Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

Some friendly words - part 2. It's over.

960 replies

ASmallBoxofChocolateBunnies · 30/10/2019 22:42

First of all I wanted to apologise to the lovely people who were so supportive on my original thread. I had it deleted because I had a weird 'outing' experience, but it doesn't matter now because this evening I had the phone call telling me it was definitely over.

I thought we had been making some progress trying to work things out, but no, it's done.

22 years destroyed in the space of a few months.

In his words, something just switched off. Which is nice.

I don't believe there is an OW, but I suspect there may well be shortly.

Moving away for a job, living in the village he grew up in which he had never wanted to leave originally, and where he now feels more at home than he has done in years. And yes, he did say that, although he did apologise when I pointed out that didn't make me feel super wonderful.

Too much time alone, too much time to dwell and gnaw at all the little things that weren't quite right, all the little niggles, and BOOM suddenly he's able to completely shut, bolt and nail the door up behind him,

And I am just broken. I know I am strong, I know I can get through this, but blimey, it is just, pain.

It seems such a dreadful waste. Ironically, if he hadn't got this job earlier in the year, we may well have been in Las Vegas now, celebrating 20 years of marriage, which is somewhere I'd always wanted to go, and we were going to splurge, irregardless of our not terribly healthy finances.

I just did not see this coming. I still believe our niggles, issues etc were eminently fixable. But fixing them needed someone who was present. And he evidently hasn't been for the past few months.

It seems to have happened very quickly in his head. There was a catalyst of moving within the village 2 months ago at which point it's like a light went out.

So we never had a chance really, he never said how he was feeling because there doesn't seem to have been a period of doubt, just love one day, nothing the next.

Have to work out how to tell the children (well, young adults).

As is so often the case, the one person I would turn to, talk to, the one person I could rely on to have my back, to make me feel better just by being there...is the very person who has broken me.

Of course I still love him. He's been my love, my person, my best friend for all this time, and to lose all of those is horrifying.

We 'got' each other so much, on so many levels just not having that is more than I feel I can bear. I feel like I'm bursting out of my skin.

When he first told me how he felt, and then when we were talking so I wasn't sure, but hoped there was a chance, I thought that limbo was bad, and actually knowing might feel better. It doesn't.

If anyone is there, please could you spare a moment.

I am very lucky, I have some wonderful friends, but at the moment I just can't go to bed and I feel, just, horrible.

Thank you

OP posts:
ASmallBoxofChocolateBunnies · 11/12/2019 21:35

Thankyou Bigpooh. The thing is I don't think there are any words of wisdom really. Other than taking it hour by hour, day by day.

It's so hard that he is hours away in his shiny new life and I am left here just surrounded by things, places, people and memories of a life that was so good.

It wasn't broken - he broke it. And it seems desperately unfair that I have to deal with this while he can just shut it away with nothing to remind him.

And even more desperately unfair that I still love and miss him.

Arse.

OP posts:
SuperbMonkey · 11/12/2019 21:45

Bunnies, I completely empathise with you. Everything you say about the situation is right. It is unfair. He did break the relationship. My counsellor has explained to me that I have to have faith in my truth and recognise that he will never accept that his truth is wrong because he feels too much guilt. He has to stick to his truth in order to live with himself. I find that helpful but it doesn’t make any of this easier. Take care of yourself and stay strong.

ASmallBoxofChocolateBunnies · 11/12/2019 22:00

Superb, yes I think that is completely right.

I am now fairly certain that some of H's contradictory words and behaviours has been because he can't risk letting his carefully constructed 'wall' break.

So when he came down in October, and there was a short period when he was like his normal self, he had to rush away.

He can't come down here.

He can't speak to me (or even dd) in a normal way. He can't speak to anyone, or of anything from our life together.

His aunt thinks it's all going to come crumbling down at some point.

Not that it does me any good.

It's so bloody cowardly.

