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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

I am at a loss, I really need some help.

56 replies

FourSquareSilverCharm · 29/06/2012 11:12

I have name changed. Not sure why now I think about it. I thought it was because my DP knows my username, but it might be a good thing if he read this.

I'm sorry in advance if this is long winded. I seem to have lost my way, lost all enthusiasm, plus my inner radar which tells me where to go with all this and what to do is wonky.

My DP and I have been together for over ten years, we have 2 children, 2 and 5.

He cheated on me on a Royal scale years ago, poured an absolute ton of shit on my head etc. Some unbelievable stuff. We dealt with it, alone, then back together. We've had counselling over the years, once or twice. Not that impressed with it.

I loved him madly before I found out about the cheating. I then worked at still loving him the same way, and it seemed ok. He worked at it too, did all the things I expected of him, needed him to do etc. Life settled down. I had a baby, things seemed to get even better. Actually, not "seemed", they were better.

Fast forward to the last few years, and we have been involved, joyously, in the child rearing thing. Knackered, no time together really. When we do get together it tends to be through me organising it ie babysitters etc. No great surprise there.

The only issue I have had with him, that is like a hangover from the bad old days, is with him going out, saying he'll be back and then not coming back at the given time. Well, I sat on that early on. It used to go on on a weekly basis pre children. He came to understand (eventually) that our relationship would be over if he didn't sort it out and that for me, it has never been about the actual going out. It's about trust. That bloody word. Without it I don't see how a relationship can function.

I worked really hard to deal with the fallout of his cheating. I do not bring it up now, not interested, we've moved on. However, it's relevant, in my mind, because pre cheating, I never questioned a thing, Mrs Do-as-you-would-be-done-by etc.

So, my trust in him has been dented, but it's still there, soldiering on.

Anyway, putting this in bold as I'm at last getting to the point here, last weekend he did a shitty thing, and I want to know, in your opinion, bearing in mind the background I've summarised, if you think I am overreacting (he thinks so) (he would).

I take our DS to a sports lesson every Saturday morning, quite early. DP therefore looks after our 2 yr old at home of course (not practical to take her, or wise-she'd be utterly miserable that she couldn't join in).

Friday night he decides he's going out. Not a problem. We then have a discussion-brought up by him first-about him being back later friday night because of DS' lesson.

I have no reason to think anything of it and off he goes.

Of course, he stays out all night, no phone call and no-show in the morning.

(BTW, I have no doubts about where he was or who he was with, we live in a tiny village and he basically got pissed and fell asleep somewhere which is often his modus operandi when drinking).

I don't bother calling as his phone will be out of signal, so I take DS and DD and sure enough, my little girl is very upset that she can't join in. This could have been avoided and when he phones I call him a wanker etc.

Since then, I have actually switched off. I wonder if this is the final straw for me. There's lots more(including not much sex for a while, I don't really feel the same since my 2 yo was born), but god I've rambled.

Do you think I should just let it go again ? I feel like I have a DP who, when the crunch comes, will ultimately put himself first and f**k off me and the children, which is what he did on fri night.

I just don't know what to do. All this week I have been dreading going home after work. BTW, he just thinks he should keep his head down and it will all blow over.

I think he might continue to let his children down all their lives and it is this I want to avoid Sad

OP posts:
gymboywalton · 29/06/2012 11:14

i wouldn't have taken him back the firt time tbh

MoaningMinnieWhingesAgain · 29/06/2012 11:15

It's not such much what he did, it's the underlying complete lack of respect for your mutual plans and his responsibilities.

He is living like a single man with a live in babysitter. I would struggle to like him I think.

FourSquareSilverCharm · 29/06/2012 11:16

Well quite. But I did, and here we are. I've always been the optimistic type, ho ho.

OP posts:
silverangel · 29/06/2012 11:16

No, you shouldn't let it go! If you let it go you will always be letting it go and he will carry on letting you and your children down.

Does he have a problem with drink do you think?

gymboywalton · 29/06/2012 11:18

sorry-that was curt and probably unhelpful

the point i was trying to make though was that , i think you would be right and justified to end the marriage now. you are never going to be able to trust him and he is not living up to his role. you are only going to be unhappy so what's the point?

AnyoneForTennis · 29/06/2012 11:18

First he walked all over you, cheated. Lost your trust which sounds like you never re gained. Now he's doing the same to your children.... Nothing is stopping him. He knows he will get away with whatever he wants

Is it worth working on? Do you really love him still?

FourSquareSilverCharm · 29/06/2012 11:18

I think he does, yes. Insofar as he doesn't drink much, but he can't handle it. I have told him (again), that in my view he should stop drinking completely. He's a 4 pints-and-he's-tiddly type. It definitely has a bearing.

