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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

looks like it's over

961 replies

mylittlestar · 18/04/2007 11:48

well after everything you will have seen so far, and my happiness at dh and i giving our marriage another go, sadly it doesn't look like that is possible anymore.

i've been feeling down the last couple of days and couldn't put my finger on it. thought it was probably a bit of paranoia. the pregnancy scare etc. but looking back dh had also become distant and withdrawn and i think i was picking up on that.

i checked his phone this morning. there was a message in his saved items to the ow. basically said of course i'll get up early to come and take you to work. i'll leave a bit early so we can have a little kiss before we set off...

confronted him. he swore he hadn't been back in touch. then has admitted that after his paranoia that i may have met someone on my work night out last week, he got back in touch with her.
don't really know much more than that and there's no point in asking as i'm not sure i could believe what he tells me anyway.

i had four main reasons for giving things another try. my love for him. the fact that anyone can make a mistake once. the fact that he swore he hated living a double life and would never want to live that way again. and finally, the fact that he said after seeing what he'd put me through, he'd never put me through that again.

just 4 weeks later he has.

to be honest i really don't want to turn this thread into a session to slag dh off. i don't understand his reasons and never will. but i do love him.

i think perhaps it's time to let my head rule my heart and make myself wake up to the fact that he doesn't love me in the same way i love him.

one day he'll realise what he's lost and what he's put me through. and i truly believe that nothing i say or do from this point on will have any impact. it's up to him now.

i've come into work to try and take my mind off it all and calm down. so i'm ok. i'm glad i have MN to get all of this out as this time i do not want one single person in RL to know. i don't want people getting at dh. i don't want people telling me 'i told you so'. i don't really want sympathy.
i'm sick of my life being one big drama after the next. i want to focus on me and ds and i want a happy quiet life filled with love and laughter. if the only way to get that is being alone with ds, then so be it. i'm truly blessed to have him.

so perhaps this thread should be about how i can now move forward without the love of my life and my soul mate....

OP posts:
Ifonlyhewould · 19/04/2007 19:21

Missed you today MLS. I hope you are ok. Well, as ok as you can be. XX

FioFio · 19/04/2007 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands · 19/04/2007 19:35

(((MLS))) Just wanted to hug you and sent support. You have the strength to do whatever you decide; I'm not saying it will be easy but I can tell that you can do it. And we are ALL here for you. xxxx

mylittlestar · 19/04/2007 19:38

Thanks everyone.

I wanted to post again today but just couldn't find the strength or the words (I managed to have a rant on the mid life crisis thread though! )

I have just picked ds up from dh and FIL, and made it clear to dh that I love him, would forgive everything and would love nothing more than to have a happy life as a family. We were plannig to move to the area he loves, both getting better jobs etc. We had it all going for us.
I said all I needed in return was to know he wanted me too, and wanted to try.

He couldn't even reply. Just nothing.

So I packed ds into the car and walked away.

To be honest I'm not feeling much. Just a mixture of anger and pure numbness. But this has to be the lowest point surely. Things have to get better from here.

May not be around much in the next few days. Just need to get through this bit alone I think.

But thank you all for your support and kind words. Hopefully I can return that support one day when I'm in a stronger and wiser place.

Thanks everyone xx

OP posts:
FioFio · 19/04/2007 19:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mistressmiggins · 19/04/2007 19:49

can I just say that its perfectly natural to feel all these things and if you feel like telling him you love him & would have him back, then do it

I felt the need to say it so that in my mind I can always look back & say that I tried.....

dont expect him to come back

look after yourself & DS & to begin with, just take each day at a time

you are NOT a bad mummy - you are being strong for you & DS....your H is the weak one

big hugs & support & come on here anytime to rant & cry

harrisey · 19/04/2007 19:56

MLS I have no advice or help.
But I wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

mylittlestar · 19/04/2007 19:56

Fio no apology necessary at all. I love the variety on MN and love that everyone is free to say whatever they think. The mid life crisis thread popped up just as I was having a particularly moment so it was perfect timing! The range of experiences and opinions is what keeps me coming back!

