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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

Think it’s over. Messages , escorts, open condom. Please help

424 replies

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 17:14

Will try and be brief. Been with OH 18 months. We met through mutual friends. I have children with my ex husband . Kids were introduced slowly they all get on great. Kids like having him around asked when he would move in and I discussed how they would feel about it should that happen and they were all happy and excited and wanted it . I am mid 30s OH early 30s and he has no kids. I can’t have anymore children and although he said he couldn’t garantee one day he might not feel he wants a family of his own he doesn’t have an overwhelming feeling to have his own kids that he was happy with us he loved his time with us etc .

Recently a friend of his had a baby I mentioned I am sure one day he would love his own and he said I am happy with how things are. He did always say he would feel disappointed in life if he never married though. I have no aversion to remarrying (the marriage wasn’t the issue last time it was the person ) then recently another friend is expecting a baby in August and someone else we know in November. Again no desire expressed by him that he feels he’s missing out or broody .

I found out a while back that on nights outs with his mates (approx once a month) some of them do a few lines of coke . My ex used to do it and it caused a lot of issues. However he was also violent and abusive when drinking and doing drugs. My OH and I talked and I said as long as he never brought it into my house and never did it around me or my children or when I was with him then out with his mates while I don’t approve is his business and doesn’t effect me. I later found out after looking at his phone one of his friends deals it and that’s where they get it from and he has friends who ring him and he passes this guys number on as a favour. I gave him lots of opportunities to come clean and tell me and he didn’t. Until eventually I overheard a call and confronted him. We nearly broke up over it but he said he would stop being involved and he wanted a future with me and was sorry.

At the same time I saw on a holiday with some of his friends and family last year (booked before we were together) he messaged a girl on a dating app asking if she fancied meeting for a drink. Again I kept quiet and didn’t let on that I knew. I buried it and carried on.

I love and care for this man deeply. He lost him mum a couple of years ago and said I made him feel happy again and came into his life when everything was dark etc. We had both of us talked about buying somewhere together and one day marrying. He mentioned in the beginning of the year when we had been together a year the idea of us living together (he works , owns his own house but there’s now a tenant in and would have been with me so my children don’t have to move house and Schools etc ) I said sounds great let’s see in the summer about it but he started staying here a few times a week instead of just one to see how it felt being together that bit more.

In February we were going to meet two of his friends for lunch and a message came up on his in car system which he asked me to read to him. Under that was another message from an unsaved number sent at 5am that morning when he was staying at his dads house saying they only offer outcalls and not incalls. I know it was a massage parlour / escort agency from that and I confronted him. He said firsT of all a friend had done it and used his phone and I told him to have respect for me and admit it. He admitted he was drunk and doing drugs and he called the number but they were closed and could only come out and he didn’t have anyone go there as his dad brother and friends were there. He pleaded cried begged but did say maybe we would be better off ending it as I wouldn’t be able to trust him. I said maybe he should try counselling
He said he felt he was t good enough for me. That he’s always been hurt in relationships so throught that’s he’s bound to get screwed over again so what does it matter. He was so very upset and sorry for hurting me said I didn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve me and doesn’t deserve another chance. I wanted to make it work so let it go as a blip and a stupid drunken mistake although I was very hurt and felt inferior and not good enough. In March he did the same thing again. I found out as I hold my hands up and went through his phone. It was all there. Searches to brothels and massage parlours. He also gave his phone number to a random girl on the street and was emailing / messaging her for a bit the same night and he stayed up all night on a huge coke binge at the same time. (This was in a flat his family own in another town where he went on a weekend away with friends. But he went one night before everyone else on his own and did all this ) when j saw him online late he said he was up late as he didn’t feel well. I was worried about him being ill and there on his own as he’d been unwell at mine a couple of days before. He told his friend in a message it was a lie to shut me up and he was in the flat and paranoid from the amount of coke that he locked himself in one of the room as he thought there was a person next door )

Again i confronted him as it was the disrespect to me in these messages which I couldn’t believe. Laughing with friends bout messaging other girls and that I fell for his story of being ill. He then started counselling and has so far had 7 sessions. I even offered to do couples counselling alongside so that we could get back to how we were and work on things and have the life together we talked about.

