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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

HUSBAND LEFT AFTER AN AFFAIR III - AM MOVING ON WITHOUT HIM

859 replies

solost · 10/02/2011 21:56

My husband left me in mid-August when I found out he was having an affair. My original thread (husband had an affair and I want him back) detailed the fact that I felt he had made a mistake and asked for advice on how to get him to see sense and come back to me and our 3 DCs. Four months on, he still hasn't returned and I am re-buildling my life without him. That thread is now full. This is the continuation. Thanks to all of you for your support.

OP posts:
horsesandchickens · 15/03/2011 19:36

I would put it back on him.

He needs to find a way to see/interact/raise his kids. As it is your home now it's no longer appropraiate for that to ne the base.

I suspect you will be hesitant to be too forceful on the the basis of it being 'your' home as becasue you have still not sorted out finances officially you feel he has a right to be there. But if you can get your head around the fact that you are essentially faciliating him to have all the 'good times' by being the washer/ironer/feeder etc - it may help you be stronger here.

Tell him the kids do not want to meet BB, tell him they do not want to spend time away from the life they know. Football/Dancing.

None of that should come as a suprise.

Ask him to have a think about how he will deal with this long term. As it's a bit of a catch 22. The kids do not want to meet her, yet he needs to takew more responsibility for 'raising' them, and that doesn't mean puting on a load of laundry when he's at your house.

I personally think it's his shitty mess to sort out. Although unfortnuatly I think he'll think he should get the award of Best Absent Dad. Becasue he maeks the phone calls and turns up on Saturday.

Let him come back to you with suggestions, and then you can gauge how you will deal with it from there.

tribpot · 15/03/2011 19:44

If the kids have activities on the Saturday, can they not spend time with him (out of your house, I entirely agree) on the Sunday instead?He really is just babysitting at the moment.

Lots of guys say they would like to be a SAHD, btw. They genuinely think it's all about watching Oprah and Xboxing whilst the kids entertain themselves.

Re: "He probably does have rigid rules about some of the roles of males/females in society, but is it so wrong for someone to want to provide for their family, be the breadwinner so that mum can stay at home and look after the DCs?"

Not wrong to want to be a provider. Very wrong to think gender determines which roles we can play. And further wrong if he does not value each role equally. He earnt the money because you took care of his children. One was not possible without the other.

I think it's nice that he calls as long as the kids are happy to talk. Can he Skype during the week whilst he's away?

Am confused about why he would have less money if he moved in with BB than he does now. Because he would have to contribute to her bills? Seems weird to me. Do you have any proof he actually is living in a 1-bed on the fourth floor?

solost · 15/03/2011 19:47

STAREXPAT: Thanks, was beginning to think it was just me Grin

PETE: STFU! Grin

Seriously, I sincerely hope you NEVER have to experience this. Before all this happened, I had completely different opinions on a lot of things - in fact you remind me a lot of the person I was before all this Wink - not quite sure what happened to her?

I always thought, (and said to anyone who would listen!), that if H ever cheated on me I would:

  1. Lamp him with the nearest heavy object (not PC - I know).
  2. Pack all his stuff in bin-bags and leave on the pavement.
  3. Let him know in no uncertain terms that I would never take him back EVER.

Funny how, when it actually happens to you, it's not that easy - well not for me anyway. I always assumed that a switch would be flicked in my head and I wouldnt want anything to do with the lying scumbag but unfortunately it just didnt happen.

Don't shut up by the way! Your posts are always welcome Grin

OP posts:
PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 20:05

< tiny voice >

I have experienced this, just not in this marriage, and not when I had children (which is what I meant in my last long post)

didn't want you to misunderstand..

fridascruffs · 15/03/2011 20:08

i am alone with my children, their DF used to have them part of the week and we had alternate w'ends; our separation was not due to other people (bnoth still single) (as far as I know)- just for context. ex-Dp has now left the country and has become 'Disney Daddy', only showing up for (some) holidays.
I agree with the other posters that he should take a share of the responsibiltiy, and you know the whole thing about the children seeing BB is not in your hands; if he said they were going to meet her, you'd not really be able to stop him. If she's going to be in his life (and if it's not her, it'll be somebody else)then sooner or later he's going to WANT her to meet/ be with his children. And yes it's hard, but it gets easier. I didn't have the problem of an OW and it was bad enough just not being with the children all the time, but you do get your head around it eventually.
What I wanted to say though, is it's best foryou to get a financial arrangement on pper ASAP becasue if you start to insist on him taking the children to his placeevery other w'end, he's going to need more money so as to get a suitable place. so for your own protection, you should get something in place.

