Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

DH left me via an email

746 replies

INeedToEat · 09/08/2014 14:36

I was on holiday with the kids (alone), the day before we were meant to leave (yesterday) I get an email from DH of 13 years saying he has packed up and left. That he has got a flat somewhere but is first going away for over a week and his phone will be turned off. WTF. Oh and I can tell his son or he will tell him when he gets back. Now this isn't some wanker of a bloke, oh no - this one is one of the good ones usually. Hard working, rarely goes out, sober, kind and of course a good father yes really.

Our relationship to be fair could be better, we rarely properly talked and lead pretty individual lives - we have never discussed splitting up and never argue. No obvious signs of an affair but wouldn't be surprised.

I haven't eaten since I got the email. I have been in a haze , walking from one thing to another. I have told my son, he is beside himself particularly because of the no contact. It is killing me watching him in so much pain.

Any practical or emotional support welcomed. I can not think straight.

OP posts:
BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 24/08/2014 18:59

I think you need to be explicit with The Wanker. Although you've told him that your son doesn't want direct contact I think you should tell him that your son has been checking his emails all day for word from him. He might choose not to reply but at least his Daddy has finally contacted him.

INeedToEat · 24/08/2014 19:02

Coward said in the email I discovered today that he would email son today... so I told son so he was expecting it. Cant even call coward because I took his number our of my phone straight after he left. I will fucking kill him.

OP posts:
tribpot · 24/08/2014 19:34

As usual, Coward is using silence and absence as weapons. If you called him he wouldn't answer (if he hasn't changed his number already).

Alas you have learnt the hard way never to promise your child anything in connection with the absent parent.

Bitter's right - I would let him know that his son has been checking his email all day.

INeedToEat · 24/08/2014 19:40

Oh we have contact !! He waits till now to write to his son!!

WANKER !!

Dear Son.

I know you are annoyed and angry with me for leaving home, especially the way I did. I know I broke your heart. For all of this I am so very very sorry. I can promise you that the hurt you feel now, will go away.

To me, you are the most wonderful person I know and I promise you that I love you with all of my heart. Mum and I no longer have a loving relationship and it was best for all of us that I left. I have not moved far away and you are welcome to come here whenever you want as long as mum and I can agree. I have a bedroom just for you, which if you want, we can decorate to your taste.

You have a mum and dad that love you so so much and are very proud of you. I will always be here for you when you need me and even when you don't need me! You can call, FaceTime, email or best of all see me.

I miss you so much, I am so sorry for what has happened.

Please write back when you feel up to it.

All my Love,

Dad xxxxxx

What a cunt... You CAN NOT promise him the hurt will go away. It is not best for SON that you left. Do not make it MY fault if you can not see son - because we can not agree ! Tosser. He will hear from me soon.

Kids aint stupid .. funnily son does not want to respond.

OP posts:
Castlemilk · 24/08/2014 19:47

Jesus.

I don't think he could have made more of a mess of that if he'd actively tried.

'I will always be here for you when you need me' - well err, no, I actually think you've proved that not to be the case, so I think your son would be forgiven for thinking 'what do you know, you fucking arrogant stupid twat' at the calming thought that all your hurt will magically go away in time.

What a deeply stupid man.

Vivacia · 24/08/2014 19:49

How's your son doing?

Clutterbugsmum · 24/08/2014 19:49

That read as someone suffering from 'I itis'. It explains nothing to your DS about why he did what her did.

I can promise you that the hurt you feel now, will go away. That's a load of bull. He could help your DS feel over time, but only if he puts your DS first.

Vivacia · 24/08/2014 19:50

I think it's an ok email, apart from this line, "I can promise you that the hurt you feel now, will go away." which is bang out of order. Such a silly, silly man to have let it get to this point in the first place. He should have said these things to him before he abandoned your son.

Castlemilk · 24/08/2014 19:55

I think it would be more than reasonable to have a chat to your son about the importance of validating people's feelings, and the fact that what his dad said about promising his hurt will 'go away' is VERY wrong - that is not for his dad to decide, and is patronising and belittling of his feelings.

