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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

OK, new beginnings, new thread, it WAS right to serve divorce papers!

974 replies

Wisedupwoman · 26/05/2011 19:34

I asked the question - Am I right to serve the divorce papers on my chameleon-like but definitely cheating, lying, cruel and manipulative STBXH. You all said "YES". So I have. The story continues.........

OP posts:
Saffysmum · 14/07/2011 17:12

Continues mexican wave, does a shimmy and a huge whhhhooooop for Wisey! You did brilliantly well yesterday! Am so proud of you. Well done. Bring on September...you've got him on the ropes!

Dozer · 14/07/2011 17:20

Continues the wave, wouldn't know how to do a shimmy, but if could would, and holds out a toasting fork!

MinesaGandT · 14/07/2011 17:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Wisedupwoman · 14/07/2011 19:15

it might bring up some conflicting emotions for you to deal with.

Yes it has, of course.

A really bittersweet experience, seeing him across the table, trying to keep myself safe whilst listening to him talk about his rootlessness, his complete loss of control over the people who once adored him, and yes, I believe, grief at losing his relationship with his DS's. He brought this on himself and us, and I do feel some pity for how badly it has affected him. And then I catch myself and remember that he isn't to be trusted still.

So there won't be any agreements made until sol has gone over things with a fine toothed comb. I have to say though, the idea that he is prepared to commit to paying all the mortgage until it's paid off, and giving me all the equity without any caveats is an attractive one. My sol may well tell me to 'take the money and run', especially if PTM packs his public sector job in soon - the pension wouldn't be worth it for me then.

Now I know how it feels to be holding all the cards I realise it's not a particularly pleasurable feeling actually, not for me any way, it's not my usual way of conducting myself. I've had to cut out my sense of his humanity to do it, and I do have a conscience about that.

And so at some stage I know that I'll hold out an olive branch. Not now, not for a while, but I will. It'll be an invitation to 'come to my home and see DD for a bit, have a coffee or a beer before you go back to your home' kind of thing. And I won't need to go out, I'll just be around, doing my thing. And I'll be ok with it.

As the mediator said to me before I walked out of the room yesterday, "What you have just done takes alot of guts".

OP posts:
MigratingCoconuts · 14/07/2011 19:58

you are one amazing woman, do you know that?

Really and truely...I would be proud to call you a friend.

I admire your emotional intelligence, sense of justice and empathy for others.

That last post is really amazing stuff.

Dozer · 14/07/2011 20:12

Totally agree, migrating coconuts. You are one inspiring lady wisey.

It's OK to feel sorry for him. But only in passing!

I don't think you've cut off your sense of humanity at all. You have just protected yourself during the first, very difficult stage of your separation.

I really hope he does right by you financially.

With respect to the pension, it would be helpful to find out how much he has already accrued and the projected benefits etc. With my (public sector) pension we get annual statements showing how much the pension will be based on our service to date. If he eventually leaves under voluntary severance he may get extra years of pension (although at the rate he's going he might be dismissed - no extra pension for that! If he's senior the voluntary thing might be more likely). If the pension is likely to be of low value, why is he so bothered about keeping it all for himself? It doesn't add up.

Wisedupwoman · 14/07/2011 21:24

Hey, Blush but in my mind you are friends, that's why I'm so candid with you!

Pension. Yes annual statements. Just come out in Feb. We will make these available to each other and a cash equivalent transfer value too. My concern is that if I take the mortgage free plus 100% equity proposal, XH will make a sudden and miraculous recovery and stay on in the public sector until he reaches the magic age when he gets the mammoth bonus plus very good pension, which I'll have given up all rights to. So that's why I have said all things will go through sol before I make any decisions.

I intend to make that doubt very clear in september when we meet again.

I pity him, but I know there is an agenda, and I don't mind as long as I know what it is. PTM will see I mean business, and I'm not afraid to ask sensitive questions any more. I think he will be forced to be up front, like he was yesterday. Wisey is not going all gooey, no way! It just wasn't a pretty sight really.

OP posts:
MigratingCoconuts · 14/07/2011 21:38

oh Blush of course! That's not the way i meant it!! Grin

heleninahandcart · 14/07/2011 22:53

Pity him by all means.

Then carry on as you are

He can think its personal but really, its just business.
He made it that way

Wisedupwoman · 15/07/2011 06:29

^He can think its personal but really, its just business.
He made it that way^

He said other DS had sent "an extremely abusive text" and wanted to know why. (these bits are coming back to me now).

I didin't know DS had done that. So I told the mediator I hadn't come to be put on trial, and wasn't prepared to be the mouthpiece for my DC's.
But DS has told me what he texted: "you're a lying cunt and I dont know how you sleep at night".

I think that's far less properly abusive than PTM saying to me "the only reason you're uptight Wisey is because I won't fuck you" (said a week before he went).

No, certainly not nearly as damaging as my hearing that from my own (then) DH.

So if he's tormented at all it's because he's stripped of all the delusions he had about being more vital to my DC's than I am and he has forgotten that they were only in relationship with him because he was in a relationship with me.

