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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:
tallwivglasses · 15/03/2012 10:02

Thinking of you today redtulip - as I'm sure many others are. Take care x

captainmummy · 15/03/2012 10:02

You can cope, redtulips. You have before,and you are doing fantastically well now,with all that's on your plate. YOU CAN COPE!

Good luck at the doctors. We'll be thinking of you.

meredeux · 15/03/2012 10:05

I'll be thinking of you this morning. xxx

springydaffs · 15/03/2012 10:49

I do hope the news is good today tulip.

You can cope. Plenty of us have. Yes you're in a state to begin with but you do reach a point where the boat stops rocking. He has made you entirely dependent on him, even isolated you in a house (plus dismantled said house, just as he was dismantling you). You will see this, eventually. I'd recommend the Freedom Programme when you can. It is a fabulous course which opens your eyes to the tactics our abusive ex used to control us and reduce us to a shadow. You do end up overjoyed that you got your life, yourself, back and shudder to think what would've happened if he had continued.

ime, my horrid family were a precursor to me not only falling in love with but marrying a very abusive man. You might benefit from some therapy to unravel it all.

Let us know how you get on today x

MsOnatopp · 15/03/2012 10:51

I have been watching and I hope all goes well today.

It's a horrible thing to happen but you will come out stronger. x

bleedingheart · 15/03/2012 11:05

I hope you get good news today x

redtulip68 · 15/03/2012 13:05

Back from appointment - 'Dont worry' they said. We dont know what you have got so we are going to refer you to someone else. So here I am trying not to worry.

Went to GP too. Apparently the panic attacks in the playground and various other places are very normal but GP said that she thinks I need to speak to a counsellor - I'd already organised that myself, going on Monday to one paid for by work, and she had signed me off work until 30.03.2012 because she really doesnt think that with the 'dont worry' situation and the -wanker- H situation that work would be the best place. Apparently all the humps in my mouth are stress related too.

Letter from sols arrived this morning suggesting that I alter my Will and
set up a Severing of Joint Tenancy of the matrimonial home in order to ensure that my part of the home is left to the DC rather than him. Dont know what to do at the moment.

OP posts:
FidgetPie · 15/03/2012 14:35

Dear Red - just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you - take care

redtulip68 · 15/03/2012 18:10

feeling very lonely at the moment. Apart from going to the GPs I havent spoken to another adult today - this is really a strange situation and I'm just not used to it.

OP posts:
meredeux · 15/03/2012 18:32

What do you like to do to distract yourself normally? read? Watch TV? Is there something that you can do to take your mind off it all (even if its just homework help)?

redtulip68 · 15/03/2012 19:02

usually speak to my husband and work but not working as I've been signed off work.

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springydaffs · 15/03/2012 19:41

When my marriage broke up I went through what can only be described as withdrawals. I shook, was almost manic, beside myself - my body, let alone my mind, was in a serious mess. I asked a therapist at the time if it was possible to be addicted to a person. I now know that's exactly what it was and it is also very common in abusive, controlling relationships.

It's vile to go through cold turkey but, here's the thing, it passes quite quickly - surprisingly quickly tbh. Even a week and the desperate cravings seriously subside.

You're talking to us on here, yy it's not the same as talking in rl but it's not bad. At least you're being heard on here, which goes a long way imo. Great that you're seeing a counsellor.

Sorry the tests are ongoing but it sounds like you don't have cancer then? As I said above, my body went through some serious shit when I was going cold turkey. It could well be that.

ThePinkPussycat · 15/03/2012 20:22

I recommend some rubbish telly. I find it soothing. At 9pm you can see the Master Chef final, which, though not rubbish imho, gives you the opportunity to shout at the telly 'it's only food!!!'

Startingagain88 · 15/03/2012 22:00

Red,

As you know i am going through a similar situation in that my long term partner up and left me for OW with no warning....

Just wanted to say to you that i know how you feel with regard to the 'withdrawals' from the other person...... we did everything together and i had no friends outside my relationship with him.

When he first left, the longing for him felt like physical pain and the gap which was left in my life was huge....but over the last nine days things have slowly got better, i don't spend every night in despair crying and im actually starting to think of a future without him...

You and I CAN make it through this and become happier,stronger and wiser women because of it.

Thinking of you Red X

redtulip68 · 16/03/2012 08:20

Flaming idiot of a man!
Didnt message last night as was very angry with his treatment of the DC. Called after their club, son in tears down the phone to which H said 'I'll talk to you on Saturday' and finished the conversation, which in all honest usually runs 'are you being a good boy? Be a good boy. Have you done your homework?'. Anyway as usual DD refused to speak. I then told him that he needed to start acting as their father. I put the phone down.

DS wanted to speak to Daddy but Darling Daddy had switched his phone off! Sent message telling him he has got to put his children first and to start being a parent! Obviously no response.

