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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

Ex moving on

16 replies

Frizzbeol · 16/02/2019 21:24

Can I ask if anyone has found that their abusive ex has moved on to form a happy relationship with someone else? My horrible ex seems to be. It makes me so angry and sad to think that he can be a better man for someone else after I (and my children) put up with so much appalling behaviour. 20 years of it in my case. Can they change for the right person?

OP posts:
RugbyRugby · 16/02/2019 21:53

People are different with different people.
The reasons for that may be varied and can include something as simple as being more motivated to behave better.

It's not a case of "changing for the right person" as who people are rarely changes (unless you are talking about growing up and maturing). It's more a case of someone else bringing out other characteristics

for example - a nasty abusive man who has always dreamed of say great wealth, if he finds a woman who is receptive to his overtures who is hugely wealthy in turn has a massive motivation to curtail his abusive behaviour to hook her. Once they are married, he still has a massive motivation because if she leaves him, he loses access to his lifestyle.

but underneath he remains a nasty abusive man.

Do you see the difference?

So to answer your question, it is certainly possible that an abuser can go on to form a happy relationship but it won't be because they have "changed" in the way you mean.

The odds are massive that in the long term the abusive nature will out but it does happen that people like that do manage to maintain functioning relationships for life/many years if they have a reason to.

adayatthebeach · 16/02/2019 21:55

My abusive ex moved on and remarried. It lasted longer then we did but he didn’t change and was actually physical with her.

Orange6904 · 16/02/2019 22:07

Is it very new? It might just seem like he has changed because it's new.

Bobbycat121 · 16/02/2019 22:10

Yes happened with my ex. I think they can act different with different people yes

Frizzbeol · 16/02/2019 22:12

Thanks for your replies. And I understand completely Rugby what you are saying, makes sense. My ex was always motivated by self interest so expect that will always be the case. His relationship is fairly new. I must admit I've been a bit blindsided by it all. He was always so bloody horrible I never imagined anyone else would put up with him. It just bloody hurts that it could have been me that made him like that iyswim.

OP posts:
Jada1234 · 16/02/2019 22:13

Abusers can't sustain reasonable behaviour indefinitely it's just a matter if time before the real creep comes out. I don't regret for one minute getting rid of my abusive husband. I've still got the scars in every way. My children too.

Alison100199 · 16/02/2019 22:16

I think they can be different. I'm actually the woman who is with the ex. The dynamic between him and his ex was horrible though. She definitely saw it as abuse. With me though we bring out the best in each other rather than the worst and although I see the elements in his personality that could be controlling with a different person for example, with me we are equals and that dynamic just doesn't happen because of who we both are together.

Rainbow181980 · 16/02/2019 22:21

I do not think they can change

Frizzbeol · 16/02/2019 22:31

Alison - that's insightful thanks and actually what I think has happened in his case. But although I know he lives his children, he was selfish and disinterested in them as well. Were they caught up in the awful dynamic as well? I don't know

OP posts:
Alison100199 · 16/02/2019 22:37

It's a tough one as I love my partner and also see him for who he truly is. He loves his children but I would not want to be the mother of his kids as it'd be really hard! But I don't want them so it works fine. It's something I've worried about in the past but in the end I can only go on how he is with me and not try to second guess his previous relationships. Luckily we talk very openly and he is very honest about the mistakes he's made.

Freefalling123 · 16/02/2019 22:46

This has happened to me. I left XH 14 months ago after mental and emotional abuse became too much. He met someone within six months, and told me and 2 teen DC 3 months ago.

No idea how he treats her, but the plus side for me is that he now much more pleasant to me when we have our weekly call to arrange where DC are the following week (I used to dread the calls) and is being very compliant and agreeable about the divorce.

Personally, I practically did cartwheels around the room when he told me he had met someone - it’s really made life much easier. I’ve threads on the difficulties other parts of it have caused (I haven’t met the GF as yet although she’s spending time with DC) - but overall, it’s been much better really. I was married over 25 years for context.

falaff · 16/02/2019 22:47

My ex was very jealous and insecure and I had to sacrifice a lot of who I was. I am still really affected now about 4 months from the breakup, and he found someone else within 3 weeks. He told me that I was the love of his life and he begged me not to leave, although he wouldn't take the steps I needed him to to help sort out his issues.

He was initially very controlling in a subtle way but then later started criticisizing the way I behaved if it wasn't akin to how he would behave/react. I was treading on eggshells all the time. He often upset me by being sarcastic and blunt. I was expected to put him first and spend all my time with him otherwise he would act hurt and neglected. I actually spent a massive amount of time with him and ended friendships, changed my activities and even listened to different music to make him feel better about his jealousy and insecurity. I drove hundreds of miles every week so that I could work and still see him.

When we broke up he would say I had done nothing wrong and said I was an amazing person. And he loved my quirks. But he also openly blamed me for his actions, saying that 'I made him that way'. I can be enthusiastic and friendly and he didn't like that. I was sensitive to him being mean to me and couldn't let it wash over me. He said that whilst I wasn't maliciously doing anything like cheating (although he clearly had some trust issues) my actions made him jealous and insecure, for example, listening often to an 'attractive' musician or enjoying a hobby with a friend instead of him. Most of it was utterly ridiculous.

Anyway, the point of this is that he may be really happy with his new partner who he found after 3 weeks of us splitting. That really hurt - that he would rather find someone new than work at our relationship given how special he told me I was. And so on. There are three realities from what I can see - either 1. he's moved on too soon and he'll just act the same with her if she ever tries anything like having close male friends, being good at DIY or liking music by 'attractive' singers. i.e. he won't change and it's just a plaster. Or 2. she's just different - she doens't react the same, she doens't pander to his jealousy, she's not bothered by his snidey comments, or she doesn't do anything to rile his jealousy.

Or 3. he doesn't care about her in the same way. He told me that his ex had close male friends and even cheated on him. She fancied celebrities and she spent time with friends independently of him.But he wasn't really bothered because he didn't really care about her the same way. He wasn't as jealous for her attention or as insecure about things she liked that he didn't have.

I kinda hope that it's the 3rd, because I thought we had something very special. I am very sad that he couldn't work on his issues. I am very hurt that he replaced me so quickly and I'm confused by that. I hope it's not the 2nd, because that makes me feel like a complete failure.

What I can guarantee is that after all of his whole week of 'soul searching' and three counselling sessions, the deep rooted jealousy and insecurity isn't fixed. It just isn't happening with her.

falaff · 16/02/2019 22:50

One thing I will say though is that I will never change myself for someone again - I like my enthusiasm for life and my interests and I like how I am kind and trusting. He was awful to me but it was a reflection of who he is, not me, and I see the things that he says 'caused' his problems as my best qualities. So it really hurts, and it really hurts to see him 'fixed' for someone else, but that's his problem. I can guarantee that there will be very few people out there who will give him what I was willing to give him and that's his loss. I feel sad for him and what he gave up.

Frizzbeol · 16/02/2019 23:03

Thanks again for your replies. I suppose we will never really know what goes on in their new relationships. I get the impression she adores him, which will certainly bring out the better side of him. I never could after the things he did - mostly name calling - fat cunt was his favourite - throwing and smashing things, low level physical stuff and running up massive debt. Oh and cocaine use, in the family home. Nice to think that was all just for me.

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MollysLips · 16/02/2019 23:09

It just bloody hurts that it could have been me that made him like that iyswim.

It definitely wasn't you.

My first husband was the scummiest scumbag in the world and has married again to someone lovely! But he'll still be a selfish, vain, bad person in a relationship with her, even if he's not actually abusive, because that's just who he is.

And he still insists on only sourcing furniture from skips 😆 so their house is awful inside, really bleak and ugly.

Hey ho! My point is - be pleased they're someone else's problem now.

Eesha · 23/02/2019 22:56

@Frizzbeol I was the woman who took on a man who then turned out to be abusive, like he was with prior partners. I don't think they can keep up the pretence long enough with any partners. We split and he was with someone new within weeks and so the cycle repeats itself. I used to feel sad and resentful like you did but actually deep down I know he can't change who he is and if it couldn't work with me, it couldn't work with anyone

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