And the pity is more about his realising that his mask of integrity and source of help for vulnerable people has slipped and he can't with any 'conscience' carry on in his profession at the moment - so he'll teach it instead. So again, I think the pity I feel is actually self-pity that he put on me, like the "your mum hates me".

You're voices are great levellers to me. They all keep me on course, helped me 'play a blinder' (thank you Annie) and stop me going down the 'I hope he's ok' track, since I think a period of real suffering and crisis is natural justice and one from which it's not my job to rescue him. Smile

OP posts:
Kaelle · 15/07/2011 07:13

Hi wisey, how nice to find you on another thread where I can see how much further down the line you are! You seem like a very together person who's dealing brilliantly w this situation. As a relatively new active mumsnetter, I'm also really amazed at the wonderful support you've received. As for current negotiations, keep strong and DON't let go of pension rights! Remember that assets can all be transferred around now, and support decided too, but if u remarry, you risk loosing some of that(stupid legal premise I feel, but that's another story) so basically keep going for everything you can. Owning a house and having main responsibility for DC throws up tons of unexpected expenses as we all know, which is why you also need to make sure you get enough to put money aside..and make sure that savings is under the child support portion and not spousal support/alimony. Do not have a thought about STBEH -he will recover (and please DO remind me of that when i start my negotiations!!!) I look forward to keeping in touch.

Alldownhillnow · 15/07/2011 07:56

Oh Wisey, your post has taken my breath away. What a horrendous thing to have said to you. Sad. His sense of entitlement is palpable.

He was trying to destroy you as his guilt began to eat him up. Strange that he couldn't cope with the frank text from your DS. Bit too close to home for him? Your DS has obviously felt your distress and put the boot in.

Happyposternow · 15/07/2011 08:16

I don't think your DC should be sending abusive texts to him, it wouldn't be acceptable the other way round. And could he use these in court?

The best advice I was given was not to involve the children in the nitty gritty of the divorce details.

And I think the vicarious pleasure being taken by some posters on this thread reminds me of burning torches and pitchforks.

He's fucked up a marriage that you sound better off out anyway, he's not murdered anyone.

Dozer · 15/07/2011 08:23

So sorry about the sad memories wisey.

Happyposter, wisey's DC (who sent the text) is an adult, so the situation is different. Hardly reasonable of her ex to assume that his text was at wisey's instigation or that wisey somewhow influences what her adult DS does. Anyway, it was one text!

Surely a sensible response to receiving a text like that from a DC would be to phone or meet them to talk about it, apologise for any wrongs, try to sort things out etc. PTM has done none of that.

Dozer · 15/07/2011 08:25

Don't think there's vicarious pleasure, happyposter, just some piss-taking.

Alldownhillnow · 15/07/2011 08:40

Vicarious pleasure? No, not my style.

I don't want Wisey's thread to turn into a posting bunfight, so with that, I will withdraw and wish you the best Wisey Smile. I'll PM you in the future.

Dozer · 15/07/2011 09:01

Don't do that alldownhill (unless wisey requests it of course), it won't turn into a bunfight.

MinesaGandT · 15/07/2011 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Wisedupwoman · 15/07/2011 14:28

Oh God Alldownhill please, please don't withdraw!!!!!!

Happy I didn't involve them, they discovered for themselves what was going on and acted as adult children who then also subsequently found out that my XH was lying to them about me - so I do not condone what my DS did, but I completely understand why he did it and have told him not to repeat this action. No we are not going to court, never mind litigation, and even if we did, the catalogue of betrayal, deceit, fraudulent and abusive behaviour by my XH would far, far outweigh a single angry text.

As for my thread, well you have your opinion about whether posters here get vicarious pleasure from it. But I strongly disagree and I am offended by your remark - how dare you rubbish what has become for me a vital source of support, advice, wisdom and humour in the worst time of my, and my DC's lives. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Dozer Minesa Kaelle thank you, this will not become a bunfight, not if I have anything to do with it, and I implore you to stay with me.

OP posts:
Anniegetyourgun · 15/07/2011 14:49

I've never said this to a woman before (actually I may have, my memory's terrible, but if so I didn't mean it), but: now you're available, Wisey, will you marry me?

Wisedupwoman · 15/07/2011 14:55

Why, Annie, I thought you'd never ask! Grin

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heleninahandcart · 15/07/2011 15:51

Wisey no one's going anywhere.

Yes that is that fuckwit comment from PTM was extremely abusive, cuts to the core just reading it. Says all you need to know about what he has become. Self justifying, content and manner of delivery designed to inflict maximum pain.

Your DS's text was, tbh, absolutely right smug Grin

heleninahandcart · 15/07/2011 15:55

that was meant to be a smug grin, not a right smug text

Wisedupwoman · 15/07/2011 16:42
Grin
OP posts:
MigratingCoconuts · 15/07/2011 17:10

alldownhillnow, don't withdraw. One misguided post does not make a bun fight.

I think those who have read the whole thread know the truth of it.

Besides...its friday! and nearly Wine time Grin. here you go girls:

Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine

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