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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

Devastated is an understatement

556 replies

redtulip68 · 11/03/2012 10:26

I'm so sorry to hear about your situation Starling. Unfortunately I'm in a very similiar position at the moment. My husband of 12 years left the marital home at 10.05pm last Sunday when myself and our two children were in bed. Not warning, nothing ran out in the night the coward he obviously is. The last week has been hell. i've had to tell the children because he only wanted to do it over the phone or in a pub, not in the safe environment of their home.

Apparently he had met some3one on line that he had connected with emotional - nothig sexual had occurred until after he left, or so he is saying. Over the last week I've heard nothing but lies and more lies. He has left the home in in such a state that part is uninhabitable. Environmental Health have been in contact due to the number of vehicles is has left in the garden, carport and other areas that we own surrounding the property. Since leaving I have found out that my wiring is condemned, the oven and hob are a danger to myself and my children. Cant have a bath unless a plunger is used to get plugs out. Had no hot water, could only have heating on for 30 minutes at a time, only flush toilets if someone contorlled the stop cock. Its been a nightmare. But he is living with someone and 'needing time to think what he needs over' whlst I live with two children in disarray.

Found we didnt have any contents or buildings insurance because he hadnt got round to setting up a new policy, bills were out of control because he hadnt got round to getting new quotes - I would have done it but evey bill was in his name at the time, obviously they arent now! Joint mortgage so thats ok.

Apparently will leave his income in my account for the next three months so I can arrange reapirs - what makes him think I can afford them now he has done? Then I'm to live off benefits - I've already established I'm only entitled to 10.43 per month. This is just so unfair, I really dont understand what I've done. he doesnt understand that our children deserve the truth rather than his web of lies which he now stating - I left beuuase we were arguing, 1 argument one night last week.

Visited children after I arranged it - 1 hour, then spoke to me for 2.5 hours, mean at the state but got better. I asked him to come back explained I still loved him and he said he would seriously think about it. He said that he still loved me but didnt think we could work it out because he has left.

Cant tell my family that I want him home bacuse they cant stand him, but I cant help the way I feel. its been made worse becauseof comments he keeps making on facebook which mean I then have to fiedl emails, messages and calls from joint friends and work colleagues. I know I'm having to do all his dirty work, clearing his stuff because he told me to, making calls left right and centre because that's what I'm expected to do.

refuses to give contactable address and often truns mobile phone off - so even in an emergancy I wouldnt be able to contact him.

cant sleep, havent eaten since our initial argument on 2nd march. i know deep down he isnt coming back but my children are young and own has AS. One hates their father, the other is in limbo becuase of promises father has made and subsequently not kept.

Nothing in my world is the same. I just dont know what I should be saying or feeling. Sick to the stomach of crying on my own. the pain is unbearable.

Please excuse the mistakes its just that really cant think straight. spoke this morning and asked if the comments he made yesterday about coming back were true or yet another one of the catelogue of lies he has told this week. Chidlren are lashing out at each other. But its not helped by their father telling them that he left because I was arguing rather than the truth that he was having an affair. There were several incidents this morning and I made him tell the truth but its still only part - now telling the children he is sharing a house with another woman. I just want to know where we all stand. Not lie after lie

OP posts:
MadAboutHotChoc · 28/03/2012 21:47

And also he needs to take the DC out - and not use your home which is supposed to be your own personal space.

MaBumble · 28/03/2012 22:22

And do NOT give him the keys to your house under any circumstances !

ThePinkPussycat · 28/03/2012 23:08

Please do NOT attend counselling with this man. It can cause further havoc, the best counsellors just won't do couple counselling where abuse of one partner by the other is an issue.

Do op in on the EA thread if you haven't already, lots of people have dealt with similar, or still are.

FidgetPie · 28/03/2012 23:22

Whilst I understand that in an ideal world you want you DC to spend time with their father in practice I can't see how this is benefiting them or you at the moment. It seems that you are the

FidgetPie · 28/03/2012 23:27

sorry posted too soon, damn IPhone...
It seem like you are the one pushing it to happen and each time it upsets you and them. Maybe step back for a few weeks - accept he may not see them much and when he is in a better place himself he might take more of the initiative and be able to do a better job at it (or he may not...).

