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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:
Jux · 23/06/2015 14:13

His relationship with his daughters is his responsibility, not yours. He can only be arsed to see them every 3 weeks, but if he takes it into his head to see them some other time, you jump. For all you know, he is seeing them because his girlfriend has asked, or simply because he just wants to make sure you're still doing as he wants.

He assumes you'll ask how high, when he tells you to jump.

Stop doing it. Stop taking responsibility for him, stop doing whatever he wants you to.

Jux · 23/06/2015 14:15

Ask your mum or friend or cousin to take the girls out from 3 until 5 as he's let you down.

Jux · 23/06/2015 14:16

Once you stop jumping to the clicking of his fingers, you and your family will feel a lot better.

Show your girls how to stand up to bullies.

Lweji · 23/06/2015 14:18

There should be an added boundary.

All requests with at least 48 h warning.

And you may accommodate him or not.

Lweji · 23/06/2015 14:19

Just reply OK to the last message.

I think he expected you to say no and now has had to find an excuse.

Namechanger2015 · 23/06/2015 14:29

I asked him what that meant - is he coming later on.

He said no, he isn't coming anymore.

OP posts:
Namechanger2015 · 23/06/2015 14:30

I think he expected you to say no and now has had to find an excuse.

My dad thinks exactly the same thing.

OP posts:
Namechanger2015 · 23/06/2015 14:30

So on the one hand I am being unfair on him and DD by not letting him come and see her on his birthday.

But now he has decided he is not coming anyway.

OP posts:
Namechanger2015 · 23/06/2015 14:31

He just text and said he starting one-on-one domestic violence counselling, finally. Too little to late?

OP posts:
Namechanger2015 · 23/06/2015 14:33

He assumes you'll ask how high, when he tells you to jump. Stop doing it. Stop taking responsibility for him, stop doing whatever he wants you to.

I didn't realise how wrapped up in him I still am. But I clearly am. I was rearranging everything, and now he has decided he won't come after all. If it was that important why not book an afternoon off work to come and see her?

Did he just want to see her on a whim, because work was quiet and he thought he could drive over? But now it's picked up again he can't or won't?

Argh. I am relieved he is not coming though. I can enjoy today with DD.

OP posts:
Vivacia · 23/06/2015 14:47

The only responsibility in these terms is to your daughters and to provide stability, and that includes a routine for facilitating them to see their dad. A routine, not chaos. An opportunity, not bend over backwards. It's his responsibility to take that chance.

Why are you still engaging in conversations with him? Keep every third weekend available for him to see them. Don't chase him. Record how he misses this chance or messes you around.

Namechanger2015 · 23/06/2015 14:58

I'm not engaging him in convo but he texts me about the DDs and I reply. I'm so glad they don't know that he was thinking of coming but has let them down now.

OP posts:
Vivacia · 23/06/2015 15:49

Texts can be very intrusive. Would it help to keep phone use only for emergencies, and all other communication via a special email address?

I worry that today's texts were highly significant for you, and then highly disappointing and emotional. For him they were just another mindfuck on you whilst he was sat in traffic.

Clutterbugsmum · 23/06/2015 16:11

So on the one hand I am being unfair on him and DD by not letting him come and see her on his birthday. Your not being unfair to your DD, you have given him 2 times which he can see her, both times HE has chosen not to.

Same about him not given you a straight answer about whether he will see your dc at the weekend, because of his car trouble. In his mind you were supposed to take them to him like you did last time.

I take it that he has heard from your SHL hence why he suddenly is saying he going on this 1 - 1 abuse course. Don't reply it's not anything to do with you now. He just trying to draw you back in.

Jux · 23/06/2015 18:27

Keep this in your mind everytime you get a text from him. Remind yourself that this happened. That he apparently wanted to see your dd on her birthday but then didn't really. That he could have seen her on Father's Day, but actually didn't want to.

Remind yourself that he's just mucking you about. By extension, he's mucking everyone about as you try to rearrange things to accommodate him, lots of other people are affected.

Can you get a new sim? Don't tell him the new number, but do tell everyone else. Keep the old number for him. Then only put the sim in the phone once a week, at most, unless he's seeing the girls.

Perhaps your mum or dad could keep the sim for you?

