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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

Marriage ended after 27 years. This is "My Death".

874 replies

mrsmciver · 12/05/2013 12:43

My husband left 4 weeks ago after I found some dubious e-mails to another woman he works with. I have posted about this on another thread, but still need the support from all you lovely ladies out there.
I asked him to go to his mum's after I went mad screaming and shouting and both of us crying. He went to his mum's, then round to my parents explaining himself and accepting all the blame.
I still let him in the house later that night and we both sat talking and crying about how we would get over this, then he collected some things and went back to his mothers.
I phoned him the next morning demanding the ow mob number but he would not give it to me as he said i would jeapardise his job if she went to his boss. We were both still crying and he asked what to get for his breakfast as his mum only has fried food and he likes to keep fit and eat well so he went to shop to buy that and washing powder for his clothes.
He also came up later that afternoon and we both talked some more. He said he had been very flattered by the attentions of this high powered business woman and had got carried away, swore there was nothing physical.
He told me he would give me her mob number once I had calmed down and to be careful what to say to her as it would cost him his job. he said he would give it to me the next morning whilst on the train as he was away for a few days on a business meeting.
Next morning he phoned and gave me her number, I put it in the drawer as after all the trauma I could not face calling her, was in no state to do so. later that evening after another sleepless night, he phoned sounding like his normal self, and I told him I had not contacted her, but he probably knew that as she would have phoned him if I had.
I then asked him when he was coming home and he said he wasn't. he said it was so out of character for him to do that and that the blinkers had been taken off his eyes and that he must have been very unhappy to have done it in the first place.
I got very upset, begged him to come home, but he won't. He is staying at his mum's. I ended up in hospital after trying to end it all. Can't imagine life without him. And now he wants to settle all our financial affairs and divorce. Am distraught. We have two daughters, one is sitting her Higher exams right now and the other is expecting a baby. They have been so wonderful, they are so strong, told me I am better without him. He had been treating me badly weeks before and I knew something was "off", that was why I had looked at his phone.
He has said he can't forgive me for looking at his phone and have now destroyed all trust. And that I would make his life hell as I would now be paranoid and forever questioning what he is doing.
He says he has no energy left, nothing to give, and that my health problems have drained him. I have anxiety and stress. But it is not as if he was a carer, I did most things for him! He doesn't know what he wants, but he knows he does not want "this.
I am devastated, cannot do this anymore. Have been a mess, shaking stuttering, he was over Frid night and said he is never coming back and that we will be divorcing.
How do I do this? How can I live without him? We have been married for 27 years, ever since we were 15 years old.
I always had a feeling I would die early, in my forties, and this is it, this is "my death", I will never get over this. It is getting worse.

OP posts:
catsrus · 15/06/2013 11:46

This might sound odd MrsM - but one day you will realise how thankful you are that he has gone. My dcs were late teens when my ex ran away to find himself in the arms of a desperate woman and I can honest say, just over 2 yrs later, that the quality of relationship i now have with them is FAR superior to what I would have had if ex and I were still together.

While I have never put him down to them there is now a freedom to say what I think which was not there when I was trying to be one half of a parenting 'team'. We've had many late night sessions with Wine and tears - we are most definitely the team now, the dcs and me, he is someone that two of them see occasionally but he doesn't see them daily grow their wings and do "leaving home test flights" Smile or begin to take more responsibility at work, or muse about their possible future lives and careers. He won't be the grandparent who gets the grandchildren overnight or weekends.

From my perspective exH and I both lost when we divorced - I lost the financial security, the companionship and the practical reality of a two parent household, he has lost the day to day ordinariness of his relationship with his dcs and future grandchildren.

I know who I think has got the better deal, one day that feeling of having come out with the better part of the deal will be stronger for you than the grief you feel now, it really will.

downunderdolly · 15/06/2013 13:54

MrsM

I'm relieved my post made sense. I was worried it was a bit tough love and as I'm not a regular poster that 'i'd overstepped the mark' but I was reading it in my day, your night, and felt for you so much as I recognised some of the feelings and fears and just that exhaustion of keeping on keeping going. Which you will. And one day it won't feel like such an effort. And one day you'll want to keep on going. And one day after that you'll feel like skipping again. It seems like a foreign country to you now but it WILL happen. I know when I was in the middle of it people told me the same and I will like yes ok but inside was thinking you have no idea, I will never recover from this, its over. But I am and I will. And honestly, I've had adventures and experiences that I would never had imagined both good and bad. And I'm more myself again.

