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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

How do i stop feeling responsible for exdp?

12 replies

NickyNora · 08/11/2018 23:37

After 19 yrs dp & I have split up. He moved out early October.

It sounds awful but i don't miss him. Hes begging me to come home. Promising to change etc. Even if he could, i wouldn't want to get back with him.

But i feel so guilty for making him leave his home.

He's totally fallen apart, its painfully pathetic. He keeps trying to come here, hug me & kiss me. It makes me uncomfortable & I've told him to stop.

How do i stop feeling guilty?

OP posts:
PurpleWithRed · 08/11/2018 23:43

Give it time, and remind yourself why you split up. But you may have to live with a little bit of guilty feeling, depending on the circumstances of your split.

Singlenotsingle · 08/11/2018 23:47

You aren't responsible for another adult human being. Don't let him in, it makes it worse and gives him hope when there isn't any.

NickyNora · 08/11/2018 23:55

The circumstances were like every second post on MN!

Lazy, unsupportive, indifferent dp. 4 dc, he did nothing with the dc. They didn't notice for 3 days that he'd left.

They don't ask for him, hes only taken them out twice, hes really not interested.

He knows i don't want to even try to save the relationship.

Everyone's presuming I'm struggling & it must be awful. Its no different.

I feel sorry for him as hes 50, no home or partner. He can't cope. I really hope he meets someone.

OP posts:
Sleepingdog123 · 09/11/2018 06:50

This is the thing that has stopped me ending my relationship. How guilty I would feel for causing that as I know my DH would be the same. So for now I am really trying to work on it and improve things. Not sure if that's possible though so following with interest.

NickyNora · 09/11/2018 07:14

@Sleepingdog123 We should have split up 10 urs ago. We had barely spoken in the last year...

I got to the point where the thought of living as i was, was no longer an option.

OP posts:
LellyMcKelly · 09/11/2018 07:19

He’s a grown man. He’s not your responsibility. Tell him firmly what you’ve told us here, and tell him you don’t love him any more. It sounds harsh, but it may help him accept it quicker and move on. You don’t need to be mean, but you do need to be firm with him.

Pywife2 · 09/11/2018 07:39

You remind me of me! I didn't miss mine even slightly. He started by guilt tripping me and trying to gaslight me that I was totally unreasonable and had booted him out for no reason - thus reinforcing the behaviour I'd booted him out for.

Sadly he moved on to coming to the house and threatening violence. He was clearly working up to attacking me and I had to move out for a while to make him understand this wouldn't work either. His sense of entitlement was something to behold. With hindsight, if yours does this, I would suggest involving the police immediately because later on during court hearings over contact for our daughter, I was asked: if he was really violent, why didn't you call the police?

Of course, the reason was loyalty and feeling sorry for him. I was wrong to feel that way, he didn't have an ounce of loyalty towards me. Don't wait for yours to prove it to you, just trust your instincts and stick to the course you've set yourself.

Make it clear that if his behaviour doesn't change when you meet, you'll have to stop meeting. I did this when mine turned every visit to collect our daughter into an excuse to argue and start ranting at me about my selfishness. I arranged for an intermediary to be there instead (a very good woman friend).

The same friend helped me put things into perspective when I was telling her he couldn't seem to cope without me, and I was worried he'd become homeless or something. She said 'Why is that your responsibility, any more than another homeless person? You might as well take in someone from the street.' This really stuck with me because it's true, anybody in trouble has a right to compassion but I was being guilt tripped into feeling that my ex was my personal responsibility and what happened to him was my fault. Rather than his, as an adult human being.

Honestly, you're not doing anything wrong. If you weaken and are too kind to him, he'll think you're going to take him back. I found a strictly neutral tone to be the best, and don't get drawn into arguments because that's another way of continuing the relationship. I had to just keep explaining that things were really over, and when that didn't work, withdraw and avoid contact.

If you have children, that's more difficult to do. Mine continued the argument through my daughter.

Good luck, you deserve your own life and a day will come when you are free of all this and of him. You'll be able to live your life and think no more about him, as I have done x.

Weenurse · 09/11/2018 07:43

I have no suggestions but offer hugs and positive energy to sustain you 💐

GetOffTheTableMabel · 09/11/2018 07:50

What he needs to really understand is that this is not a decision you took lightly. It was a painful decision, not taken on a whim but after carefully weighing up what was best for you and your children (and probably him too). You did not casually and carelessly end your marriage and you will not be revisiting that decision because clarity and forward motion and what will help you all to move on.
He failed to show you respect when married and he’s failing to respect you now. You know what you are doing.

PurpleWithRed · 09/11/2018 07:55

Oh well, in that case, HE is the one who broke the relationship by being a rubbish husband and rubbish father. He had chances to change but chose not to. He should be the one feeling guilty: maybe he does but he's laying it all on you by making you feel you are refusing to reconcile.

He did this, not you.

Personally I was ecstatic when XDH and I finally split up; it was like a huge rock lifting from my chest. When friends said 'are you ok?' with sympathetic faces I said 'fantastic, come round for a drink'.

You've earned this, enjoy it.

KeiTeNgeNge · 09/11/2018 17:09

You are not responsible for him, don’t shoulder his burden

mandy151 · 09/11/2018 18:23

I'm in a the same position. Feeling guilty for making him leave but I just came to a point where I could not stick it anymore. Trust was gone. Countless lies. Gambling. Stealing money from me Could not even go have a shower without having to bring my bag in with me as he has taking my bank cards Etc etc he has sold drugs to get money. Made appointment for escort denied he went tru with it although I doubt that!! And I still feel guilty as I think he genuinely feels sorry for ruining the marriage and now doesn't live with his kids who I have no doubt that he adores. I totally fell out of love but I couldn't live like that. It's a shame but wen the love is gone it's gone. I'm hoping he will move on and meet someone and he sorts himself out but he is not my responsibility any more. Best of luck and try not to feel guilty and do not let him guilt u into giving it another chance as all u will feel is resentment towards him if u do.

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