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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

Finally told my physically/emotionally abusive H I am divorcing him...

999 replies

Namechanger2015 · 17/05/2015 21:01

I have been posting about my H since Jan. He assaulted me in Dec in front of my DC. I left in late Jan with my DC and we moved in with my parents 1.5h away, close to my family.

Since then he has offered to sell the family home so we can live together close to my parents, and enrol in an abusers course, and has generally seen the error of his ways. Except of course, he hasn't.

He has decided that he likes the house too much to sell it, and is currently enjoying living alone in the 4-bed detached house that I paid towards with my salary, which he would not allow me access to.

He has decided that the abusers course is 'a load of bollocks' and so refuses to do it. I pinned all of my hopes on this course fixing him, and he won't even try. He knows the alternative is divorce and living away from me and his 3 beautiful DC but it seems that is not enough for him. He will not do the course and he will not sell the family house to buy another.

My immediate family know what he has been like over the years and don't ever want to see him again. Some of my extended family know and are 100% behind me as well.

Last week I told him the solicitor will be in touch to start proceedings and end our marriage. It went like this:

(bland conversation about him wanting to attend a family event with me Hmm)
Me: I have spoken to solicitor and they will be in touch
Him: To do what?
Me: To end the marriage
Him: There is no end with children involved
Me: Yes. You can see the children anytime you want to.
Him: And you will hide away? We will always see each other. For the rest of our lives. There is no end.

(2 hours later)
Him: Can you let me know the kids half term dates, I'd like to have them stay for a few days if that's ok.
Me: Yes, thats fine.
etc.

So that was it. I told him I want a divorce, and he mustered up 4 sentences in a text. Nothing else. No promising to do the course, even if he did think it was crap, and no promising to sell the house to buy a place together, simply because he loves that house too much to give up.

So my marriage is over, once the exceedingly slow SHL finally serves the papers. And he didn't even fight, get angry, nothing. Just took it in his stride.

It's further proof that he never loved me, but I can't help feeling angry, sad, robbed. I could have had a life with someone else. As it stands, I have 3 young DC and no partner, and just me.

Trying not to feel to sad or worthless. I have had an amazing weekend with family at a wedding, the DC and I loved it, and my extended family are simply amazing. I could have lived in the wedding hotel with them all for ever, we have so much love between us all.

But I don't have a spouse. After 9 years of marriage. I did it all alone, nobody to chitter about what the food was like, or that I liked the brides dress, or whether the DC enjoyed it. I know the whole experience would have been different with him there, and probably not in a good way. But it was lonely, and a bit of a wake-up call.

I'm not even worth selling a house or attending a crappy course for. He would rather let me go than do that for me, after 9 years and 3 children.

I am actually shocked, surprised and hurt at how little I meant to him by the end of our marriage.

OP posts:
Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 11:12

Most men like him don't give a damn about other people, including his children.

Yes. This one clearly doesn't anyway.

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Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 11:14

I've found untapped sources of energy and confidence in my 40s.

I feel I am getting back to being me, and my confidence is slowly returning. I am doing some super-fun things this week, and have won the MN competition to attend a cookery course tomorrow (outs self completely). I can't wait, and am looking forward to meeting new faces and chatting.

I distinctly remember feeling scared of meeting new faces because I had nothing interesting to say to them. I had work, children, housework and the odd family trip.

Now I can't wait to meet people.

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Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 11:15

In your diary you need to have space to not things like: arrived at house, rang bell, he wouldn't open door so I had to open door and take DC and bags in, he informed me he didn't have car so I would have to do all ferrying around...

thank you, I will do this, I will shift around the diary a bit and add in more detail. I think I am underestimating the power of an excel spreadsheet.

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Vivacia · 16/06/2015 11:41

I feel I am getting back to being me, and my confidence is slowly returning.

I love this!! Congratulations on your win.

Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 11:51

Yes. I really can't believe how low I had become. Counsellor talked to me about my memories and building myself up again and away from these negative thoughts. It was very useful.

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Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 12:23

One memory - my dad is a skilled tradesman, has been working in his field for over 20 years. When he came to stay for a week and kindly work on our house for us, H constantly criticised the work (not him, but the work itself) and wanted things re-done to perfection.

In the end my dad said he couldn't help us anymore, as H was so critical my dad was losing confidence in his work knowing that H would not be happy with it and want it redone.

I spoke to H about it and he said he was criticising the work and wanted things the best they could be, and was not criticising my dad. Which may have been true, but was still very damaging behaviour.

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Lweji · 16/06/2015 12:28

What a twat.
What is perfection? I bet he couldn't recognise it if he saw it.

Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 12:35

He 'left me' in charge of sorting out the curtains for the new house, and he chose the material (which was great). I arranged to get it made to our spec (odd-sized windows).

He complained about them for months/years afterwards. Would just look at them and say they don't hang properly, they have the wrong colour backing on them, the eyelet holes are not right. Honestly nobody would notice a thing wrong with them.

He gave me one job to do and I got that wrong Hmm

Just focussing and obsessing on the wrong things, and ignoring his wonderful wife and children in the same room.

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Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 12:36

What is perfection? I bet he couldn't recognise it if he saw it.

That was the problem. Nothing was perfect in his eyes, ever. Always something else to complain about.

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Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 12:45

Another one: Last year he was invited out to dinner with some old uni friends he hadn't seen in 20 years.

We went to uni together, so I knew all of them too, but they were on a lads weekend, so I definitely did not want to go to that (not that I was invited to!)

He went, and I asked him how they all were, married, children, jobs etc. I asked if he told them we were married now (they knew us when we were a couple at uni).

He said no, he told them he was married, but didn't say who to. Mrs Nobody I guess!

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Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 12:48

He also (randomly) met at old uni friend through work, and went out for a drink with mate and mates wife (not me, natch).

He came home and said friend thought it would be great to see me again, and we could all go for dinner one time.

I wasn't keen and H smirked and said Why - you don't want them to see you? I had just had a baby and was 3 stone overweight (I lost it all later).

No pride in me at all. Just a bit shit really.

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 16/06/2015 13:03

I read your first post, back in May, and applauded you then, Namechanger - but lost track of this thread afterwards (if only there was some way I could Watch threads that I'm interested in Blush).

Anyhow - I found it again today, and have read your posts from the intervening weeks. You are such a strong person, and I am glad to hear that you are happier, and enjoying doing things for yourself - well done on winning the MN cookery thing!

pocketsaviour · 16/06/2015 14:41

He doesn't know any of DDs friends, and the odd times he has picked them up or dropped them off somewhere my friends have commented that H didn't look very happy, or is very quiet, or something. All quite minor comments, but he is not friendly basically.

I'll give you 50/50 odds there was nothing wrong with his car.

Glad you and the girls enjoyed your weekend. And although painful, seeing the very self-centered changes he has made to the house has, I hope, strengthened your resolve?

Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 16:04

Glad you and the girls enjoyed your weekend. And although painful, seeing the very self-centered changes he has made to the house has, I hope, strengthened your resolve?

Yes - it was a reminder of all of the subtle things he did in our house that I hated when I was living there. Not getting up to open the door or acknowledging that I might be tired.

Lots of sitting around and expecting things to come to him, and not participating in social activities, or doing so on his own terms only.

There were lots of reminders of nice things and good times, but his manner in just shooing me and our DDs out of his house, cramming as much of our stuff into my car as possible just gave me the impression this was his space and e didn't belong.

I did think that me going up there, and being in 'his' city and 'his' house he would try to talk to me or guilt-trip me or something into coming back. But he didn't do anything. His fight for us is gone.

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thatsnotmynamereally · 16/06/2015 16:36

name just wondering if you'd considered (tho I'm sure you have, perhaps earlier in the thread!) moving back into the house with DCs and sending him to one of the flats? How would you feel about that? Is it just impossible? If nothing else, his reaction to the proposal would put some urgency on the situation! I burn with anger at the thought of him being too comfy
Having said that, the stability for the kids at your new place might override tipping him out of his comfy nest...

BeyonceRiRiMadonna · 16/06/2015 16:52

He just sucks the joy out of everything doesn't he, no wonder you lost yourself!

He chose the curtains FFS, why bitch about them!!?!?! He's just so weird, who doesn't mention to old uni friends that ".....and Name and I got married and we now have beautiful children........we should all get together sometime, I'd love you to meet my children and I'm sure Name would love to see you all...." WOW! such a weirdo!

It's all about him and that is the way he likes it. WELL DONE YOU!

