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AIBU?

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Help! Anyone ! The local police just called me

982 replies

Mydoghasbettereyebrowsthanme · 24/05/2020 01:53

Exactly that - my DH went out when I was washing up and have not heard from him since . That was about 830-9. Eight minutes ago a woman rang me and said that he was at the local police station , they couldn't say why and that he was fine. That he would call me in the morning . I can't speak to him he is asleep and no one is hurt and he is ok but they could not ring earlier as they have been busy . What does this even mean ??? Why would they call to say that ? Am panicked and thinking up alsorts and unlikely to sleep now . Can anyone help me ? Please xx

OP posts:
JudyCoolibar · 25/05/2020 15:12

that is exactly what I suspect will happen but he says I have no faith in him

Why should you? He hasn't given you any reason to have faith in him. If he is still trying to suggest that that is somehow your fault, it is pretty obvious that he has no genuine intention of trying to sort himself out.

SionnachGlic · 25/05/2020 15:14

Hi OP,

I haven't read your other threads so I don't know of yours & OH's history but I'm guessing its not good from other ppl's posts on here. And sufficiently bad that combined with this DD charge, you are making plans to leave.

IMO someone can go through AA or counselling without a wife's presence as support...in fact facing the consequences & having you leave might be just the impetus he needs to make him take responsibility.

Also I would not keep his secrets to shield him from others. It has consequences for you & your kids & you are entitled to confide in your friends & family & seek their support.

I hope your friend comes through for you & you find the support that you need. If she does withe deposit/guarantee, can you otherwise continue with your own income...given the possibility your OH will likely be out of work with a DD conviction?

Mind yourself...& by holding him accountable you are doing right by your children.

Mydoghasbettereyebrowsthanme · 25/05/2020 15:24

Hi everyone thank you x just got off the phone and weirdly she did not actually seem that surprised and was very supportive. She did suggest I stop worrying about the nuts and bolts of leaving and just pack the essentials ang go as he is likely to get very angry. She worries . But aggrees with you all that it's the right thing.she always knew what was going on but never could intervene but she will do everything she can to help . Obvs she knows my kids and has helped put my worries to one side about them too . Anyway , am going to leave this week if I can find somewhere . Will keep posting x

OP posts:
TwistyHair · 25/05/2020 15:27

She sounds like a great friend. I agree with what she’s saying.

Paintedmaypole · 25/05/2020 15:43

Hi OP. Your husband is saying that he can't control his drinking without your help and this is very unfair of him. It really is HIS problem and there is little you can do. If you take responsibility for this it will exhaust you. I know it will not be possible to go to a meeting because of lockdown but please phone the Al anon support line. They will support you whether you leave or stay and won't dictate to you. If your husband needs support tell him to phone AA, if he does have additional mental health needs it will also be helpful for that. The first thing Al anon will help you with is realising that you are not responsible for him. AA would encourage him to take responsibility for himself. If he refuses external help he is giving you little option but to leave and not get involved further. Look after you and your child first. Flowers

Paintedmaypole · 25/05/2020 15:50

Cross posted but Al anon will still support you after you have left and AA would be the best support for him if he will take it, especially if he is on his own.

user1471565182 · 25/05/2020 16:00

Do not let him under any circumstances play the 'need your support', 'cant do it without you' shit. Its his responsibility and his alone. Hes setting up the excuses already.

TiddlestheCat · 25/05/2020 16:05

so if this is the case I suppose I feel obligated to stay and be supportive as what sort of a person leaves their spouse when they are just about to try and sort themselves out ?

The sort of person who clearly has reached the end of their tether, who has children to protect and who doesn't fall for emotional blackmail, tell him! Tell him that he will need to confide in a friend and family member in order to find the support that he needs as you need to focus solely on your children and also need to be in good mental health yourself in order to do this. It is not your responsibility to mother him as well. Tell him that by protecting his children, you are supporting him by taking on his share of parental responsibility and that this frees him up to focus on himself. Also explain that you will be supportive of him maintaining a good relationship with his children, but he is not your responsibility. He needs to take charge of himself. Tell him, as soon as you have figured out a way how, than you will be moving out (or he will be) until things are more settled and that he is in charge of his own behaviour/accountable for his actions. If, after a year, you feel that he has changed and you would like him back and it would benefit the children, then do so. I think that you'll find that you probably won't want him back.

He said that had he not been caught for DD, things would have been back to normal today. Well, yes, and he would still carry on as normal and not address his many issues. You don't need to feel guilty about leaving for the sake of your own happiness and the happiness of your children. He's dragging you all down here.

backseatcookers · 25/05/2020 16:08

Your friend sounds lovely I'm so glad you have spoken to her - what a lifeline ThanksThanks

Jux · 25/05/2020 16:22

Good decision. You aren't qualified to help him with his (suppose d) PD, not with hisDrinking, and yes, it 'ok be your fault when he fails (not really ofc). Either leave with the children or get him out.

Good luck

FizzyGreenWater · 25/05/2020 16:31

Wait wait wait before you tell him anything.

