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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

My husband left but is always in contact... im so confused

71 replies

Sar28 · 09/05/2019 01:08

We have been happily married for 11 years and then my world was torn apart. Last summer my husband began to get close with an old colleague he worked with. He said they were only friends but thiernmessaging became very frequent and he began to change and we would argue (something we never did before).
At the end in November my husband said he wanted us to split he said his head was all over the place and there was no one else. He said he loved me but the spark had gone. He said he would look for someone else to live after Christmas. We told family and close friends, my husband told people he loved me but the spark had gone, he we are good friends and you never know what could happen in the future. We had lots of conversations and continued to live with each other. In December he went on a night out with a couple of people( one being the old work colleague) and came back early hours of the morning. He confessed to kissing her and he said he felt bad, he was very remorseful. He told her it was a mistake and block her number. We had Christmas together including his son. After Christmas things we were getting on better but still having some arguments. Then he found somewhere else to live in the February. He got the keys on mid Feb on a Friday but didnt move out until the Sunday. It was like he was dragging his feet.
He moved out but we continued to see each other all the time and text, we even had a visit to see his brother for the weekend. When we got back we said we try to have a few days apart to see if he missed me. It last all off 1 day, the next day he broke the no contact. He texted and said he picked the phone up 1000 times. We agreed that the no contact wouldnt work and carried on. We were spending lots of time together and still being intermate. There were times we would be great then we would argue as he would act strange and i would begin ti question ( git feeling something wasnt right). In the March my husband said he had something to tell me, he had been speaking to this other women since January and he thinks he is in love with her. He said they have ended things and they hadn't slept together. She is also married with children and is very flirty with men, last year she slept with a guy a work.
My hb said he felt bad and felt i deserved to know, he said he was mainly call and texts but they would meet up on occasions for food with other old work colleagues and times on their own. He said it was so up and down and they constantly us to fall out. He said it was a strange thing but it had ended. I was so hurt i took my rings off and threw them. I asked him loads of questions which he answered them all.
After that night we talked lots and he said he wasnt sure if they would remain freinds as they are part a group of friends and it could be awkward. They werent talking and thugs became improved between us but there is the issue of broken trust. Then he rang me from the gym to say she had got in contact with him to be friends but he then realised she was playing games with him again and he told her husband everything. He said he had enough of her mind games and he realised it was an infatuation not love. He said he now hopes he could put this behind us. He felt bad how he treated me and hoped we could still be friends. Over the past few weeks we have been getting on well with the odd arguement over her but mainly good and he has stopped over loads. We have been out with friends and last week we went out to the cinema and tea, he even mentioned the word date.
Over the past week or so she has tried contacting hb which he has told me about and showed the blocked call log.
The yesterday morning before work he packed up his xbox, i asked him ehu and he was taking it home as he needs to spend some time there. He hasnt slept the last couple of nights but has still seen me. He said we need to have some space and concentrate on our close friendship. He said maybe see each other a couple of times in the week and maybe a friday and Saturday at the weekend. I asked if he was talking to her again and he said no. He said he isnt talking to anyone. I ahe notice he is on whats ap more frequrntly and when i mentioned it he blocked me saying im questionhis phone usage which isnt going to help.
Its so hard friends and family keep asking if we ate back together or keep making remarks like it would be so much cheaper have one place instead of two.
We have had a talk tonight and he says he want to remain good friends and doesn't think getting back together now is the right thing to do. He says he doesn't know what the future holds but the friend basis is a good place to start.
I'm hurt but i love him, i don't know what to do for the best. Any advice would be really welcome

OP posts:
SignedUpJust4This · 09/05/2019 07:32

And don't blame the other woman for being 'filthy'. It's his dick that's the problem here. Not her.

Fonduefrolics · 09/05/2019 07:36

Hello Sar28

You can’t be his friend when you’re still in love with him, it leads to the emotional turmoil you’re in. He’s after the benefits of your marriage but without the commitment. For your own mental wellbeing sake step back from this.

I’m a middle aged woman with children and when my husband left I found the song New Rules. Pretty sad I took solace in a throwaway pop star but I needed reminding ‘don’t be his friend, don’t be his friend’ when feeling weak. It’s so hard when someone has been your emotional support, the person you turn to after a bad day is suddenly no longer there and the cause of your bad day. But disengaging makes it easier in the long run. I also did the Freedom Programme because my head was so messed up and previous abuse (physical and emotional) left my with terrible boundaries.

