Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Having the talk

941 replies

lavenderhoney · 26/03/2014 22:15

I'm planning to tell my dh its all over and I want a divorce. He isn't going to be very happy about it. I've asked in the past and he has stormed off, refused and told me I'm crazy. He has no problem discussing our problems with or infront of dc age 7 and 4:( he is not a nice man and he is going to be very nasty indeed, I think.

I left almost 3 months ago ( we did live overseas, he is still there and will be for the future , and he is not from the UK) and now is the time. I should have done it before but for various reasons the solicitor said to wait ( financial). I have to talk to her this week and get things moving but I obviously have to tell dh what's coming.

I need some advice on how to handle it, what to say, and what to do with his reactions. And what to expect. I'm bricking it, frankly:(

OP posts:
Meerka · 16/05/2014 11:38

glad to hear you';re looking for another solicitor lavender

and agreed, you need to stay calm now and try to remove emotion from yourself. Let him be the emotional one.

like anohter poster said, its great that you are finding your Tiger Mama!

BIWI · 16/05/2014 13:36

Email him and tell him that he is not staying with you and that he will need to make other arrangements. Otherwise he will turn up on your doorstep and put pressure on you to let him stay.

Glad you're looking for another solicitor!

lavenderhoney · 17/05/2014 23:02

I've told the dc and they didn't seem surprised not that fussed. So now I suppose I'll tell him they know and wait.

OP posts:
TweedleDi · 17/05/2014 23:11

How did you 'frame' it to them? Glad it went with minimal distress. One step closer to where you want to be.

lavenderhoney · 17/05/2014 23:36

Just talked over dinner about the house move and impending visit and if he ever came to the UK wouldn't live with me and them but have his own place.

Because we had decided we didn't want to live together anymore. Very simplistic and easy. And how he would still come and see them when he had hols and not to expect me to come on days out as he might want to do that by himself.

I said they can talk to me or the teacher at school. I told her I was going to tell them and she is happy to be a go to person. I said they can talk anytime to me or her, whatever they like. And they were very much loved and it was nothing to do with them. Ds said " we know that, mummy"

Dd internalises, ds gets it all out there.

OP posts:
DustBunnyFarmer · 18/05/2014 07:18

Well done Lavender - sounds like you handled the discussion perfectly. Good idea to have their teacher on stand by as a safe, neutral person they can talk to as well. Good luck laying down boundaries with your H now - it won't be easy, but it will get easier once you've got started & decided to stick to your guns. Still here for handholding, as & when needed.

TweedleDi · 18/05/2014 08:46

Well done Thanks

You handled it in a mature, sensitive and loving way.

Unlikely that he will do the same, but you aren't responsible for his actions, only your own.

beachyhead · 18/05/2014 09:10

Another long time lurker here saying well done for explaining it so well to them. Hope your new lawyer works out for you. I agree with others, you really don't need him in your space.

lavenderhoney · 18/05/2014 13:32

Thanks:) I've waiting for him to call really. I can't decide whether to email and tell him or do it on Skype.

I assume it won't be a surprise to him though. Anyway, I think he is waiting to come over now. That's when he will do all his talking. Its going to be hell.

OP posts:
DustBunnyFarmer · 18/05/2014 15:57

All the more reason not to have him staying with you, Lavender.

RandomMess · 18/05/2014 20:41

"You can't stay here, you're not welcome and the dc have been told that you won't be staying here because we are not a couple anymore. They are expecting you to stay elsewhere."

lavenderhoney · 20/05/2014 14:41

We'll its all going rather badly. He keeps writing to me and saying he's a better person now we've spilt, however if I apologise he will overlook my wanting a divorce and try again. Then he gets nasty and then he calls and acts as though nothing's happened and he hasn't sent anything.

The emails don't even bear resemblance to our life together, its as though they are written by someone else for another life.

Its driving me mad.

I also keep seeing things that remind me of my mum, which means I'm very tearful. I feel very trapped.

OP posts:
Brucietheshark · 20/05/2014 15:47

Lavender, have you thought that lots of people simply decide they don't want to be in a relationship with someone for no particularly good reason? The relationship is just not working, for THEM.

And that to break up the relationship and be on their own is completely their right.

They may feel that, morally, they ought to give their ex-partner a reason. But after that, really they have no obligation ever to talk that person again (apart from facilitating contact for any children, which can be done via a third party).

When the ex-parner is a decent, nice person who has done nothing wrong as such, this is very hard for them. But they have to work through it and get over it on their own. We have all been there, been dumped, and it is horrid. But we know as grown-ups that we just have to battle on and try and get over it. We take responsibility for our own lives and emotional wellbeing.

