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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

He isn't in love with me anymore.. Give me some strength/self respect

35 replies

AliceC92 · 12/12/2016 13:08

I'm 24, partner is the same age. We have been together for over 8 years. We have two sons together (aged 4 & 1). We bought a house together 3 years ago.

3 years ago he went on his Xmas do, came home at 5am and I had a gut feeling something wasn't right. He was cold with me. A week later he finished with me claiming he didn't love me anymore. I asked if there was someone else and he claimed no. 2 weeks later he came over to ours to look after our son and fell asleep. I looked through his phone and turns out he had met another woman on the Xmas night out and had been seeing her. I was devasted. Heartbroken. After Christmas he told me he wanted to come back and give it another go for the new year. I loved him and didn't want to be on my own with a 1 year old (1 at the time). So we worked through it.

Fast forward 3 years on, we got engaged 7 months ago. We had been looking at wedding venues etc and I don't know why I felt like there was something missing between us. So I stupidly started texting another man telling him I was single and unhappy (I know I expect to get abuse for this). My partner knew something was up and read all of the texts on my phone. This was in August. I said sorry but felt like my partner was off with me all the time and I couldn't put my finger on what it was but I wanted to make it work. He stayed around but we kept arguing over it - yet I still had a funny feeling my partners heart wasn't really "with me" as such.

One month later he was being cold and distant. I checked his phone bill and he had text a random number a few times that I didn't recognise. I put the number on Facebook and it was a woman he works with. So before confronting him that I knew he had text someone else I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt n see what had been said. I looked at his phone and the number and texts were deleted. So alarm bells were ringing. Eventually I said to him "are u speaking to someone else" and he goes "no why are u accusing me I'm fucking sick of this" etcetc and stormed off to work and told me it was finished between us. I told him I knew he had text the woman from his work and he claimed it was all innocent and couldn't be with me anymore because of what I had done.

He got his stuff in September and went back to his moms. I was devasted. He continued to text her. I begged for him back so many times. He said he needed space and have me a date in two weeks time to sit down and talk. All this time he was talking to her. I was a wreck. I then told him I knew and that was the end. A few days later I couldn't cope and begged for him back. He said he didn't want too and that it wasn't because of someone else.'Fast forward to end of November, I told him I knew they were still in contact and that i couldn't beg anymore and that it was the end for me. He then said he was sorry etc and wanted to give us another go. He come back home and swore he hadn't been speaking to her etc. One min he would be fine with me, the next he was cold. I asked him what was wrong and he said he wanted to make it work. Eventually things were getting ok between us (or so I thought). Last Saturday I had my works do in the evening, and he was going to work on the Saturday day and going straight to a football match after. When he left on Saturday morning he was cold and not wearing the coat he usually wears for football (it's cold there) and my instincts knew something was wrong!! So I asked him where he was after work, he said he was at his mates house in XXXXX as it was easier to go there as closer to the football stadium. I did the "find my iPhone" thing on his phone. He was no where near the area he said he was, however he did then go to the football but then went bk to that address.

I asked him again where he was and he said "what's with all the questions I'm at the pub with XXX and coming home soon". He wasn't at the pub at all - he was back at the address from before. I had my Xmas do and couldn't go and confront him. He left the address at 7. I then got home that night at 4am. He was overly nice and cuddly. I said to him is this guilt, I know u was with that woman from work today and your telling me u want to give it another go?!?!! He then broke down crying and came clean - told me he was with her and they had spoken at work again, he took her to the football, and that he's fallen for her and that he's SORRY and didn't want me to find out this way. I cried and said why was u living back with me and the kids? N he said because he wanted to get Christmas out the way and he can't help his feelings and he has tried.

I've been a wreck. All yesterday I cried, he just says he is sorry but he's fallen for her. I've said what about me and our boys etc. I am so so destraught. I hate staying on my own I am obbsessed with him. I asked him to stay at our home last night so I wasn't on my own. I just cried. He told me if he stays around its for the wrong reasons. All I wanted was a family for my boys - how can he be so cruel to me. Especially after I told everyone we wer giving it another go.

