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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

I think I need to split from my husband....htf?

64 replies

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 07:15

Quick bit of background....
Together 14 years, 3 children...9, 3 and 2.

He works full time but does not earn a lot. I am a SAHM with no income of my own.

My husband has anger issues....always has done. He is not violent in the physical sense, has never hit me. However, he is prone to frquent outbursts of anger, frustration and general impatience. He often speaks to me as though I were something on the bottom of his shoe...despite claiming to love me. He swears at me, calls me names occasionally (fucking retard being a favourite, or fucking mongo), raises his voice frequently, and reacts badly to being challenged about his behaviour. He is at liberty to express anger whenever it suits him, whether it is appropriate or not, and I am expected to accept this as him not really meaning anything by it, yet I am lambasted on the odd occasion I let off steam. Interestingly, he is able to control his outbursts around other people. The outbursts and disresepect I am subjected to, take place in front of our three children. I am very concerned about that, as they will either pick up that it's ok to speak to your spouse like shit, or that it is acceptable to be spoken to like shit. Not ideal is it?

He does not like to socialise and doesn't maintain any friendships. He is very negative about everything, and seems to glean very little pleasure from life. I walk on eggshells all the time, fearing that anything will set him off, and tbh, I feel quite controlled by his temper. He is a quiet, shy man and I'm sure people would be very surprised to know how domineering he can be. He shouts down my opinions, talks through me, and regularly makes me feel stupid.

He is also emotionally demanding, craving affection and respect and to be listened to - whereas I can't bear the thought of him touching me, sexually or otherwise. I don't love him any more.

I realise that he most likely suffers from long term depression and low self esteem, but seeing as he flatly refuses to seek any sort of help to address these problems (and I have tried, believe me), preferring to make me take the brunt of his unhappiness and fury instead, I don't really feel that it's something I should continue to take into consideration.

We live in a house in both our names, that is bought outright. His mother funded our home and put it into both our names. We aslo own a flat elsewhere which is mortgaged and rented out.

I have no desire to take this house away from him. His mother bought it for her son and his family. I cannot ask him to leave. He wouldn't go anyway, even if I did.

The flat we own is unsuitable for the kids and I, as is 15 miles away from school and nursery, and has only two bedrooms. I don't have a car and can't drive. If we split, I would need to stay in the local area, both for schooling and so that H may have regular access to the kids.

Where the hell do I start - I haven't a bean to my name!

Thanks.

OP posts:
Tortington · 06/02/2011 07:18

you have a house and a flat.

sell them

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 07:20

Sell my husband's house gifted to him by his mother, who lives around the corner from us and visits regularly....and take my half before buggering off eh?

Is there no way he can keep the house? The kids will need somewhere to go when visiting him surely?

OP posts:
Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 07:22

She didn't buy the house so I could sell it and keep half. Her generosity was incredible....she is a lovely woman, and I couldn't do that.

OP posts:
Tortington · 06/02/2011 07:23

well isn't that his problem to sort out?

do you anticipate that this amn with anger issues is going to be all jolly fair about divorce proceedings?

Tortington · 06/02/2011 07:25

look at it this way - the lovelly generous woman gave that money so that your children could have it one day - what would be a better use of the money than housing her grandchildren?

in any case, you need to seek legal advice to see if there s a way in which you can remain in the house until the children are 18

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 07:28

Ok Custardo - you are being quite snippy and I'm not sure why.

The other problem is that the housing market is dead around here - I would be expected to carry on living with him while we sell two properties....we could be looking at two years of anger, animosity, recriminations and verbal abuse directed at me for not daring to love him any more. Do our kids really need two years of that?

OP posts:
Tortington · 06/02/2011 07:34

thats why you need a solicitor i suspect.

snippy is my default mode at 7.30 am when people say they havent got any money but own two porperties.

you only have a finate number of options here

seek legal advice

stay in house - legally make him leave
stay in house - live with him becuase you can't make him leave

sell house - perhaps seek legal advice as to whether you can put the new house in trust for your children - for your MILs sake.

leave all your assetts ( bonkers move IMO) and ove into rented

which you will have to pay full whack for - becuase benefits don't give housing benefit to people who own two properties - quite rightly.

i am being snippy becuase here is a man who, treats you like shit - in your own words - like shit, and here you are stll thinking of HIM

fuck him
fuck the MIL

think of your children FIRST - they need a home.

Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 · 06/02/2011 07:37

He needs to move into the flat and you guys stay in the house by the sounds of it. You need some financial independence too, what did you do before you had kids?

Can you speak to his mother about his issues? If he is like this to you, he may have been like this to her growing up?

Why don't you go and get some legal advice? Posting in relationships might also get you more readers.

Sorry to hear your unhappiness. In the meantime you need to cut him dead when he calls you these names by just calmly stating you will not tolerate being name called in front of your children. A real father/ man wouldn't do that. And if it persists walk into another room and shut the door. Don't be an audience for this man's attention seeking tantrums. He sounds like a toddler.

Where is your family. Can you go away for half term without him?

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 07:41

No family really - my mum died a few years ago.

If I try to leave a row he follows me and tells me I'm sulking.We have only lived in this house for two years...I don't really know anyone around here well enough to land on their doorstep seeking refuge for a bit. There's nowhere for me to escape to.

Before I had kids I had a series of shit no hoper jobs. I have no qualifications, no money behind me, and no moral right to my home.

OP posts:
Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 · 06/02/2011 07:46

Custardo from the ops point of view she wouldn't have any liquid assets is her point.

Lots of people move from a flat when they start a family, and the ops mil helped them by investing for her dc's future. So it sounds like the op is misguidely trying to protect her kids future more than her husband.

It does take time to sell a property. But you don't have that time really op, you kids are suffering.

Op, my mum waited till her mil, my darling gran died before leaving my dad, so we ended up staying in misery until we were 18. Then the messy angry divorce happened when we were adults, and they involved us in every detail of it, it was awful.

Don't subject your kids to this anymore. Please. He needs to leave, even if it means going back with his mother. Tell him you cannot carry on being belittled and as he won't get help you have no choice but to instigate divorce proceedings duet his unreasonable behaviour.

Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 · 06/02/2011 07:52

Go to the smallest room in the house, and lock the door. Or walk Into the garden, or outside. Bullying coward as he is he probably won't shout in front of the neighbours will he? Everyone thought my dad was Mr. Nice Guy. He was an abusive childish turd.

Your children need to hear you tell him it is unacceptable.

You don't deserve the house morally?? You deserve it and more for putting up with this childish wanker.it will still be an investment for your children's future.

It sounds like this is a statement your husband wants to drive home in your head.

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 07:52

And I will NOT 'fuck the MIL' - she has shown me untold kindness and acceptance and I should think that selling the house she so lovingly bought for both of us to raise our children in, and sodding off with my half, would piss her off.

I don't care about H - but I have no reason to throw her generosity and kindness back in her face by saying 'oh well, turns out I don't want your son after all...but I'll keep half the house - ta!'

OP posts:
Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 · 06/02/2011 07:54

You are not keeping half the house you are reinvesting for her dgcs future....

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 07:55

Binfull - I do , really I do - I say 'please don't speak to me like that' and 'please stop, the children are right here' and his response can be either to quieten down or tell me to go fuck myself depending on his mood.

But I DO protest and I DO make it clear his manner is unacceptable.

OP posts:
Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 07:56

I really really need to speak to my mil huh?

OP posts:
Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 · 06/02/2011 08:03

I think you should...if you can? How old is she, and is she in good health?

Record him speaking to you like this on your phone. I would be thoroughly ashamed if my son if he grew up like this. What was his dad like?

Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 · 06/02/2011 08:05

No not " please stop" sweetheart - it's not a polite request! You state he stops, you don't ask, you tell him. I will not accept you belittling me in front of my children. Go away until you have calmed down enough to treat me with the respect I deserve.

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 08:06

His dad is similarly shy and quiet, but as far as I know does not display the same issues with anger as my H does.

My mil is late sixties and in great shape! She only lives round the corner from us....we chose this house particularly so the kids' granny would be close by. As I said before, my own mum died some years ago.

OP posts:
zippy539 · 06/02/2011 08:07

Yup. But I would be tempted to speak to a lawyer FIRST. Divorce can be messy and you have no idea how your MIL (with the best will in the world) will respond or who's 'side' if anyone's she will take.

Your MIL sounds like a nice person but you need to know your rights - and hearing them from a professional might clarify things for you before you talk to MIL.

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 08:07

Binfull - tried that - it just results in heightening his anger.

I have tried everything. I have nothing left to give.

OP posts:
Longtalljosie · 06/02/2011 08:17

Do you own both the house and the flat outright?

Weirdigan · 06/02/2011 08:20

No - the house we are in we own outright, but the flat, which we have only not sold already because the market is dead, is mortgaged, and rented out.

OP posts:
Longtalljosie · 06/02/2011 08:22

How much is the mortgage? Is it small enough for your husband to handle fairly easily?

Teaandcakeplease · 06/02/2011 08:23

I'd go and see citizens advice first of all and talk to them about it all and see what they suggest. They'll be able to inform you of your rights. I know he's only verbally abusive but Womens Aid maybe very helpful as well actually.

I stayed with family with my children when we first separated and took it from there.

Teaandcakeplease · 06/02/2011 08:24

I do not work either right now btw so felt the same as you at this stage.