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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

Struggling to forgive

42 replies

Curtains77 · 18/07/2018 23:58

Hi everyone - will try to be concise and factual and would really value people's opinions - I know MNterrs have always helped me with perspective in the past.
DH married 9 years , 3 children. we have had problems in the past with emotional and financial abuse crossing over onto the physical on a couple of occasions - think shoving , pinning , pushing grabbing in anger. At the worst point, DH was arrestedfor assault , we separated. Had counselling individually, reconciled, was going okay.
Fast forward 18months and we had a sum of money when he was made redundant , some cleared our collective debt and the rest has been spent on various things. DH always had control of the money. He started contracting , money was brilliant, we moved to a better house bought new car. DH lost contract and has been unable to find work since. I went back to work freelance to keep us afloat - but only just considering our hiked outgoings. I have to work away in the week , home at weekends . I was already cross that he spends money like water and did not consider consequences which were far reaching. I miss my kids , he mostlyhates being at home all the time and will admit he is just not very good at it. I think he is depressed , but hard to tell as he has always had an issue with the drink and uses it as a prop. I found out that he took out a couple of payday loans a few weeks ago and did not discuss or tell me. I only found out as I accidentally found an email on the family iPad. he also borrowed money from his mum . so we have no savings or safety net and he has incurred more debt. Let alone not told me about it.
he is really sorry and is promising to move on , give me all the financial stuff to deal with. He thinks we should move back to our old house with lower bills etc and more sustainable but I just feel so cheated and I feel so bitter that we had an opportunity to fresh start and now we are thinking about going backwards , literally and figuratively and I just don't know if I can rely on him , trust him and his decision making and I cannot for love nor money decide what to do.
He says I am looking back at the past and I need to forgive so we can move on but I feel like I have hit a brick wall. I have been home this week and all we have done is argue. I feel like a crazy woman . i am not craving money it's security and I don't think I have it in me to regroup our marriage again . I resent him as all of his actions have had big repercussions.i am no Angel (every time we talk we argue and I shout and he shouts back) but I am really really struggling. Am I a bitter materialistic cow ? hope have made sense and post is not too longConfused

OP posts:
Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 00:00

I realise that is quite a jumbled post - hope someone is out there that can sift through it Confused

OP posts:
springydaff · 19/07/2018 00:12

You've had nothing but trouble from him. First one thing, then another. Then promises, then something else.

What about the kids at home with him during the week? If he's fond of the sauce. What's it like for the kids.

It's easy for me to say but he seems (far) too much trouble. No wonder you've had enough. I also think when there's an addiction in the mix you're on an entirely losing wicket ; they bring you down with them

FuckItPassMeTheWine · 19/07/2018 00:16

Agree with ⬆️

Forgiveness is overrated .

Sorry you’re going through this op Flowers

Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 00:17

thanks springydaff xx I think u have it - I thought we had matures , rebuilt and moved on but this last thing with the loans has just brought back lots of horrible feelings and now he thinks I am overreacting and dredging up stuff we thought had been forgiven. I an pretty sure he is fine with the kids. the alcohol is a problem - he has a bar bill that runs into hundreds so he has helped to decorate the pub in order to pay some of it back in kind Hmm

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Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 00:20

thanks fuckit xxx I was initially surprised at the strength of my feelings and struggled to work out why.. I know marriage is hard work , but ours has NEVER been easy. it's not life or death I know. And I know people have things much harder - it's just I feel so so let down . and tired . It's not where I thought I would be with my children at this point in our lives .

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Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 00:23

I feel like a bitch - but I always try and be supportive but was never enough. and i think I feel myself disconnecting. thank you for your replies - it's good to know u are there xx esp in the middle of the night !!

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callywags · 19/07/2018 02:32

Oh OP

This does not sound remotely fun at all, I know marriage can be hard work at times but for it to never be easy, light is just really sad. Are you happy? Is there ever any fun, happy, light moments?
Are the DC happy?
It's so much stuff to forgive, and TBH he has hidden the pay day loans from you, and quite rightly I would be pissed too.
It really comes down to the fact, if you can see yourself living this life with him for the rest of yours?
Hope you find some clarity x

category12 · 19/07/2018 05:36

Marriage isn't supposed to be 'hard work'. Sometimes you need to work at relationships, but it's not supposed to be this hard.

DownTownAbbey · 19/07/2018 06:20

He's had his second chance and he's blown it. If he hadn't repeated his mistakes you would have moved on and just left everything in the past but as he's done stupid shit again he has zero right to blame you for pointing out that he's repeating history.

Destabilising the family's financial security is a very serious 'mistake'. Your DH sounds like my ex (financially abusive, physically threatening etc) who although he earned very good money just pissed it all away and got into huge amounts of debt with nothing to show for it. Who runs up a bar bill?? he may be clever but that doesn't translate into the practical boring stuff.