TheSerenDipitY · 09/05/2019 07:38

he is messing with your head, hes keeping you on the side, and constantly checking in with you so you dont drift away, while hes meeting and chatting to other women, looking for better, or someone else who will have him... that is cruelty pure and simple!
id suggest you take some time to face the facts, and get his shit out of your head, KNOW you deserve more than this shit!!! tell him hes out, get a lawyer, get the divorce under way, let him know you will not be his "back-up plan" that you know you deserve more than some mid life crisis bullshit!

Clutterbugsmum · 09/05/2019 07:38

You can't be friends let alone good friends. He either your husband or nothing.

You need to take your power back, I'm guessing you not told him how much he hurting you. As you don't want to hurt him, shame he doesn't have the same concerns towards you.

Have you been for a STD check up to make sure he hasn't given you anything. And stop sleeping with him. Use his own words against him YOU don't sleep with your friends.

IhavetoD0something · 09/05/2019 07:41

He has really messed with yr head which is worse than an infidelity imo. Not saying "forgive one episode of infidelity" at all but what he has done here, keeping you in limbo for monnnnths - he is an utter shit, a cowardly bollix too fond of his cake to make a decision. And you pay while he carries on (and on) choosing. Please, Get Turned Off (by this shitty behavior)

ooft · 09/05/2019 07:42

He wants to have his cake and eat it. Get rid of him and don't put up with any more nonsense

Fonduefrolics · 09/05/2019 07:42

Also stop being intimate with him. Been there done that. It’ll get better without the sex and I’m sure he himself will be much less keen on being friends if there’s none of that happening. Don’t downgrade your marriage to a FWB arrangement when he decides where his heart lies. He’s a shit OP.

IhavetoD0something · 09/05/2019 07:45

Natalie Lue (who has a very good way of imparting relationship wisdom) wrote a no contact book. I love her. I had to walk away from a man who kept in touch all the time but wouldnt commit! I read her no contact book and i read her othee book too, fall back girl. She spells it out with humour, kindness and insight.

DelphiniumBlue · 09/05/2019 07:48

He doesn't love you. He is not your friend, he doesn't care about you and your feelings. He's telling you about OW because he wants to talk about her and about his own feelings, not because he's being honest.
He made his feelings clear when he moved out.

Boulezvous · 09/05/2019 08:27

Why are you allowing this man to treat you this way OP? Break off all contact with him. If he wants you he will have to do some serious begging and proof of commitment and even then I don't think he would be worthy of your trust or respect.

Why does he get to walk out cause all this pain and hurt and then come and go as he likes, be intimate with you and talk to you as friends? He is not your friend just an arsehole ex who wants his cake and to eat it too. Stay away from his soap opera dramas, go no contact and focus on you and your life. You will be a million times better off.

Asdfghjklll · 09/05/2019 09:47

He is calling all the shots and making all the decisions. You could take back some control and ask for a few weeks no contact. Block him. Insist he stays away.
Give you time to process. Then after if he wants to get back he has to make effort and earn your trust. Counselling maybe?

Sar28 · 10/05/2019 07:12

Your right she can't leave her husband because of Visa conditions.
Over the last couple of days he has changed again, im hurting and feel sick. I know i need to move on now, its hard xx

OP posts:
KOKOtiltomorrow · 10/05/2019 08:03

@Sar28....i feel your pain and understand your dilemma. I'm in a situation a bit like yours. H left me after emotional affair to go physical (she wasn't a work colleague as such but he knew her through a previous job). After the initial buzz wore off, he came back and we tried again. But nothing had changed and I asked him to leave. He of course went straight back to her (even though he had told me there was no chance of that happening). Now he wants to try again with me.

I still love him and we get on brilliantly. We don't sleep together (although if I'm honest, I still really fancy him and would love to). It is so tempting to give it one more try. We were nearly 25 years together. But......I know what he is doing is so wrong.....to the OW as well. So I can see he is being a selfish arse but life would be so much better (for us and DC) if we could make it work.

The thing I wish I had done when he first asked to come back would have been to say.......finish with OW, we will both live independently of each other for 6 months then see if we both want to try again. That's what I was advised to do but was too scared to let go completely - even though he had left me. Please please do not let him call all the shits and good luck.

