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Relationships

Hand-holding please, husband has decided to move out...

33 replies

angel1976 · 18/03/2013 00:10

Hi, have posted several times in relationships about my DH. Long story short: he revealed on DS1's 5th birthday that he no longer loves me and wants out of our marriage. On further probing, he revealed he has had a 'spark' with someone at work and realises how much we don't love each other anymore. Hmm It's true we have had a stressful time of it in the last year and there were moments I hated him but I never thought I would leave and that this was just a blip in our coming up to 10-years-in-a-month marriage and in fact, things were starting to look up at the beginning of the year. So sex wasn't that frequent (we were tired etc but whatever, it doesn't matter now) but hey, I thought it was what couples went through. It's been 4 weeks since the big reveal and we have only been twice to the counsellor but he has told me tonight he just wants out. I have talked, I have raged, I have cried, I am tired... He is NOT prepared to put in the work to make us work. I just cannot carry this alone. I hate the idea of both my DSs having parents that are no longer together, in fact, they are the reason I was hoping to re-kindle our relationship but DH is not willing.

After a big cry and talking briefly about finances, I am now very calm. I feel like I have done the grieving for the relationship/marriage I thought I had. I look at him and to be honest, I cannot imagine I will ever love him again after the stunt he just pulled on me and showing how selfish he truly is. I am so fucking glad he hasn't pulled this shit on me when I am 50 (I am 36) and have given my life to him and my family. I feel sick to the stomach when he is around. My boys and I will be okay. At least we are both agreed we will do whatever we can to make this as good as we can (given the circumstances) for the boys and they remain our top priority. Is it weird that I am calmly looking at flats/houses for him to move out to because I don't want my DSs to be living in a shithole part of their lives and also I want it to be within walking distance from their school and our family home? I sound too calm don't I? I feel like I have kicked into 'protect my boys at all cost' mode. I love them so much and it fucking breaks my heart that their father is doing this to them. On the plus side, DH has never been a hands-on father, in fact, I think him having them on his own will kick him into gear as a father, sad as it may be...

I have a lot of support around me. Thank goodness. My family lives on the other side of the world but they have pledged they will support me regardless of what happens. I have sent an email to my brother. We will be spending the summer holiday with them and hopefully those plans will stay so the boys will have a fantastic summer to remember despite their lives being about to implode. My in-laws (who are understandably aghast at their son's behaviour) have been fantastic too. I am very lucky in so many ways. But I feel like shit right now. I wish I had chosen a better father for my children, one who will not decide on one turn of the head at some woman in 'work' mode that his marriage is not worth working on. But I cannot change that. All I can do now is to try and shield my boys as much as possible from the repercussions of my 'D'H.

Please hold my hand. I am strong and I will get through this but tonight has been tough as all my dreams of a happy marriage and family is over. Sad

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MumVsKids · 18/03/2013 00:17

Here to hold your hand as long as you need it holding xx

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YorkshireTeaDrinker · 18/03/2013 00:23

You sound really strong and you will do everything you need to do to protect your boys. Vent here as much as you need. xx

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 00:24

Thank you MumVsKids. I've been reading lots of post-breakup stories on MN and they do make me feel somewhat better but somehow, a happy ending for me doesn't seem possible right now. Be back tomorrow morning, got to sleep now to face the world later.

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 00:24

I mean the stories where the mums have gone on and make a better life for themselves and their DCs! :)

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 00:26

Thank you Yorkshire, I feel very alone. Looks like we got married young and one of the very first ones to break up.

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debtherat · 18/03/2013 00:33

So sorry for your pain and loss. Horrible to still love someone who has already detached from you after a few hours/days with an ow who probably has been fed a load of "my wife doesn't understand me". I wish you and your boys lots of love and light.

My oh is here after his similar reveal but v. ambivalent - "I'm trying my best" - whilst letting me neglect him eg letting him have go out when he wants, spend 10 hrs a week exercising, read what he likes (but not Relate books)' watch sport, do no housework - generally avoid talking about us/our future - my job too apparently..... I am older than you with 20 years of marriage ... but you know what my 2 ds are the best thing from my marriage and this gives me strength.

