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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

I need to get my head around this.

382 replies

Likesugarandcyanide · 07/11/2017 09:06

I had a thread a few months ago about his affair with a woman he met at sports club. I dont know how to link, sorry.

Sorry if this is long and disjointed but I found out last night that OW works in my ds 2’s school. He never told me who she was, when I asked he said “just someone I met at * club, its not important”.

Over the last few months we have worked out how to keep things amicable, sort of settled into a routine where he comes here Sat/Sun and looks after them during the day to give me a break. Dd and ds 2 both have significant disabilities and health issues so it is the only break I get as dd is unable to attend school and tutored at home.

Yesterday evening ds 1 had a careers talk at school that I took him to. He was here looking after dd and ds 2. When we got back dd was very quiet and anxious, he left immediately saying very little.

As soon as he left dd broke down and said OW had been here, she needed his keys apparently and he let her come in and got them for her. Dd recognised her immediately as did ds2 because she works in the special school he attends. He told her not to mention anything to me but I think he left so quickly because he knew she would.

This woman sees me regularly, she’s chatted to me at school events over the last few months and all the time I had no idea that she is the OW. We went to a fundraising event in September and she was chatting away to my children while the family support worker was with us asking me how I was feeling. School have been very supportive, ds 2 reacted very badly to us separating and his behaviour deteriorated significantly.

I feel totally betrayed, I don’t know how either of them felt it was ok for me not to know. She has been so sweet and friendly, asking about me and all the children when I see her and all the time I didn’t know. She even knows where we live and came when she knew I wasn’t there. I’m wondering if lots of people in school know and I’m the idiot that has been in the dark. I walk into that building three afternoons a week to pick up ds and had no idea.

I had been adamant that they were not to be introduced to the OW yet, he has been pushing for it and kept saying things like “I’m hoping we can all be friends, you’ll like her”. When all the time he was hiding this.

I don't want her in my house, I don't want her near my children yet. Its only been a few months since they screwed up our lives. I want to ring the school and tell them to keep her to hell away from my son. There are pictures on the school website of them together doing a sports activity a few weeks ago and all the time she knew and he knew that they were making a fucking fool of me.

I've tried to be fair, I didn’t stop him taking lots of stuff from here to set up his new place. I haven’t argued when he pays less money for his children as he says his flat is too expensive. I feel like he has been playing me the whole time. He didnt want me seeing a solicitor, said we could arrange things ourselves to keep things amicable and all the time he’s been hiding this. I am such a fool 😞

OP posts:
Likesugarandcyanide · 13/11/2017 23:06

Not really anything to update, we have had a quiet weekend apart from a few texts that i have ignored. I was half expecting him to turn up on Saturday as usual but thankfully he didn’t.

I have been asked to meet the head teacher on Wednesday ‘for a chat’. Im not quite sure what that means.

I am hoping to see the solicitor tomorrow although dd is not very well, I may have to rearrange if she hasn’t picked up a bit by then. I think we’re all feeling a bit under the weather, everyone is tired and grouchy and ds2 is doing his level best to loudly object to every single thing. 🙄 I apologised to my neighbour today because he was particularly noisy yesterday but she was lovely about it as usual and told me not to worry.

Locks are all changed and I have a new bolt at the top of both doors. It makes me feel a lot more secure. He also fixed my side gate which had dropped a bit so it was very hard to bolt. He definitely won’t get in without permission now.

Headinhands I would not keep my children from seeing their father if he would guarantee that their welfare would be put above his own. Dd and ds1 do not want to see him, they are old enough to decide. Ds2 is very vulnerable, he always saw him here because it suits ds2’s needs but he cannot come here when the other two don't want him here. I am happy for him to get legal advice and sort contact properly but I must put my children’s wishes before his.

As much as I would be happy never to see him again I will facilitate whatever the children want. Ds1 has had messages from him too but has chosen not to reply.

OP posts:
ittakes2 · 14/11/2017 10:22

Trying to do your best for your children in difficult circumstances doesn't make you a fool - it makes you a hero. Don't ever beat yourself up because you have loved too much or cared too much. We do need to trust people in life and if they have betrayed your trust - it is your ex and this OW who are the fools and not you. If I was you I would tell the head of the school of your discovery. I think it's wholly inappropriate and a huge breach of trust that she has knowingly been involved in your son's family life but you have been kept in the dark about it.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 14/11/2017 17:33

I was half expecting him to turn up on Saturday as usual but thankfully he didn’t. Did he let you know he wasn’t coming or is he punishing the children for his own and OW’s fuckups?

PastaOfMuppets · 14/11/2017 23:24

He didn't even see his own kids over the weekend?? This guy is not father of the year. Poor DCs to know he doesn't even care. D*ck

Likesugarandcyanide · 15/11/2017 07:00

No, he didn’t let me know he wasnt coming but then again I didn’t answer any of his previous texts.

I went to the solicitor yesterday, she has everything she needs and she has actually made me feel a bit stronger. She has a very confident way of speaking that almost builds you up.

I know I can do this, I am going to be fine. I’ve got to be. I am going to the school later, and although I feel (and look) like crap I am going to try and appear normal. I have had enough of all this, I just want us to stop hiding and being upset. I will let you know how I get on later.

OP posts:
NameWithChange · 15/11/2017 08:21

Good luck OP.

Don't worry about getting upset today, if you do it's entirely natural and the school will see clearly just how much hurt they have caused you.

NameWithChange · 15/11/2017 08:32

.... I mean your DH and the OW not the school have caused obviously!