I know it's hard but try not to worry about him being the disney daddy and taking them on fun outings etc while you do the hard stuff. Eventually they will understand just who did the hard graft, even if they love all the being spoilt by daddy bit in the short term. You are their rock, and it will always be you that they rely on. You don't need to feel insecure about that and worry whether that will be less the case if they go off with him for alternate weekends; you're the central person for them and you always will be. It's already clear from what's happened so far.

solost · 15/03/2011 21:27

KETTLECRISPS: Thank you, you ladies have given me a lot to think about.

HORSES&CHICKENS: You are right, I know H is getting away lightly. For the record, he has now stopped pushing me to let BB meet the DC's, since I pointed out to him it is not what SHE wants but what THEY want that matters.

He has shirked his responsibilities completely in all of this, he has never spoken to them about BB, he almost seems too ashamed to. I have always been the one that has answers their questions and let them know that everything will be OK. And I know they are reluctant to approach him, its like everyone (H & DC's) pretend its not happening/she doesnt exist. I have asked him to speak to DS about where he's at etc. but I know this has never happened.

TRIBPOT: They spend Sundays with their GP's (both PIL's & my Mum and their Aunt & Uncle (H's Bro) and their cousin - who they all adore.

This is how it has always been - 'family day', if you like, its the only time they get to spend 'quality time' - hate that phrase! with their extended family.

Sorry for the confusion over H's living arrangements, in a nutshell - H is living with BB in a 1 bed flat atm, she wanted to move into a 4 bed house, H backed of as he said he could'nt contribute financially (he is living there rent free atm, as he is paying our mortgage/bills etc). Hope that is clearer for you Smile

PETE: How did you react? Did you kick him out straight away? Thats what I always said I would do before it happened - maybe I was just too complacent!

I think having the DC's does make a difference though - I really HATE the thought of being a single parent, although I am getting used to it - albeit slowly!

STAREXPAT: Im pretty nosey too Grin

Saturdays go like this, H arrives about 9:45am - takes DS (and DD's if weather is OK) to football until 11:45ish, then takes them for lunch and drops DD's at dancing (1.00pm - 3.00pm). Whilst the girls are dancing H & DS have some 'lads time', play snooker, go shopping for Xbox games, football stuff etc. They then all arrive back about 3:15pm, the DC's show H any homework, stuff from school etc. then he leave about 4.00pm. So he's not in the house much, and I leave them to it.

OP posts:
PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 21:34

No, I didnt

but I wish I had Smile

and I would do now

would you ? knowing what you know now, if you had the chance to do things differently ...

solost · 15/03/2011 21:44

Pete, Yes I would.

The thing was, I was so blindsided, yes - he had been distant, moody - I assumed it was problems at work, there was problems at work but that wasnt it was it? I would have bet my life - seriously, that H would NEVER cheat on me.

Well got that spectacularly wrong didnt I?

I think for the first month, I simply could not comprehend that he had done this to me, I functioned, looked after the DCs that was it. Didnt eat, sleep, look after myself at all. Looking back I would do things differently, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Do you think that, because we know, we have felt and experienced this, that we never give ourselves completely to anyone that way again? Therefore it becomes easier? Would be interested in your thoughts.

OP posts:
PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 21:56

I think so

DH knows and understands the circumstances under which I would walk away without a backward glance
.. I think this touches on WWIFN's very insightful entreaties to people to talk about where their boundaries lie, rather than making assumptions

I don't trust him 100%, I never have and never will anybody not even myself

I have been accused many times on here of being a "man hater"

I am not

I do however, hate people that make a fool of me

call it arrogance, call it foolish + misplaced pride, but if someone ever were to do something so fundamentally deceitful to me again, they would not stay in my life (at least not with the same status)

black and white ? oh yes indeedy

solost · 15/03/2011 22:13

Pete, I feel the 'old me' coming back, I agree with you 100%.

