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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

Husband gone feeling bereft.

302 replies

CrapYear · 25/07/2018 06:41

Yesterday morning my husband told me he was leaving me. I literally just got up as usual, met him in the kitchen, offered him him coffee - which he took - then suggested going on an outing with the children, at which point he infomed me that that would be impossible, because he is leaving. He said this very calmly, and just watched as I fell apart. No amount of me asking him to reconsider could persuade him otherwise, he was like a block of stone. We went out of the house to talk, and I then I stopped by my Aunt's house (who lives close by) to calm down afterwards, for a couple of hours, but when I returned home, I found he had already informed our 2 children that he was going!

The eldest has taken it well, he is soon off to university, but my youngest is 16 and hasn't spoken hardly at all since yesterday.

We have been together almost 20 years, married 11, but the last 2 years have been not good, we have both taken each other for granted, we had a few big arguments and DH runs his own business and works a lot, he suffers from occasional bouts of depression.

I have been doing a university degree (encouraged by DH) and I also became ill, I got a diagnosis last year of Fibromyalgia and now being investigated for M.E. and I had taken my eye off the ball as a result. I used to previously put him first, but I dropped a lot of the things I used to do, and keeping up with the housework has been tough. I have delegated some to the children but still I have not been my best keeping up with Ironing, cleaning, etc.

I asked him why he is leaving now, but all he would say is that he is going to be 50 this year and he isn't happy and wants to enjoy the rest of his life. What could I say to this? When I pressed him, he mentioned that we haven't made progress with doing up the house (we moved in 3 years ago and it still isn't fully decorated) - he blames me for this. I have been up crying all night. I keep trying to pull myself together but things keep replaying in my mind and then the tears come. The children will be up soon, so I'll have to put my game face on, but really don't know how to cope. He says he will not take anything we really need with him. It's like he has become a robot or something, I felt like he didn't love me at all. I was just someone he wanted to get away from. My mum says I should be angry, but I am in pieces and can't seem to summon it. I would appreciate a hand hold please.

OP posts:
Cuttingthegrass · 10/08/2018 09:59

OP please arrange for maintenance to be paid into your account instead of him doing the shopping. You can do it online. Him shopping is controlling but he feels it entitles him to eat what he perceives as providing. Hence his comment he bought the food.

This is when legal advice would be beneficial to get these things agreed by impartial people.

billybagpuss · 11/08/2018 00:51

When is your solicitor appointment crap?

CrapYear · 11/08/2018 16:00

Not this thursday but next Billy It felt really uncomfortable to book it at the time Since DH hasn't mentioned solicitors so far. But his attitude has convinced me that I can't really trust him to keep to his word regarding maintenance etc - he's just changed and I don't know who this new man is, so I'm not taking any chances.

I haven't mentioned it to him, I think he would hit the roof if he thought I was taking the intiative.

I'm improving a bit, I'm managing to eat a bit more, I've been trying to get out everyday, even for a short walk or a lazy jog. Some days I just booked an appointment knowing I would have to get out. Last week it was the (very overdueBlush) dentist who I spoke to as she asked how I was, and she was very familiar with the scenario, shared that her own ex husband left her 4 lines on a piece of paper one day after work!

Someone upthread mentioned Aqua Aerobics and I had a look and there are two local swimming baths that have courses so I'm going next week Tuesday. I seem to have fixated on flowers, and made up a wreath yesterday with plants and bits of Ivy from the garden. It is the first real pleasurable thing I have done for myself since he left. I'm also considering doing a french class as I used to know a bit but have seriously lapsed.

I'm gradually realising that I can do what I want with the house - within limits of course - and even that is a real adjustment. DH never liked houseplants - I had brought a couple, and he told me not to buy anymore, I also always wanted a small shed in the garden as I sew a bit and there really wasn't room in the house and each time the answer was no. So I went out a few days ago and brought a pretty white orchid and put it in the bathroom and I still was hesitant thinking about what DH would say and/or think!!

Despite setting a date (yesterday) for him to collect his stuff, he still hasn't come to pick it all up despite saying he was going to hire a van.

I sort of realise I've been buried a bit by DH, he is very alpha male - which I liked probably for all the wrong reasons (I think he made me feel safe as I come from a pretty dysfucntional family) and boy, is he living up to it big time now!

This is also the first morning I got up and didn't cry, the sadness was there, but whilst my chest felt heavy, and I had dreamt about us together, I was able to move past it, and I got up and had some breakfast (tea and biscuits) and listened to the radio. This is huge for me, every morning prior the pain has overwhelmed me. What I didn't say in my posts was that last week for a crazy moment I really thought 'I don't want to be here anymore' and I rehearsed in my head going to the shops buying some alcohol and finishing it all, god knows I have enough drugs in the house. It was just a crazy peak, and it only lasted a few minutes. Then I made myself read all the messages again and thought No. No one can be worth this. No one. Then I thought no matter if I was the worst wife on earth, I don't deserve this treatment. I never ever want to give someone the power to make me feel that low again.