Firstly- HE needs to move out not you!!!

The children deserve to stay in their home.

It's easier and cheaper for one person to find a new place rather than everyone else move and the one problem person gets to rattle around expensively in the family home.

The extra disruption to the children will not help their copng with it either.

I sugest you tell him that you need space and he needs to move out. If he will not give it to you then you will take that as a green light that he has never got any intention of taking your feelings into consideration and then YOU will move out, with the children. That will of course be far more expensive on the joint funds, and it will also be final, as he's shown ultaimtely that he puts himself first and you'll be DONE.

If he is willing to move out, you will start the process of supporting him through counselling, whatever.

If he refuses and makes you go because he won't then he can fuck off and do it alone and you'll file for divorce.

Don't say ANY of this until you have secured all access to savings, joint accounts etc as it's quite likely he'll immediately take joit funds either to spite you or to prevent you being able to go or to protect himself.

Is the house yours or rented? If yours, another thing to think about is that if you leave, you will have the damndest time being able to sell it for a split, because he could and probably will make that near impossible, dragging it out, refusing viewings, trashing the place. If splitting means a house sale, make sure you are in charge of that by being the person still in the house.

incognitomum · 25/05/2020 16:39

So glad you're leaving. Best wishes Flowers

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 25/05/2020 16:59

I would play this as asking him to move out to give you space to think things over. Once he's gone, you can get a court order which prevents him from just coming and going. My friend did this - the solicitor said it was to do with her right to a private life and once he'd moved out, even though the house was in joint names, he wasn't allowed to come back. She did eventually have to buy him out of his share but the important thing was that she and the DC got to stay put.
If he absolutely won't go, then you know where you stand and that he has zero consideration for you and your children. It's certainly a way to see where his loyalty lies!
Tell him it's temporary and then get legal help to keep him out.

Mydoghasbettereyebrowsthanme · 25/05/2020 17:48

Ok some good practical advice thank you ! We rent privately, no joint assets and no money to speak of . We are both furloughed and I am stil working my second job for a bit of extra money. So relatively easy to split down the middle. It would be a lot easier if he went , I will try that first . Will try and have that conversation first- Fizzygreen as you suggest - would be less disruptive for children and easier. He is not an easy man but he might agree to do it if he thinks it is temporary . No idea where he would go though . Anyway , if I can get him to agree that then we could be getting somewhere. Will let you know . I have a suspicion he won't so my plan b is we have to go. I know this is disruptive but honestly hand on heart am so worried that once he realises I am serious he will kick off. ESP without his usual crutch of alcohol. The problem is , he is in the protected covid 19 category so he NEVER goes anywhere long enough for me to pack a few bits and go. I don't want to risk a huge fight by him refusing to go then not being able to leave. But will try that conversation first. Sorry am going around in circles . Blush

OP posts:
Mydoghasbettereyebrowsthanme · 25/05/2020 17:50

I have to add that since I have got back from my shop he is been really really nice to me and no mention of previous argument. Sigh . So suddenly I feel disloyal and dishonest. It's honestly very tricky ! Thanks for the practical advice , will keep you all posted xx

OP posts:
Purpleartichoke · 25/05/2020 17:57

I can say with 100% certainty, the children are not as shielded as you think. I’ve been that child. I have no doubt you are protecting them as much as you can, but they still see it and feel it.

You can’t be his key to sobriety. He has to do that work independently. Many people with addictions have underlying mental health problems. He can deal with his own problems and possibly regain your trust in the future.

TwistyHair · 25/05/2020 18:32

He going to be nice to you. He knows it works to make you feel disloyal. It must be hard for you

zigzagbetty · 25/05/2020 18:37

Your friends and family will have noticed more than you realise. They will just be waiting for you to make that move to offer help. Stay strong and be careful

SunshineCake · 25/05/2020 18:37

Be careful to delete history but not all of it so he doesn't suspect.

Why is he so controlling about your phone use?

He will be being nice to you because he knows you want to leave and he will do just enough to kick you back into your box. Don't let him.

billy1966 · 25/05/2020 18:43

OP,
Your children know.
Don't kid yourself.

Call the police if he raises his voice.

Don't hesitate.

He's an awful man.

Get him out.

Tell your family too.

They won't be surprised either.

Flowers
matchboxtwentyunwell · 25/05/2020 19:06

Have your phone in your hand for your discussions with him about asking him to leave, and if he refuses, telling him you will then. Do not hesitate to call the police if he gets loud and angry.

Hopeisnotastrategy · 25/05/2020 19:29

Stay strong my dear, you can do this. Good luck, 💐

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 25/05/2020 19:32

I think he is controlling about the phone because the phone is where access to information and support exists.

Keitepeheakoe · 25/05/2020 19:58

Stay strong Op - he is being nice now but Th acts because he’s trying to ride through the post incident anger so he can go back to ‘normal’

GabsAlot · 25/05/2020 20:07

realy manipulative to put the onus on you to stop him drinking

he will be nice its part of it till something pisses him off again

good luck with everything hope he goes to make it easier for you