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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

Last train to Loserville Part 2

999 replies

LoserNoMore · 07/04/2013 21:55

After the overwhelming support I've received on my thread I had to start another. Well I didn't have to but I have found all the advice so helpful that even if I only receive one more piece it will help.

I'll try and post the link to the full sorry story. Never linked on my phone before so it may not work.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1722750-This-doesnt-look-good-does-it?pg=40&order=

OP posts:
Fairenuff · 12/04/2013 12:57

Yeah, he probably isn't working. Just wanted to mess you about. Or make you realise that you can't manage without him.

LoserNoMore · 12/04/2013 13:30

Going to work tomorrow isn't compulsory but would have lifted a bit of weight off my shoulders. I'll see what happens today, his sister said she's going to ask him what he's playing at. I didn't tell sis I was planning on going to work so he won't know he'd be doing me a favour. The upshot is he should want to spend time with his children regardless of what I'm doing.

OP posts:
Fairenuff · 12/04/2013 13:39

He will probably lie to sil and say he does have to work. She won't know any different if she's going away for the weekend. But at least it plants the seed in her mind that he may be all that he says he is.

And yes, he should want to see the children. How many times has he seen them over the last 11 days?

After all that insisting and forcing you to tell them about the split before you were ready, has he actually spent more than a couple of hours with them?

Chocotrekkie · 12/04/2013 13:39

In terms of work rather than going in can you do any of it from home ?

I got totally overloaded a bit ago and what me and my boss did was sit down together and make a huge list (4 pages) of everything that needed to be done between us with the deadlines on it. She was as busy as me..

She then had a meeting with the director asking him to help us to prioritise - we never said we couldn't do it or complained we were too busy - just got his opinion on what was most important.
Lo and behold half a dozen if his silly ideas disappeared from the list and he agreed we were understaffed.

Think you are doing fab by the way !!

sleeton · 12/04/2013 13:55

LoserNoMore I do agree with what is being suggested (and what you are doing) in that you are trying to formalise things and get it all down in writing. It is great to have some kind of 'record' in case you need it, for example if there is some later legal dispute over contact (hopefully not).

I also totally understand your hesitation to meet up with him to talk.
Maybe one last chance face to face, I don't know.
Given that very understandable reluctance, you possibly would not want this .... but have you considered some kind of mediation?
I do not mean sort-out-our-problems-and-get-back-together mediation. No.
I mean the move on mediation, help to talk things through to formalise things like child contact mediation.
It's not always useful straight off, but it can have benefits down the line.

If it works well it can help you reach a really workable agreement for things like child contact and maintenance, including a plan of how much flexibility can be built in, how the children will see you both still jointly planning their care, etc. (Ah the stuff of dreams Smile )!

Even if it doesn't work as well as that and such agreement can't be reached, or isn't adhered to, or even if he totally refuses to be a party to mediation in the first place, the very fact that you have sought mediation to try to reach agreement (whether he attended or not) gives you a lot of standing in the eyes of the law should there be some future legal dispute.

{Also ... you never know ... there is that other possibility (you know, the stuff of fantasy!) in which mediation leads to not only a workable aggreement, proper contact and fair maintenance, but also as full an explanation as you require, frank answers to any questions you might have and sufficient apology from him, to at least allow you a bit of closure and peace of mind!!! Okay, I didn't say that was likely did I Grin }

candodad · 12/04/2013 14:12

This smell slightly to me like he is still sniffing around the OW and she knows nothing about you DD's. He had made plans till he gets a "better" offer. IMO

Make sure you document everything that way he cant say he never had the chance, more for anything formal down the line than anything else.

I also would let him know that everytime you set something up you will let DD's know and he can tell them if he needs to change it. Why make you the bad parent for having to tell them dad let them down again.

LoserNoMore · 12/04/2013 14:55

Maybe mediation would be a good idea if he continues this way. I'm tired of thinking, my brain hurts. It's so hard knowing which route to take isn't it?

He hasn't seen the girls since he came round the other day which wasn't for that long, long enough for me, not them.

My first thought was he has made plans with OW too.

OP posts:
piratecat · 12/04/2013 15:02

yes i believe that ow is still very much part of this.

my ex messed dd around for yrs, to appease ow. Put her first all the time, destroyed our dd's confidence in him, so much that she ended up in counselling, with problems for yrs. From age 5-10.

He finally seems to have 'got it', but it's taken 5 miserable yrs of him thinking he was the hard done by one, that i was the bitch baddy from hell, and that dd was a nuisance.

When they leave, most of the ones I hear of completely change their. personalities to cope with what they have done. Senseless waste of time, senseless hurt to innocent children 'their' innocent children.

We have to pick up the pieces. Mumsnet helped me alot back in those days.

kittybiscuits · 12/04/2013 15:06

Have been lurking LNM and think you are a legend x

Did he cancel contact when he realised his sister would be away, leaving him with the house to himself, by any chance? If so, it's not rocket science to know where to find him and what he'll be doing. But that is something you probably wouldn't stoop to checking out.

