like he said cause he's repaying the full amount. he got mad at me. meanwhile, my father is paying for 1/2 the wedding and his family is giving us nada and somehow in his eyes my father is still the bad guy. go figure.

i just feel like he isn't going to change. he keeps talking about how he's trying to make it about us but then don't you think he should have defended us when his family started problems for us? doesn't he think i should have a say in things that are 'ours'? i feel like he's not going to change and i don't think i can spend the rest of my life with someone who won't take my side or my opinions into consideration when it comes to his family. i don't know what to do and any advice would be much appreciated. i do want to talk to him about it but i don't feel he'll see my side. tia!
cutthecord Posted:

Re: need major advice *long*


Posted by jlovesa

I was in a relationship for 5 1/2 years where this was a CONSTANT problem. Ultimately I ended the relationship. Once in a while I will run into him and he has told me since that now he sees where it all went wrong and actually thanked me for helping to open his eyes. Obviously, I don't know how much he has really changed because I am no longer involved, but I thought it was very big that he realized what I had been saying all along because when we were together he never got it. So, the good news is, maybe people do realize things ultimately. The bad news is, this took a lot of years and, like I said, I can't vouch for how much he really has changed. Either way, it's definitely not going to be overnight.

I had one other thought about the whole 'after we're married it will be different' thing. I don't know if I buy my own thought, but maybe after you're officially married he will feel more justified in standing up for you because he can say 'she is my family now'? I definitely would not go into the marriage with my fingers crossed that this is the case, but just another thought.

I know how hard it is to talk to someone like this, so ultimately, you have to go with your gut. If you think you're always going to be #2, then you have to get out, but if your gut tells you it'll be ok, then go with that. Unfortunately, the fact that you're posting this makes me think your gut is telling you to get out.

I'm so sorry you're going through this.



my friend always put his family in front of his wife and it took him 5 years to change (they were married for 2 at that point) and he did. but that's cause his family was screwing him over. people do change, but when? and how long will it be?

i do think that maybe he does need us to be married to say she's now my family and i need to defend her but it shouldn't be the case. and i shouldn't have to sit back and come 2nd.

i honestly don't know where to go from here. we are going to go to counseling. he has a lot of other great qualities and i love him to pieces but what happens when we have kids and we're second to him? it's not the present i'm worried about, its the future. and i don't know if he can/will change.
Julesg1230 Posted:

Re: need major advice *long*

You have FM

lizzie217 Posted:

Re: need major advice *long*

I just wrote a whole thing and lost it grrr!

Okay I AM SO SORRY you are going through this. It is a struggle figuring outr 'your new family' and putting your new spouse/fiance ahead of the family you've had forever.

I think though that your FH being dedicated to his family is a great quality...probaly something you love about him...Im sure he is just as loyal and loving to you. While I know it can drive you crazy and maybe he needs to cool it down and focus on you and your future family (not to jump the gun lol) IMO this loyaly, devotion WILL transfer to you. Is FH young? I know that I have noticed in the last cple years FH who is very close to his mom,dad, sister...transferring this loyaltly and love to not only me but my mom, dad and brother.

It is a transisiton engagement, its blending families and there are growing pains. I am guessing FH is yougeer (early 20's) if so I think that he will place the empthasis on you.

Of course you need to talk to him about your expectations...and as far as him giving his sis an expensive item that was yours...this is a no no..you two need to decide together.

What Im getting at is that to me....family loyalty is important..you will be his family..the love he has for his mom will be the same he has for you..I hope this makes sense

I was reading your post about when you have kids..you wont be 2nd...a family oriented person (which sounds like your FH ) will make his own fam #1..I really believe the old saying that a man treats his wife how he treats his mom...it isnt the worst thing to have a momma's boy....but there is apoint where he DOES NEED TO grow up and put the devotion to his wife AND his mom.
Reesy Posted:

Re: need major advice *long*

I agree that you should try couples therapy.....I just hope you can convince him to go because it sounds as if he doesn't see that it is a big problem. Maybe a professional would get him to see it from another view where he can understand and see how unfair it is to you....Good Luck Hun
Sweeteey51 Posted:

Re: need major advice *long*

Oh man, i would be pissed if he gave his sister something expensive that belong to both of us. You need to talk to him and tell him how you feel and make sure he realizes you may consider not being with him because you cant spend the rest of your life like that. You just have to talk it out with him and make sure he realizes the consequences of his actions. Good Luck

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