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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

Dh wants to talk-think it might spell the end.

311 replies

houseworkhater · 04/04/2013 15:40

Have been together 20 years with 3 dcs.

Most people view us as being well suited and happy together.
Anyhow last year dh said he might leave. I was at my wits end. he said he basically wanted more sex and the house to be tidier.

I ran myself ragged upping the anti. I was literally following the dcs around moving everything in sight endlessly cleaning, throwing things away all to make it easier for me to keep this very tidy house.

After a time I began to think fuck this.
I went away for a few days with 2 dcs and when I came back the house was in a right state. Ds, who stayed at home, immediately said he was starving. Dh was in the pub. I asked dh to come home. He didn't, when he did I asked him to leave as this time I was the one who laid down my demands.

I told dh to stop going out so much and start and put his family first. He stopped going out as much and really made an effort.
We stayed together and have talked things through.
We have both tried to make more time for each other etc.

It is hard as dh is having to work very long hours and is always tired. On top of this he has joined a band. The money does come in handy but the trouble is none of the band have children, only one is married and they are all much youinger than him. He told them that he won't play every weekend but it seems to be taking over. He has told me that one of the band has offered to let him stay at his if we do split up.

I think dh might take him up on the offer!

I am so mad. I know he feels that sex is virtually non existant but he is either in bed before me, tired or out with the bloody band and then I am asleep when he returns.

I really want to make it work. the dcs have no idea that anything is wrong.

Any advice?

Thanks.

OP posts:
MadBraLady · 06/04/2013 19:51

Gosh, this has made me cross. Sending you Brew, Flowers and strength, house. He needs to feel some consequences.

Scarlet is bang on here: He needs it spelled out to him that now he has decided to go, his responsibilities will increase not diminish. Because you will no longer be there to back him up.

Angelico · 06/04/2013 21:42

Shrek Forever After is on... I can't help thinking about your situation OP.

Shrek / OP's husband: 'I didn't know what I had till I lost it.'

captainbarnacle · 06/04/2013 22:22

Three months! No no no.

I think you need to plan your life without him - and that means not relying on him to be a weekend dad either. Chuck him out, say he's welcome to have the kids on a regular basis - and that means all the journeys, all the pick ups, the whole weekend - or not at all. The kids need stability. You need to stop relying on him for anything at all.

I worry he'll choose the band and his new life over his children. But that is HIS CHOICE. You can't make him be a Dad. And you shouldn't be in a limbo future with him hanging around for 3 more months, and you being a taxi service and babysitting service for his children. You deserve WAY more than that.

Take control of your future.

skyebluesapphire · 06/04/2013 22:54

I hope you are Ok. I do agree though. He can't agree that its over and then think that he will stay for 3 months. If its over, its over. if he refuses to go, then you draw up very strict ground rules which means that you no longer do anything for him at all.

your H needs to understand that when the DC are with him, he is responsible for them, any clubs, any pickups dropoffs etc. he cannot expect you to run round after him still.

My XH seems to only want Dd when it is convenient to him. He seems unable to understand that i have a life too, that I have to work too and that i have to arrange everything around DD for most of the month. He has to do it for 4 days a month, 2 nights. The other day he asked if he could bring her back early as he needs to go out. I replied no, get a babysitter like I have to.

I understand that you probably dont want the marriage to end, I felt the same, but your H has made it pretty clear that he is out of it. that means that he needs to face up to the reality of what life will be like from now on. You need to agree a set schedule for access for starters. and he needs to be there for his DC, work or no work.

olgaga · 06/04/2013 23:11

When you are done with the immediate trauma and can face thinking about the future, there's some good advice and links here.

Good luck OP.

DixieD · 06/04/2013 23:36

3 MONTHS?? Is he fucking serious? Dickhead. 3 months my fucking arse. Fucking joker. 3 MONTHS? He has no shame whatsoever. He doesn't give a shit about you. You are just a doss house until his better accommodation is available.
Tell him to get fucked you useless tosser that your family one is not available to someone who has decided family life is not for them and to piss off to his wonderful band mates couch.
Fucking hell my hand is actually itching to slap him.

DixieD · 06/04/2013 23:36

*home not one

houseworkhater · 07/04/2013 00:27

Right.

Very, very long and exhausting story cut short as I am going to bed.

