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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dh leaving us . Help me see wood for trees please

134 replies

Simplydelishus · 18/09/2019 12:22

Please help.my husband is leaving us . He is fed up of being nagged and irritated and criticised for years by me. I admit that is exactly what I did . I feel so
Guilty. My husband despiteboth of us working full time never did a tap around the house.his time out of work was his and he didnt contribute to child rearing or any admin . I finish work two to three hours earlier than him so I did it all. His time woth the kids was negative and horrible. He would come home and criticise them generally . He got cursed Nd shouty and aggressive if they didn’t do what they were told straight away. I always intervened as I couldn’t hear the way he spoke to them . He was kind when we were sick and generous at Christmas time and birthdays. He didn’t used engage or play with kids but liked to play on his phone or
Sleep . Kids describe his asmoody cranky and angry . He didn’t like me to make any financial decisions about furniture or clothes etc. I often found that I lied
About purchases and downplayed prices .
I did everything I could
To encourage him to engage with us so this was me
Bagging criticising and undermining him. Now though I feel guilty .. AUBU

OP posts:
DonnaDarko · 18/09/2019 14:38

Reading your OP, I couldn't understand why you were even with him. Be thankful he's leaving, your kids will be fine and will thrive without him.

PeoplesPoet · 18/09/2019 14:44

@ElenorLavis everything she said! Cannot put it better.

Mine did the same to me and our 2 boys, and it took me a year to scrape myself off the floor and put myself back together. But I'm getting there.... and now I'm getting excited about new things, new posibilities! No one standing in my way, no arguments. All my own rules. It's bloody brilliant - come join me!! Good luck xx

caringcarer · 18/09/2019 14:45

He sounds like a grown up kid. You may not realise it now but in a years time, after all of the shit, which is still ahead of you is worked out, you will be through the other side and when you compare your life you and your children will be so much happier. The thing is to make sure you pick someone who will make you feel special and that you do not ever need to nag because they do things for you the children and around the house without you nagging. That person is out there for you. Make sure you get as much support as you can whilst you go through the split but NEVER ever feel guilty because you have done nothing wrong except pick the wrong person for you.

CatonNZ · 18/09/2019 14:47

Hi Simply,
I get why you feel guilty - but you have admitted your part in the 'nagging' etc - It sounds like you were in a horrible situation with someone who was not engaged in their part as part of a family. That sucks. He also sounds like he has no awareness of the impact of his disengaged behaviour and seeks to blame someone (namely YOU) rather than owning his behaviour and contribution to a really bad situation/relationship and hurting his entire family. Your kids have been through the mill - you are all hurt and need healing. IT's good he is leaving - my recommendation is get some help/therapy and get some for the kids. Best of luck in your new life! I am sure you will learn from your mistakes and carry on! BE happy!!

purpleboy · 18/09/2019 15:01

This honestly is the best thing for you and your children.
He brings nothing to the table apart from stress and anxiety. Your children will be better off without him, you will be better off without him.
This is the start of a new life for you all. Don't let him talk you around, stay strong. Could you possibly rent for 6 months before moving into the other house, I think the sooner you leave the better for everyone.

Passthewinethanks · 18/09/2019 15:07

My ex left me.at the time I literally wanted to die. Now I would shake the hand of the poor women he abandoned us for Grin

Magicmama92 · 18/09/2019 15:14

I wouldnt wait until January. And I would be truthful with the kids. It's ok to say sometimes people dont work together its healthy to show the kids this that it's ok to split rather than be unhappy. I think you and your kids will be much better off he sounds awful and no it's not all on you he wants to leave becouse he cant be bothered to step up. He will realise once hes alone and your not there to do things what he had.

TimeForNewStart · 18/09/2019 15:16

Please don’t lie to your kids, they know somethings up, and this uncertainties will be contributing to their anxiety.

Myriade · 18/09/2019 15:19

There is nothing wrong with you. Please dont feel guilty (as said by everyine before me Grin)

There is also nothing wrong with moving to where you want to live, YOUR house. And no he doesnt get to say if its ok for you to redecorate or how to it.

I would however REALLY ADVISE TO GO AND SEE A SOLLICITOR
Im sory about the shouting but he clearky has had you walking on eggshell for years and you taking control of the situation (by deciding where you will live etc...) isnt going down well. He was clearly expeting you to try and bend over backwards to please him (and stop nagging him Hmm). That also means I would expect him to be a pain in the arse when it comes to divorce and you really need support there.
Please follow all the usual advice (have a look at the relationship thread for that too) about having a copy of bank statements etc. If you agree on anything such as him taking the dcs EOW or him paying some maintenance, have it writting in some ays, even if its just a text so he cant go back to his word.
I suspect the next few months will be hard :(

Myriade · 18/09/2019 15:21

And YY about telling the truth to your dcs. And be the first one to do so too because I wouldnt be surprised if he is telling them a totally different story.
Children need to know whats going on and they deserve the truth too, esp at that age.

