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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

Divorce for Dummies

6 replies

CallingTime · 07/09/2019 19:38

I need help. I need support. I’m really struggling. We suffered a huge loss this year so I’m feeling down anyway. He is too but it hit me harder.

My husband is a twat. I felt forced to go back to work because he wouldn’t work and I ran out of money. I had savings for maternity leave but he had no savings and gave up work so I was paying for EVERYTHING. It put more stress on me at a time when I didn’t need it.

Things haven’t been great for a while but I find it particularly hurtful that he can’t be supportive now.

He’s selfish. He’s mean. He expects everything his own way. He takes and takes. If I don’t do what he wants hen he punishes me by withdrawing or being very moody / angry / nasty. So much so that for a long time I’ve done want he wants but felt like a doormat. I’ve stopped that a bit recently and obviously that’s made things harder. He eats very angry.

We’ve often thrown “divorce” around in arguments but didn’t mean it. We both seem not to be able to be without each other. We argue and it gets v heated and personal but then we calm down and want each other again. I feel less that way as time has gone on though as I see the pattern. I see nothing is ever resolved. I see the good times are only ever temporary. I see that he makes me feel worse at least 50% of the time. I feel like I’m waiting for the times when he’s pleasant and loving towards me and I’m almost grateful when those moments come. We agreed to stop talking about divorce when we didn’t mean it so I stopped but recently I’ve been talking about it. And I half mean it.

Anyway today we agreed we’d divorce. He’d asked to talk about things and I said there is no point as we don’t resolve anything and I know nothing will change. He sort of agreed but I think he does that to save face or he thinks I don’t mean it. I went out and came back and he was all affectionate and horny. We talked and have a row and said we should get divorced. He agreed as he or angry (as usual) but I’m sure he’ll calm down and try to pretend it didn’t mean anything.

The issue is I don’t feel strong enough to follow through. I also feel I’m struggling to cope generally but I’m not someone who talks opening to friends or family. I know leaving is probably the right thing as he’s not a very nice man. He takes from me and makes me feel crap. He told me tonight he has no respect for me and he treats me like that’s the case half the time.

We own a house and I have said I would like to keep the house and buy him out by how do we even work that out? He owned our first house and had about £40K equity. I paid about half that and paid half of all the bills and mortgage while we lived there. Since moving into this house have paid for the majority or the bills and some home improvements. He says he won’t leave until he gets his fair share but isn’t sure what that is. I don’t see how we move on living together. I don’t want to leave so he can have my home. I feel it’s all I have left and I have slightly more sentimental attachment to the house. He doesn’t object to that in principle and he couldn’t afford to keep it.

We don’t have any living children but I would like to have more children. At times that’s been a reason for me to stay, as I’m late 30s and might have missed the boat, but I’m not sure that matters as much now. I still want them but not like this.

I just don’t know what to do. Is it always like this? Is it normal to just wish things were different and not want to leave? I feel down so I just want a hug but that’s the same vicious cycle we always get into. I know to end it properly - don’t I?

OP posts:
category12 · 07/09/2019 20:20

I'm so sorry for your loss. Flowers

If you're ready, then just start taking steps towards the divorce. Book an appointment with a solicitor. Get their advice. You may be able to sort out financials etc with mediation. Fill in the forms. Bit by bit get things rolling.

KatzP · 07/09/2019 20:21

Have you spoken to a lawyer. I’d suggest that is your first step. I’m so sorry for your loss. His behaviour is appalling and sounds like going it alone to have children in the future would be preferential to staying with him just to have children. Especially if he didn’t support his family first time round.

I can’t offer any more suggestions but didn’t want your post to go unanswered.

CallingTime · 08/09/2019 07:27

Thanks for your replies.

I should speak to a solicitor. It just feels like a big step. He was really upset yesterday because I said I want a divorce but then he was suddenly being living towards me and said he doesn’t want to be without me and wants to give things another go.

I don’t want to divorce either but I don’t have faith that things will change. I just don’t want to waste my life with someone if he will never treat me right.

OP posts:
CallingTime · 08/09/2019 21:27

Well I’ve taken the first step in calling my Mum and telling people in RL that he is being a dick - he’s annoyed because he had to get public transport today because I refused to give him my car. He doesn’t have a car as he refuses to get one and doesn’t plan in advance with me when he might need it, just announces he is busy and if I don’t offer to cancel my plans and let him take the car then I get the silent treatment / abuse when he gets home

OP posts:
madcatladyforever · 08/09/2019 21:35

It sounds as if you have a dreadful time OP, I'm so sorry.
However, wanting a child is absolutely no reason to stay with somebody like this who will be even worse if you have a child with him and can you imagine how awful it would be to have warring parents.
A child needs better than that.
Go and book an hour with a solicitor and take some figures with you. They should be able to tell you what you can expect then depending on what funds you have either start a divorce petition online or get your solicitor to do it for you. There are various options.
The main thing is to do something.
i found it extremely difficult to let got of my miserable relationship with my ex but once the divorce was done I felt happier than I had in many many years.
You can do it.

CallingTime · 08/09/2019 21:39

Thanks @madcatladyforever

Yes you’re right about having children. I don’t think that’s a good reason to stay with him. I will find it hard to let go. He is the love of my life, my first love (I am not his, he has done this before) and I adore him. He isn’t very nice to me though and I know that. I am finding i am getting closer and closer to thinking about the practicalities of being without him although I don’t think it would be easy and I’m still not sure I can do it.

Mum is coming over for moral support. Think she wants to talk to DH but not sure what that would achieve. He’s upstairs and I’m sure he won’t come down if he can avoid it but maybe the fact that I’ve taken the step to tell them what’s going on is a step in the right direction - I need to not be ashamed of what’s going on. I am a bit bit of this isn’t right I need to end it.

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