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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

ExH living a long way away.....

9 replies

Greatfulhead · 25/10/2013 19:59

I may be unreasonable, in fact I am pretty sure I AM being unreasonable but........

ExH lives 180miles away....in a county we moved to as he found work there. We lived there for 10 years until 2008 when I had a massive breakdown Sad. There were lots of reasons for my breakdown and among them was the discovery that my husband had an addiction to telephone chat lines. With a history of sexual abuse as a child I found this very hard to cope with. in addition it was becoming increasingly apparent that our only child had difficulties which was later found to be autism.

I couldn't cope with it all, exH was ot that supportive and I moved back to the county I live in now.....which is where exH grew up too. All my family are here and I needed them. ExH refused point blank to move back and in the five years I have been back his own parents have moved away although they continue to own property here.

Fast forward to now.....exH is now self employed and works all over the country, he could literally live anywhere and do his job.

Our child is now 10 and although he is lovely is very challenging at times. ExH stays with us when he works in this area and as he and I have always remained on friendly terms. He is good with DS but can be impatient with him. His idea of a trip out is to go into town and to Pizza Hut...he rarely does anything else.

ExH job pays just about enough for him to tick over and he can afford to privately rent etc in the County he is in....he has always said he cannot afford to move here.

Now we come to the issue.....

Next year exH will come into a significant amount of money.....just over £300k. Enough to buy a house or even two where he lives....but my issue is that he has no relatives in that county...a few friends but that's it.

I wanted to encourage him to come back to this county where he could afford to buy a good property AND be nearby for the child he professes to love and miss. I will be honest and say that the support from him in practical ways would be helpful too. ....collecting from school, helping with all the SEN stuff at school, spending 1-1 time with his child etc.
He will not even consider it.....he hates this country and nothing will make him come back so he says. I pointed out he had his child to come here for and he more or less accused me of emotional blackmail.Hmm

AIBU to be pissed off? I suspect I am as after all, I left the marriage for the reasons above....he didn't choose for me and DS to come here.

I just feel that he needs to put his money where his mouth is and show some practical support.....he doesn't appear to want to.

Okay......I am braced for YABU.....I suspect I am too but I could do with some outside thoughts.

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 25/10/2013 20:07

What a really difficult situation Sad

I suspect neither of you is being unreasonable. You could definitely do with the support but you all (originally) chose to emigrate and now he doesn't want to return.

Has he ever offered to have ds go and stay with him for a holiday? Would he (if ds would cope with this)? It's hard to see if this is a case of avoiding parental responsibilities or a genuine incompatibility in living choices.

NotYoMomma · 25/10/2013 20:13

but you moved there

I know it must be hard but you cant force him to leave where he lives by using your child as bait

gordyslovesheep · 25/10/2013 20:18

I am sorry but YABU - you chose to move yourself and his/your child away - to a country he hates and which he no longer has ties with - you have to accept that part of that choice is not having him around to do the practical stuff

Luckypaws · 25/10/2013 20:31

Is it a different country or a different county (as in England)

Finola1step · 25/10/2013 20:36

I'm not sure why you and your exH are still so involved with each other. Yes you have a child together and I understand that you would like them to spend more time. But it does sound like that you are more seperated than actually divirced. Is that the case? Step back, you are too involved.

quoteunquote · 25/10/2013 21:03

Suggest to him to use some money to have an extended adventure (something that interests them both) holiday together, get some real bonding time together, even if he doesn't want to move here, they can make most of time together.

As your son gets older, it will be easier for them to spend extended time together, so travel distance will be less of an issue.

Annonynon · 25/10/2013 21:15

I can see where you're coming from and why you feel this way but I'm afraid I do think you're being very unreasonable. You moved away,you made the choice that support from your family was more important so I don't think you can now blame him for not being closer and being more practical support

Wanting him to move is not U, being pissed off at him for a situation you created is very U

I hope you can work out a compromise that suits you all though

Greatfulhead · 25/10/2013 21:17

Thank you all, yes sorry I was unclear, it is different counties as in Essex and Devon.

We have never divorced and we still get on very well hence I can cope with him staying here when he works in the area.

The extended trip thing sounds a fabulous idea actually and I will suggest it as I think exH would enjoy that too.

OP posts:
Greatfulhead · 25/10/2013 21:19

Yes, thank you .... I knew I was being unreasonable Blush so confused about it all though.

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