But MrsM what comes over strongly in all of your posts, even in your bleakest ones, is your spirit. Frankly, you sound fabulous, even now, even as you are in shock and grief. You sound funny and perceptive. You sound like a great mother and you sound like someone I'm sure lots of people are proud and glad to call a friend. Honestly. And reading between the lines (and discounting your health issue that have led you to rely on your H) I'll bet you've 'carried' him and been the backbone of your marriage SO much more than you think. I think you were the heart of your family and that won't change by love.

xx

Lambzig · 15/06/2013 14:48

Mrs m, sorry I didn't respond before but DS has me up at five so I am in bed by ten at the moment.

Gosh your other posts sound better, a little bit of fighting spirit to protect your daughters in there. So pleased to see that and I hope I wasn't too harsh.

Just think of the money you will save being banned from all of these shops., save you a fortune.Grin

I can see why the holiday might be a trigger, it was part of a future you had invested in, but you will have other holidays. Try to think about a holiday that you might have next year with your daughters and your lovely DGD.

I hope you are doing OK today and that the meds are helping.

mrsmciver · 15/06/2013 16:46

Downunderdolly,

My eldest daughter has just came in to visit me after work and I read out your post to her and she said that you are spot on about me and it was as if you knew me! She said I am the heart of the family.
I never realised that I was thought of like that.
That is so lovely, I feel quite humbled.

I never thought I had 'spirit' either, the girls have it in buckets but I always thought that they took it after their father. But they are not like him in other ways. They are empathic and kind girls.

Thank you everyone for all your posts, it means a such a lot.Smile

OP posts:
downunderdolly · 15/06/2013 17:11

oh MrsM I feel humbled. Humbled that in you don't realise how wonderful you are and so joyous that your DD has validated that for you. As the verified heart of your family you are there to stay and no amount of shit from your STBEX can shake that. Of course your daughters get your spirit from you. Why else would your youngest DD be so troubled that you are (temporarily) not her compass. I don't say that to make you feel bad. But she is likely distressed as you are her rock and it is hard for her to see you distraught. No blame but you know what you have to to do; at least most of the time. SO hard, I know. My DS was only 2.5 when this hit me so much easier to hide.

MrsM keep on truckin'. But also when your youngest DD is not around cut yourself some slack. Rely on your friends. Rely on Mumsnet and all your wise regular posters. REMEMBER YOU HAVE SPIRIT AND ARE FABULOUS AND EVEN IF YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP YOU WILL NEVER GIVE UP. You have the power to write the next chapters of your life and as distant as they may feel now, you WILL at some stage not too far away be excited to write them xx

MumnGran · 15/06/2013 17:50

Wish there was an icon for Mrs M, but please click here to see how we feel about your 'revelation' Smile

As has been said, your humour and strength of spirit have always shone through, even in the miserable posts, so it surprises me not one jot that your daughters see you as they do and that they have learned their strength, their wit, and their inspiration from YOU.

Another good day, Mrs M. And I think this one is a turning point Flowers

mrsmciver · 16/06/2013 00:21

Yes, today was a good day. Today I was awesome!

Yep, had dinner at my wee sisters, then we all played a game of monopoly, ok, I was first out- but I was sitting playing with the family and we were all laughing and joking and making plans for the future. It was good, it was really good.

We were planning something huge, but because of practicalities we cannot do it now!! Wish I could tell but can't! Aaargh, it would have been soooo good and aargh am busting to tell!!!!(Exh would have had a coronary), nothing illlegal but it would have been very enjoyable.

Maybe one day I could let you all in on a wee secret!Wink

Loved the round of applause! Thank you for that but to be honest I think it should be for all you Ladies who have been posting on here and helping me to get through each day. It is a very scary thought to now live out the rest of my life like this. I never saw this coming, not this, not the finality of my marriage, he didn't give me a warning. I was hit by a ten ton truck which never stopped and kept on going.
I have a feeling that truck was going to hit anyway, but when the time was right for it, not when it was forced to.

I think something made me look at his phone, he would have walked and I would have had even less of an idea than I do now. I would have felt I had chased a 'good' man away with my health, my neuroses.
But now I don't feel like that. Now I have more of an idea. He is cowardly and weak, he couldn't face up to what he has done. He thought of himself and did not put his children first.
He is not a decent man. My girls and I deserve far far better than that.

