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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.

Leaving husband in military

26 replies

MollyFitz · 08/11/2024 20:10

Caught husband out at having cheated back in August, we've been cohabiting since then with the plan for DD and I to move at Christmas to live with family 6.5 hours away. He's agreed to this on and off, and it's been a real mixed bag. However in the last month he's adamant we need to fix our marriage and given time, I can forgive him/get over the betrayal. There have been screaming and raging rows between us, emotional blackmail and gas lighting on his behalf, and telling our 6 Yr old things like mummy doesn't love daddy any more, we're not going to see each other much once you move. He tells me our life won't be better for moving away, we will be a novelty for my family for a month or so and then we'll be on our own, he's going to have nothing when we leave, he accuses me of just spending the last 10-15 years waiting for him to do something like this so I could have the chance to walk away, and throwing our 26 yra together, 16 of which married, away based on 1 mistake and I should give him a second chance.

I can't take it any more, I've been an emotional and mental wreak this last month. All of this - the betrayal, fights, emotional blackmail, guilt, anger, hurt and turmoil has broken me.😭 I spend hours every evening crying alone. He away at the moment and family are coming to get us, but I feel like a coward for leaving when he's not here. I don't want a scene, I haven't got anything left in the tank and I absolutely don't want to traumatise our 6 Yr old.

But I'm taking her 6.5 hours away and the guilt for doing this is tearing me apart. It's true he's only started getting involved with her more since I said we're leaving at Christmas. His mum accused me of using DD to punish him and as a pawn to get back at him, in response to needing/wanting to be with my family. 😞 I've suggested we meet half way to do hand over at weekends, I said I'd get on a plane to take her to him if he's posted abroad, we'd alternate half terms and the bigger holiday, splitting summer. I said I want to work up to all of us being able to be together in the US with his parents for Christmas for her, but none of this was acceptable to him or his mum. I'm freaking out and racked with guilt. I feel physically ill.

I've covered for his infidelity with people by telling them my m isn't well and hinting we'll do married unaccompanied to protect his promotion prospects, career and reputation. People believe my drastic weight loss and bursting into tears looking stressed is down to that.

I'm freaking out, I can't stay but my terrified of leaving and taking DD away from dad. I feel so stressed and broken!!

OP posts:
R053 · 08/11/2024 20:18

I would focus on the move, with your family’s help, while he is gone. Keep busy with packing and organising to set up in the new area - schools, GP etc.

Cohabiting while separated is very difficult (I have done it) and you will be in a much better place to heal and put in place boundaries so the gas lighting and bullying to get back together with you stops.

Wishing you well. It is very hard. I lived in a military area and was told by a military couple we became friendly with that the military marriage breakdown rate was very high (50% from memory) and infidelity very common. Ironically, that couple then broke up not long afterwards themselves as the husband was unfaithful.

MissConductUS · 08/11/2024 20:20

I'm so sorry to hear this. In the long run, having a happy mother is what's best for your child. Divorces are unfortunately very common in the armed forces.

I'm just a bit confused by one part of your post. You said that you wanted to work up to having Christmas with his parents in the US. Is he an American serving in the US military? What country are you in now?

MollyFitz · 08/11/2024 21:26

MissConductUS · 08/11/2024 20:20

I'm so sorry to hear this. In the long run, having a happy mother is what's best for your child. Divorces are unfortunately very common in the armed forces.

I'm just a bit confused by one part of your post. You said that you wanted to work up to having Christmas with his parents in the US. Is he an American serving in the US military? What country are you in now?

We're British but his parents immigrated about 16 years ago and we've spent Christmas with them for the last 8. It's always been our family holiday as well.

OP posts:
MollyFitz · 08/11/2024 21:29

R053 · 08/11/2024 20:18

I would focus on the move, with your family’s help, while he is gone. Keep busy with packing and organising to set up in the new area - schools, GP etc.

Cohabiting while separated is very difficult (I have done it) and you will be in a much better place to heal and put in place boundaries so the gas lighting and bullying to get back together with you stops.

