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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:
MumnGran · 20/06/2013 22:22

I am in love with that phrase Skye ....had never heard it before, and have determined to now use it whenever opportunity arises.

Grin
mrsmciver · 20/06/2013 22:32

skye, when does Form E get written then? Can I spend savings(if I have to) before then?
Have been to see a lawyer and have declared all assetts that I know of. Exh still has to declare his with a lawyer.

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MumnGran · 20/06/2013 22:36

you may already have completed the form, in that case ...it is called a declaration of assets.
Why not just give your solicitor a quick call in the morning, and check, but
honestly think the treat for your daughter, and any reasonable living expenses cannot possibly be classed as anything other than OK.

skyeskyeskye · 20/06/2013 22:38

I never heard it before Munsnet. Have you heard the other one ?

"I wouldn't have him back now if his arse was stuffed with gold".

Can't remember who coined it, but it was good Grin.

I did form E when his solicitor requested it. Then they chased me for it. My solicitor said he was holding on until he got XH's, so I chased XH. Turns out, his solicitor hadn't even asked him to do one....

when we went to mediation, they were surprised that I had done form E, as they take financial details to help you discuss stuff, then that information can easily be transferred to Form E, thereby saving you some solicitors time...

I think if the savings are in your name, then possession is 9/10 of the law. It is in your name, therefore it is your money......

mrsmciver · 20/06/2013 22:46

Oh how I wish he would fuck off to the far side of fuck and then fuck of some more!!
Make my life a lot easier. And my daughters.
I am actually beginning to think that if he moved away he would not be missed by very many people at all.

I think he will. I think that once he realises his daughters won't see him and then he won't be able to see his grandaughter, there will be nothing left for him here, and he will apply for other jobs further away and move.

It would be better for all of us if he did that. What he has done to his girls is unforgiveable. How can they get by that? At a time when they needed him most - he left and kept saying 'it wasn't his problem'. His very stupid mother and father will be hanging on his every word too. They are idiots and it is only a blessing I never have to see them again.

There are positive things coming out of this.

OP posts:
mrsmciver · 20/06/2013 22:58

I don't think any savings i have in my name are classed as just mine. I am sure all assets are put in a pot and divided out as the judge sees fit.
Am sure lawyer mentioned that to me last time I saw him.

Ex twat is very funny when it comes to money and not in a Ha Ha way either. He will get nasty am sure of it.

Don't care anymore. He can get as nasty as he wants, and so can I now.

I would have trusted him with my life 10 weeks ago. Now I am divorcing him and wouldn't trust a thing that comes out of his mouth anymore.

No wonder my head is birling! Counsellor said to me that it is a wonder I haven't been a lot worse after what has gone on! My life has totally revolved now and I feel like I am living in a parallel universe. (some things I can't tell you in case I am outed), much as I would love to. My life has weirded out beyond weird nowShock.

OP posts:
mrsmciver · 20/06/2013 23:21

Am now getting tired and I feel so sad and my stomach is churning that this has happened to us. I feel sick now.

How could he do this? I really really loved him. Why did he not tell me he was unhappy?

Do you think he is enjoying his holidays? Probably - he will be out of his mothers back room.

I would love to be happy again, can't ever imagine it now.

xxx

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KristinaFranziska · 20/06/2013 23:30

M, I am sorry this has happened and sorry how it has happened.

Be gentle on yourself and kind and patient. It's come as a shock and life is not going to continue the way you had expected it to. It takes time to adjust and while that's happening you will go up and down and every which way. That's normal, it's OK.

The thing is, life is not fair and nobody ever promised that it would be so. Things happen. And it's not what happens, it's how we handle the happenings.

You are a whole and complete person in your own right. You were a beautiful young girl before you met this man, and you will rediscover her and learn lots about her.

He deceived you, he lied to you, he is failing to take responsibility...you want more of that?

No, hold up your head with pride and dignity. You are worthy of respect. Honour yourself.

My invitation is this:
Right now your life history is full of "couple" experiences. Step out and take on something new and just for you. Write a bucket list, all those things you want to do before you die, adventures, achievements, skills, people you can help. Dunno, for me I wanted to travel round the world, which I did as a single Mum with a 10yo. I wanted to keep bees, and I do. I wanted to be fit and enjoy clothes so slimmed from size 28 to 14. I climbed a climbing wall despite vertigo...and I'm no spring chicken at 53yo!

I am filling my life with people and experiences that bring me joy, challenge me, add to my own self image of who I am. I'm not much into material things, but love wearing clothes that look good on me and feel nice and make me feel scrumptious and smiley inside.

If I can do it, and others do it, then so too you can do it.
What might you like to do?

Lavenderhoney · 21/06/2013 05:10

Mrsm, you got some great advice to post on legal here.

