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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Divorcing a “good” man

238 replies

Onebigdream · 02/01/2021 13:58

I just told my DH I want a divorce. I have NC’d for this post, so that my previous post isn’t linked. My heart feels broken but broken through the years and Christmas Day was my final straw.

He says he never saw it coming but I don’t know how?

He thinks I’m being totally unreasonable because he’s a good man. He’s provided well financially for his family, he’s not a drinker, he doesn’t use violence against me, he doesn’t gamble and he hasn’t been unfaithful. I realize these are pretty big things... but does it count that I feel alone everyday? Does it count that I plan everything and make it happen in our family? That he can sleep through important family holidays and normal weekends to let me organize the kids and I, myself, or lose him to his hobby on a daily basis.

I feel drained.

OP posts:
WhereYouLeftIt · 02/01/2021 17:54

"... but does it count that I feel alone everyday? Does it count that I plan everything and make it happen in our family? That he can sleep through important family holidays and normal weekends to let me organize the kids and I, myself, or lose him to his hobby on a daily basis."

Of course it counts. It would seem that your husband does not regard himself as being married, but as some sort of employer. He does as he pleases, indulging in his time-sucking hobby, whilst the domestic staff / skivvy (you) run the household and raise his children with no input from himself. That's not a marriage.

Where is the companionship?

I commented on your last thread that he is NOT a good man. All his 'virtues' are negative (he doesn't gamble, he doesn't womanise etc.) but there are ZERO positives. And even his negatives are not always negative, are they? "he doesn’t use violence against me" is proven not to be true by "and when he did try to hit me once and broke his hand hitting the wall, it was because I pushed him to do it “apparently”."

And then there's "a month ago when I brought up separating he threatened to end his life or give up his job and live on the street." And now he "says he never saw it coming but I don’t know how?"^ Of course he saw it coming. He threatened suicide in an attempt to stop it coming. Not. A. Good. Man.

I'm glad you're going ahead with the divorce. You're already a single parent, but post-divorce you will have no additional practical work and will be free from the weight of this dead marriage and what it is doing to your head. @arethereanyleftatall put it very well - "I'm divorced, and yes I physically am doing all the things I did before, but without the utterly draining, resentful, bitterness feeling that someone else should be helping. The difference is vast."

Arrange an appointment with a lawyer and get the ball rolling.
((hug))

Onebigdream · 02/01/2021 18:00

@Gindrinker43

And the impact on your children just because you think your life is dull?
The impact on my children?!

Well my preteen daughter is better with DIY and tools because she’s learnt that girls get things done and she’s not going to wait for dad to help her.

When DH sleeps the day away because he was up late with his hobby it’s my daughter who picks up his slack and helps me.

My son will watch me struggle with arms full with grocery bags and not flinch, not get the door or help me... because my DH does the same.

I’m worrying that this has already impacted my children in a negative way. I know we can heal and work on these things, they are still children.

OP posts:
Onebigdream · 02/01/2021 18:02

@WhereYouLeftIt

"... but does it count that I feel alone everyday? Does it count that I plan everything and make it happen in our family? That he can sleep through important family holidays and normal weekends to let me organize the kids and I, myself, or lose him to his hobby on a daily basis."

Of course it counts. It would seem that your husband does not regard himself as being married, but as some sort of employer. He does as he pleases, indulging in his time-sucking hobby, whilst the domestic staff / skivvy (you) run the household and raise his children with no input from himself. That's not a marriage.

Where is the companionship?

I commented on your last thread that he is NOT a good man. All his 'virtues' are negative (he doesn't gamble, he doesn't womanise etc.) but there are ZERO positives. And even his negatives are not always negative, are they? "he doesn’t use violence against me" is proven not to be true by "and when he did try to hit me once and broke his hand hitting the wall, it was because I pushed him to do it “apparently”."

And then there's "a month ago when I brought up separating he threatened to end his life or give up his job and live on the street." And now he "says he never saw it coming but I don’t know how?"^ Of course he saw it coming. He threatened suicide in an attempt to stop it coming. Not. A. Good. Man.

I'm glad you're going ahead with the divorce. You're already a single parent, but post-divorce you will have no additional practical work and will be free from the weight of this dead marriage and what it is doing to your head. @arethereanyleftatall put it very well - "I'm divorced, and yes I physically am doing all the things I did before, but without the utterly draining, resentful, bitterness feeling that someone else should be helping. The difference is vast."

Arrange an appointment with a lawyer and get the ball rolling.
((hug))

Thank you so much.
OP posts:
thepeopleversuswork · 02/01/2021 18:02

@Gindrinker43

And the impact on your children just because you think your life is dull?
Have you actually read the thread, Gindrinker43?

This man has threatened suicide if the OP tries to discuss the state of the marriage. He has roped in his entire family and the church, FFS, to prevent her ending the marriage. He's just locked her out of the family bank account. He's threatened physical violence.

This is nothing to do with life being "dull". This is an abusive bully of a man. The impact on the children of remaining in this toxic scenario is far far worse.

Sn0tnose · 02/01/2021 18:03

And the impact on your children just because you think your life is dull?

@Gindrinker43 You’ve presumably missed the part where this wonderful, kind and giving family man broke his hand because he punched something so hard, before blaming it on her? Absolute shame on you for trying to make it sound like she’s breaking up a happy family just because she wants a bit of excitement.