And remember that your dcs are likely to be anxious BECAUSE of the way your dh is acting. Which means they will settle down and feel better once you have left.

KUGA · 18/09/2019 15:21

When is the party ?.
You are best rid of a pig like that as are your beloved children .
It`s early days and you need to re-adjust to being without a shit about the house.
He is a complete twat.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Cherrysoup · 18/09/2019 15:33

It isn't your fault you're separating, it's his. He's done zero child rearing and nothing in the house yet moans about you nagging?? For real?? He's an idiot, life will be easier without him.

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/09/2019 15:44

Your better off without him, he sounds awful!.

AcrossthePond55 · 18/09/2019 15:46

It's time to build that very tall, very thick emotional brick wall between you. What he says is no longer relevant to you, ignore him. Ignore his guilting, ignore his gaslighting. Ignore, ignore, ignore. Refuse to be drawn into discussions about the past. When he starts, shrug and walk away. Whose fault it is no longer matters (for the record, it's his). All that matters is the future and 'the future's so bright you gotta wear shades'.

Remember JADE. Never Justify, Apologize, Defend, or Explain. Your reasons are your own and they are valid to you.

I'm assuming that the reason you're waiting until January is because of giving notice to the tenants? Because IMO that's the only reason to wait. If there's any way you can leave earlier do it. Don't think "Oh, the holidays" because chances are the holidays aren't going to be all warm and fuzzy this year if you're living in the same house. Better to get out and have peaceful holidays in your own home.

If you haven't seen a solicitor yet, please do so ASAP. They can answer your questions about who has what 'rights' over the home you're moving back to. And I'm sure there are 1000s of things you want answers to. Seeing a solicitor doesn't mean you are filing any papers, it just means that you are educating yourself about your legal position and what you can expect as far as a timeline and/or how court works. Knowledge is power.

Mix56 · 18/09/2019 15:47

Will i ever meet a nice person for company when my kids are grown up I wonder"
well you haven't got a nice person now anyway, imagine retirement with him... no one is better than someone you have to tip toe round.

Go forth & be happy, What luck he wants to reneg on all his family promises, responsibilities

Mix56 · 18/09/2019 15:51

also, time to make copies of all financial documents, bank accounts, shares, life insurance, pensions, house deeds, ... you will be surprised at what speed he manages to hide money & screw you over.
open a new bank account in your name,(on line statements move all the funds that are yours into it asap.

NemosPoorlyFinn · 18/09/2019 15:58

I had a father very much like what you have described
When my mum finally told him to leave it was like a massive weight had been lifted of all of us ( my mum and 2 siblings)
Him leaving is the best thing that could happen to you and your dc

Pleased do not feel guilty

smalalalalalala · 18/09/2019 15:59

It sounds like the kind of marriage my mum and dad had. My dad decided to leave (OW involved).

6 months later my mum had found a new partner who she is with since (20 years this year), she is much happier than when she was with my dad.

My brother and I have been much happier because things at home have been more relaxed.

My dad is finally the one who had such a hard time going through the divorce.

Don't worry about your children. a happy home doesn't mean mum and dad together as much as mum and dad together doesn't mean a happy home !

SandyY2K · 18/09/2019 16:06

Being kind when you're sick and generous at Christmas/birthdays doesn't cut it by a long shot.

What makes him think it was acceptable for you to do everything around the house?

You're well rid.

HeavenlyEyes · 18/09/2019 16:08

'nagging' is a horrid word used by men to belittle and demean women. Please do not use it to describe yourself and please get legal advice pronto.

And an STI test too.

madcatladyforever · 18/09/2019 16:11

Exactly the same with me and ex OP and I'm thrilled he has gone, he was selfish, lazy and contributed nothing to our marriage financially or otherwise. I just felt like his maid and housekeeper. Couldn't even be bothered to get me a birthday present and was horrible to me on every birthday even though I was expected to turn cartwheels for his.
of course I turned into a nag who wouldn't.
The split is all down to your husband OP, good riddance to him. You will all be happier. He is a lazy, miserable sod.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/09/2019 16:30

he felt he could never do anything right, in my eyes

But he never did ANYTHING apart from be a snarky bastard.

I swear once the dust settles you will realise how much easier life is without him around. And I bet he will come crawling back once he's realised what life is like without a maid and cook.

See a solicitor and get your financial docs in order. Get everything you are entitled to.

You and the DC will be fine, I promise. x

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 18/09/2019 16:41

As DF always says "Nagging is when someone has to keep repeating perfectly reasonable requests".

And as everyone else has already told you, your DH sounds like a pig and I'm sure you and your DC will have a much more happy and stable life without him.

I don't know why you have to wait until next year but unless it's vital it seems unwise. I'd think it'd be better to move by the end of October at the latest.

Billben · 18/09/2019 16:51

As DF always says "Nagging is when someone has to keep repeating perfectly reasonable requests".

OMG!!! I’m so using this from now on 👍

eladen · 18/09/2019 17:07

I think you need this: www.freedomprogramme.co.uk