Wishing you well. It is very hard. I lived in a military area and was told by a military couple we became friendly with that the military marriage breakdown rate was very high (50% from memory) and infidelity very common. Ironically, that couple then broke up not long afterwards themselves as the husband was unfaithful.

Thank you, I'm exhausted and done in with it all. I feel very battered and bruised, and am experiencing immense guilt for taking her away from her dad even though I've been the default parent for everything up until a month ago.

This has broken me in so many ways, I know 6 months from now I'll be in a better place but right now... I'm on the floor.

OP posts:
millymollymoomoo · 09/11/2024 07:30

Well there’s no getting away from it, 6.5 hours is very far and weekends will be impossible -there’s no way your child should have to do this it’s far too much - so you are reducing the ability for your dd to have a meaningful relationship with her dad.

does his job involve postings away/abroad? Are they both used to long periods apart?

karmalaaaala · 09/11/2024 08:49

Goodness, you need to leave him for the abuse, gas lighting and parental alienation alone. You will feel so much better with this out of your life and without your daughter seeing it. He is putting on this awful pressure so he can carry on easily. He should be thinking why did he cause this by not keeping it in his pants. Please leave and get both of you away from him. If he chooses to alienate your daughter when he does see her that's on him. Show her a better role model. You will move on and he will stay toxic.

Brefugee · 09/11/2024 08:51

Keep to your plan - even if you do eventually decide to give it another go, you need space.

Are you in touch with SSAFA or the regimental welfare officer? Women's Aid might also be useful.

Temporaryname158 · 09/11/2024 08:57

Don’t fall over yourself to give him all these holidays and go to America with him. Thats not how it works after divorce, he seems to have you falling over yourself to accommodate him. If he wants to se this daughter he will and he’ll leave the military if that’s what it takes. I’d do anything for my children as I am sure you would too. If he doesn’t it’s telling.

also why are you hiding his infidelity to cover his blushes at work. Be open and honest

MollyFitz · 09/11/2024 10:52

millymollymoomoo · 09/11/2024 07:30

Well there’s no getting away from it, 6.5 hours is very far and weekends will be impossible -there’s no way your child should have to do this it’s far too much - so you are reducing the ability for your dd to have a meaningful relationship with her dad.

does his job involve postings away/abroad? Are they both used to long periods apart?

Thanks for commenting, it is far I agree, I've said I'm more than happy to drive half way to meet him get on a plane if he's abroad, share the main holidays if not together as a family (this is going to take some tent on achieve). It will require effort and compromise on both our parts, I'm not immune to that, something he's been lacking for a while.

I am and have been the default parent for our DD since birth in every way, however I am committed to ensuring I do the best I can to facilitate a healthy relationship between the two of them - also something which has been lacking.

OP posts:
Clearinguptheclutter · 09/11/2024 10:57

I’m sorry you find yourself in this situation but for the record I think it’s the right thing to do.

MollyFitz · 09/11/2024 11:25

Clearinguptheclutter · 09/11/2024 10:57

I’m sorry you find yourself in this situation but for the record I think it’s the right thing to do.

I'm sorry too - I loved him so much, followed him up and down the country, and he was my safe person. This has rocked my world and upended everything, I had one boundary - don't cheat😞 yet it was my safe person who did this to us and our family.

OP posts:
mpsw · 09/11/2024 11:26

Are you living in military accommodation now?

How mobile a role is he in?

Do you have a good/trustworthy welfare officer/SSAFA rep/padre handy?

Attelina · 09/11/2024 11:34

The fact that he is minimising it as being only one mistake is awful.

A mistake is accidentally leaving your wallet at home when you go shopping, not meeting up with another woman, unzipping your flies, having it off with her and then lying go your wife.

Dump him and move on.

RandomMess · 09/11/2024 11:34

His behaviour towards you and threats are emotionally abusive, he's trying to bully you into staying. Your marriage is unlikely to ever recover from that.

He has choices whether to stay in forces or not. Seems like he wants it all on his terms zero confidence compromise.