BenoneBeauty · 02/01/2021 18:05

The more you post Op, the clearer it becomes that he is not a good man. What an actual fucker to block you out of your own bank accounts! Do whatever it takes to get access to your own money. Good luck.

arethereanyleftatall · 02/01/2021 18:08

@Gindrinker43

And the impact on your children just because you think your life is dull?
Seriously, just fuck of with these stupid comments.
arethereanyleftatall · 02/01/2021 18:12

Great response to gin re the impact on your kids op.

My divorce is a POSITIVE for my girls. They are seeing a woman they love not put up with a miserable life, a miserable marriage, not put herself last at all costs.

DuchessofDerbyshire · 02/01/2021 18:12

@Onebigdream Reading your updates it is clear this is a bad marriage and he is not a good man.

But why didn't you reveal all of this in your first post ? You have had therapy for 7 years.

And what was the point of your first post?

Were you asking for permission?

Or support?

Neither is wrong, but I'm confused about what you want from your thread.

Good luck with the divorce and the rest of your life.

arethereanyleftatall · 02/01/2021 18:14

And, op. Please stop saying he's a good man. Everything you say is 'he's a good man, but...' and that's what's tearing you up. Stop it. He is not a good man. He's a selfish lazy bully.

PhoenixReincarnated · 02/01/2021 18:21

He's emotionally abusive. He's financially abusive. He's physically abusive. OP, this man is not a good man. The best thing you can do for you and your children is to leave him ASAP.

RoosterTheRoost · 02/01/2021 18:24

Did you ever talk to him about how you feel? Or did you just quietly resent him for not being a mind-reader and knowing what you wanted him to do?

Tistheseason17 · 02/01/2021 18:24

I'm glad you've made the decision to get out. Nice guys don't act like him.

BloggersBlog · 02/01/2021 18:24

A man who threatens suicide wont. He wants the attention too much. My ex h threatened the same. Told him to get on with it after the 3rd threat. He didnt.

Your children will be fine, you are a strong mum and are putting them first- and yourself. Nothing wrong with that. We aren't doormats.

Only thing I would say- please stop calling him your DH, darling husband. Sorry - he just isnt so. There are some genuinely darling husbands about, but he isnt one

Lemonpiano · 02/01/2021 18:29

He's an abusive man. Your bar is still way too low, although I understand why.

If you haven't done the Freedom Programme course yet it might be worthwhile. It covers the impact on children and how they can recover from abuse being normalised...

TheOneLeggedJockey · 02/01/2021 18:38

@Gindrinker43

And the impact on your children just because you think your life is dull?
They’ll be better off, clearly. Odd question.
samb80 · 02/01/2021 18:52

YANBU

RandomMess · 02/01/2021 18:52

There is nothing so lonely as being lonely in a relationship.

Everything thinks you are not alone when really you are Sad

He sounds awful blocking you from the bank accounts immediately, how bloody date he! If any are joint accounts he can't do that, go into the branch and cash cheques.

billy1966 · 02/01/2021 19:15

Well now OP, if you allow your son to sit on his arse while you struggle with bags, that's down to you.

Irrespective of how lazy your husband is, YOU are accepting your son eing lazy.

Why are you allowing that?

Your son has two parents.

Do not accept this from your son.

You are wrong to allow your son watch his mother AND sister run the house.

That is down to you.

Sorry to be harsh.

If either of my sons would be slow to help me, they would hear about it very firmly.

Flowers
RuthTopp · 02/01/2021 19:21

I divorced a ' good ' man . Like your stbex nothing terrible about him non drinker, good job, looked after himself etc. It was a good few years ago and since then he has been in 2 long term relationships but currently single again. So something is amiss with him

TonMoulin · 02/01/2021 20:43

@billy1966, tbf it’s much harder to ‘make’ a child do things automatically when they have the ‘wrong’ example in front of them. It’s a subconscious reaction but very hard to fight. Much harder than if they wilfully had decided they don’t want to.

FWIW I’d say that the OP’s dd has also learnt the same. Except that been a girl, she learnt it is ok for men/boys to do fuck all whist women do it all. And that includes her having to step up. (But it’s easy to see that as a good and positive attitude on her part instead)

gumball37 · 02/01/2021 22:57

@SantasBritchesSpelleas

He’s provided well financially for his family, he’s not a drinker, he doesn’t use violence against me, he doesn’t gamble and he hasn’t been unfaithful. I realize these are pretty big things...

But really, those things are a minimum for a decent human being - at least, any human being who has taken on the responsibility of becoming a parent. He doesn't deserve a medal for them and it's worrying he sees them as a virtue rather than the norm.

Wait, you mean he doesn't get a cookie because he doesn't beat his wife and fuck other people?!

OP, Sucks he didn't see it coming, but that's not your fault. I have a friend going through the same thing although further along in the process. She was alone in her marriage and was just always having to be the responsible adult while he worked and then did his own thing. He's really struggling, making snide comments about her "taking his money" because they split their assets and he now pays child support. She's struggling because she's just trying to be decent because it's hard for her too but he's still being selfish and childish.

I wish you the best. You have to take care of yourself

daisyjgrey · 02/01/2021 22:59

@hadesinahalfahell

Not being violent, an alcoholic, gambler or cheat isn't the holy grail in a man, it's a very basic expectation.

Can we have this printed and issued to everyone several times a year starting from year 7 please?

gumball37 · 02/01/2021 23:05

@Gindrinker43

And the impact on your children just because you think your life is dull?
You are aware we get one life to live right? So she should throw hers away for someone else's perceived negatives with being a single parent?
GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom · 02/01/2021 23:14

@Gindrinker43

And the impact on your children just because you think your life is dull?
Not having to live with a pig who is absent from their family life, raises a hand to their mother and financially abuses her. Duh.