Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Please can someone hold my hand

96 replies

Getoffthetableplease · 26/11/2018 09:52

Situation for clarity - Husband of 10 years, 2 kids aged 2 and 7, 2 dogs, we privately rent, I've given up career to look after the children, now work a few hours a week evenings and weekends, big credit cards in my name as family trips and hols usually end up on there, he is self employed. He's got previous form for webcam girls, mini emotional affairs, issues with alcohol and gaming and porn addiction.

It's all come out before and he's refused to talk about things and usually disappeared for a couple of days leaving me to try to explain away where Daddy is. I want to sort things, I've always wanted to sort things but he puts up such a wall. It usually starts with him barely speaking for a week, not coming to bed with me, occasionally sleeping in spare room, just cold shoulder but when pressed says everything is fine. I get annoyed and upset and cry and rant it's clearly not fine and he calmly announces he is going to leave. Every time. It's just happened again last night, I honestly think this is it. I'm so so so scared I cannot handle this. I have a history for depression and anxiety (which admittedly hasn't helped anything) and last night was very close to suicide. I wanted to go in to him and ask for help but I thought he'd hold it and use it against me so instead I had to use all my strength to sit and sob my way through til morning thinking of my beautiful boys.

I just feel like it's all so out of my control, it doesn't matter he hasn't given us a chance to work at things, when he decides to chuck the towel in, that's it. I'm so scared the way I'm handling things is going to screw our kids up. The eldest is especially sensitive as it is. Financially I have less than nothing. I just feel shaken to the core and don't know how to be, what to do. Fuck this is all so lonely, he is supposed to be my best friend. Where do I start?

OP posts:
Abitsadbuthopeful · 30/11/2018 08:33

I know you don't, but sometimes in life things happen to us that we have no control over. You have to just to go through it, it was always our destiny. Keep your chin up and stick to your guns, something wonderful is waiting in the wings for you darling. Xxxx

LizzieSiddal · 30/11/2018 08:44

I don't want any of this

No but please remember you don’t want all the crap he has inflicted on you either.
Also as your dc get older they will know what their father is. You taking them away from that environment is the best thing you can do for them. Xxx

HazelBite · 30/11/2018 09:00

Although it doesn't seem like it, it is probably better that it has finished before Xmas.
I remember the last christmas ex H and I were together, the forced jollity in front of family and guests, the nasty sniping when we were alone, the urge to stand up during xmas day lunch and announce to all and sundry what a total shit my husband was (he left during January).
If he had already gone, so would all of the pressure, and those around me would have been mindful of my feelings, and acted accordingly.
I'm sure it won't be as bad as you imagine Op Flowers

Petitprince · 30/11/2018 10:15

The lovely thoughts you have about your husband aren't the real him though. The real him let you all down.

Somewhere out there there's a lovely person with whom you can genuinely share your life. Someone who will treasure your Christmas traditions just like you do. And your husband doing this takes you one step closer to that.

Getoffthetableplease · 30/11/2018 11:43

He was my best friend, my life for so long though. All of the family memories are with him. Anything and he was there, whenever I needed. He was always the one to pick me up and tell me everything is going to be okay, always. That he would love me, always. I just can't. He really was my best friend, my love. How can he do this. I just don't understand.

OP posts:
ElectricCandlelight · 30/11/2018 12:36

Oh OP,
You poor thing, your heart must be absolutely shattered, what a bastard he is.

You have to find the strength to carry on hour by hour, day by day, until the pain starts to fade, because it will lesson.

He let your family down, now it's up to you to pick up the pieces for your children.

You can do this. Flowers

ElectricCandlelight · 30/11/2018 12:37

Lessen*

Adora10 · 30/11/2018 14:41

Best friend, you are joking, your dependency on someone who treats you like shit is not normal OP, can you go see the GP about having counselling for yourself to help you unravel and actually understand the reality of the situation, I think at the moment you are stuck in a bubble of what a wonderful life you had with him, that never ever existed, you just put up and shut up and he controlled you.

You now have a chance to be independent, to love yourself and believe in you, not someone constantly letting you down and breaking your heart all over again.

You can't let this git ruin your life, he has no care for you, that's why you are getting so upset.

Where is your family, your friends, talk to them, they will help you out of this horrible situation.

Getoffthetableplease · 30/11/2018 14:45

Thanks, Adora10 but you actually have no fucking clue. Our life did exist, thanks. I don't need counselling to understand the reality. The reality is shit things happen in most relationships, it doesn't actually make the whole thing a lie.

OP posts:
Getoffthetableplease · 30/11/2018 14:47

I'm sorry to get cross at you, but don't you fucking dare make out I'm deluded. He WAS my best friend, he was a wonderful dad, we've had some amazing times together. That's what makes this all the fucking more painful.

OP posts:
Petitprince · 30/11/2018 18:22

Relationships break down, that's normal. But cheating within the relationship and rubbing your partner's nose in it, that's not.

So, at least towards the end, he wasn't your best friend. He was selfish and unkind and you deserve better.

whynot93 · 01/12/2018 05:59

He was once your best friend.. then he hurt you and betrayed you, best friends don't do that!

Getoffthetableplease · 02/12/2018 15:16

So I've been trying to keep us busy, went with the kids to stay with my brother on Friday, which was as good a distraction as any I guess. Still drama from afar though, police called my mobile at 9pm to say his car was blocking a private garage in town and could I ensure it's moved, he was supposed to just be at ours minding the dogs and sorting his stuff, wtf, it's like he's having an actual cliché midlife crisis. Non of the drama is making anything easier, it's the opposite to how he's always been.

Came home yesterday to ex here (was planned) which was harder than I expected emotionally. Ended up asking him to help me with stuff from car and me practically begging him to just spend one more last evening together as a couple Blush. Well suffice to say he rejected the offer and I felt more stupid and sad than ever. I locked myself in the bathroom for a bath whilst he played with the kids. He was supposed to help at bedtime but ended up getting irritated, huffing that youngest was being a nightmare, which in fairness he was but kids get overtired and obviously everything is so bloody unsettled. He huffed away as quick as possible and it all feels like aside from the break up there's just too much for me to handle here, I get so overwhelmed thinking about it. Even the dogs are pacing around pining, having accidents etc. Everyone is crying for him and I just have to keep a calm face and 'there, there' tone when all I want to do is scream and not stop.

We took an elderly man I know out to see a Christmas thing at church today, that was nice. Home now though and know he's back here in an hour to see the boys and let me go to work, and I just don't know how I can keep facing him like this Sad.

Just wanted to give a mini update anyway, desperate for the day I can look back at this and know it's all in the past and the present is much brighter.

OP posts:
ghostlygal · 02/12/2018 20:16

@Getoffthetableplease I know you're trying your best for the kids, but do you really have to see him right now? Your going through enough. Could you get a family member to be there for visitation? Or could he take the kids out so your not hiding in your own home?

Getoffthetableplease · 02/12/2018 20:19

There isn't anyone close enough, plus it's partly to cover my work so evening time. Not really a way around it just trying to keep things as okay as poss Sad

OP posts:
ghostlygal · 03/12/2018 01:47

It's just really hard to recover from a relationship when you have to see him all the time. Would it be possible for you get some counselling? They may have some tricks up their sleeves on how to deal with this?

Getoffthetableplease · 03/12/2018 05:59

I know, am finding it one of the hardest bits Sad

OP posts:
Petitprince · 03/12/2018 19:36

Have you managed to sort out the practical and financial side ok? Big hug to you.

Getoffthetableplease · 04/12/2018 13:16

No, no further. Hmrc won't speak to me until I'm ready to officially declare it - which until I can establish I can trust him to still help with bills, I can't. I don't know where to start with the house, our landlord is an arse and I don't think she'll want someone here on single tenancy without a full time job. There wouldn't be many other options without moving schools or unsettling the boys by getting rid of the dogs etc here. I've been trying to sit him down since the weekend but he's far too fucking busy being single and keeps huffing straight off after playing with the boys for a bit. Citizens advice not until this Thursday so holding out for then I guess. Eldest now properly acting out, it's such hard work here. On top of it all we've all come down with something in the last couple of days and I feel I could sleep for a week not the few scattered hours I'm getting. So no, nothing has gone anywhere Sad

OP posts:
Petitprince · 04/12/2018 23:17

I'm not sure you can trust him with anything. I'd apply based on your sole income as it will take 6 weeks or so to come through. Keep them updated if he does decide to be more helpful.

Getoffthetableplease · 21/12/2018 10:01

Well it's been a long few weeks. Just wanted to check in and say still hanging on here. Can't say a great lot has changed emotionally but he has permanently moved out now, I'm waiting for universal credit, we've seen a mediator, I'm on new meds, I'm on a waiting list for interpersonal therapy, the kids are okayish (youngest unsettled and a few run ins with eldest), I survived the shittiest birthday I think I'll ever have, and we've semi come to a contact agreement to trial. Ugh, it's relentless, but reading back this thread makes me realise I've already come a fair way. Sad how many similar threads are on here atm, Christmas feels like a pressure cooker Sad

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page