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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that DH should be contributing our rent?

202 replies

Yolo89 · 02/04/2021 19:48

So my DH has decided to move out for three months to try and sort out his depression. He also has a bit of an issue with alcohol.
He left giving me about two days notice.

I am studying full time so have little to no income.

He has now told me he cannot pay any rent this month and some next month. My DS and DD are with me.

His lack of repsonsibility towards money has been an ongoing problem. He spent £200 on some slots app in January and each month runs out and then Im the bad one as i dont give him money.

What is fair in this instance? How much of the rent should he be paying whilst he is not here, given it is for three months and then he intends at this point to move back.

I am just so upset right now.

OP posts:
BluebellsGreenbells · 04/04/2021 23:18

I don’t think we know what support you need?

You are stuck in a hazy fog of believing your DH hasn’t left you? I wonder why you absolutely believe he’ll be back?

He’s left you within months of you degree finishing with the kids and no cash, yet you hang in to the fact he’ll be back?

Why is that?

Are you just one of those people who just see the good in everybody whilst being walked all over saying ‘thank you?’

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 04/04/2021 23:32

@Yolo89

I have applied for separate UC a few days ago. This while post has become quite negative. There is support and advice and there are makung massive assumptions.

I'm.sorry but your story is not the same as mine.

I dont need to be knocked when down.

Please keep it supportive ❤️

That's quite surprising.

On Friday when you started the thread, he was keeping the money and not paying the rent whilst you had no income and children to feed. Yet now, you've already claimed for separate UC before you even posted the OP where you didn't have money for rent or food?

OP - did you have hopes for an alternative resolution offered by posters, rather than advice?

GabsAlot · 04/04/2021 23:52

youre still enabling him having nice days out together whislt he leaves you in the lurch financially

youre in complete denial

JillWoodhead · 05/04/2021 00:22

Go first thing on Tuesday, claim for all the benefits you possibly can. Phone the landlord and explain the situation - keep them informed as they can only help it they have all the information.

Make sure you and the kids are OK. When he decides he wants to come back, make it 110% clear that he comes back on YOUR terms, not his. If he doesn't accept your terms, tell him to forget it.

Theunamedcat · 05/04/2021 00:32

@Yolo89

I have applied for separate UC a few days ago. This while post has become quite negative. There is support and advice and there are makung massive assumptions.

I'm.sorry but your story is not the same as mine.

I dont need to be knocked when down.

Please keep it supportive ❤️

Your hardly down your in denial and trying to figure out how to make his life easier but down? Not really you seem to be surprisingly upbeat about it all I will say a couple of words of caution before I leave

Your allowing your children to stay with someone with severe depression a gambling addiction and who drinks occasionally to excess and drinks daily (a couple of cans) this is not protecting them

Your squatting you have no rights to the property your in and you cannot pay the rent this is not protecting your children

Your sole focus appears to be on the man who has dumped you in a house you will lose with no money to feed the kids he also is TAKING food out of the house this is not protecting them

Overall if I was your social worker I would be having words with my boss and pushing for removal at least getting foster care sorted for when it inevitably goes tits up

You cannot "fix" this man

You need to get your own home your own money your own life away from him feel free to stay in a "relationship" with him but separate your finances and home and protect your children

I'm out

AcrossthePond55 · 05/04/2021 01:30

Why can people say as clear as day he is leaving? We spent today together with the children and it was a good day

One has nothing to do with the other. It easy to for him to provide a 'good day' when he's having the best of both worlds. Happy families and then back to his own place for some peace and quiet.

No one is trying to 'knock you down'. And there's nothing 'supportive' in saying "Oh yes, how wonderful!!" when one's own wisdom and past experience tells you that someone is not being realistic.

Even if he does come back, what makes you so sure it won't happen again? And again and again.

You need to make your own plans. That is the supportive thing to tell you to do. If you want to "hope for the best" then make sure you are also "preparing for the worst".

joysexjoysex · 05/04/2021 04:09

Do you have family who can take your kids? As clearly neither you or your husband are capable of caring for them.

HeavenlyEyes · 05/04/2021 07:19

Why are you doing the pick me dance? He is eating his cake and having it too here.

LittleBearPad · 05/04/2021 08:38

Why do you want him?

