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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

just want to get this off my chest..

641 replies

KurtWild · 25/08/2012 20:38

Long time lurker, very occasional poster...getting straight to the point DP (DH in a few months time) works away 3 out of every 4 weeks and is becoming increasingly crap at staying in touch. It's night out after night out for him when it used to be he called me straight after work for a quick hi how are you and DC, then later when DC (three under 3's) were in bed he'd call for a proper chat...it was great to think he made that time to keep the connection going, I felt like part of his life even though he was miles away, felt like he missed us etc. Now I feel so low down his list of priorities to the point where I don't think I'm actually on it at all!

Don't get me wrong, it must be boring as hell sat in a hotel room but to be out til after 1am every single night? And a few times these last two trips he's been out all night, no call at all just a text to say he loves me and his phone is dying. Is it me or is this taking the piss? Not to mention the cost at London prices... When I bring it up he says I'm being needy and he works hard does he not deserve a social life!! I'm not saying that, I'm just saying I miss the calls, the goodnight texts..I miss feeling like part of his outside life. I do have a life btw, friends, family etc and work part time from home (run ragged I am lol)... so it's not a resentment thing I just feel like its increasingly becoming out of sight out of mind and it bloody hurts.
I keep bringing this lack of communication up and he says he'll try more and does it for a few days then it falls back to bare minimum. I think I'm beginning to flounder, I hate feeling like this. For those in relationships where the OH works away, are they in touch quite a bit? Maybe it's me expecting too much? I don't know anymore!

OP posts:
blackcurrants · 29/08/2012 23:24

Oh Kurt you poor poor love, stop taking the blame for everything and start thinking about the things that are not your fault.

It's not your fault that your partner and the father of your 3 very small children started staying out in nightclubs till 4am and flirting with young women on fb and not calling you.

It's not your fault that when you questioned his priorities he got defensive, aggressive, and tried to blame it on you.

It's not your fault that he's unable to see his behaviour for what it is, and isn't enough of a man to think about his family, apologise, and change.

It's not your fault.

delilahlilah · 29/08/2012 23:39

None of this is your fault. Imagine if this was your daughter, and you were advising her. Would you think this situation was her fault?
Your children will grow up proud of you.

Helltotheno · 29/08/2012 23:41

Well done on being so strong OP. Whatever you do, don't weaken here. He's shown by his actions that he doesn't want the family life, doesn't want kids or stability. He just wants to have the life of a single man, then come home to you the odd time to get his dinner put up to him or sex or whatever.. F^&k that. You can do a lot better on your own.

Mean what you've said and don't give in here, don't make it easy for him. If he continues down the blame game road, just say you're not going to talk to him until he knocks that on the head.

Would definitely be extremely wary of a wedding for a long time to come.. even if he does turn himself around.

PooPooOnMars · 30/08/2012 08:59

Hope you're feeling ok today.

KurtWild · 30/08/2012 09:49

Hi..no, poopoo I'm not OK..messages from DP later last night started off wanting to talk through issues so I asked him about the long nights on FB as it had been bothering me..He was instantly defensive and told me he can do without the interrogation and I then spent ages trying to explain it was just a question, effectively turning the conversation away from what I asked and back round on me as it's none of my business. He ended by saying he'll stay at a mates during his time back rather than come home or maybe won't come home at all because he cba with me. I've told him to please himself. My lovely DP would never have dreamt of saying that to me..this is not my lovely DP.. it's a man i barely recognise anymore. It's shit, so, so shit. Yet another night of no sleep, I'm dead on my feet.

Thanks everyone for your continued support..I can't post much again today, I'll have to do the whole sleep when the babies sleep thing or I'll be no use to them.

OP posts:
delilahlilah · 30/08/2012 09:59

Oh bless you Kurt. It's odd how communicative he is (still on his terms) because the tables have turned. I'd be wary that he's trying to trick you by saying he'll stay away, so that you will all be home when he gets back?
I think you are right and he is being a different person. I'm so sorry OP, but very glad he isn't going to have the opportunity to take you down with him.
Beware of responding late at night, there's a good chance he will have been drinking. Try replying very early in the morning instead, leaving him a whole (sober) day at work to chew on what you have said?
We'll all be here, I'm sure your parents are too. Thanks

PooPooOnMars · 30/08/2012 10:01

It sounds almost like he was playing a part all that time and now the act has slipped. Rather than he's changed if you you see what i mean.

You must feel so frustrated with him for turning things around all the time so that you can't discuss things properly, i feel frustrated for you! I have nightmares like that!

He's being really immature. Perhaps he really was acting at being a responsible loving partner all this time, and this is actually who he is.

Did you mention the evening when he got you off the phone after 5 mins saying he was tired and then spent the evening on Facebook instead? I don't suppose he gave you the chance.

I can't believe he said that he can't be arsed with you Shock

Hyperballad · 30/08/2012 10:14

So sorry Kurt.

His message is loud and clear. He couldn't possibly be this way if you and those beautiful babies you have at home were his priority.

My ex who I was with for 5 years behaved similar to this, I kept making excuses for him thinking it was his depression, I would have stood by him forever as you don't leave them because they are I'll do you? I came in from work one day to just a simple note saying he had left me.

Turns out he had fallen out of love with me but he didn't have the guts to finish the relationship so he acted so badly in the hope that I would do it. When he realised I wasn't going anywhere he left our home leaving just a 2 sentance note.

