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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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DH has hidden some heavy stuff...AIBU to want to separate?

829 replies

mummymalta · 29/05/2016 22:53

3 weeks ago DH revealed some very personal things which I feel I should have known before we got married. To be honest, we are all entitled to secrets and personal experiences I suppose, but where do you draw the line?

DH and I have been together for 10 years and married for 7. He's my best friend, I feel like I knew and loved him so much. Affirming these things is very strange to me. We were solid.

A "friend" of DH from the country he used to live in came to a party of a mutual friend of ours. Lets call him Bob. I don't know Bob, DH has only mentioned him briefly and my friend knows him but not well. He came with my friends brother who he is sort of close to. DH didn't want to come to the party (long day) and didn't know Bob would be there. I kissed the kids and ran out the house desperate for freedom on a friday night went to the party.

Get to the party and was enjoying child free time when my friends brother came over to say hi with Bob. "Bob you haven't met DH's wife have you? it's been about 12 years right? "
Bob: "Holy shit - you know I barely remember those days"
He then made a slick comment about him and DH being on coke half the time. I really cant remember what he said verbatim but I sort of nervously laughed (was shocked and he was drunk) and excused myself.

Naturally went home and curiously prodded DH the next morning in bed who waffled about trying it a couple of times and said Bob was a royal prick with a big bouth. I was uneasy that he didn't tell me but nothing divorce worthy. I ask why he didn't tell me and prodded as you do (smelled a rat, wife spidey sense) and then he told me:

He had a coke habit when he went to live abroad in his early twenties right before I met him. He said it was just a bit of fun and just when it started getting a bit out of control he met a girl who he really loved. They had a real relationship and spent a year getting high. Only god knows how he kept his job, but of course drug addiction doesn't necessarily have a face. Anyway she had previously had a heroin addiction and they started doing heavier stuff. He freaked out and ended it. She stopped picking up her mobile and he went to check on her she's dead in flat. Huge drama with her family/ police / drug debt I wont get into it but its fucking insane. He comes home tells no one traumatised. We meet about a year and a half later.

I didnt sense one thing - he spoke of his couple of years abroad quite normally but rarely looking back. I thought nothing of it why would I?

I'm still in shock, not just from the incident, but of the fact that he didn't tell me. I was so shocked that I just said he needs to give me time to digest it. We haven't spoken about it since because I've just shut down. I don't know what's wrong with me - I feel nothing. It's like he's a stranger now. We had a very happy and passionate marriage. Such a great banter affection. Even the kids sense something is off. He keeps trying to talk about it but i don't even hear a word he's saying. I just keep on thinking who are you?

AIBU to want to separate for a bit? I have had no time to digest this?! He said lets send the kids to their nans for half term and deal with this so off they go tomorrow.

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 01/06/2016 00:34

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Baconyum · 01/06/2016 00:34

I think like pp's said there's a grieving process going on

When it's a sudden loss (in this case of the husband you THOUGHT you knew)

Denial can be one stage.

I believe in trusting your gut. Every time in my life (and I'm an old fart of 43) I've ignored my gut (friendships, jobs, partners) I've ended up regretting it.

ColaSpangles · 01/06/2016 00:35

Sorry but the nasty feeling in the pit of your stomach is your inner voice of truth. I ignored mine for years so I sympathise but there it is Sad

Baconyum · 01/06/2016 00:38

Also - maybe I'm wrong on this but, you getting tested for sti's, had HE been tested?

You have a child, the ramifications of him not having been tested but having unprotected sex with you and conceiving...that'd be last straw for me.

mathanxiety · 01/06/2016 01:44

The bottom line with this man is that he is insisting on living his life on his terms.

He hasn't ever submitted himself to the moral self examination that a 12 step programme would involve.
He walked away from his crimes.
He walked away from a relationship that was violent and exploitative.

He refuses to engage with your questions because he doesn't want to revisit that part of his life - to heck with your feelings here; his are all that matter.

He is dictating the terms of your relationship and he has since the beginning.
He did not give you the information you should have been given when he was asking you to commit to him and to have children with. He asked you to marry the man he presented to you, not the real man.

Baconyum · 01/06/2016 03:39

Math that's spot on!