OP posts:
mylittlestar · 19/04/2007 19:57

harrisey, mistressmiggins thank you. that means a lot xx

OP posts:
Cashncarry · 19/04/2007 20:55

MLS - I'm glad you found the courage to post today and let us know you're ok even when you're going through such an awful time

I think it's very wise to take some time away from everything - work, MN, whatever. You need time to grieve for your loss and feel that pain truly. You love this man with all your soul and that love would mean nothing if you didn't feel immense sadness right now.

Your DS is lucky to have such a caring Mummy who's been so willing to put her own needs aside until now. I think he also needs your strength and belief in yourself that you can face anything that life throws at you. We all believe in you for the truly amazing person you are and will be here for you whenever you need to talk, vent, shout, grieve...

Much love to you and DS xxxxx

Ifonlyhewould · 19/04/2007 20:59

Cashncarry get back to your assignment right now missy!!

Cashncarry · 19/04/2007 21:27

IOHW -

You caught me - it's sooooooooooo boring! I'm thinking of starting thread asking for help!

LilyLoo · 20/04/2007 21:16

Thinking of you MLS hoping your managing a or two. x

Cashncarry · 20/04/2007 23:12

Just a quick update for those who are around - I've heard from MLS and she's doing ok. She's been busy with her DS today and is meeting a friend for a drink tonight so hopefully she's getting the support she needs.

MLS - we're all thinking of you and sending you good vibes. We miss you though - it's very quiet on MN without you

lilybubble · 21/04/2007 10:20

Oh God, have only just seen this thread as today is the first day have got online since Tuesday (withdrawal is terrible!).

MLS, I am so, so sorry to read this. I am going to email you now, and hope you'll pick that up. I really can't believe what has happened. Take care, and you know where I am if you want to get hold of me xxxx

mylittlestar · 21/04/2007 12:22

Just to let you all know I'm ok

Had to log on and see how lilybubble is - just couldn't keep away!

Things are up and down. I'm trying to keep busy. I'm trying to find the strength not to let dh come and go as he pleases - but I'm not managing to well to be honest! I just miss him so much. But I'm doing what feels right and taking it an hour at a time, literally. And I know I'll be ok.

Thank you all again. MLS xxx

OP posts:
Paddlechick666 · 21/04/2007 12:40

hi MLS

you're in my thoughts too.

i have to say, a night away has given me a real boost and i feel so much calmer today.

mind you i had a mother of a hangover yesterday LOL. too much champagne on an empty stomach!

haven't heard anything from dh since thursday morning when i told him i wasn't prepared to conduct our relationship on text and that he should have the common decency to telephone me.

rather feel i've backed myself into a corner with that one!

anyways, i understand how tough it is for you. sometimes i think it's a bit easier for me because dh stays away....

i get family envy tho and i miss him very much. i just wish he would speak to me!

take care, get in touch if you'd like.
xx

lilybubble · 21/04/2007 13:54

MLS, you are so sweet to be thinking of me at a time like this.

An hour at a time is a good plan. See if there are some nice treat-y things you can do for you and ds, I found that distraction is pretty good, in fact, the best way to try and get through it all. Have you got good friends there that you can see? I've found my friends an enormous support, though I understand that you might still not have told anyone else in RL about this yet.

Just re-read and see that (d)h is coming and going. It would probably better if you could try and stop that so that you have some time without him around. Can a friend come and stay? Wish I was closer and I would! Why is he coming and going anyway? Surely he could just stay put at his parents?

Am so very sorry that he has behaved like this. Can we knock BOTH their heads together?!

Take care xxxx

lilybubble · 21/04/2007 13:55

paddlechick, not sure what's going on with you, will try and have a look, but sorry to hear it's not so good. Men bloody love texting don't they, such a cop out. Grrrrr!

