Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Divorce/separation

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

Hand hold please

250 replies

Username112233 · 17/09/2022 11:19

My husband and I have split up 2 weeks ago after 17 years together, married for 8 with a 7 year old son. We've not really got much in common anymore apart from
Our son. Not been getting on for 4 months, I wanted to try make it work and get the spark back but he didn't.

I'm really struggling to be honest so looking for a bit of support. It's amicable, I think the daily drudge of life got in the way. I struggle with anxiety/depression, we lost both sets of dads within months of each other a couple of years ago which I think has taken its toll. We still love each other, but he says there's nothing there anymore. To be honest I've not felt like myself and our son and have been a priority of his for a while, he rarely done bedtime or anything as a family as he was always out with his friends. I felt guilt doing anything with mine as I feel it was an inconvenience for him.

I'm just looking for a bit of support really. He has moved out to stay with his mum, still paying his share of bills etc whilst myself and son are in family home. He's away on holiday with his friends this weekend and I've not heard from him (which isn't unusual, but makes me feel crap all the same). I'm really sad that 4 months of not getting on for 17 years together isn't enough to fight for. His mum says he's struggling (we get on brilliant) Has anyone else been through anything similar? I'm barely holding it together. I really hope he realises what he's done but can't see it. Does anyone have any help?

OP posts:
Username112233 · 25/09/2022 18:08

Thank you @Whereisthelove2 I'm trying to think with my head but it's really really hard. The weekends I don't have our son are horrific, I know I need to get out my bed and push myself out of my comfort zone but I'm not quite there yet

How did you get through it?

OP posts:
Whereisthelove2 · 26/09/2022 11:24

I’m not through it yet, so much stress as I’m left dealing with the responsibilities of our life together. When he left it took 2 months for him to tell the children, not out of care just because he was a coward. He told so many lies, claiming he there was nobody else and he wasn’t dating etc. 6 months later someone contacted me after reading all my messages trying to get him to see the kids. He has made out he was being stopped and I was a psycho. This lady blocked him and has never spoken to him since. And there were other women too which all came out, pretty much from the moment he left the home. I didn’t know about all of this at the time and was clinging on to hope feeling we had too much between us to throw it all away. At the time he was away with others (without me knowing) he also kept things going with me - it was false hope when really he knew all along he wouldn’t be back. He had checked out when he was still here, not being involved with the children and me. He seemed to admire the single life. He is too selfish to have a family and responsibilities of family life. Mine said he didn’t feel loved by me which I felt terrible about for a long time but I now know this was only an excuse. I was a good partner.

Don’t trust a word of what his is saying. Only give him the time of day if he returns saying he wants to fix this and means it.

Findingmeagain · 26/09/2022 15:59

Just got home from work and thinking I don't know how people find the time and energy to start dating again anyway. I have been up since 5.45, walked the dog, worked, put dinner in the oven and a load in the washing machine. Now all I want is to go to bed. No wonder he has felt lonely enough to go looking for company ! He's got too much time on his hands.

Username112233 · 26/09/2022 20:53

I want to get back out there but I'm scared to 😩 Said yes to a couple of things this weekend that I wouldn't normally so that's a start

OP posts:
Whereisthelove2 · 26/09/2022 23:41

@Findingmeagain i wonder this too!

ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 27/09/2022 06:16

I have definitely enjoyed doing stuff ‘just’ beyond my comfort zone, and have said Yes to some (as it turned out) great experiences, and made some new friends too.
It’s not going to happen overnight.
Its all baby steps.

Just get out for a walk, meet a friend, hug your mum, feed the ducks, try an exercise class, find a councillor, read a book… meditate. Anything that gets you out of the house and your head temporarily.

Username112233 · 27/09/2022 09:58

My fear is that now I've got time to myself, I don't know what to do with it. The weekends without my son are horrendous. All I wanted was a break now and again. Now I've got a permanent one, it's so lonely 😭 Everyone my age is settled with kids/husbands of their own so I feel like im invading their time. It's never a position I wanted to be in, and it's very sad. I've realised now that I accepted the bare minimum, and people around me are saying they saw issues with his attitude that they wouldn't have put up with. Looking back the bar was so low and he couldn't reach it, so why do I feel so shitty? What's also bothering me is now realising he checked out of this whilst we were still together so he's fine now, whilst myself and son are completely and utterly floored by this

OP posts:
AndPeggy08 · 27/09/2022 11:31

@Username112233

I know I’ve said it before, but your whole situation sounds so incredibly similar to mine. Almost identical in some ways.

Mine had definitely checked out a long time ago (but didn’t tell me) and that’s what I’m struggling with now because I’m still begging him to come back and am distraught - whereas he has made his decision, is happy with it and frankly looks straight through me now when I try to chat about things. It’s like he’s put a barrier up and he really doesn’t care a toss how I’m feeling - he can’t see why I would be upset.