Put yourself and your DC first though

I think you are doing amazingly btw - so well done

captainmummy · 29/03/2012 08:16

He doesn't like the fact that you've gone to the CSA??? What man does? None ofthem like having their finances opened up by someone else - but it's not up to him anymore what you do.

Re the contact - you are likely to be upset that he's not being much of a father. The dc know this already! Ignore him, get on with what you have to do (you and the dc) and if he wants in, factor him in then. Ignore ignore ignore otherwise.

redtulip68 · 29/03/2012 15:36

AARRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH What a day! Now not only got STBX on my back causing problems now family are doing the same. Been four weeks and now they are beginning to start - if he comes back .....threat threat threat, Just get a divorce........threat, threat, threat, I cried and they just said 'Now dont come the ater works with us!' Really dont know what's happening. I get pressure from STBX, DC, Family, Friends, Work and I just feel that no one cares about how I'm feeling and what I want for the future.

OP posts:
ThePinkPussycat · 29/03/2012 15:42

We do. We understand. MN is a godsend. [hug]

redtulip68 · 29/03/2012 16:02

Thanks. They have always moaned about everything I have done from Jobs, partners, the way I bring up children so really this was no real surprise. It was just that I thought that it would take a little longer than it has.

Oh well onward and upward.

OP posts:
redtulip68 · 29/03/2012 16:29

DC have a friend over for dinner. She has just asked the DC when their Daddy is coming home. They both looked at me and I explained that he doesnt live here anymore.

I left the kitcehn whilst they ate and could hear the friend ask do you have a step mum now then? DC said nothing, then DS said no but Daddy has a new wife.

God I feel such loser.

OP posts:
008 · 29/03/2012 18:33

Hey Tulip, I have no idea what to say, but couldn`t leave your messages sitting there. You are doing so incredibly well. I am sure that to the outside world, you seem together and sorted, it´s just inside that it all seems so messy.

Keep on going. You will get through this. The last thing I would call you is a loser. A fighter, yes. Determined, strong, resourceful, loving ... all of those things. x

tadjennyp · 29/03/2012 18:34

Sorry, death in the family here so not up to posting much, but just wanted to say you are not a loser and you can live your life how you want to. And your dcs rock!

meredeux · 29/03/2012 20:05

I guess your family haven't had any good thing to say for years and question your judgement that you've stayed with him this long? (Ditto for my family and my ex)

Then when they allow themselves to hope that he's gone for good, they suddenly panic that maybe you'll let him back in to slowly start breaking you again? (Ditto again).

So they put their needs first and plead with you to convince them that you won't. (Been there, done that. Just wait until he calls them to complain about you. The fallout from that was my lowest moment...)

It does pass, if that helps?

redtulip68 · 29/03/2012 21:11

There not a cat in hells chance of him ever calling my parents Meredeux. He drives around the village before coming to see the children just in case someone is here!

Phone call from him at 8.10pm to speak to the cbhildren. They are 6 and 8 so they were in bed asleep, for a change, so he just gave me a list of his 'me' stuff:

  1. I'm very busy during the holidays so I'll let you know when I can see the children.
  2. I might not ebe able to visit because of the petrol situation - despite me telling him yesterday to get fuel and his response being 'Well its not the same in the city because people dont really travel great distances and petrol is freely available not like where you live.' Where I live you bloody selected and bought the house without even a nod in my direction! So now he has only got £20 worth of fuel and his round journey is 70 miles. Idiot Angry
  3. I need a drill to get into my shed put one in a bin for me.

I listened didnt respond then hung up. Tosser. I feel it must be wine o'clock!

OP posts:
meredeux · 29/03/2012 22:23

I'd have put money on my ex wanting to avoid my family at all costs too. He didn't have a good word to say about them and they barely tolerated him.

