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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:
rvby · 04/05/2020 18:15

I get you op. Fwiw when I was feeling as you do after my marriage ended, I did a lot of writing down my feelings, and a lot of drawing/painting/embroidery stuff. It helped get through the feelings. Also long baths. Avoid alcohol and use an OTC sleep aid if you can't sleep at night.

It's just about surviving it right now I think. Deciding not to contact him today is an excellent first step.

Wanderlust21 · 04/05/2020 18:18

Good news op! Maybe leave your phone in the car so you arent tempted.

Gutterton · 04/05/2020 18:37

I am struck by this projection and fantasy that you have of being a family unit with him and that your DCs adore him.

The reality is that you and your DCs are your family unit - that’s the one you need to solidify and invest in. Men come and go - this one and even their father.

You can have a beautiful family unit with you and your DCs. Base your love and affection their. They don’t need some fake, flaky Disney Dad swooping in every now and again to “treat” them - they don’t need to see their DM swooning and distracted with this guy. They need to seen and feel the consistency and calmness that their DM is 100% preoccupied with being attuned to their unique needs - you guys are the unit. You must have work to do the fix the drama of their own Dad leaving - focus on that emotional repair for them. At the same time repair yourself - spend at least 18 months single, working on yourself before even considering dating - and then only slowly introduce someone to them after a year.

Your most important job is getting your little children emotionally healed and strong - not exposing them to flaky relationships and seeing you all over the place.

Go home - fake it to make it - be delighted to see them - listen to them - watch a rubbish movie, bake some brownies - and compartmentalise - cry into your pillow or in your car - don’t let your DCs sense that you are preoccupied or sad as they will be hurt by that and they deserve better than that - they have already been set up with and emotional deficit. This will be a much more rewarding experience for you than chasing after some bloke and trying create a family - when you already have one. Good luck - you and your DCs dodged a bullet.

minmooch · 04/05/2020 19:10

If you didn't have kids I'd say knock yourself out, enjoy the drama, throw yourself at this worthless man. If you were single with no kids you can do what the hell you like as at the end of the day you are only hurting yourself.

But you have kids. Ffs they deserve better than this. You deserve better than this.

When you feel the need/urge to call him remind yourself of the following:

He's a liar.
He's a cheat.
He's a druggie.
He's a consistent liar.
He's a consistent cheat.
He's a consistent druggie.

You keep saying he doesn't drink at yours. Why make such a big deal of it? Can he not control himself if he starts drinking? You'd soon see he wouldn't be able to hide the real person he is.

Stop making excuses for him.

Pull up your big girl pants and thank your lucky stars you are not shackled to this Lying, cheating, druggie.

As for both being key workers and still seeing each other mixing households - you are both irresponsible. You should know better.

crispysausagerolls · 04/05/2020 20:33

Why aren’t you engaging with posters about how absolutely not ok it is for your children to be around a drug addict?

AnyFucker · 04/05/2020 20:51

And why are you not coming up with any reasons why it is ok for you to flout social distancing rules during the pandemic ?

I think this is made up bollocks

lookingatthepast · 04/05/2020 21:01

It’s not made up and it’s not bollocks

I put my hands up I shouldn’t have been at his house in lockdown. Ok. I shouldn’t have been but I was.

The other poster I excused it away that he never brought drugs into my house. He never took them around me on nights out together or around my children or stay here after any of those nights out whilst under the influence. He had / has a lot of other good qualities besides that. He was reliable made time for us was interested in us. Made us all part of his life as did we. But yes there was a hidden side to him which I uncovered as time went on. I do think he genuinely liked the safe reliable family life and enjoyed his time with us all which is why he wants to keep in contact but he knows his demons are huge and whilst he may try and conquer them he may never actually succeed and it’s time he stopped dragging us all into his mess

OP posts:
minmooch · 04/05/2020 21:07

It's time you stopped allowing yourself to get dragged into this mess.

AnyFucker · 04/05/2020 21:11

but he knows his demons are huge and whilst he may try and conquer them he may never actually succeed and it’s time he stopped dragging us all into his mess

An actual Prince Among Men

19lottie82 · 04/05/2020 21:17

Oh OP, I know how much it hurts, I really do. When I was younger my ex cheated on me and we split up. The pain was horrendous, I used to have to pull over when I was driving so I could cry. I was signed off work for three weeks as I couldn’t stop crying in the toilets. I lost 2 stone because I stopped eating.....
BUT it will get easier, I promise. Please stop romanticising this guy and the relationship. He’s a dickhead and you (and your kids) deserve some much better!

Eggybreadleg · 04/05/2020 21:21

When people tell you who they are BELIEVE them. He's right. He's utterly fucked up and you deserve better. If you take him back you accept being treated in a vile way. Get rid.

Eggybreadleg · 04/05/2020 21:22

Do yourself a huge favour and find some counselling and work on yourself. You need the support and need to figure out why this attractive to you.

NoMoreDickheads · 04/05/2020 21:28

You don't love this gross person. See him for who he is and that love will fall away. This is a dodgy, sleazy, cokehead. The person you thought you loved doesn't exist, you just hadn't realized the real him.

Now look at it, everything he's done and is doing, so you can drop him like a hot brick and be free of the hassle and worry.

Gutterton · 04/05/2020 22:39

it’s time he stopped dragging us all into his mess

It’s time YOU stopped dragging your innocent DCs into this mess. You have known about many of his toxic behaviours for many many months and you are still trying to shoehorn this loser into their lives?

They deserve better.

FlowerArranger · 04/05/2020 22:55

I do think he genuinely liked the safe reliable family life and enjoyed his time with us all

Ah bless...

Wanderlust21 · 04/05/2020 23:55

He hasn't left you to better himself or beat his demons. He has left you to shag prostitutes and take drugs without having to continue to find ways of justifying it.

Lifeisconfusing · 05/05/2020 00:31

Drugs is a red flag without all the other shit.

Run for the hills And concentrate on your children.

whatisthisdeliciousthing · 05/05/2020 00:58

Why are you actively trying to involve yourself with someone who sleeps with prostitutes, cheats on you, gaslights you, takes drugs and is a pathological liar? Are you thick?

Sunsh1neStar5 · 05/05/2020 01:39

Why were you trying so hard to save him ?

He needs to save himself

How do you know for certain he didn't do drugs when he was with you & your children

Other people have events that occur in their families like illness, death, accidents etc
It doesn't lead everyone to drugs, crime, prostitutes

Sunsh1neStar5 · 05/05/2020 01:42

He might look worth saving at 20, 30

He's not going to look so bad boy/drama queen in his 40s, 50s

You enjoyed the drama

enragedpenfold · 05/05/2020 02:20

You are still doing it. You are concocting reasons in your head as to why he’s so redeemable.
When social services are involved, will you choose your kids then? Or will he still be this misunderstood hero with a twagic past? And so the kids yet again will be second best to the druggie with a prostitute habit?
In all honesty, if you are this stupid, you should consider giving up custody now. You are setting them up for misery while mummy runs around after a dick that doesn’t give a single fuck, except as some sort of proof that he’s alright really.
Don’t provide him with that veneer of respectability op.

Starksforthewin · 05/05/2020 04:30

You need to raise GP your standards, OP.

Why would you want a relationship ship with such a loser? Let alone expose your children to it.

You keep obsessing over the detail of the condom in the drawer, but it couldn’t matter less. You are in love with the idea of being in love and being in the standard family unit. This has clouded your judgement so much that you think a guy like this is a prize!

Drop all this shit about not being enough for him, he isn’t good enough for you! The sleaze of someone doing cocaine and ringing escorts ... vile.

Thank heavens you are not financially joined together. Move on, and forget all this rubbish about counselling etc. He is not a prize and your effort would be wasted.

Do some work on yourself, you seem to rate counselling highly as a solution. Why not figure out why you value your life so little you are prepared to sully it with him.
You’ve had a lucky break, grab it with both hands.

allthewaterinthetap · 05/05/2020 04:44

He hasn't left you to better himself or beat his demons. He has left you to shag prostitutes and take drugs without having to continue to find ways of justifying it.

So much, this.

Also...they all 'came really close but didn't actually go through with it' when you catch them cheating.

Starksforthewin · 05/05/2020 04:50

I’ve read a few of your responses now, OP, and I’m sorry but they are pathetic.
Every post is He said, He did, He thinks..

No one on here gives a fuck about him. We’ve read enough to know he’s not worth bothering about. You sound like a teenager, all this bollocks about wanting to sleep and never wake up! 🙄

What would your children think if they read that? That the only person who matters to you is an absolute loser! He’s probably riddled with STDs and in a very short space of time you’ve been having unprotected sex with him and tried to make a family unit with your children.
I feel so sorry for them, their own mother bringing a druggie to their home.

If you can’t find a decent man (and I don’t think you know what one looks like) there are loads of good vibrators on the market. You should use those until you can find some mature judgement.

Shoxfordian · 05/05/2020 06:23

He's a loser who cheated on you
He was never going to change and you were never going to fix him.

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