No-one will ever treat me badly again.

Its not arrogance, foolish or misplaced pride - its self respect.

I will never trust anyone 100% again either - I have learned a very hard lesson. I guess I had a 'charmed life' but have come back to earth with a bump.

I do feel so much stronger though.

OP posts:
PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 22:16

It is very obvious that you are much stronger

PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 22:28

to be clear, I do not for one minute believe that my clear stance on what is dealbreaking behaviour for me would actually prevent DH cheating if that's what he chooses to do

any more than you could have "prevented" your H doing what he did

his choice...the consequences are his

the trouble is, with children involved, the consequences are much further-reaching

that is why what your H did was unforgiveable, IMO

you are a much better person than me, solost, I am quite honest in saying that my actions would have been much more punitive in nature (here comes the arrogance...)

what MN has taught me though, is that punishment hurts the punisher too, so my stance has softened from "kill the bastard" to "forge an amicable co-parenting relationship (with the cheating twat)"

from "take him for everything he's got (including his balls)" to "karma means that you make a happy new life without him and shag other men "

a good thing, I reckon Grin

WWIFN thinks I am a "work in progress" I reckon Smile

LittleMissHissyFit · 15/03/2011 22:40

Pete, a work in progress...?

Somehow glad I'm not in WWIFN area of speciality then, lord only know what she'd make of me!

Mind you, thinking more philosophically, aren't we ALL a work in progress? Aren't we all living and learning, developing and evolving?

I think Pete if you have kids, the kill the bastard approach is indeed counter-productive as it does hurt the DC. a spot of maiming him after their bedtime though, pleeease? But with no DC, bury him under the patio.! Grin

I also think that if this had not happed to Solo, she would be advising others how we are advising her. It's a whole different ballgame when you are on the receiving end of infidelity.

Solo, the failure is not yours, you held it all together for this long. Ultimately it was not you that brought the walls crashing down on your life, your family, your relationship.

You should feel stronger, you have every right to do so. You do need to take more affirmative action with him though, however hard that is.

This is going to take a while.

solost · 15/03/2011 22:40

Pete,

I understand now, that there was nothing I could have done to prevent H's affair, thanks to you lot Grin

You are right, of course, having kids makes it far worse.

And that is what hinders me I think, I look back and remember how good H was with the DC's, see how much the love him, and I just want to make it right for them again.

I hate the thought of being a single parent, I would never have chosen this path, would rather have been childless than in this situation (although I wouldnt be without them - obviously).

With regard to punishment, you are right the punishment does hurt the punisher and I think that H has inflicted his own punishment. Regardless of what you and others believe, I do see that he is starting to realise what he has lost, he took his DC's for granted when he was here - I suppose we are all guilty of that to an extent, its hard to explain but I know he is beginning to realise what he has thrown away.

I think you are pretty OK by the way Grin, work in progress? maybe thats what we all are in some way!

OP posts:
PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 22:45

Yes, we are all works in progress Grin

I agree that your H cannot fail to see (subconsciously) how he has stuffed up his life.

That is his problem though, and from what you have said about him, it does seem to be all about the "great story of HIM"

perhaps we all have him wrong, and he really is in a deep, deep pit of true, self-flagellating remorse

or perhaps, it's more like self pity which is very different to true remorse, isn't it ?

WhenwillIfeelnormal · 15/03/2011 22:48

Solost I know this has been difficult to read today, but it has clearly had a positive impact, for you to admit that your H hasn't taken any responsibility and the admission that he's still too cowardly to discuss or even acknowledge the relationship that changed his children's lives. Keep it coming Solost!

Now on to your earlier points. The children's care is not your job alone. As for your H not being able to cope with his own 3 kids because they are boisterous, well he'll bloody well have to cope. He's their Father.