However, a couple of months after we'd broken up, he realised that a phone call to my toxic mother would cause me no end of grief... and he was right... she made my life a misery because now she was "involved".

meredeux · 29/03/2012 22:25

You did the best thing.. just hang up. If he can't figure out that he needs petrol then he won't get to see his kids (his loss). I wish you could take your DC away for a little holiday this Easter. It sounds like exactly what you three need.

redtulip68 · 30/03/2012 06:39

I did try but the family member who culd have helped with that had already booked out his holiday home. I am considering just going to the seaside and seeing what we can get - its a little bit free spirited I know and I'm not quite used to that yet I mean it would be completely unplanned and that is something I havent done for twelve years!!!!

OP posts:
008 · 30/03/2012 07:29

Now THAT sounds like a plan to me. You will get something ... and you will get some time out with the kids. Do it!

008 · 30/03/2012 07:30

sorry, I meant to say that you will find somewhere to stay - there´s always a band b room somewhere!

redtulip68 · 30/03/2012 08:38

Wonderful t/c with STBX this morning - not!

He wants three hundred pounds to cover his petrol costs for over the next week. Really is he going somewhere nice? Because he isnt taking the kids is he! I said no - I've already had to buy a hob and repay family members he had borrowed from. Still got to consider how to repay other family members for the replacement items they have bought us over the last four weeks but I think I'll have to put that one on the back burner for a while. Althopugh I cant do that for too long as my sols did say I have to be seen paying them back.

DD has refused to go out with him tomorrow. I've already explained to the DCs that I cant go out with them, which is what she really wants. She does need to get used to the fact that our family of four is now a family of three.......and then their Father.

OP posts:
MadAboutHotChoc · 30/03/2012 08:51

What a bloody cheek he has - well done for saying no.

You need to tell him not to contact you about anything unrelated to the kids,

redtulip68 · 30/03/2012 09:18

Just received text saying will take children for a picnic at 4.30pm tomorrow afternoon as he can't afford anything else - which basically means a small bottle of water between them, a sandwich and a tube yoghurt, I hope it rains because he's not coming in this house!

Now wants two hundred pounds because of all the demands I'm placing on him about seeing his children! He is seeing them Saturday as usual, now wants to see them Monday, then Easter Sunday and the following Wednesday. He sees them twice aweek anyway so how am I demanding anything else? I know I've asked him to take our DS to camp but surely a normal father would want to do that? Oh forgot not a normal Father. Especially as his new life has now begun!!!

OP posts:
redtulip68 · 30/03/2012 09:24

and the b has had a three hundred pound pay rise, either that or he has stopped paying his pension. He wont tell me which and if its the latter its totally so I cant claim twelve years of it as my sols suggested. I didnt realise that this was now going to get dirty!

OP posts:
mummytime · 30/03/2012 09:24

No money to him. Could you talk to your family, and get something in writing about how you will pay them a small amount per month now, to show you are repaying the debt, if you can have a note book where you both record amounts repaid and sign, that should help prove you are repaying the loans and they are not gifts. Which I guess is the issue the sol sees?
I hope you have been recording the state the house was in, and the work your family has done. Basically record everything you can, and keep receipts, just incase you need to prove it in the future.

springydaffs · 30/03/2012 09:41

Gosh, this guy just takes the biscuit doesn't he. You couldn't make this up!

I can't help noticing that you are in contact with one another every day, at least once a day. Either the man has left or he hasn't. I'd drastically cut down the contact if I were you. You'll have a much better chance of coming to terms with things if you're not constantly in contact; plus the children will also get the chance to settle down - what's with the hour here, hour there thing? And the park visit ended up with you two having a talk and it wasn't for them at all - I wouldn't take him anywhere in the car in future. You'd be much better off keeping him at a distance (though watch out: as soon as you back off with badgering him to have the kids, he'll start wanting to see them. Bear in mind this: to get what you want, ask for the opposite ) It all sounds like quite a mess and I really would let him sink in the mire he's created iiwy.

Sorry to hear your family are also giving you trouble - can you see why you chose to marry such a chaotic bloke? You were used to it! Sad

btw have I mentioned the Freedom Programme? I think it would really help you to get your head straight about his behaviour - it's an excellent course.

Well done, you're getting a lot done - wow