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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:
FairKoala · 27/07/2026 12:53

henryic · 27/07/2026 11:39

If she is going for a divorce...... than I was always been right about her closeness with that her freind

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

So what was she frustrated about?

Why was your salary going into her bank account? Whilst not against the law, most employers refuse to accommodate such requests because it has so many red flags associated with it.

The only reason I can see that your salary gets paid into her account is because you can’t be trusted with paying the bills and have a gambling addiction/spending addiction/any addiction or are just crap with money

Otherwise why agree to it

I am a little confused when you say she is still paying her share of everything but the mortgage.

Is she paying the mortgage? Or is she paying only 50% of the mortgage

When you say she is paying her share of the other bills. Does that mean she is paying the other bills or does she send her half of the bill money to you and gives you back your share so you pay the bill.

One grandiose gesture doesn’t make up for years of ignoring the little things

Given the argument wasn’t over the closeness of her male friend this all sounds like you have brought that up to defend your own actions

henryic · 27/07/2026 12:53

RedToothBrush · 27/07/2026 12:50

Its not that the OP can't see them.

The OP doesn't want to see them.

So you are justifying affair?

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 27/07/2026 12:56

0Thatsplenty0 · 27/07/2026 12:53

Oh come on. She ditched her entire family to be with this guy on her birthday. If that was a woman reporting the same thing she'd be told that he was having an affair, no question.

See my other posts.

Thundertoast · 27/07/2026 12:56

henryic · 27/07/2026 12:10

Do you think 11 and 13 year old gonna fight with their mom? When she says she will be disappointed?

Okay then she why is putting curfew? I can't see them on weekdays

Edited

What happened the day they left?
What reason did she give you for the curfew?

3luckystars · 27/07/2026 12:56

If you really thought she was having an affair you would have opened with that.

Happyjoe · 27/07/2026 12:56

Loubissou · 27/07/2026 12:29

And that is also not true according to standard MN thinking. People who have affairs do it because they are arrogant, self serving and want their ego kibbles. Or does that only apply to men?

Men on MN are not allowed close female friends, but when a man tries to tell his wife that he thinks she is too close to a man, he is berated for being controlling and that she is only doing it because he is making her unhappy.

But, it's a man posting, so it must be his fault.

Well, not everyone adheres to standard MN thinking. I go by my own morals. If I wasn't happy at home - for whatever reason (not always blame btw, relationships break down, people can change what they want, they change as people over the years) then I would be more likely look elsewhere. However, I'd probably leave first as I hate cheating.

I have also not told him anything about her having close male friends. Fine by me, fine if men have close women friends and visa versa. For me the issue is trust. If a person doesn't trust his or her spouse to behave with good close friends of the opposite sex then the marriage has issues in the first place.

My partner was very very close to his ex when we got together, I could tell she still liked him (she was married to someone else by then) and when we moved 200 miles from the area she admitted to me on our moving day that he 'was the one who got away'. But I trusted my partner not to go there, that his friendship was important to him and to be honest, he was a bit oblivious to her liking him. If he'd cheated then my partner and I were obviously not working or going to work.

3luckystars · 27/07/2026 12:58

You did everything to work on the marriage, like what? It sounds like she has been ignored for years. If she was having an affair why didn’t you bring it up until 6 weeks after she left?

you sound like an avoidant.

powersthatbe · 27/07/2026 12:59

OP, were you emotionally available to your wife over the years?

0Thatsplenty0 · 27/07/2026 13:01

RedToothBrush · 27/07/2026 12:56

See my other posts.

I've read your other posts. You've made up all sorts of scenarios.

henryic · 27/07/2026 13:01

powersthatbe · 27/07/2026 12:59

OP, were you emotionally available to your wife over the years?

Yes! (Now some people will say no, anyway)

I did my best, it's hurts she might Divorce me for someone!! It's okay

At some my tolerance ended, that's on her birthday

OP posts:
henryic · 27/07/2026 13:02

0Thatsplenty0 · 27/07/2026 13:01

I've read your other posts. You've made up all sorts of scenarios.

She is justifying an affair

OP posts:
UhOhRatPoo · 27/07/2026 13:03

Why did you decide to pay your salary into her account instead of opening a joint account?

And why do you need Mumsnet to tell you that you can now instruct your employer to pay your salary into your own account?

The birthday: yes she should have told you that she had plans with her friends. But you should have spoken to her about your plans. Both in the wrong there.

She probably is having an affair. Affairs happen when two things coincide: (1) The availability and willingness of someone you fancy (2) The lack of emotional reason to stay faithful to your spouse.

She may have fallen out of love with you because of your actions or behaviour. Maybe you did nothing wrong and it would have happened anyway. I don’t agree with the narrative that you can “drive someone to an affair”. But the affair is the symptom of a broken marriage, not the cause of it.

MounjaMum · 27/07/2026 13:03

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.

People commenting on this post and blaming OP are batshit!!
OP clearly said in his update that he ALWAYS does something on her birthday either a meal or a trip or something - therefore it was not a complete surprise.
I have lots of celebrations for my birthday with different groups of friends but i NEVER plan anything for the day as I know that my husband and kid will do something- this day is to celebrate with them even if it is just a dinner.
Stop blaming the OP - Mumsnet is always extreme in their reactions

ForRedPoet · 27/07/2026 13:04

henryic · 27/07/2026 12:53

So you are justifying affair?

What affair?
You may be suspicious, but you have no proof of an affair.

I had an ex that sounded similar to you. Nothing was ever his fault.

henryic · 27/07/2026 13:05

ForRedPoet · 27/07/2026 13:04

What affair?
You may be suspicious, but you have no proof of an affair.