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SolidGoldBrass · 18/03/2013 00:42

It will be OK, and you will be OK. Try to look at it like this: he has decided to tell the truth - that he wants to end the marriage - rather than allowing you to spend time and money on counselling and turn yourself inside out trying to be the perfect wife, for months or even years, while he knew all along that he didn't want to be with you but had decided he didn't want to give up his home comforts either. It would have been far more selfish and cruel for him to string you along, particularly if he had begun an affair.
It will hurt a lot right now, but it will get better. Best of luck.

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badinage · 18/03/2013 00:59

Well he could have been even more honest and decent by not having an affair in the first place of course - and not lying about the extent of this other relationship.

No bloke leaves for a 'spark' with someone else. They leave when there is an established relationship. If he'd been telling anything like the truth, he wouldn't have started with the 'I don't feel the same' speech, he would have come straight out with the fact he was leaving for someone else. Instead you say he only admitted to the bare minimum after 'probing'.

No great surprise either that he didn't pull his weight with fatherhood and childcare. The ones who are least invested in family life are the ones most likely to ditch it.

Where I do agree with SGB is that at least you know now and can draw a line. The feelings you are experiencing tonight are probably in part relief that the terrible limbo is over. Let him go now and as you say do insist on him doing his fair share of solo childcare so that you get a break and get the chance to start your new life too.

Be prepared for him to want to come back at some stage when love's young dream has crumbled, but say no to that if he does. Accept help from every quarter and be prepared for some grief to hit you once this calmness and relief has passed.

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 01:43

Went to bed and couldn't sleep so came back on here. I have a pounding headache caused by the crying earlier on.

Debt I am so sorry to hear it. Yes, in some ways, I feel 'lucky'. I do feel a weight has been lifted as he has made that terrible decision. And while I have no wish to poison my sons against their father, when they do understand things and they ask, I can tell them as neutrally as I can that I tried but their father was the one to make the decision to walk out of their lives and our family. I have read your story on another thread, keep your strength up and we will emerge from this journey stronger. Have you not thought about kicking your DH out? I thought about it but couldn't do it so maybe I was lucky he made the decision to walk himself.

SGB I agree with you. Thank you for reminding me. His behaviour has caused me to question a lot of things. And while I do still love him, I also recognise that my 'falling out of love' with him has a lot to do with his failing as a father since DS1 was born. I did briefly question whether it was right to have DS2 when DH did not take to fatherhood quite that well but I am glad I did, they are only 20 months apart and have the most delightful relationship now and I know they will be fine going through this together. I am not having more so I am glad they have each other for the rest of their lives. He is emotionally cold and has gotten worse over the years. His parents feel he is almost estranged from them. He is a selfish twunt, there is no doubt and I am in some way, relieved to be rid of that constant questioning in my head as to why I wasn't able to see that and how I can change that. I obviously can't. It's not my problem now, is it? Grin

badinage I do believe him with regards to this girl. He is too 'self-righteous' to do anything wrong. He doesn't want to be the bad guy in this. That is why he fessed up to the spark. He wants 'us falling out of love' to be the reason why we separated, not this OW. I believe that contact with this person will resume very quickly once he gets the wife and marriage and kids out of the way. And that the reason he wants out so quickly is so that he can go and set up his own home and pursue love's young dream. Ha ha, wonder how attractive he will look in the cold light of day when he has financial and time commitment to the children he has decided to walk out on... I am not stupid. I got in there first today to say no meeting any new partners till they are well established in his life and are 'serious' and they do not meet my boys until I meet them first. At this moment, he will agree to anything so I am using that best to my advantage...

He was initially talking about moving out to a room and coming back to see the kids in our family home a few days ago, I said no f**king way, he wants to do this, he does this the correct way, he can go and rent a 2-bedroom flat/house and have the boys when he should. It breaks my heart to 'send them away' but I know they will need that so they don't feel rejected by their father and they can have a relationship. So that is what he is doing. I have a very flexi job now that enables me to work PT but pretty much get the boys to school/nursery every weekday bar one plus flexibility in holidays. I have told him if he wants me to keep that flexibility, he will have to make sure he gives me enough maintenance, otherwise, I will have to go back to FT and he can bloody well sort out the additional childcare, he has also agreed to that.