Maybe there was Divine Intervention, who knows? Maybe there is a bigger plan now. One where the girls and I can grow, be freer of spirit, not wary, not wanting to rock the boat, not always on our guard. Be able to say what we feel and think.
Now that would be a good thing, now that would be worth it. Maybe we do have our guardian angels watching over us, guiding us. Maybe it was our time.

OP posts:
overtheraenbow · 16/06/2013 01:31

Yes yes yes !!! MrsM so right, not sure if anyone else is still awake ( apart from Ddolly )
Niw is the time to take days like these ( see the light days I call them) and keep them to build on. I think these days are to help you see you can be happy again. I went to a family wedding and spent the evening dancing ( probably very badly but with gay abandon after a few Wine ) now that's something I'd never have done when the miserable old git ex was around ! What do you like to do that you haven't done for years. Time to rediscover yourself , in a long marriage where you invest so much to your family you lose yourself and now you have the time to find MrsM again . This will help you get through the dark days ( and you will still have these ) but looking back on the good days will help you get through them . One step in front of another x

MumnGran · 16/06/2013 07:32

I am sorry I went to bed early Mrs M .....because of all your posts, this is the one which made me cry. The first of the days of light, in all the darkness there has been. Now they will begin to build.
Hold on to that day in your heart (your mind is bound to trip you up now and then) because that is your future. Those times are your new life.

So much of your post resonated for me. The way we do not realise how much we trod on eggshells, how often laughter faded away, because that is the way married life was.
Life without is certainly not all roses, but freedom of spirit is priceless

Still tearful, but wanting to say a massive Welcome back, Mrs M.

springtide · 16/06/2013 09:07

Hello MrsM. I've been following your thread all the way - drafted numerous posts but never felt what I had to say was a worthy contribution. But this morning I simply must - MrsM your post this morning made me cry with relief. What a roller coaster you have travelled on this last few weeks - and there may be more lows but you've proved you can come through them but soon they'll be outnumbered by the ups. You are so strong and I'm so pleased that you're beginning to see that. I must post now or I'll change my mind. Anyway well done MrsM - hope you have another good day today!

mrsmciver · 16/06/2013 09:15

Oh no!
Today I have woken and today the terror overwhelms me again. I have the shakes and the stutters. What is wrong with me? I am terrified of the future. I miss him so badly I have been physically sick. It is like withdrawal symptoms, I think. It is over. He does not love me. I don't know what to do anymore.
I am so up and down. I am so afraid for all of us. He guided us, he helped us make decisions. I am terrified.
Mornings are very bad.Sad
I am so so scared. I am not smart, I am not clever like him, I don't know what to do now. xxx

OP posts:
MumnGran · 16/06/2013 10:22

Hi Mrs M.
I'm here .... just repeating the same truth ..... ups and downs!! Yesterday was the first of the good days. The FIRST.
You have clinical depression so at this stage the bad days will outnumber the good ....hence saying that you have to hang on to them in your heart, because your mind is still in a chemical nightmare (as well as the emotional one).
I PROMISE that as the weeks go on, you will have increasing numbers of good days .... until eventually the bad days become a memory.

Being scared is normal, but please don't continue the 'lesson' that being married taught you ....because it is wrong! He is NOT smarter than you. He is NOT cleverer than you ....and above all he is NOT & NEVER WILL BE the heart and soul of a family, as you are.

If you can't believe in yourself this morning, then believe in your children, your family ...and us! Because we KNOW you are magic.

skyeskyeskye · 16/06/2013 12:25

MrsM - just keep reminding yourself that you are the heart of the family. your DDs are old enough to make their own minds up. My DD is 5yo and loves daddy more than me, she keeps telling me. That breaks my heart, but she is only 5 and doesn't understand the issues or the bigger picture. your girls can see for themselves. This is why they are cross with you, because they don't want to see him drag you down and because they need you to be there for them too.

Hold onto the good times with your family now, these are the things that will see you through a bad time.

mrsmciver · 16/06/2013 13:04

It's ok, I am here, I am lucid. So sorry about that. I have terrible times in the mornings. Horror takes over. I get so scared.
I do not want to be a bitter old lady.
I knew someone whose husband left her a long time ago. She was always so smartly dressed and made an effort. A friend of mine saw her not long ago and said she barely recognised her, she had changed into an old lady. She was stooped and grey. I think that is part of the horror too. I do NOT want that to happen to me, even though I will be a granny!!
That sticks in my mind about that lady.

Have made a big plan. Huge. Well for me it is huge.....
Exh will have a seizure about this(is that a bad thing?).
Something is telling me to do this, it is reckless, possibly stupid, but by feck will I enjoy myself. Maybe it will be the last time I ever enjoy myself but what the hell.

Had a wobble at the start of the day Ladies, but today, once again.....

I AM GOING TO BE AWESOME!!!!! (and so are my girls!!!) xxxx

OP posts:
itwillgetbettersoon · 16/06/2013 14:10

MrsM you sound wonderful and so full of life and fun in your last post. Do make lots of plans - we all need things to look forward to however small. You sound like a different Watson to last week. Hugs xx

itwillgetbettersoon · 16/06/2013 14:24

Lol! What is a Watson on spellchecker! That has made me giggle to myself which is good considering I have the Twunt here seeing the children!

It should read you sound like a different person!!!

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 16/06/2013 14:31

Have been away for a few days but you sound altogether stronger in spite of some wobbles. Reckless plan, hurrah, be bold.

MumnGran · 16/06/2013 15:11

Rock on Mrs M

Awesome is great!! Planning reckless fun is better (I hope!)
Ex having a seizure? ....... is priceless.
Hints on a postcard, please Wink

Really pleased that you are finding the extreme wobbles are now a bit 'time limited' and you know you will come out of them. That ought to help a bit. Something to hang on to.

downunderdolly · 16/06/2013 15:31

snakes and ladders MrsM. Somedays up and somedays down but you keep rolling the dice. And in my experience the will to be something takes you a long way. You have said that you don't want to be a bitter old lady. Ain't gonna happen. You are obviously clever and smart. You articulate yourself so clearly and as so descriptive even when you are down that you have a whole group of strangers cheering you on, picking you up and invested in you. This does not happen to someone who nothing to offer. And this is not you. You audacious plan sounds marvelous.

xx Dolly xx

Lavenderhoney · 16/06/2013 15:56

You sound much better- glad to hear of a plan- can you give any clues? :)

Don't mention it to your exh though, it would bother him more if he found out after the deed was done, ie you don't have to discuss or clear with him first:)

Mornings are crappy- we have some stuff going on, and I wake up, remember and think oh no.. I have to get up and do something, generally coffee with cream and read a book if its early enough.

MumnGran · 16/06/2013 15:58

oh absolutely what lavender says Mrs M ..... don't give him a clue until its a done deal !!

Lambzig · 16/06/2013 19:30

Mrs M, so glad you can see that you can still have happy times. Of course you are the heart of the family, but how wonderful to have it validated by your DD.

Even in your posts where you are having a hard time, your sense of humour shines through, of course you will have fun in the future, and not just once either.

Next time you feel that you are lost because he guided you and made decisions for you, just think of it instead as him having all the control, not allowing you to make your own mind up. Doesn't sound so great that way.

Like Mumngran, I too know that walking on eggshells feeling, not doing things I wanted because I couldn't face the scene, shooing friends out of the house when he came home as he liked the house to himself. Unfortunately, you don't really see it until you have some time and distance from it.

You are already awesome, it just took you a little time to see it.

mrsmciver · 16/06/2013 20:16

Ladies, I cannot and must not give a clue till the dirty deed is done!

I am scheming and plotting - oh how I love to scheme and plot, have discovered I take great delight in it. Tis wonderful.

He won't discover what I have done till I have done it. Confused

He can be such a tight arse, so this will give great satisfaction to me.

I think I have grown a pair so to speak!! Would never in a month of sundays have gone against him like this.

Have no loyalty whatsover to him now.

An' I feel good! xxx

OP posts:
MumnGran · 17/06/2013 01:31

Just one thought Mrs M .....
have you run the plan past someone close to you ( sister? best friend? ) just so you have one other person who knows what you intend?
Am imagining you sitting with your planner, grinning fiendishly!! can't wait to hear the results!!

Skye ...... I meant to say that my heart went out to you, about your DD saying she loves her Daddy more. 5 year olds can break us, without realising what they are saying, hey. One day she will understand the issues, and just how strong you have had to be for her, and the bond you will have will be like no other. My girls are so protective of me now that its like having tigers in my corner!! One day - she will fight for you!! In the meantime, please have some Flowers to cheer you up a bit. x

Kikithecat · 17/06/2013 09:26

Hi MrsM, I think Scarletts could do with a conversation with you - she seems to be where you were a couple of weeks ago ("Separated after 30 years").