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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.

After holding it together all Christmas... I finally exploded

52 replies

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/01/2025 03:31

Living with STBEXH. I got home from having taken the kids out all day to him enjoying a relaxing evening having done bugger all to tidy up or clear the kitchen. Same old story. I went up stairs and left him to put the kids to bed, which he did. I then returned and completely lost my shit with him. I even surprised myself. All around the fact that he doesn't pull his weight around the house. I somehow brought up his affair (from 10 months ago) and I am shocked at how I felt so angry and let rip at him. By this point, we were both clearing the kitchen and tidying up as I think he realised that he needed to get up and help in case I got even more mad. I was shouting and swearing which is very unlike me. That is usually how he behaves. I just didn't feel like behaving 'reasonably' as I was so cross. Once he finally went to bed, I cried on the sofa, realising that I am angry about how every single thing over xmas has been a 'last'. Our last Xmas lunch together as a family. We are mid divorce. Last time putting up the tree together. Last time kids opening stockings with us both. I am wrecked with guilt as STBEXH doesn't want to divorce so I'm being blamed for doing it. He had an affair. Plus our children are unaware of the fact we are separating and I feel bad for betraying them. We still have to live together until our house sells and it hasn't even got onto the market yet. I feel so sad and so angry, and just couldn't even hold it in this evening.
I'm also mad because I read some of my old text messages from this time last year. I told him I wanted a divorce and I remember now he'd persuaded me not to do it. He then went to have the affair a few months later. I feel like such a mug.
Just need some kind words or people who have experienced similar guilt and feeling everything is the 'last time'. It really hurts.

OP posts:
GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 03:39

Good for you OP for giving him a few home truths. You are doing the right thing by getting shot of him so don’t let him guilt trip you into changing your mind.
It sounds hellish at the moment but just think about how much happier and more relaxed you will be by this time next year. Try to focus on your new life without him and try not to get emotionally worn down by him. xx

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 04/01/2025 03:43

Sounds like that explosion was months in the making. I can't offer any advice, other than to get that house on the market, the quicker you get out of this limbo the better for you all.
It's ok to feel what you feel, it's a messy time. Maybe don't be so hard on yourself though. You're not the one who should be feeling guilty.

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/01/2025 03:45

Thank you so much. I just kept looking backwards and feeling so sad and then the anger today. I've wasted/ruined the last few years of my (and my kids) life but not acting on my instincts to get away.

OP posts:
BecuaseIWantItThatWay · 04/01/2025 03:46

It sounds like letting rip was just what you needed @tellmesomethingtrue. It's a healthy emotional response to allow yourself to be angry when that is how you feel. Clearly you have been unhappy with STBEXH for a while and no doubt tonights situation with you coming home from looking after children and him relaxing when the house was a mess was a trigger for you - you'd think he'd buck his ideas up given you're mid divorce (particularly if he doesn't want it!) - but alas no change!

However, please don't put all the responsibility on yourself re your children. Separated parents is better than a home full of conflict. Understand your sadness though, and sending you best wishes 💐

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/01/2025 03:48

Thank you. Yes, we will be better parents when separated.
I'm also angry that he keeps suggesting we wait to divorce or it's better for the kids if we continue us to live together for another couple of years. This behaviour is making it very hard for me to make the split. I'm in emotional turmoil most of the time. I have records of the emotional abuse I've had to put up with.

OP posts:
Gowlett · 04/01/2025 03:57

Don’t tidy the house (watching football etc) then complain about the state of the house… He doesn’t think it’s his job!

Don’t blame you for losing it, sounds like a tough situation.

BecuaseIWantItThatWay · 04/01/2025 04:06

he keeps suggesting we wait to divorce or it's better for the kids if we continue us to live together for another couple of years

Of course he does, he's got it great with you and is hoping that in time he can convince you not to go through with the divorce at all! Saying it's for the children is BS when he is making no changes to be a better husband!

Stick with your guns OP. Bin the CF. 🚮

AffableApple · 04/01/2025 04:32

Sounded like that was a long time coming. Just be aware the kids might have heard, or may hear during future arguments, so it might be worth having The Talk ASAP. Good luck, OP. Next Xmas/New Year will be far more chilled. When you're going through Hell, keep going. Nearly there xx

Rainbowqueeen · 04/01/2025 04:41

Op you are doing so well. This is incredibly stressful for you. Can you get some counselling? You need a safe space to vent about the twat. Also for support. You are absolutely doing the right thing in divorcing. Your mental health is important and if he truly cared about the kids he would never have had an affair.

Is there much time yet before the house goes on the market?

Sending you warm wishes and a big hug

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/01/2025 10:13

Thank you for the kind words

OP posts:
ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 10:30

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/01/2025 03:31

Living with STBEXH. I got home from having taken the kids out all day to him enjoying a relaxing evening having done bugger all to tidy up or clear the kitchen. Same old story. I went up stairs and left him to put the kids to bed, which he did. I then returned and completely lost my shit with him. I even surprised myself. All around the fact that he doesn't pull his weight around the house. I somehow brought up his affair (from 10 months ago) and I am shocked at how I felt so angry and let rip at him. By this point, we were both clearing the kitchen and tidying up as I think he realised that he needed to get up and help in case I got even more mad. I was shouting and swearing which is very unlike me. That is usually how he behaves. I just didn't feel like behaving 'reasonably' as I was so cross. Once he finally went to bed, I cried on the sofa, realising that I am angry about how every single thing over xmas has been a 'last'. Our last Xmas lunch together as a family. We are mid divorce. Last time putting up the tree together. Last time kids opening stockings with us both. I am wrecked with guilt as STBEXH doesn't want to divorce so I'm being blamed for doing it. He had an affair. Plus our children are unaware of the fact we are separating and I feel bad for betraying them. We still have to live together until our house sells and it hasn't even got onto the market yet. I feel so sad and so angry, and just couldn't even hold it in this evening.
I'm also mad because I read some of my old text messages from this time last year. I told him I wanted a divorce and I remember now he'd persuaded me not to do it. He then went to have the affair a few months later. I feel like such a mug.
Just need some kind words or people who have experienced similar guilt and feeling everything is the 'last time'. It really hurts.

I would be very careful about your behaviour. It could be interpreted as abusive.

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/01/2025 12:03

Loosing my shit once is not abusive.

OP posts:
GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 14:02

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/01/2025 12:03

Loosing my shit once is not abusive.

Definitely not abusive, OP. Ignore that ridiculous comment, you are doing so well.

Tinselinthewhoopsiebasket · 04/01/2025 14:04

Remember it isn't your fault divorce is happening.. He cheated. He broke his marriage vows not you.

Letting rip once is more than acceptable...

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 14:20

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/01/2025 12:03

Loosing my shit once is not abusive.

I would recommend you are careful. What something is and how it is construed is not necessarily the same thing.

If the boot was on the other foot and he started shouting and swearing at you, plenty of my colleagues would be advising you to cry abuse.

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 14:21

GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 14:02

Definitely not abusive, OP. Ignore that ridiculous comment, you are doing so well.

My "ridiculous" comment might save the OP a lot of unnecessary bother.

GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 14:31

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 14:21

My "ridiculous" comment might save the OP a lot of unnecessary bother.

If that is the case, it would be more helpful to the OP to provide more context in your post to explain that.

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 16:00

GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 14:31

If that is the case, it would be more helpful to the OP to provide more context in your post to explain that.

What context do you need? Shouting and screaming obscenities at someone because they don't do what you expect them to is generally not a good idea during a divorce. I thought that would be obvious, but apparently not.

GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 16:03

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 16:00

What context do you need? Shouting and screaming obscenities at someone because they don't do what you expect them to is generally not a good idea during a divorce. I thought that would be obvious, but apparently not.

Hardly abusive to do it once though and you haven’t explained why it would cause her a major issue during divorce.

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 16:09

GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 16:03

Hardly abusive to do it once though and you haven’t explained why it would cause her a major issue during divorce.

What if he had recorded it and then alleged it was common behaviour? It's not worth the risk. People applauding the OP's behaviour are at best quite immature and at worst advocating others behave in a reckless way.

DorothyStorm · 04/01/2025 16:16

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 10:30

I would be very careful about your behaviour. It could be interpreted as abusive.

I would ban you instantly just for quoting the original post. Why do that?!

@tellmesomethingtrue stop waiting to put the house pn the market. Get in on straight away. Stop doing things for him. he doesnt want to divorce as his life is much easier for him living at home and you doing all this. Next time he says he doesnt want a divorce and staying together is better for the lods, tell him that It isnt better for the kids to grow up in a house where their dad has mistresses during their childhood. It is only better for him.

GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 16:17

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 16:09

What if he had recorded it and then alleged it was common behaviour? It's not worth the risk. People applauding the OP's behaviour are at best quite immature and at worst advocating others behave in a reckless way.

I don’t think anyone is applauding the behaviour but they are trying to support the OP and they recognise that it is understandable given the years of emotional abuse she had been subjected to. She is feeling guilty for breaking up the family so we are trying to reassure her that she has no need to feel guilty and to give her morale support to keep moving forward.

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 16:20

GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 16:17

I don’t think anyone is applauding the behaviour but they are trying to support the OP and they recognise that it is understandable given the years of emotional abuse she had been subjected to. She is feeling guilty for breaking up the family so we are trying to reassure her that she has no need to feel guilty and to give her morale support to keep moving forward.

Given her behaviour and her willingness to boast about it, most judges will assume any "emotional abuse" is tit for tat. And I have to admit I think the same because of her behaviour and her posts here.

Trust me, it is a much better idea to hold it together during a divorce.

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 16:21

@DorothyStorm Seems to be quite a few people on this thread who are a bit batty to be honest!

GoldenPond88 · 04/01/2025 16:23

ShinyShona · 04/01/2025 16:20

Given her behaviour and her willingness to boast about it, most judges will assume any "emotional abuse" is tit for tat. And I have to admit I think the same because of her behaviour and her posts here.

Trust me, it is a much better idea to hold it together during a divorce.

I think you are just being deliberately goady now.

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