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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My wife moved out 6 weeks ago with our kids and I genuinely don't know what she's trying to do

273 replies

henryic · 27/07/2026 09:51

About 6 weeks ago me and my wife had one of the biggest fights we've ever had. It wasn't over one thing. It was months of frustration finally coming out.

I told her I felt like I wasn't a priority anymore. She always seemed to have time for her friends but whenever I wanted us to spend time together there was always something else. I also told her I wasn't comfortable with how close she is to her male best friend. I never accused her of cheating. I just said their closeness made me uncomfortable and asked if she could create some distance.

She told me no. She said her friends are her support system and she isn't going to change those friendships because I'm uncomfortable. She also said I'm only jealous because I don't have friends of my own which isn't even true.

The thing that hurt me before all this was her birthday. I'd been planning something special for months. Then she told me she was going away with her friends instead. I cancelled everything I'd planned and honestly that stayed with me.

After her birthday things just got worse between us. We almost never fought before that. We had disagreements like any couple but never anything major. I love my wife so much and that's probably why this has hit me so hard.

That night our argument got really ugly. We both said things we shouldn't have. Some of the things she said genuinely broke my heart.

I left the house because I just couldn't stay there. She called me three times during the night but I ignored the calls because I needed space. I came home the next morning and she was furious.

She packed some bags, took our three teenage kids and left. She stayed with her sister for about two weeks and then rented an apartment in the same city. Since then I've only been seeing my kids on weekends.

The financial side is another mess. My salary has always gone into her account because she's always managed our finances. We both have well paying jobs and normally we split the mortgage 50/50.

Since she moved out she says she shouldn't have to pay the mortgage because she isn't living here anymore. Instead she's taking what would have been her half of the mortgage from my salary and using it to pay the rent for her apartment because, in her words, she's only renting it because of me.

Sometimes I feel like that's too much. Other times I honestly just laugh because the whole situation feels so unreal.

She is still paying equally towards the kids, insurance and other shared expenses, so she's not refusing to contribute. But if I want my own monthly spending money I actually have to text my own wife and ask her to transfer it to me.

The hardest part though is how she's acting.
She barely speaks to me but she still visits my parents like normal. She checks on them, spends time with them and everything seems completely fine.

At the same time she's constantly posting photos from clubs, restaurants, weekends away and nights out with her friends. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but it honestly feels like she's trying to make me jealous or show me she's happy without me while I'm sitting alone in our house missing my family.

It's like she acts married with everyone else but divorced when it comes to me.

I honestly don't know what she wants anymore. If she wants a divorce I'd rather she just tell me instead of leaving me in this weird limbo where we're separated but nobody is saying what the future is supposed to be.

OP posts:
birdling · 27/07/2026 09:57

Stop your salary going into her account! I can't believe you were letting this happen even when you were happy together.

MeridaBrave · 27/07/2026 09:57

I think you should suggestion some mediation to see if it’s salvageable. You seem to have a lack of understanding why she was frustrated enough with you that she moved out. Clearly she was lacking emotional or other support from you as she needed her friend group. I suggest you explore her frustrations, as clearly there were many of them.

MidnightPatrol · 27/07/2026 09:57

The part of this story that stands out to me - why did she leave with three teenage kids, and you stay in the house? Particularly given you are only seeing the kids at weekends.

Stop paying your salary into the shared account and letting her control if you can access it. That is just bizarre, you take ownership of that and resolve your financial issues.

MIAMNER · 27/07/2026 10:00

If your kids are teenagers, why did they meekly go with her? Something else is going on here.

MrsPorridgepot · 27/07/2026 10:01

You could sort out your own account in 5 minutes online, what aren’t you? Why haven’t you done that load previously? Stop going on social media and reading things in to it that might or might not be intended. Talk to your wife!

Can you not see that leaving for the night and refusing repeated contact, so she didn’t know if you were alive or dead or with someone or split up or anything changed your marriage? You have to acknowledge that to her, and ask if she is willing to communicate calmly regarding the ongoing situation and how she would like it to be and how you would like it to be and if there is any marriage left to salvage? Not rehashing past but looking onwards. If she refuses to communicate then you know the marriage is over. Sort your finances out!

Had you actually told her your plans for her birthday and had her agree them or were they supposed to be a surprise?

Skippyasyermuni · 27/07/2026 10:02

Give your work your own bank account details today, and get your salary paid to you.

You’ll have to keep paying the mortgage whilst you fight her to pay her half, but at least you won’t be paying her rent.

You’ll have to start paying child maintenance though, as the kids are with her. But it’s time to start seeing a solicitor and just get on with it.

Goldengirl123 · 27/07/2026 10:02

I agree with the others. Stop having your salary paid into her account and fight back

Pillowaddict · 27/07/2026 10:02

I agree, stop your salary going directly to her immediately and then ask her what she anticipates short vs long-term plans to be. For example if she isn't thinking divorce long term, short term she needs to engage in better communication and have plans to work with you on the issues in your marriage. If divorce is the long term goal, short term aim needs to be considering financial situation re marital home, kids contact/living situation and engaging legal advice. I'm sorry you're in this situation but pretending it's not happening isn't healthy or helping, you need to take some control back in your life.

bluebeck · 27/07/2026 10:02

Why is your salary still going into her bank account? Change it and get legal advice.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/07/2026 10:07

So what did you say to her before you stormed out?

Had you actually organised something for her birthday, or were you just saying that to make her feel bad or not go out?

henryic · 27/07/2026 10:12

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/07/2026 10:07

So what did you say to her before you stormed out?

Had you actually organised something for her birthday, or were you just saying that to make her feel bad or not go out?

I organized a special dinner at restaurant

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/07/2026 10:14

henryic · 27/07/2026 10:12

I organized a special dinner at restaurant

And that took months to organise?

What did you say to her before you left? Threats of self harm, maybe? And then you wouldn't answer the phone to her?

henryic · 27/07/2026 10:19

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/07/2026 10:14

And that took months to organise?

What did you say to her before you left? Threats of self harm, maybe? And then you wouldn't answer the phone to her?

There were other plans too.

I just went out because I thought she was going with her friends. She was already getting ready and they were coming to pick her up.

What else was I supposed to do? Sit at home while she went out with her friends?

OP posts:
Passaggressfedup · 27/07/2026 10:20

It looks she's checked out of the marriage I'm afraid. You're still holding on to things getting sorted between toy, she focusing on starting her new life. At least that what it appears from your post.

Don't go to mediation to try to see if your marriage is salvageable, that not what it is for. You can go to mediation to clarify the arrangement in terms of your children and you'll communicate about anything related to them.

ShetlandishMum · 27/07/2026 10:23

Sort your banking.
Seek legal advice.
Find peace with your children.
Move on.

Octavia64 · 27/07/2026 10:24

Ok, so you’ve had massive row and you left overnight.

she’s moved out, with the three teenagers.

she’s checking in with your parents.

there’s no sense of her perspective in anything you post. It’s unusual for teens to move out of the family home.

clearly there are a lot of issues here. If you want to stay married I’d suggest contacting your wife and suggesting counselling, aswell as doing a lot of deep thinking about what her perspective might look like.

realistically otherwise you are going to end up divorced. You are already separated in practice.

Sparkletastic · 27/07/2026 10:24

Tell her to move back into the house with the kids and you’ll move in with your parents for a while. Move your salary to your own account. Then after you’ve both had some space discuss whether the marriage is over. If it’s over for her accept that it’s over for both of you.

Themoonisntaballoon · 27/07/2026 10:29

Please get some legal advice OP, they will explain all your options to you.

indigox · 27/07/2026 10:31

henryic · 27/07/2026 10:12

I organized a special dinner at restaurant

organized?

takealettermsjones · 27/07/2026 10:32

Completely agree with PPs about your salary.

However, there's so much that's not being said here. What were the things that she said to you in this argument that she apparently shouldn't have said? What are her frustrations/issues in the marriage? It's pretty relevant info, as it will give an idea of whether she's likely to be serious about splitting.

UsernameHoarder · 27/07/2026 10:35

Ypu dont have to wait for her to make the next move. Take control of your situation.

Things to think about...

What happens to the house? Will it need to be sold or can you afford to live there on your salary and pay the child maintenance you'll owe?

Where will the children live? Have you asked them what they want?

Divorce. Find out all about it. Whats the procedure? How do you wanna do it? No blame, online?

Start getting your thoughts and your shit together.

MajorProcrastination · 27/07/2026 10:36
  1. Is this a reverse? Are you actually the person who left or have you switched the genders to see what people would say?
  2. Assuming everything's exactly as described, sort the finances out ASAP. Stop your salary going directly to her account - why on earth it didn't go to a joint account or your own is something for another day. (My husband and I have our salaries come to personal accounts then the agreed and proportionate chunk goes into our joint for all bills etc).
  3. The something special you'd been planning for months (the restaurant booking), was she aware of this before she booked a trip away with friends? Because that's pretty important.
  4. You went AWOL after the argument but then you didn't like it when she left?
  5. Her posting stuff that she's enjoying doing doesn't have to be aimed at you. She's maybe feeling happy and free and is doing stuff with people she's having fun with and maybe it's about proving to herself that she can live a happy and full life without you. It's not all about you or her trying to make you feel jealous - you have centred yourself there.
  6. The three teenage kids are still with her? That's something I want unpicking. I have 3 teenage kids and for them to leave their routines and friends and rooms and dogs and stuff in the summer holidays while their other parent's still in the family home would be fairly odd. It feels like there is so much more to this.
Esmeraldathe3rd · 27/07/2026 10:37

Yeah she's completely done with you. What on earth makes you think you're in limbo? Just that makes me think you must be abit of a wet blanket in the relationship if you're still sat there waiting for her to tell you what to do. She has moved out, she has signed a rental, she is gone.

Tell your employer to pay your wages to your own account. I'd say theres probably a good reason for her managing the finances. You need to get the house on the market and start sorting out the finances. So initiating mediation would be a good idea, and I mean actually finding a mediator, instructing them and informing her. Not saying "should we go to mediation" and waiting for her to sort it.

The fact the kids would rather leave with her, than stay with you in their home with all their stuff speaks volumes.

Anyahyacinth · 27/07/2026 10:39

The fact that teenagers moved from their home with your wife ..suggests there is far more to this.

The idea of them returning and your moving to your parents is a good interim solution to save the need for the rent payment.

Personally, I think if you stop the financial arrangement without a conversation..I would think that was a declaration of hostilities and unretrievable.

RedToothBrush · 27/07/2026 10:39

henryic · 27/07/2026 10:19

There were other plans too.

I just went out because I thought she was going with her friends. She was already getting ready and they were coming to pick her up.

What else was I supposed to do? Sit at home while she went out with her friends?

Did you check with her that you were free first?

Or did you arrange the special meal without checking or worse, deliberately pick a night she had plans and expected her to drop them all.

I have a sense here that you do not like her socialising at all and think she should be with you and prioritising that at all times rather than being willing to compromise.

I'm wondering if you have the attitude that if you are away, the second you are back she has to drop the support network she relies on the rest of the time and everything should be about you and never her having her own life and that being considered important too.

There is definitely a massive backstory here and you are either being willfully and deliberately ignorant or utterly tone deaf. I can't work out which.

There's no way she'd have fucked off with the three kids and rented somewhere else without there being something a lot more significant going on here.