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Read partners phone... its bad

129 replies

Honeymonster2 · 21/01/2024 12:06

I've gone through my partners phone (together 9 years, 4 kids) because I suspected he'd taken drugs on Friday night, just in the living room while me and the kids were in bed... turns out yes he had done that and also messaged a prostitute at 5.30am to see about meeting her and then he's backed out saying delete my number.

What am I supposed to do now? I know I shouldn't have done it. I feel numb.

OP posts:
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tuscanvines · 21/01/2024 19:28

And yet you still had 4 children with him. I despair.

Runnerinthenight · 21/01/2024 19:22

Honeymonster2 · 21/01/2024 12:39

Even aside from the money, stuff has happened in the past and I've asked on forums what to do (I don't have any friends in real life) and it always ends in 'leave him' but this feels worse somehow. Does the fact he backed out redeem the situation?

Answering other questions, we're 35 and 33 and all kids are his. We've been together 9 years but he was my first real relationship. We're not married.

No, nothing can "redeem the situation"!!

How can you possibly want to rear your children with this waster?

How are you financially reliant on him when he's chucking his money away on drink, drugs, gambling and whores!?

LifeExperience · 21/01/2024 19:13

There is no magic wand, OP. Unless you're willing for this to be your one and only life, forever, you need to find it in yourself to kick him out. He won't change, and backing out of meeting his whore doesn't absolve him of anything. He lies, he cheats, he drinks, he does drugs and he gambles. He won't change.The only person you can change is you.

Combattingthemoaners · 21/01/2024 19:01

RampantIvy · 21/01/2024 16:01

I wish girls could be educated about this kind of thing at school. There are depressingly too many similar threads like this on mumsnet.

I have no useful advice @Honeymonster2. I hope you can find a way out of this dreadful situation Flowers

They are. Controlling behaviour and healthy relationships form part of our PSHE programme. Unfortunately many of them see unhealthy relationships at home or online for an hour a week every now and then to have an impact. Schools cannot fix all of societies complex issues unfortunately.

Lwrenagain · 21/01/2024 19:00

@Honeymonster2 I'm sure that I recognise your username because something really quite bad has happened prior? Sorry if I got it wrong x

How are you doing anyway? This man is a wrongun. You need rid.

tachetastic · 21/01/2024 18:49

Honeymonster2 · 21/01/2024 12:06

I've gone through my partners phone (together 9 years, 4 kids) because I suspected he'd taken drugs on Friday night, just in the living room while me and the kids were in bed... turns out yes he had done that and also messaged a prostitute at 5.30am to see about meeting her and then he's backed out saying delete my number.

What am I supposed to do now? I know I shouldn't have done it. I feel numb.

Hi OP.

Sorry for the silly questions, but exactly what is it that you are upset about? And sorry if I am repeating others. I have read your posts but not the whole thread.

You say you suspected he was taking drugs. Why? Did you know he was a drug taker? Did you take drugs with him? If you knew, are you upset that he is taking them now? Did you think he had stopped? Or is it because it was in the house that he did it, while the kids were there?

Do you know if he has used prostitutes before? I am not defending him for contacting one, but he did pull out (no pun intended) before meeting her and told her to delete his number, which may mean that he doesn't want to contact her again.

I am not defending him at all and I am with other people that say you need to manage exiting this relationship, but it would be interesting to know the extent to which these actions were always part of the life of the man you call your partner and have had children with, or whether this is entirely new behaviour.

CrashyTime · 21/01/2024 18:40

DustyLee123 · 21/01/2024 12:14

Not a keeper then!

No, and not someone to financially rely on much longer, OP can you find a way to make your own income?

NotMyFirstChoiceofName · 21/01/2024 18:28

Jf20 · 21/01/2024 12:19

Evidence. ? It’s not a criminal trial you can leave someone any time you wish, and she knows. She does not need to keep evidence.

Clearly you’ve not been in a similar situation. Addicts are expert liars, bullshitters and gas lighters. If she doesn’t keep proof he will persuade her she imagined it / she’s mentally ill etc

WagWoofWalkMeeoow · 21/01/2024 18:18

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 21/01/2024 12:22

Alcoholic
Drug User
Gambler
Cheat
Prostitute User

1 of these alone would be enough for me to leave. Conscious of the fact you have 4 young kids and are reliant on him financially but this cannot be a good example fir your kids.

Check the CMS calculator, child benefit, universal credit etc. Talk to a solicitor etc. Find out what you would be entitled to and find a way to make it work without him.

@ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees

exactly that.

@Honeymonster2

im sorry he's turned into such a complete waste of oxygen, it's hard. It's understandable whether you still love him or don't. It can go either way. But you cannot stay with him & watch him destroys your kids lives.

yes, you'll need to find a way back into employment BUT for now you just need to get you & your kids away from all of this.

women's aid is probably the best place to start, I assume they'll have someone to help you work out what you're entitled to claim & how to go about it.

Angrywife · 21/01/2024 18:11

Honeymonster2 · 21/01/2024 12:39

Even aside from the money, stuff has happened in the past and I've asked on forums what to do (I don't have any friends in real life) and it always ends in 'leave him' but this feels worse somehow. Does the fact he backed out redeem the situation?

Answering other questions, we're 35 and 33 and all kids are his. We've been together 9 years but he was my first real relationship. We're not married.

He had her number, chances are it's not the first time he's contacted her.

Does that help you see it any clearer?

Everything you accept from him, you are teaching you children is acceptable as an adult and a parent. Do you want one or more of them growing up like him?

Fitandfree · 21/01/2024 18:05

In terms of safeguarding your children, ringing prostitutes is your least concern OP. Allowing them to live with a drug using, alcoholic, gambler is neglectful /emotionally abusive. I doubt he only gambles a bit. You cannot remain financially dependant on someone with so many addictive habits. Life will come tumbling down for your children, sooner rather than later. Take charge of their destiny. There are lots of people on here who can advise you OP.

Pumpkinpie1 · 21/01/2024 18:04

OP you’ve been with your partner for 9 years and have 4 children with him. That’s a lot of history and a lot of people affected by your decisions.
Do you jointly own your own home or do you rent it together. You say you are financially dependent on this man and this is obviously affecting you.
It would be sensible to start being more financially independent. He is making bad decisions, choices that are impacting you and your children. Look into your legal rights especially as you are not married. Could he make you homeless if he’s the only one on the mortgage?

I don’t know what you will decide to do but regardless please protect yourself physically and financially

DeeLusional · 21/01/2024 17:54

Honeymonster2 · 21/01/2024 12:39

Even aside from the money, stuff has happened in the past and I've asked on forums what to do (I don't have any friends in real life) and it always ends in 'leave him' but this feels worse somehow. Does the fact he backed out redeem the situation?

Answering other questions, we're 35 and 33 and all kids are his. We've been together 9 years but he was my first real relationship. We're not married.

The alcoholic drug-using compulsive gambler backed out of using a prostitute. Big Wow. You do know as bad as it is now, it can only get worse?

ManateeFair · 21/01/2024 17:51

We've been together 9 years but he was my first real relationship

It sounds like you have no real idea what a healthy relationship looks like. Please leave him. He’s a cunt.

Andthereyougo · 21/01/2024 17:45

Honeymonster2 · 21/01/2024 12:13

Yes it was, he's already an alcoholic, although he doesn't think he is and gambles a bit as well...

I’d financially disentangle yourself from him asap. This can only go downhill unless he gets serious help immediately. If he won’t engage you could well end up homeless. My alcoholic ex husband burnt through so much money and almost bankrupted me.

alwaysmovingforwards · 21/01/2024 17:23

Honeymonster2 · 21/01/2024 12:13

Yes it was, he's already an alcoholic, although he doesn't think he is and gambles a bit as well...

Sounds classy.
Sorry OP but who picks this for themselves when deciding to start a family.

MotherofChaosandDestruction · 21/01/2024 17:18

Jf20 · 21/01/2024 12:22

Well ok, assuming she doesn’t know her own mind and will struggle with that.

I kept the evidence for the exact reason a pp said around gaslighting and went back to it several times when I was feeling weak about getting back with him!

BestBadger · 21/01/2024 17:03

The prostitute thing suggests a worrying attitude to women in general & to you in particular.

If you were my daughter, and all I knew about him was from this post, I'd be doing all I could to help you get away from him.

I've tried almost every drug, none have ever made me ring a prostitute, so don't accept that as an excuse for his behaviour.

Galatine · 21/01/2024 17:00

Jf20 · 21/01/2024 12:19

Evidence. ? It’s not a criminal trial you can leave someone any time you wish, and she knows. She does not need to keep evidence.

Perfectly true but it will guard against him trying to gaslight her.

moomoomoo27 · 21/01/2024 17:00

DustyD2 · 21/01/2024 16:49

The worst part of this is the coke in the house. Your eldest can only be 8 or 9, so any one of your little kids could accidentally find / take some. Then what?

This. You need to protect your kids.

DustyD2 · 21/01/2024 16:49

The worst part of this is the coke in the house. Your eldest can only be 8 or 9, so any one of your little kids could accidentally find / take some. Then what?

MinnieCauldwell · 21/01/2024 16:19

RampantIvy · 21/01/2024 16:01

I wish girls could be educated about this kind of thing at school. There are depressingly too many similar threads like this on mumsnet.

I have no useful advice @Honeymonster2. I hope you can find a way out of this dreadful situation Flowers

Agree with above, girls should be made to read Mumsnet posts daily, particularly the Relationship and Step Parenting boards. I am so depressed by these ensless threads of women stuck with deadbeat men.

I wish you the best Op and hope there is a way out for you and the children.

VariantHela · 21/01/2024 16:18

So he's an alcoholic, gambles, does drugs, messages prostitutes and has 4 children (does he provide for them?)

OP you need to run, not walk away.

moonbeammagic · 21/01/2024 16:09

You say he has done other things and the advice from forums has always been to leave him. I think you know what you need to do - posting different threads every time and then ignoring the advice/your gut feelings, isn't going to achieve anything. Sorry to sound harsh, I know it's easier said than done, but only you can decide if this is the life that you want.

RampantIvy · 21/01/2024 16:01

I wish girls could be educated about this kind of thing at school. There are depressingly too many similar threads like this on mumsnet.

I have no useful advice @Honeymonster2. I hope you can find a way out of this dreadful situation Flowers