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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

Me and my husband are separating and I have no one to talk to

994 replies

iwasagirlinavillage · 18/02/2017 12:57

I've left the house - arranged, I didn't just storm out - so we can get some space today and I will go back this evening to get both DDs to bed. DD2 is breastfed but there's expressed milk for her to have while I'm out. Then after they're asleep I'll go and stay somewhere else for the night. Tomorrow I'll go back and he'll leave, then I'll be the one at home all week as I'm on Mat leave and that's as far as we've got. Supposedly it's not permanent but I could be. I'm stuck. I wanted to stay and work on it but I understand his reasoning - we can't be in the same room without arguing and it's not good for anyone. But I'm scared.

OP posts:
iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 14:10

He's not welcome at his Mums and DD1 hasn't never napped well there anyway. I do see your point though. We'll have to come up with an alternative.

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iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 14:17

*has never or hasn't ever, not hasn't never.

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iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 14:44

This is completely off topic but my brain is so frazzled I can't make the most basic decisions at the moment.

I need to buy DD2 a cot. She's still in her Bednest but she's starting to pull herself up so she definitely needs to move in to something deeper. I want to get a cot rather than a cot bed because of space but also, she can move in to DD1s cot bed as a toddler bed when DD1 moves in to a single bed. Anyway, there's one with a drop side for £10 more than the one without, is it worth it? It seems like it would be convenient but is it one of those things you never end up using? And is there a risk of DD2 figuring out how to open it?

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iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 14:47

Wannabe, sorry I didn't reply to your post earlier. That's so lovely of you to make extra lunches for those children. It makes me really sad that some parents just don't bother, you shouldn't have to but it's so nice that you think of them.

You said you have a scan next Monday - is that a pregnancy scan?

I've just eaten some pancakes. Although they were American pancakes rather than crepes so I'm not overly impressed.

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nigelforgotthepassword · 28/02/2017 14:51

Um, what's stopping him from working out how much you need for bills etc himself?
He's annoyed you haven't talked to him about it all yet? You ok found out 5 days ago? And he hasn't asks to talk to you about it until today?
He's quite entitled isn't he?

Fwiw i think you do need to talk to him-but only if he's prepared to be honest. In that case you could decide if you want to try and work it out between you.Bit
Stuff about flirting with a colleague millions of years ago is him deflecting. Something else he needs to stop if there is going to be any sort of meaningful discussion.

iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 14:56

To be fair, he did say to me about the bills and stuff on Saturday. But I have no idea. I don't even know where to begin. I've asked if he can make temporary living arrangements (airb&b or similar) to give me more time. I know I probably should but I don't want to screw him over. And I would absolutely hate to be in his position, even though he's brought it all on himself he has lost everything. Nothing around him is familiar. But just because I feel bad it doesn't make me automatically in a position to do what he needs me to do.

Am I a fucking idiot for being compassionate towards him?

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iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 15:00

Again, this is probably idiocy on my part but I have sent him a text to say that I don't know what I think or what I'm doing and that the future is uncertain for me. My only reason for texting him that is that he's going to tell DD1 today that he's not living there and I don't want him to destroy her whole world only for us to work things out. I'm not saying we will but I'm just not in an emotional or mental position to think about any of it at the moment. I've asked that when he speaks to her he is honest but doesn't use any words that allude to timeframe - never, always, for now etc. She just needs to know what's happening now. The last thing I want is to put her on an emotional roller coaster.

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nigelforgotthepassword · 28/02/2017 15:05

No you are bound to have some compassion towards him-he's your husband and you aren't a horrible person.
But it's not as if he has said he wants to work things out with you, or what he actually wants either-he's putting an awful lot on you.
I know he asked you re the bills on Saturday.but he has had the exact same amount of time as you have (more in fact as he hasn't been looking after two small kids and he did in fact have time to go out on the piss apparently) to work out basic money stuff as you have.If he 'needs to know' then why doesn't he just look at your accounts himself? He must have a rough idea of your outgoings surely? I'm just not sure why it's all on you?
Fine to have compassion, not a good idea to still be doing all the leg work for him. You haven't got the time or the energy for it right now so don't do it.

nigelforgotthepassword · 28/02/2017 15:06

Why tell dd1 today-she is three-she can be, for want of a better word, fobbed off for a bit longer surely? At that age if I'd said dad was working late or early or whatever mine wouldn't have questioned it particularly.

iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 15:07

Yeah, I've been telling her "Daddy's at work" and she's just accepted it. She hasn't really asked about him too much. I think telling her is looming over us. I don't know, I feel like telling her is the right thing to do, like I'm betraying her by not telling her.

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Peaches77 · 28/02/2017 15:13

I completely understand why you sent that message. Does he want to work on things? I do think the two of you need to sit down and have a proper chat maybe hold off on telling DD anything until you have done that

iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 15:15

We tried that earlier and it just ended in an argument.

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iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 15:17

I really worry for DD1. She is very emotional and is very wary of the unknown (not surprising given what she's been through). She needs to be made to feel loved and secure and telling her her family is falling apart will do the complete opposite. I wish it was as easy as with DD2, with her it's just "here's a breast" and she feels safe and secure.