Hope you're okay. CAT me anytime if you want to...thinking of you xx

Paddlechick666 · 21/04/2007 14:08

hi lillybubble

haven't really got a thread of my own on this one but thanks for thinking of me.

short synopsis dh had a mental breakdown when i was 6.5 months pg. went out for an hour and didn't come back for 6 weeks. returned for the birth but went again when dd was 3.5 weeks old.

20 months on and he's still coming and going. he's on ADs and his 2nd psychiatrist. he did come home for 3 months last summer but left again just before dd turned 1.

things improve and then he goes off again. he lives with his parents and they let him behave just as he pleases.

there are other kids involved and his ex manipulates everything thru them. that doesn't help.

i called him to mediation and we had a session each. we had a great easter and he got a new job that is made for him. he was due here last friday for dinner but stopped texting mid-evening. i got sick and asked for help (again) but nothing.

we were due to have joint mediation on wednesday. this is to sort out the finances and regular access to dd. he didn't show up - claimed he was ill.

got a text from him thursday morning after his mother pressured him and haven't heard from him since i said i wasn't prepared to communicate on text anymore.

tbh, i've had enough now. i've supported him and been there and very rarely have i had a go at him. he's trading on his depression and i don't doubt that he's unwell but he just says he can't handle things.

the thing is, when he's here he's great. we have a lovely time, dd adores him and he tells me how much he loves me etc etc. but he also says he just wants to be on his own and he's fed up with people always expecting stuff from him.

he's known on MN as DHH (dickheadhusband)!

have followed a little of what's going on with you and am very impressed with how you are handling things.

congrats on getting your job back. are you in London or did i get that wrong?

lilybubble · 21/04/2007 14:33

paddlechick thanks for all that. I'm really sorry to hear about the situation with your dh. Sounds as though you have been wonderful and supportive, it's a shame that his parents couldn't have behaved similarly as that may well have helped. I can well understand that you might have had enough by now, it must be just so hard not knowing when you'll next hear from him or when he'll be back.

Will you tell him you've had enough? Will he be able to cope with that? Will a split mean a move or anything like that?

Thinking of you - you sound like you're dealing with it well though and that you're strong.

My job is in London, yes, but currently we are 70 miles away in Hampshire. We only moved here at the end of Jan

Ifonlyhewould · 21/04/2007 15:06

Gosh Paddlechick, ive just read your post to lilybubble. I didn't have a clue you were going through all that.
Whoever it was that first ever said women are the weker sex (probably a man!) needs to come one here and read all the problems the so called weaker women are coping amazingly well with!!
I'm so glad you had a good time at the hotel, i did think of you, not in an envious way you understand
Have a lovely weekend!

Hi MLS it's good to hear from you. You seem to be coping in good old fashioned MLS way
Look forward to seeing you back on MN. Thinking of you XX

LilyLoo · 22/04/2007 08:53

Glad to see you still popping in MLS one day at a time is the only way, it really is. But have to agree with Lily i don't think the coming and going is at all fair on you and ds.

mylittlestar · 22/04/2007 12:19

Ok this will prob be a bit long so anyone not following this nightmare will probably be bored... but for those who've been helping so much here's the full update...

Hi everyone

Yes I know what you mean about the coming and going. Me being me though, I had to find out the hard way... as usual!!

Friday I had some lovely things planned with ds. At the last minute dh said could he come along too. So I thought that we'd actually have a better time all together as a family (which we did) and he ended up coming swimming and for some tea with us. It was lovely.

Then I had a couple of options to go out Friday eve. Decided to go to meet my friend. My mum was having ds. Dh had gone to the pub with his mates.
Again at the last minute dh suggested we could perhaps go for a drink together - so I cancelled on my mate at the very last minute and waited for dh to come and get me. (he was an hour later than agreed so didn't turn up til 10.15pm! so I was sat fully dressed and ready for an hour but that's another story!)

We had a great night. I got a bit teary towards the end - too much alcohol and not wanting to go home and back to reality! But despite that we had a great time. Laughed, danced, talked. It was great.

So...

Saturday morning we woke up and he started getting all stressed again. Said his head is in a mess again...

Ok, the truth of the matter was that he was stressed because last night we had a family bday celebration to go to at the pub. Then the plan was at last orders, dh and I would go into town (we were both really looking forward to the town bit.)

In the background, dh's dad/mates had arranged to go to the pub to watch the footy, then for a few games of pool, then for some food and a few more beers...

Which option do you think dh wanted to do? Family bday celebration with me. Or lads footy and pool day...

Anyway, saturday afternoon he was all stressed again and saying he needed 'space' again even though he said himself that Friday had been really good and he's only truly happy when he's with us. I talked and talked and got him to relax again. Talked about getting him on the AD's, how we can work through this together, how all I wanted was for him to give us more than a couple of weeks to get through this before he runs off again!!

Anyway he agreed that he wanted to give us the chance to try. He'd go on the AD's and get counselling. We'd get a place and start spending some quality time together

So even though I wanted us to spend the afternoon together. Especially as we'd just decided to give our marriage another try I said he could go to the pub and relax, have a few beers, see the lads etc... so I dropped him at the pub to watch the game. And I said I'd sort ds for the afternoon, get him to bed etc, and I would arrange a taxi to leave home to go to the birthday celebration at 7pm.

I felt that was a good compromise. He got all afternoon and early eve at the footy and pub. I'd sort ds. We'd go the the bday. Then have the night in town together that we wanted.

6.15 he still wasn't home. I texted to say 'you do remember we're leaving at 7 don't you'? He wrote back saying they'd just got some food, and he didn't really want to go to the birthday celebration anyway, so could I just go alone, lie/make up an excuse for him. He'd stay with the lads then come and meet me to go into town later!!!

Am I being unreasonable or was that completely out of order? He knows I don't particularly like going to family celebrations alone as everyone is in couples and I hate lying for him. I bent over backwards to compromise. If i'd have had my wish we'd have stayed together as a family all day. There's a time and place for lads days out and it's not when your marriage is falling apart!! But even so, he still pushed it, asking for more and more compromises off me, getting everything he wanted by staying with the lads, then wanting to come along for the good bit in town at the end

I just said if he let me down this evening, it would be the last time he ever let me down. He just replied and said "Sorry xx"

So - that is IT!! All he needed to do was think about me for 5 seconds, and come along to the pub with me. Bearing in mind that the uncle who's birthday it was, is the same bloke that my dh has been going away to Spain with, 2/3 times a year on 'lads holidays'! Hardly some random family member he doesn't even know!

His selfishness is beyond belief. Literally. I just cannot find the words.

I went out alone. I finally stopped defending him to all my family and lying for him (a massive step for me) and I just spoke the truth and said he's taken the piss out of me for the last time. And sadly, there is nothing more I can do.

My family were amazing. they said they love him to bits but I've let him get away with taking the piss out of me for too long now and it's about time I put myself first. And they are right.

I had a lovely evening and ended up going into town with my cousin and having a ball!

I feel incredible sadness that he is all I want in the world and I can't have him. Well I could have him. But it would be on his terms i.e. he would be a husband and father when it suited, and a single bloke out with the lads the rest of the time. I can't live like that.
I know one day he'll realise he feels the same as me. But it will be too late

But no more looking back now. Only forwards...

OP posts:
SimplySparkling · 22/04/2007 12:30

mylittlestar I've read one or two of your threads and haven't posted (I think, my memory is terrible) but I couldn't read that and not post. You've done the right thing but it will be hard for you more than anyone I think as you'll be grieving over the relationship which you've tried so hard to make work but it can't work when he continually behaves as he does. Like you say, you've compromised (hugely!) and still he pushes it to extremes as if he wants it to fail. Does he believe himself undeserving of you so he is deliberately sabotaging it? You have tried your very very best. I'm glad your family know the truth. They can support you now. You're right in saying that you need to look forwards now. Take all the support you can and good luck. {{{hugs}}}

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