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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

Is this the end? (Sorry long)

27 replies

HappyFuckingNewYear · 01/01/2012 09:18

Sorry this is very long. Really want to give all the relevant info, my head is totally fucked right now and am up with the DC having had hardly any sleep and will have to deal with H in a couple of hours when he gets up.

H and I have been together 5 years, married for 2 and have 2 DC. Just so you have the full picture H had a 3 month affair when I was pregnant with DC1. I found out, I decided to give him another chance and we stayed together, got married and had DC2.

Last night we stayed in watching films and having some drinks. H had considerably more than me. I went to bed pretty late but as I had already agreed H could have a lie in in the morning he decided to stay up for a bit longer. Fine I thought, went to bed.

I could hear a voice coming from downstairs and was a bit suspicious as it was so late and I wondered who H could be on the phone to. Went downstairs and listened at the door (I know I sound very suspicious, I wouldn't usually act this way even after what happened in the past but I just had a feeling). H was having a very flirty conversation in which I heard him refer to himself as her 'bit on the side' and then said "In my wildest erotic fantasies". I then opened the door and asked who the fuck was on the phone. He said it was a girl he met on a work trip about 4 months ago, all that happened was a snog and flirting on a drunken night out. They haven't really spoken (except some facebook messages) since, and it was my H who randomly rang her. (H hung up when I came in room, she rang straight back and hung up when I answered. I rang back and ended up asking for her side of it, her story matched H's re:one snog, some flirting, no contact and then H's phone call)

Everything is fucked, we argued for hours. H was quite drunk. He was apologetic at first but started saying that the things wrong with the relationship were basically my fault. He was getting quite nasty about it. He did seem quite drunk so I am expecting him to be taking all that stuff back when he wakes up today.

I don't know what to do or think. I could probably forgive a drunken snog as long as we could re evaluate his drinking (not a day to day problem but he does occasionally go way overboard and does really stupid things) but why keep her around and call her 4 months later and have that conversation?? Can we get past this or would I be a mug to give him ANOTHER chance.

My life would be so fucked if we split up which is clouding my judgement, I don't work and am a full time student. In the city I live in my children and I will not be able to afford somewhere nice to live (we rent) or anywhere near DC1's school and my uni is a commute to a different city, I don't think I will realistically be able to do this any more as would be unlikely be able to afford to run my car (only recently passed test so insurance is massive).
Please someone help!!

OP posts:
KissMyShineyRedA · 01/01/2012 09:22

So sorry. Not a nice way to start the new year at all Sad

How much more can you forgive?

michglas · 01/01/2012 09:23

Sorry your start to the New year has been so rotten, but you stop need to making excuses about how much financially worse your life would be if you split. He is treating you like a mug, over and over again - you can not let him get away with it any longer.

StealthPolarBear · 01/01/2012 09:24

I think you have too much going through your mind. I would say you need to tell yuor H that you want to know everything - no more secrets or nasty surprises, and then you want him to move out for a while while you decide whether your marriage has a future.
Then do you have a local friend who can help you work through the practical options? They know the area etc so might be able to help. E.g. could you live further out but near a train station to commute?

smackapacca · 01/01/2012 09:25

That sounds shit. There's quite a bit of deceit going on isn't there? What do you think would be the best outcome here?

paranoidandroidwreckmyownlife · 01/01/2012 09:26

It would depend on how contrite he was about the whole thing. If he's begging for forgiveness and accepting counselling for your issues you could have a chance. You need openess about his phone, internet etc.
Take it from me though, if he keeps blaming you and accepts little or no responsibility unless under duress, your life will become a living hell!

StealthPolarBear · 01/01/2012 09:28

does he drink regularly or ewas last night a one off? (being NYE of course)

mummytime · 01/01/2012 09:28

Good news: your kids aren't that old so will adapt easily to any move.
I would contact your Uni and see what help/advice they can give you. There could be hardship funds, nursery places and help with accommodation. Also students can be a good source of babysitters. Also schools near universities tend to have a turn over of pupils, as parents move in and away.

Now you need to decide if you can forgive him, but you are taking a big risk of you do. Personally I couldn't have after a 4 month affair whilst I was pregnant, but its your call.

Imnotaslimjim · 01/01/2012 09:32

If it was me I wouldn't be staying. You can get financial help for studying as a single parent. If thats the only thing stopping you, then get out. I think you need some time though to sort your head out and decide what you want

HappyFuckingNewYear · 01/01/2012 09:33

He doesn't drink regularly but when he does (work nights out or special occasions usually) it is usually to excess and he has done stupid things in the past and we usually end up arguing.

OP posts:
WhereEaglesDare · 01/01/2012 09:43

Sorry to hear that you entered New Year on such a negative note but saying that,you need to think is there anything to save,can you trust him enough to continue you life together? Can you talk to him when he is sober and see what you both could do to improve your relationship (he has lots of work to do and bring the trust)?
One thing you need to understand,it's his choice and not your fault,for him straying on the side. If he had issues he should have spoken to you about not only blame you for his own insecurities.