Janecc · 01/06/2016 05:09

Math you are dead right. If op wants to stay with him it is her choice - one I'm not so sure I could take. bacony I'm your sort of age and this could well be a stage of the grieving process. I initially said stay to op if that's what she wants to do and if she's reconciled with the explanation - even though I didnt like it myself. Having read what citizensmith said, I'm feeling very sick about this. I have no experience of this type of lifestyle and didn't pick up on his comments as potentially psychopathic, more that he was being rather 'male' and compartmentalising as I understand some men can.

Baconyum · 01/06/2016 05:53

Yea, another reason not to make this a set in stone decision eh jane? She's probably still processing.

Janecc · 01/06/2016 06:00

Mmm indeed bacony I still am processing and I'm a stranger on the Internet. 3 weeks is a short period. I think it's too short a time frame to make any long term commitment - and I personally would want answers. Tbh I would want proper therapy to talk this one through with an experienced professional.

mummymalta · 01/06/2016 06:49

Windsofwinter You're a nasty one aren't you? Why stay on the tread to just be smug? That's worst than trolling to be honest.

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 01/06/2016 06:54

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mummymalta · 01/06/2016 06:58

Windsofwinter and how very sad that we shake our heads in disgust when we hear about kids being bullied online - but here I am being honest and you're joking about me jumping through a fucking window?
On a serious note - Why are you even still here?
Who sticks around for this long on a supposed fake post?
.

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 01/06/2016 07:01

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mummymalta · 01/06/2016 07:03

Windsofwinter It's a bloody 738 message long thread. Come off it. Again. how strange to stick around if I'm a troll. How very strange indeed.
I've answered everything I bloody know but DH has shut down!!!!!!!!!!! It's all up to him. Shall I hold a knife to his throat for the pleasure of smug strangers on mumsnet. And I agree. Why are you so smug when I'm just being honest and doing the best I can with what I know?
Convenient? - Well of course it's convenient, everything is convenient to a troll hunter.

OP posts:
IrisPrima · 01/06/2016 07:07

OP some people just live to be twats on the Internet. It gives them a break from their own unfulfilling lives. The only thing you can do is remove yourself as unfortunately giving them the oxygen of a reaction just gives them the thrill they are desperate for.

I don't think there's anything else to be gained from this thread now.

mummymalta · 01/06/2016 07:07

Windsofwinter This thread isn't funny it's sad and very haunting. Women have shared experiences of past drug use, violent behaviour, rape and abuse . Citizen was especially candid and stuck a nerve. Again - You're a nasty one. But every time I come across people like yourself it makes me easier to understand how children can grow up to be so nasty and callous towards others. You think you are just witty and harmless - But in fact you're just an eloquent bully TBH.

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 01/06/2016 07:11

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bakeoffcake · 01/06/2016 07:12

Math is 100% correct.

I'm all for giving someone a second chance but you say he wont talk to you about his revelations?

You have learnt some very disturbing things about your H and he isn't willing to answer your questions? Well fuck that for a game of soldiers. If he won't answer your questions there's no hope of you ever coming to terms with it because they'll always be questions running around your head.

He's showing his true colours again isn't he? He doesn't give a fuck about your feelings, he comes first.

Windsofwinter · 01/06/2016 07:14

Calling someone a bully for simply pointing out the inconsistencies in your story is, again, convenient Confused

notonyurjellybellynelly · 01/06/2016 07:15

Mummy the time to leave the thread was pages ago and by continually coming back you just give people more reason to reply to you and behave like Winter.

blinkowl · 01/06/2016 07:27

mummymalta i'm sorry you're having to deal with pathetic troll hunting from Windsofwinter. I have reported her.

She / he is obviously one of those people who is so convinced they couldn't possibly he wrong they have no idea of how they aecoerciebed by others. What shocking lack of self awareness

Yes of course it's bullying. It's dispicable. I have reported them.

blinkowl · 01/06/2016 07:28

Windsofwinter what is wrong with you? This is bullying, how can you not see that? I have reported you. Please leave the OP alone now

blinkowl · 01/06/2016 07:34

aecoerciebed?! Stupid phone! That should say are perceived.

Momamum · 01/06/2016 07:41

winter, at 7.11, pointed out all the points which I've been wanting answering, too. I don't see any bullying there, she's asking v. Legit questions. Thanks winter

IrisPrima · 01/06/2016 07:49

Winter you are way too invested in this thread. If you think it's a troll, why not just step away?