Thank you MNetters for helping me get this far. I know its still incredibly early days and I have an awful long way to go still, and probably more tears (prob by the end of the day) but honestly without you all, and your sage advice, and sharing your experiences, I would have been avoiding reality, and spent all my days in anguish - waiting, expecting, hoping, playing pick me and losing my dignity. For certain if DH showed interest I would have been sexually obliging until my self respect got so low, I would have hated my face in the mirror; I have that sort of martyr personality that suffers hurt until the point of cracking. I would have believed him that everything is all my fault. I truly would have believed - and did - that If I had made all the decisions with decorating the house, or been more respectful, or kept up with my housework, or ironed all his uniforms as I used to, or complained less about my illness, or paid more attention to my appearance and wardrobe, or spent less time at uni, or asked less of him he'd still be here as my doting husband forever.

Yes I do have to confront the shopping thing. Since he gets angry at everything I suggest, at the mo, I know he'll disagree just for the sake of it. I still pinch myself that this is where we are!

Thank you all Mnetters. Every single poster. Bless you allFlowers

OP posts:
Orange6904 · 11/08/2018 16:39

So nice to read this, that's really nice to read about the plants and breakfast. Keep changing the place, exactly how you want, watch shows that he wouldn't have liked and things like that. I know it doesn't sound like much but it kind of lifts you up a little bit. I also changed a few routines and have been doing some light execise (didn't want to go too mad as still not eating great and recovering from surgery).

What about booking in for some nice things like a facial or massage or pedicure etc? I found one near me that was quite cheap, I don't feel great but I think it makes you feel a bit better and you can chat to them too. Getting out for fresh air and being out amongs nature is good too (not been great that myself).

I too had a few moments like that, really dark feelings. I thought the same as you, he is not worth me thinking like that or doing that. Who knows what is around the corner next for me. I just try to ride it out like a storm, accept there will be sadness and anger and that you are going through a process.

Think of how you would treat a close loved one going through this (someone said that on here) and take that advice yourself, be really kind to yourself. You sound amazing and really lovely, I keep looking for your updates! :)

Flowers Cake

Orange6904 · 11/08/2018 16:40

Ah sorry for the typos! Grin

CrapYear · 11/08/2018 17:09

I could only see the typos after you mentioned it sausageGrin. Who the hell cares about typos?! We must be on the way up eh?Grin

OP posts:
Orange6904 · 11/08/2018 17:12

I know haha Grin

We are getting there! Smile

sachabloom · 11/08/2018 17:37

Hope you're ok OP❤️

IndieTara · 11/08/2018 17:51

Op you really are doing so well it's great you are seeing the odd chink of light ( aerobics etc )
Don't do what I did when OH suddenly ended things a month before our wedding.
He kept turning up on my doorstep and in my desperation to try and get him back I kept sleeping with him. I lost my self respect and he gave me chlamydia. I ended up in hospital 6 months later because I just couldn't take the stress and completely fell apart.
( this was 15 yrs ago and no MN for advice )
I still regret the way I handled things as I made it worse for myself and it took me years to get over him.
But I did get over him and so will you.

Yumyumpigs · 11/08/2018 18:49

The shopping seems like a control thing. I think you should change to online shopping and charge it to hus card. Then you can choose etc a n d he has no need to come near.

billybagpuss · 12/08/2018 01:24

I love this update. Really well done on everything. I love white orchids too and bet it looks great. Booking things in is the right way to go and even if you wake up feeling less than motivated make yourself go and each day will get better.

BeenthereandhavetheTshirt · 12/08/2018 01:41

God knows how some of you are doing classes and having pedicures a couple of weeks after something like this . You must be made of stern stuff.

Vampyress · 12/08/2018 02:04

You really are admirable OP and I truly wish nothing but joy in your future for you and your ds I'm the future, you all deserve it so much Flowers

Coyoacan · 12/08/2018 04:50

Just read this and love the update, OP. Reminds me of a friend's mother whose husband had left her years before. A few years later one of her sons persuaded his father to move home, as a surprise for her. Ha, she had long since moved on and the last thing she wanted was to have that man back.

I don't think people's personalities are fixed. People who don't look after our characters, like OP's ex and some of the other men mentioned here, can go really bad.

Gfplux · 12/08/2018 08:47

Crap year, do not be surprised if he does not see a solicitor before you or has even seen one last week.