OP posts:
Bigpooh13 · 11/12/2019 22:01

He does feel guilty and thinks he's being nice to me. But he left me thats not nice. They get to move on and switch off so easily I dont understand how they can. All the years and memories. They dont care how we cope and just live on our own every day when we used to being with them. It's over whelming at times. You forget and think I'll just ask him to change that lightbulb. But he doesnt sorry .

SuperbMonkey · 11/12/2019 22:47

Bunnies, it is cowardly. They have become cowards. If they spoke honestly about their lives with us the lies they have told would jump up at them and would have to be faced. They are scared to be honest.

Bigpooh, he is better no nice because it suits him. Mine was nice while he wanted my cooperation. It is true that they don’t care and that’s hard and hurtful for us. We have to rise above that. We can change lightbulbs without needing them to do it.

Sleep well, both. Tomorrow is another day ...

SuperbMonkey · 11/12/2019 22:48
  • being nice
Stillfunny · 12/12/2019 06:11

This is also a thread that I keep coming back to. In RL I have never had to listen or support anyone going through this.

So when it happened to me , nearly a year ago,after 30 years of marriage, I was in a turmoil.
I found him using a second phone that shocked the hell out of me. I had a panic attack and truly thought I might die of it.

I take a comfort now reading about all of you here. Not that I wish this on my worst enemy , but it helps me to know that other women have experienced this too. Any we are all dealing with it , as strong women do.

The similarities are striking. I find myself thinking " Yes !" , "Exactly " and " Me too
! "Wonder if it is because men are basically unimaginative and therefore follow The Script.

I even have the sister who thinks I should just forgive , forget and move on.

Thanks for this thread . I feel that watching you all support and understand what we are going through , really helps a lot.

unicornsarereal72 · 12/12/2019 06:41

Hope you all had a restful night. Let yourself feel sad or angry. Don't try to suppress it. You need to let it out so it can pass.

And pass it will. Just takes time.

I'm still sad for my old life. But am more at peace with the situation. It has taken me a long time to feel joy. I am lucky I wake up to my beautiful children everyday.

I have no time for people who behave badly. And those who can't make their children a priority. It makes it easier for me that he has continued to behave badly.

We all deserve better.

SuperbMonkey · 12/12/2019 08:53

@Stillfunny, sorry that you are in this position too after such a long marriage. What has helped you to get through the year and still sound so sensible?

Stillfunny · 12/12/2019 11:59

I wasn't very coherent for a long time! But just had to go on with things as I have a lot of responsibilties ( care of elderly relative, dealing with death of family members)
It helped that the house is big enough for seperate rooms and we went for counselling straight away , which at least calmed me down.

He worked away during the week online EA with old school friend Bingo ! I guess he missed the buzz when at home , so was on dating Apps.

I can not stress enough how unlikely this was for him. But I guess everyone says that! And I am very independent - except financially. And he is so pathetically remorseful - not that I give a shit[smile

I have now come to the realisation that I don't actually HAVE to do anything at the moment. Just biding my time until it suits me to begin proceedings.

It also helps that I no longer love him , he disgusts me , and I think he is a pathetic loser.No idea what motivated him - he says he felt " seperate " . It all ended in tears for him anyway as he was dumped !He did it
because he wanted to and because he could.

It has been the worst year of my life . The thoughts are constantly in my head.I am going to therapy for myself to get some peace of mind.

The knowledge that as soon as I am able to , I am out . I am afraid of what is ahead but I am more afraid of living with him in old age. I do have an exit plan and hope I will be able to enjoy the rest of my life.

It is so sad that these men seem to have no qualms betraying their wife and family. I don't know how they justify it , even to themselves. Their selfishness , causing so much pain to their DCs , is unbelievable. I know that I would not be able to live with the guilt.

SuperbMonkey · 13/12/2019 09:04

@Stillfunny. Thank you for your helpful reply. I’m struggling today for various reasons. Feeling flat and depressed about the future. I will think about what you have said and pick myself up.

Stillfunny · 13/12/2019 09:54

Well , it really is a daily struggle.Last night I was crying while talking to him.

I guess I get mad that I feel he is not Sorry enough. Unrealistic of me to expect him to be begging forgiveness every day really.He thinks now what is the point.