If you have savings, please use them - don't not spend on day to day living and treats for your daughter so he gets a larger share!

And get some shoes! No one expects you to walk about barefoot and I doubt he is squeezing into old tatty shoes to ensure you get more money. By rights he owes you half the holiday? Which is how I would look at it. I expect whoever he went with stumped up half anyway.

If he is going to get nasty with money, be doubly sure to check with the legal thread and your solicitor everything. Even staying in your home - anything he wants you to do you can be sure its to suit him. So make sure it suits you.

The money from you supporting him in his career isn't his to distribute as he sees fit. And of course there is the pensions etc. you deserve it, and have earned it.

Hope you have something nice planned for today.

TheOwlService · 21/06/2013 07:16

Kristina that is a great post and you sound fab! I too have done loads of stuff in the years since divorce - most of which I would never have done if I had still been married.

Life can be great again for sure. You have to go through the pain of breakup and the fallout and it is very hard to adjust, especially in the early days. But like you say everyone is a complete person in their own right and you only get one life!

Take care Mrs M x

MumnGran · 21/06/2013 07:57

Superb post Kristina

Mrs M, your low seems to have arrived late last night, so am hoping this morning may be a tad better?
How true it is that this experience feels like being in a parallel universe. Some tiny part of my mind spent literally years half expecting to wake up to the old reality! Am not sure when that stopped - just wasn't there one day. I suspect it has to do with the shock and abruptness of discovery and subsequent finality. There is no reversion to what our minds tell us was "normal". The fact that normal was not perfect ...by a long way ... seems to be edited out by the brain, for some weird reason.

However it strikes me that the more you tell us, the more lousy your 'normal' seems to have been. He was nasty about money? that is a real tick box for controllers. Kristina is right to ask you whether thats wwhat you want for you future ...and I think it is a great idea to look at all those lousy aspects and think about those as the 'him' you think about having back in your life.

I would also echo the achievements that your new life may hold. They can be so unexpected. Like Kristina I suffered from a fear of heights.......three years after divorce, I stood on the top of a mountain having got their by cable car!!!!! I was so worn down by my marriage that I had stopped wanting to go anywhere, and had become very nervous about going out alone. Today .... I think nothing of driving the length of the country for work, and factoring in who I can stop to see on the way!
THIS is your future Mrs M. It is in your hands....not his, and also not in the hold of the mindset he has created in you. We are already seeing sparks emerge and its truly good to watch An emerging, fragile butterfly of independent thought and hope.

Of course you will backslide. Daily if I am anything to go by. You just have to hang on to the positive. And, believe me, the more you start fighting back against the old controls, the more free you will become. Read back to your own early posts, and then check out the recent fighting spirit we are starting to hear and the Grand Plan that has come into being. Hang on in there, because each day we can see you moving forward.

As for the shoes ... I may owe an apology. I have been casting humorous remarks about spending £1000 on buying over the top extravagances (think Blahniks, darling)...... not the fact that you just need a pair of new shoes Shock Go shop for them Mrs M. Today. There is nothing ion law that stops you from doing that with your own savings. Nothing.

Meant to ask how your daughters are doing this week? the spoiling treat for DD2 sounds like the very best of ideas, and I hope it contains some spoiling for you too. Another of the new, positive, experiences that are going to define life from now on Smile

mrsmciver · 21/06/2013 08:03

We will be ok, we will be ok.......
Oh god am so scared. He was the one who organised important 'stuff'
I honestly feel I can't go through my life without him. I miss him dreadfully. Have not spoken to him forever now, how have I done that?
How do I go through my life without him. This has all been a masssive shock. How long had he been planning this?
Am shaking.

OP posts:
MumnGran · 21/06/2013 08:05

Deep breath.
You are going to go through it as we all did
Minute by minute
The stuff he organised really isnt that hared for anyone with half a brain (and you have a whole one!)
It is only that they rendered us totally dependent. There is no mystique about managing life.
You are already doing it !!!!!

MumnGran · 21/06/2013 08:08

Go back and read Kristinas post again Mrs M.
Her condensing of all we have had to say on this thread should give you something to hang on to.

Anyway ... you can't fall down! aren't we supposed to be running off into the sunset together Grin

mrsmciver · 21/06/2013 08:15

I had access to the current account and i could spend what i needed to out of that. He never bothered that way. But he always checked up on what i spent and i had to write down what was spent every month in a book. but i could definitely spend what i needed to, and didn't go without. He is funny about the savings and always wanted to save very hard. And we could never touch them. The house was going to be all done up this year out of some of the savings.

Now my life has all gone. I don't know what to do with myself. I will not have any money now, will not be able to do very much at all. And he has gone, gone forever. How do I cope without him by my side?

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mrsmciver · 21/06/2013 08:24

Too right Mumn, I do have a brain.
Bloody horrible mornings.
It is everything about me has been with him.
I do not know how to be on my own, never have been.
I have read through the last few posts again. Thank you for that.
I have no idea how to go forward now. Sad

OP posts:
MumnGran · 21/06/2013 08:33

Well, the savings concept will now pay off for you Mrs M.
I had to borrow from family to survive until my settlement, as I had no access to funds after the "shopping trip"

MumnGran · 21/06/2013 08:36

major X post

last took so long to type that it crossed you. Sorry Mrs M ....and welcome back out of the fiug

You know me by now. Tough love on the self-pity side .......but here for you every step.
x x x

KristinaFranziska · 21/06/2013 09:54

The thing is, you are in love with a fantasy. What you thought you had didn't really exist.

Lambzig · 21/06/2013 11:11

Mrs M, those mornings are the pits.

Please listen to your own language - you had access to the current account and you make it sound like you think that was generous. You could spend what you wanted as long as you wrote it in the book. You were not allowed to spend your savings. He has treated you like a child. No wonder you are so afraid. I am sorry, but the more you tell us about him, the more unpleasant he sounds. My exH did the same, I had pocket money, its another form of control and it rings big alarm bells for me.

By the way, all that important stuff that he did is a doodle, you can do it standing on your head. Making it sound complex was another way to be in charge.

One of the best things to come out of this for you will be your financial independence. Please listen to Mumngran and her cautionary tale and make sure you safeguard your financial future.

Those savings theoretically in your name. Please keep them that way. If he asks for access, say no we will let the solicitors sort it out.

The thing is, you keep saying your life is over, you have no future, you have no idea how to go forward, but all your actions that you tell us about and your posts when you aren't panicking say absolutely the opposite. I know you want to turn the clock back, but really he is not the man you thought he was. In other words part of you knows this and is the one making schemes, sorting things out with your DD and making jokes. Listen to that part of you (not the one who idolises a selfish man and thinks she can't cope and spends far too much time thinking about what he is thinking).

Do the nice thing for your DD, and stuff your ex ( or Skye's brilliant phrase which I recently used on my DH in a row, he was flabbergasted, its most effective).

mrsmciver · 21/06/2013 11:24

No, we had a lot of good times together.
He was a hard worker and we never went without. I have been realistic, ok it was not perfect....but what is?

On the plus side, am looking gorgeous this morning Ladies! New mascara and eyeliner with a teeny flick at the corner of my eyes to lift my face(according to sister it helps!!). Have treated myself, and am going shopping later with youngest daughter to get her new clothes too! She does not want to ask her lying scumbag father so whoops out it comes from the savings again!!

Honestly - he is going to have kittens when he finds out what I have done.

Mornings mornings- they are my nemesis. I quite fancy a colgate smile too! That will make me smile, they are rather expensive aren't they?GrinGrin

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mrsmciver · 21/06/2013 11:31

Sorry Lambzig, a crossed post I think.

Was it controlling that I had to write down any expenditure in a book? I honestly thought it was sensible so that we knew how much money was left at the end of the month. I didn't think of it any other way. It was always how things had been. He wrote anything down that he spent too, it wasn't just me.
Was that controlling? I don't know anymore, I didn't know any different.

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Lambzig · 21/06/2013 11:46

Sorry Mrs M, perhaps the whole money thing just triggers red flags for me because of ex. I had to write anything I spent on a spreadsheet. He would then draw bar graphs with the things he didn't approve of shown as red bars. When we went shopping, I had to pay separately for tampons as they couldn't come out of the joint account, as obviously he wouldn't use them. Many examples.

However, my experiences are not yours and you are probably right. My apologies.

I still think securing your financial future is very very important though.

Do treat your DD to some lovely things this pm.

Mascara very important, not sure I have left the house without mascara for 30 years.

mrsmciver · 21/06/2013 11:55

Oh no Lambzig that is awful! bar charts and graphs!! I never had that, but I would get a little 'telling off' if I spent too much money in a month.

I normally never wear mascara, but my sister says I have got nice eyes and i have to get them noticed more!! Oh yes my tear stained red rimmed eyes are a mahoosive turn on for any new man!! Am not thinking that way yet, but am really fancying a new smile the more I think about it!! Is that awful? Is it too selfish to be thinking of that?

OP posts:
skyeskyeskye · 21/06/2013 12:08

Lambzig Shock at the tampon story!

The pocket money thing makes me laugh. OW allows her H £50 a month pocket money because she earns more than him, but she can spend what she likes .... And my ex said I was controlling..... He could buy what he wanted, as long as he could afford it..... I controlled us not getting into debt.... I can just see him putting up with £50 a month pocket money!

Her H was always hiding stuff he had bought for his hobby so that she didn't know about it.

MrsM, enjoy your shopping