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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:
Festivefly · 10/01/2004 13:17

Cheers Janstar, i'm feeling better already, it doesn't matter does it what he is feeling today about it all. I will concentrate on me again, major major fall back this weekend never again!

OP posts:
marthamoo · 10/01/2004 18:44

FF, hope things are better today. I didn't say what I meant very well - of course he isn't irrelevant to you, he's the father of your children and you obviously still have a lot of unresolved feelings towards him. What I was trying to say (but probably too irate on your behalf to put it very well!) was don't let HIM know you still feel like this. You have to work through your feelings in your own time, and you will get there eventually, but don't give him the satisfaction of knowing he is still in your thoughts. Next time you want to ring him, get yourself on the PC and rant away instead...that's what we're here for.

Take care, MM X

popsycal · 10/01/2004 18:52

ff = i have just caught up withthis thread..i didnt realise that all this had happened in the last few days
everyone has given you some really good advice
hugs!

aloha · 10/01/2004 19:07

Agree with Marthamoo - you could put a sign above your phone - 'In Emergency Log On To Mumsnet' Just put the phone down and walk away...
I think even at 20 I would not have been so unspeakably presumptious. She sounds AWFUL. Honestly. I keep shuddering with horror everytime I think of her piping on about what's best for YOUR children. As for making a fool of yourself or whatever, I personally think you were remarkably restrained. I would either have fallen down dead with an anyeurism or have gone straight round to their house and buried an axe in her stupid head. No jury of mothers would ever convict...

sis · 10/01/2004 20:32

Lol Aloha! love it!

marthamoo · 10/01/2004 23:12

FF, don't know if it makes you feel any better to know you are not alone in this but a good friend of mine, Mum to 3 under 6's, was told by her soon-to-be ex dh's new (of about two months) gf (she's 21) that she had to "learn to let go" of her children and that she was "too possessive" of them. How my friend didn't smack her in the face I will never know.

sykes · 10/01/2004 23:21

Marth, I think Aloha's axe in the head is more appropriate. Who do these girls think they are - by the way, am in touch with FF and am in similar circumstances. It's all so ridiculous - girls,and I mean girls with no sodding experience of what it's like or what FF is going through - I hope one day they understand.

JanH · 10/01/2004 23:36

I think in both cases they are merely parroting what the men concerned have said to them. One day they probably will understand - meanwhile I think responsibility for these insults should also be laid at the door of the men and they deserve the axe in the head, not the dizzy girls.

sykes · 10/01/2004 23:41

Jan, I, fortunately, haven't had the dizzy girl and have laid everything at my h's failure/lack of responsibility. But I can't imagine that I would ever have done what that girl has done to FF at any age. It's none of her business and FF is having such a hard time. Agree the girl is young and naive and stupid, but a bit of compassion would help. Not having a go at you, at all, but feel so sad for FF.

Lisa78 · 10/01/2004 23:48

FF
Things WILL get better honestly

JanH · 10/01/2004 23:54

Sorry, sykes, wasn't intending to be uncompassionate. I just think that because these girls are so young and inexperienced and naive they believe everything the idol says and want the ex to stop being what they see as a nuisance - they don't understand how FF feels or what she's going through and they certainly have no idea how the kids feel. The men, on the other hand...

I was never in that position and I hope I would never have done it either. But I have a daughter of 21 and I know how young it is.

sykes · 10/01/2004 23:59

Jan, didn't mean YOU were uncompassionate - meant the girl who phoned FF. Sory.

JanH · 11/01/2004 00:02

Oh - OK - wasn't sure.

sykes · 11/01/2004 00:06

Thanks - God, the writtten word ... really didn't mean you AT ALL. You're nice.

mammya · 11/01/2004 00:06

ff, just catching up with this thread, can't understand how I could miss it. Lots of good advice here already, and I'm not very good with advice so just to say thinking of you. Your x is a w***, just like mine... How dare he put you down for putting your children first, that's what mums do, and there's nothing more important than looking after your children. Wishing you a good 2004 (well better than 2003 anyway)((((hugs))))

marthamoo · 11/01/2004 00:09

JanH, tbh, I think you're right. I was incredibly naive at 21, and would have fallen hook, line and sinker for an older man. One day they might look back and realise just what they said and how incredibly hurtful it was, but at 20/21 you think you know everything.

eidsvold · 11/01/2004 10:42

ff - have not been in the circumstances that you are in although had messy divorce with ex who ran off with best friend - so had to deal with both of them..... including her turning up to divroce court looking smugly pregant - oh well some women give the rest of us bad names...

I just wanted to say what helped me through was to adopt the attitude that janstar talks about - what she says really does work and in the end you emerge - stronger, more dignified and triumphant - it is hard but it is worth it.....

forget the silly little girl - that is what she is..... or smile nicely and remember poor thing has to live with him... feel pity for her... that is the one thing that really worked for me with ex best friend - knowing she had to live with my ex and his horrid, evil mother ....

sometimes it will be hard as janstar said - especially when it concerns your kids - but remember - they will benefit from this if you try and take janstar's advice.......

sorry I am not much help....

Festivefly · 11/01/2004 11:55

My god, i've just re-read this thread and all of you have been so wonderful to me, so so wise. Thankyou thankyou, i still really believe that i would be 100% worse with my grieving if i hadn't found mumsnet.
Well i have woken up today and for some reason i have one point that she said and that he said, they either really know how to get to me, or there both naive (sp). It is this; ff honestly all you seem to care about is the kids, it is unhealthy, why don't you do something.
I'm actually really bloody angry today, i had to say to a women, i do, i do want to do more its just that there daddy left and i've been working through that. Then she said well you should lifes not all about kids you seem a bit obsessed by them, i'm doing a degree..........
Have i got this all wrong, do i want to be on my death bed holding a certificate, or being proud, and i am! That i am a good mum?
Thanks again all of you, i could be on the phone to him now, but i have written it down

OP posts:
marthamoo · 11/01/2004 12:44

Good on you FF - you stay away from that phone

The fact that she can say that shows how shallow, naive and gullible she is. You're a Mum. Your kids are the most important thing in the world to you. Degrees are ten a penny. Children are unique and immeasurably precious. Nuff said.

Gotta go...BK beckons

JanH · 11/01/2004 12:48

She has no kids, she doesn't understand, ignore it, FF.

I was just reading a bit about the film about Alan Clark - who was always a philanderer - and it includes this bit from his wife:

Men are so stupid, aren't they?

Festivefly · 11/01/2004 13:03

My god, i need to be famous and write my memoirs (sp i wish, i wish, i could spell!!!!!) what film is it......>>>>>>>does a little dance, i didn't ring him i didn't

OP posts:
Festivefly · 11/01/2004 13:53

Still not rang, really want to, haven't.
Someone said to me last night that my x was really good looking, how did i let him get away. I said he wasn't a nice person though don't even think that! They were shocked

OP posts:
eidsvold · 11/01/2004 19:37

good for you - stay strong....

Festivefly · 13/01/2004 11:37

The draft of the solicitors has arrive for me to approve. It is great, neutral, polite non-aggresive, it gives him choices without forcing him into any time or day. I am really pleased that i have this sorted now.
Oh well another step to letting him go

OP posts:
M2T · 13/01/2004 11:41

FF - Chin up. Look at it as a positive step to moving on to a nicer part of your life!

FWIW my DH and I are still together and still my child IS my life!!!! That woman that said that and your EX are just completely off the mark and have no idea what it feels like to be the proudest Mum in the whole wide world. Don't listen to them.

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