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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

Husband asked for separation/divorce at Xmas.

59 replies

separated · 16/01/2012 22:58

We had split in May 2010 when his aggression/verbal abuse caused me to cold shoulder him for a few months. He blamed everything on me and said he wanted shot of me, essentially. This was after him moving to the spare room and giving me a detailed character assassination. Basically, I made a charge against him and he was arrested. The charge was over his assault on me in our kitchen which was physical but mostly just threatening. He said that if murder were legal he would have killed me by now. He also slapped my one cheek 3 times whilst pinching the other. It was extremely frightening. We had been arguing and I thought he was leaning over to kiss me.
Anyway, no evidence, no charges but they advised him to move out. He was gone for 2 months. After that time we talked and patched things up. Be never apologised though. Be refused to accept any blame. In fact he denied it happened. He gave us a year's trial. That ran out in Sept '11. I thought we had got through it. We were intimate again, on his terms as he still chose to sleep in the spare room.
I did everything I could to make it work. I addressed my faults. J spent much less time online, I stopped seeing my sister as he hates her etc. Apparently he realised in September that he no longer felt much for me. He cannot forgive that he was arrested and his dna is on file. I wondered what had changed. Sex dwindled. He gave me much less eye contact. He got cross if I answered a question when our daughter should have been answering. We went to a party at Xmas and I have never felt so alone. There was nothing there. He treated me as if I were a stranger. I asked him to talk to me that evening.
He cried and said how he had been feeling. He had planned to pack a few things, give me half an hour's notice, tell someone close to him what was happening, then leave.
The reason he planned to do it that way was so I didn't have time to make a false allegation to the police. Again (obviously it wasn't false but that's how he sees it).
So that almost brings it up to date. I have begged him to keep trying. I even phoned thr police to say that whilst my statement was true, I didn't know the potential effect sn arrest would have on his career.
So tonight I find myself having to sign the statement of arrangements for our children. He is the petitioner. We have 2 teenagers.
He has been moody, aggressive at times with myself and our son and is extremely manipulative. And still I am sad.
We were together for 20 years, since I was 18.
For financial reasons we will have to sell the house, pay off debts and start again. No money for deposits for houses etc.
I feel sad for the loss of my planned future, angry that this has happened again, angry that he accepts no responsibility over how abusive he was. But he had good points too. He can cook, clean, anything. The truth is that he can manage without me. I've never really been of any use.
A bit of me is hopeful that I can, in time, find someone who really loves me. He didn't. He accumulated bitterness over the 30 years and never forgave anything.

I cannot believe I have come to this point in my life where I am about to lose everything. I

OP posts:
Seabright · 21/01/2012 21:28

She's saying 50/50 because she thinks that's the right thing to do. Don't worry too much at the moment, I'm sure she will change her mind as the reality of his behaviour sinks in.

Also, does he actually want her to live with him, really?

Do all you can to get a quick sale. De-clutter, deep clean, paint walls magnolia, tidy front garden really well. Focus on what you can do to get this over.

separated · 21/01/2012 21:51

I hope you're right Seabright. I cannot imagine being apart from my children.
He has always, over the years, said that he will fight me for them. He used to threaten to say that I was a bad mother. He once even said that he would say I was a lesbian and an unfit mother (!)
House should sell relatively easily. Not an.old house and fairly well decorated.
Thanks for your message.

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Zhen · 23/01/2012 22:50

How are you today, Separated?

I'm so glad to read that your sister is back in your life - that's a great thing.

Your daughter is trying to be fair, once she gets used to the reality of the situation, she may change her mind. I don't want to give advice, but let your ex's actions speak for themselves. Your children will see him for what he is and what he has done. Think about the good that will come of not having his attitude and behaviour (toward you) influencing how they handle relationships themselves.

You sound as if you have raised two wonderful children :).

Stay strong, I remember how your original thread went from despair to hope and even some laughter. It's a shame it was deleted, I think you would have surprised yourself reading it back now :).

separated · 25/01/2012 00:51

Thanks for asking.
I have had a few good days. No tears. Provided I keep my distance from him I am totally okay. It's only when I make eye contact that I begin to mourn the loss of what I thought we might have one day. I was always waiting for him to fall in love with me. I knew I was an okay person you see and thought that, eventually, he would recognise that.
This morning he was shouting at me as I had commented that whilst he had spent £8 in a supermarket on food for his lunch, I had no petrol or sanitary products. He hammered on my bedroom door and tried to accuse me of wanting to abuse the credit card if I had it. At this point I opened the door and denied that I ever would (i never would) and his smug expression spoke volumes. His words were allowing the children to hear the potential evil deed I might commit but his face looked victorious.
I should be sleeping right now but a tickly cough is keeping me up. I know he initiated this separation and eventual divorce, but I (generally) feel quite excited right now. The image of me and my children in a teeny house but away from all of the anger, shouting and bitterness just fills me with hope and excitement. Just got to sell the house now though.
Husband has completely isolated himself now. Son barely speaking to him and daughter does but sees right through his miserable comments to me.
There will be further dark times to come, I imagine, but so far, so good.

OP posts:
LiarsWife · 25/01/2012 04:52

Hang on in there.. you are right to feel excited .. your new life without that horrid backstard is just round the corner xx

HoudiniHissy · 25/01/2012 18:21

Love I too felt that excitement. Hang onto it. It will get you through this. That's freedom.

You won't have to be shouted at for much longer, and then when he's gone, you never need be shouted at AGAIN! Grin

Remember, even in the dark times, that they will come to an end and then life will get better. Living in a cardboard box without the shouting is better than the largest house with an ogre like this.

However dark it gets, come and talk here, call WA, anyone that you need to get you through this. PM us, whatever works best for you chick.

You are doing the right thing.

separated · 25/01/2012 20:04

The divorce petition was in the letterbox when I got home tonight. Husband hadn't arrived home at this point and I have no intention of letting him know that I've received it. I have no idea what to do now. I know I have 7 days to return it. No idea if I need a solicitor or not. I feel so confused. But I don't feel upset.

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perplexedpirate · 25/01/2012 20:15

Consult a solicitor. He's already demonstrated what a shitbag he can be with the credit card business, who knows what he'll try to pull in a divorce.
I am so happy for you and your family getting away from this man. He sounds like a utter fucker. Angry

separated · 25/01/2012 20:24

Yes. He can be.
I have a free advice session with a solicitor tomorrow. I'll try to pick his brain as much as I can.
Yes husband keeps using the words civil and amicable. He's all talk.

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