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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

Advice about X getting nasty (sorry its long)

231 replies

Festivefly · 21/12/2003 14:58

I need some advice about what to do. Three weeks ago i decided i couldn't have contact with my x anymore. Seeing him was tearing me apart. The final straw was when he rang constantly throughout the night to tell me how much he missed me. At first i'd put the phone down and tell him to ring his girlfriend not me. In the end i fell for it and started to listen. He told me what a legend i was, remembered wonderful things we did together. It opened up a healing wound. He said please babe come and see me, you can stay the night, we'll put our kids to bed, and then have a drink and a chat. I told him that i couldn't handle seeing him as a friend, if i got on with him i wouldn't want to leave, and it woild take all my strength to hold myself back from kissing him. To that he said it doesn't matter just come.He told me that he hardly saw his girlfriend it had only been a month it was nothing serious. I couldn't resist it, my heart lifted, and i thought thank god this nightmare is over. I went on the train with my heart beating for joy. I thought finally the man i love has seen sense and gone back to his old self.
I got to his flat there were candles everywhere a hairdryer plugged in, flowers, a make up bag, her post, her art work.......... I felt like vomiting, i screamed what the hell are you trying to do to me, i didn't want to see this. He said what were you expecting to happen, i asked you to come here so you could see where our boys would be sleeping. I started to shake shouted a bit and left. It was the final straw i got on the train home and had a panic attack. Then i went numb. All i could imagine was them together doing what we used to do. A week later i went on anti-depressants. They didn't agree with me so i stopped. He'd done it finally i was going to have my nervous break down.
My family found out about the state of me and took over. I didn't know what i was doing anymore, i'd stopped feeling. They rang him up and said if you want to see the kids you will have to meet them at our house. They changed my telephone no. The immense relief that i gained really brought me back to life. I haven't spoken to him for three weeks. I haven't been called a victim, a whore,lazy.......He would constantly tell me that i loved that he had gone because i could act like a martr and attention seek. I do nothing with my life except watch the kids and i was pathetic for going nowhere, while he is doing a degree.
Anyway he didn't get in touch with my parents so my gorgeous calm kind father rang up and said are you going to see the kids when do you want to, we need to know when to be in because its christmas. He told my dad to go f**k himself. He will not be dictated to by anyone. He will not be seeing them until i stop being stupid and ring him. He said there no way on this earth you are going to call the shots. Nobody has told him when or for how long he can see them. Thats up to him i would never stop him. I just don't want to see him as i nearly lost my mind. He has said that he will ring back, we've all ruined it, hes getting a solicitor, and things are going to change. Im scared, what can he achieve???????
Thankyou to anyone who has managed to read to the end of this without falling asleep sorry its so long, and sorry for repeating some stuff if you know it already. Thanks

OP posts:
Twinkie · 22/12/2003 08:37

Message withdrawn

jinglesaur · 22/12/2003 09:46

FF sorry you are having to go through this. Hugs to you and your boys, and have a good Christmas with your family. Will be thinking of you

xxx

dinosaur

RoscoeReindeer · 22/12/2003 09:54

FF - new partner or gorgeous children? You definitely got the better deal there. Your family sound wonderful. I hope you get the wonderful Christmas you deserve. xxx

BluStocking · 22/12/2003 10:16

Oh FestiveFly, I just wanted to say I'm so sorry to hear he is behaving like this, it sounds very painful indeed, cruel, selfish and stupid. You can be proud of your Dad: one good role model for your kids!
Can't think of any advice that others won't put better, just hang on in there; you've dome so well to get through these 3 weeks. Give yourself a BIG pat on the back.

Hugs, and more hugs,
XXX Blu

StarryStressyHead · 22/12/2003 11:20

sorry to hear how sad you're feeling and what shit your ex is. Your dad sounds wonderful though! I hope you can take control and have a great Christmas with your boys and your family.

snowysam · 22/12/2003 11:35

'm so sorry that you have to go through all this, esp. at this time of year. Three cheers to your family though they sound lovely.

All the best, merry christmas and a far better new year

alohappychristmas · 22/12/2003 11:52

FF - he will achieve nothing. Courts do not take children away from their mothers and give them to their abusive, manipulative fathers who are shacked up with new girlfriends. It DOES NOT happen. I will NEVER happen to you. Please put his threats out of your mind and feel smug that he is so desperate he hurls these empty threats at you.
IMO I am afraid to say that he wants to see you even though he left you not because he loves you, but because he likes to control you. When he was with you he controlled you all the time with insults and abuse and fear. He has tried to wreck your confidence and self-esteem to make you easier to control. Now he can't bear the thought that you are out of his control - hence the tantrum when your dad called him and his insisting that you call him - he wants to yank that chain one more time. Don't let him. Don't let him see the children whenever. Offer him a time and date on which to see the boys at your parents house if you want to and the children want to. If he doesn't agree, well, it's his loss. When he left you he lost his right to demand anything. If he wants to go to court, that's his right, but the courts are likely to arrange - as a maximum, alternate weekends and half the holidays. If you think this will be bad for the boys (ie he will say bad things about you to them and upset them) it may very well be less, or he may have to agree to contact only when other people are present. Your ex is a bullying, manipulative control freak who gets his jollies from making other people do what he wants - 'there is no way on this earth you are going to call the shots' 'nobody can tell him what to do' etc - all classic controlling statements. Well, you do have news for him. He doesn't run the show anymore. You can control when and even if he sees the children.
BTW, I don't think he's changed and I think after the honeymoon period his new girlfriend will get more of the same stuff he's doled out to you over the years. Be grateful you don't have to put up iwth his sh*t anymore. Happy Christmas to you, your family and your boys!