I haven't been to work today I'm so so ill over it all. I have no backbone and just feel like I'd do anything to have him back even though he's shit all over me and the kids. I said its history repeating itself and he just says he is sorry. My life is a mess.

OP posts:
Notmyweek2 · 12/12/2016 13:54

Hey OP,

Thought I'd message to offer some support as it's clear you are going through a very very tough time right now.

It seems like no matter how many times he comes back, he'll just leave again.....it's put you on edge and doesn't sound like the last year you've been happy...it's easier to stick with what you know rather than move on.

If you'd like to rant or anything, feel free to PM me, I'm all ears/eyes!

AliceC92 · 12/12/2016 14:51

I wish I had the energy to move on but it hurts so much and despite everything he's put me through I still love him and want him here for our sons :( he is my 4 year olds world and he gets so confused when daddy leaves. I hate my life with him and I hate my life without him. I just can't seem to get over him / move on

OP posts:
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 12/12/2016 15:02

I'm sorry you're going through this OP.

My only advice to you would be to take life one day at a time for now. Try not to rush anything (especially important decisions) and please, if you can, do not beg him to come back.

It seems as though he is (eventually) being honest with you, and wants to be with his OW. You may be able to guilt him into staying, but honestly OP, you really don't need someone who is only with you out of guilt or a sense of duty. You deserve so much more.

I know it's hard, I really do. My DD was also 4 when DH & I split in January. I thought I would never cope, and that DD would never cope. We did. By taking one day at a time - and basically just concentrate on surviving for now - you will get to a point where you are fine and happy without him.

Flowers for you OP.

AliceC92 · 12/12/2016 15:24

how can he line someone after working with her 4 months it's mad. He's only ever been in a relationship with me though. I just can't seem to accept it and I feel pathetic.

OP posts:
AliceC92 · 12/12/2016 15:24

Love not line**

OP posts:
TheManicMummy · 12/12/2016 15:29

This was me this year... he'd been talking to another woman, luckily for us it was only texting and we was able to move past it eventually.

But he left for a long while and here is what I have learnt from those months being alone with a one year old and a 3 month old baby.

Make sure the children are in a good routine and go to bed at a certain time every night - this ensures you have a bit of time to yourself in the evening - it's a godsend.

Get out of the house every single day, it's easy to get depressed by closing yourself off.

You don't need to have him in your house for any reason, my ex always insisted on putting the kids to bed, it was far too painful for me. So I told him no, he can't come into my house anymore. So He used to come to the door and pick the children up and drop them off at the door. It stops the kids screaming for daddy in the evening as they (after a while) won't remember dad being there. This is also a godsend, my son used to scream and scream for his dad and I used to sit and cry every night.

Re arrange your house furniture to get rid of his memories, get a Netflix subscription, a shit load of chocolate and crappy food.

You will get through this ! Enjoy your two children and spend more time with them, do colouring, take them out, play with them. They need you at your best. Take care xxx

AliceC92 · 12/12/2016 15:44

Thank you what lovely advice. When he first left I lost over a stone (from 9stone 2 to 8 stone). Now I haven't ate since Saturday evening. It's killing me. He has got the boys at his moms right now and doesn't know I haven't been to work. He text me going he will get a new job in Janurary, not speak to her again but will carry on feeling miserable but it doesn't matter how he feels. How can he say that? It does matter how he feels he just chose to walk away. He says he's not walking away from the boys but just me and has tried to stop these feelings for OW. They aren't even together.

OP posts:
AliceC92 · 12/12/2016 17:16

I can't take these emotions anymore. It hurts so much. Just got the kids from his moms and he was so cold. We really really loved each other once upon a time and I can't stop thinking about how happy I was when we first got together. Im absolutely heartbroken I can't function so I'm having a good cry while writing this

OP posts:
HappyHappyHappy1 · 12/12/2016 17:37

Means absolutely nothing now but honestly time with heal your broken heart....I am currently on week 4 since he left...it's difficult & each day is a new miserable day but I'm trying to fill my time with other things. Make sure you take care of yourself!

TheManicMummy · 12/12/2016 18:04

I would say let the emotions in but only until Wednesday - set yourself a limit to how much time you will spend thinking about him. After Wednesday you need to pick yourself up, go and have a shower and get this man out of your mind.