KOKO

Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 19:39

He's just so weird, who doesn't mention to old uni friends that ".....and Name and I got married and we now have beautiful children........we should all get together sometime, I'd love you to meet my children and I'm sure Name would love to see you all...." WOW! such a weirdo!

Beyonce - exactly! He was just weird! Those sorts of things just constantly had me thinking - wtf? Where do the children and I fit into his life? It was just odd and irrational, it made me feel like I was invisible, and I was crap, and I couldn't quite pinpoint why.

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Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 19:43

just wondering if you'd considered (tho I'm sure you have, perhaps earlier in the thread!) moving back into the house with DCs and sending him to one of the flats

I'm living 1.5h away now, and the DDs have moved school, so I wouldn't really be able to go back (their old school was v oversubscribed, they would not get back in again).

After he hit me he agreed to stay away for one week (via his sister, and he and I were not speaking then). He went away for 2 nights and on the 3rd day I got a text saying 'I'm coming back today.' I argued for him to stay away and that I wanted some space to get my head together, but he would not listen.

So I would not trust him to stay away permanently. He would go for a while and then claim that it's not worth paying rent elsewhere, he will just move into the spare room for a while, etc etc. I wouldn't trust him an inch.

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BeyonceRiRiMadonna · 16/06/2015 21:54

Where do the children and I fit into his life?

You were all just accessories! He had his own life with friends and then you and the children were just there to tick the Wife & Children box! He's such a selfish individual!

Namechanger2015 · 16/06/2015 22:10

You were all just accessories! He had his own life with friends and then you and the children were just there to tick the Wife & Children box!

Yes we were just accessories, I think you have hit the nail on the head completely. Sad

It's fine for me - I can get out and can move on, but I could cry for my beautiful children. They are just everything you could wish for, they are fantastic children. My family adore them and really treasure them.

They have a dad who calls them once a week. They don't have much of a chance at great self-esteem if their own father can't be arsed to call them? They adore him, I hope they grow up to feel just as adored and valued in return.

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BeyonceRiRiMadonna · 16/06/2015 22:34

With a mom like you they will not grow up with low self esteem. You have set an example by leaving when someone abuses you, this lesson is invaluable.

Luckily for you and them you have a great role model in their grandfather!

namechanger2015 · 19/06/2015 14:02

DDs asked H today if he is coming to see them on Sunday as it's Father's Day and they have made him cards at school.

He said: Hmm, I wasn't planning on coming. Maybe you can give me the cards another day instead. It doesn't have to be on Father's Day.

He has no reason that he can't come down, just said that he wasn't planning to. Except of course he does have a reason - he saw them just last weekend and now cba to come and see them again so soon - doesn't want the 1.5 hr drive.

He then text me later and asked if I have plans for Saturday, I said yes I do have plans. So he said ok, maybe he will have them next weekend instead.

I don't understand this, just because I have plans with them on Sat, surely he can come spend Fathers day with them on Sunday? Or not worth his while to drive down for one day with the DDs? Or should I not be making plans at the weekend in case he wants to come see them at any point?

I wouldn't mind not seeing them on father's day so much but it is also DDs birthday next week. So they could potentially have had a great day out together on Sunday to celebrate fathers day and dd's birthday. But he doesn't want to. I guess he will see them next weekend and have a belated father's day/ birthday celebration then. Once a week is already too much effort to come and see them.

DDs are asking today - Why can't we all live together again? It's all that we want. Poor daddy, we don't get to see him, and now he has to live without us....

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Anniegetyourgun · 19/06/2015 14:13

Poor daddy? Sweet child, she is living under a major apprehension there.

QuiteLikely5 · 19/06/2015 14:29

He isn't bothered about your darling kids. He was never truly interested in them. You have described some pretty appalling behaviour from him towards them and you over the years.

He's no emotional connection towards them at all.

Best to say to your children: sometimes people do things that hurt us, we can't change that or how they decide to behave but we can always decide to behave nicely towards others so we don't hurt them. I'll always be here for you no matter what.

namechanger2015 · 19/06/2015 14:38

He's no emotional connection towards them at all.

I find this so hard to believe, even though the evidence is all there. He believes he loves them and is a good dad, but I am continue banging my head against a brick wall in trying to get him to understand and modify is behaviour towards them. They deserve some effort.

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