Festivefly · 22/12/2003 11:53

Im sorry everyone but i am so upset kust now, i can't stop crying. Someone who didn't like me one of his friends has sent a christmas card to thic house adressed to me and him. I thought he mustn't have told everyone i opened it. It said him and his new girlfriends name on the inside, and can't wait to see you both at new year

OP posts:
Twinkie · 22/12/2003 11:57

Message withdrawn

MincePie · 22/12/2003 11:59

OMG that is so nasty FF...agree with Twinkie burn it.

Big hugs to you sweetie ((()))

Twinkie · 22/12/2003 12:01

Message withdrawn

Festivefly · 22/12/2003 12:01

Thanks everybody for all your advice i'll read it again later, when i have snapped out of my little trauma. But honestly thanks though i appreciate you replyiing

OP posts:
GreenSanta · 22/12/2003 12:34

Message withdrawn

alohappychristmas · 22/12/2003 12:36

His friends sound like childish idiots too! He's welcome to them. How much better your life will be when you've got rid of the lot of them. Honestly.

winnie1 · 22/12/2003 12:52

FF, I am shocked by the christmas card incident, some people are vile! I agree burn it...

I am sadly less shocked by your ex behaviour. I have been there and it is so very hard. One's fear can take over especially where threats concerning ones children are concerned but he has absolutely NO grounds so please put that out of your mind. His behaviour is, as others have said, the acts of a desperate man. He is a controlling bully.

It is good that you have your parents support and you are doing so well, be proud of yourself... you know what he does to you and you are making sure he can't do it any more. His refusal to see the boys goes against him and shows him up for up for what he is... My ex refused to see my daughter because I/my soliciter put down ground rules (there had been an attempted abduction and dd had been stood up by him many times in the short dspace of time since he'd bothered after five plus years of not bothering). Five years on he still refuses to see her(!) My point being thatsome men are not actually interested in their children and what is best for them, but simply punishing their ex. Look after yourself, be strong... and I so hope you and your boys have a lovely Christmas. Winniex

Helsbels · 22/12/2003 12:55

FF cried when I read this - not because of your situation (though that it very hard) but because of your dad. That is just what my dad would do - aren't we so very lucky to have dads like that? You are going to have to be very strong for your children and hopefully one day (pray they never suffer like you have) but they will say something as lovely and moving about you - then you will know that you did the right thing now and that you have earned their love and respect - something that your ex will NEVER know.

motherinfestivemood · 22/12/2003 18:12

FF, nothing I can add except hugs. xxxxx

Festivefly · 05/01/2004 21:53

He emailed this today do i ignore?
EmWhere to start? I realise your attitudes have to change towards me but the approach that you have chosen is very one dimensional and selfish. By changing phone numbers when it really was´nt necessary you have instantly deprived me of any contact with DS1 and DS2. We arranged everything over the phone, now I know you don´t want to talk but they do. This hiding behind your daddy business is just passing the buck and not facing up to the situation. Things were actually making progress, we were talking, I was seeing the boys and I was able to give you money every week. But under this new shite legislation that you and your parental regime are trying to force on me is going to get us nowhere. I´m totally against dealing with this through your parents, they have no authority over me or you. Get this straight FF, I´m not playing this fucked up game anymore. I understand life would be easier for you all if I just faded into insignificance, but that is not going to happen. I was forced into having to make a choice between being told when i could see my boys over christmas and ds2,s birthday or not seeing them at all. That was one of the worst things you and yours could have done and it will burn deep for a long fuckin time. You have to star realising that you and I are their parents and ultimately our responsibility, not anyone else's, we need to talk, not your parents. I´m unwilling to be dictated to, ever, so until you grow up and face me head on we are going nowhere. x

OP posts:
zebra · 05/01/2004 21:55

Ouch.

clairabelle · 05/01/2004 21:57
Sad
Hulababy · 05/01/2004 21:58

FF

popsycal · 05/01/2004 22:00

oh dear ff
are you ok?

Lisa78 · 05/01/2004 22:06

Childish bastard. And stupid bastard - clearly you haven't deprived him of contact cos he's emailing you and secondly, the children can still talk to him on the phone - he talks like you have moved planets - HE just can't phone up whenever HE wants
He is trying to back you into a corner, so he can say that you have stopped him seeing his children, when in fact the real truth of the matter is, HE is stopping HIMSELF seeing them, but obviously is too spineless to see himself for what he is (weak, nasty and selfish) so he needs to blame you.
Don't dignify his tantrum with a reply darling, you have better things to think about and do. Forward it to your solicitor and leave him to stew in his own self-righteous twattiness

zebra · 05/01/2004 22:08

Reading that last message made me suddenly understand why people choose to communicate only through their soliciters.

Festivefly · 05/01/2004 22:09

Thanks lisa, i just needed confirmation that i'm doing the right thing he makes me feel so bloody guilty like i have done all of this. I won't reply, i wouldn't even know where to start.

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