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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.

My 40th = pants

11 replies

PinkGorilla · 22/02/2025 17:33

It's my 40th birthday today and I can't stop crying. 3 weeks ago my husband ended our relationship via emailing me a divorce application. Since then he's pushed me away as fast as possible, already offering houses to buy me and meeting his solicitor to draw up a separation agreement ASAP. I am now trying desperately to get through my 40th, but finding I'm having to hide in my bedroom so the kids can't see me crying. We had to tell them about the separation yesterday as village gossip started to get around and we didn't want them to hear about it at school. No idea why I'm writing on here. I'm just laid in my bed feeling really alone. Mum took me for a pub lunch, but I just couldn't find the energy to chat hardly.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 22/02/2025 17:38

Sounds like he’s already found your replacement, sorry.

ThisUsernameIsAvailabl · 22/02/2025 17:42

DustyLee123 · 22/02/2025 17:38

Sounds like he’s already found your replacement, sorry.

Christ. That's a blunt response to someone clearly suffering.

OP you have a journey to go through and it will take time to process everything. You are having a shite time now but you WILL emerge from the other side older, wiser and stronger. Take your time and when you get to 41 you'll look back from a better place.

PrincessofWells · 22/02/2025 17:43

Get legal advice so you know your rights and entitlement.

XelaM · 22/02/2025 17:45

Happy birthday OP 🎂 🍰 🧁 don’t let the jerk ruin it

HipHipWhoRay · 22/02/2025 17:47

Sorry this has happened- You’ll get practical advice soon, but seems particularly cruel just ahead of your birthday, and half term where there’s no respite from the kids either.

But, see your 40s as your best decade to come. Get practical whilst he might have some guilt. You can do this, new and better future awaits.

atotalshambles · 22/02/2025 17:50

Happy Birthday OP. I would do whatever you want to for your birthday and not worry about it being a 'special birthday'. I would absolutely get legal advice and try to limit your contact with you H. Sending you a big hug.

Mumofoneandone · 22/02/2025 17:50

Happy birthday 🎂 find a film to watch with your children. Allow them to see you are hurting.....
Whilst this is awful of your husband, it may turn out to be the best birthday present he ever gave you!
He's also done it in a totally cowardly way.
Get some legal advice asap and don't allow him to push or bully you into anything. You are in a state of shock and just need to take whatever time you need.

andyouwillknowusbythetrailofdead · 22/02/2025 17:51

Wow @DustyLee123 you sound nice!

OP - first, happy birthday. Please believe me when I say things WILL get better and you WILL find happiness and fulfilment again. Your H sounds like he's had an empathy bypass. You may not feel it now, but one day you'll look back and thank him for setting you free to find a better life. You're just entering your prime; he's on the downward slope.

Have a cry and some cake. You've got this x

Toohardtofindaproperusername · 22/02/2025 18:00

OK. Shit way to end a marriage, but I promise that in time you will look back and say this was a gift for your 40th. What you may need to do now is find a way to mark your birthday. 40 and fabulous. Who are your close friends, what do you find pleasure in, or what do you need to do for yourself right now? If it's cry, don't let them or him see you do it - book a fabulous hotel in a fabulous city and go there and cry. If it's a week off work, and you and friend can go away, book a place in the sun. You'll struggle to do it, and it may seem crazy, but don't look back at your 40th and see it as only about this. Like the theatre? Go to London and go to a show.
He may, and likely does, have a replacement. But he is cowardly. YOU mumsnetter, have a 40th birthday to celebrate, and a whole life ahead of you that can, and will, be joyful again.
How old are your kids, and please book some time for youreslf and tell him, by email, that you are going and he needs to look after the kids. Don't ask him his plans first, book your tickets first. It's a maasive assumption on my part, but i'm imagining you do majority of childcare and he swans off to work and assumes you will be continuing to do his share of that work. Don't. Get yourself a break, make it fabulous

And of course what others have said re advice, time, etc. But you can and will be ok. And you will be better because the way he has done this shows a distinct lack of character - it's shit!

EnjoythemoneyJane · 22/02/2025 18:28

DustyLee123 · 22/02/2025 17:38

Sounds like he’s already found your replacement, sorry.

Jesus. Falling over yourself to be first comment were you? First thought pops up, bang it out and press post without any consideration for the context or whether your remark would be in any way appropriate or helpful? But first though, so well done you.

So sorry, OP - this is really shitty and sad. It does sound like he’s way ahead of you and you need to catch up and get on the same page as him, which is difficult if you’re bewildered and in shock.

The fact this is a big birthday is bound to make you feel worse, but don’t let it engulf you. I’d be inclined to park the 40th for a minute - it’s really just another day - and concentrate on the things that are going to actually make a difference to you going forward.

Taking action to protect yourself and your children, getting your finances and legal position in order, gathering your allies and support network, understanding your rights.

Because when all of that’s done, you can have a proper celebration. You can and will get through this, and when you come out the other side - whenever that may be - you can do whatever the hell you want in whatever style you want to mark the occasion. It’ll be better than 40, it’ll be a celebration of the future and everything that’s still possible.

Forty is young. You’ve got lots of life and happiness ahead of you 💐

belle40 · 22/02/2025 19:12

Happy Birthday OP! Very similar happened to me, try and do something nice for yourself. I promise in a year you will look back and see how much progress you have made.

I echo others, don't let your husband bully you into hasty decisions. Get some good legal advice and take your time.

Very best wishes to you.

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