We

AndPeggy08 · 27/09/2022 11:35

Oops pressed send by accident:

We had a quick chat this morning when he picked the kids up to drop them at school - he’s keen to come round tonight and sort our finances - only a week or so ago he told me he would carry on paying for everything as normal but the guilt has clearly subsided and now he doesn’t want to carry on paying for things.

I never expected him to keep paying long term but am shocked it’s taken only a week to decide he needs to only give me the bare minimum. I showed him a screenshot of the CMS calculation I did online and he wanted to know how it got to that figure so I don’t think he’s going to be too easy to work with ☹️

Hope you’re as ok as you can be User - totally understand how you are feeling right now so ((big hugs)) to you

Cluckycluck · 27/09/2022 11:52

I dropped out for a couple of days. This whole journey is an absolute roller coaster and I don't know how I'm feeling one moment to the next.

He came to move some furniture on Sunday as I have workmen in this week and to take DD and the dog out.

I kept calm and tried to be as normal and friendly as possible for DDs sake. I then had a series of messages that evening asking why I was being so nice to him and then deep down he knows this isn't what he wants. He said he regrets the separation but doesn't know how to fix us.

Username112233 · 27/09/2022 12:52

@AndPeggy08 mine had definitely checked out long ago and not told me. In fairness though, so had I. When I look back my partner wasn't overly nice to me, and then i started playing him at his own game which he clearly didn't like. I done everything to run the home whilst working FT and caring for our son. he would do 1 thing and expect praise and didn't like it when it wasn't given to him. I look back and think if I'd just fed his ego it maybe wouldn't have got to this. We both agreed we'd been unhappy for a while, but both of us were too scared to broach the subject and by the time I brought it up it was too late too repair the damage.

Our son says it's happier in the house as his dad isn't here shouting and slamming doors which confirms it's the right decision. I'm just at a stage now where I'm wondering when he'll stop paying bills etc. He doesn't want to go through CMS as he'll need to declare all his income and doesn't want to, and he says CMS is for scumbags (I disagree) Bills are due next 2 weeks so will see how that conversation goes. How you holding up @Cluckycluck? How can you not know how to fix something if you still love someone? That's a head fuck and giving you false hope

OP posts:
Username112233 · 29/09/2022 09:45

How's everybody hanging in there? I was ok yesterday now really struggling again today

OP posts:
Cluckycluck · 29/09/2022 17:02

@Username112233
Have you taken any legal advice yet?
I'm glad your son thinks it's a happier home. Are you going to have a conversation regarding bills or is it a wait and see what happens situation?

I'm very up and down. I have some good moments and then something stupid sets me off.

DH is actually here at the moment cooking dinner with DD. I'm just in a different room doing my own thing (thank God for a big house where I can successfully avoid him) I guess I'll have to talk to him later.

Username112233 · 29/09/2022 18:46

Yeah I've taken legal advice but it's a lot to take in. Just going to wait and see what happens with the bills etc. was honestly doing ok then that conversation today set me up. Just so final

OP posts:
Findingmeagain · 29/09/2022 20:00

I have reached a point of feeling quite numb. No tears left to cry but no longer angry. I have found I can make polite conversation with him but cant actually look him in the face. I am paying for everything at the house and receiving some child maintenance but have just asked for him to look at it again, as when he worked it out it was having the children 3 times a week and they have only ever stayed 1 night a week each even in the summer holidays. I think the initial shock of him seeing someone is wearing off and i am telling myself that although i am no where near ready for that yet, when i am i deserve someone who treats me better.

Maidastone · 29/09/2022 21:03

I’m sorry to hear your stories, thank you for setting up this thread @Username112233 It’s a tough and heartbreaking read - the stories, emotions and pain are so heartbreakingly similar to my own.
I lurked here for a long time wanting some advice as didn’t tell anyone IRL but the inevitable happened and we’re divorcing. It’s made me very ill.
I hope you all have good support. OP sounds like you are very level headed. Take care of yourselves best you can.
xx

Username112233 · 29/09/2022 21:46

@Maidastone I may sound level headed, but I'm far from it. Today has been horrendous as I know when it comes to the legalities it's going to get messy. He'll want to set everything without a solicitor whereas I want everything done properly. It's really put me in a tizzy but I suppose we're a long way from that yet

How are you getting on @Maidastone? Would you mind sharing your journey? I find it helps speaking to people however understand if it's not for you.

I've told everyone in real life, I've got nothing to hide. I was completely and utterly taken advantage of and it's taken me this long to see it.

OP posts:
Username112233 · 30/09/2022 11:31

I'm really struggling today ladies. First day I've taken off work since this shit show. Anyone there for a hand hold?