And so it goes , on and on , up and down. One day at a time.I just keep repeating to myself,
" I CAN do this and eventually I will be OK " .

That is why I love MNers. Nobody in RL I can bore with this. And I do get comfort when women post " Yes , I know how you feel , it happened to me " and read how they coped.

Could be worse, imagine how poor Labour supporters feel today.Grin.
Disclaimer: Not in UK , so didn't vote for anyone.Grin

SuperbMonkey · 13/12/2019 16:41

@Stillfunny, thank you again. This is helpful. Your mantra is a good one. I have a strong sense of fairness and feel so betrayed. It’s sometimes difficult to process those feelings, especially when tired (shouldn’t have engaged with the election so much last night). In RL whilst we can rely on friends, I’m always conscious of not being a burden. This thread has been important to me for that reason, just, as you say, reading how other women have been through the same and have survived and thrived. Looking forward to happier times.

SuperbMonkey · 14/12/2019 12:02

Hope everyone is doing ok today?

Bigpooh13 · 14/12/2019 12:36

Really struggling actually after seeing n talking to him yesterday. Very mixed emotions.

SuperbMonkey · 14/12/2019 12:43

@Bigpooh13 I’m sorry to read that. Have you got something planned for the rest of the day, to give you a distraction? If not, can you plan something last minute?

Bigpooh13 · 14/12/2019 13:29

Thanks I try to do things. Keep going. I'm very short of friends as I was told that we dont need them we have each other etc. Just me n him. Thanks hubby.

SuperbMonkey · 14/12/2019 13:33

Ok. Well you have online friends here. They count as friends. You are giving him a lot of your mental space. Perhaps you need to find distractions that are going to give you lots to think about. Are you eating and sleeping? If not, see your doctor and try some milk shakes. You must take care of yourself while life is chaotic.

unicornsarereal72 · 14/12/2019 14:16

If you are Hampshire based in short in rl friends too.

Try and stay low contact as you can until you have more of a hold on your emotions. It will get easier in time x

Fidgetliz · 14/12/2019 14:58

This weekend has been a struggle I think the shock is starting to wear off. It’s the second weekend after he left and last week I was out with friends. It’s really starting to hit me now that he’s gone and won’t be back. Oldest son is ok as he works full time and has a large circle of friends for support but my 20 year old daughter is struggling. She hates him and then sobs her heart out because she wants him back. She also has anxiety and depression issues which she was just getting on top of and this has really set her back. I’m trying to deal with my emotions and trying to stay strong for her.

Radicalradiator · 14/12/2019 15:11

Hi op I’ve not read the whole thread but am in a similar position. My husband left earlier this year after 20 years together - we have a very young child though. There has been no OW, he just said he didn’t love me anymore. It’s such a hard shitty time of year for this too. Sending you strength

Bigpooh13 · 14/12/2019 17:42

I just cant believe them . What the hell is wrong with them . I am so sorry for you all .

Bigpooh13 · 14/12/2019 18:56

Mine said the same. Didnt live me enough when I got I'll. Wanted us to continue living together. I couldnt do it he moved out 2 weeks later or less he was with OW.

Stillfunny · 14/12/2019 22:06

Fidgetliz My daughter , 23 , was so upset too. She idolised her father and was so confused. Angry at him , then angry at me for telling her ( no details ). She has come to terms with it all, as we have promised not to allude to anything in front of her.
My son, is still struggling with DH and being around him.
So , as I told DH, your disgusting behaviour doesn't just affect us , but also my DCs , and then I hate him all over again.
Have called a Xmas truce , more so others will not feel awkward. He thinks it means a thaw in my feelings.
Asshole, 2020 is hopefully my year to kick him out !Xmas Smile

SuperbMonkey · 15/12/2019 09:59

@Stillfunny, you are brave! I am finding Christmas very difficult and I have nothing but dread for 2020 as my situation is likely to be worse, much worse, before it gets better. On many days I am at a loss what to do with my emotions.