This won't be easy but I will fight for my boys all the way. I am hoping and praying that as long as I keep 99% of their lives as normal, they won't dwell on the fact that daddy doesn't live with us anymore when the time comes. :(

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Mimishimi · 18/03/2013 03:08

It's good you said that about visitation. Having him coming back to the family home on weekends would make your boys harbour hopes that he would come back for good. It would also give you no flexibility - especially in the long term if you were to start seeing someone new. I might have just very casually hinted at that ... Wink. If anything, make sure the new girlfriend does get to see your kids - exactly so she can see that he is a man with other responsibilities which she will have to assume to. It wouldn't be surprising if she runs a mile.You sound very strong.

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badinage · 18/03/2013 03:10

I've also woken up after little sleep but in my case because of a racking cough....

You're probably still in the habit of believing everything he says Angel, but do keep an open mind about this other relationship. IME the more self-righteous the bloke, the greater the need for him to convince himself that a fairly ordinary affair is some great love story for which the marriage must be sacrificed. Not for him an everyday story of lust and tawdry sneaking around; only a never-to-be-repeated love story will satisfy his need to think of himself as an honourable man.

Which is why I am foreseeing this affair crashing and burning when the shine wears off and it's exposed as just another tacky story of work colleagues who got together because of proximity, rather than any pre-ordination from the cosmos.

If he's telling lies, at first glance it might not appear to matter if this was an established affair. But if it was, it might help you make sense of recent months and especially any changes in your relationship since he started working with this woman (if you know when that was). A friend of mine went through something like this and if you're anything like her, her instinct was to recall that for the previous year her and her husband had been at loggerheads for no real reason. She blamed herself for her part in it and rationalised that this must have provided the breeding grounds for his affair. It turned out though that the flare-ups and arguments that came out of nowhere started after he'd met the OW at his work and this was his way of creating trouble at home so that he could have an affair. She was able to make much better sense of her recent past and this did help her put the blame where it was deserved.

You're doing all the right things though, giving him a reality check about looking after his own kids unaided. You did really well to insist on this despite your shock and upset. Stand firm on this; it gives you some control back and moreover, it's the right thing to do for kids after a separation.

Hope you've managed to nod off again. Right now I have a date with a bottle of cough mixture Wink

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UterusUterusGhali · 18/03/2013 05:57

Feeling your pain and sending hugs.

You sound very strong, although I'm sure you won't feel it.

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MadAboutHotChoc · 18/03/2013 07:55

You do sound strong - make the most of this phase by sorting out finances, access etc because later on you will crash. You are on the right lines re child access and equal parenting - he has to take full responsibility and it will be good for him and the DC to have a proper and more meaningful relationship.

I totally agree that the more "moral" the cheater is, the more vulnerable he is to thinking the affair is real love. They can't get round the fact that they can so easily become attracted to ego stroking attentions of OW and the guilt they feel means they are more likely to dress it up as a fairy tale story of true love.

His bubble will burst before long.

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 15:53

Thank you all! I have had many tears today when the DCs are in school/nursery. I've spoken to my in-laws, their lovely son sent them a lovely text this morning at 11.11am informing them of the demise of his marriage. Nice. They are not impressed at all and are shocked by how things have progressed.

OW or not, she is welcome to him. I am still a bit shellshocked at how little regard he has given to the 12 years we have spent together. But hey, onwards and upwards, I have my boys and my beautiful home (for now!).

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badinage · 18/03/2013 16:07

What a coward informing his parents by text. Obviously done so that he didn't have to face any awkward questions from them.

I should think he's been building up to this for a long time Angel, which is why he seems to have such little empathy or sorrow.

When did he first meet this woman? Do you know?

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 20:07

bad I really don't give a toss anymore about the OW. She is welcome to him. I spoke to his mum for over an hour today and his best friend (called his best friend's wife actually as we socialise quite a lot with our children) and they are both baffled by his behaviour. They both tried to talk to him separately over the weekend and both have said they are not getting through to him and he already has answers for everything... I told him I spoke to his mum for over an hour today and he was like 'About what?' I was thinking 'your shitty behaviour what else?' But I refused to be drawn into any more discussion about this.

