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Relationships

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

DH having meal & drink with ex mistress

294 replies

MrsMiggins · 24/10/2005 21:27

Just shouting at MN cos need to vent my anger & despair....
DH away in hotel overnight (works 2 1/2 hrs from home)
ex-mistress also works for same company and is staying in same hotel tonight

He at least now tells me when she is staying too so at least hes finally being honest BUT how would you feel?

I told him that really he shoudl say to her "I dont want to socialise with you cos it distresses my wife & she is the most important person to me not you."
However, if he upsets her she may make things awkward at work, and we (he) has decided that he staying at work.

OP posts:
MrsMiggins · 27/10/2005 09:38

I do knwo where hes going tonight & where hes staying....just worried that shes going to the meal. She lives next town so wont stay in hotel but I know it will drive me mad today & tonight.
Maybe I just cant get over it cos dont trust him when he says shes not going...especially when he left all moody AND when I said last night I woudl try to see if my parents would have kids overnight so I could go, he said would have to check if place at table....

OP posts:
piglit · 27/10/2005 09:48

Oh, MrsM - your dh sounds sooo much like my xp. When I used to ask him about seeing "her" he used to accuse me of being paranoid and say things like "what do you expect, I have to go to work" and then sulk for days (until I apologised - sheesh). My self esteem was at a real low and all my friends said I had changed from the confident outgoing person I had been to a mousey person with no confidence about anything. What your dh is doing, imho, is punishing you for challenging him and questioning what he gets up to. It's mental abuse. He's probably discussing all of this with his bit on the side and she'll be doing the "oh, poor you - I'm always here for you" bit. He is keeping his options open in the worst, most cruel way. The best thing I ever did was to tell my xp to get out of my life and crawl back to her (which he did). Frankly she was welcome to him - once a cheater, always a cheater.

I'm sorry if I sound harsh but this sort of thing really winds me up. You need love and support from your dh and what he is doing is despicable. I wish we could all send you some real help and support.

noddyholder · 27/10/2005 12:34

If you could go that would show her you were united Can you not go anyway and just have the night together regardless of th meal?

kleggie · 27/10/2005 13:18

"he says he cant go on with me crying & questioning him daily"

And can you go on like this MrsM? I don't 'know' you, but I wholeheartedly wanted to echo SoupDragon's comments and proposed questions.

I have been through this and know how frightening, confusing and soul destroying it can be. You spend so much time thinking everything has changed and how can you go back, or return to some semblance of normal? The simple truth is that this just isn't possible. Everything has changed, but the thing to do is to get to a place emotionally where this is a good thing. You don't want to go back to how things were before the affair because it sounds like both of you were unhappy.

I think- unlike some of the cases on here- you might just have a fighting chance of things being as good as if not much better than before. You have chosen to stay together, the first hurdle. You say you trust him not to do it again, the second hurdle.

You say that you keep crying and questioning him constantly, and yes I can see how wearing this is for him (more so for you of course) but this implies that you are still trying to get him to see your side of things. Do you feel like he really understands what he has done to you, how hard this has been and how scared you are? As SoupDragon said, you must sit down and tell him openly (tell him you hate him, tell him you love him, tell him the irrational thoughts you have, your fears) everything that has been on your mind. It is not until you have told him everything and feel happy in yourself that you have explained the depth of the problem that you can draw a line under it and move on. The first step with moving on will be for him to change jobs. I am sorry, but that is his punishment. I don't care how much he loves his job, you will never, ever accept that she is still a part of his life. All contact must be severed. It is alright for the shadow of her to be there in your past, by rights it should remind both of you how close you were to losing what you have, and hopefully help you pull together to prevent it happening again. It is not alright for her to figure in your future together.

I am the happiest wife I could be and I used to be where you are now. If you want this to work, it will. I'll be thinking of you, I know how hard it is. Make sure he listens to the words you are saying and that he isn't just dismissing it all as symptomatic of your emotional state.

Oh and when you've told him everything on your mind and asked all the questions you want to, let him do the same. It may be brutal and it will hurt but you must hear it all now if this is going to be fixed eventually.

expatinscotland · 27/10/2005 14:37

Quite right, kleggie! Well put.

Thing is, HE doesn't seem to want to put for the effort it will take to move on - i.e., quitting his job and severing ALL ties w/his ex-mistress - w/o forcing her to sacrifice what's VERY valuable to her, her support network.

that should have been a non-issue when she took him back - but he's made it a major issue, working w/her, going out to eat w/her, sulking off and not spending the night at home.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

bubbles2904 · 27/10/2005 14:47

Sorry mrsmiggins, but your husband sounds like a complete arsehole, sorry but thats the politest way of putting it. He doesn't seem to respect you, your feelings or your children one bit.
sorry i know it's harsh.

Enid · 27/10/2005 14:48

you should definitely go if you can wangle babysitting

and sorry to say but I think you are right to feel suspicious

sunchowder · 27/10/2005 14:49

Soupie - excellent questions for MrsM, I think that is a start in a very good direction for you MrsM and I am so glad you were not offended and intend to move forward in this direction.

MrsMiggins · 27/10/2005 15:27

I think that while kleggie & soupy are saying how I feel, I also feel that expat is right in that he doesnt want to & wont leave his job, he is only not going to socialise with her under duress and like I said, has gone off this morning rather cold & moody even though he knows he is not coming home tonight.

I feel sick and am dreading going home as I know how miserable I'll be

maybe tomorrow we can have a good chat like youve suggested but woRst case will be if SHE is going tonight & he comes home deciding to leave

its hard to be at work & keep a lid on my emotions

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 27/10/2005 15:41

No, offense, hon, but if you can get in for a counselling session for YOU anytime today or tomorrow, please do. Consider this evening time to think about YOU and what YOUR needs are - even if it means just having a nice bath and a glass of wine or treating yourself to your fav meal.

He doesn't want to give up his job, and that means she'll always bee in his life as long as she is there.

If he gives it up b/c of pressure from you, he'll try to make you pay, even tho it is NOT your fault things got duffed up.

But moving on means BOTH of you moving on, not matter if it's in the same or different directions.

Self-esteem issues are vital at a time like this, and a counselling can go a long way towards restoring yours.

expatinscotland · 27/10/2005 15:48

As long as he continues to socialise w/her, then yes, there's a chance he'll come home and tell you he's leaving.

Taht's why it's important to either accept that from him right now, or not.

FWIW, he's proven himself pretty wanky.

MrsMiggins · 27/10/2005 15:57

I just dont know what to do
Cant see my counsellor for another week

hes just rung - he sees ringing me regularly as trying - which it is as he never used to ring at all BUT Ive just burst into tears at work. Ive stayed cos my collegues are fine & I need to keep busy but I know Ill be upset when he phones again later.

told my work collegues that I cant go on like this....maybe me asking him to leave will be the kick he needs, OR I will realise hes not going to change & Ill be better off without him.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 27/10/2005 16:00

That's a choice you have to make, unfortunately. Please consider giving yourself some time out today to indulge your feelings, maybe even make a pros & cons list to start from.

uwila · 27/10/2005 18:24

MrsMiggins, can I ask where you are? I just think we should all get together and take you out for a night so you can just go have some fun for one night. Someone could donate a nanny/childminder/babysitter, and the rest of us could pay for the night out.

Gosh, no one should have to put up with this... it's making my life look all rosy and perfect.

How can we help?

MrsMiggins · 27/10/2005 18:51

I live in Worcester - have been thinking about going to one of the meet ups but get scared to show my RL face....people who know me would be shocked to know I am in this situation as I come across as confident and outgoing and chatty and people have always said that DH adores me....so they would all be shocked to know how weak Im being....

am going to do as suggested when put 2 kids to bed.
food, bath and consider Soupy's questions, and pros & cons

DH hasnt rung yet and I think the dinner is at 7.30pm so guess I'll be getting a quick 30 sec if Im lucky....

and in answer to rickman asking if I told my brother, no, he doesnt know....

OP posts:
kama · 27/10/2005 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsMiggins · 27/10/2005 19:23

hes just rung and I have surprised myself

I told him that I was no longer putting up with feeling sh#t & worrying about them at work.
Said I would make a list tonight of points for discussion and ways forward to be looked at together over the weekend.
If he cannot agree or I dont like his thoughts, I have told him that he will have to leave as theres no point carrying on.

and you know what? I think I called his bluff. I think that all this telling me what I can or cant say / do has just been empty threats cos as soon as I calmly said I would leave, he started agreeing to talking & making more effort - even said he wasnt moody this morning but just tired.

Told him that I used to be the strong one & I was fed up with having such low self-esteem and lacking in confidence & that I was fed up with his bullying

I have to say that although someone of you have prob thought me an idiot for not just kicking him out, I appreciate your strong constructive words and you have definitely given me the strength and calmness tonight to stand up to him

of course thats not changed everything and I could end up a single parent on Sunday BUT at least I have tried

thanks to everyone for posting on this thread
xxxx

OP posts:
tigermoth · 27/10/2005 19:38

glad you are taking hold of the reins a bit more - that in itself should help you to feel a little better

longwaytogo · 27/10/2005 20:39

MM hope you are taking that bath that you promised yourself. Have changed my name but have spoken to you endlessly from the begining of this, and have been there. really wish things were starting to look better for you, but in some respects nothing has really changed for a long time for you.

well done for calling his bluff and being firm, he has got to see tht you are hurting and if he doesn't and refuses to change {preferably his job} to make you feel happy and secure then more fool him. For goodness sake you are still coping with all the emotions of having a new baby and a demanding toddler, let alone all this rubbish.

Speak to you soon hun and big hugs.

Maturer how you doing, will be home next week and back on msn. Will be good to catch up.

MrsMiggins · 27/10/2005 20:46

longwaytogo
can you CAT me?
dont know who you are

am in the process of writing things down

felt remarkably calm on the phone to DH earlier and have to say he was the one who sounded anxious at me being firm and stating things had to change or else it was over.
I said over several times and each time he came back saying how would that help etc
obviously he has been calling the shots cos he thought attack was best form of defense

I feel much stronger for finely waking up & giving him an ultimatum

Maturer - glaD you posted - alway nice to hear from you

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 27/10/2005 20:55

Mrs Miggins

You go girl

He, appears to be on the back foot, and you appear to be driving.

gravity · 28/10/2005 00:51

you rock!

well done!

and your very right - you'll know at least you tried!

thinking of you xxxxxxxxxxxx

MarsLady · 28/10/2005 00:54

Yeah... well done that woman.

It's good to take the power back.

Keep strong!

sallyscarystrawberry · 28/10/2005 01:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumbojumbo · 28/10/2005 06:31

Mrs Miggins

Not posted on this before but been following the thread. Well done! I think you'll feel much stronger in yourself now you've effectively "taken control". Keep your chin up and I hope things go your way very soon. You have been extremely patient with your dh and it's about time he listened, really listened to what you've been saying and feeling.

Take care, [hugs]] and look after yourself, ds and dd.
mj