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Peaches77 · 28/02/2017 15:18

Could you leave the kids with your mum and meet somewhere neutral

iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 15:20

Possibly, I was just thinking that. I worry that everyone would judge me if I took him back though. My Mum did say to me the other day that she would support me whatever I decide but it would never be the same as it was with my family. Every time he'd be late home from work they'd be suspicious. As would I.

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Peaches77 · 28/02/2017 15:27

No one can make this decision for you except you. You need to find out what exactly went on what it was before u can decide if you can forgive. Everyone is different

My dad cheated on my mum it was an awful deceitful affair yet somehow she took him back. It was awful for a few years but now 30 years later they are a solid couple very happy. But my dad was very remorseful and did what he had to do to win her back. I don't think I could have forgave him but myself and my brothers and sisters are glad she did. An affair isn't always the end sometimes it can be worked through and the trust comes back

iwasagirlinavillage · 28/02/2017 15:44

I'm so tired. My brain feels fried.

I wish gas and air was available for home use. I'd quite enjoy that feeling of detachment right now.

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nigelforgotthepassword · 28/02/2017 17:55

People get over affairs op. But you'd BOTH need to work at it. So far all he seems to have done is blame you for everything that's wrong.
I think you need to talk to him and explain that that isn't the way its going to be for a starter, if and only if, you want to work on it yourself.

nigelforgotthepassword · 01/03/2017 06:18

Hope you got some sleep and are ok op.

MagicalMrsMistoffelees · 01/03/2017 06:38

He's blaming you for not giving him the chance to explain or work things out. Yet he's asking you how much you need a month so he knows what he has left for a place to live and saying you need to tell your daughter you're splitting up. Hardly the things people would do if they're desperate to save their marriage.

No wonder you don't know if you're coming or going!

iwasagirlinavillage · 01/03/2017 07:47

I got some sleep but DD2 was awake at 4am. She started to go back to sleep around 6 when DD1 woke up.

Yesterday was difficult. It's the first time I've looked at him, spoken to him and argued with him since I found out. It felt strangely familiar to be around him and I think that's what's messed with my head more than anything.

His version of events is that he hasn't been happy for a while and when he spoke to me about it we argued every day for 3 weeks which made him more unhappy and lead him to believe there was nothing there to fight for. From my perspective, I didn't realise how unhappy he was, I thought he had a little gripe about not going out enough and I thought he was being selfish by wanting to go out once a week as it would put an extra strain on me emotionally and us financially. By the time I realised quite how unhappy he was he was angry that I hadn't welcomed his suggestion with open arms. When I considered that he was struggling and started putting things in place to lighten his load, he had already met her (according to his time frame). He says that she is the result of his unhappiness, not the reason for it. He said he didn't know what he was doing and he doesn't know what he wants now. He doesn't know if we could repair things even if we both wanted to and neither of us know if we want to. He said he will make short term arrangements until we have a longer term plan.

He told DD1. He said to her that he is going to live somewhere else for a while but he still loves her and her sister and he'll still see them both lots. She didn't really seem to understand. She has only just turned 3 so I don't expect her to. She got upset when she asked him to put her to bed and he said he couldn't but aside from that she was okay and she didn't cry when he left.

He had taken his wedding ring off. Apparently he saw that I'd taken mine off on Saturday so he did the same.

I have no idea what I think or feel. I don't know what to do. I still haven't contacted MIL about seeing her on Friday, I want to cancel because I really don't feel up to it but I worry that could be the nail in the coffin. Not that I should be bending over backwards to please him, but while we're both unsure what we want I don't want to piss him off.

He wants to have the girls overnight but he is staying with a friend at the moment and there's no where he could have them. He said he could have them in our house if I could go and stay somewhere else. I don't know what to do about that. I don't know if it could be more confusing for DD1. But at the same time it would be nice for her to spend the night with her dad and, selfishly, it would be good for me to have a night off (although I'd still have to express through the night).

I feel my anger has reduced somewhat but that just means I have the potential to be more hurt by the events when I remember them.

I feel broken.

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iwasagirlinavillage · 01/03/2017 09:01

I've just text MIL. I told her it's too raw and I need some time and for the time being I think it's best that she sees the DCs when he has them.

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MusicIsMedicine · 01/03/2017 09:27

You don't go anywhere! Let Him leave! You need to keep that milk supply up by feeding!

nigelforgotthepassword · 01/03/2017 09:55

Sorry what, he told you he was unhappy, you didn't offer him a solution, he then met someone else and cheated with her and then left all together, all in the space of 3 weeks? And he wants you to leave the house sometimes so he can have the girls overnight, because he is staying with a friend?
Unbelievable. Literally unbelievable but also just the brass neck on him...

hellsbellsmelons · 01/03/2017 10:40

So he's still lying about it.
You will feel broken.
It's a totally shit time.
Well done on telling no MIL.
You aren't ready so it's tough.
If you want the break and are happy to stay elsewhere then go for it.
If it's not going to help you or the girls then don't agree to it.

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