I actually went into the real estate agent today to have an enquire about 2-bed properties today. The agent asked who it was for. The look on her face when I said 'my husband' was priceless! Grin

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AnyFucker · 18/03/2013 20:12

angel, you sound great and although this must be so very painful, incredibly sorted and clear

it doesn't matter what he does now, you and the dc's will be fine

despite him

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badinage · 18/03/2013 20:25

Why are you finding properties for him? He should be doing this himself shouldn't he?

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 20:26

AnyFucker I know it sounds like I am doing really well but I have cried buckets today. To my MIL whom I feel desperately sorry for as she kept apologising to me but what for? She didn't do any of this. To 'D'H's best friend who is such a lovely family man and he said to me he spoke to DH on the weekend and he made me cry because he said he told him he needed to walk around his lovely house, see his lovely children playing and the wife who is cooking for him and whether he is prepared to give up all that for a 'spark' with a 'colleague'. I cried because everyone else can see his behaviour is nuts but he cannot.

I have a pounding headache now. But I will push on tomorrow. Those friends who I have told the news to have sent me messages of support and offered their help in any way they can and I told them I appreciate all their offers and I will take them up on it the first night I have to 'send' my precious DCs away. There are more friends whom I haven't told that I know will make similar offers. I am surrounded by a lot of love and support and I will get through this. It is so telling that when I asked DH whether he has any friends he can stay with in the meantime and he drew a blank.

I know this will not be easy. I know there will be many challenges ahead. We will go from a very financially comfortably family to one where our finances will be stretched by paying rent and mortgage on two homes. But as I told DH last night, this is the price you will pay for your freedom and you will see to it that your boys will not suffer for it.

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 20:29

bad I only popped into the local agent as I went to the supermarket. I couldn't give a monkey's if he ended up in a grotty shithole but I want his flat to be a second home to the DCs, and for that, I will 'help' when needed and I will get a say in his final choice for the DCs' sake. I can't control the father of my DC walking out on us but I don't want my DCs' lives to be any worse than it could be when we finally tell them what is happening...

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AnyFucker · 18/03/2013 20:34

angel, keep taking all the support and kindness you need x

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badinage · 18/03/2013 20:42

The point I'm making is that as a father, it's his responsibility to choose accommodation that's going to be suitable for the children and although I understand you wanting to vet it before the children go there, in reality he can live where ever he likes. Just as you can and he can have no control over the sort of property you live in.

Focusing on his living accommodation is I think a way of gaining back a bit of control in this situation and so I understand that. But part of being separated is that he must now stand on his own two feet and sort his own mess out, including where he lives. Diverting your attention to this might be stopping you dealing with your own grief and also your own denial about what's led up to this.

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 20:54

Thanks AnyFucker. I know I will need it in the coming weeks.

bad I take your point. I will go for hands-off approach now. Trust me, I had no intentions of doing the viewings etc but I do know what you are saying.

I called our counsellor today to cancel the appointment we had scheduled to night as I am all talked out and really drained emotionally. She was so lovely and said no problem about tonight and she made sure I had a friend with me as I spoke to her. She did mention letting the dust settle and consider going for some individual sessions with her. I might seriously consider it.

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badinage · 18/03/2013 21:05

It would be a very good idea to have some counselling on your own when the dust settles.

When something traumatic happens, there is a compelling need to understand it. This is true for all traumas. When victims are given a distorted version of events, or reasons that they can't understand, it holds the healing back. Look at Hillsborough. So talking things over with a professional who will listen and ask questions, without giving her take on it, will be useful. You might reach some different conclusions to the ones you have now - and be able to make more sense of recent events.

For now, focus on getting through the process of him moving out, talking to the children and getting as much support as you can.

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angel1976 · 18/03/2013 21:21

bad I agree. I'm a big fan of psychotherapy, having gone through it once in my late teens when I went on a self-destruct path. My lovely psychotherapist then helped pull me out of the depths of misery and help me understand so many of my 'issues'. I will definitely think about doing some sessions with the therapist as I think she is so lovely and she was trying to help but I cancelled tonight's session as I realised DH had not been listening at all and I think tonight's session would involve another exhausting rehashing of issues/problems that I cannot face right now. Thank you so much for your support. I appreciate you taking the time to post... Thanks

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