Brefugee · 09/11/2024 12:52

Honestly, please speak to SSAFA right away, they will point you in the right direction in terms of what to do and who to speak to.
Mention the abuse -the military don't always just pay lip service to family support, sometimes they actually do it.

Redwinedaze · 09/11/2024 13:04

Get off the floor Molly, you’ve got wonderful freedom ahead of you, no more gaslighting and arguments, stop trying to please the person who has hurt you and caused this.

Stick to the practicalities whilst you heal and get your strength back.

AgileGreenSeal · 09/11/2024 13:16

The guilt you feel is misplaced.
He broke the marriage, not you.

Your need now is to provide a stable, happy, safe and secure home for your daughter.

Of course he’s going to lie to her and make it all out to be your fault. That just shows what sort of man he really is - not a man who got caught once made one ‘mistake’ but a man who thinks nothing of trying to poison his daughter’s relationship with her mother to cover up his unfaithfulness.

Hold your head up, go to your family and don’t look back. Don’t feel obliged to cover up for him anymore. Make sure you take with you every document or item from the marriage that you will need / want in the future.

best wishes xx

TickingAlongNicely · 09/11/2024 13:20

Unless its changed, if you go to welfare d say you ate separati g, he'll be entitled to so gle accommodation and you can stay in the house for a few months. Might be a healthier situation for you both.

valueyourself · 09/11/2024 15:15

I'm afraid no judge is going to allow you to move his child 6.5 hours from 'the jurisdiction'. (The area where your child normally lives) The max would be about 90 minutes. You will be told ld to be

valueyourself · 09/11/2024 15:18

Oops .. bring him back unless there was a compelling reason that allow this absence from his other parents life.

... and if this was exceptionally allowed. You would have to bear the cost of facilitating his contact.

Vespanest · 09/11/2024 15:35

valueyourself · 09/11/2024 15:18

Oops .. bring him back unless there was a compelling reason that allow this absence from his other parents life.

... and if this was exceptionally allowed. You would have to bear the cost of facilitating his contact.

The military can be different especially if in quarters and no guarantee that the husband will remain based in an area.

buybuysellsell · 09/11/2024 15:45

Gosh, I wouldn't be covering for his infidelity. I'd be telling everyone including his parents. Why should he not have to suffer the consequences of his behaviour? Why should you have to look like the bad guy?

mpsw · 09/11/2024 16:30

TickingAlongNicely · 09/11/2024 13:20

Unless its changed, if you go to welfare d say you ate separati g, he'll be entitled to so gle accommodation and you can stay in the house for a few months. Might be a healthier situation for you both.

It's 90 days from when he changes his status officially, and he has to pay the rent for that period. After that you have to pay - but they expect you to have moved out before it expires. You have no right to occupy after that period (not sure if that's the exact terminology) but as long as you have a moving out date in the offing, in practice they are unlikely to evict you if it doesn't quite meet that deadline.

If he won't move out voluntarily, then that is when you might need to involve Welfare Officer to bring pressure to bear to make it happen. Also contact HIVE. And a good SSAFA rep can be an outstanding source of support and advice on options.

So you have a breathing space without him around to work on the rest of the plan. 6.5 hours is a long way to move the DC away from their father, but because - depending on the likely mobility for his trade - it's possible that there can never be a place that is predictably going to be near him during the rest of his military career, then going to the location that gives them the best base with you might be held to be in the DC's best interests.

Another approach, if he won't move out is simply to say that the situation is intolerable, pack up the DC and move to your family (because you have nowhere else to go on short notice). That'll mean he's no longer entitled to the accommodation, and will have to deal with its surrender and all the joys of marching out.

Oreyt · 09/11/2024 16:41

@millymollymoomoo

Well there’s no getting away from it, 6.5 hours is very far and weekends will be impossible.

My husband is military and is based 6 hours away and comes home on weekends.

Op he will have to do that and stay in a hotel.

What did he think would happen?

Oreyt · 09/11/2024 16:42

I meant to highlight the first sentence.