It's hard, you've spent so long pinning your hopes and dreams of a perfect future with this man... but there are other men, family units aren't "mum, dad & kids" anymore - they're step mums and step dads and that is just as good as any fairytale dream of a perfect family. I spent far too much time dwelling on this.

People do stray - you haven't done anything wrong and it's not because he doesn't love your children. He's right, he can change his job and be miserable and in turn it'll make you miserable. Why do you want to spend the rest of your life trying to please an unpleasable man? You will be constantly worrying "is he happy with me?" You'll be trying to not piss the guy off in fear he will stray.

Also, you need to eat. As much as you feel sick, your crying and you don't want to. Please eat. It will make you feel better. I spent days and days crying and not eating to the point where I had no energy at all. It only makes you feel worse xx

I went on dating sites, spoke to other men, just to take my mind off of it. Just to give me a confidence boost and make me feel like someone out there wanted me... it numbs the pain but don't take it any further, your hurting and rash decisions of jumping into another relationship doesn't need to be made. It won't help you or the kids. Just use it for what it is, a confidence boost and a distraction xxxx

TheManicMummy · 12/12/2016 19:01

Sorry if it's a bit long but that's what honestly worked for me xxx

AliceC92 · 12/12/2016 19:16

Not long at all - you're totally right. When he left last time I went on dating sites - went on one date and it didn't feel right. How could I ever take him back after what he's done?? He told me we was working it out yet met up with her behind my back. Are all these men the same? I had lots of married men/men with gf's trying it on with me Saturday at the Xmas do. It gives me no hope. The thing is I know I'm pretty etc and this is why I don't get why he doesn't love me anymore. (Sorry I know that's big headed).

OP posts:
Ledkr · 12/12/2016 19:31

The thing is that you have had years of uncertainty and self doubt and must have been driving yourself crazy.
Although now it's going to feel terrible as it's definitely over, in the long run you will feel so relieved at not living with this all the time.
Let him go, keep your dignity and concentrate on yours and the boys future.
You are free! No more worry. The world is your oyster.
Be kind to yourself for a bit and look forward.

LesisMiserable · 12/12/2016 20:09

Being pretty doesn't mean you are any more or less loveable OP. It's awful when love breaks down but it does and you must not spend any more time trying to work out why it happened, as someone else said the fact is even if you got back together again tomorrow you would spend your whole life questioning if you were good enough or pretty enough to keep him from straying again.

You can't live like that, nobody can. So you need to do all your wallowing now and get it out of your system and then you have to make a decision that you will stop thinking about it by a certain time and then you (only you can do it) have to enforce that decision you made because life goes on, as awful and traumatic as breaks up are, it goes on but it can only start once you decide to stop holding it back.

Life isn't happening to you, you control your emotions and you can do this, you can see this clearly in all it's ground breaking, corner turning magnitude. You've been unhappy and nervous and unsure up to now, now yes, you're unhappy but at least you have some certainty and some knowledge that you are now absolutely free to move on to better things (eventually). Think how good it can be in the future without that feeling of insecurity and doubt. Yes you'll miss him but there are billions of other men out there who could make you happy, not just the one. You've got this.

AndTheBandPlayedOn · 13/12/2016 01:29

So sorry you are going through this. I agree with the previous posters. Let him go. Given how horrible he is being by stepping out of the relationship and flip flopping, I am glad you can see it would be impossible to take him back again. There could never be trust.

Imho, your obsession with him may really be a sort of separation anxiety since you have been involved with him for so long. Being with him is a long established habit. Breaking habits is hard. You need something to fill the void- to make the process easier. This would not be another man/relationship right away- but something like a hobby to think about. Being proactively attentive to your dc may work here...enjoy them.

You are an intelligent and capable adult. Use your thinking brain to figure things out. If you can't, there is always a You Tube video to assist. Take things one day at a time, or even a half day at a time...or hour by hour if necessary. Time will keep on going and you'll get through it. The Wednesday deadline is a good idea. You may also find it useful to make a 20 min appointment with yourself to vent/rage etc every morning/whenever, or every other morning, then stop until your next appointment. This will allow your emotions to not be outlawed or dismissed, but gives a boundary so you won't continue to be consumed by it.
Stop seeing him. As said above, don't let him in your home. You can not heal while you are still being exposed to the insult. While exposed to him, the best you can hope for is to survive. But you need to thrive to be the best mum for your dc. Consider that you are allergic to him for the foreseeable future.

