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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To end my marriage tomorrow

733 replies

Shedding123 · 17/02/2026 21:27

Apologies for the dear Deirdre style title. Sat in shock on couch and just need a quick unbiased metaphorical talking to here.
DH and I been struggling for a long time now, stress of 2 kids one with physical disability and one with mental health challenges. Anger has been simmering in him for a while, he’s made digs about putting the kids first, not meeting his needs (we no longer share a room as I’m in with our dd who is on oxygen overnight and I can’t sleep unless I’m next to her, this is one of many many many examples).
we’ve been bumbling along essentially as flatmates under the same roof and I guess I thought once things more stable with the kids things might improve. Anyway it all kicked off tonight and I’m utterly devastated. We are away for half term in a placr
dear to our hearts and he’s been so moody for the last few days. Tonight the kids were squabbling and I eventually
had enough trying to deal with it solo so went into the room he’s been in all evening reading and asked if he was planning on coming to help me at all. Passive aggressiveness never good, I know. He lost it, stormed through, swore at the kids, my daughter told him it’s not nice to swear and he just started ranting on about how she’s too much like me, rude, how dare I be so rude to him, how dare I blame everything on him, I asked him calmly to stop in front of the kids and said this needs to be an adult
conversation between us and he laughed and said no chance, it’s good for the kids to hear how manipulative I am. It was horrendous. Our daughter was crying, our son was just stuck begging it to stop. He then calmly put the kettle on and handed me a cup of tea and told me to be grateful and is now reading in the other room again. I have no idea how a divorce would work, he is 68 so has said in spiteful moments he will retire if I leave him so he won’t pay anything, I earn low as am a carer for our daughter, I literally cannot imagine how we could run 2 houses. But there is no coming back from tonight is there? I know he will blame it all on me to the children but this feels so abusive towards them too having had to sit through that😭

OP posts:
Theonlywayicanloveyou · 17/02/2026 21:36

End your marriage when you get back home. There is no coming back from an argument like that in front of the kids unless you’re both 100 per cent committed to each other and regret it. It sounds like you’re understandably done with him, and he sounds like he has no understanding or acceptance of how damaging it was for him to expose the kids to his anger in that way

Shedding123 · 17/02/2026 21:35

I am literally stuck with shock on the sofa. I asked him calmly to please not do this in front of them and just got more and more angry. Not physically but shouting at me and our daughter.

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MedievalNun · 17/02/2026 21:35

I’m so sorry but it does sound like it’s the end.

As 1st person said, try to get through the next couple of days, then once you’re home, start getting things together. You need to make sure you know all the financial details, accounts, pensions etc. Also, he’s wrong about not paying because he’s on a pension, he will still have to pay you, it just may be lower. Oh, and you would get time off, assuming he actually stepped up and has hus contact time.

Big hugs.

pteromum · 17/02/2026 21:34

how old are the children. Leave tomorrow. Regardless.

itsobviousright · 17/02/2026 21:33

Get legal advice. You have claim to his pension, your house and many other things. Dont let him scare you off

KatyaKat · 17/02/2026 21:33

I'm so sorry, that sounds awful, and he sounds like an absolute prick.

Surely his pension would also be yours? I have no idea how it all works though, but would encourage you to get legal advice ASAP.

Hope you're ok, you will absolutely be better off without him.

Arlanymor · 17/02/2026 21:32

He sounds horrendous. While you are on holiday I think you need to keep the peace for the children, but it definitely sounds like a 'ducks in a row' situation once you are back home and have more space to think through how it might work. But for tonight, here's a virtual hug, to tell you that you are not alone.

Shedding123 · 17/02/2026 21:29

Sorry that probably makes no sense. I’m so upset but trying to hold it together for the kids.

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