PatsysDouble · 01/01/2012 09:45

Sorry in advance for a rambling message - just need to have a moan without off loading on RL people on New Years Day.
Background - H moved out a couple of months back at my request after almost a year of trying to sort things out between us. No affair, no violence, huge lack of support, love and respect over the years, coupled with a few major events and now on my part a lack of trust that things can be as they should be. 3 kids.
Had a great day yesterday just me and the kids. He is here today to spend the day with us and I feel like crap already. I don't like the way he talks to me and questions my views, pushing things to try and make me out to be wrong/unreasonable etc and I feel totally panicked when he is here. They have all gone out for the morning now and I feel really sad. He says he wants things to work out but the person I see coming round here several times a week is not someone who desparately wants to work things out.
What would that person be doing? I'm not sure, but certainly not being constantly confrontational and then telling me it's hardly surprising.
Of course it's not surprising really but the 'I really love you and want things to work out' that he says when leaving after a day of making me feel really uncomfortable always seems more like a piss take.
Unlike people posting on other threads, I don't feel beside myself when he is not here. I feel calm and cheerful and like I can be the Mum I ought to be. I haven't missed him at all (although he's round several times a week anyway). My work has improved and I don't feel like i have a massive weight on my shoulders on the days when it's just me and the kids.
They obviously love him, I am the main carer, and I am crippled by the thought of not having them with me if I push ahead to finalise a separation rather than try and make things work.
I am terrified to make things work, as the month prior to him moving out was the most bleak one I have ever had I think - on the verge of tears all the time - work, shops, walking down the street. I can't go back there.
I've no idea what I'm actually asking if you are still reading this (thanks!) but feel a bit better for waffling. I did post a while back, but he registered on MN and may or may not have found my threads. He certainly had a lot to say about the opinions of strangers!
Thank you and Happy New Year.

PatsysDouble · 01/01/2012 09:46

Argh!!! SORRY!!!!!!!! That was supposed to be a new thread not posted on yours. Please ignore my intrusion!

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 01/01/2012 09:48

I think I would kick him out, if only for a short time. Has he got family he could stay with? If you ask him to go elsewhere for a week whilst you think he should agree. If he was truly remorseful then he would do what makes you happy. However, it seems like he blames you which would make me want to kick his arse to kingdom come.

Time to make decisions .... Be strong for your kids. Good luck.

solidgoldbrass · 01/01/2012 09:55

Ask yourself this: could you be happy and comfortable living with him and accepting that he is not monogamous? Because he isn't. And accepting an open relationship or splitting up with him are the only available options; there is no magic button that will make him monogamous.

StealthPolarBear · 01/01/2012 10:27

But it's not that simple. The OP thought they were monogomous and he deceived her. So she has to decide whether she can live with someone who is prepared to do that to her as well.
OP is he up yet?

HappyFuckingNewYear · 01/01/2012 10:28

I think I know he has to leave. I don't think there is any way I can trust him again.

I have called my Mum and she is picking up the kids for the day. I am letting him sleep off the booze and will talk to him when he gets up. I think I will ask him to go and stay at his mums/brothers before the kids get home.

It's just so scary, I don't know what I'm going to do with no income, no home and possibly no uni.

Thanks so much for the messages so far, it's really helping. I am quite a private person so telling my mum what is going on was really hard and I will probably call a friend later when I am more together but being able to get it out here helps.

It's my fucking birthday tomorrow as well. Not that it's particularly relevant but it seems extra shit to start my year this way and then to ruin my birthday :(

OP posts:
cookcleanerchaufferetc · 01/01/2012 10:30

Op - did you read patsydoubles message ..... Perhaps it is a sign!!! She has had crap and is now -sort of!!! -smiling!

StealthPolarBear · 01/01/2012 10:32

You need to break your problems down, prioritise them and deal with them one by one. Once you are looking at them practically there will be solutions. At the moment they are just overwhelming

mummytime · 01/01/2012 11:38

Ask for help! Talk to your Uni, they will have people who can give you advice on this. People do do Uni with small kids and no partner (not ideal but possible).

Charbon · 01/01/2012 12:07

When you say the OW backed him up, did you tell her his version of events first? Because I think it's very unlikely you've had the truth, sorry.

I also think he'll just keep doing this, so best to part. Well done for telling your Mum, because you need to make this real. It's horrible to have this happen on New Year's Eve, but one day you might look back and be glad that you found this out now, rather than having wasted more years. A man who could do this to you twice and especially when pregnant is not a man worth staying with.

HappyFuckingNewYear · 01/01/2012 12:33

No the OW hadn't spoken to H again and I didn't tell her his version of events. I asked for her to tell me what had happened between them as it was the least I deserved. So, yes, their stories matched.

H is up now, talking about his drinking being a massive problem, but I just don't think I could get the trust back again.

OP posts:
Charbon · 01/01/2012 13:03

Yes, but he's been here before hasn't he? It's common for people having an affair to agree a story beforehand, if one or other of their partners finds out and rings to confront. Your husband probably learned a lot of deceit tricks last time round, especially those involving avoiding detection. The drink last night probably made him careless. I bet the OW is furious, especially if she's in a relationship, but then she will have a lot invested herself, in telling the pre-agreed story.

You've found him out twice now - how many more occasions have there been that you don't know about?

What happened after the first affair? What did he do to persuade you that he could never do it again? Obviously, he didn't manage to persuade himself, because he's let it happen again.

WetAugust · 01/01/2012 13:05

Hi

It may not be as bleak you think.

As a single parent student with children you would be entitled to income support, housing benefit, special support grant (if it still exists) ans possibly qualify for a bursary for lower tuition fees.

Every Uni has a welfare officer. They can help you to claim benefits and can also assist with accommodation etc. You may be able to get your child into a Uni nursery.

Hope things improve soon.

solidgoldbrass · 01/01/2012 20:45

I don't mean that the OP should accept her H having and seeking sex with other women. I am pointing out that he has done it more than once and is going to continue to do so, so her only available options are accepting a monogamy-free relationship or ending the marriage. There is no 'make him stay monogamous' option.

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 01/01/2012 21:07

oh I am so sorry Op

I agree with sgb

accept this, and you accept you will always be on the back foot wrt him cheating

it's no way to live....unless you agree that you both seek sex outside of your marriage