In your case, the ex-partner is quite clearly a complete and utter scumbag. So WHY are you giving him so much more air-time? Why is there any need for you to speak to him at all? You can communicate via a solicitor perfectly well. You can use your email address to deal with contact from him - only log in once a day/week/fortnight/whatever. Then get a new email address to speak to everyone else. Ditto phones - get a cheap payg mobile and switch it on at certain, agreed times for him to speak to the kids. Change the house phone number and your current mobile.

And fgs get the divorce underway. Without it, he can turn up on your doorstep whenever he pleases and insist he stays. With it, you don't have to face that. That seems a big difference to me.

You are currently doing the 'I will take responsibility for YOU seeing your children' dance. And it is because you love them so much. But it won't work, they won't be any less hurt by him over the years and he will use it and use it and use it to manipulate, hurt, upset and crush you.

DustBunnyFarmer · 20/05/2014 20:01

Please stop giving your ex so much headspace, Lavender.

I like this Eleanor Roosevelt quote a lot: "No-one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Same goes for your ex. You need to stop providing him with the means (communication routes and poorly defined boundaries) to hurt you. Step back, disengage. I have no doubt all of this is hurting you more than him.

lavenderhoney · 20/05/2014 21:04

I only speak to him once a week maybe twice when he calls for the dc. Its just he always goes on about what did he do wrong and follows up with emails. I don't reply. I replied once ages ago.

I am just endlessly stressing about it all, and his visit. Even if he doesn't stay it will be awful plus I'm dreading seeing him go off with the dc. What if he doesn't bring them back?

I've decided its too much, my endless fretting to my friends and am currently pretending everything is ok. One friend I spoke with today told me not to talk about it as I just got more distressed. So its probably better to try to pretend everything is all right. Perhaps it will be if I imagine it to be. Positive thinking and all that. At least I'll have rl people to talk to.

I feel quite overwhelmed with it all. It really does eat away at me, his visit, my new life, the dc having just me etc.

OP posts:
TweedleDi · 20/05/2014 22:37

Deal with what you can deal with (it is more than you think you can!):

You don't actually need to listen to him when he calls for the dc...

"even if he doesn't stay" - so you are still thinking this is the most likely scenario? Make the decision.

You are frightened he may not bring them back. Your solicitor (new one?) will advise you on what preventative steps you can take. Given the history, logging your concerns via 101 prior to his visit would increase your peace of mind.

STBexH only has the mental power over you that you choose to give him...

Perhaps think about accessing some counselling for yourself to enable and support you through this time. Pretending all is fine only goes so far and will bite you on the bum eventually.

Bite back first. Identify your true support networks, what their 'specialisms' are and outsource! Even your friend today will have a minor skill that can contribute (e.g. divergent conversation about neutral topics, makes a good cake)

Of course it is overwhelming. You are trying to deal with the whole, in your head, rather than one bit at a time.

If you find it hard to get out of your current mindset, try imagining your daughter in this scenario in a couple of decades or so. Does that light your inner fire a little?

lavenderhoney · 21/05/2014 13:59

I dealing with it now by being super busy and not thinking about it. Haven't heard from him for a few days so its easier.

OP posts:
Granville72 · 21/05/2014 14:18

When is he due Lav?

Any joy finding a new Solicitor?

lavenderhoney · 21/05/2014 19:02

A month or so. Don't have confirmed dates yet.
No solicitor yet, I'm waiting on a friends advice as they know all the details and have been helping me for months. Though I think I've possibly exhausted all the goodwill now:(

unbelievably, I haven't posted everything:(

OP posts:
DustBunnyFarmer · 21/05/2014 19:07

If you feel MNers can help, do let off (more) steam here.

RandomMess · 21/05/2014 20:36

You come across as utterly paralysed - are you? Is it fear or guilt that is driving it (if you are)?

lavenderhoney · 21/05/2014 23:40

I don't know. I just can't think about it anymore. I'll go mad:(

OP posts:
TweedleDi · 22/05/2014 08:47

Have you heard of the freedom program?

"The Freedom Programme© examines the roles played by attitudes and beliefs on the actions of abusive men and the responses of victims and survivors. The aim is to help them to make sense of and understand what has happened to them, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess."

www.freedomprogramme.co.uk/index.php

Meerka · 22/05/2014 11:33

Oh lavender you are in such a difficult situation. I hope you can take some time for yoruself sometimes and simply enjoy not having him around, and reading a favourite book or having a glass of wine or watching a programme you like, and cuddle with the children.

You are so sensible on other threads, I hope you can be gentle on yourself

Granville72 · 22/05/2014 13:54

If they are a good friend then you wont have exhausted all their goodwill, that's what good friends are for, and I'm sure you will repay the goodwill gesture if they ever need it.

I would have thought your Ex would be planning his visit when the kids are on Summer Holidays from school otherwise it's a bit pointless him visiting isn't it? Unless of course he has an ulterior motive for his visit?