Your dp reminds me of my ex.

I think he wants out.

You are going to feel like someone has died and you are going to have to grieve for the husband you thought you had. It's going to be so tough for you but you have your gorgeous little ones to focus on and they and your health is all that matters now.

Take every bit of RL support you can and just remember THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT and YOU DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER.

You are in my thoughts.

Hyperballad · 30/08/2012 10:17

ill not I'll

KurtWild · 30/08/2012 10:18

Yes poopoo it was the conversation about getting me off the phone because he was so tired but not too tired to be all over FB that set him off, he was so defensive..I wasn't saying he shouldn't be on it, but after telling me he was tired so didn't want to talk long, just wanted to sleep, I assumed that's what he meant! He said he couldn't sleep so went on it, I said ok, fine, let's drop it but he was intent on making me feel bad for asking :(

OP posts:
Hyperballad · 30/08/2012 10:23

Regarding your last post Kurt, my feeling is you are so beyond conversations like this. You have had them over and over.

Please don't give him any more of your precious time for him to spout his crap at you and make you feel bad. Build that brick wall up girl, and don't let him be the one to knock it down.

KurtWild · 30/08/2012 10:33

Thanks hyper I'm so sorry, that's awful :( if that's the case with DP then none of this I'm doing now is going to make any difference is it :(

OP posts:
delilahlilah · 30/08/2012 10:48

You ARE making a difference OP. To your future, and your children's future. They deserve a strong, happy Mummy

PooPooOnMars · 30/08/2012 10:53

Its a perfectly reasonable question, you were hurt so asked about it.

PooPooOnMars · 30/08/2012 10:55

When things were fine with him was he as defensive then? I mean is the defensive out of character?

KurtWild · 30/08/2012 10:55

Apparently it's not reasonable, poopoo, it's confrontational and designed to put him on the defensive :(

OP posts:
Hyperballad · 30/08/2012 10:56

That's right it won't make any difference and I think that's why it hasn't so far.

It was awful but like you will I got through it and I am now the happiest I've been in my adult life with a new partner that treats me well and a beautiful 8 week old baby in my arms.

Only think of yourself and your children now, every action from now on has to be for you not for him. X

KurtWild · 30/08/2012 10:57

We very rarely had any issues tbh, I used to be able to ask him stuff and get a normal answer!

OP posts:
KurtWild · 30/08/2012 10:58

Hyper I'm so pleased for you :) congratulations on your lovely baby Thanks for you!

OP posts:
PooPooOnMars · 30/08/2012 10:59

But that's just turning it around isn't it, its deflecting because he knows you have a point.

What on earth is confrontational about saying "you did something that upset me."

Unless he expects, he is used to, and you are happy being the little woman at home that never complains about anything, then it is a tactic to shut you up and not pull him up on his disrespectful and neglectfull behaviour.

Do you have his Facebook password?

toomuchmonthatendofthemoney · 30/08/2012 11:29

Why don't you text him using the first 3 sentences of PooPoos post above at 105958 and ask him, now while he is (hopefully) sober? Just WHY is it so wrong of you to question his poor treatment of you eh?

Cos it makes him feel bad cos he knows deep down he is being an arse, so he is blanking YOU to try to blank out the knowledge he IS being a tosser.

If he cant see this, or won't acknowledge it, then .....

KurtWild · 30/08/2012 11:30

No I don't have his password.. the thing is when he initially started this kind of thing, probably about 3 months ago, I did pull him up on it and he respected that..then I had to keep pulling him up on it..so he knows I don't take things lying down.

OP posts:
KurtWild · 30/08/2012 11:32

Toomuch thats exactly what I feel, he knows he's being an arse and that my point is valid.. he's just choosing to try and turn it round so he doesn't feel as bad.

OP posts:
stuffitunderthebed · 30/08/2012 11:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MajorB · 30/08/2012 11:43

Morning Kurt, your situation reminds me of a friend of mine whose husband started a new job with a "young, trendy, media-crowd" and turned in a matter of weeks from doting father and husband to a self-centred arsehole who spent every night on the lash with his new colleagues, and who felt "suffocated" by his previously happy married life.

In short it didn't end well, for him. They split up, he shagged around, got bored, begged to come back, they reunited and after some time tried for a baby at which point he infected her with quite a nasty STD which he denied was his fault as apparently he'd been completely faithful during their break-up.

The sleeping with other people whilst they were "on a break" my friend could have forgiven. The swearing on their daughter's life that he hadn't passed on the STD until finally admitting he had when my friend was so riddled with it she almost lost the ability to have any future kids, she could not forgive.

She is now happily living with a lovely new DP in their new house, and trying for a new baby, whilst her ex is in a small flat, still shagging anything he can and is thoroughly miserable by all accounts.

Some men seem to believe that they can turn their backs on family life when it suits them and live a bachelor lifestyle. Well he can, but that doesn't mean you have to wait in the wings whilst he does so.

I want to reiterate my earlier post and think you should tell him that he needs to fix some access times to see the kids, sort out some maintenance payments and start looking for somewhere else to live, because if he doesn't want in on family life you need the time and space to be able to find someone who does.

Make it 100% clear to him that you're not going to sit around twiddling your thumbs waiting for him to come to his senses when he has so clearly already checked-out of the relationship. (sorry for the mammoth post, got a bit carried away!)