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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:
ImogenBrocklehurst · 27/07/2026 19:12

Kimmers4334 · 27/07/2026 11:38

There is something fishy with threads on here recently. The first couple of posts are perfect English, then the rest become broken English. It makes me look at the timestamp to see if they might be drunk. Maybe it’s just that posters use AI to check some of their comments and not others. But I’ve definitely noticed it on several threads

I was thinking the same.

ImogenBrocklehurst · 27/07/2026 19:16

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Clearly something was missing for you partner or she wouldn’t have left.

Cherrysoup · 27/07/2026 19:25

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.

This, now! Bonkers. If she’s on the mortgage, she is legally responsible for the mortgage payments. You haven’t said anything further about this on the thread. Are you just going to let this happen? Texting her for money? Just stop her having access to it.

I think your relationship is finished and you need to go to court to ensure fair access/contact with your children.

FairKoala · 27/07/2026 19:42

I would like to know what the argument was about and why you had your salary going into her account in the first place

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/07/2026 19:54

Oh, I think I get it now.

He's been snotty about her friend for ages.

He didn't say anything about her approaching birthday and there was no sign of any purchases in the account, so she knew he hadn't done anything again. She therefore made plans with her friends to go out.

He then threw a strop, accused her of sleeping with her friend and stormed out so that she couldn't leave the kids including an 11 year old alone.

She decided that was her point of no return (and maybe she felt in danger during the argument he refuses to give details of), so she moved out and made her own accommodation arrangements the following morning.

At some point he's then decided to make himself the victim by claiming that he was going to go to McDonalds book a restaurant and get a necklace, that she's controlling his money and, when questioned, admitted that he's decided she's fucking her friend and nothing can change his mind about it.

JudgeJ · 27/07/2026 20:08

If this was posted by women, you reply would have been different!!

Of course they would, this is the home of misandry and hypocrisy. I hope you are able to resolve this and see your children though they will probably have been fed a version of events that will paint you as the villan.

bitterbuddhist · 27/07/2026 20:35

Change your bank details with your employer so that you have your own bank account. Open a revolut, Monzo or whatever, do it today.

PussInBin20 · 27/07/2026 20:51

She’s using you for money. She’s checked out of the relationship. I don’t know why you can’t see this.

Get your salary back and just divorce the bitch.

toottoot3 · 27/07/2026 21:42

PrettyPickle · 27/07/2026 18:44

But this is Mumsnet, you are only ever going to get one side, that is the point surely - getting an outsiders viewpoint?

And why you you feel I have to defend mine to you?

PrettyPickle · 27/07/2026 22:37

toottoot3 · 27/07/2026 21:42

And why you you feel I have to defend mine to you?

I haven't, you basically said my thoughts were flawed as I was only getting one side and I am pointing out that is how it works. You are deflecting.

toottoot3 · 27/07/2026 22:43

PrettyPickle · 27/07/2026 22:37

I haven't, you basically said my thoughts were flawed as I was only getting one side and I am pointing out that is how it works. You are deflecting.

Edited

Nope, I didn't

PrettyPickle · 27/07/2026 22:52

toottoot3 · 27/07/2026 22:43

Nope, I didn't

You said " We are only getting his escalating side", I pointed out that is how Mumsnet works and you then replied asking why I was questioning your right to reply, I wasn't questioning your right to comment, I was querying your argument, by explaining the very nature of Mumsnet is that we only get one side.

toottoot3 · 27/07/2026 22:59

PrettyPickle · 27/07/2026 22:52

You said " We are only getting his escalating side", I pointed out that is how Mumsnet works and you then replied asking why I was questioning your right to reply, I wasn't questioning your right to comment, I was querying your argument, by explaining the very nature of Mumsnet is that we only get one side.

Edited

I have only responded about my thoughts as you asked? I dont have any interest in correcting or telling you your wrong I don't care?

HeyThereDelila · 27/07/2026 23:39

Obviously stop paying her your salary! Insane that you ever did that. Has she been controlling you financially?

PrettyPickle · 27/07/2026 23:52

toottoot3 · 27/07/2026 22:59

I have only responded about my thoughts as you asked? I dont have any interest in correcting or telling you your wrong I don't care?

And I responded to your comment as you critiqued me for commenting based on what you stated was only the OPs side of the argument, stating the obvious and so there we are. Night!

DixonD · 28/07/2026 00:05

henryic · 27/07/2026 11:05

It's on me!! I'm wrong and I agree with that

So tell me, Do you spend your birthday with your friends, i mean all the day? There is no time your spouse or children?

I mean how would be okay to go in a party where your husband isn't invited? Let alone it's your own birthday party/dinner (i don't exactly what they planned)

OP, this is Mumsnet and you’re always going to be wrong simply because you’re a guy.

I think your wife has treated you very badly and she certainly doesn’t appreciate you and takes you for granted.

GrantMyWishes · 28/07/2026 00:20

This sounds exactly the way my DD behaved with regard to her DH, and unfortunately she broke up the complete family to be with the arsehole she was having the affair with.

I 100% believe that in this situation your wife was having an affair, and that's why your gut was telling you something wasn't right.

Do you live in America OP? Or are you maybe an American living in the UK, as I note you refer to your wife as Mom, rather than Mum that we use here.

I do think that if it's possible you should move out of the family home, and let her move back in, but only for the security and well being of your kids. However, if they are still in the same area, and able to remain in the same school, see the same friends etc., then maybe leave things as they are. Otherwise, could you afford to rent a place on your own, or maybe move in with your parents until things become clearer, as I think you really need to think about what this will be doing to your children, although I do appreciate how heart broken you must be.

First action though, go into work tomorrow and notify them that your wages need to be paid into your own account with immediate effect.

Then go through all paperwork you can lay hands on, any proof of her income, etc. and make sure you have copies of everything.

You also need to make an appointment to get some legal advice, particularly if you do live in the US, as things are very different there I believe.

I'm really sorry you've found yourself in this situation OP, and I'm also sorry that some posters have given you such a hard time. Mumsnet can be a real viper's nest at times.

Change2banon · 28/07/2026 09:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

RedToothBrush · 28/07/2026 13:20

GrantMyWishes · 28/07/2026 00:20

This sounds exactly the way my DD behaved with regard to her DH, and unfortunately she broke up the complete family to be with the arsehole she was having the affair with.

I 100% believe that in this situation your wife was having an affair, and that's why your gut was telling you something wasn't right.

Do you live in America OP? Or are you maybe an American living in the UK, as I note you refer to your wife as Mom, rather than Mum that we use here.

I do think that if it's possible you should move out of the family home, and let her move back in, but only for the security and well being of your kids. However, if they are still in the same area, and able to remain in the same school, see the same friends etc., then maybe leave things as they are. Otherwise, could you afford to rent a place on your own, or maybe move in with your parents until things become clearer, as I think you really need to think about what this will be doing to your children, although I do appreciate how heart broken you must be.

First action though, go into work tomorrow and notify them that your wages need to be paid into your own account with immediate effect.

Then go through all paperwork you can lay hands on, any proof of her income, etc. and make sure you have copies of everything.

You also need to make an appointment to get some legal advice, particularly if you do live in the US, as things are very different there I believe.

I'm really sorry you've found yourself in this situation OP, and I'm also sorry that some posters have given you such a hard time. Mumsnet can be a real viper's nest at times.

Mom is regional. It's used it the West Midlands over Mum.

Thisistyresome · 29/07/2026 10:22

marcopront · 27/07/2026 13:33

You have quoted the words “I never accused her of cheating “.
He is now stating it is obvious she is having an affair.
Do you see a disparity there?

Well it depends when he found out she brought a male friend on business trips.

Thisistyresome · 29/07/2026 10:24

O00ps · 27/07/2026 13:35

How old is your wife and has she changed recently? How long has she had these friends (male & female).
Meeting someone of the opposite sex, just the two of them regularly (if they are) is not normal behaviour in most relationships

I think it can be fine if meeting regularly is monthly, but twice a week and him going with her on business trips...?

marcopront · 29/07/2026 11:02

Thisistyresome · 29/07/2026 10:22

Well it depends when he found out she brought a male friend on business trips.

The first post was at 9:51.
The post mentioning the friend going on the trips was at 12:08.

So either
he got new information after posting
he is drip feeding
he is making up details to support his case.

Which do you think it is?

Thisistyresome · 30/07/2026 11:07

This sounds like you are not able to approach this situation in a constructive way.

That is understandable given the situation, but it is not helpful for where you are. You seem to still be processing all the information. If you are able to speak to your friend perhaps discuss the next steps.

You will need to end this, it is obviously very unhealthy and I suspect neither of you are very good at managing relationships. You appear to have handed over responsibility to her for all kinds of things, which is dangerous for you and a burden for her. The work trips and lying about it looks as much like proof of an affair without catching them in the act as you will get.

However, that is all in the past now. You need to do what you can for your children. Speedy separation and establishing how things will work going forward. Then get on with the divorce.

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