Called at 7.49am this morning - should be 8am. DS started crying again. DD refused to speak (are you spotting pattern yet?) Heartless bar steward just said not now I'll talk to you tomorrow. DS is 8! And a young 8 at that!

I took the call over, said that he couldnt pick and choose when he was a parent - all he wanted to know was when he could come and sort his bikes (three sheds are full of them and they are his obesession). The aftermath was horridous - children crying, kicking, slapping, sulking, kicking doors. the fridge, slamming doors, screaming at one another, turning over planters in the garden etc. And he gets to walk away from it all.

During the call I explained that I didnt have any money for shopping as I'd had to repair the car - his response 'well that's not my fault is it'. No, not your fault that you have driven the car into the ground and left me with this and everything else to sort. Not your fault? - you are a heartless coward who walked away when things got difficult. These are your problems you need to sort them out! I think I may be getting to the anger stage now!

OP posts:
captainmummy · 16/03/2012 08:36

Glad you're getting Angry!!! It really sounds as if you need to start limiting his contact! I know it sounds counter-intuitive, and that of course he should be spending more time with his dc, but honestly, if it upsets them that much, surely a time off would be better? If you told the dc that he is not going to contact them for a week/month, would they accept that and get on with it? Trying to force him into caring for his dc is obviously not helping anyone.

captainmummy · 16/03/2012 08:37

Oh and I'd sell the bikes to pay for food.

meredeux · 16/03/2012 08:41

captainmummy Fri 16-Mar-12 08:37:13 "Oh and I'd sell the bikes to pay for food." Exactly! After all: what comes first his feelings or feeding the children?

springydaffs · 16/03/2012 09:06

Do the kids hear your convos with him? I think it's better they don't if so. I'm so sorry that everything is pandemonium at your home. Is it possible for you to get away for a while? I appreciate that it may be difficult for ds to stay somewhere else but a change of scene may help to break this awful situation and help everyone to calm down?

mummytime · 16/03/2012 09:25

Have you managed to get legal advice yet? I would also suggest yo do your best to find out about his financial arrangements including his other accounts etc. Do phone your bank and see what they can suggest, try to get his access to your accounts stopped, but so you can still use it, also talk to them about cash flow issues.
Have you investigated benefits yet?
I would also limit phone calls until it is a positive experience. It is probably unsettling the kids more than you need. I would also limit him taking valuable assets like the bikes until finances are sorted.
But get legal advice.

redtulip68 · 16/03/2012 10:16

Mummytime - spoke to sols on Monday, he doesnt have acct as he cant get one! He cant get access to my acct because I destroyed the card when I had to hire a car for him and OW on the day following his running into the night. I had no choice but to hire the car as he had taken my car and I couldnt go anywhere (I live in a village with poor bus connection). he would only give me the car back if I hired a car and at the time the car was really important for my freedom. Benefits - its joke, £10.43 per week becuase I work 24 hours a week. Although I have been told to investigate DLA for DS. As for the bikes he said that he will sell them and I'll get the money via Paypal because he will sell them on ebay as job lots.

Springydaffs - conversations between him and me take place away from the children as I dont feel that they need to be party to his prattish comments. As for getting away - I dont want to take the children out of school as it is a constant at the moment. although I am planning to go away for a few days at Easter.

He is basically being selfish and an arse and.........I could just go on and on!

OP posts:
mummytime · 16/03/2012 11:34

Have you been to the CAB? If not request to speak to one of their debt advisers, the sooner they start to help you with your finances the better.
Good luck!

tadjennyp · 16/03/2012 16:30

I wouldn't trust him to pay you via paypal. Tell him to list the bikes in your name and then you get the money directly. What an absolute arse. I live the other side of the world and I can feel my bloody boiling over his treatment of you and the dc. Utter twonk.

captainmummy · 16/03/2012 17:55

I Love tuips - i like the way they flop over in that sculpural way in the vase unless you put a penny in the water.

There you go, a little money and you can stand up straight! Grin

Sell the bloody bikes yourself. You know he wont get round to it.

Useless twunt.

redtulip68 · 17/03/2012 07:36

Firstly I must apologise for my behaviours yesterday and I wll understand if anyone feels that they no longer want to comment on my thread. Anyway......

h put another on facebook yesterday athat a parent at school read to me apparently 'he can now life' OW has a new job with accomodation. I called to ask him to only see the kids at the allotted time and nothing else. He was rude. I called back she answered told me to wait as H was on the other phone. I said no. she said I had no manners and hung up on me.

I saw red, found where he was staying, scratched his car he saw me. Called the police been warned but nothing esle. Went to friedns and stayed there. I'm in my 40s. have done the right thing ALL my life, always been at everyone elses beck and call. never stood up for myself, always done as was expected/told but this was too much. especially as last week he said that he would be coming back this weekend. Lies obviously and I was stupid enough to believe him as he had asked me to trust him.

I'm so disappointed in myself and fearful for the future now. I'm not going to do anything more stupid than I have already done.

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