AliceC92 · 13/12/2016 04:48

I know you're all so right. It is just being scared of bring on my own. I haven't slept well at all. Part of me deep down is hoping he will come bk but I know this isn't possible. I'm going to work today but this is going to be so hard. It's like I'm having a constant panic attack. I'm finding it hard to breathe

OP posts:
Champagneformyrealfriends · 13/12/2016 04:58

Just wanted to leave some support op. You will bounce back from this. Flowers

AliceC92 · 13/12/2016 05:04

He came over last night as he knows I have terrible seperation anxiety. I got fed up of him being here & told him to go bk his moms without putting up a fight. He left. Afterwards he text me going "Asif u wud let me leave like that i no u r up to sumthing bt im pased caring". He then called me twice. I called him bk. He asked me why was I so calm and what was I planning. I said if I let him at mine I would of kept going over it all and killed him so he had to go. That was end of convo really. He said talk Tmro n I said we'll see about that and put the phone down

OP posts:
PetalMettle · 13/12/2016 05:12

As difficult as it is you need to try and avoid him other than as a childcare provider - the pp'S suggestion of exchanging the kids at the door is a good one.
Then as others have said, one day at a time. Are there things you can plan for you just to get through the days? Do you have any childcare/will your ex be having them? 'Maybe you could do a class or go swimming?
I think you need to build up your self Esteem and learn to enjoy your own company.
You will get through this - sorry it's so tough at the minute

AliceC92 · 13/12/2016 05:26

This is the thing I hate my own company. He's constantly in my head this is torture but I've got to do something

OP posts:
Ledkr · 13/12/2016 14:56

Maybe it's time to stay to enjoy your own company though, in that is strength and you will then be less likely to be treated badly again be it with him or someone else.
I used to be scared to be alone but now I adore it.

Tenshidarkangel · 13/12/2016 15:23

Going on dates straight after a break up wont feel right. Your still hurting and in love with someone else.
Take some time on your own. Look into the 30 day no contact rule (excluding communication to do with the children and only the children). Focus on you and see how you feel. I think he needs some time to think about what he's done and you need time to get your head round it and realize you can do anything you put your mind too.
Most of all, let yourself grieve but don't let it consume you.

AndTheBandPlayedOn · 13/12/2016 15:25

"Asif u wud let me leave like that i no u r up to sumthing bt im pased caring"
He really has taken you for granted ("as if" part)
A rather weak attempt to project his guilty shame back on to you ("I know you are up to something" part)
He kicks you while you are down ("I am passed caring" part) Stating the obvious there (but then why is he communicating with you in the first place), which is why you are up to something-and that is kicking his sorry behind to the curb. And "letting him" leave like that? Wtf? His leaving was all entirely his choice, his action, his blame and shame but he wants to put the responsibility for that on to you. No. This was not your doing in any way shape or form.

He is setting things up to have an open relationship (operationally to stray on occasion as he feels) if only you will know your place and stand by your man (vomit) in the name of love, or kids, or mortgage, or (fill in the blank- anything) to justify it. No. This is not a relationship, he is using you.

Keep communication simple: 10 words or less for the neanderthal brain (his!). We are done. Use someone else. (Repeat every single time he brings up the subject of the relationship.)

AliceC92 · 13/12/2016 15:40

Can't believe he told me he's "fallen for her" - he's known her all of 3 months and hasn't slept with her (or as far as I'm concerned) as there has been no time. Anyhow I've gone to work today and everyone knows I'm upset and I've told a few people. People have said it looks like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. I'm stupid - I just love him and he's walked all over me.

OP posts:
AliceC92 · 13/12/2016 15:42

He's getting the kids today and has txt me to say he's doing their dinner then going squash at 6. I need to have some balls and put some proper arrangements in place. I wish I could turn these feelings off.

OP posts: