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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:
minmooch · 19/05/2020 09:54

You need to work out why you think you love this man?

Really? Why would anyone really love someone who lies and cheats and is a delightful druggie on top? And only 18 months so it's not like you've got a whole lot of history behind you.

He doesn't love you, never has. Someone who loves you does not do all that shit.

You have been flogging a dead horse.

Of course most of us would love a happily family unit with a partner that lives and supports you. But this man was never going to be that one for you. It's like trying to put a square peg into a round hole. You need to look for a better fix - but you need to recognise why you are drawn to wasters and trying to get them to love you.

A good healthy relationship is not this much hard work.

yesterdaystotalsteps123 · 19/05/2020 10:05

Your ex husband is a dick. Don't let something he said in spite get to you. I know it's easier said than done. Try some affirmations every day. You just have to repeat a positive phrase like I am enough. I am worthy of being loved. Put your hand on your heart and repeat every morning. You are too good for these dickless, heartless, abusive twats and it's absolutely fine to be single. It's enjoyable. When you get to that place you will feel so content

backseatcookers · 19/05/2020 10:12

OP you must cut contact with him.

Throw yourself into the break up as awful as that sounds.

Commit to it.

Tell him you've thought about the way he has described you - that you are kind and he wishes he could be more like you (he's talking bollocks saying that as he could try even a tiny bit and not be as colossal a cunt as he is) so you are asking him to respect your decision that no contact is kindest to you and your children and you will be blocking him.

If he agrees, great. Don't fight it - just do it.

If he doesn't agree then ask yourself - you're telling him what's best for you and your children. If he doesn't want to do what's best for you then he isn't worth your time anyway is he? So block regardless.

You MUST do this.

You need to grieve the relationship, work out why the hell you let this go on so long, why you feel unable to let him go and then work hard on building up healthy boundaries you can use moving ahead for the rest of your life.

Please, please consider cutting contact.

Timekeeper1 · 19/05/2020 11:42

OP it strikes me that you almost never mention your children on here. Almost never at all. They should be the centre of your universe. Not some worthless piece of garbage from the gutter.

Start putting your own flesh and blood at the centre of your life. The way you carry on it's as if your life has no meaning without this drug-addicted, prostitute-fucking worthless waste of space.

When is the last time you paid any attention to your own children, and made them know that they are number one in your life, that they are your life? You're a mother, so act like it. Stop chasing (disease ridden) cock and start living your life around your children.

longwayoff · 19/05/2020 11:57

Oh OP. Time to celebrate losing The Loser. Why do you think you deserve such a poor (but all too common, sadly) example of a man in your life.? He doesn't want to change, he wants you to believe that's what he wants so he can behave as he likes. He can have you to give him some 'mummy love,' when he's caught out AND he can blame you for his failure ' I told you I was no good'. Creep.

MoiraRoses · 19/05/2020 13:06

Op let this man go he'll never live up to the fantasy future you wished and wanted to be true.
He's hurt you repeatedly chipped away at your trust dragged you into his drug fueled drama. He's lied repeatedly pretended to be sorry or not really sorry he's only sorry for himself.
He's been selfish and only thought about what he wants and has basically been living a double life the fake one with you fooling you and himself compared with his actual real life of drugs and escorts/random hook ups. This is really who he is! Is this what you want?

No op you are worth so much more than this and your kids deserve a life free from such a lying faker. He was hiding his true self from them too.
They won't always be kids they'll be teens and young adults and you will be doing everything you can to steer them away from exactly the type of person this man.

Block this toxic individual and let yourself move on, grieve, heal and protect your mental health and wellbeing.

MoiraRoses · 19/05/2020 13:08

from exactly the type of person this man is*

AcrossthePond55 · 19/05/2020 16:50

I just wanted to feel safe and secure and loved

You don't need a man or anyone else to feel loved, safe, and secure. You can make yourself feel all those things by yourself. And until you do, then you'll always be vulnerable to unscrupulous men. And you will always feel that nagging little 'something is missing' feeling.

Let him go. Cut him out of your life like a cancer, because he is eating away at the love and time you should be giving yourself, building yourself in to that strong, wise, caring woman that you already are inside. Take the mental energy he's draining out of you and put it where it belongs. On yourself, your DC, and the people who truly DO love you!

MindBoggles · 19/05/2020 16:53

Leave him. I agree with a PP he's done you a favour.