OP posts:
Mischance · 30/09/2022 11:37

We still love each other, but he says there's nothing there anymore. - love is not nothing.

I am sorry that your OH is prepared to throw in the towel over 4 months of difficulties in a 17 year relationship.

I am sending you a hand hold and hope that you will get the right advice and support to be able to move on.

Username112233 · 30/09/2022 12:05

Thank you @Mischance We've been living like housemates for a while, it's honestly the worst feeling in the world.I'm getting help but feel like nothing is working. Only communications are about our child, even then it's cold. It's just so final and I'm just not coping well at all. I honestly feel like I've been hit by a train.

OP posts:
Whereisthelove2 · 30/09/2022 21:43

The stories on here are so similar to mine. I can feel your pain, I remember all these feelings.

Don’t listen to them saying about wanting to keep CMS out of it - get the best situations for yourselves whilst you can. Once you the guilt goes away they become far worse than before.

Maidastone · 30/09/2022 23:10

Thank you for checking in @Username112233 sorry to hear that you are having another bad day of it. I hope you are ok this evening? Thank you for asking but my story is an all too familiar and miserable cliche found on the MN relationship board.

Three years ago lots of red flags - behaviour change, offhand, sudden interest in appearance, gym, late home, ‘change’ in work pattern meant working overnight, a receipt for goods that never made it home, lack of explanation etc. Then Covid hit - rarely sleeping at home, never having a weekend off due to ‘working so much’, not taking annual leave including Xmas, birthdays, bank holidays etc (presumably taking it on the sly), losing track of time, no sexlife for nearly 3 years, protective of car and overnight bag…lying and deflecting when questioned. So very obvious…

Five months ago - one arguement where I raised the issues/concerns. His response was the script, ‘I love you…but not sure I’m in love with you…not sure I see a future… we’ve not been happy for ages and fighting loads.. etc.’ I pointed out that I couldn’t argue with a constantly absent person, so basically re-writing history.

One failed couple’s counselling session he was reluctant to attend (she tore him a new one for his poor behaviour) and four weeks later, ‘he’ decides it’s over…cold and cruel. Two weeks after announces divorce proceedings- so it’s gone at a rate of 0-100mph.

All comms through solicitors (which I appreciate is not a viable option for everyone) but he knows how to play the game, so am expecting a fight.

Today, I’m told he’s created a new FB profile with photo out and about at an event with other woman… excellent!

I’m three months on from the ‘the chat to end all marriages’ and it’s still very raw, compounded by ongoing stress and exhaustion. Like many of you, life has been turned upside down, lost my home and fearful of the future. Friends and family know and have been so kind but it’s a painful, lonely and personal journey.

I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to have to keep going for your child/children. I hope that despite all the worry, that they are a source of strength to you. I don’t have children but that has it’s own issues, late 30’s so mourning the loss of the opportunity to have a family. I feel he has wasted ten years of my life for nothing.

I blame myself for being so stupid for not ending it years ago instead of allowing him to decide when to throw this grenade into our lives and to walk away happy as larry, having kept the pin as a token reminder of how lucky he is to be free of me. I put more faith in our marriage vows, denial and the fear of throwing everything away considering all we’d been through (sunk cost fallacy).

But it was all a lie. He is a living ghost of someone who never loved or cared about me and is now a stranger.

Sorry this is long, have never written it all down before. Sending sympathy and ‘hold on in there’ wishes to you. Xx

HammerMyhome · 30/09/2022 23:17

He will have been thinking about this for a lot longer than a few months. This happened to me after a similar length relationship - we are very amicable still. What struck me is your language about not feeling ‘like you’ and ‘being an inconvenience’. A poor relationship drags you down so slowly it’s almost imperceptible. As someone 2 years on from the separation I will say my life and mental health are a million times better. I’m happier than I’ve been in years. You will not only get through this but you’ll thrive.

feel free to DM me if you want support

HammerMyhome · 30/09/2022 23:21

And on a practical level come on over to Frolo app where you’ll meet hundreds of people in similar positions and realise life continues

and, believe me, you will learn to LOVE your child free weekends. You’re a much better parent when you have a happy and productive social life!

Findingmeagain · 01/10/2022 06:55

So sorry to wake up and read you are struggling OP. Dont feel guilty about taking time off work. Some days are definitely trickier than others. I tell myself that just because yesterday was bad doesn't mean today will be. I went out for drinks with friends after work but snuck off early as was getting tearful and didn't want to bring everyone down. I think I put ex on a pedestal but it turns out he's just like all the rest, so many women going through exactly the same, such a cliché its disappointing. I long to be 2 years down the line so I can look back and realise I am happier without him.

Swipe left for the next trending thread