As others have explained, you need to think of this as his problem. Your DS has explained why Saturdays would be a pain at Dad's place. Soon Saturdays with either of you exclusively, will be a pain for him. That's normal.

The conversation with H goes like this:

You: The DCs and especially DD are finding it too confusing with you coming to the house. I've been noticing their confusion and upset for a while, but I've been putting some of your needs before theirs, because you live so far away.

You need to see them somewhere else in future and we need to agree a fixed rota of when you'll see them and I want some Saturdays with them on my own. They want to be close to home on Saturdays, both when they are with you or I. Eventually I want to work towards you having them overnight and a shared parenting arrangement, but at the moment, the older ones are saying they don't want to come to your flat. In the interim, what do you suggest?

What will follow is a lot of wheedling and manipulation, but keep saying:

"No, you must stop coming to the house. If you want to see them, some weeks it's going to have to be weekday nights with me having them at weekends. What do you suggest?"

At some point he will mumble about possibly moving nearer home, or you can suggest it. You can then say that if he does that, he'll have to take their wishes at that stage into account about meeting and spending time with the OW. But for now, they don't want to meet her and he must see them on neutral ground. You might have to pretend at this stage that you no longer have any ideological objections to them meeting her, but that at the moment, they are saying that they don't want to.

As he's never spoken to them about her, he cannot call your bluff on that one.

Play the long game here Solost. With any luck, by the time he's moved, she won't be with him and he'll have a place of his own.

You asked too about other people's arrangements. I have several friends who are separated/divorced. I'll give you a range of examples that are most relevant to your situation.

One whose ex-partner also lives 100 miles away and has his son at his place (with OW) on alternate weekends, but now that the lad is 15 he doesn't want to go as much. Hence the Dad has started to take his son to more midweek football games, leaving work early to do this. The boy knows he is still welcome at the weekends, but the Dad understands if the boy wants to go somewhere with his mates and goes somewhere with him on the Sunday instead. He also takes him on holiday each summer hols and allows him to bring a mate. Still wasn't ideal for the female partner he left behind as she had a much bigger workload, but she learnt to develop a social life on her weekends off.

The other involves children who started a shared-parenting arrangement when they were the same age as your DCs. The two parents live close by and for the past 2 years they have lived for 3 days with one parent, 4 days with the other, then it swaps around to 3:4 the following week, ensuring that both parents get at least one weekend free or with the children each calendar month.

None of my friends has their ex-spouse coming to the house and FWIW, I have talked to a couple of them about a "friend" (you!) who is still doing this. They agree that it would never have worked, for either them or the children, plus they wouldn't have wanted to leave the house and have their privacy invaded by their ex.

In the short term, your H will have to negotiate with his parents or other friends to use their house as base camp. In the long term, he's going to have to move nearer to their schools/home.

When you're having this conversation incidentally, either hand him the completed deed of separation (must be ready to go by now as it's over 2 months since you saw the solicitor) or tell him it's coming his way.

Don't be afraid either of explaining that this isn't just for the DCs, it's also for you because you want to move on and keep your home territory sacrosanct and private from now on.

PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 22:51

to many men, especially rather sexist men, the biggest punishment they could face is for them to see the wife whom he no longer had any romantic use for move on, find themselves again and start enjoying life much more than they ever did before

and then, by the time the stupid man comes crawling back with his tail beween his legs, wifey has a hot new lover and can laugh in his ridiculous, moisturised face

PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 22:52

< hands in homework >

< polishes an apple >

WhenwillIfeelnormal · 15/03/2011 23:00

Gold star from another human being who is of course, a work in progress...Smile

PeterAndreForPM · 15/03/2011 23:03
Smile
Inertia · 15/03/2011 23:12

Hi Solost, just catching up with your thread , glad to see that things are going well, and that you have started to make arrangements with your solicitor to put a formal financial agreement in place. I'd be tempted to get this done as a matter of urgency, before you consider telling your H that you don't want him meeting the children in your house any more, and that he needs to think about moving nearer to the children. The reason for that is that he's not (so he says) contributing to the OW's household, and that he's indicated that they want to buy a bigger house together. I suspect that he/ they will say that if they are having the children overnight, or moving into a bigger house to accommodate them, then they want a greater share of your H's income for themselves to pay for it. Your financial situation needs to be watertight asap.

Think I've possibly said this before, but I'd be amazed if OW really does want to play part-time happy families with your children. I'd be willing to bet that she sees them as more of a hindrance, taking her lover away from her at weekends, siphoning off his income . I'm sure your children are utterly delightful, BTW, but she won't see it that way- and it's convenient for your H to hang about at yours on Saturdays because OW has quite possibly told him that she doesn't want the children at her house. It's in his interests to tell you that OW is desperate to have the children in their cosy life, firstly to provoke your pique/ jealousy and juggle things to keep them away from her, and secondly because he couldn't be honest enough to admit that the children are actually not a part of his future with OW.

I'd agree with what others have said about it being confusing for the children for him to be in your home with the children. (I don't have this situation now, but my parents were divorced, and we spent every weekend with my dad, he'd do a 120 mile round trip each weekend, and after a couple of years moved nearer.We always went to his though.)

Have been trying to think of a solution that would mean that your children could go to your H without missing out on other stuff. Couple of ideas, but they'd mean the children staying at OW's flat (I am 99.99% certain this will piss her off more than it does you, though of course that isn't your concern!)

One idea- your H picks the children up from school on Friday, takes them back to OW's , then brings the children back and takes them to Saturday activities , you then collect them from Saturday activities so H doesn't have to come to your house at all.

Alternative idea- if you visit your PIL as part of your Sunday family day, H could pick the children up from there on Sunday say after lunch, take them to OW's house, and then drive them back for 9am school on Monday. He'd then have to take some responsibility for sorting uniform, making lunches, getting the children up and out (they could sleep in the car).

gettingeasier · 16/03/2011 07:13

Hi Solost

What Inertia said about the financial situation is spot on.

My xh began our arrangement of every wednesday and alternate weekends plus holidays from the day he left. He lives nearby and so our dc are fortunate in that they can effectivley live the same lives with us both. We each do ds football etc on our own weekends , it works very well.

As has been said your H is going to have to decide where he is going to live and unless there are compelling work reasons then it should be near to his dc.

I asked that the dc be kept away from his ow when he left and this was respected for 4 months and then she slithered gradually in. XH rang one evening and said he was stuck for someone to collect ds and would I mind if ow picked him up . I made the choice at that point to bow to the inevitable.

I hate to say this but coming to terms with the dc involvement with her and her large family has been harder than dealing with xh leaving. For their sakes I have allowed them to talk freely about their time with their Dad which frequently includes references to her or one of her 5 dc.

Fortunately ow seems balanced and kind to them without trying to be their best friend etc. Also she has a ds the same age as mine and they get on like a house on fire. I have kept it light when her name comes up and smiled at all the Xmas presents that came home from them etc etc etc.

In the past it would never occur to me that splitting up could involve such a multitude of pain. I am a SAHM and close to my dc and found it so painful that they regularly have a life that doesnt involve me and which includes a host of people I wouldnt know if I passed them in the street.

However Solost 9 months later I absolutely love my dc free time which I never thought I would say and as someone earlier said its a chance to refresh myself and have fun.

Can I ask why you so strongly dislike being a single parent ? I was quite surprised to read that tbh.

thumbwitch · 16/03/2011 08:51

LMHF - you are absolutely right - we are all a work in progress. The minute we stop learning, growing and evolving, we might as well be dead. People who think they have reached the pinnacly of their existence are lost to reality, IMO. :)

Anniegetyourgun · 16/03/2011 09:25

Oh, I don't know about that, thumbwitch - I'd be perfect if only I weren't so overwhelmingly modest Grin

horsesandchickens · 16/03/2011 09:45

Have you appointed and asked your solicitor to prepare a deed of seperation Solost?

I thought you have only had very high level 'free' advice from a solicitor.

Sorry to pry, but I thought you only found about full divorce basics, it was another MNetter that suggested DoS after you had been to solicitor wasn't it???!!

I do have baby brain so might have missed something.....

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