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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

Need a friend to vent to :(

22 replies

InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 02:09

So, I’ve been married before and cheated on and bla bla bla. I decided that I would rather be on my own than with someone I didn’t trust. I was on my own for nearly 4yrs and would have continued that way, but I met someone that took the rug out from under me. He made me feel so secure (something I have never felt), and so loved. It never entered my head that he would even think about betraying me. Silly me.

Another thing I promised myself is that I wouldn’t have a child unless I totally trusted the Dad. So.... I now have a 10mth old daughter. When she was 2mths old, her Dad had to go overseas for work and we were shortly behind him, just had to get the passports sorted. It was about 6wks all up. When I arrived I was so happy, I had my family back together! But he was acting weird and my gut was screaming at me about a night a few wks earlier when his behaviour on the phone was unusual. I grabbed his phone and had a flick through it. There were text messages from girls he had met out, one of them telling her he misses her beautiful kisses and the other trying to set up a booty call, all while laughing at her suggestion he was married (she had Facebook stalked him and saw me). After a huge blow up, he says he has told me everything and that he didn’t sleep with anyone, even though he did have the intention to. He says he has made a huge mistake and let his ego get the better of him when he was out getting attention, as I had been out of action previously due to having a baby. He swears it will never happen again, and that it was only those two girls, but there’s another number in his phone, clearly from a bar because it has the name of the bar in the contact. I messaged her and she said she doesn’t even remember him and that she would if something happened, but that she gives her number out quite easily when she’s drunk. But he still hasn’t told me about her.

Anyway.. I know what advice I would be giving a friend of mine, I just want a sounding board and I have no one :( I love him, but I know I’m never going to trust him again. I also know that I 100% would not still be here if I didn’t have our daughter. I simply don’t have the funds to move back home and I sold my car for really cheap before we left, so I’d need a decent car as well. I’m so frustrated and sad. He is such an amazing Dad, and he really has put an effort in with me. I just don’t see myself trusting him again. I told him in the beginning this was not the kind of relationship I wanted.

It also bothers me that in the beginning of our relationship, he started a huge fight with me because I thought a celebrity was attractive (wtf)... and now he screen shots parts in porn videos so he can come back to later. It’s like he holds me to a standard he cannot keep to himself. I never had a problem with him watching porn, but now it makes me angry because I know what he does when I’m not around Confused I’m so sad.

Sorry for the long post.

OP posts:
Maniak · 15/07/2019 02:36

I'm so sorry.

I think if you want to go back home you should make him give you the money, and also to buy back your car. After all, you spent money coming out on false pretences. He's the one responsible and he owes you.

InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 03:18

I agree, but unfortunately he doesn’t have much money either. We had a savings plan that he has absolutely blown up, because he thinks about the now and not the future. We have had fights about it but then I’ve let it go, as I’m not bringing in an income at the moment. The page I thought we were both on was an illusion. We are in different books Sad

OP posts:
InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 03:19

Oh and as for the car, my sister bought it off me. She has 3 kids and is struggling herself, so I wouldn’t be able to get the car back from her, unfortunately.

OP posts:
Ball00nHead839 · 15/07/2019 03:29

Are you married ?

It sounds like he had opportunity while he was away

Does he normally respect you ?

Not very kind, when you have a young child together

Suggest you need to forgive & give one more chance or split up

Maniak · 15/07/2019 03:35

Whether you decide to stay or not, you need to get control over the money. That's really important. If it's a joint account, you could start siphoning some off into another one that's just in your name?

Maniak · 15/07/2019 03:38

Sell some of his stuff.

InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 04:15

@Ball00nHead839 not married. He keeps suggesting it, but I definitely don’t want to do that. I have chosen to forgive and I actively try to move past it, but it’s just all so different now. He goes away for work and instead of missing him like I used to, I wonder if he’s out picking up. I don’t think he actually is doing that, but the seed of doubt is well and truly planted. He isn’t sneaky and allows me access to everything and tells me everything he does, but even that makes me feel shit. I don’t want to be with someone that makes me feel like I have to know everything. I just want to know if it could actually get better. If it’s me that’s the roadblock, since he is trying. I know I’m not trapped, but I certainly feel it.

OP posts:
InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 04:17

@maniak he prefers me having control, but it just leads to fights when he doesn’t stick to the budget. I do have some savings for my daughter, but it would likely take a huge chunk to move home.

OP posts:
InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 04:18

@Ball00nHead839 oh and we have had our fair share of huge fights over him disrespecting me because of my past. I wished at the time that I saw that jealous and vicious side before I got pregnant. It really makes me hate myself

OP posts:
Maniak · 15/07/2019 04:24

Well, maybe it really was just the once and he really does regret it and he really will change.

The fact that he's being so open is a good sign.

Of course it will take you time to trust him again. That's the consequence of what he did. Of course you would rather not police him and check up on him. I hope he's worth it, OP!

InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 04:44

@maniak me too!!!! After my marriage breakdown, I just kept thinking of all that time wasted. I don’t want to waste my time again. I’d say he is 90% amazing and 10% really nasty at times. But this betrayal of trust has tipped the scales.

OP posts:
AllyBamma · 15/07/2019 05:20

I might be wrong but can you leave and go back home if you have a child now? I know the baby was born in your home country and you’re both originally from there too but if you’re both residents overseas somewhere, would you going home with the baby without his permission be seen as kidnapping? Mad, I know - it’s your baby but I know that’s the case here (Australia).

Could you look at doing a bit of a trial separation in the country you’re in? Get him to move out for a while and see how you feel with a bit of space?

InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 05:47

@AllyBamma I don’t think that is an issue tbh. I would be in extreme hardship if I left him and couldn’t go home. He wouldn’t put me through that anyway, even if it was.

I’ve thought about space so much, but we both don’t know anyone well enough here for a place to go, and money is pretty tight, so a hotel is out of the question.

OP posts:
LaLaLamp · 15/07/2019 06:22

How long have you been with him? btw everything you say in your op resonates with me...I've been single for almost 6 years now and could never have believed that my ex would cheat on me (although I had very strong suspicions for a number of years - he denied it blah blah gaslighted etc) but he did after nearly 12 years together. The things you say about not trusting and not wanting to be the person who checks up on him, I totally get that too. You just feel like your head is in a whirl, trapped and have to think of your child as well. Are you sure he doesn't have money stashed? I would have thought that work abroad would pay well, but I'm probably out of touch.

ukgift2016 · 15/07/2019 06:29

Sorry but I would be very concerned about residing in another country in a situation like yours. He is being 'nice' now as he is still hoping for a second chance. If things go tits up again, he may have legal rights to force you to remain in the country your currently residing in.

You are playing a dangerous game here. If I was you I would return back home and think about your relationship there.

category12 · 15/07/2019 06:32

Go home.

He's not just unfaithful, you can't trust him on much, can you? Not even to be nice to you.

He's irresponsible with money, nasty to you and sexually incontinent. He has broken faith with you on multiple fronts.

Go home.

NaughtyDaddy1 · 15/07/2019 06:38

There is only one thing for this

His toothbrush - cleaning the toilet and out back in place

category12 · 15/07/2019 07:02

The money/savings thing - him blowing up the savings plan - that could be more than him being irresponsible. It could be a strategy to keep you stuck. Even if it's not the beginnings of financial abuse, ime, it doesn't stop and it doesn't get better - for over a decade my ex sabotaged all our chances of improving our lot (I still don't know why, it was like he couldn't bear to live anywhere but on a financial knife edge).

I also don't like the sound of him using your past against you.

You've got a wrong un, there. 🚩 🚩 🚩 🚩

Windmillwhirl · 15/07/2019 07:04

You need to get back home. Sell anything you can. He's a lying, abusing piece of crap. There is no happy ending here. Go home where you have family support and can look for work to build a life for your child. He is an immature player.

So sorry this happened to you. He's not who you wanted him to be.

As for being a great dad? He's let his child down and is now going to be apart from her. He's not a great dad.

DownTownAbbey · 15/07/2019 07:33

You think it would be hard to go home now? The longer you stay the harder it will be. Your DC is a baby. They won't remember anything that happens now.

Don't trust him to behave well. I was with someone for over twenty years. I would never have expected him to behave the way he did when we split.

The money issue is a huge red flag on its own. Do you want to be arguing about money forever without any financial security? The cheating and blaming you because you'd given birth (?!?!!) should be the deal breaker.

Musti · 15/07/2019 09:46

You absolutely need to get home as you have a child and don't want to end up stuck in that country for the next 18 years! He is a cheat and controlling/jealous because he judges you by his own standards. The man will never improve. If he starts to cheat or has even cheated at the very first opportunity when he should be excited about his partner and new baby coming to live with him, knowing what big sacrifice you made, that shows that he will never be faithful but he'll expect you to lead the life of a nun. What country would you be going back to? Is there welfare there?can your family help?

InAMassiveRut · 15/07/2019 11:03

@Musti would be going home to Australia, so yeah there is welfare. Rentals are pretty expensive but I think I could make it work. It’s just getting to that point. It fills me with anxiety the thought I could end up with no money and no one to help me. My family are of no help, never have been. I won’t be stuck here, as we are only here until next year.

@DownTownAbbey he didn’t say it was because I’d given birth, I just came to that conclusion because he was saying he enjoyed the attention and obviously my attention was on my newborn baby and my recovery.

@Windmillwhirl I have said that to him before. That he not only let me down, but he let his daughter down. It really deflated him. So it effing should.

@category12 Sad I would be saying the same thing to someone else in the position. Why is it so much harder when it’s you :(

@NaughtyDaddy1 hahahahaha I needed that

@ukgift2016 he isn’t abusive and has told me to go home for a visit if I need to. I don’t want to spend my daughter’s money though on a visit where I would likely have to pay for everything because my family is useless.

@LaLaLamp 3yrs. I get his payslip sent to me, and I know where every cent goes (even when he’s wasting it paying for wants instead of needs). Unfortunately, no stashed money. He wouldn’t hesitate to say take it all if I was leaving. He has said it before when I’ve threatened to, but then we have worked it out. Trouble is there isn’t even half of what there is meant to be at this point. He doesn’t have great pay, as he’s basically using this job as a stepping stone for a better one, so with that came sacrifices.

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