My advice would be to say he's had his two stikes so he's out. It has taken me years to come out of the shadow of the debt exH racked up.

Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 07:36

morning xx cally - yes absolutely we were still having nice moments up until recently - we would have not stayed together this long i think witgout good times. i feel like some thing in me has clicked and as a result I am sad all the time and everything is getting to me. and rhe pressure with tge now or never move is not helping . Thank you category - it's hard to know what is the usual EBB and flow of a normal marriage. and Downtown - it is serious and that is why I am unsure whether to go back to our old house, or make a clean break with the opportunity. We have absolutely no money and no savings so it would mean moving us into my nans house until I can get my affairs in order and get us a home. it's a hard choice.Sad

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Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 07:38

and Downtown - sorry to hear about your experiences - you get it I know ! he is very clever but self centred. he cannot understand why i cannot just knuckle down and weather the storm . I am feeling trapped .

OP posts:
tribpot · 19/07/2018 07:46

he cannot understand why i cannot just knuckle down and weather the storm

Perhaps after you've taken a turn emotionally, financially and physically abusing him, being arrested for assaulting him, having a drinking problem, spending money like water, being unable to find work, taking out payday loans and being crap at being a parent you can see how good he is at weathering the storm himself?

These are all storms of his making.

We have absolutely no money and no savings

You probably have the most money you are ever going to have again with this man, before the debts start spiralling.

Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 07:50

Down town - are you happier now ? do you have children - how did they do ? They do love my DH very miuch and I am massively aware of the repercussions of my actions from here .

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/07/2018 07:56

What sort of a relationship are you both modelling to your children?. Would you want this sort of a relationship for them as adults, no you would not. Why is this acceptable to you?. What did you yourself learn about relationships when you were growing up, this?

What are you still getting out of this relationship now, why are you still there and in turn showing your children that all this from him is on some level still acceptable to you?.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/07/2018 07:57

He will leave you high and dry emotionally and financially. He is a leech on yours and your kids lives.

Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 07:58

tribpot - that is such a good point re money. Even when we had all that redundancy money - looking back I never felt comfortable. I felt anxious as I knew it was a brilliant opportunity bit I had a feeling he would let it disappear . he did not work for 4 months. actually seeing it all on here in black and white is helping me make my mind up - my anxiety is in overdrive at the moment but I think I can see clearly what I need to do. Actually do not have any money - literally don't know if we can meet all our bills and rent. so not any money spare . how do I actually go from working full time away to no job and supporting the children ? any practical advice - I do not have relatives that can give any financial help and tbh after we separated before his family will be up in arms .Sad

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Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 08:00

I agree with you atilla- but I think children hear us arguing and see us reconcile . this is our 'normal. ' I don't know how much they retain - I have never had that discussion with them .

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/07/2018 08:05

They see and hear far more than you perhaps care to realise, also sound travels. They are perceptive and know that things are not good between mum and dad.

The two of you between you are modelling this dysfunctional perhaps codependent relationship for them for them to potentially repeat as adults. Is this what you want for them?. What do you want to teach them about relationships here?. The fact that you cannot answer what you actually get out of this relationship now with him also speaks volumes.

You will not be able to rely on his family anyway as they will continue to side with him.

Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 08:10

yes I have always known we were dysfunctional - with the appearance of not being. A lot of my worry is fuelled by anxiety - I have always been a but of a risk assessing worrier/practical person but now I am worse. which is the opposite to him . so we clash when he wants to seize the day and I worry about consequences . So know I don't know if I am being unreasonable anymore and squashing his spirit or not ...?

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/07/2018 08:12

The only spirit that is being squashed here is yours and by his hand. His seizing the day is anything but, he is spending your money and like its going out of fashion.

What are the root causes of your anxiety here; its more likely than not he and his associated abusive behaviours.

Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 08:41

I was a slghtly overthinking pereon before - all the aspects of my personality were there - rather fraught childhood. I think this might be the reason underneath it all I tolerate more crap. I am failing at being a mum for staying and failing at being a wife if I go iyswim.

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Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 08:44

I did not sleep that well last night - and I have not seen him as he slept at the pub so he can finish the painting. this is something he does to give me a but of space.ie I am upset and we have argued and he wants me to calm down and go with his plan. He wants to move back to the old house as he thinks it will ease the pressure. I am contemplating alternative very seriously now. thanks atilla - for being direct xx

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Curtains77 · 19/07/2018 08:45

btw the 9ld house is 5 doors up from the pub Hmm

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/07/2018 08:53

Why would you fail yourself if you were to leave him?. He is really nothing but a leech on yours and in turn your kids lives. He basically wants you to move back so you can further facilitate his life and associated drinking.

I also think that your own fraught childhood set you up good and proper to be with someone like this man in the first instance.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/07/2018 08:54

If anyone has failed here as well, its him. This is all on him.

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