Orange6904 · 12/08/2018 10:15

Morning CrapYear, how are you today?

CrapYear · 12/08/2018 13:02

Indie Thank you for sharing that story, I feel very moved by it and can relate totally, because it's what I would have been doing. In fact I went through my drawers and removed all the sexy lingerie (some of it was quite expensive!) that I brought primarily for his benefit. I didn't want the memories of our sexual encounters or the temptation to do something I would regret, like putting some of it on in the hope he notices or something. The temptation was real! I put them in a couple of bags and threw them in the bin. I just keep concentrationg on how much I would hate myself afterwards, and MN has helped massively in that regard.

I'm ok sausage thanks. How are you?Hope you are having a good day. Didn't sleep much at all, am in a pattern of sleeping, then waking up a couple of hours later, then up till 6 or 7am, fall back asleep then back up at 9ish, and its taking a real toll - I should take something, but I'm worried to take anything that messes with my brain at all right now - the highs and lows are killing me.

Am trying to get coursework done. But I'm plodding. Concentrating is giving me headaches. My nerves are on edge already which is excerbating the fibro, and any extra on top seems to kick it off. I Don't think i'm going to make the hand in date, so I may have to go doctor which I've been meaning to anyway to setup some counselling and try and get some extra extenuating circumstances. Might not be accepted though, but I think I may just have to accept things if it doesn't go my way, and I end up taking a year out. If I am learning any painful life lessons here, it's that I can only control what I can do and nothing else. Nothing.

Hope I get there one day Coyoacan

Thanks for all your lovely best wishes!

OP posts:
CrapYear · 12/08/2018 13:06

And Indie I'm glad you got free of him in the end. I need the same strength. Thanks again for sharing.

OP posts:
TrippingTheVelvet · 12/08/2018 13:54

I'm just reading your thread now. Please stay strong CrapYear. He sounds like an absolute dick. I'm outraged on your behalf at his behaviour. Have a think of all the things you compromised on the past and start enjoying them. Buy twice as many houseplants, cook all the foods he hates but you love, listen to the music he couldn't stand. Go out of your way to find the things you haven't been able to fully enjoy for a long time.

billybagpuss · 12/08/2018 13:55

crap are you drinking enough (water) i can understand getting headaches with everything you’ve been through but do make sure you’re properly hydrated when starting your coursework. I also fear you may not have been eating properly either which again can cause them. Make sure you look after yourself Flowers

pinkblush · 12/08/2018 14:54

Crapyear just wanted to share a link I found when I was going through similar (husband just upped and left) .. it helped me to understand that this kind of betrayal and loss is like experiencing the loss of the loved one and therefore grief. You will have good days and bad but eventually you'll reach acceptance of the situation. Take care lovely xx

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/humanresources/documents/learningdevelopment/thechangee_curve.pdf

Coyoacan · 12/08/2018 15:44

Take Vitamin B complex, OP, it will really help with all the stress you are going through at the moment.

FantasticButtocks · 12/08/2018 18:40

It sounds like you bent over backwards to please him, and he expected that. Now, you can revel in the fact you no longer need to do this and can focus on pleasing yourself! He seems affronted you don't mind not doing what he wants anymore and I'm just so pleased you didn't send out a portion of your homemade oxtail stew. He does not deserve to eat food you've spent time making, not anymore. I was aghast that he thought that would be fine, and then he had the utter cheek to be cross when he found out it wasn't actually fine at all. What an insensitive prick he really really is. Its great to hear that you are doing things for yourself, pleasing yourself and strengthening those boundaries he wants to trample over.
Yes, he may well be furious when he realises you've been to a solicitor. Tough. You must do what you need to do regardless of what he may think. Don't let him be in charge. He is not. He can take his alpha maleness and...stick it up his arse! Grin

CrapYear · 12/08/2018 18:41

Thank you for that link pink I've read through it quickly - the diagram is really useful and I have it open on my laptop and will keep the tab open so I can read again in a few days for the reminder.

No I am not eating or drinking adequately, although am managing more now so yeah actually headaches are expected I guess. I'll have to sip water or something. It is so obvious actually. Does B12 help? Cause I'll try anything natural!

Am I being unreasonable to be upset that no one from his family, not one person has so much as called me to see how I am or how the kids are? I am getting more upset about this. I am particularly upset that his mum has not reached out to me at all, as I thought we used to get on reasonably well had shared humour etc.

My brother had a child with his girlfriend and when their relationship broke down, we all offered help and support to his ex, whilst being impartial. Even if he's telling them a pack of lies, I truly don't understand why I have been frozen out like this and I feel hurt. Or am I being overly sensitive and unrealistic?

OP posts:
CrapYear · 12/08/2018 18:42

FantasticGrin

OP posts: