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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

Partner has new relationship

356 replies

NuttyNathalie · 25/10/2015 12:46

My DD a couple of months ago accidentally stumbled across evidence her dad was in a relationship with another woman. DD immediately told me and all hell broke loose. We got the number from his phone and I called her. She dodged every question and then hung up. 2 minutes later DP calls me and tells me never to call his "friends" again. I told him we knew about his OW. He was out at the time but immediately drove home to confront me. He told me we had never had a relationship, I was just the mother of his children. He had found someone that accepted he had children and lived as a family unit. He won't ever leave us or move in with her but loves her and is in a relationship with her. I had a complete breakdown. Smashed my hand through a window, had anxiety attacks and lost the will to live. I was at rock bottom and had to go into hospital. Was put on Diazapam. I have 2 DC. 8 and 11. They witnessed the whole thing and I know I'm a terrible mother for letting them see and hear everything. I was just so lost. I went to stay with my parents for a week but the kids wouldn't leave their home and school even though they hate their dad. I realise it's their stability so I moved back. He still is in that relationship with the OW. She knows what happened and I think she was actually glad I had walked out. My partner is very controlling and he owns everything. I have no job and no money. I'm trapped. I recorded him on a tablet when I was doing the school run saying to her on the phone that he wanted the relationship to last between them and to work towards marriage! He told me and the kids he would never leave us. We are a family unit. We come first. It doesn't feel like that. He hardly spends any time at the house. Just sleeps here during the week and stays with her during the weekend. He is her boss. He owns a shop and she works there. She is nearly 20 years younger. 3 years younger than me. We don't have sex since I confronted him but he sometimes comes for cuddles when things are rocky in his new relationship. He tells me he can't have sex with me but wishes he could but the OW is insecure. We are going on a guilt holiday tomorrow booked by him but he will spend all his time texting and talking to her as she is very angry he is taking his "family" on holiday. I want to be angry but I just feel so sad, lonely and lost. My kids both have councilling at school and I'm not on any medication. That made me feel weird. I just want to pretend it's not happening but my mind won't rest. I'm trapped.

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 01/11/2015 11:22

Hmmm. I think you have been in an abusive relationship for so long that your self-esteem is completely non-existent. You can't even see that you could get a better life for you and your children. For some reason you're rejecting all the support and suggestions of people trying to help, including your parents. Why is that?

I think your number one priority should be to get some counselling. They must have offered it to you after your breakdown. Why did you turn it down? You must go back to your GP, or social services or whoever, and ask for counselling.

Do you love your children? Do you want the best for them? If so you must do this for them if nothing else.

NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 11:33

He is not acting like the cat that got the cream though. That's the point. He said he didn't feel good about cheating on her. He made me feel guilty. Like I was the OW. He made me promise to never tell her. I turned down councilling because I moved back to my parents and they live over 100 miles away. I was there a week and moved back to London. I couldn't live without my children. I will start that ball rolling again about councilling. I thought I could handle it alone.

OP posts:
NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 11:35

I will get out. I just don't know when.

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 01/11/2015 11:38

With respect, OP, you can't handle it alone. I'm glad you plan to get counselling. I think it will be a very important step for you.

You could also read the book(s) by Lundy Bancroft, they're often recommended on threads like this.

AyeAmarok · 01/11/2015 11:41

We had sex while we were on holiday and spent every night in each others arms. Yet in the day he was texting her.

Well, I never saw this coming Hmm

This is exactly what everyone told you would happen.

Nobody can help you until you take some responsibility for yourself. You are doing this to yourself, he's not doing this to you.

TooSassy · 01/11/2015 11:43

OP. Thank you for not taking my advice in a negative light.

For those of you piling on you here telling the OP to leave with her DC's. That could backfire in a spectacular fashion because of what happened at the start of this.

Yes her DD is old enough to be interviewed by cafcass officers. My DC are younger and I was told the eldest was old enough. If she moves the DC's out of their home, a good lawyer could very much show this is another move that shows (on top of the initial meltdown) that points to fact that OP is incapable of acting in DC's interests. Because right now on paper, she is the one on the back foot.

I'm not saying the law is right, but no judge would look at fact that partner has OW. The DC's come first.

OP, I am in no doubt that your partner is a nasty person who it appears is emotionally abusing you. Please get some RL advice and support and make a plan. Please also stop sleeping with him, cuddling him. Get thee to GP and get a counsellor.

NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 11:44

I will check those books out. Thankyou. I have 5 days break from him now while he is on holiday with her. I'm just going to relax with my kids in a stress free house. Peace.

OP posts:
ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 01/11/2015 11:44

He is behaving like the cat that got the cream. You just don't see it. That's the point.

He has an ow, he is taking her to Vienna, you give him sex and cuddles when she's not there for him, he has broken you down to nothing and is doing exactly what he wants and you lap up and accept everything he tells you. Despite the advice of others.

howtorebuild · 01/11/2015 11:47

Use the five days to copy documents and make a plan to go. Pack bags etc ready to leave.

NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 11:49

Toosassy you are completely correct. The legal advice I got told me the same thing. I have to stick this out in the family home until he leaves. If he ever does. I doubt he will. I'm petrified he'll kick me out and keep the kids.

OP posts:
summerwinterton · 01/11/2015 11:52

why would he leave his own house - it is never going to happen. Why can't you just leave, nobody is stopping you?

NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 11:58

How many times.. I can't just leave. Because of what I did I will lose. He'll keep the kids.

OP posts:
ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 01/11/2015 12:03

Would he actually want the children in reality?

Wouldn't it rather cramp his style and get in the way of mid week European city breaks with the ow?

A lot of men threaten it.

My ex has asked for it, rather than threaten it, but the reality is, he couldn't do it.

howtorebuild · 01/11/2015 12:06

You just sort a rented house and move, they can try living elsewhere. The children come with you and if it goes to court then they look most likely at shared residency or if they want they go back.

howtorebuild · 01/11/2015 12:08

Mine did the same and then made excuses in court why he couldn't have residency afterall, these abusive types do this a lot.

NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 12:14

Yes it would cramp his style definitely but he is very much about keeping up appearances. He likes to tell people he's doing the right thing by living with his children.. If his relationship lasts until the children are grown up and moved out then that will change things. He's done his duty. Could it be a MLC? Just a thought

OP posts:
howtorebuild · 01/11/2015 12:16

I am sure these people he is telling are nodding in his presence, and have thoughts they don't share with him.

NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 12:16

Do you think he will become abusive to her eventually or can men change?

OP posts:
howtorebuild · 01/11/2015 12:19

He is abusive to her, now. You are enabling it. You need to focus on being a decent parent. Get yourself sorted, get the dc out, let them live a normal life in a house that is not a shut heap. I take it your home is like the accused of the murder of Becky Watts?

ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 01/11/2015 12:19

My exh also wanted to keep up the nice guy image. He had a breakdown and cbt for months to help him deal with his shattered image when we split up.

Still talks the talk, and is pretty good, but he still couldn't do 50/50 residency, let alone 100%!

It was also interesting to hear what people really thought of him after we'd split. Very interesting...

NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 12:26

I will get myself sorted. I want to move on. Really I do. I just have really down days. He's not being abusive to her and I wonder if it's my fault.

OP posts:
summerwinterton · 01/11/2015 12:26

MLC?

Yes that is exactly what it is, and once it is over he will come scurrying back to you and you can settle down to a happy life with your hard won prize Hmm Carry on as you are and waste the rest of your life waiting because it will be so worth it won't it. Don't worry about sti testing, or your happiness or that of your DC, this is all just perfect and so worth waiting for isn't it?

NuttyNathalie · 01/11/2015 12:32

I didn't say I'd accept it if it was a MLC just trying to understand why he has done it.

OP posts:
summerwinterton · 01/11/2015 12:33

why does it matter?

stop focussing on him and start caring for yourself and your DC instead. I cannot comprehend why you would holiday with him then sit there at home worrying about him while is away with her? It makes no sense whatsoever.

BramblePie · 01/11/2015 12:38

He won't keep the kids because that would mean he'd have to stay in and look after them. He won't take the ow back to the house so he would never see her. You will keep the kids because it will make his life easier!

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