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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

Is H having his cake and.....

282 replies

womblingfree1970 · 17/02/2011 09:21

A bit of a complicated story.H and I split several years ago.Broken trust on both sides.Both of us had caused issue in our marriage.So we seperated and were heading for divorce.

I stayed in the home with our young children and he moved out.Our house was a mortgaged home and so I knew(sought legal advice) that when the youngest reached 18 I would have to sell up or pay H his share of property.Since split I have been a single mum.So I've been the one bringing up the children(visits to dad),providing for the children financially,emotioanlly.Upkeep of home etc etc.The only thing he has provided is £5 a week child support and the odd contribution to school trips where he's paid half.

The £5 a week is a bit of an issue as he earns £40,000 a year but because of a totally legal loophole he only has to declare minimum wage and so only has to pay minimum child support.And yes its totally legal and there was nothing I could do about it.

Well a few years down the lines and we've decided to give things another go.We have been seeing each other for more than a year and a half.The arrangement has been that he comes over and sees me and kids.We go out for day trips with the occasional overnight stay during week and things have been going well.Of course the aim being that we get back together if things go well.And things have been

Well last night we had a chat about our future and what next.H drops a bombshell that although he would like to move back in eventually he doesn't see a way foreward because if he moves back in he has to give up the flat he is in now and so if things don't work out he then has no home and the place he is in now is cheap rent and he'd be very very lucky to get somewhere like that again.Also if he moves back in and he loses his job(he's self employed) and then we split he would then be in the position of no job and no home.He said he can't think of anything to sort this out.

I can understand the reasons for the latter.Its because when we split several years back he had no job and no where to go but because of the circumstances(which were his doing at the time) he was the one who left and he had to move in with a sister.This sister has now moved abroad so if this were to happen again he really would have no where to go.

So yes I understand his situation and the difficulties with it but on mine and more importantly the childrens side of things,we can't live like this forever.Where I am basically living as a single mum,bringing up the children but he pops around to see us.And he has only himself to look after and do as he pleases in his home.One of my thoughts are wouldn't I be better of going it alone and building a new life where I could potentially meet someone new.

So to sum it up I'm the one looking after the children full time(fiancially and emotionally) and maintaining the home(fiancially and general maintainance like decorating etc).And he is living in a flat where he only has himself to look after and spend the evenings watching tv or sleeping.Paying me £5 child support.

Isn't this him having his cake and eating it.

OP posts:
dittany · 21/02/2011 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elizadoestoomuch · 22/02/2011 09:39

how are you wombling?

caramelwaffle · 22/02/2011 11:23

How are you wombling?
Have you been to talk to some Solicitors?

Inertia · 22/02/2011 19:27

Wombling- just caught up on this thread, hope you have managed to see a solicitor and get some up-to-date advice on things.

Having read the thread, I'm astounded that you are still considering a future with him. This is why:

  1. You don't love him. I don't even think you like him much.
  1. You don't trust him either- he has done something to betray your trust before, and you know deep in your heart that he is lying to you now- about finances, about his motives for being with you.
  1. Everything he gives to you or the children (which isn't much, from what you've said) is given begrudgingly, with a calculation about how it benefits him to do it.
  1. He is willing to see his children go without to protect his own interests.

Seriously, is that the basis for your dream lifetime relationship? Is this how you want the rest of your life to be? The doubt, the control, the meanness?

Yes, he is the children's dad. But it doesn't sound as though they benefit at all from his actions, and you sure as hell don't. They can still see their dad without him having to control every detail of your life too. You are a strong woman and a great mother, you have provided for them all this time. And he is seeking to benefit from your efforts several times over- he wants a claim on your house, he has already profited from not supporting his family, he's profited from pulling a fast one on the CSA. He's essentially got a free nanny for his children and sex on tap; plus an eye on future money-grabbing opportunities.

Remind me again how you benefit from the relationship?

Sorry, this sounds all ranty. He's made me angry and I don't even know him! I hope you are managing to have conversations with Women's Aid and decent solicitors, and that they are helping bring clarity to the situation. Good luck wombling.

Inertia · 22/02/2011 19:29

A final thought that's just occurred to me- could he possibly be out to wreak revenge on you for throwing him out 5 years ago? Could he be that manipulative ?

camerondiazepam · 23/02/2011 13:08

How are you doing wombling?

caramelwaffle · 25/02/2011 20:49

How are you Wombling?

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