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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I the abusive one?

26 replies

pallyloo · 20/02/2024 08:08

Background: last year Im on Maternity with 2 under 2 and and older child. DH of 15 years out drinking every other weekend and came home with makeup and perfume on his clothes, he denied anything and no proper explanations. Few months later I come across texts to two different girls in work flirty texts. He promised nothing happened that the texts were inappropriate and blocked the girls. Fast forward to December I see he has text the prettier girl and deleted all his texts to her. All I can see is that he text her to get her beauty sleep and she says we all can't be as cute as you with loads of kiss in reply.

Currently: I'm naturally absolutely devastated and struggling to process and cope with all this whilst looking after the children. He has gaslit me for so long and is emotionally abusive blaming me that I'm unloving and controlling, yet I've been on 1 night out last year and he goes out a lot and I never minded him doing that. He has his hobbies and interests and I have none. He doesn't do night feeds or even baths the children because he works and pays for everything whilst I'm on maternity. He does pay for a lot I admit and appreciate that.

Additional info: i asked him to leave. I have been trying my best to co parent as best I can and even though he has really hurt me and won't admit anything I have to see him everyday. He is staying in a shared house so room only which means if he wants to see the children he has to come to my house, I have allowed him to come whenever he wants which is twice a day for hours on end and all weekends because I don't want to be that parent. He is mentally tormenting me, he skips in all happy and rested, smelling nice and dressed well. Me knowing he is making an effort going into work to see this girl who's also married. He finds her attractive of course but won't admit it, I'm here in my leggings like a scruff and struggling to care about anything else. I gave him 4 weeks to move out and he is still doing his washing here and some food. But he's calling me controlling and a nut case.

Naturally I'm having mood swings because I just can't cope with everything that has happened. He won't tell me where he is living at the moment or really anything else so I asked him to stop treating this house like his own (rented) I'm trying to bring in boundaries to protect my mental health, again this is apparently me being controlling.

Final straw was I drop my older child to him each week one day after school to his work. Yesterday when I did this he seen me arrive and was standing close to this other women and acting the big man laughing and like he owns the fucking place. Once my child left the car I just burst out crying because the women was there and him and how am I supposed to cope.

In anger I've now told him not to come into my house ever again, he can see the children whenever he wants but not in my my house. Is this bad that I've done this? He wants to speak to a solicitor and wants 50/50 but I have never stopped contact and I wouldn't either. He says I'm abusive and controlling I do admit because I'm struggling to deal with this I have ranted via text message to him because I don't know what else to do to cope and he's just an unemotional robot.

Thank you for reading.

OP posts:
Twinkletwinklelil · 20/02/2024 08:12

You aren’t.
hes awful.

NoCloudsAllowed · 20/02/2024 08:13

Don't let him in your house. Don't drop child to him. Say he's welcome to see them but it's not your job to provide a place. Don't let him use your washing machine etc.

Get whatever benefits you're entitled to and start a CMS claim.

He would neither get nor want 50/50 custody. Find a sensible arrangement.

The sexual stuff sounds skanky (and dodgy if it's with a colleague) but you need to just put that on one side. He sounds rank tbh.

TheSnowyOwl · 20/02/2024 08:16

Who owns the house and who is paying all the bills for it?

BobbyBiscuits · 20/02/2024 08:17

I know you don't want to go down the legal route which is fair enough, but you need to approach it in a more clinical way. He's still embroiled in your life. Only text and speak on very practical matters about the kids. Other than that ignore him. He can't use your house for laundry, being there whenever it suits him. If he wants the kids 50-50, well then he takes them out or to his place. If he lives in a grotty flatshare then he would be less favoured for custody. He's getting pleasure out of manipulating you still. Do not give him the satisfaction.

Newnamehiwhodis · 20/02/2024 08:22

Nope, you are not, you are simply struggling and have too much to cope with.
shut him out of your home and defend your place to heal. He doesn’t get to bully you out of that.

Take care of you FIRST, and to hell with whatever he says. Just tune him out. He has been a complete asshole- he doesn’t get any kind of say in your character, when he has shown he has no honor and no decency.

Newnamehiwhodis · 20/02/2024 08:23

Ps write your texts and whatever you want to say down in a journal and keep it for you only. Don’t give this guy any more ammunition.

im so sorry. He’s awful

pallyloo · 20/02/2024 08:23

This is what I'm getting hit with this morning for putting those boundaries in place.

Am I the abusive one?
OP posts:
olderbutwiser · 20/02/2024 08:23

What @BobbyBiscuits said.

  • no more contact unless it’s strictly factual and necessary. Especially no more ranting texts
  • sort out the practical stuff asap so you have proper legal separation
pallyloo · 20/02/2024 08:29

House is rented and I've closing benefits now do ok financially, no more ranting texts but so hard not to bite when he's making me the bad guy and unreasonable one.

OP posts:
Whiskeypowers · 20/02/2024 08:41

He’s a scumbag
absolutely do not let him take the piss any longer and see a solicitor. Your life won’t be this way forever but he will be an arsehole for the rest of his life.

NoCloudsAllowed · 20/02/2024 08:43

Screenshot texts like that where they are vaguely threatening, could be useful if he challenges on custody and he could delete them right now.

Don't argue back and forth with him, it feeds his ego to think you're terribly distressed to lose him as he's such a good catch. Let him go and only communicate calmly and politely about the kids from now on.

