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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:
HerHissyness · 26/08/2011 21:50

Don't weaken, this is a phase, it won't last. It's him panicking at losing his supply of control fodder.

normaleggy · 26/08/2011 23:56

I won't weaken, it's definitely over between us.

OP posts:
marriedmummy · 31/08/2011 13:39

have read ur thread. sounds horrible. just wanted to say keep strong it will get better.

normaleggy · 07/09/2011 23:20

So I got a letter today from the council to say they have considered my application for housing, apparently I am not a priority case and am unlikely to be allocated a house. I'm just wondering if anybody knows how they score these things and if a single mother with two young children is not a priority case, who is?

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 07/09/2011 23:25

Sorry - just on my way to bed - (have to be up at 4 GAH) - but quickly on this last point one whose parents have thrown her out and is homeless

normaleggy · 21/09/2011 21:59

I AM SO FUCKING LIVID!! H came round to my parents this evening to pick up some paperwork I had. I told dd that he was coming but wasn't staying long just to say hello and have a quick cuddle. I answered the door to him with an excited dd jumping up and down next to me. We both said hello to him and he just took the paperwork out of my hand, turned and walked away. Didn't even look at my dd, just completely ignored her. She then got very upset because "Daddy didn't want to say hello to me".

I can't believe he could be such an arrogant, heartless cunt. Whatever he thinks about me now, there is absolutely no excuse for that whatsoever and I am spitting fucking feathers right now. She's 3 1/2 for fucks sake, how dare he treat her like that. Fucking spineless fucking twat. Hate him right now, and any doubts I may have had have completely gone, I am so relieved to have that selfish wanker out of our life.

OP posts:
MrsHoolie · 21/09/2011 22:08

Your poor DD Sad
what a heartless bastard.
Hope you are ok OP,keep strong.

normaleggy · 21/09/2011 22:14

Thank you, I get stronger every time he does something like this. It's really odd though, we were actually going to take the kids swimming tomorrow, try and get on so that we can still do some things together for the kids sake, but now I just think fuck him.

OP posts:
barkwithnobite · 21/09/2011 22:28

Why is he taking it out on her. How immature.

HedleyLamarr · 21/09/2011 22:30

What a spineless twunt he is! Your dd will wake up to what he's really like. I'm sorry I missed this the first time Eggy, but have a (((hug))) and some positive thoughts.

normaleggy · 21/09/2011 22:33

Probably because he can't get to me anymore. There is no excuse, I have been as understanding and as flexible as I can with regards to him seeing the kids, and have told him several times that I want him to be as involved in their lives as possible, but I will not have him behaving like that towards them and upsetting them.

OP posts:
normaleggy · 21/09/2011 23:40

Thanks Hedley, all support is greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
Vicky2011 · 22/09/2011 00:01

Make sure your solicitor knows about that behaviour Norma

normaleggy · 03/10/2011 00:16

So this evening I met with H to talk, he told me that he has decided to move on and no longer wants to see the kids anymore. It's all or nothing basically. I know people will say that he doesn't mean but I honestly think he does. We had a big arguement, again him blaming me for everything, saying I have taken the kids away from him and I have made him like this. I left and he just sent me a text saying that he thought we were going to talk about us this evening and that he now feels lower than he did before. I said that I wanted to discuss the kids and that I want us to be able to get along because we will always be in each others lives. He then text back saying "We are done. You are all dead to me."

I just can't believe that all this is happening. What do I tell my kids??

OP posts:
Succubi · 03/10/2011 04:03

There will be people along soon who will give you good and constructive advice. I just wanted to write and say having read the thread that you should be proud of how strong you are and your kids are lucky to have such a great mother. As regards what to tell the children I guess you can only tell them that mummy and daddy love them to protect them from the nasty man that is your husband. If possible I would print and keep his texts/emails as well as this thread. There may come a time (when they are older) when you will need to fully explain (because they may ask you to) why you left.

In my opinion you have and are continuing to act in the best interests of your children by having left. You truly are a wonderful mother. Your children are very lucky to have you.

Keep strong.

CardyMow · 03/10/2011 14:52

What.A. Nobhead.Your. Ex. IS.

