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How do you mentally detach from your partner?

6 replies

faithfulbird20 · 19/12/2021 15:32

I'm just taking gradual steps. Just want to detach from him. I'm fed up of him. What's the easier way to not care? Asking people to be gentle. I've got kids and they come first.

OP posts:
PositivelyFooked · 19/12/2021 15:37

You just need to start planning your way out, once you start planning where you’ll live without him, how you’ll raise the kids day to day when he hasn’t got them, how you’ll afford to buy/rent/pay bills/put food on the table/budget for unexpected things, when you start imagine your future without him and getting your ducks in a row your feelings will change, you’ll start preparing mentally to be without him once you’ve actually got a plan to do so.

faithfulbird20 · 19/12/2021 15:58

I get you. My youngest is 9 months so it might be a few years before I get back up and my feet. Praying God gave me strength to leave this man without it affecting my kids and their mental health.

OP posts:
PositivelyFooked · 20/12/2021 03:51

My mum left my dad when I was about 10, my sister was about 3. Non of us were affected negatively. My dad did become very bitter towards our mum but we managed, and as we grew we were able to tell him we didn’t like the way he spoke about her and that if it carried on we wouldn’t visit as it makes for an uncomfortable time.. to sit around the dinner table and have our mum called every name under the sun. He stopped talking shite, we contained to visit, he’s re-married and much less bitter, they don’t even come into contact with each other, there no events that they’ll go to together; other than my brothers and my wedding - but we’re still close with them both and all get on great. No negative impact. My mum was better for leaving too, much happier once it was done, took a while to get back on our feet and re-adjust but no, nothing negative came from it.

Good luck, wishing you a speedy leave and re-adjust! Flowers

NotTheGrinchAgain · 20/12/2021 06:55

Treat him like a professional colleague, a peer in your team. You can’t allow yourself to flare up when he acts badly, but you can firmly and clearly stand up for yourself and ask him not I speak to you that way. With a colleague you would set expectations for who does what work, plan your time, work out what his strengths are and play to those. Make sure each of you get equal Time off for hobbies, exercise etc.

Also make sure finances feel fair, and get yourself into well paid full time work ASAP. Your baby is big enough for full time day care unless there are special needs involved. You may not add a lot to household income after you and DH share the childcare costs, but it is essential you are in the habit of working - good for you to be able to show you can manage a job alongside family, good for your MH, good for your kids to be used to you being the last to be collected from nursery/after school club! Assuming your goal long term is 50:50 shared custody, you won’t get as much financial support so you need to be independent.

For his sake, get him involved in all aspects of childcare including things like setting up birthday parties, buying gifts, arranging play dates, choosing (and paying for) childcare providers and extra curricular activities, selecting clothes and shoes, organising haircuts and dental appointments. You are much more likely to end up with 50:50 access to your kids if he is involved now, and it is great for the kids if they can have a very involved father, not one who disappears when they are young.

RampantIvy · 20/12/2021 07:07

Praying God gave me strength to leave this man without it affecting my kids and their mental health

Would staying with him affect their mental health more?

GoodnightGrandma · 20/12/2021 07:09

I agree to getting your ducks in a row. I spoke to a solicitor 18 months ago and it’s surprising how confident it made me feel.
Living day to day I now now just let things go, things that I would have got angry about before, because I know ill be gone one day. But he doesn’t know that.

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