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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:
springydaffs · 05/04/2012 11:57

The drama between you still seems very high. ok, it's early days, but you still seem very enmeshed in one another. Would you have him back tulip? if all this nonsense with this woman falls apart that is. You both seem to want to keep up the link between you, even though it is very negative and damaging, esp to you. The kids too by the sound of it Sad

midwife99 · 05/04/2012 12:02

I agree - COMPLETELY IGNORE HIM. I bet you anything he'll swing from threatening, sorry for himself, reminiscing over how good it was back to nasty all by himself quite rapidly & you'll see how completely pointless & exhausting communicating with him is. Save your energy for yourself & your DCs.

redtulip68 · 05/04/2012 12:41

In all honesty I have discussed with the DC whether they would want him back. Both have said no. I swing from wanting him back to not wanting him back every two days or so. At the moment - no I dont want him back. He can go and live is a nasty bedsit for the rest of his days as far as I'm concerned.

What I am finding interesting is how now that I am becoming more independent of him, not needing him to do anything for me or needing his permission he is becoming threatening. Constantly asking the children to try and find out what we are doing, speaking to, going etc. Because the complete power he has had over us for so many years is on the decrease he appears to be finding it very difficult. I mean I could be wrong and maybe he just isnt that interested but the threats, calls and emails tell a different story.

I'm pleased that I'm beginning to make this break because it makes me stronger.

OP posts:
meredeux · 05/04/2012 13:04

The best outcome will be if you really don't care what he says/ does/ thinks whilst your indifference drives him crazy... but you don't care about that either!

springydaffs · 05/04/2012 13:19

you're not wrong tulip. I always think that these major blow-outs show what was really going on under the surface.

midwife99 · 05/04/2012 14:18

Yes Tulip I agree - he senses he is losing power over you & is doing everything he can to make sure he still creates a reaction in you which confirms he still has that power. It's quite natural to wobble & sometimes wish it could all go back to how it was before but if you could just hang onto this feeling of independence & strength & ignore him you'll not only be the bigger person in front of your DCs but also feel better quicker yourself.

fiventhree · 05/04/2012 14:35

One thought Red.

It may be worth getting the house valued, asking for a price as it is and when/if it is done up, in writing. This is because you don't want to spend weeks painting and sorting and then find he gets half of the extra equity.

Also, I'm not sure whether you can do this, but can't you get all his cars and trash out of the place?

Personally, it would annoy me a lot to have to live with a very shambolic messy man and then keep looking at his rubbish after he has buggered off!

Re other issues- Springdaffs is right- a good blowout meaning his real personality is out is a good thing for you. Pricks the bubble a bit further.

I know we always like to say it about these kinds of men, but this one's life is buggered, isn't it?

He ran off with an older alcoholic with problems, he cant face responsibility, he has no organisational skills, he is a liar, he has made a fair mess of his career and alienated his kids. And for what, long term?

Sigh.

Good news for you, though, long term, to have got rid.

redtulip68 · 05/04/2012 22:28

Had a nice afternoon visiting family and having dinner at parents. I made sure I was back in time for the usual feeble attempt at a conversation with their Father. Lasted 2 minutes and 52 seconds this evening including taking the phone upstairs to the children! He did the usual asking to who, what, where about today - nosey S.O.B. DS then passed the phone to me. I could hear him breathing at the end of the line, I'm sure he was expecting me to speak so I just hung up. Wink The power is strong in this one!!! (said in a Yoda voice)

Good night all

OP posts:
midwife99 · 06/04/2012 06:26

Well done you - you have the power Smile

midwife99 · 06/04/2012 06:38

Power level number 2 - don't rush back from an enjoyable social gathering to receive his phone call. Let it ring!

redtulip68 · 06/04/2012 06:53

You're right Midwife99. if he wants to speak to the children and we are not at home he can call my mobile becuase the likelihood they are somewhere else without me is VERY slim in deed!

I've started to get back to normal - did some work yesterday and got up at 5.30am to do some more work whilst the children are in bed. Emailled stuff off to various places and now I can here the big feet of DS. I'm feeling quite pleased with myself in this respect as it means I'm getting ahead of the game. Smile

OP posts:
midwife99 · 06/04/2012 09:30

He's basically just making sure you're all exactly where he wants you, at home, alone & miserable. This level of contact is harassment. He doesn't need to phone every night, the DCs clearly don't want to speak to him. I'd stop answering the phone to be honest. If he has a set time to see them what's the discussion for?

redtulip68 · 06/04/2012 13:58

I understand what you are saying Midwife99 but becuase I set up the arrangement in the beginning I do feel that if I start to change things he will start getting to be a pain in the arse.

