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Man's advice please

7 replies

talie101 · 20/04/2008 12:11

Can any of you tell me why my exh behaves the way he does.

Left me for ex-girlfriend nearly 4 years ago, was extremely verbally abusive and once physically abusive in front of the children, which has had a big impact on their lives and shows in the behaviour that they display.....he continually refuses to accept that he played/s a big part in the problems they have. He has minimum contact with the children because of the above. I have worked really hard with Psychologists etc to get the children to a stage where they are now staying overnight with him alternate weekends, happily.

A year ago he began texting me saying he regretted leaving me, he wished he could turn the clocks back etc and generally mixed my emotions up all over again (at this point I believe I still wanted us to be a 'family' again).... I had my suspicions he was playing with me though so I asked him outright if he wanted to come back to us...no reply! Confirming to me he was playing games.....I told him not to play games, informed his girlfriend to tell him to stop etc. He then told me had no intention of coming back but just wanted to make sure I would turn up to Mediation!

For the last 6 months he has agreed to work with me at the childrens pace, there was no more abuse and the children have come on leaps and bounds....we have even laughed and joked together when he picks them up.

For the last 2 months though he has begun texting me again saying he had told his girlfriend he was going to leave her, that he regrets leaving, asks me about my sex life and about where we went wrong etc. I got the impression he was testing the water to see if I would have him back.....I told him I had moved on and that I would never trust him like that again. The texts have stopped, he now brings his girlfriend to plays and to my door when he collects the children, which has totally upset the applecart and problems have started again, the abuse has started etc. He is now taking me to Court and fighting for more access.

I just don't understand! I have asked him to meet with me (even before the Court issue) but he always has an excuse..... I asked him to meet me face to face but he flatly refuses and would rather go via the Courts because he knows that he has power over me that way and that the law is on his side and he will get most of what he demands.

Why does this man not want to be amicable and sort things out without Solicitors etc...we have been through this process once before and both agreed that they just enflame the situation and cause a lot of unnecessary expense! Why does he continue to play mind games and try to bully and manipulate me? Why does he not accept the part that he plays in the damage that is happening to the children?

I feel so depressed that we are moving backwards and not forwards.

OP posts:
fransmom · 20/04/2008 12:38

(((((((((((((talie)))))))))))) i don't have any advice for you sweetheart but i hope someone does xxxxxxxxx

VictorianSqualor · 20/04/2008 12:45

This might sound hard but stop worrying about why and just accept that he does, then move on with your life and do what you need to do for you and the DCs.
He's an arse unfortunately.

notjustdad · 20/04/2008 17:54

I wouldn't waste your time with him. He obviously just wants to manipulate situations to his advantage and he word cannot be trusted. Move on with your DC and find someone who deserves you.

FastEddieonaBike · 20/04/2008 18:55

talie,

I can't say everything that needs to be said about this because I don't know enough. However, he is clearly being selfish, manipulative and trying to hurt you.

Some things that strike me, though: he may, like some men, not yet have figured that he can't have a wife and a girlfriend and is stuck between these 2 types of relationship. A girlfriend/boyfriend relationship changes on marriage (as you and I know) but he has trouble working out the nature of love and relationships and may be unable to deal with the shift that happens there, and what he really wants . He wanted a girlfriend, so he went and found one, but misses the deeper love and stability (mothering?) of you and the kids. He sounds like he is stuck between being driven into relationships by 1. the contents of his boxer shorts or 2. his neediness for love and comfort. What was his childhood like and his relationship with his mum? The latter will condition how he relates to women.

When he wants the comfort of you the needy child in him then becomes angry that he can't get that again so he tries to punish you by bringing his girlfiend over, threatening the courts etc. Be strong - hurting you in this way is his big weapon and he'll use it. Showing it doesn't hurt anymore is your big defence, but be careful - he may try some other way of hurting you. Who is stronger between you two when you are together? You need to be the adult, the grown up and not give way to his emotional aggression - just as you would with a child.

He needs some proper therapy and the willingness to come to terms with his mistakes (which he doesn't seem to be able to admit) and his unresolved issues. He's got an awful lot of emotional growing up to do.

Hope this helps.

talie101 · 22/04/2008 16:47

Thanks for all your comments, especially FastEddie....what you say makes so much sense.

Not sure about his childhood...a bit of a closed book on that subject. I have always felt that he likes to think his family are close, but when I was married to him I sensed favouritism towards his sisters and his family were not as close as he made me believe.

I was always the strong one in the marriage and carried him, but he knows my vulnerable spots by attacking me with the Law and using the children.

I suppose I can only hope with time he may mature and gain no further pleasure from doing so!

OP posts:
FastEddieonaBike · 22/04/2008 21:02

Glad to be of help. Sorry to see the , hope it can become soon.

colacubes · 22/04/2008 21:30

FastEddie, brilliant advice, talie I do believe that is the best advice you will get from anywhere, I hope you find the strength to stand up for your self, and tell him no more. Stay strong.

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