He doesn’t seem to make your life better and he certainly isn’t making your children’s lives better?

Yolo89 · 05/04/2021 09:16

Joysex - excuse me? This is based on not much and if you knew my job you would not be saying this. That is utterly ridiculous.

OP posts:
Yolo89 · 05/04/2021 09:20

Littlebear - I married a beautiful man and that is what I want. He is not here at the moment I know . I guess I hope for this person.

I know I'll get shot down for saying it.

He is not making me happy right now no

Oh it is just so hard.

OP posts:
Yolo89 · 05/04/2021 09:20

Joy - my family don't live in the UK.

OP posts:
OurChristmasMiracle · 05/04/2021 09:36

I’m going to be honest with you- the man you married is no longer the person you are with. His gambling and alcohol addiction has taken over. Yes people do recover from things like this but honestly at the moment you are enabling his behaviour, for him to get better he needs to hit rock bottom. Right now you are still feeding him, he gets access to money and he is able to do what he likes.

He needs to be alone, without the kids, with no food and see the stark reality of what his addictions are doing and then MAYBE and only maybe will he be in a place to try to get better.

He also needs to want help for himself. He needs to want to quit and honestly although he might be going to a counsellor unless he is doing it for himself it isn’t going to work.

I say this from personal experience.

1Morewineplease · 05/04/2021 09:37

OP
Based on your previous posts, as well as what you've said on here, it is quite obvious that your partner is never going to make you happy and you seem to be in denial about how badly he has treated you.

I suspect this won't be the last thread that you'll start about him.

You and your children deserve so much more.

LittleBearPad · 05/04/2021 09:43

@Yolo89

Littlebear - I married a beautiful man and that is what I want. He is not here at the moment I know . I guess I hope for this person.

I know I'll get shot down for saying it.

He is not making me happy right now no

Oh it is just so hard.

Which is understandable but I think you need to assume that man’s gone and build a life for yourself and the children without him.

If he’s able to sort himself out in time and fix things great but for your sake and your children’s you need to work on the assumption he won’t, hard as that is.

caringcarer · 05/04/2021 09:50

He has left you with 2 DC and no rent as he gambled and drank it all away. He won't be back and you are a fool if you let him back. Get a UC claim in immediately. Do it online and tell them you are single as your partner/husband left you with no rent money. Can you claim hardship money from uni? Don't bask family for help at this stage, ask council to re-home you and kids. Make LL evict you. You will be given housing element to UC claim. You might be able to find another flat then. Clearly there are some where you live as your partner found one. Start divorce proceedings, you don't have to let him spoil your life and your kids life as well as his own. He is a loser who prefers alcohol and gambling to you and his kids. Remember that if you wobble.

HeavenlyEyes · 05/04/2021 09:57

I think you are projecting onto him what you hope he is like - you need to open your eyes and see the person he is. Then you need too find your anger - and fast.

TurquoiseDragon · 05/04/2021 10:05

@OurChristmasMiracle

I’m going to be honest with you- the man you married is no longer the person you are with. His gambling and alcohol addiction has taken over. Yes people do recover from things like this but honestly at the moment you are enabling his behaviour, for him to get better he needs to hit rock bottom. Right now you are still feeding him, he gets access to money and he is able to do what he likes.

He needs to be alone, without the kids, with no food and see the stark reality of what his addictions are doing and then MAYBE and only maybe will he be in a place to try to get better.

He also needs to want help for himself. He needs to want to quit and honestly although he might be going to a counsellor unless he is doing it for himself it isn’t going to work.

I say this from personal experience.

OP, you need to pay attention to this.

Take off your rose tinted specs and see what gjis nan is really like.

The person you think he is doesn't exist any more, if he ever did.

blackcurrantjam · 05/04/2021 10:21

Sometimes it is healthier to split up and grieve what we hoped for, dreamed of, have lost. Life then opens up again.

I think you need to boundary up OP, finish your uni,get a job, support your children, and see what he does.

I don't think it's that unlikely that your anxiety would lessen if you were not having to deal with him.

Also the stuff about his childhood trauma/addiction making him a victim might be fuelling the rescuer in you. Karpman triangle.

It reads to me like an unhealthy dynamic and formal separation/divorce might actually be good for both of you.

Flowers
blackcurrantjam · 05/04/2021 10:23

Yes also hardship fund uni as a single mother, although I'm unclear how much your inheritance is which would affect that, also your UC claim.

Bottom line, draw some boundaries, it will help you both longer term.

LittleBearPad · 05/04/2021 10:42

@blackcurrantjam

Sometimes it is healthier to split up and grieve what we hoped for, dreamed of, have lost. Life then opens up again.

I think you need to boundary up OP, finish your uni,get a job, support your children, and see what he does.

I don't think it's that unlikely that your anxiety would lessen if you were not having to deal with him.

Also the stuff about his childhood trauma/addiction making him a victim might be fuelling the rescuer in you. Karpman triangle.

It reads to me like an unhealthy dynamic and formal separation/divorce might actually be good for both of you.

Flowers

All of this. Particularly the penultimate sentence
joysexjoysex · 05/04/2021 12:11

@Yolo89

Joysex - excuse me? This is based on not much and if you knew my job you would not be saying this. That is utterly ridiculous.
Your job has nothing to do with it.

You're holding onto a relationship with an addict, almost evicted from your house, you have no money and you're allowing your ex to take your kids food. I can't see anyone in this situation that is looking after the kids interests, your priority is your husband and his priority is him.

Yolo89 · 05/04/2021 12:38

Absolutely not is my husband the priority over my children. I protect them. If you knew my job you would know I know what I'm talking about.

Some are making assumptions based on their experience which is not exactly the same.

I was already on UC so separated them the other day.

I am trying my best to work through this. It is hard seeing this person turn into someone completely different

OP posts:
Spandang · 05/04/2021 12:54

Why can people say as clear as day he is leaving? We spent today together with the children and it was a good day.

Because he isn’t physically, emotionally or financially present.

Because he has moved out and he’s lied to you about the terms of that.

Because you are enabling him by having nice days out, giving him all the joys of a family unit without actually working or supporting it.

OP I don’t really understand why you posted this thread. Everyone has told you what’s what, you have no legal right to your home, you have options in terms of asking the uni for support, you should be providing security to your children in those forms and instead you’re still hell bent on saving a beautiful person who gambled away your children’s food.

People have offered advice, they’ve explained how to get support. You’re saying it’s turned negative - the person being negative here is you. You’re not willing or not able to do, anything about what is causing you untold stress.

So, what we’ve established is that you don’t want to leave him and you don’t want to make a better life for yourself. Your world revolves around him.

But yet, you’re not issuing ultimatums. You haven’t said he needs to sign up to GamStop, hand over his wages on pay day, get another job, take the children one day after school and EOW so you can work on your dissertation.

So that means you’re scared of losing him. And he knows that, that’s why he’s been able to get to this point because he can walk all over you.

He won’t be back, because he’s not scared of losing you. You’ll keep coming running. You’ll keep doing this dance. You’re children will keep going without.

It is a mistake to believe ‘if I can just...’
If I can just get my dissertation I can do X
If he can just have a good day with us he’ll be back.

It’s all lies love. You’re both lying. And meanwhile your kids will go without. And I agree with the social worker who said ‘I’d be lining up foster care’. Yeah, I would too.

Because this is the same pattern as abuse, you let so much happen and refuse to see sense. You’re then in so deep you can’t possibly give up.

What are you going to do? Because so far all you’ve done is establish a long list of what you’re not going to do.

And yes I’m harsh, and yes it’s negative and yes it’s what you don’t want to hear.

But there are two children who aren’t being provided for by Mum and Dad. Dad’s an alcoholic, but it’s okay because he’s a low-level alcoholic, and Mum’s stressed but keeps taking Dad back but that’s okay because she loves him. Mum never has any money because dad spends it all on himself but that’s okay because Dad loves her.

Grow up. You have children. You have responsibilities. This is not Romeo and Juliet this is abuse. Financial. Emotional. Abuse. And him, what he is doing to his kids verges on neglect. He’d happily see them without a home or food. It is disgusting.

QuidditchQueen · 05/04/2021 13:16

Could you ask the university to suspend your studies and get s job in the meantime till you have a permanent arrangement?