Tell him you know his dad may be trying to make him feel better but it's the wrong thing to say - I think that even though it's clear to your son that his dad is completely in the wrong, still to hear a parent basically dismiss the hurt he must be feeling is a very powerful thing, and worth challenging straight away. No way must your son be left with a nagging 'I should be getting over this by now' somewhere down the line.

tribpot · 24/08/2014 20:02

I can promise you that the hurt you feel now, will go away.

There's all of his self-serving self-delusion summed up in a single sentence.

No questions about his son. How is he doing, did he enjoy his holiday? NOTHING.

And critically for your son, no even ATTEMPT to explain why it was 'best' that he fuck off with no warning and no contact for days on end. Why was that, exactly?

I wouldn't reply, INeed. The correspondence between ex and son is really their business. If you want to respond on anything it should be calmly factual:

  • it is not best in these circumstances to attempt to predict or force feelings; ds may never recover from this hurt
  • please do not use correspondence with our son to insinuate that contact is being prevented by me.
  • please use this as a chance to re-establish contact with him on a day-to-day level; he does not want to think about and discuss solely the matter of your departure.
FrontForward · 24/08/2014 20:20

I think it's an ok email apart from the crap line about the hurt going away. (Is that a promise or an order to never discuss?)

I don't think you should comment to your son tbh He will be glad of the contact and suck from it what he needs. Allow him that but also be there for the disappointments and hurt

INeedToEat · 24/08/2014 20:39

Son has gone very quite. He does not want to respond for now.

OP posts:
tribpot · 24/08/2014 20:42

Maybe advise the Coward it has been received and been read, granting him a measure of dignity denied to you throughout this. But at least he will not later be able to accuse you of blocking contact between them.

Vivacia · 24/08/2014 20:47

I absolutely wouldn't email tonight.

middleeasternpromise · 24/08/2014 20:49

Awful - isn't it that they can believe things will be as they want them to be. What are your options? Try to prevent him having contact with your son and saying this stuff or accepting your son has to deal with his other parent behaving in this way? It is so dire I feel very sorry for the situation you are in but can tell you its not unusual and as the 'anchor' parent it is incredibly hard to deal with. I have dealt with this and know how difficult it is PM me if you need to TBH theres no one way to manage it you just have to feel your way based on your child's feelings it is so very difficult.

INeedToEat · 24/08/2014 20:56

Already emailed . I am so mad at his crappy email to son. Sorry. Nicked all your best bits.

I don't think you could have made more of a mess of your email to Son if you had actively tried.

'I will always be here for you when you need me' - well err, no, I actually think you've proved that not to be the case, I think Son would be forgiven for thinking 'what do you know, you fucking arrogant stupid twat'

Please do not attempt to predict or force son's feelings; he may never recover from this hurt.
Please do not use correspondence with son to insinuate that contact is being prevented or impeded by me.
Please use this as a chance to re-establish contact with son on a day to day level; he does not want to think about and discuss your departure,
All of your self-serving and self-delusion has been summed up in a single email. Well done.

No questions about how sonis doing. What he wants. Nothing.

No wonder he doesn't want to reply. Despite me (ONCE A FUCKING AGAIN) trying to paint you in a good light.

Whatever, past caring. Dick head.

OP posts:
WellWhoKnew · 24/08/2014 21:22

Grrrr. There is absolutely nothing that he can do to undo the mess he's made except he could do a lot better to not compound the hurt.

Twat.

INeed - what ideas do you have for keeping the two of you busy for the next week? Can we help come up with ideas for the two of you to thoroughly enjoy the remainder of the summer holiday.

Make that poor excuse of a parent feel his exclusion because son is going to be brimming with good times, loving times and fun times. Let that Selfish Coward stew, quite frankly.

INeedToEat · 24/08/2014 21:29

Tomorrow we are finisjing off his bedroom and seeing my sister/ cousin. Tuesday we are shopping for bedroom accoricies and seeing my parents

OP posts:
WellWhoKnew · 24/08/2014 21:45

Great! Is there anything else you'd like to do, or you son would like to do that you could arrange for Friday or the weekend that gives him something to get really focused on? I know it won't heal the hurt but some stonkingly good fun distraction therapy could be good for you both.

