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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.

learning to let go

19 replies

vintagechampagne1 · 22/10/2018 12:56

Hi lovely people of mums net. I've posted on here before and got some excellent advice and a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes I just need to get things off my chest and hear from people that have been in the same situation.
Basically me and my husband had been together for 14 years, married for 5 and have a 4 year old son together. I had my suspicionse earlier in the year that he was having an affair and this was confirmed when I caught him over her house back in April. I threw him out of our house (which we have a mortgage) and he rented a room in a house round the corner from us. He has said he was sorry in a round about way (in a txt) but then continues to say I never realised how unwanted I made him feel !!! And he needed to speak to someone...hence the OW at work who was single and 10 years younger which he has continued to be with and start a new life with.
He changed when we had our son. We both worked full-time in good jobs with comfortable income between us. I felt when our son was born my life changed over night whilst he went about his daily business like nothing had happened. Full-time work which was long hours and then the gym 4/5 nights a week that was always 2 hours. I felt like I was bringing our child up on my own. He said he was suffering from depression and in hindsight I think this was a cover up story for what was really going on. I think he couldn't deal with the responsibility of a child or how to be a dad. I tried to help him but I couldn't make him be my husband or his father, that was something he would have to do on his own.
At times I feel scared to be on my own but many people have told me I was doing it already without even realising it. I can only be the best parent I can be and hope he matches me. Since he has left he has seen our son from school one evening then drop him bk the following morning. This really upsets me as he deserves more than a few hours of someone's time let alone his dad. At the start our son used to ask where he is but now he doesn't seem bothered. His dad doesn't contact in between visits and that makes me angry too, he will occasionally text and ask if he can ring but it will be at 21:00 when he's asleep in bed. Now he wants him to go to fireworks do at his mum n dads and the ow has been invited..alongside me. I don't think his parents realise how much this still hurts me. I'm told I should just move on and at least it's all out in the open. I'm so glad other people feel that way but I'm supposed to eat that shit sandwich and say how nice it was!

My main reason for this post is I'm finding it hard to let him go and move on. I loved this man and put him on a pedal stool for far too long. I don't like the idea of this ow meeting our son or having any part in his life. I don't want to pick the pieces up again when I'm still trying to sort my own feelings out. I feel like I have been replaced and I'll admit I don't like it.

OP posts:
noego · 22/10/2018 14:30

So your ex blamed depression, then blamed you, then blamed his DS for being born for his behaviour and rather than being dutiful to his wife and having a conversation with you about how he was feeling he went and spoke to a stranger about it all. Great guy!!
The downside OP is you get to eat the shit sandwich because of his selfishness.
Perhaps its not so much as learning to let go but a recognition that this person isn't who you thought he was and accept that.
If this woman is in his life then he will be in your sons life, shit I know but it has to be accepted. As for mixing with them at social occasions, you don't have to do that. In fact you don't have to see them at all.
Shit sandwiches are hard to swallow, but eventually they turn to sugar.
OW may have done you a favour.
Have a read of chump lady

Flowers
ShipwreckedUK · 22/10/2018 14:44

I've recently started reading Chumplady too, would totally second that!

vintagechampagne1 · 22/10/2018 14:56

Yes noego your right. It was never his fault. He has a way of making people feeling sorry him. When I confronted the OW she sounded just as needy as him and they need reassurance all the time on their appearance. He is too obsessed with the way he looks, tanning, the gym etc to worry about anyone else in his life. Selfish me was too busy bringing our child up whilst he was pruning himself. I have seen that site and it's made me feel a bit better. I know deep down she has done me a favour but its fear of the unknown and uncertainty

OP posts:
noego · 22/10/2018 15:38

Don't worry about the future. You cannot predict it. Take it daily and re-create as you go.
Flowers

vintagechampagne1 · 22/10/2018 16:06

Thanks noego, I try to have things to look forward to and lately have been feeling OK but then I find something else out and it hurts again and makes me anxious again. I know I will never be replaced in my son's life but I just don't like the idea of them playing happy families with my son.

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noego · 22/10/2018 16:41

@vintagechampagne1

but I just don't like the idea of them playing happy families with my son

That's all it is an 'idea'! you do not know the reality of their relationship. Do not let your mind create fictitious scenarios. They are only thoughts and thoughts are not REAL.