Yesterday I was at his house and when I stood up to leave I looked down and in a drawer next to his bed (which was open) there was a worn condom laying there. I picked it up and said Why is this in your room. We don’t use them and haven’t had sex in that room anyway. He said he never uses the drawer someone else must have left it there from what could be months or years ago and it’s nothing to do with him . I didn’t argue I didn’t shout or scream I just felt very tired and said this is your bedroom how could you not know it was there. He said I don’t use that drawer and other people have stayed over in this room when I haven’t been here and it could be one of them. His cousin and girlfriend. Friends and girlfriends etc. His head dropped and he said I am telling the truth but I know you don’t believe me . I said I don’t know what to think and if you found it at my house you would find it hard to believe that it was as years old and I didn’t know how it got there
I have never found any actual evidence he’s cheated. Just times he’s come close. He said he doesn’t know why he’s done it. Etc

Anyway today he’s ended it with me. Says he needs to be on his own
He can’t stand keep making me unhappy and he can’t leave his phone unattended near me anymore and I won’t ever trust him
All suggestions of counselling together he’s saying no to. Says I will see it’s for the best and he wants to stay friends and still be able to meet up and have a kick about with the kids or take them out sometimes but he’s got too many issues to work on and he needs to put himself first and deal with them. He’s also said one day he might want kids and that option is off limits and it’s been bothering him for a while now. That maybe his best friend having a kid has made him think and he can’t guarantee he won’t one day want one and it’s something I can’t do with him. The idea of a surrogate if needs be was dismissed. Says he feels he’s no control over his life and it’s moving at 100mph ! No idea how I haven’t pushed him to move in. Marriage was briefly discussed a few times and by him as it happens as there’s a certain church he would like the ceremony in if possible but I could chose the reception if I was happy with that. Talked about areas we would consider buying in one day and when would be tha best time to move and both agreed 2 years time due to my children’s schooling. So none of this is about to happen tomorrow or next week.

I am hurting so much. I feel sick. I can’t stop crying. I feel ill. The future we talked about the plans we discussed. And then he’s going to meet someone else and do it all with them instead. Yesterday everything was fine. He cuddled me said he missed me loved me. I saw that condom and came home and now we are over

I feel broken. So broken and have no one I can talk to. I work long hours in a stressful job with people at times I am unhappy around. I feel so sad and lost

OP posts:
ChristmasFluff · 04/05/2020 10:51

When he says he wants you in his life as a friend, he means he wants you in his life as a downgraded girlfriend who still loves him. So he can shag you, and then say 'but we are only friends'.

Don't be anyone's fallback girl.

That's not to mention why on earth would you want such a low-quality friend.

Kraejka · 04/05/2020 10:57

When he says he wants you in his life as a friend, he means he wants you in his life as a downgraded girlfriend who still loves him. So he can shag you, and then say 'but we are only friends'.
That's exactly what he wants. I, stupidly, put up with shit like this from ex (see longer post upthread). You just end up with no self-esteem, waiting for him to see sense and begin a relationship again - which he will, when he establishes there's no other woman around who will put up with his shit. Types like this are deeply damaged (and no, that is not a reason to try to fix them), and they need to draw strength from someone else because their core is empty. When their strength starts to dip they need to get their victim back again so they can suck more life out of them. When they start to feel good and invincible again the next cycle begins - need my freedom, want to have kids, you're too good for me. Blah Blah Blah.

Solomon1212 · 04/05/2020 11:00

Jesus christ!! What a twat. Let him go and be someone else's problem. Hes done you a favour.

lookingatthepast · 04/05/2020 11:02

Oh no there’s no way I would be shagging anyone I wasn’t in a relationship with. Even when I admit I was upset yesterday he said I know it’s hard but I am not going to be the one to give you a hug as it will give mixed signals. He’s quite adamant . He wants to be on his own and sort his life out . He’s said he’s sorry for hurting me and for everything he’s done but I need to let him go respect his decision and let him be by himself now. That I am an amazing person and have done nothing wrong and all of this is on him . He can’t make any guarantees that he can conquer his issues but Rome wasn’t built in a day and he wants to try and be a better person. Just not with me. He won’t admit still to the condom being his he says we are over now so he has no reason to lie as we are not together but it’s genuinely not his. I will never know and for my own mental state I have to let it go or I will just drive myself mad.

I have taken on board the books people recommend. I have now got out of bed. Admittedly I have cried a lot this morning. I now need some help on an hour to hour day by day basis on how I can stop hurting and get on. The pain is overwhelming at the moment and all consuming. I feel physically sick and have dreadful anxiety
I literally want to sleep and never wake up . Forget him now. I need some help in dealing with that and myself urgently

OP posts:
KotoMoto · 04/05/2020 11:22

Looking after other people and making them happy makes me happy. I don’t know how to be happy myself. So I just try and do it for others

This ^^ is your number one problem. You need to deal with this ASAP through therapy, by yourself.

Your kids will grow up being like this, being people pleasers and letting people walk all over them. Do you want your daughter to be with a man who shags prostitutes and snorts coke? Do you want your son to end up shagging escorts and doing drugs to fit in with his crowd?

Your kids will need therapy in adulthood.

Unless you sort this out now.

  1. Seek therapy now in lockdown
  2. Block the wanker and cut all contact
  3. Teach your children to have boundaries. Here is a life lesson for them. "Mummy's bf did something very unkind and disrespectful and so he will not be in our lives anymore, because mummy's number 1 priority is looking after you [her children] and me [herself]"
  4. Stop breaking the lockdown rules
  5. Get a postal STI test
  6. Stay single for the next few years. Use the time to invest in your self worth and educate yourself about your own psychology.
Kraejka · 04/05/2020 11:23

Go non-contact with him. It's better for you and better for the children.
He says he doesn't want to give you mixed messages by hugging you and you shouldn't give him mixed messages by maintaining some kind of "friendship".
It won't work. Believe me, I know.
When my ex fucked off for the third time still talking about being friends, I was absolutely resolute that I would have no-contact. It was so hard.
I printed out a free three-month calender from the internet. I counted up 30, 60 and 90 days and chose a treat for each of those days. Day 30 was clothes shopping. Day 60 was a spa day. Day 90 was a day trip to a place I'd always wanted to see.
I ticked off every day non-contact and it was so hard at first but the "rewards" gave me something to look forward to.

Non-contact is the only way. If you don't go non-contact he'll be back in no time at all. The pain takes a long time to go away but I found that it was even more drawn out by having any form of contact with him and of course getting back in a relationship with him and then having it al start again was horrendous.

GilbertMarkham · 04/05/2020 11:25

Op in the nicest possible way (!) stop breaking your heart over a hooker shagging, coke snorting, hook up chasing (while not single!) drinker (it may not be all the time but he sounds like a binge drinker) - who didnt have the sense or decency not to get involved with a woman with children (who he also got involved with) when he's not capable of offering her a decent relationship.

He's not what you built him up to be, you accepted far too much.

It's just a relationship and he's just a (not good quality, fked up) bloke.

GilbertMarkham · 04/05/2020 11:29

Btw as well as the ethics around having sex with prostitutes (what a nice word escorts or masseur is for it) who you can never know for sure have not been trafficked, are not being coerced in some way, have not been abused etc.

..
The coke has a trail of violence, hand warfare, shootings, killings, maimings, exploitation etc etc behind it from South America right up through central America, the Carribbean, and north America; and the places it hits Europe. It's mired in crime, exploitation and misery for people (esp women and kids). Anyone who uses it is a (purposefully) ignorant immoral c*nt.

GilbertMarkham · 04/05/2020 11:30

*gang warfare

ErickBroch · 04/05/2020 12:20

@lookingatthepast " I will never know and for my own mental state I have to let it go or I will just drive myself mad." .... it was his. You don't need to drive yourself mad. Your answer is in front of you. He has cheated on you numerous times.

Futurenostalgia · 04/05/2020 12:35

The problem you have is that if he suddenly decides he wants you back after all, you are desperate enough to take him back. Nothing will have changed and he will continue his behaviour.

famousforwrongreason · 04/05/2020 12:43

@Kraejka your calendar is a wonderful idea

GilbertMarkham · 04/05/2020 12:49

Op the other thing I forgot to mention but which jumped out at me from the start is that you said you actually we're nowhere near as upset/hurt/affected by the breakdown of your relationship with your ex as with this guy.

Some women say that the next serious (ish) relationship they have after a previous marriage breakdown) affects them really really badly if it breaks down. They didn't know if it was the fact of two failed relationships, or that they put all their hopes and dreams into the next relationship hoping that it would make up for or "put right" the failed marriage .... It seems that you were/are terribly terribly invested and emotional in this relationship.