Emails really are the cowards weapon of choice, aren't they?

I note the absence of him mentioning maintenance. He's becoming a cliche of a crap dad by the day.

Good thing your son has got a caring mum.

KOKO INeed.

INeedToEat · 24/08/2014 21:50

Thank you.

OP posts:
tribpot · 24/08/2014 22:18

I know it's hard but you really have to get a grip - vent here but I fear that if you send emails like that, he will refuse to communicate with his son on the grounds that you will respond with a blistering critique of the email. Of course that would just be yet another excuse to shirk his responsibilities but let's face it, he's got a track record already in that department hasn't he?

You need an outlet for your rage, but ultimately this won't help you.

I agree with the others, focus on the positives of the week ahead. The only email you need from Coward is one in which he confirms his intention to pay up on 1st Sept as specified and to arrange a short contact visit to help build your son up to an overnight stay.

springydaffs · 25/08/2014 00:27

Don't agree. Let it out - which you have done. A few blistering emails wouldn't go amiss imo - holding that volcano in would be disastrous.

He sounds completely off with the fairies. Perhaps he could have discussed with you first that you were, apparently, no longer in a loving relationship - I state the obvious.

[Angry]

WellWhoKnew · 25/08/2014 01:20

Well, I'll wade in as well and reiterate my post, with a few minor amendments:

"In principle I agree with Middle (and nowSpringy) however, in practice it invites a whole load of additional issues to contend with. Firstly, you can't control him taking ownership of it. He has to choose to do that.

What often happens is that you get a load more self-centred and infuriating and bewildering emails back. There's no justification in the world for what he's done that's going to make this sudden change easier to comprehend.

There's no closure when you go down the route of sharing grievances, it's tit for tat competitive woe-is-me.

Stop that starting is the advice we've all given because his decision is going to impact her, him and the son in both positive and negative ways.

You're not going to get closure right now - that comes later, when you've adapted and accepted the huge change, when you've found some of the benefits of the change.

Right now, coping is the order of the day. Her Coward is right that Time Heals - but whilst writing emotional emails is cathartic (he he he!), sending them, however, is the route to madness."

That said, I get totally the need to rage - and INeed, you are absolutely right to be raging (I'm raging on your behalf!). The problem is that when they respond, it feeds the rage (in my personal experience).

However, I will concede I am having the divorce from hell - so my advice may actually be worthless - perhaps if I raged back, rather than being the aloof, detached, incommunicado mercenary that I'm being - my divorce might be a bit more pleasant.

However, I am sticking with my approach because so far, as much as I'm suffering this divorce, it is allowing me the necessary thinking time to figure out what it is I really want at the end, and stopping my fury interfering with ultimately getting what I need. I cannot change what STBXH chose to do. I can choose to manage myself - or rather get a team around me to get me through it - and they need me to not make their jobs harder. They want the best outcome possible. We measure that in monetary terms!

They say that you should 'fake it to you make it', but a very enlightening thread on here recently indicated that you're truly over it when you are indifferent.

I am faking the indifference.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the end of my introspective sermon!

sailorsgal · 25/08/2014 07:11

wellwhoknew
I think you give the most amazing advice.

ravenmum · 25/08/2014 08:06

I don't like the "as long as mum and I can agree" at all either. Got too much of that crap myself and, if I point out the insinuation, he makes out that it is all in my imagination, i.e. I am being a bitch by reading nasty stuff into his comments.

Starts out so promisingly by saying "I broke your heart", but within a few lines he's backtracking to "I am sorry for what has happened", as if it was out of his control.

He should be sending messages directly to his son without you seeing them. Your son needs to hear from his dad, even if there's a risk of these "subtle" messages coming across, but it won't help for you to see the emails, as whatever the man says you are not going to like it. If your son gets the emails privately, you can ask him how he feels about them without having to read them yourself.