He is using this scare tactic as a last ditch attempt to pull on your heart strings RE your dc not having a father. Don't let it work. Either he is serious - in which case it is far better that he fucks off out of their lives NOW instead of buggerring them around for years until they ARE old enough to really remember it, or he isn't serious, and will start trying to re-start contact when he finally gets it into his thick head realises that you won't be swayed into getting back with him.

I know all this because my Ex-P has done all this (and more) in the past, after we split up when our 7yo was little. I was a twat, and was stupid enough to fall for it, and gte back with him, and have another baby, who is now 8mo. Ex-P walked out when baby was 4mo. Hmm.

I will NOT be swayed by emotional blackmail again - if he is willing to walk away from his own dc just because he can't have YOU - then he isn't a decent father or role model anyway.

Your dc have YOU - they will still feel safe and secure even if your ex fucks off. Turn it back on him, shrug and say to him that if that's how it feels, the only person missing out is HIM, as the dc have you, and you get to see every smile, every word, everything he WON'T.

Sending you , this is a shitty place for him to put you in - but it's only because he has realised how much he has lost by being a cheating arse, and he is panicking and trying to get things back to how HE wants them - with no consideration to what YOU now want. He's desperate, this is a last ditch attempt to guilt-trip you. Don't let it. He will get past it in the end!

normaleggy · 13/10/2011 00:38

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/a1280812-Please-convince-me-this-is-the-right-thing-to-do#27728506

This is the original thread if anybody fancies a good exh bashing! Hope link works, not done before

OP posts:
normaleggy · 13/10/2011 00:38

ooops wrong thread!!

OP posts:
izzywhizzysfritenite · 13/10/2011 01:05

What's been happening eggy?

normaleggy · 13/10/2011 22:45

MASSIVE UPDATE!!! Went to see exh today, he said he stuff to discuss, turns out it was the same old shit, why have you gone, it's been so miserable being alone for two months, I'm so hurt etc. He has now decided that he definitely doesn't want to see the kids anymore, it's all or nothing basically and he has been offered a new job and he is moving away. This wound me up because I can't believe that anyone could be so fucking heartless that they could just turn their back on their kids as I'm sure nobody on here could. This then turned into a bit of a screaming match, I filled up my car with some more stuff, told him to fuck off and left.

He text me later to say that the rest of my stuff was in the garden the gate was open, he was out so I could go and get it. Went to get it and got chatting to the neighbours, who I do know although not that well (but they offered to keep some of my stuff in their garage bless them) Filled them in a bit and apparently they have seen a blonde lady staying with exh at the weekends!!! Apparently she runs to and from the car as though she doesn't want to be seen. I thought this could be his sister but showed neighbours her facebook page and they said it definitely wasn't her! They have also been seen going out with another couple so it sounds pretty official to me.

I have not told exh I know about this yet, I don't want him to know just yet that I have the neighbours onside and spying on him. HOWEVER he has text me this evening to say that he still has all my old photos and another treasured posession of mine and unless I pay him £870 in cash by lunchtime on Saturday, he will burn them all!!

Cunt is too nice a word for him. Does anybody have any idea where I stand legally on that? Is it blackmail? Can I get the police involved? I am going to phone them in the morning anyway, just wondered if anyone has any thoughts or experience of this.

OP posts:
buzzskeleton · 13/10/2011 23:29

I've no experience of this, but it certainly sounds like blackmail to me, and that is an offence. It's good you have the text as evidence. I think talking to the police is a good idea.

What a shit.

buzzskeleton · 13/10/2011 23:30

That he's demanding money will probably tip the balance.

LesserOfTwoWeevils · 13/10/2011 23:30

Yes, call the police and get them to go round there with you to collect your property. Tell them about his threat to destroy it.

LesserOfTwoWeevils · 13/10/2011 23:31

He sounds unbearable, by the way. Nasty, nasty man. His decision to abandon his children is unforgivable. You've been handling the situation and standing up to him really well.

normaleggy · 14/10/2011 00:19

Thanks, just reading this thread back to myself, it just seems so ridiculous some of the things that have happened, like it's happening to someone else. How on earth did I marry someone so nasty and manipulative?

OP posts: