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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

Am I being taken for a complete fool?

102 replies

MugShot · 02/11/2011 21:27

Long Story and Im not sure where to start.

H and I have been together for 18 years and have 3 DC'S together, the youngest DD is just over one.
Last summer DH told me he didnt love me anymore and wanted to leave, I begged him to stay and he agredd to "give it another go" but told me his feelings for me had changed and that he no longer felt that he was "in love" with me. Devastated, I spent six weeks trying to be the perfect wife while he was cold and unfeeling towards me.Then discovered that he had been phoning and texting his deputy at work (a woman in her early fifties).
He denied it was anything more than friendship, but things didnt add up, I did lots of digging, delved into his browser history and discovered that he had been planning a walking holiday with work colleagues and had been looking at posh hotels, Im not an idiot and I deduced he had been planning a mucky weekend away. He consistently denied anything more than friendship and continued working with her closely. I found text messages on his phone that suggested they were very familiar with each other. I put two and two together and realised that he had in fact spent a lot of time with this woman socially and had suffered from mentionitis for several months. I realised that their closeness had been well established before I gave birth and begged him to admit an affair, but he denied it.

We carried on, after Christmas but he was distant, I noticed that she didnt give him a birthday card which I thought suspicious as he claimed she was such a good friend, I guess it wasnt for my eyes. Eventually in April, he admitted an emotional affair, no more. I bought Not Just Friends and begged him to read it, he refused.
A few weeks later I asked him to work at our marriage otherwise leave, he said he wanted to make things work and I asked him to text the OW and tell her there would be no more contact outside work. He sent the text, then immediately became cold towards me. The next day, he left me and went to hers.c laiming that he was in love with her. Two hours later he was back saying it was a horrible mistake and he didnt want to lose us.
I foolishly gave him another chance.

Since then he has behaved as if nothing happened, refuses to discuss OW and claims he was never intimate with her,in the summer she texted him from work and actually started the text with "I know Im not supposed to text"
This weekend he was off work, his mobile rang three times then stopped, it was her, he looked really flustered and said she must have phoned by mistake.

Am I being taken for a complete fool here? My friends say he probably slept with her and its definitely not just friends. I know thats probably the case. The night he said he wanted to leave me, he texted her eight times and rang her Sad I feel so stressed and miserable

OP posts:
MugShot · 03/11/2011 12:49

oh and he also said that he never wanted DC's and that if he could go back in time, they wouldnt be here

OP posts:
bubblegumpop · 03/11/2011 12:50

They all rewrite history.

He is physically violent to you however. This will get worse, especially as his sense of entitlement grows. His hate for you grows, you get more upset and he continues to shag her.

You have to put up with it or he'll drag you around.

You can get help and you can go, it means telling the world however, what is what.

MugShot · 03/11/2011 12:55

but he has never actually hit me, does dragging me down stairs count?

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buzzskeleton · 03/11/2011 13:02

Yes. He broke down a door and dragged you - this is definitely violence.

How did he drag you (arm, hair, neck?) Did he cause pain or bruising? Were you scared?

Even if it was solely intimidation or your fear of him becoming more physical if you didn't comply, it counts.

alli1968 · 03/11/2011 13:06

""""but he has never actually hit me, does dragging me down stairs count?""""

oh yes!!! No one who really loves and respects you and is worth the effort would EVER do this.

I am new to MN but it looks like you have got some great advice here.

Read back and look at what you have written and think about what you would say if you read this or your friend told you that this was happening to her.

Be strong - you and your children deserve better - think 2-3 months down the line - you will be on the upward xxxx much love x

bubblegumpop · 03/11/2011 13:48

Erm yes it counts as dv and physical violence. The police would have arrested him.

SolidGoldVampireBat · 03/11/2011 14:08

In a couple of years' time you will probably want to seek out this OW and buy her a large drink for the massive favour she's done you by taking this horrible man off your hands. Hold onto that thought while you contact WA/CAB/local council about getting a safe home for yourself and DC, either by getting a non-molestation order against this man, or a council h/a home for yourself and DC. Best of luck. You can get rid of him (though telling him to leave and changing the locks is not a good idea without police/court back up, you cannot legally force him out of the family home without official involvement ie it is illegal to change the locks because of a partner's adultery, they can break back in and continue to live in the home in those circumstances. However a violent person can be forcibly removed and barred from returning but you do have to involve the authorities.)

MugShot · 03/11/2011 15:05

Thank you all, I am getting my thoughts together and planning what to do next

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AnyFucker · 03/11/2011 17:56

just checking in, MS

am not greatly surprised such a wek man as this would use emotional and physical abuse to keep you in your place

that "place" being exactly where he wants you

providing domestic servce...truly, an employer wouldn't be able to treat you this badly and not face prosecution

keep on thinking, there is a way out of this that does not involved being forced to live with this man (at least in the long term)

millions of women get away from shite men like this every year...are you really trying to to convince yourself it isn't possible so it gives you an excuse to do what is, on the surface, the easiest thing, and that is to continue to live like this ?

AnyFucker · 03/11/2011 17:56

sorry for typos, cooking dinner and picking up after the kids as just in from work

Jux · 03/11/2011 18:16

Please, Mugshot, please phone Women's Aid and talk it through with them.

I am appalled you are living like this; you don't deserve it, you are worth so much more. He is a horrible horrible man, who has no idea of respect, kindness, love, consideration, care. He doesn't give a shit about anyone.

MugShot · 04/11/2011 09:17

I slept on the sofa last night, I can't bear to be near him, I feel sick.

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bellsring · 04/11/2011 09:46

Mugshot - I noticed that YOU mended the door he kicked in. You are fixing the stuff in your house HE damages. IWhen my ex smashed stuff, he took NO responsibility for clearing up the mess - I did it e.g. broken glasses/crockery because a) it was a safety hazard and b) he just left mess and I took on the role of clearing it up. Yes, damaging you physically a million times worse, of course - and doing it when you get annoyed about OW!!Angry

Hissy · 04/11/2011 10:04

i clocked that too bellsring. it's totally symptomatic of an abuser, refusal to take responsibility for his damage...

bellsring · 04/11/2011 10:16

No, they don't. They leave everyone else to clear up their mess/pick up the pieces in life generally.

And, OP, it's very easy, when you are with a partner who behaves like yours, to not even notice that you are clearing up after them in life because it is so ingrained in you to KEEP THE SHIP AFLOAT - keep going/look after everyone - even though you are doing it in a bad situation created by the partner.

Hissy · 04/11/2011 10:31

Listen MugShot, your question was Am I being taken for a complete fool.

As loathed as I am to allow anyone here to call themselves a fool, I will have to concede that you are not acting in your own best interests or in the interests of your supposed relationship long term.

Now I don't know what came first, the Abuse or the Affair. I'll place a bet on the ABUSE tbh, but perhaps it was so low grade you didn't realise it. It's OK, that's what always happens. If these 'men' were upfront about who they really are, they'd never get a date let alone a look in at a normal life.

this man has a sense of entitlement that is unjustified. He thinks he's entitled to call the shots in your life, to treat you as he sees fit, to manhandle you and to betray you. He has no thoughts about you, your well-being, happiness etc. I doubt really you figure much on his radar, bar in the capacity of W.I.F.E.
(Washing, Ironing, Fucking Etc). I'm sorry, I know that hurts, but the sooner you realise it, the sooner you regain control of your life and your happiness. Right now you need to understand that this man is the ENEMY of your soul, he'll stop at nothing to bend you to HIS will, and your feelings don't come into it. It's a straight fight between HIM and YOU and he won't play fair in his objective to crush you.

The words that follow will be hard to take on board, they may prove difficult to execute, but it is truly what I recommend for you to recover from this as soon as possible.

One fact before we start: Abusers don't change. Oh there may be some belligerent liars posters that come behind me and say their men have changed, they have seen the light and they don't abuse any more, but tbh, these 'men' have merely adapted their behaviour, adopted the Dr Jekyll that's used to reel in their victims. They know they'd be out on their hairy arses if they start trying to rule the roost again, and they know that they are so inferior as human beings, no-one would have them. Their partners have papered over the cracks and are sticking their fingers in there ears and eyes and saying LALALALALA to drown out any hint of a residual abuse problem. In the exceptionally rare cases of men reforming, it is when the entire family, all his friends, acquaintances and everyone he's ever known desert him due to the abuse, totally isolate him and cut him out of their lives. How often does that happen?

So on this basis alone, you have to be the bravest you ever have been and tell him to go. You have to do whatever it takes to get him out of your life.

Have no sympathy. He had none when he kicked in the door, when he dragged you bodily downstairs, when he yelled at you. etc etc etc Be so cold you give Absolute Zero a run for it's money.

This will hurt your heart more than anything you have ever felt, I know it hurt me, my throat ached with a million un-cried tears for a month before X left, but I had to let him go, I knew that it was a foul relationship, that had to end. I knew he hated my happiness, that he was jealous of his own son's happiness too and that in time if he couldn't get our DS to gang up on me, he'd turn to crushing him too.

Now the AFFAIR - This is another reason you have to end it. without the abuse, I'd say there is a reason to fight for the marriage, but it is a fight that both need to undertake, on their own terms. He's not fighting for you, he's hoping you'll STFU and drop this.

For that reason he needs to be slung out, he needs to be told to go. Any less and he's got away with it.

Now adding the 2 issues together, you need to tell him to go due to the affair, but you need to KEEP HIM GONE due to the abuse.

There really IS no other option on the table for you. You can't stay with him, not after this. Do you see that?

Life without this man in your life can not be any worse than life with him. Trust me.

bellsring · 04/11/2011 12:00

Mugshot - how would you rate him - FRIEND or ENEMY?

The behaviour he displays not of a man who cares about you, about your welfare, your wellbeing, your PROTECTION (he's never going to be your protector).

I hate him and I don't even know him.

JuxAlittleSparkler · 04/11/2011 17:38

Oh MS, please don't put up with this crap from The Tosser. Please.

Ring Women's Aid and tell them everything you've said here - and the rest. Listen to what they say about it, take what help they offer in getting him out of your life.

Imagine how much more energy (at the very least) you'll have when you don't have to deal with this brat any longer.

MugShot · 04/11/2011 19:32

you are all right Sad if the truth be known, Ive been unhappy for years, just plucking up the courage to go. He was never abusive in the physical sense of the word, but as years have gone by has totally worn down my self esteem.

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Hissy · 04/11/2011 19:36

Love, kicking in a door and dragging you is definitely ABUSIVE.

when you know more, you'll see more. Emotional abuse (IMHO) is, in many ways worse than physical abuse. it's harder to get over.

We are all here for you, just tell us what support you need.

susiedaisy · 04/11/2011 20:12

They don't have to be beating you to a pulp to be abusive, it can take many forms and can be little bits at a time like a dripping tap slowly wearing a person down, and sometimes that person even thinks they must of imagined it, it can be that sly and subtle, it took me years to have finally had enough of my abusive ex but if you'd ask me did he ever 'beat' me then I would of answered no! Sad

MugShot · 04/11/2011 22:22

He is so convincing to others, they all think he is wonderful-yet one thing he never did was socialise with me, parties BBQ's etc were all attended alone, even family events

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buzzskeleton · 04/11/2011 22:31

That seems to be characteristic, the appearance of being a fab partner/person, while actually being an abusive creep.

But actually more people than you realise will have seen through him. And even if they haven't, they're not the people living with him. No-one really knows what goes on behind closed doors.

garlicBread · 04/11/2011 22:46

MugShot, have you seen the thread by a MNetter being undermined by a game-player ... whose co-workers find it peculiar that he seems to keep his wife under wraps?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1332834-Work-related-very-long

I worked with a man like this, too. We used to joke that he kept his wife in the cellar Hmm ... such things do get noticed and make people suspicious.

garlicBread · 04/11/2011 22:54

VERY bizarrely, I've only just made the connection that my second Twat did this too! Not to the same extent - we worked in the same business and shared many friends/clients/suppliers - but quite often, when I mentioned him by name, people said "Oh! Your husband is Jon? I didn't know he was married!" Shock Hmm

Yes, it did make me suspicious - rightly so, as it turned out.

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