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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

h went to strip club - thread 2

353 replies

porcelaine · 13/12/2020 10:33

hi all,
as my thread has filled up I am starting a new one. I genuinely cannot thank you who posted enough for giving me some much needed strength.
he has been calling me this morning, I haven't picked up. I have no intention of it. I also took notifications off my text messages so I only access them when I want to. its not ideal but I have realised he may be trying to make me look unreasonable atm to gain "the upper hand" (in his mind} and texting with him really upsets me.
I am currently going through quite a lot of guilt which I am not sure is normal in this situation, but where I feel like, even if we tried again and everything was somehow ok, its not the life I want for myself. I want to be with a man of better character who I actually like and respect, and I want to be able to do things like my book without being emotionally thrown off, and I want peace in my home for dc. all those things would have a good effect on dc too, but I am worried that this is about me putting myself first by saying no, I dont want this anymore. does that makes sense?

OP posts:
CrazyToast · 14/12/2020 08:48

Why is it that when one person is clearly way too good for their partner, the less worthy partner always manages to make the great partner feel bad about themselves? A true example of pearls before swine. OP you sound like a pearl. He doesn't deserve you and you don't deserve all of his crap.

thepeopleversuswork · 14/12/2020 09:12

OP you've done a fabulous thing for your kids. Stay strong and keep at it.

Imworthit · 14/12/2020 17:22

I understand what @fulltimeyummy was trying to get at although poorly explained and sadly usually untrue. The problem is, wanting to do 'anything else' instead of spend time with your partner is usually a symptom of a failing relationship not the cause. I used to spend so much time on hobbies, walking the dog or just sitting in cafes because I never knew if I was gonna get stonewalled, lovebombed, or screamed at and hit. No amount of coupley effort on my part or attempts at bonding were able to fix things.

DPotter · 14/12/2020 17:51

I don't get the impression that OP was writing a book to stay out of the way of her husband. She has a professional background in literature and has taken the interest up again.

porcelaine · 14/12/2020 18:54

Having a lot of different thoughts today. It’s definitely true we weren’t working before “strippergate”, I was really in love with him for a while but it just chips away when someone is sulky and moody especially when kids are around, he’s thrown strops on holiday, when we have been at our parents houses, a day or two before his birthday, etc etc.he can’t do calm conflict resolution and I don’t really bother trying to communicate anymore around conflict as it’s like banging head against a brick wall. But I did agree to give it a last shot and he has been finding things to accuse me of even in the last couple months since then, and then he goes out on a night out with friends and massively disrespects our marriage and quickly turns it into another accusation. So long story short, I know it’s not working, I know the bad feelings maybe on both sides are too great, there’s so much resentment and blame. But he still is maintaining we can be good, we can resolve, etc. With kids it’s obviously so tempting to just say ok, hope it can get better, but when the respect and love is pretty much gone, it feels pointless. I have seen a really ugly side of him again and I just don’t want to deal with his immaturity and blame anymore. I think I’m a good person, a good mum and I feel more at peace when he’s not around.

OP posts:
NettleTea · 14/12/2020 19:06

you have summed it all up perfectly

IndieTara · 14/12/2020 19:09

Stripper gate 😁

Pechanga · 14/12/2020 19:18

OP you have perfectly and sensibly summed up your situation, you seem very self aware and have obviously done a lot of soul searching.

Decent men don't watch strippers. I think he's lazy and selfish as a partner and really can't be arsed with doing any real work to fix things, hence why he would prefer to stay together (make a half hearted attempt, continue to blame and disrespect you though)

.....until he wanders off and starts an affair or EA and then you'll be starting a thread on here like so many others we read. As he'll suddenly he desperate to leave.

Don't waste the best years of your life in this man.

porcelaine · 14/12/2020 22:04

need a bit of a handhold tonight.
dc are in bed, I'm on the sofa just feeling really sad about everything. I am so hurt. I've been angry for over a week and now I just feel really hurt that he did this, when we were going along ok (maybe not perfect, or maybe not even properly ok, but I didnt see this coming). and then he did something so STUPID that made me feel like such a joke for giving him another chance. and then he couldnt even be really sorry about it. I feel like shit. I dont understand what I did to deserve this.

OP posts:
78percentLindt · 14/12/2020 22:12

Handhold here. Flowers
You aren't a joke, you were trying to work on your relationship and he threw it in your face. You didn't do anything to deserve the way he treated you and your kids.
It seems he has no consideration for anyone except himself.

MotherofTerriers · 14/12/2020 22:22

You didn’t do anything to deserve this, you really didn’t. Feeling sad and hurt is natural, and it will pass. Lots of gentle self care. He did this because he is an arse, not because of anything you did.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 14/12/2020 22:33

I'm so sorry lovely, it must be fucking awful and how you feel is totally natural.

But please, please remember your words earlier:

when the respect and love is pretty much gone, it feels pointless. I have seen a really ugly side of him again and I just don’t want to deal with his immaturity and blame anymore. I think I’m a good person, a good mum and I feel more at peace when he’s not around.

This isn't a relationship that can be healthy in the long term for those reasons, so any reunion is delaying the inevitable.

And in addition to that, you would be telling him that no matter how badly he behaves, how much he lies and gaslights, how flippantly he disrespects women including you and strangers, you'd be telling him that all that is acceptable enough to you to take him back.

Imagine the level of smug that would make him - he would behave even worse as he would see you taking him back as a green light to do so.

And to be honest, that's exactly what it would be.

Fast forward three months - you'll be so disappointed in yourself if you take him back and so proud of yourself if you don't ThanksThanksThanks

porcelaine · 14/12/2020 22:35

it was just a normal weekend. xmas plans coming up, kids running about, things were ok. and then he went to a strip club for nearly 5 hours, got 2 different wads of cash, paid women to dance around for him and his stupid mates, rolled in at 2am. and I didnt know. It was such a stupid, stupid thing to do. if I could've gotten over the stuff from before, I now can't, and I have to live with the fact I can't give him another chance which affects us all. he's done all this and then he just fucked off. I can't even open my texts because I am not ready to read anything from him. I can't focus on work, or write, I[m sleeping so badly and having panic attacks late at night. I feel like I have no space or time to just feel anything.

OP posts:
Regularsizedrudy · 14/12/2020 22:44

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Regularsizedrudy · 14/12/2020 22:48

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EKGEMS · 14/12/2020 22:52

@porcelaine Perhaps speak to your doctor about a low dose anxiolytic or a sleeping pill-and don't read any posts by the poster whose mouth is falling down the stairs

Sandals19 · 14/12/2020 23:00

You didn't do anything.

He sounds like a shit partner and a bit of an all round disaster area.

I also suspect there's more you don't know about that night. I don't think he lost a hundred or more quid on the way home.

Ffwithfu · 14/12/2020 23:07

Oh Op I feel for you your DH sounds like a shit. However on a separate note I used to work near the Griffin - it’s a shitty pub that has strippers. To be honest I don’t see how you’d spend £400 even with dances - so is there any chance he has drug problem? Might explain the mood swings etc. No excuse but perhaps an explanation

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 14/12/2020 23:22

You aren't stupid. You did what you thought was best for your family. You haven't done anything wrong.

Furries · 14/12/2020 23:35

OP, you’ve got lots of virtual handholds reaching out to you.

With regards to your internal dialogue, try to speak to yourself as you would to your closest friend. Would you let her continue asking “what did I do wrong to deserve this?” No, you would be there to gently guide her and let her know that this wasn’t her fault - so try to be as kind to yourself.

I agree with a pp - it might be worth an appointment with GP, even if it’s by phone, to maybe think about a mild sleeping pill. Just to see you through the near-term - sleep is really important. Tablets are not something I suggest willy nilly, but you won’t be functioning properly if you are exhausted.

And don’t beat yourself up for “grieving” about what has happened. I know you’re trying to be strong for your dc, but there is nothing wrong with the emotions being thrown at you.

I really hope that you’re able to go to your sister’s for Christmas. Take your comfy pj’s, fluffy socks, shit loads of chocolate and wine. Have fun cooking the xmas dinner together, watching the kids unwrap presents, maybe stomp out in wellies for a brisk cold walk. And then, when the kids have gone to bed, spend time with your sister where you can just be you.

You probably don’t fully comprehend it now, but your strength and care for your kids really shows in your posts. You really have got this. But let yourself take strength from family and friends that you trust and feel comfortable with. And don’t ever feel bad about saying you might need some help (in whatever form - family/friends/GP etc) as that’s the sign of a really strong person.

And keep writing! Don’t ever let that be taken away from you.

Imworthit · 15/12/2020 02:22

Remember this. It wasn't such a stupid, stupid thing to do.... It was such an aggressive, wounding and narcissistic, fuck you! Fuck your values, fuck our vows, fuck our family..... Your move bitch 🤣😂🤣

Sunshineandocean · 15/12/2020 04:58

Sorry not read the full post - obviously there is a lot more going on here.

As strippers we make a hell of a lot of money which is needed - I’m not buying designer handbags I’m living and feeding my child coz there is no fall back on the ‘system/benefits’ here - so to the one going with ‘degrading’ women we do what we have to do don’t judge k

ArchieStar · 15/12/2020 09:57

OP, you are NOT stupid. He is a grade A shit!!

youvegottenminuteslynn · 15/12/2020 10:24

Did you manage to get some sleep OP? Thanks

porcelaine · 15/12/2020 12:32

I just opened my messages and he is now saying that if I don’t have Xmas with him (ie he will return) then he won’t change his mind and we are done, and so ultimately that will have been my doing for not “trying”.
I feel emotionally done in yet again. He told me it was irreconcilable the night he walked out, he took half the money, told me we were separating and he wouldn’t contact me til he came back to get his stuff. Now he’s saying that we are not in fact actually separated and that unless I agree to a (fraught) Xmas it will be my fault we split?? HE left. HE initiated the separation including financial. If he is now regretting or back tracking, what about the mental toll that’s taken on me since last week when he left? How is this now my fault? He shouldn’t have gone. I can’t deal with this. I feel so guilty and just mind fucked. My anxiety has shot up yet again with this.

OP posts: