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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband called my work to tell them I was cheating!

183 replies

Honestwoman · 01/07/2021 10:39

Long story short I hope. I asked my DH for a separation in May asked him to give me time to think and I needed space. He disagrees with this and wouldn’t leave.

I work away from home. DH looks after DC while I am away at work. I come home for a couple of weeks at a time. Over the last year DH gambled I found out and had to take control. There is no trust in our relationship due to this, house is always a mess I would spend my time at home gutting out rooms. He doesn’t tell me some things like council tax wasn’t paid, although he did sort it. I still apparently don’t know about it. This causes me a lot of stress, he did get a job all fine no idea what he spends his money on says he’s not gambling and so far I have seen no evidence of this. However when I was home in May and saw he had not done a thing like leave a big double wardrobe in the living room for5 weeks, house was upside down, asked him to clear out the bike shed so DC £200 bike can be stored in there and not in my living room. I saw red. I just can’t do this anymore so asked for a separation.

After I asked for separation he refused to go and give me time, instead he literally followed me everywhere I went including to a friends garden for coffee. Roll forward a bit and he started going through my phone when I was asleep I caught him at it and he denied it, and my old phone that DC now uses. He came across messages from months ago and accused me of cheating. Yes they were flirty and what not but nothing happened from those messages and nothing since. Yes I know I was wrong and shouldn’t have. He accused me of cheating, I assured him I haven’t. Just yesterday he said he believed me that I haven’t cheated. DH went to see his doctor as he has been struggling with depression and anxiety. I had his mother on the phone telling me I should be at home with DC as he is in a bad way. DH said I must give up work for the sake of the DC. He says I don’t care about him or DC.

My work called me yesterday to say my DH had been on the phone saying I was cheating with my clients son!!! I was mortified! Why would he do that? I don’t understand it. All while this is going on he is acting nice as pie messaging me constantly so I asked him if he has told anyone about these messages and he said no. I told him my work has called me in for a meeting and he says to me just tell them your having issues at home!!! I gave him the opportunity to tell me what he has done and he didn’t take it.

I’m at a loss. A week ago I said I would call off the separation I was thinking if his mental health and thought ok I’ll give it 6 months. This has not been an easy decision for me and it would mean I would be the part time parent and that is breaking me😢 but I cannot live this life I’m not sure how I am going to broach this when I am next home he doesn’t know that I know he contacted my work with these allegations!

I don’t understand what is going on with him, why one minute through messages he’s acting like there is nothing wrong, nothing happening in our lives, surely this is not normal behaviour?

OP posts:
BlueSurfer · 01/07/2021 10:40

This is harassment.

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 01/07/2021 10:45

Get out get out get out get out

He is now putting your safety and livelihood at risk. Either he is escalating into serious paranoia and jealousy or he is deliberately trying to control and curtail you. You need to talk to Women's Aid and the police for advice and formally separate. I don't know if you have grounds to get him legally out of the house but hopefully others can advise. Write a diary of everything he's done so far and keep evidence.

DeathStare · 01/07/2021 10:47

This is harassment and needs to stop. But equally I don't think you can leave your DC with him and work away if his mental health is in this state. I think you're going to need to find a way to have the DC with you. And I don't think you're being fair yo say you will call off the separation ad you are giving him false hope.

hawkehurstgang · 01/07/2021 10:47

I don't mean this is a nasty way, just trying to understand the situation a bit more, but how would you be a 'part time parent' if you split - would it be any different to now, if you're working away and only coming how for two weeks at a time? It sounds like your husband's mental health is really not good considering what you've said about his struggle with depression and anxiety, combined with his seeming inability to get tasks done, and as well as phoning your office which was very odd behaviour. Honestly i agree with his mother that considering what is going on at home, you need to not be working away for the sake of the children. If your husband is seriously depressed, anxious, behaving erraticly, and unable to complete daily tasks like cleaning, it's not fair on your children. Is he feeding them properly? Washing them properly? Is it fair on them to live in filth with a parent who has a potential gambling addiction? It doesn't seem at all right for you to be working away at this time and leaving your children in this situation.

honeylulu · 01/07/2021 10:49

He is panicking as he does not want you to separate.
He thinks if you have no job you will be dependent on him and have to stay. He has expressly told you he wants you to give up work.
You haven't so he has tried to engineer the loss of your job, either by getting you sacked or resigning through humiliation.

Whatever you do next, hang onto your job and financial independence as you will need it to get away, and get away from him you must. The marriage sounds beyond hope. I don't even mean the gambling and the mess, but the manipulation and attempts to control and bully you.

FatJan · 01/07/2021 10:49

He’s trying to get you fired so you have no job and have to say at home and do everything for him.

Why are you staying with him? He’s going to destroy your life.

Shoxfordian · 01/07/2021 10:50

Tell your work that he’s harassing you and that you’re divorcing him then call a solicitor to take some steps to do that today

Caselgarcia · 01/07/2021 10:50

He's getting desperate now you are serious about separating. The suggestion that you give up work is because you become financially dependent on him.
I would explain to your work colleagues that you are separating and he is making false accusations about you.
You've got to make it crystal clear that the separation is happening. Tell his Mum, family and the children. Start planning for a future without him. Don't let him trap you.

FatJan · 01/07/2021 10:50

Just to be clear, this man doesn’t love you.

chickenyhead · 01/07/2021 10:51

He is very very dangerous imho. I wouldn't leave my kids with him, not for a second.

You need to get you and your children to safety.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 01/07/2021 10:52

Be aware he could claim he has been the dc's main carer... May give him clout over the house and any benefits your family is entitled to.. And he could claim cms and maintenance from you..... Just see a solicitor...

saraclara · 01/07/2021 10:55

How old is/are your DC?

I'm afraid your MIL is right. He shouldn't be solely in charge of the DC at any time. What you do about your job I don't know, and I understand this isn't easy. But you're not safe and your DC aren't either. And I'm afraid they should be your priority

Brefugee · 01/07/2021 10:56

Leave. And tell his mother to butt out and how are the DCs going to be clothed and fed with a disorganisedvfathervand an unemployed mother if you give up work.

Be honest in your meeting at work.

Honestwoman · 01/07/2021 10:58

Thank you for the replies. He does look after the DC him not sorting things is literally laziness. He starts things and doesn’t follow through he has always been like this. Since I said about the separation my house has been sparkling so it’s not that he isn’t managing. I think he is using the depression against me. I should have stuck to my guns and kept the separation going but the only way that would work is for me to leave altogether although I’m finding that quite hard. I know I’m already a part time parent only being home every couple of weeks but I feel like I’d be abandoning my DC. I spy all the bills, right now I can’t afford to give up my job and he isn’t working as he got fired for his time keeping and kept taking days off work.

OP posts:
Honestwoman · 01/07/2021 11:02

My work are ok. There is no meeting and my manager will not be contacting him at all. I explained what was going on and she was sympathetic. I was already starting to resent him but what he did takes the biscuit!

OP posts:
Sailingthroughtheweek · 01/07/2021 11:06

He’s a controlling, abusive bully. You need legal advice as to your concerns re; his mental health and potential risks to DC before you make any final movements. Do you think he might pose a risk to your DC?

saraclara · 01/07/2021 11:09

but the only way that would work is for me to leave altogether although I’m finding that quite hard. I know I’m already a part time parent only being home every couple of weeks but I feel like I’d be abandoning my DC

Hang on. Why would you be abandoning DC? You'd leave them with your DH when you leave him for good?

Sailingthroughtheweek · 01/07/2021 11:09

OP, I’m sorry to write another message, but so look into this further;

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-23686913.amp

It is a serious consideration given his behaviour.

happyjack12 · 01/07/2021 11:10

You can split up, carry on your job, pay him CMS, have the DC when you are back every couple of weeks in your new home. like lots of men do?
were the messages to the clients son? He is behaving badly because he doesn't want the marriage to end, he'll have to face up to that. No way should he have called work though.
UNLESS you do not think you or the DC are safe, in which case you need to take on the children.

Bryonyshcmyony · 01/07/2021 11:15

You need a lawyer/legal advice and quickly.

InDubiousBattle · 01/07/2021 11:16

Were the 'flirty messages ' he found exchanged with the clients son?

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/07/2021 11:18

I also think you are going to need to change jobs. I wouldn’t leave my children with a man, who could do what he’s done. How could you trust him to look after them and treat them well? He’s either trying to prevent you from splitting or descending into psychosis. Either way, he is potentially dangerous.

BillMasen · 01/07/2021 11:27

Interested to see how this thread evolves.

I’m guessing a male op, having what’s more than likely an emotional affair with the daughter of a work client while working away would get a rougher ride.

Op is also critical of the mess the sahp leaves, and unhappy that their partner as sahp would likely get more time with kids post separation (and no doubt cms)

This post reads very much like a mans situation and is getting a surprising amount of unquestioned support.

AfternoonToffee · 01/07/2021 11:27

He is behaving badly because he doesn't want the marriage to end, he'll have to face up to that.

My thoughts are that he is behaving badly as he has done something (gambling, affair, whatever) and wants the OP to be the bad guy in the marriage ending.

Enb76 · 01/07/2021 11:29

I think this is a reaction to your leaving and him desperately trying to hang on. He needs to be told by someone sympathetic to him not to do the 'pick me' dance.

The usual roles are reversed in this case and had you been a man complaining about this sort of behaviour from your wife you would have had your arse handed to you.

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