So many red flags

DuchessOfSofa · 19/05/2020 16:59

Your poor thing. Be v glad though that he ended it. Laughing that you fell for his excuses with his friends is worse imo

CarolefeckinBaskin · 19/05/2020 17:13

Fuck your ex as well - he also sounds like a dick.
I'm glad you're beginning to see what this current dick is doing.
I hope your web session went well.
Work on you, work out how to spot the fuckers that want to leech the life and energy out of you and most importantly learn your own worth.
As a previous poster said you do not need a man to make you feel safe, loved or worthy - that comes from you. Only once you've learned to do that will you stop being drawn to the emotional leeches and piss poor excuses for partners.
You deserve much better.

bfribgn · 19/05/2020 20:47

Hi OP, I'm a long time lurker and never post but I just want to let you know that I completely understand how hard it is for you, I'm also very recently out of an 18 month relationship.

I know how painful it is. It can be crippling. I am getting through it by reading lots of books, and if there is one piece of advice I can give you it's to go completely no contact. It will feel like the hardest thing in the world, but as long as you're in contact with him you dont have the chance to catch a breath and the pain will keep coming in floods every time you get a message or call from him.

Grieve the relationship and the future you thought you had. Embrace the anger when it comes because it's there as a self protection mechanism to alert you that how you were treated was categorically unfair. Delete his number. Dont answer the phone. Block him on any social media. Do not allow him to play the nice guy and give "closure" by saying goodbye to your children. He is the one in the wrong here. Hes the idiot who threw a wonderful thing away. He will realise it in time, but dont hold on for anyone who doesnt want to be with you.

DilemmaADay · 19/05/2020 21:27

Sorry OP some tough love here

  1. Set your standards higher than a coke addicted, party boy who uses escorts and pays for services
  2. This man should not be around your kids, I highly imagine the occasional coke use is a lot more often than you think
  3. He was careless with his messages and phone as he knew you would forgive him anyway. He literally has nothing to loose
  4. He lost respect for you when he saw you trying to excuse him constantly and this probably made him feel like he had to leave as you're actually a nice person
  5. Do not feel like you're the one who has to change him. You're a mother with kids, not an 18 year old dating the neighboorhood bad boy
  6. Please follow the advice youd give your daughter. Are you not worthy of more?
  7. Be kind to yourself and stop putting his needs before yours. He sounds like he doesnt want to change at all
Flowers
DilemmaADay · 19/05/2020 22:53

Also your ex husband is wrong - you just havent met the right person yet, you're more than worthy of someone who treats you well Flowers

lookingatthepast · 20/05/2020 05:25

Sorry back on another set of night shifts. I actually think the poster who said he was waiting for me to dump him and he had to do it in the end as I am too much of a caring person is right.

I do care about my children and am not talking about them much on this thread as this is about how i am feeling, how i manage their emotions at a later stage and my mental state. As i say they know nothing of what hes done. They dont know we have broken up as its easily got round with lockdown at the moment and I need to be the best person i can be in order to look after them, create a happy home and also for me to do well at work (a job which i only started 3 months ago)

I have thrown away any reminders of him.. cards, photos gifts etc. i bagged them up and binned them. not because i didnt want them or because they didnt mean anything but because it hurt to see them and read them so i was brutal and got rid of them.

As i say I am throwing myself into work. I was supposed to be on a week off but i was offered another set of nights which I have taken. I am learning alot on the job and i am good at it. its taking my mind off of things to a degree . When i am not being a parent i am sleeping and when i am not doing either of those i am throwing myself headlong into work. i dont know what else to do right now

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 20/05/2020 13:29

I think that your children not knowing is the last thing you need right. It keeps the relationship 'alive' in some way.

You need to sit them down and explain to them that you and he were no longer seeing eye to eye/didn't want the same things in life and both decided it was best to end the relationship so they won't be seeing him in the future. You don't have to tell them the whole nasty mess of shit he's done. In fact, at this point it's probably better not to.

You need to tell him that you have 'covered for him' by telling him that it was a mutual decision, but that if he tries to tell them 'you won't let him' keep in touch you'll tell them the whole sorry mess (not that you would do that). Then tell him to block their numbers and to have no further contact. Yes, they'll be disappointed. But they'll move on, children are very adaptable and get over things sooner than we expect.

backseatcookers · 24/05/2020 16:33

How you doing OP? Really hope you've managed to resist being in touch with him. Is work still a good distraction? Thanks

ChocolateQuiltedShitPig · 24/05/2020 19:37

Wow op this guy is good. Cheats on you, leaves stinking used condoms for you to find, laughs at you behind your back, visits escorts yet gets you to chase him.

You are worth so much more. He isnt the person you fell for

lookingatthepast · 25/05/2020 05:35

Hiya
Just competed another week of nights. I have made some progress this week. I havent cried for a week now. I am now on a rest week (so not sure how i will feel being at home without work to act as a distraction) I also got myself a copy of Women who love too much as the whole synopsis sums me and my approach to love and relationships up to a tee!

I have spoken to him but only a couple of times this week which is progress in itself. a couple of things he mentioned stung a bit as they are the actions of a man who is thinking about himself and considers himself single however i let it go over my head.

The last time i saw him he is very short and quite offish and one thing i noticed is he looks away when talking to me and cant look me in the eye properly. I think thats a sure sign of his guilt and i do believe he did cheat on me. The condom, it being discovered and him ending it almost straight away followed by making no attempt to get to the bottom of where it came from and clear his name. Yeah its something to do with him. He will never admit it though so I will just have to let it go and he will have to deal with any associated guilt.

The holiday next month has been cancelled anyway due to covid so I am processing a refund on the flights now and will look to re book for me and the children next year when everything has settled down corona virus wise so at least we dont have to deal with him cancelling it himself or worse coming along and putting on an act for the children

I deserve someone who isnt afraid of losing me and wouldnt risk doing something which could break our relationship up. He has the mentality of a teenager and losing me didnt bother him enough to change his behaviour and i deserve more than that. I also dont deserve being laughed about with a load of his immature friends.

OP posts:
addictedtotheflats · 25/05/2020 05:53

He's done you a HUGE favour. Please have some more respect for yourself and your children. The drugs alone would have been enough for me to finish it. Move on and find someone who actually respects you.

villamariavintrapp · 25/05/2020 08:20

It shouldn't really be about finding someone who appreciates you, and recognised your worth etc, though those are good things. It should be about you choosing someone who is worth loving. You still sound like you're thinking about relationships from the other person's point of view, are you good enough for them? Would they realise they're lucky to have you? Etc. But what about you? You need to screen them first, are they good enough for you? That's much more important!

lookingatthepast · 25/05/2020 12:38

Today I just feel angry. Really really angry for how he’s treated me. Words of sorry but his actions never matched those words. And now he’s out there making plans and getting on with his life seemingly without a care in the world like none of this has happened. I really hate him for it right now

OP posts:
Bumble84 · 25/05/2020 12:49

Read back your original post as if it was someone else who wrote it and what advice would you give?

You may think you love this man but (and I’m really sorry to say this) it is quite obvious that he does not love you. It is hard at the moment but you will move on and everyone deserves better than how he has treated you. Everyone.

lookingatthepast · 03/06/2020 23:04

Just wanted to talk some more as it’s been a while now. We still talk on the phone . Tomorrow we were supposed to be going on holiday as a family. Mentioned it earlier and he said well everyone’s in the same boat. I am looking at going to Croatia next year with (insert mates names here)

Been reading bits of the book women who love too much. As and when I can. Been very tired from night and day shifts mixed sleeping irregular hours and not eating properly. Just exhausted really.

I saw him at the weekend. He was having a bbq with his family who he lives with and asked if I wanted to come as it’s in the garden distanced
I was off work and feeling down the weekend was the one for the children’s father to have them and I went. In the evening it became apparent him and a friend there had come coke on route. He said sorry and put on a sad face and asked me not to hate him. I felt so sad and crushed and wanted to walk out but felt too weak to. So I sat there making and drinking lots of cups of coffee while this was going on. I felt sick . I stayed the night (didn’t sleep with him) and he was cuddling me saying I am beautiful and gorgeous
I felt so sad and dead inside but nice to have the affection . The Sunday we just watched films and had a pizza him asking if I was ok all the time cuddling me . Kept saying he’s sorry. I looked in a bag in his room as he was rummaging about in it and I found several empty cellophane coke wraps in it and there were two cards from the brothel he was looking up back in March in there. Also the condom I found a few weeks ago I saw on the floor the corner off the wrapper but not the rest of the wrapper. I feel dead and empty inside. Really empty and sad.

I left and he said he still needs time to think about everything. He sent a text later saying he loves me but doesn’t know what he wants and needs to think about stuff. No suggestion to see each other again but have spoken on the phone.

In addition he handed me his phone when I was there and said he had nothing to hide. In a message to his best mate he told him the day I sent the Rose when it was the anniversary of his mums death that he’s tried to put me off seeing him but I won’t take no for an answer . He’s also told females friends we split up due to him wanting kids. Not mentioned any of the bad behaviour and is telling them he wants the happy relationships his brothers have with their wives. Playing the sympathy card in other words. Also joked he should have waited til lockdown was over to be single. I asked him about it and said he was messing about. Joking obviously

Empty inside

OP posts:
Interestedwoman · 03/06/2020 23:25

Please don't have any more than you have to OP, either on the phone or IRL, you really shouldn't get back with him, and seeing him and all his fake affection will be messing with your head.

It sounds like he has a real coke habit now, if he didn't before.

Also thick as a brick or too out of it to make sure his phone was clear of stuff like that before he gave it to you.

He doesn't deserve you and seeing him more than you have to will be making it harder for you to heal- please don't. xxx