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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

Partner left me for someone else.

35 replies

reedwilson01 · 31/07/2018 12:58

Looking for advise on how to win my partner back. Me and my partner have been together for 17yrs and have a 14year old son together. 2 years ago my partner had an 4 month affair which of course divested me and my son. Anyway he promised to end it and we tried to make things work, but I asked for a break in Sept last year in order we could get back on track properly. He went living with his mum who incidentally I haven't spoken to in years...I thought we were started to work on things, but I recently found out he had been living with this same women together at his mums house. Once I had discovered this she moved out and they have agreed to see each other just once a week. He tells me, I don't know what the future holds, but I do know I still love you and miss you and is divested my son wont speak to him. How do I win him back and get him to forget about this other women.

OP posts:
MiggledyHiggins · 03/08/2018 17:02

As tempting as it is to plant stuff to let him think you've moved on, emotionally you aren't yet ready to handle the outcome of that - right now you are still very vulnerable and hurting. If he sees 'evidence' of a date then he's likely to go on a charm offensive because he's shown he still want's you in the wings just in case. Then you would both end up in bed and you'd feel doubly shit when you realise it was a calculated shag for him and you would be back to square one.

Focus on you. On establishing boundaries with him and your home. On detaching and not reacting to him.

Amanda123444 · 03/08/2018 19:21

Get a good lawyer and get full custody of your child.......he must pay for his mistakes

reedwilson01 · 07/08/2018 10:33

To Hellsbellsmellons/Eve34 and to you other guys who have msg'd me & have given their advise & support.. I thank you, truly.

Ok a little update....so the ex came on Sunday & helped with the jobs I needed doing all was friendly & going well till we sat down & he asked how I was.. I walked away knowing that's all it took for me to crumble. I look & a kind word from him.

I walked away into the garden to hide my upset, but he followed me & said please talk to me.. I love you & will always be here for you no matter what. I want to help & support you both & nothing & no one will stop me doing that unless you yourself ask me not to.

I stupidly sobbed my eyes out & said it was too hard for him to be around me at the moment & as much as I need him to help me with some repairs to the house it was too painful to see him. He himself openly sobbed. I think we both sobbed for an hour but he said " I really do need you in my life, I know its wrong to say, but I do miss you and I am not sure even if I have made a mistake, but I need to work this out for myself. I know I will probably lose you in the meantime & I would have to live with that, but it would be wrong to come back if I still have feelings for someone else."

I know what many of you will say & will think... he is keeping his options open, but I could see the genuine torment & I don't think there was an agenda behind it. I did say I have to start a new chapter in my life & move on without you to which he said "I understand & I want the best for you & our Son & if I could undo all of this or take your pain away I would, but coming back right now isn't the answer.

I explained even though admittedly the pain is unbearable & at times yes I do think sometimes god I just want my "family" back I am not sure I would want him back after everything.

He hugged me and kissed me on the forehead & said I promise you I will always be here. I then said I just cant be your friend like you want to & I am not sure you realise but maybe you need my friendship more than need it. It maybe its a quilt thing for you and maybe it gives you comfort knowing your not really the bad guy. He said there is an element of that I suppose, but believe me its harder to see you than not but I wouldn't not want to see you ever. God no.

I do feel better for being honest about my feelings & not making out I had a wonderful other life without him. I think I had to be honest about how I felt without game playing or acting like I had moved on & I was truly "done". I wanted him to know I was in pain, but that I will brave this & I will continue to move forward, but for now us being "friends" is too painful and that wasn't said to make him feel guilty or for him to think I wld wait around for him... I am not & I wont but I did feel it was right to be honest.

We agreed it would be stupid to pay out for someone to come & do these repairs and decoration when he himself is in the trade and works for himself so he will continue to come and do what needs doing when he is free at the weekends and I can choose if I wish to be there or not.

My son did acknowledge him but apart from an "hello" he didn't speak to him. My ex said I will never give him up on him & will keep trying to build bridges no matter what our future holds.

We left it at there for now.... I feel better knowing that I should continue to work on myself & to enjoy today for today & not try & fix things, analyse, read between lines or over think things OR even lay down plans. Stop trying to control things but instead be more relaxed and let things just happen. I will continue to work on myself & be a stronger person believing may just maybe this was all meant to happen.

OP posts:
Amanda123444 · 07/08/2018 11:19

You have problem of low self esteem

Domino20 · 07/08/2018 11:43

After reading your first few posts I jumped straight to the end of the thread as it seemed to me that you were definitely going to sleep with him when he came to do the repairs. I'm so so pleased for you that it didn't happen. The previous poster is correct, you do have low self esteem but it looks like you are moving in the right direction. Stay strong, look after yourself and your son. All the best x

reedwilson01 · 07/08/2018 12:02

I would certainly agree with the point that my ex has stripped my confidence and feel a bit lost at times. I know some may think ff sake just grow a pair of balls and take him for everything & I suppose some may think Jeeze you just need a good shake women & I am even wanting to apologise for that frustration, but lease I recognise yes I do have low self esteem and my self worth is at rock bottom right now, but with your guys help & support and my counselling sessions I am hopeful I will move forward and get to a happier place.

Sorry if it sounds all a bit all so pathetic but I have to be honest & true to myself. I cant be or act in a different way only start to think differently & learn from it I suupose.

OP posts:
Bambi99 · 07/08/2018 22:44

OP your son will think this is the right way to treat people. Your partner is showing these emotions cos he knows he is being a dick. He is kerning you onside incase the other woman realised he ain't a prize and does one. I think you may love the idea of him. Stay strong for yours and your sons sake x

reedwilson01 · 14/08/2018 13:03

Thank you Bambi99.... I wish I could sit down with my son and talk to him about all of this, but he refuses to even engage in any conversation right now and I have to respect that and let him work things out for himself and just be there for him when he is ready to talk or needs me. I try to hide my own pain and do most of my crying when he isn't around, but I know I have to look to the future without my ex and build a life for just me and my son now.... but the hardest thing is the loss of a family unit. The evenings are killing me right now when my son plays out and I am left alone. That's the time me and partner would have normally settled down on the sofa, or even the 3 of us... chatting away whilst watching t.v. I miss little things like "do you want a brew princess" and I know I should now fill my time doing other things but I am finding motivating myself to do that quiet hard at the moment. I haven't spoken to my ex for 10days now and although its probably for the best its killing me and I still miss her terribly.. any advise is welcomed.

OP posts:
hellsbellsmelons · 14/08/2018 13:17

You don't miss the him that he is now.
You miss the life you had.
This is a whole grieving process and you will have to go through each bit of it.
It takes time.
It's only been 10 days.

Could you have girlie night once a week? Someone to come round and have a glass or 2 of wine and a catch up?
Could you invest in a couple of DVD's or look on youtube for an exercise that you like. Yoga might be good for you. Meditation. Zumba, anything really.
I got myself a step and a couple of DVD's and am planning on starting that tonight.

Reading is my massive escape right now.
I've been through so many books recently. You go off into your world of fantasy and it really helps to block out the crap.

Visit family and friends. Make it a weekly thing if you can.
It's all about trying your best to keep busy.

Right now it's 1 step forward and 2 steps back.
But you'll get one foot in front of the other soon enough.
Take it slowly.
Take it one day at a time.
And look after yourself!!!!!!

hellsbellsmelons · 14/08/2018 13:21

And it's holiday time soon so start planning that.
Do a list of clothes you want to take.
Accessories
Toiletries
Other things like passport, kindle, phone charger etc....
Think about how much spending money you want to take and when you will get it exchanged.

Treat yourself to a nice new case that's colourful and bright (nice and cheap on ebay)

List of things you'd like to get done in the next 6 months.
Whether it's decorating, decluttering, clearing out cupboards, going through your wardrobe and giving stuff to charit. Changing the colouring in your bedroom (mine went from reds and white to champagne gold and light blues). Much more me and much more girlie!

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