Am I a total fool?

[HenryHugglemonster]

I have known my husband for 8 years and been married for 3 years. He hasn't got a squeaky clean history with the law and has a couple of money related convictions. I knew this before we were married.

The year before we got married he was in court for a money related offence and was given community service. My parents were very angry with him as he was very secretive and they only found out once he had been to court. He sat down with them afterwards and explained everything and said that there was nothing else to tell.

3 months ago he was in court again and was actually sentenced for fraud. This came as a huge shock to everyone as again he kept it all to himself. He left me, my family and his to pick up the pieces. I was 7 months pregnant at the time. He has his own business which we then had to try and keep going which was particularly difficult as the staff we had walked out and left me to it.

Thanks to my family we have managed to keep going and my mum has been amazing. She was there when I had my baby and has been a real rock. Although she can't stand my husband now (not that she was keen on him in the first place) has never said outright that she wants me to leave him.

He is due out shortly which leaves me with having to make some big decisions. Of course he is trotting out the usual lines like, "this has changed me so much", "I didn't tell you what I was doing/going through (struggling to pay bills) as I wanted to protect you" etc etc.
He seems to forget though in an adult relationship you discuss theses problem and see what you can do together to fix it not go and defraud a heap of money.

He would make big decisions without me, one example spending £5000 on a car which we didn't really need. If I make a list of all the things he has lied to me about it far outweighs the list of good.

Now the hard part. I kind of understand the weird twisted way of saying he did it to keep everything afloat and not to worry me. I don't work so I'm not bringing in a wage. I am lucky in that my parents have supported my hobby which was hopefully going to be my business but it never really took off. We have a lovely house but a massive mortgage, again his own fault for not ever saying we can't afford it. This is where it started with struggling to pay it so rather than admit it he went down the wrong route.

He does most of the housework and we share the cooking, he helps on the weekends with my hobby when he can and he is a good dad. He would do anything for me or my kids.

I just don't know if he will actually have changed after this. My family hates him and would like me to leave him and not have anymore to do with him. I feel sad for my children, although if I didn't have kids the decision would be much easier.

I hope this isn't too vague but anyone who knows me will instantly recognise this and I don't fancy more 'gossip' going around where we live. There already has been far too much.

So am I a fool to continue or should I be brave and call it quits?

[IAmNotAMindReader]

Sorry but if he's that shit with money he has gone so far as to break the law on more than one occasion and get caught more than once would be a deal breaker with me.

At best you'd be looking at a lifetime of being up to your eyeballs in debt due to his poor financial decisions and secretiveness, at worst he could implicate you in something illegal (signing you up to something without your knowledge, not divulging the full facts) putting your own liberty at risk.

He's been to court more than once and it still didn't put him off, he seems to think he can beat the system. Even if he does you will spend your lives looking over your shoulders wondering when that bubble will burst.

[SomethingOnce]

Since he seems to have a problem with being honest and straightforward, both in business and personally, I'd call it quits, sorry.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I agree with all of the above. How would you ever trust him? Every envelope coming through the letter-box, every text message, every time he seemed to have a few quid more than normal.... you'd be on pins waiting for the police knocking on the door. On a practical level, you'd never get credit and he'll always find it difficult to get work where any money is involved. But, just from the way you're phrasing the question, (the reference to 'not squeaky clean' is a very kind way to describe a convicted criminal) I don't think you'll kick him to the kerb. He's a lucky man... but keep your eyes wide open.

[Dirtymistress]

You haven't said whether or not you love him? And whether you want to live without him?

[IslaValargeone]

I'd be calling it quits too I'm afraid.
The fact he is has spent so much time lying to you in the past and then leaving you to pick up the pieces of a business on the edge of going under would be the nail in the coffin for me.
How would ever really know what he might be getting you into.
This was not a one off error of judgement, he is fundamentally dishonest.
You know in your gut what decision you should be making.
Best of luck.

[lovemenot]

I agree with the others above. He has said he has "changed" but has he any idea what you have been through while he's been locked up? Has he asked?

[HenryHugglemonster]

Thank you for all your replies. I know what I should do but it is such a scary leap to take. He talks a good talk, says the right things to win you round.

I would have to sell my lovely house and move in with my parents. They would be more than happy. I would then need to study to gain some qualifications so when my kids start school/nursery I can go out and work. This is not a problem and would be a good thing.

I don't know if I love him or not. I feel so teary and have been keeping it together for so long, I'm just so tired of it all. Its even worse as when he is out he will be back at the house and it is too easy to fall into a routine, although as my mum says when I see him I may feel totally different.

I also worry how it would be for my kids to have parents that aren't together and only see their dad every second weekend or something. Also am I going to end up alone forever?

God I sound so pathetic and weak. How have I messed up so badly?

[cozietoesie]

If you leave, you'll be your own woman again, though. No worrying about letters arriving unexpectedly, no dreading every knock on the door - not dog tired anymore. I think you've done more than enough for him. Now it's time for you and your kids.

Oh - and the very last thing you've been is weak.

[Lweji]

Do you know anything about the family finances to this day?

One more reason to separate. His debts will be his, not yours, and by extension not the kids'.

Sorry.

[SomethingOnce]

He messed up, not you.

He talks a good talk, says the right things to win you round.

I'm sure the same is true of habitually dishonest people. It's a form of dishonesty in and of itself, as well as being a means to other ends.

Your children will be fine if their parents are no longer together.

[HenryHugglemonster]

You are all right. He has been dishonest for so long and deceitful. Can someone really change that much? If I were an outsider looking in I would say run for the hills!

I have been in charge of all the money since he was sentenced and haven't found anything yet and have also searched through all the paperwork, but you do think is there still something to come to light.

If you met him and didn't know you would say he is such a nice genuine guy. He would have been a brilliant actor.

[cozietoesie]

It's probably not a change - just that when you first started the relationship, he didn't see what he thought (wrongly) was the right opportunity - or telling the truth was easier. Many liars are just lazy people: they'll lie or be truthful according to what is most convenient at the time.

And there may not be anything else in the woodwork for you to find - from the past that is. But you certainly don't need to live with someone you could never trust in the future.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

If he carries on in the same vein it's going to be much more difficult to explain to your kids why they visit Dad every other weekend in a prison rather than a home. People can and do change all the time, but it takes years of genuine commitment. His behavioural habit is so entrenched that not even the prospect of time behind bars was enough to dissuade him. The minute he gets a little short of cash, he'll be tempted to bend the rules again.

I'm sure he is a nice, genuine guy. My next-door neighbour is a criminal lawyer and he tells me murderers are also very nice, genuine people.

[Jux]

Cut your losses. Sell the house, stop fannying about with a hobby which is costing everyone except you money, take responsibility for your own finances. Harsh I know, but.

[nightcircus]

Call it quits

Been there (without kids though). He won't change. He'll make you more anxious/miserable.

Sure mine had a psychopathic personality....likely as my thoughts confirmed by 2 mental health prof and a psychologist. Lots of parralels even in terms of phrasing.
Eg last ever text said 'I never told you lots to protect you....'

His not telling you stuff isn't to protect you but because he doesn't feel the need/isn't able to include you.

Don't worry how it looks. Rely on your family and move on. You'll need to be able to plan for your kids futures. What if he spends Uni money on a car?
Xx

[nightcircus]

God just re-reading what you've written- please please end this. It's like reading about my own life. No good will come of staying with him.

[HenryHugglemonster]

Jux, my hobby has never cost my husband money, my family happily funds it as they are involved too. It must be easy when everything in your life is so clear cut.

[HenryHugglemonster]

Thanks nightcircus. It is nice to see someone posting who has been through similar. If you don't mind me asking did your ex go as far as to getting a sentence? Or were you smart enough to dump him before that?

[kalidanger]

How much porridge has he done? You been without him that long so you must be part way set up on your own. Are you and the DC happy and relaxed and managing? Plus your DM must also be relaxed about her DD Surely it's better to stay in this status quo rather than be on tenterhooks waiting for the next policeman in a bad suit to knock on the door?

[nightcircus]

Court case and community service/fine/suspended sentence with me (only found out list of previous crimes in court)
Prison sentence with next girlfriend (a Dr). Eventually you do have to do time if you prove incapable of learning from your mistakes.

Don't feel silly for 'falling for' this type if character.
I was told family courts are full of them. (Didn't have kids with my ex though)
When you do end though I'd seek advice first and do it all properly.... Lots on here can advise on that though.

Feel free to pm me any time.

Struggling to type at mo as baby (with norovirus) asleep on me!

[nightcircus]

Haha my mum had just rung for a Chinese takeaway once when a police van rolled up to take him away for not attending court- awkward!!

[HenryHugglemonster]

Kalidanger, he has been away for about 3 months. We have our little routine now, and funnily enough before if I was in the house myself I would be a bit anxious till he was back, but now I feel totally relaxed by myself. Amateur phycologists, what does that mean?

[cozietoesie]

From my own experience, you were anxious because he was going to come back and for the last few months you've known he couldn't - at least on a day to day basis. How, in the past, did you feel when you heard his key in the door?

[kalidanger]

I am merely an Ikea sofa psychologist but it seems clear as day what that's about - when he's not there things aren't always on the brink of going wrong, whether you were consciously aware that he was up to no good all the time.

This is a perfect opportunity to break the cycle. I'd take it.