He came home we talked at my insistance.
I asked what more could possibly be done. he said it was all my fault.
I said he had to go.
he said he can't have kids blah blah.

I told him either go now or I will go.
In the end I left and went to mums.
I chickened out of telling her.

I had second thoughts, text him asked him to come with me to take dd2 tp party. i told him I would come to gig.

He then said he had told ds. Ds was alone in house he said don't come to gig, may confuse dcs(????).
I picked up dds and had no option but to tell them that dad and i were separating.

They cried.
I saw his phone.
I am crap with technology so I had to ask dd1 to get into it.
Saw a womans name.
Had to ask dd1 to check who it was, she saw the text, begged me not to read them.
Of course I did and made a note of her name and no.

I had to go out then and when i came back the phone had gone!!!!

I hadn't read everything but got this gist.

I made enquiries, my good friend came round totally flabergasted.

She told me to ring the woman. I did I told her who I was and that I knew she knew my husband, she said she vaguely knew him.

I called her a liar, told her I knew everything. She hung up i text her and told her what I thought of her in no uncertain terms. I rang dh, he didn't answer, he did text.

I text him back and told him to see a good solicitor and that I will be applying for divorce citing adultery and that bitch who knew heis a married man with 3 children will be named as the ow, for her ancestors to forever see.

His bags are packed i have told him not to come into this house again. I said police will be called if he comes in.

Right to the very end I was doubting myself and would have let him come home until I found the messages.

He denies evertyhing.

I have contacted a friend, she has given me the name of an excellent divorce lawyer.

I have had to tell his mum we are apart.

The kids were upset, i really didn't want them to know about ow but I couldn't hack into his phone alone.

DD1 says she hates him.

says he asked her earlier who she would live with if we split up.

She has said if she ever meets this ow she will "kick the fucking shit out of her" She never swears but I have sworn to my friend all night, in privacy.

None of them can understand why there dad has done this.

we have google ow. dd1 cannot believe it.

After all this and me offering to alter do whatever to save marriage and dh saying no/not seeming interested.

His last text begged me to talk to him, face to face.

He has said i can't call her a whore. i have said I will call her and him what the fuck I like.

Turned phone off, not answering any more calls.

I actually feel better as at last I understand that none of this is my fault.

Thank you all for your wisdom and help.

x

OP posts:
Runwayqueen · 07/04/2013 00:32

I have no words of wisdom, but just wanted to send you a hug. Sorry that you are having to go through this

McPie · 07/04/2013 00:35

No words I could ever say you could make this any better for you but I wish to offer you the most unmumsnet hug ever

skyebluesapphire · 07/04/2013 00:39

(((hugs))) to you. sorry that you had to discover that, but like you say, maybe you can start to realise now that this is not your fault, that he is just one more bastard following that fucking script.

I dont swear much usually, but these sodding twats drive me to it as well.

I will bump the Mid Life Crisis script for you as well. it may help if you recognise some of the behaviour.

i am so sorry that you are going through this. Please stay strong. Kick him out and keep him out. Arrange regular contact for the DC with him and do not enable his relationship with them. i tried hard to make XH see Dd, but if he doesnt want to, there is nothing you can do about it. I think that your XH will be very selfish like mine and say that work comes first etc etc...

get some sleep, you need it xx

skyebluesapphire · 07/04/2013 00:40

cant remember if this has been posted on your thread or not and too tired to check, but here it is

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1527705-Midlife-crisis-this-is-the-script?msgid=38310054#38310054

ATouchOfStuffing · 07/04/2013 00:50

Oh god House - so so sorry it has all come out like this. I am glad you have found your anger though, as it puts him into the position he needs to be in; the one who fucked up.
In a way, although she may wish she didn't know, DD1 sounds as though she will be a lot of support. I think your family know how hard you have worked to save a marriage that their father simply walked out on emotionally. They will know that he didn't think of them when he did it too, which is possibly something to bear in mind when thinking about their reactions over the next few months.

I am thinking of you here - you must be pretty shaken. Just hold onto that anger and do as much as you can logistically working things out - call CSA etc. Keep busy and work on getting what you want from this situation. Heaven knows he has been getting what he wants for long enough.
Huge Wine and unMNly hugs.

Finola1step · 07/04/2013 00:57

house you are amazing.

Night night. Keep posting tomorrow. There will be lots of support and advice. Take care.

