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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:
redtulip68 · 28/03/2012 10:11

Helloo world - myu internet gave up yesterday and is now working! Yesterday was a day of highs and lows. Tiled kitchen looks good and bought some new table mats - oh how I live!! emptied DS's room of junk and clutter and took toys to preschool and local school plus the tip. Old bed on a recycling website and is due to be collected today with a bit of luck. Gas hob ordered on ebay and I need to collect that later.

The useless article came to visit DC last night - 40 minutes late and as the children had asked if he could have dinner with us we ended up with burnt offerings and him complaining! I explained that the children had asked me to cook this particular meal as it was one of his favourites and I explained it wouldnt be happening again. To which his response was just do me a jacket potato! Nothing next time I said Nothing.

Had a discussion over his behaviour - he kind of apologised for treating the children the wya he has and then when I asked him about apologising to me he just said 'wellmaybe I couold have handled it better'. Did I miss the sorry word? Anyway DD started screaming in the garden I asked her quietly to stop she didnt so he picked her up and dragged her into the house. I demanded that he put her down saying we dont do that anymore. To which he swifted dropped her and said I'm going. I said not until you apologise to your DD. No response, then said sorry under his voice! Idiot!

As he was leaving I said that I was now prepared to give him a date by which he needs to have sorted himself some legal representation as I will be starting divorce proceedings as of 13 April. then promptying told him I didnt want him back because that chance has now gone and that I hate him and bhis behaviour towards myself and our children. Then closed the door on him.

Brave or what!!!!!

This morning he anoyed me again by asking for money because we both get paid today. I didnt respond. after that he complained that I was altering the house and wasting money - boiler, painting, flooring, worksurfaces etc all needed to be done by someone because he had given up. I have bought small two tins of paint everything else I have used has been bought by family or we already had in the shed. The cheek of it!

i must just add one thing. As he left last night my DD shouted 'what an arse hole' at him, he didnt hear. when later she asked 'Has Daddy always been weird?' then 'Why did you ever marry him? He is veryn odd Mummy'.

....and on that note I leave you to fill in holes in my DS's bedroom wall and prepare to paint! Good morning Wink

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MadAboutHotChoc · 28/03/2012 10:19

You go girl!

Your DD is right - he is an arsehole!!

redtulip68 · 28/03/2012 11:45

OMG - not something I say usually but OMG! Just had a man come in to sort out my internet connection and he has given me his personal mobile phone number to call him.

I've got the biggest grin on my face. I wont call it as its far to early to be considering anything like that but its made me feel so good about myself! Grin

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redtulip68 · 28/03/2012 13:49

Brought down to earth with a bump - call from CSA, they have spoken to DH this afternoon and he isnt pleased that they had to contact him. Apparently he wants all correspondance sent here and that he isnt happy that they have become involved. Now I'm questioning whether I did the right thing calling them three weeks ago. Sad

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Doha · 28/03/2012 15:27

Course you did the right thing.

Poor ex is not happy--well tough shit, too bad. He should have thought of the consequences and all possibilities before he left. You were just protecting yout and your DC's future.

The mans a twat..

jaffacake2 · 28/03/2012 15:40

Just wanted to say that you are doing so well.Concentrate on the children and yourself,dont worry about anything he says. Time for mother tigress instincts to come to the battle !!!
My ex H walked out on me and 2 children to live in USA with his Phd student.Left me with the eldest just about to have rods put down her back for scoliosis. We survived and the girls have grown up to be wonderful young women,strong and fearless.
Breathe in,breathe out,some days thats as much as you can do. Dont have anyone being negative around you. Get the best solicitor you can. take care of your health. Life will get better.

MadAboutHotChoc · 28/03/2012 15:46

What else were you supposed to do re ensuring you all are protected financially?

Ignore him, although you may need to be prepared for more of this crap from him now that reality is beginning to hit him and he is having to put up with the consequences - stay strong!

meredeux · 28/03/2012 16:19

How can this be the wrong thing to do? What other option did your DH leave you? he wasn't even pretending that he intended to financially support his children!

008 · 28/03/2012 16:47

He´s not happy?

Why the hell should he be happy?

You absolutely did the right thing. You and your children come first. You look after your happiness and theirs.

He walked out, what did he expect? Not happy... grrr ...what a f*cking arse ... mutter ...

Sorry, tulip, am just angry on your behalf, how dare he fill your head with his crap.

mummytime · 28/03/2012 17:02

Well done!
I would just suggest you start to keep a diary, especially of incidents such as his behaviour with your DD yesterday. It might come in handy one day.

jaffacake2 · 28/03/2012 17:02

tulip,dont listen to him,he is now going to start playing the victim and try to screw your head. Just concentrate on your needs and the childrens.

fiventhree · 28/03/2012 17:19

Well, men who do this and in this way are not smart anyway.

He didnt want you to contact CSA?

WtF?

And of course, he expect to have treated you how he has, and for you still to behave as you did before it all happened.