I would give him plenty of rope at the moment. You can't make him be a decent father, and putting a lot of effort into making sure he sees your DC is no guarantee that he will maintain it. At the very least, he has 50% responsibility to ensure he sees them. Good luck, you're amazing Smile

swallowedAfly · 12/04/2013 15:15

well that or realising he'd actually have to take care of them on his own rather than hang out with sil doing the nitty gritty.

Fairenuff · 12/04/2013 15:16

It might help to write an email, setting out that the relationship is definitely over but you would like the girls to have the best possible relationship they can with their dad. And that all depends on him.

Don't send the email, just write it all down. Then sleep on it and come back to it when you're ready. Make any changes or adjustments. Get it sorted in your head.

If you suddenly find yourself in a face to face situation with him, you will be prepared, having already thought all this through. If not, keep coming back to the email and check that you are happy with it before you send it.

Take all the time you need. If he's not that bothered about contact right now, take the time to just mull things over. Mediation would probably be helpful provided that it is very clear that you only discuss contact with the girls and, if necessary, financial matters. Make sure that the mediator is aware of this and is prepared to steer the meeting accordingly.

Can't remember if I've mentioned this, but let the school know. Are you happy for him to collect them from school? Is that something he might have done in the past? That's something else you will need to agree so that he doesn't just turn up one day and take them. Of course, it's fine for him to do that, but it should be pre-arranged so that everyone knows what the plans are.

Whilst he may be seeing ow now and again, I bet he hasn't told her how he sent you that song link, or how he begged for another chance, or how he would come back like a shot if you'd have him. She is getting her karma but she is not responsible for his actions. She knew he was married and a woman who would sleep with a married man has to have a pretty low opinion of herself in the first place. You should probably feel sorry for her really, but I won't hold my breath Grin x

Newyearoldmum · 12/04/2013 15:21

Long time lurker just wanting to tell you I think you're awesome and have been so strong.

LoserNoMore · 12/04/2013 15:45

I'm not sure at which point he decided he was working tomorrow, if he decided after finding out his sis was going away, probably.

I don't have a problem with him picking dd's up from school, obviously ore arranged. Depends on his shifts and if he wants to. I will speak to the school on Monday anyway and make them aware of the situation.

I am going to send him an email telling him we need to figure out a routine for seeing them and we need to stick to it. If he can't do that I'll look into the mediation.

Telling him he's a total wanker for cancelling tomorrow so he can meet OW would be wrong wouldn't it?! I'll be really angry if he is in favour of seeing dd's.

OP posts:
LoserNoMore · 12/04/2013 15:46

Thank you for kind posts :)

OP posts:
kittybiscuits · 12/04/2013 15:58

You deserve every word of the support and praise you have received here. It wouldn't be wrong, but could you try and incorporate the phrase 'dick for brains' in your feedback? x

Isabeller · 12/04/2013 16:33

I think you are doing brilliantly and getting fantastic advice.

I am definitely projecting here but you sound tired and stressed and I wonder if what you really need to do is keep things really simple for a while. I'm not saying all the considered planning isn't a good idea it just sounds like you are mentally and emotionally drained.

Please ignore this comment if I'm barking up the wrong tree.

You really are an inspiration.

LoserNoMore · 12/04/2013 16:42

Not barking up the wrong tree at all isabeller. I am drained. I'd like to get dressed up and go out with my friends and forget everything today. As it happens my friends are doing just that :(

OP posts:
LoserNoMore · 12/04/2013 17:05

He has replied to my email. He is going to pick the girls up tonight at 7pm. I told him wait in the car and beep the horn, do not come in the house. Turns out he has got someone to cover for him tomorrow Hmm so he is having the girls overnight at his sisters. Breakthrough. The girls are excited, and if they're happy, I'm happy.

OP posts:
imtheonlyone · 12/04/2013 17:18

Well that's brilliant news! The girls will be really pleased to see their dad and looks like your email has had just the right effect! Well done you. Enjoy tomorrow and please don't work all day - take some time for yourself xx

candodad · 12/04/2013 18:09

That being said is surely its not too late to go out with your friends and let your hair down tonight?

CabbageLeaves · 12/04/2013 18:16

So... 7pm...shower, dress, makeup and out. No nonsense about being tired. You can come home early. But go and have a big drink with friends

CabbageLeaves · 12/04/2013 18:16

:)

JaxTellerIsAllMine · 12/04/2013 18:16

good, get the girls organised and then go out with your friends tonight! That is an absolute order. A laugh, some girlie chat is just what you need.

Have fun!

JaxTellerIsAllMine · 12/04/2013 18:20

exactly cabbage If LNM doesnt go let her hair down tonight then she will have the wrath of me everyone tomorrow morning! I am desperate for a night out, but am taking my niece to the airport so she can fly home to Scotland... Actually, I might send her Mum round to LNMs to make sure she has gone out. Wink

themidwife · 12/04/2013 18:20

Yay - out you go!!! Have a great time!!