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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

Please convince me this is the right thing to do.

142 replies

normaleggy · 16/08/2011 00:00

First post. On Saturday, I split withmy husband, the father of my two young children. We had been together for 14 years married for 4. We did talk it through first and agreed that we were unhappy and had grown apart and, having been down this road several times, enough was enough. I am currently staying at my parents with dd 3.7 and ds 1.9 as he wouldn't let us stay in the house unless I took on all the bills (I work 2 days a week, would be impossible) so we left.

We nearly split a few months ago after I found some message between him and a work collegue who he had obviously had a fling with. He denies this, says they were just friends and were just jokey messages - although she was saying that she misses their naked cuddles and that she has fallen in love with him, he said that he thought about her every day and that she had changed him and he liked it! For some reason i agreed not to leave but the relationship was clearly dead at that point. We agreed to make more of an effort with each other but just haven't, and I think the love and trust has gone. He has a lot of work friends who I have never met that he goes out with a lot, never comes out with our friends any more and I think our friends have all given up on him. I also found a receipt from a fairly expensive restaurant in his wallet the other day for £80, which sounds right for a meal for 2 to me, when he was apparently on a lads night. As the girl in the messages is currently travelling the world, I guess this is yet another girl. He also had an affair a few years ago, but I forgave him.

It's not just the affairs, I hate the way he speaks to me and the kids, and friends have also commented on it. There have been many occasions over the years where he has started arguements and insulted me in front of our friends over the years, once calling me a fucking whore in front of all of them. He also does nothing in the house or for the kids, has never change a nappy, given them a bath, put them to bed, read them a story and just can't deal with them unless they are being well behaved and happy. But they adore him. There are other things, I could go on.

Reading this back, I'm sure I have made the right decision but I just have this niggling doubt at the back of my mind. I've taken the kids out of their home (rented thankfully) and away from the Dad they love, I don't know how long we will have to live with my parents, husband is devastated (can't help feeling guilty, stupid I know), I don't know how I will cope financially or explain to my kids that we are not going home.

I just can't stop crying, please help me find some strength.

OP posts:
Pandemoniaa · 16/08/2011 00:10

I'm sure you've done absolutely the right thing. Don't feel guilty though, feel relieved to be out of a faithless and destructive marriage which will, as they grew older, have undoubtedly damaged your children. Look forwards to a happier future for you all which I'm sure is achievable. Especially if you have supportive family and friends.

IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowIt · 16/08/2011 00:14

It sounds like it is definitely right for you to be apart. Either forever or at least in the short term.

Some space will help you think about how best to move forward.

As soon as you feel ready get some advice on housing and financial stuff. I don't understand why you should have to leave the house.

ChippingIn · 16/08/2011 00:15

Go back to the house - it's not up to him to decide who lives there. He is their father and will have to help support them (ie pay the bills). Stand your ground.

You have done the right thing - the fact he has told you to move out with 2 small children whilst he lords it up in the house says everything.

He's devastated - my arse he is - he's been fucking around on you since forever and he's kicked his wife and kids out of the family home?

I'm suprised your Dad is standing for it? Mine would have been around there like a shot telling him how it was going to be! - but actually, I wouldn't have needed him to because I would have told the cheating, lying, scumbag to fuck off.

I am angry on your behalf and I'm not sure why you are taking this lying down?

ChippingIn · 16/08/2011 00:16

HUGS too x

You need to stop crying and start getting ANGRY!

Blu · 16/08/2011 00:21

You are well rid of this lazy, self-centred, bullying, dishonest faithless man. Hopefully once the shock and grief at the loss of what you thought you had, and what you dreamed of has lessened you will find that you are much stronger without him.

However, I think you need to seek some legal advice sharpish. he can't simply decide that you have to pay half, and as you are married, and as you have been raising your joint children you are entitled to support for the children, etc.

I don't see why you and the children should be made homeless.

I hope you get lots of love and suppport from your parents and friends. Good luck!

normaleggy · 16/08/2011 00:43

Thank you all so much for your replies, you're right we should be in the house I know, but he is adamant he won't pay and I don't know how I would manage if he stuck to his guns. I don't want to now cart the kids back there only to then have to move them out again. It's just so hard, my dd has said a couple of times that she wants to go home, I have just said we are staying at nana's for a little while and she seems ok at the moment. I don't know how to deal with telling her we are not going home, he said I can do all that! He did initially say that if I left he doesn't want to see the kids anymore although he has back tracked on that now. he said that when we nearly split a few months ago, i think that's why I stayed, I hated the thought of them never seeing their daddy again.