I'm going out again tonight - yes twice in seven days, now thats twice more than I've been out the in previous two years! So the DC will be staying at my parents for the night. I'll have to text time later to say they are at my parents today so he either phone there ro waits until tomorrow afternoon.

OP posts:
midwife99 · 06/04/2012 14:09

Do you think that more flexibility may be better for you in the long term or (& I can understand this completely!) do you like him phoning every day because it means something is still happening between you?

midwife99 · 06/04/2012 14:19

You going out again is great!! [busmile]

redtulip68 · 06/04/2012 14:26

Not bothered if he calls or not personally as i dont speak to him anyway! I want him to call for the children but the truth is the conversations are always the same and only last between 1 and 2 minutes. I just wanted to ensure they are in his thoughts really but I know the reality s that they aren't. On a Sunday I have to call/text him to remind him to call his children because he forgets! I mean how can you forget to call your own children? I've sent a text telling him the children are out tonight and tomorrow morning and to call about 1pm. This way he isnt sure why they are out or whether it's me who is out. Keep him guessing I think.

I'm beginning to feel a bito f a dirty stop out. This is the second time in seven days I will have been out I'm just not used to going anywhere! [bugrin]

OP posts:
midwife99 · 06/04/2012 14:38

Had a great time!!! [bulaugh]

midwife99 · 06/04/2012 14:39

[bugrin]

redtulip68 · 06/04/2012 19:20

All dressed up and ready to roll! Just got to find where I've put the SatNav now. [bugrin]

OP posts:
FidgetPie · 06/04/2012 23:50

Hope you had a great evening

redtulip68 · 07/04/2012 12:37

Well had a lovely evening. Laughed, danced and chatted. Generally had a lovely time with good friends who care for me and my children. The general consensus of opinion is that STBX is mad on many levels but enough of him!

OP posts:
midwife99 · 07/04/2012 18:37

That's great - the first of many Grin

redtulip68 · 07/04/2012 21:21

Took children out this afternoon for lunch then to buy Grandparents an Easter gift. Whilst we were eating lunch I asked the children how they were feeling and said that because we were out of the house and there went as many distractions maybe they wanted to discuss the changes that have occurred over the last five weeks.

I asked them if they missed STBX and asked them if they understood that he was never coming back home to live. They said they understood. DD said its not that different to when he was here anyway becuase he was always at work or playing with bikes, it was you that took us everywhere. DS then made a really interesting comment - 'You only have one chance to be a Dad and he's blown it. He's not that interested in us really. ' I must add that he then asked what could he have for dessert!

They picked a plant and a bottle of wine for GP and a plant for GP neighbour who always buys them Easter Eggs, they never asked to buy STBX anything.

STBX called later and told DS that he had bought a present for Easter. DS ended the call then said 'Great he's bought me a present from a car boot sale bet its not new then.' Its a shame they are so sinial of their father. [busad]

OP posts:
redtulip68 · 08/04/2012 06:03

Really need some advice here. had a three hours telephone call from OW STBX. He had traced me and basically has asked to meet to discuss what has happened to both of us. In addition he has told me that my STBX is the last in a line of affairs she has had over recent years. They always follow the same pattern and she always returns within a few months/weeks when she realises that the 'new man' isnt in the financial position she wants to keep her. He has said that she is basically motivated by money and that he can see this ending shortly in quite a bloody way.

He has asked me to give my STBX a list of names to discuss with OW. Do I do it? I'm scared because of the previous threats my STBX has made about stopping money for the house and DCs if I know anything. I'm really confused, especially when I knew of at least one affair she had had recently only to be told there are four plus there are whole collections of lies he is being fed by her that are being used by him to threaten me. [buconfused]

OP posts:
midwife99 · 08/04/2012 06:25

Stay out of it Tulip. You have enough to cope with without getting involved in their breakup too! Basically is this man saying he'll take her back AGAIN & wants you to help expedite this by splitting them up now? Would you even consider taking STBXH back after all he's done to you & DCs if he comes crawling back after she dumps him? I think this man was extremely cruel & selfish to involve you. Yet another selfish bloody man in the equation AngryAngryAngry

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