Also, set up a filter so that any emails from him go straight into a TWAT folder. You can look at them once a week too, or less! Preferably get someone else to filter these things for you.

wannabestressfree · 23/06/2015 18:51

You are engaging too much as a result of 'won't anyone think of the children' wailing.
It is WAY too soon to be civil about birthdays and sharing family days out. You have to completely disengage and make it clear when the children are free and not deviate. I fear if you don't you will be sucked back in. Coming to parties etc is very much a way down the line thing......
Please stop feeling so responsible for him and his relationship with the children. It's up to him to build, he is in a much stronger position than you as he has the family home.
Please move on. Get somewhere to live, you can get help. Focus on your future. You are doing yourself no favours......
And yes to at least 48 hours notice to contact and changes. You have to do this or remain at his beck and call......

MyRightFoot · 23/06/2015 20:36

i think you are spot on by saying his apparent indifference is causing you to panic and maybe your placing too much importance on his contact with you? getting over these men is a messy business and you seem to be losing a bit of focus? try to detatch from him and start getting busy on finding somewhere short term to live.

Namechanger2015 · 23/06/2015 21:50

Very difficult to detach and so easy to get sucked back into this again. I am stalling I know, but I do miss being married. Just not to him I guess. And I remember good things and can see how much he wants the DDs. But obviously not enough to actually do something about it.

Going on the domestic violence course now - I agree this is a reaction to the solicitors email, I still don't see genuine remorse. In fact him saying today that I am being unfair on him - again, putting the guilt on me again. No wonder I feel like I am to blame, he is squarely placing the blame on me again.

I'm going to start looking at rentals I think. The one thing I really didn't want to do, but it will give us some direction and some sanity I hope. Plus I need to start coping better and not relying on my parents so much.

OP posts:
Namechanger2015 · 23/06/2015 21:52

I still don't believe his actions are so cold and calculated, when clearly they are.

I need to get a grip. Again.

OP posts:
Lweji · 23/06/2015 22:01

Going on the course now means absolutely nothing.

He should have gone before.
He can go and stay the same.
He can easily lie about going.

PattyHewesnomore · 23/06/2015 22:03

Hi Namechanger - I have also name changed but we have messaged before Smile if he is doing the course then a) they will get in touch with you and offer support - take it b) they advised me to sit on the fence until he has completed the course - you will know if he starts to get it, stopping blame on you for anything will be a first indicator.
Hope you are ok x

RandomMess · 23/06/2015 22:04

He is just playing games, still pretending that you are family unit that is why it would have been fine for him to turn up to DDs party/dinner.

Go to CMS for maintenance now, it could still take a long time to sort out sale of the marital home and so on.

wannabestressfree · 23/06/2015 22:14

See what his attitude is like when maintenance and housing are thrown into the mix.....

Namechanger2015 · 24/06/2015 13:09

Going on the course now means absolutely nothing

Yes. There was a time when I thought that a course would hold all of the answers and would fix him, but he went to his interview appt and never went back. It's a big commitment both time-wise and emotionally, so he would have to be very serious about it to see it through.

But his conversations always invariably go back to how I was a bad communicator, and I was tired, he will try harder etc. He doesn't genuinely see himself at fault here so I don't see what a course can do.

if he is doing the course then a) they will get in touch with you and offer support - take it b) they advised me to sit on the fence until he has completed the course - you will know if he starts to get it, stopping blame on you for anything will be a first indicator.

Thanks Patty, I hope you are ok Smile. I haven't heard from the course yet, so let's see if they do contact me. It's difficult to gauge success when I am no longer living with him, but the silliness regarding DDs birthday and father's Day just indicate his self-centred behaviour is not going to disappear quickly.

He is just playing games, still pretending that you are family unit that is why it would have been fine for him to turn up to DDs party/dinner.

Yes - the card addressed from all of us really annoyed me.

Go to CMS for maintenance now, it could still take a long time to sort out sale of the marital home and so on.

I'm too scared to do this and go into full-scale battle with him. SHL is talking about issuing court proceedings shortly, so that will get things moving and I will go to CMS after that.

See what his attitude is like when maintenance and housing are thrown into the mix.....

Yes - this is my fear. He loves his house, money, and looking successful to others. He is not voluntarily contributing anything at the moment, and with his financially controlling behaviour and his general attitudes to money, I think things will start to get very messy.

I despair at him. Why is he messing up his happy life like this.

OP posts:
CruCru · 24/06/2015 16:07

I've only just found this thread but - please go to the CMS now. I think (could be wrong) that he will only be required to contribute from the date you get in touch with them. A delay just means your kids go without and he benefits.