I had an ex that sounded similar to you. Nothing was ever his fault.

What affair?

Which married women goes to dinner with another male every week 2 times? Over top lie on trip?

OP posts:
Happyjoe · 27/07/2026 13:05

henryic · 27/07/2026 13:02

She is justifying an affair

Your marriage is clearly over.
Am not sure why you are on MN for validation?
It's ok to be hurt and bewildered, it's time to move on though.
Sort out out your finances, go to court for access to your children and start the divorce proceedings. She's telling you it's over, she's moved out. Being alone is better than feeling wrong-footed and dangling on a string, honestly.

0Thatsplenty0 · 27/07/2026 13:06

MounjaMum · 27/07/2026 13:03

People commenting on this post and blaming OP are batshit!!
OP clearly said in his update that he ALWAYS does something on her birthday either a meal or a trip or something - therefore it was not a complete surprise.
I have lots of celebrations for my birthday with different groups of friends but i NEVER plan anything for the day as I know that my husband and kid will do something- this day is to celebrate with them even if it is just a dinner.
Stop blaming the OP - Mumsnet is always extreme in their reactions

Yep, some posters are making a pure show of themselves just because OP is a man 😆, making up all sorts of scenarios. Funny the same ones don't mention that OP handed over his entire wage to his wife's bank account.

PrettyPickle · 27/07/2026 13:06

henryic · 27/07/2026 12:38

The issue was lies and secrecy!!

They work in different fields, there nothing loop then into discuss important work thing's at dinner in restaurant

She lied and told there was nothing, if there was nothing then why lie? You knows what I tried do everything keep this marriage

Everyone telling me it was my fault that my wife interested in another guy!!

OK, I am going to say, kindly, that how you initially represented the situation, did not show you in the best light and omitted several major facts that turns the issue completely around, and its that initial information that people are responding to.

You started with (and I am paraphrasing here), that you had been organising something for her birthday and she chose to go out with her friends or friend instead, without making it clear if you have invited your wife out to celebrate, a big argument ensued, you stormed out feeling she prioritised her friends, refused to take her calls and were then upset she left with the kids and had not come back because you love her.

The reality that has now unfolded is so totally different and although the birthday meal was the catalyst for the argument, its not really the problem. Your wife has been seeing her male friend twice a week for meals and you were worried that it was something more, any partner would, that is not unreasonable. Male or female would feel the same. You then later revealed that she had worked away from home twice, and after the event you discovered she had taken her male friend with her even thought there is no work connection.

That is a totally different scenario from that which you first wrote about and its that initial explanation that led to you being flamed by some on here, and it will always happen to some extent but it sort of highlights your communication is perhaps part of the issue but that does not excuse her behaviour.

I suspect she wanted you to blow up at her and leave, so you were the guilty party for walking away and then she finds solace in the mystery male friend. What I can't figure out is why she moved out and left you in the house, which would be the norm for the sake of the kids. Maybe its so she can control what happens next without you insisting on returning to the house and so she can see her fella easily.

Sorry OP, this does not look good based on what you have eventually said.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 27/07/2026 13:06

TheAmberKoala · 27/07/2026 12:19

Assuming OP has shared all the facts here I reckon the comments would be very different if 'wife' was 'husband'

It would be very surprising if a husband who was cheating on his wife then left the family home to live in a flat alone with his children, whom he'd taken with him as their primary carer. I don't think I've ever seen that particular dynamic play out on MN before and I've been on here a while.

ColourThief · 27/07/2026 13:07

henryic · 27/07/2026 12:48

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

Absolutely.

The replies on this thread are absolutely hilarious and would definitely not be the same had a woman posted this and the roles been reversed.

Welcome to sexist Mumsnet, OP.
Unfortunately, you won’t get any real help on here.

For what it’s worth, I think your wife sounds self centred and selfish, and you could do much better.

Focus on your kids, it will get easier.

FoldItIn · 27/07/2026 13:07

STOP YOUR WAGES GOING IN TO HER ACCOUNT!!! Good God man 🤦‍♀️
You can actually report her for doing that!!

Edited to say, actually you can't because you are daft enough to be getting your wages paid in to her account!
I despair.

Change2banon · 27/07/2026 13:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

MsPrufrockk · 27/07/2026 13:07

henryic · 27/07/2026 13:02

She is justifying an affair

Your story has changed multiple times since your OP. When you weren't getting the response you wanted, you added extra details. I'm not saying they're not true, just not sure why you left such salient points out of the story - she sees her male best friend for dinner multiple times a week, he went on a work trip with her etc. If you'd started with that information, and the fact she'd walked out, I'd be saying yes quite possibly an affair, just as I would to a woman posting.

For her to walk out and take her kids (and they're still young, 11 isn't a teenager and 13 is only just a teenager) there must be something major going on - whether it's your relationship or an affair or both.

Esmeraldathe3rd · 27/07/2026 13:07

Love how this has gone from "my wife just left me out of the blue and I don't know what's happening" to "she's been having an affair with this guy and sneaking off of trips together" when everyone didn't immediately jump on his wife.

Also interesting how OP doesn't want to clarify how his wages ended up being paid into his wife's bank.

Teenagers absolutely wouldn't move out of their home without reason. They have their own minds. And when people leave for someone else they don't tend to take their teenagers with them, who absolutely wouldn't keep it secret or be ok with it.

You thought storming out, staying out the night of her birthday and ignoring her calls would have her begging and apologising. It back fired. She's done. Doesn't sound like you really liked being married to her anyway so 🤷

Happyjoe · 27/07/2026 13:09

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Why did you have an affair if not too much to ask?

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