I know I will get stronger, it just is so hard right now, but reading your replies and other threads on here by other women who have been through similar times is so encouraging and heartening. Thank you xx

OP posts:
inatrance · 16/08/2011 00:58

Oh love, sending some hugs to you. I agree with Chipping, even though you feel like this now, get angry about how badly he has treated you and draw from it the energy to go forward. He is a shit husband and it's outrageous that he is sat there in the house while you are homeless with your children. His behaviour is shameful and you are well out of what sounds like a toxic marriage.

He has lied and cheated repeatedly and I'm sorry but I don't think he is devastated at all and am sure that he is trying to manipulate you. Even if he is sorry it's only because he has lost his emotional whipping boy and NOT because he loves you or cares for you in any way.

I know it's hard but you have made the right decision, trust yourself. Your children need a happy mummy and you have been desperately unhappy and are doing what is best for them too.

Stay strong, give yourself a break and don't be hard on yourself. Give yourself a huge pat on the back, it's not easy to walk away when you have kids and you have to have guts to choose to have more respect for yourself and leave.

Take one day at a time. Hell, one moment at a time if you need to. Get some legal advice asap and talk to several solicitors till you find one you can relate to and who will fight your corner and get you what you are legally entitled to. Rally round and call upon everyone you can in real life, reach out and don't be afraid or too proud to accept help/a shoulder to cry on.

You WILL get through this, you will I promise, just trust your instincts and ignore the niggling doubt, you are doing the absolute best thing for your family. You will get stronger, just be as gentle and kind to yourself as you can in the meantime.

jasper · 16/08/2011 01:04

Bad relationships suck the life/strength/energy out of you.
You are doing great.

Put one foot in front of the other and keep going x

solidgoldbrass · 16/08/2011 01:46

You have absolutely done the right thing - his behaviour is horrible, selfish and unkind. And please bear in mind that he doesn't get to choose what happens about the house and who has to move out: courts generally order that the man is the one to go and the children and their mother get to stay. So do see a solicitor.

ChippingIn · 16/08/2011 01:47

Bloody hell - he said he didn't want to see his kids? How the hell can you feel sorry for this waste of space?? Honestly - think about it.

Whose name are the bills in? If they are in his or joint then he has to pay or get a bad credit rating.

Have you done the paperwork for your CSA?? If not, do it tomorrow.

Big HUGS but mostly a big kick up the arse to help you to see what a complete wanker he is!!

Take your children HOME - tell him to find somewhere else to stay & remind him that the children are also his responsibility.

DumSpiroSpero · 16/08/2011 02:02

Get some legal advice ASAP and keep remembering you have done the right thing...

  • for yourself - you deserve better
  • for your daughter - she will not see being treated as you have been as acceptable
  • for your son, who will also learn that his father's way is not the way to treat any woman you are supposed to love, cherish and respect.

I agree that you should be staying in the family home, but make sure you have some financial back up. A friend of mine recently stayed put when she and her H split up (mortgaged house so couldn't claim HB, although she works full time). She had to completely re-do her Tax Credits claim and it took a good six weeks for the revised money to start being paid to her - in the meantime they stopped her existing claim so she was completely dependent on family & car boot sales (!) to make up the shortfall in her income.

Shelter are not just for people on the streets - they can advise you on this kind of thing too.

Best of luck.

normaleggy · 17/08/2011 00:10

Thank you all for your advice and support, today I managed not to cry at all!

One step at a time.....

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 17/08/2011 00:37

Well, that's a good start isn't it :) What's your plan for tomorrow?

normaleggy · 17/08/2011 01:02

Looking into benefits I am entitled to, particularly housing and see what I can afford to rent or get back into the house. Our lease is up in January anyway so am wondering if it is worth all the hassle for the sake of a few months. I would prefer to find somwhere closer to my family and closest friends as my current house is about 16 miles away and I don't have many friends around there. Basically just need to start looking forward!!

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 17/08/2011 01:06

Norma - sounds like a good plan for tomorrow :) You may be right, it may be better to find somewhere new for a clean start near friends. I was really thinking about your DD wanting to go home. How about you move home for a while until you find a place and then he can have your house when you move? Will check in with you tomorrow night :)

normaleggy · 17/08/2011 01:18

Bless you, aren't you lovely! :) She hasn't mentioned going home since then, seems fairly content at the moment. It's just so much to think about, but I'll get there, I know that.

OP posts:
singforsupper · 17/08/2011 01:46

Hi Normaleggy,

It must be very scary to have to leave the father of your children but you remember you are making space for good people to be around you. Being with someone like him for too long can drive all the good ones away.

Don't feel bad about taking dcs away from their Daddy, you've taken them into the home of someone that loves you all - their Nana. It sounds right to me that you let your old place go and set up home near the people that really care for you.

I can't believe men can be so stupid sometimes! Bunch of self-absorbed eejits the lot of them.

x

ImperialBlether · 17/08/2011 08:28

He has been really horrible to you for a long time and it's making your self esteem suffer.

He's been unfaithful several times and as if that's not bad enough, he calls you a whore!

Since your house is rented, I'd say get another rented house. Start afresh. Get whatever furniture you need back from that house. He has no right to deprive you and your children of furniture.

You will feel MUCH better when you're in your own house.

normaleggy · 19/08/2011 00:25

Feeling shit again today, took kids to see DH and although they loved seeing him and didn't get upset at all, it all ended a bit nasty. We argued in front of kids which I was so determined not to do but it winds me up so much that he refuses to take any responsibility for what happened. Got back to my Mums and my dd told her that Mummy and Daddy argued and Daddy made Mummy cry. He's sent me a couple of nasty texts since saying he really hates me and he'll never forgive me for taking the kids away and how all he can think about is how he'll miss so much of them growing up and birthdays and christmases. I told him that he has pushed us away but I have no intention of stopping him from seeing kids regularly or at special occasions.

I know he is just trying to make himself feel better by blaming it all on me, trouble is i think he has always had the ability to turn arguements and situations round to make me feel like it was always my fault and I'd end up feeling guilty. But right now that's exactly how i feel. Guilty for taking the kids out of their home, guilty because I don't know how I'll provide for them, guilty that he is feeling so devastated(I know, I know). It's hard to get out of that mind set when it's been like that for so long. I had no idea until now what a complete doormat I'd been all this time.

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 19/08/2011 00:26

:(

Am reading - will post in a minute
x

ChippingIn · 19/08/2011 00:33

Fucking cheek of him!!

HE is the one who had the affairs - what does he think you should do? Give him your blessing???

HE fucked up
HE walked away from the kids (by having affairs and making the relationship unsustainable)
HE made you leave their home (he should have had the decency to move out)
HE treat you ALL badly when you were there, including your lovely children
HE never did anything for them (bath/bed/playing/change a nappy or read a story)
HE was fucking around.... HE did this, not you

and now the stupid wanker wants YOU to feel guilty - Grrrrrrr

He is NOT devastated - he's just being a manipulative bastard.

... and he's made me Angry

normaleggy · 19/08/2011 00:50

I know, I know all this and I agree 100% with you, I just wish I could shake off this stupid guilty feeling. I know it's early days and I'm still in "Oh my god, what the fuck have I done" mode, and I will get past that. Like I say, he's just always made me feel like everything is my fault, I've only just realised just how manipulative he really is. There is so much more I could tell you from over the years, so many times I could and should have just walked away. He still won't admit to the affair, even though I saw it in black and white (and actually copied and saved some of the messages, he doesn't know I still have a copy!!) I also found a receipt in his wallet for a necklace which certainly never came my way but didn't confront him straight away and he just denied knowledge.

God I'm a fucking mug, aren't I?! Sorry to go on, it helps to get this off my chest, i don't want to be seen bad mouthing him too much irl, for kids sake.

OP posts:
normaleggy · 19/08/2011 00:51

And thanks Chipping, I really appreciate all your supportive comments x

OP posts:
DumSpiroSpero · 19/08/2011 08:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hardgoing · 19/08/2011 08:56

Why on earth would you be getting him counselling? I'm not one to shout 'leave him' but really, multiple affairs, not helping with the children, making you move out, threatening never to see them again? He is just awful and you know that, which is why you know you have no choice. I don't get the impression you are thinking about going back, more feeling guilty for your children that their lives have worked out this way.

This is the start of the rest of your life. No wonder he's angry at you, you've just done the best possible thing for you and your children and he hasn't got you to blame anymore.

Being with your parents may be an excellent idea (depending how you get on with them). Do take legal advice (from a solicitor) asap though.