ChippingInIsEggceptional · 07/04/2013 01:10

Hug Brew Wine chocolate...

He is one of the many utter bastards :( It's a script - we can tell you what will happen next, almost word for word :(

I'm sorry your kids had to see those texts and I'm sorry there was an affair for them to find out about, but as there was I'm not sorry they know. It's actually better for the kids to know the truth than to wonder why/blame themselves/blame the remaining parent etc. The truth helps them make some sense of what is happening - as shit as it is, and your reaction to it helps them to understand that putting up with shit like that isn't what you should do.

One of the first things you need to do is direct your anger to your H - HE is the one who has broken his vows, she owes you nothing and is inconsequential - you have to do that for your own good. Direct ALL of your anger at HIM.

Stay strong and don't let him try to talk you around about anything.

putyourhatonsweetie · 07/04/2013 01:26

delurking again to tell you I think you are amazing ...picture your life without this utter bastard holding you back.

lunar1 · 07/04/2013 03:31

I'm do sorry it has all come out like this, you are right you can call the pair of them what ever you like. Stay strong tomorrow, we are all here for support.

jynier · 07/04/2013 03:57

So sorry, house, but thought that it would come to this conclusion.

You will have lots of support on here to help to get you through the terrible and painful shock.

Best wishes, thinking of you and your family. x

Sailormercury · 07/04/2013 05:24

((Hugs))

50shadesofknackered · 07/04/2013 07:26

I'm sorry this has happened but at least it's been the final straw and you've taken action. Good for you! What a bastard he is! At least he can't sweet talk the kids now. You've done the right thing op, stay strong and make him pay with the divorce. Lets hope the ow is worth it.

ScarletWomanoftheVillage · 07/04/2013 08:06

What an evening you had, so sorry. But at least now you know. Now the truth is out and it is not what he has been telling you all along. It was so awful of him to try and blame you for this.

Sounds like your anger will help you to deal with him. I think you said before that he'd been sucking up to your eldest dd and that she may go with him. Not going to happen that way now. Stupid stupid man.

houseworkhater · 07/04/2013 08:07

I am exhausted.

He picked his stuff up from outside where I left it.

Thankfully he took my threats seriously and didn't try and come into the house.
I know realistically I can't stop him coming but my friend has said her dad will change my locks if I want.

He has repeatedly denied having an affair, having sex, saying it was all sexy banter with a friend. I asked him how he knew this friend, whom I knew nothing about, even though we have been together 20 years.

He said he has known her 15 years!
Although from the texts I managed to see she is connected through the band.
She is more than 10 years younger than me.
My friend knows who she is and says she is not attractive, not that that matters.

It read as though she is breastfeeding!!!!! Yet they were having chats of a sexual nature!!!

Myself and friend howled at the thought of dh showing the remotest interest in another man's baby, she really doesn't know him well at all.
She has 3 kids.

Oh and rightly or wrongly when i text her I told her we had had sex the previous night and that he told me he loved me, she is just another of his whores. Oddly enough she didn't respond.

He would like to talk now, I have got it all wrong. apparently texting ow that "He has told the kids" just means he has discussed our problems with a friend.
The only rl friends I have told have been best friends who dh knows.

Anyway, dd2 is at the party today, she is worried her dad may not come for her and will I let him in if he does. I have told her not to worry, of course I will let him in to get her. If he doesn't come I will take her to the party.

I told him I would meet ow at the gig tonight. Ii am not going just wanted to put the wind up their cosy little plan.

OP posts:
MadAboutHotChoc · 07/04/2013 08:09

So sorry - but I know from experience that its like having a boil lanced, messy but at least you know what is really happening instead of having to swallow all his lies, getting your head messed up.

Hold your head high - you know none of this is your fault. It is all about his ego, issues and flaws. Stay strong x

houseworkhater · 07/04/2013 08:11

Scarlet- my eldest dd said straight away, before the discovery of the ow, that she was staying with me.

I am sorry that she saw the texts but she says she is glad as she knows the truth. She says her dad is a bit of a child. Turns out when I took ds into town he didn't bother to prepare lunch for either dd. Dd2 was starving when i picked her up and it was after 6pm. Of course he had been too busy texting the ow to care about such trivial things as feeding a 10 year old child.

OP posts:
MadBraLady · 07/04/2013 08:14

House, I'm so sorry. What a cowardly shit. Sad

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