OP posts:
FourSquareSilverCharm · 29/06/2012 11:20

sorry, I'm a slow typist, that was in reply to silverangel.

AnyoneForTennis, that is what I am trying to work out-if I still love him, I can't see clearly any more.

OP posts:
worldgonecrazy · 29/06/2012 11:21

I could cope with a man letting me down - I'm an adult and will cope and make the choice of whether to put up or move on.

But to let a child down is unforgiveable. They don't get any choice.

Your partner had a choice - to let his children down, or to go out with his mates. Says it all really.

FourSquareSilverCharm · 29/06/2012 11:24

It does doesn't it. That's what I'm feeling now. He's never let them down before and I think I am in some kind of paralysis this week while I decide what to do about it.

In an ideal world I would like us to part, and remain friends, with him fully involved in their lives.

OP posts:
Doha · 29/06/2012 11:25

Naw he had his chance and blew it big time.
You would be better off on your own with the DC's

Inadeeptrance · 29/06/2012 11:27

It would be the beginning of the end for me, if my DH did that, even without the affair.

It shows a complete lack of respect for you, lack of consideration for your kids and a sense of entitlement for himself.

I would say its ultimatum time, and be prepared to follow it through. You have to draw the line somewhere.

squeakytoy · 29/06/2012 11:29

I just dont understand why men (and it is almost always men) seem to think it is ok to stay out all night without prior arrangment.

I have been married ten years and never in that time has my husband done this, nor me to him.

I have stayed over at a mates, (but always told him I am doing it beforehand), and we have both on occasion come home much later than we expected to, but we never just dont come home.

However, I know plenty of friends whose partners do this, and they just seem to shrug it off as typical male behaviour, but to me it is unacceptable and bloody selfish if kids are involved too.

You say you live in a small village OP, so to me, there is no reason why he cant stumble home after the pub closes, when he knows that he has a responsibility to his family the next day.

MissFaversam · 29/06/2012 11:29

He's a selfish arse OP. How dare he stay out ALL night, who does he think he is?

Get "YOUR" house in order sweetheart and kick him out.

akaemmafrost · 29/06/2012 11:30

I think the final straw can be something so small as to almost be unnoticeable.

I think you may have reached your tipping point. Hopefully anyway because like a selfish Turd Patch.

akaemmafrost · 29/06/2012 11:31

he sounds like a

Pancakeflipper · 29/06/2012 11:32

I would have lost the energy to continue to give this relationship input by now.

Doesn't sound equal this relationship and where you can turn to the other when you need support.

Lots of luck OP.

FourSquareSilverCharm · 29/06/2012 11:32

I have given him ultimatums before, with varying degrees of success. I am fed up of feeling like his bloody mother, fed up of having to take the horse to water etc. He thinks he's changed massively, and in a lot of ways he has. He seems to have a genuine (to him) blind spot about this sort of thing. He was sorry for fri/saturday, but he said, without a hint of shame, that our DD seemed ok. Talk about missing the point.

OP posts:
FourSquareSilverCharm · 29/06/2012 11:33

Thank you everyone for posting, it is helping.

OP posts:
MissFaversam · 29/06/2012 11:34

He isn't sorry at all OP. He recons he can do what he likes.

FioFio · 29/06/2012 11:36

I know, I feel the same squeakytoy (been married 15 years) Surely you tell someone if you are not going to come home?

FourSquareSilverCharm · 29/06/2012 11:39

I agree, and this was something he did regularly ie not calling. Now, he will call if he's going to stay over somewhere, and I have absolutely no problem with that. He's been ok for some time as regards that, but then he goes and does this. I think I've run out of love. And tolerance.

But what I'm contemplating is such a big thing, I don't know what to do for the best at the moment. Need to straighten it all out in my head. Sorry for rambling.

OP posts:
TheEnthusiasticTroll · 29/06/2012 11:39

forgetting the background, it is not O.K for a parent to be so drunk he is falling asleep drunk anywhere and to be uncontactable by the other parent.

I would not be putting up with that, if he wants to behave like a single teenager rather than a responsible parent then he may aswell live like that on his own.

ElephantsStreetParty · 29/06/2012 11:40

Ignoring the history for the moment, does he realise how difficult looking after the two children is? How much is he involved in their lives? Does he realise how difficult the situation was for you last Saturday?

Could you plan something for yourself this weekend (a girlfriend with a crisis, perhaps) that necessitates your being out the house Sat, which would mean he'd have to deal with the pair of them for the day?

FioFio · 29/06/2012 11:42

I am not suprised you feel like that tbh. It's like having another child and why on earth should you have to 'mother' an adult?

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