Mama2many73 · 20/02/2024 08:53

He's been gaslighting and controlling you, through making you look you were/are unreasonable, making you question yourself when if this was happenjng to a friend, you would KNOW they were being treated badly.
The nastiness is ramping up because you're not falling for it any mire and he's realising he's losing that control.
You have been so brave. Stick to it. Allow access to his children but that is on HIM to sort. No help in dropping off/collecting, not in your house etc.

I'd imagine he'll continue being a dick cos he's nit used to this 'new' you and he doesnt know what to do! Keep all messages he sends, don't engage and rant back, but dfind someone uou can offload to.
You have been so brave. Keep it up and good luck xx

Moosegooseontheloose · 20/02/2024 08:59

Best response is no response ,op.

He wants a reaction from you. Don’t give it.

If he says he wants 50/50, call his bluff and agree. He won’t do it because he won’t have the freedom to go out seeing other women.If he does agree, it gives you a rest and you can go back to work.

Shut yourself off him emotionally and look after yourself. You know he’s seeing other women. He’s a scumbag and doesn’t deserve you so leave him to it.

Don't go to his work.
Don’t allow him into your home.
Don’t allow him to use your washing machine.
Keep communication short, factual with no emotion.

Put in a claim for CMS.
Get some legal advice.

pallyloo · 20/02/2024 09:04

Thank you all for the advice. I've told him we can put a plan in writing to stick to. I'm back off Maternity next month. I think he will try enforce 50/50 but he does struggle with the children. He will get a quick awakening when he realises how hard it is looking after them and less free time for his nights out and work.

See the situation now means I'm trapped at home and he can still go out when he likes and I wouldn't even know. It's just been so tough like how can a man just change so quickly into this horrible person. I just can't get my head around the evilness. Our youngest isn't even 1 years old and the other is 2 years old. I haven't even been putting me first never mind him it's all been about the children.

OP posts:
Peacelily001 · 20/02/2024 09:05

Look up the grey rock method OP.
it’s really useful when dealing with arseholes like him.

Moosegooseontheloose · 20/02/2024 09:11

Peacelily001 · 20/02/2024 09:05

Look up the grey rock method OP.
it’s really useful when dealing with arseholes like him.

Absolutely agree with this. I tried with my abusive ex and it does work.

Do you have family nearby who can help you IRL ?

pallyloo · 20/02/2024 12:36

I'm going to try to grey rock him which will be tough because he really gets my back up. Thank you

OP posts:
pallyloo · 21/02/2024 11:46

I got some stuff out of my system yesterday and had a good cry. I've come to the realisation that there is nothing I can do to make him care about what he's done so I'm going to focus on self care and revenge by being successful and happy without him.

OP posts:
Peacelily001 · 22/02/2024 18:28

@pallyloo A life well lived is the best revenge!

Onwards and upwards girl x

(I have an absolute bellend of an ex too)

Fionaville · 22/02/2024 18:51

He sounds like a complete arsehole. It's natural to want to lash out when he's acting like this. Don't give him any more ammo. Another poster suggested writing the texts you want to send him in notes or a diary. That's a good idea. Get it out of your system, but not to him. It'll annoy him more when you don't react and seem aloof.
Stop him coming in your house now. It's over.

tryingtogetinshape · 22/02/2024 20:59

Theses so called women may look pretty on the outside but they are bloody ugly on the inside to be snooping with a married man. Hes a rat and rats love rubbish.
Let him hug his rubbish we all no rubbish rots in the end.
You are the bigger person and much better off without him.
Its hard now but it will get better.
Stay strong..

pallyloo · 23/02/2024 09:45

I've managed to grey rock the past two days but my mind is still racing and I still feel so angry I'm holding it in.

I asked him to stay with the children on Saturday night because I planned a night out with some friends (the first night out in over 10 months), he said no he was going out himself. I feel he's lying and was hoping it would ruin my plans, luckily a relative is going to do it instead so I can get a break. DH was clearly annoyed about this. On the other hand he was out last weekend and the weekend before but he can do what he wants and I can't.

Yet I'm the controlling one, honestly!

OP posts:
Moosegooseontheloose · 23/02/2024 10:23

You’re doing great,OP. It takes time and even though you feel it’s difficult holding it in,he will be getting frustrated at your lack of reaction and the one word answers and he’ll eventually get bored and realise there’s no point in goading you.

Next step, legal advice.

Every little step you take is a step closer to being rid of him.
Enjoy your night out,OP. Interesting to see if he really does go out.( Don’t think he’d be wanting 50/50!)

TimeForTeaAndG · 23/02/2024 11:50

Sounds like you're doing great, OP. Clearly he's being an arse so I wouldn't rely on him for any childcare as even if he agrees he might just let you down last minute. Good that you were able to get your relative to cover, do they know what's going on?

MummaMummaJumma · 23/02/2024 12:07

pallyloo · 20/02/2024 08:23

This is what I'm getting hit with this morning for putting those boundaries in place.

You’re NOT the abusive one, OP. His message filled me with rage, he shouldn’t be using kids as ammunition to take them places ‘you don’t approve of’. You likely don’t approve of those places for a very good reason so this is just plain spiteful! I’m so sorry you are going through this with two little ones. You’ve done amazing to walk away from someone who doesn’t understand the value of family. Getting involved with a married women = recipe for disaster. It’ll will all come crashing down, affairs usually don’t end well!

Stay strong, Darling and keep us updated xx