What are they like.

fiventhree · 28/03/2012 17:21

Why does he want correspondence sent to you?

He isnt living there.

He has a reason for this, I just cant think what it is.

Dont trust him an inch.

MadAboutHotChoc · 28/03/2012 17:22

Probably cos he does not want OW to realise that he is not such a great catch now that he will have to support his kids...

meredeux · 28/03/2012 17:23

maybe the reason is that the OW isn't supposed to have a lodger so she doesn't want mail arriving at her "hotel"?

redtulip68 · 28/03/2012 18:05

Apparently the owner does know that he is there but wont have mail addressed there as the OW is only working there on a temporary basis - it closes down in four months then becomes a retirement/nursing home!

DH said they are only there until she has access to her money (her husband has frozen the account) then she will be able to rent somewhere for them both.

Asked for mediation meeting this afternoon to sort out some issues - so far he has said not this week, not next week can't tell you when I'm free........his a teacher he will be free all through the Easter break, he is just trying to make things difficult I know that! Angry

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redtulip68 · 28/03/2012 18:14

Oh and forgot to say during the call he said 'I understand that you are angry but is this really going to sort matters out (referring to the CSA). sometimes IO just have to take the ropugh with the smooth as far as you're concerned'.

REALLY now you know how I feel. for more years than I care to remember I have had to put up with - no care, no words of kindness, no freedom, no intimacy, being controlled, made to feel unloveable, fat, ugly and generally ignored in favour of his latest obession be it bikes,IT, cars, sailing, walking, mountain climbing, work. Even on our weeding day he forgot to mention me in his speech it was all him, him, him with an extra bit of him. On the night he invited a friend back to our room to have a drink, with me sitting in my underwear in bed! We were doomed really!

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redtulip68 · 28/03/2012 18:16

sorry so many mistakes as I'm a little angry now! Angry

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Panamama · 28/03/2012 18:22

Redtulip, don't worry about having upset him re CSA. Now that you've separated sooner or later you would have done something that he wouldn't have been happy about and that you two disagree over. It's just the way. It's best just to do what is right for you and the children and not worry too much about whether or not you've upset him. You can't spend years trying to ensure that you don't do things that make him unhappy. If he's being difficult then that's his choice- it's not right for you to worry about doing things in case he starts acting like a prick.

I don't know for sure what you're thinking, but I'm guessing that you're kicking yourself a bit, feeling worried, wondering if it was worth it contact CSA if it rocks the boat and causes trouble. Thinking that perhaps it wasn't worth pissing him off. But being sure of having maintenance is definitely worth it.

And as for this patronising line: "I understand that you are angry is this really going to sort matters out". I think it's really pathetic that he thinks you're doing this to get at him. And not because you just want to ensure you and your children can eat and be clothed and housed. It's all about him still, eh? And hopefully yes, CSA will sort matters out: making sure you get regular financial support from him for the children.

fiventhree · 28/03/2012 19:22

Oh be angry. Another childish obsessive with issues.

Until she has access to her money???

What does he sound like?

really, i must spend less time on mn, Im getting my 1980s radical feminism side back!

redtulip68 · 28/03/2012 19:37

Saints perserve me when I return to work since collecting my children from school this evening I've run round shopping, cubs, B&Q, Cubs, buy a hob and the next exciting installment will be the phone call from DH (not so Darling, I'll now refer to him as STBX).

I just cant wait!

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meredeux · 28/03/2012 21:07

There was a thread on here a year or two ago about narcissism. I remember the description and how a sequence of obsessions was characteristic. That sounds like your STBX...

redtulip68 · 28/03/2012 21:24

I really hate this situation. Just off the phone to STBX during which he gave me a list of dates he wont be available during theb Easter hols. Basically he will see the children for an hour on Saturday, two hours on Easter Sunday and an hour on another day if I give him the keys to the house, the same keys he threw through the letter box when he left.

I'm sitting here crying because yet again he is dictating what I do and when i do it. I just want him to see his children and spend some time with them. They have gone from seeing him everyday at home to having seen him for four hours in four weeks, because thats all he can manage at the moment because he has other committments. I just dont understand how he has become this person.

Last week he said he would attend counselling with me, now that I have arranged something he is refusing. I just want this to all end. I feel that I have just returned to the beginning of all of this and the pain is too much. I asked him if he would collect our DS from Cub camp after his weekend away from home and he just said no I'm busy. Sometimes I dont know if I'm crying for myself or the fact that he doesnt give a damn about his children and how he is making them feel.

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MadAboutHotChoc · 28/03/2012 21:44

I think you need to detach yourself - limit contact to texts or emails about child access. This will help protect you from getting wound up and upset.

I also think there need to be a proper plan for access - days/times and that he needs to stick to this plan. That way you and the DC all know what is happening and when - none of this ad hoc stuff.

MadAboutHotChoc · 28/03/2012 21:46

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