KOKOtiltomorrow · 10/05/2019 08:04

Shots not shits Blush

Wallywobbles · 10/05/2019 08:10

Start divorce proceedings. You don't have to divorce but at least start and continue like you mean it. What you decide to do longer term is another question but start by getting recommendations and then keep going. At least then you'll stop being on the back foot all the time.

Fannybaws52 · 10/05/2019 08:12

You can't move on because he isn't letting you!

For your own sanity you have to go no contact with him. Get his stuff out, change the locks and block him on your phone.

If he comes over, don't answer the door. Tell him it's over and you want space.

He will keep you dancing like a puppet forever if you don't put a stop to it now.

This isn't love or respect. You deserve better. Flowers

SapatSea · 10/05/2019 08:25

GO ttal no contact. Delete his number, social media etc. You re like an addict and need to go cold turkey. You are breaking down and crying because you are grieving, which is fine but because he is messing with you are cracking up over and over. It is okay to grieve, be kind t yourself.

You are the fallback in his "ME" show. He does not care about whayt he is doing to you, this is all about his comfort. He's a bit lonely, no food in, he can come see you. Stop servicing him now, you are a person not a vassal.

Mythreefavouritethings · 10/05/2019 08:29

This is already done, OP. He’s gone, emotionally at least. At best, you get a few words and him physically but at present you are not in the decision making process. He is picking you up and putting you down, but something is keeping you there. The pain is just being drawn out, it’s like grief, you can block it but it will come. If you can find the strength to withdraw from this and stop being a back-up option, you will at least be coming from a place of strength. You’re the only one who can do this, he will just keep telling you want to hear and then go again. I wish you strength.

Lifeisabeach09 · 10/05/2019 09:44

What a great gig for him!!

He gets to be act like he is single as well as have a wife to fall back on the sex and comfort.

Who the fuck does he think he is?!

Open your eyes, OP. Cease contact and initiate divorce.

RantyAnty · 10/05/2019 10:33

Agree. He will drag you along for years if you let him.

It's hard as hell but you have to cut him off cold. Make him leave and get his stuff out for good. Change the locks.
Block him. Start the divorce proceedings.

Many of us have been drug along like this and hanging on was in no way worth it at all. It just hurt much long and delayed the grief.

CaptainJaneway62 · 10/05/2019 10:47

This situation will cause you extreme anxiety if you allow it to continue.

He has shown you his true behaviour...he wants her and he knows you want him. The only reason he is still seeing you is because he can't have her.

He will string you along for years if you let him. I've seen someone do this for 18years and he pretty much ruined her life. Her self esteem was so low and her mental and physical health affected so badly she had to give up a very well paid job.

You need to cut all contact(and it will kill you to do this) but he is an emotionally abusive waste of space. Get him out of your life so that you will have some chance of happiness in the future without him.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 10/05/2019 11:00

He is being monumentally cruel to you and using you. He’s stinging you along in case he doesn’t like the single life or it goes tits up with the OW.

If he was any type of caring and event human he’d let you go, let you heal and move on. He’s being so very VERY selfish and putting his needs before yours.

Take control, tell him to fuck off and leave you alone, block his number and stop being his crutch for when his life doesn’t go the way he wants it to. It’ll be very difficult, but it’s the only way you’ll ever move on.

PinkCrayon · 10/05/2019 11:13

You need to take back control here.
He is using you as his back up.
Cut contact with him it will be hard but you will get through it.
You can do better dont let him muck you about anymore.
I agree with pp apply for the divorce I believe you can do it online now.
Never let someone treat you like a doormat.

Deadringer · 10/05/2019 11:27

He is keeping you on hold while he sees if it works out with the ow, or indeed if someone better comes along. If he ends up not scoring elsewhere, he still has you. It is disgusting and selfish behaviour and you should be bloody angry about it. The likelihood is that he will leave you at some point, so for your own sanity, you really need to tell him to leave now, and mean it, no matter how hard it is.

ohfourfoxache · 10/05/2019 16:29

One of the hardest things to do is taking that first step and really realise that he’s stringing you along.

You’re going to need strength like you’ve never had before. But you’re going to be so much happier than you are now. I promise you, it will get easier and one day this will simply be a distant, nasty memory Thanks

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