MinorRSole · 15/11/2017 11:26

You are being very strong op, I hope that you are feeling better and calmer now and that the racing heart has eased off

Jamboree05 · 15/11/2017 15:12

Good luck OP. you're doing amazing!!

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 15/11/2017 20:45

How did it go at school OP?

ladymelbourne1926 · 15/11/2017 23:43

I hope today went as well as it could.

QuinoaKeen · 16/11/2017 02:43

You are amazing Flowers.
Gobsmacked at your strength.

stormnigel · 16/11/2017 06:49

Thinking of you op. You are bloody brave.

sunnyrainyday · 16/11/2017 08:14

OP, this is one of the saddest ones I've read on here. You were unbelievably reasonable about the split and you and your children don't deserve what's happened. I just wanted to give my virtual support and pray your happiness is just around the corner xx

Likesugarandcyanide · 16/11/2017 11:17

Sorry I didn’t update last night, I was all over the place and words just wouldn’t come.

Meeting with the school was basically to tell me OW has resigned, she will not be back on school premises to work her notice as she has been signed off with “stress”. HT said that whilst he would have preferred a full investigation into her conduct, she has taken this route and there is very little he can do about it. He said “she knew her position here was untenable given her actions”.

He said all staff have been spoken to and advised that the issue is to be dealt with “with the utmost sensitivity” and that we should be supported in any way possible. I have to say he was absolutely lovely, I ended up having to take dd with me as the care I had arranged fell through and he arranged for her to ‘help’ in reception so she didn’t have to be in on the meeting. She thoroughly enjoyed it and said she had a great laugh with the staff there.

I was just sorting ds2’s dinner yesterday evening when ex arrived “for a talk to clear the air”. He was calm this time, actually apologised for arriving unexpectedly. He is now saying he knows he has ‘fucked up big time’ and that he is ‘determined to make things right’. He’s made an appointment with his GP as he says he thinks he is having some kind of breakdown due to all the stress he is under.

I told him that my solicitor is writing to him and that I am not prepared to believe a word he says because of all the lies he has told me. I also told him that I cannot trust him not to parade OW in front of them and force contact so he needs to go through a solicitor.

I brought up all the lies about deposit for the flat etc and he was shocked that I knew OW owns the flat and he had moved straight in with her. He didn’t really say much, just kept repeating that he is sorry and he must be having a breakdown. I have told him that he owes his children hundreds of pounds and while he has been living it up with his new girlfriend they have been going without.

I also told him that I am not afraid of him any more, I don’t care what he does unless it affects the children and that my being jealous is laughable. I want a new life and it’s good not to be under his control. I also said that he needs to look both at his and OW’s behaviour because they cannot claim to want the best for the children if they constantly cause upset. I said I know we have to find a way to move forward but it will be arranged through solicitors and he will not dictate his ‘amicable terms’ that only suit him. I don’t care if he feels under stress, there is no excuse for how he has treated us and a sorry doesn’t mean anything.

I then told him to leave before ds2 got back as I didn’t want to force a meeting against his wishes. He didn’t even argue and left.

I don’t know where it all came from, I am crediting you mumsnetters with a lot of my attitude yesterday. For the first time in my life I felt strong and I wasn’t going to let him walk all over me. I think that is down to all the support you lot have given me, thank you.

When he left I started shaking, couldn't stop it so I texted my friend and she came round. I am just glad I didn’t fall apart in front of him. I don’t want him to see what he’s done to me.

I am hoping he now realises I am no longer a fool.

OP posts:
MrsBertBibby · 16/11/2017 11:22

Woah!

MrsBertBibby · 16/11/2017 11:23

He must have gone away with his head exploded. Well done OP!

thelittlethingz · 16/11/2017 11:26

@Likesugarandcyanide how awful for you, I can imagine you were shaking! I would have been to. Well done for being so strong!!!! It seems he is coming to his senses but a little too late when the damage had been done. The other woman is laughable, shows he guilt by her resignation.... I’m not going to lie though I would have loved to see her be sacked!!!!!!

Likesugarandcyanide · 16/11/2017 11:31

I don’t really believe he is sorry. He has lied too many times, maybe I am just cynical but I do wonder if it’s his latest ploy to make me fall back in to line. I think he is worried because I’m not playing his game.

OP posts:
Mrskeats · 16/11/2017 11:35

Well done op you should be v proud as you have behaved with dignity in all this.
Onward and upward.

Greedynan · 16/11/2017 11:41

Wow. Just wow. You are amazing. You have turned the tables. You are in control and you can now see clearly. And he knows this.

Breakdown... more like exposed for the despicable husband/father he is.

picklemepopcorn · 16/11/2017 11:45

Oh wow! That told him! Reality bites hard by the sound of it!

Well done. I bet that was cathartic for you. You handled it brilliantly!

AliceWhatsth3Matter · 16/11/2017 11:47

It's amazing how many of these cheating men have had "breakdowns" when things aren't going as they planned and they get caught out in their lies.

magoria · 16/11/2017 11:48

What stress does he have?

Moved straight into OWs house. Paid you nothing then less than he is supposed to. Rarely sees his DC and has dumped 99% of their care on you.

He is not stressed or having a breakdown. What a joke. He has just been caught out for the vile, selfish knob he is so needs to try and justify it.

Don't fall for his pity party.

Your life is a dozen times harder than his. He is pathetic.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 16/11/2017 11:50

Wow, well done! Breakdown my arse, any stress he’s under is entirely self-created. What an utter tool.