You get to have real time with your son. The everyday minute by minute up and downs that create the true bonding of mum and son. Concentrate on that.

Your ex and ow are playing out the Disney love story............it's all unreal. She still has to wash his shitty undies and wipe the pee stains from the toilet rim. It isn't all that it's made out to be...........but that little voice in your head will make it bigger than it really is. DON'T LISTEN to it.
Take each day as it comes and when the thought pops into your head, realise that, that is all it is. A thought!! It'll go if you do not believe in it.

vintagechampagne1 · 23/10/2018 09:59

Your message made me laugh noego as he wears fake tan and it used to drive me mad cleaning the 'orange' bathroom after he had been in there. Also he used to turn the bed sheets orange too so I brought a new white duvet cover when he left purely cause I could! I don't miss that or picking his pants up where he left them. You soon forget all the horrid habits he had or things he said and done and look bk with Rose tinted glasses, but the reality was all that glittered was not gold. He's not the same man I met and fell in love with all them years ago. That's who I mourn the loss of, not the shell of the man I have to deal with now.

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vintagechampagne1 · 23/10/2018 10:05

Your right about his new relationship. He said he stays at her house (well her mums!) as 'it's a constant reminder coming back here'! He's running away from his responsibilities and can feed her all the bull crap of how I'm such a horrid person. The reality hasn't kicked in yet. I know he will be doing everything in his power to make himself seem interesting and be going out if his way to please her but we all know you can't keep up with that for too long. The cracks will start to show.

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noego · 23/10/2018 12:29

Meanwhile, do not give him headspace. Be the adult, Look after your DS and re-create a lifestyle for you both that is easy, comfortable and happy.

And look what you have GAINED so far. You now do not have a person in your life that has shown by his actions that he is dishonest, disloyal, without dignity, without integrity, narcissistic, childlike, and a lot more. Because he has shown his real colour, he now has to re-build his self IMAGE up again. He will do this by blaming you, by telling people how great he is, because he has an inherent fear of being judged as the bad guy. It's called impression management and he is working hard on it. Liken it to a actor playing the role on a west end stage 24/7. Hard work eh???
Let em go........................none of it I real..........

vintagechampagne1 · 23/10/2018 13:31

The crap I have to hear... all about me me me

learning to let go
OP posts:
noego · 23/10/2018 14:34

And all he had to do was to say..............................

Can we chat? I'm feeling a bit lost in this relationship.

The outcome could have been so different. Even if you had split up, at least it would have been done honestly.

Another trait discovered!! Cowardice.

noego · 24/10/2018 09:05

3397660-Life-after-a-Narcassist-advice-thread

vintagechampagne1 · 24/10/2018 18:41

Thank noego for the link but I can't seem to access it. Your previous comment is so right. I deserved honesty and the truth about how he felt rather than the lies and carrying on behind my back to make himself feel better

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noego · 24/10/2018 22:37

@vintage

The thread I tried to link is in Relationships.

AsleepAllDay · 25/10/2018 00:56

@vintagechampagne1 it's all 'i' this and 'I' that unless he wants to blame you & it becomes 'we'!

He only cares for himself & you're well rid. He will be like this with the OW eventually once the beer goggles fall off. He doesn't sound like a good man & he has no idea how to handle conflict in relationships without blaming other people which is not attractive!

vintagechampagne1 · 25/10/2018 23:09

Thanks for the link noego x

Asleepallday - you are so right. He is all about himself and he has a way if making me feel sorry or bad for him. He manipulates me and I get angry with myself for letting him do it. Nothing was ever his fault.

OP posts:
noego · 26/10/2018 08:50

@vintage

So are you learning that the way to let go is to be completely NC, to not try to fix him or make him aware he has a NPD and that you have stopped blaming yourself.
I know there is an over whelming feeling now that you have discovered his true identity that you feel like a mug for not seeing it. This feeling also has to be let go of.

The journey back to your "self" is to find that authenticity within you that was always there.

In Truth, you are a beautiful person, empathetic, compassionate, loving, loyal, honest, with dignity and integrity and above all else REAL.

Believe that rather than some NARC.

Good luck. Don't be worried about the future, it will take care of itself. just be YOU. Flowers

vintagechampagne1 · 26/10/2018 09:26

Thanks noego they are the words of encouragement I need right now and NC is the best way for me.

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