You had/have such an obvious "am I enough for him, am I good enough for him, I can't offer him kids, why am I not enough for him, if I just support him a d understand he'll appreciate me and it'll all work out, he's throwing it away, etc" attitude ....
Where is the "is he good enough for me", "is he good enough to be introduced to/around my kids", "is he someone I should be investing in" etc etc. It's totally missing. I don't know if you're like this with everyone of I'd something about this situation has made you like this, bit of bears looking into.

GilbertMarkham · 04/05/2020 12:50

*but

unmumsymumof2 · 04/05/2020 12:56

Listen to him.

You've had a lucky escape. When you feel shit or like you want him back, re read your first post of everything he has done and why you and your children would want a man like that in your life.

He's done you a favour.

IWantT0BreakFree · 04/05/2020 13:25

They adored him and this will hurt them

But that’s on you, OP. They aren’t his kids, they are yours and it’s your job to protect them and put them first. You didn’t. You very quickly and recklessly put them in the middle of a situation with a guy who was quite obviously unsuitable and unreliable from the outset and that’s why they are going to get hurt now. I’m not trying to stick the boot in. I’m saying this because it seems very clear that you would take this guy back in a second if/when he decides he wants to fall back on his safety net (you) for a bit. And if not him, you’ll be introducing your kids to the next dodgy bloke who turns on the charm.

You need to get some real life help, counselling or therapy, to address your obvious self esteem issues and explore why you are so desperate for approval, love, acceptance, whatever it is, that you are willing to put your kids at risk to get it.

And stop fucking meeting up with people when we’re on lockdown. It’s selfish beyond belief.

yesterdaystotalsteps123 · 04/05/2020 14:40

This man is not working on himself or trying to become a better person.stupid men the world over are breaking lockdown for shags. He will be organising sex workers to visit him so unless you want your children to catch coronavirus from him via a sex trafficked woman, keep well away. You aren't being a good parent if you don't block him and your children would not adore him if they knew he didn't give a shit about their mum

AcrossthePond55 · 04/05/2020 14:42

I hope your last post means that you are not going to contact him again. That needs to be your first step. No contact and block him so he can't contact you.

lookingatthepast · 04/05/2020 17:20

I have just finished work. I have decided a small step I won’t contact him tonight. That’s all I can manage at the moment. A small baby step . I am at work in the car park and I don’t even want to go home. Home yo thinking about everything again. I can feel waves of anxiety crashing over me huge ones. I feel sick

OP posts:
rvby · 04/05/2020 17:32

Bless you op.

What is making the anxiety come up at the moment? Is it the idea that you're going to go home and not be able to distract yourself from thinking about the relationship?

KarenBossLady · 04/05/2020 17:44

This reply has been deleted

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ILuvQuarintinis · 04/05/2020 17:50

@lookingatthepast many of us have been in situations where we have broken up with someone and feel this way . You WILL have a better life than this . I know you don't feel it now but you will. He is fucking horrible!

lookingatthepast · 04/05/2020 17:58

Yeah so not talking to him about my day and saying those nice things and picking me up when it’s been crap at work. Or silly texts between us. Or him coming over to see me. Just the little things like that. Or I might have picked him up his fav chocolate from the shop . Just those silly things. Life just feels dark at the moment

OP posts:
lookingatthepast · 04/05/2020 18:03

Wanting the pain to go away when it’s time which does that.

He took my love for granted. I know that . He broke my heart but I still loved him with the broken pieces of it . So yes it’s the anxiety of thinking no one else will love me I am unloveable and no one cares about me. The thoughts of why wasn’t my love enough which are hurting me at the moment. Not knowing how to distract myself as another poster said. Going to arrange my own counselling ASAP as I had to deal with a traumatic death at work a week into the job a couple of months back and I have so many emotions going on at the moment

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 04/05/2020 18:05

I have decided a small step I won’t contact him tonight.

That's perfect! After a particularly bad breakup I actually set mental timers like "I'll wait until XX o'clock". This was waaayy before mobiles and texting. I generally found if I managed my 'goal' that I'd actually feel like I could go without calling at all for that day.

And instead thinking of the little things you did 'for him', do them for yourself. Especially if there were treats or things you liked but he didn't. Indulge in NOT having to share with him!

You can do this, one step at a time.