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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

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:
Weallhavevalidopinions · 03/05/2020 18:22

Wow - he is awful.
Lucky escape, although you may not think so at present.
This man is a mess.
He treats you like an afterthought.

He won't change for you if you get back together. Why should he, if you keep pushing things to one side and pretending all is good.

You deserve better than this cheap horrible thing offers.

AliasGrape · 03/05/2020 18:22

I lost my mum and a similar age to him. It was devastating and traumatic. Never led me to use sex workers, drugs or cheat on my partner though.

Stop making excuses for him and believing his bullshit.

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 18:24

He just keeps saying Its not mine I don’t use that drawer. I don’t sleep on that side of the bed and if I was mine I am not that stupid to leave a condom laying around it hadn’t been used but the wasn’t any seamen in it (sorry if tmi ) I said who else could it belong to and he said his brother and sister in law who recently moved out. He text them in front of me and his brother said nothing to do with him but he called my OH and said other people I know of who have used that room over the past couple of years. My oh moved back in there in November and we got together the December before and only slept together at my place or his old house now where he is now.

It was once I saw that his head dropped he went very quiet and looked very upset and said I know you won’t believe me after everything but i swear it’s nothing to do with me but I completely get why you won’t believe me . Then he’s spent time thinking and possibly spoken to his brother and friends and has ended it using the reasons given including as I say the killer that he doesn’t know if he cut off the chance of ever having kids. All come out of nowhere as we have been talking loads and loads about us the relationship what were are happy and not happy with and where things will go in the future if we have one and this wasn’t mentioned at all

OP posts:
something2say · 03/05/2020 18:24

I'm genuinely sorry to read this thread.

I too know the pain you're in. And its early days in terms of you finding out. You need to get used to it.

He's a boatload of trouble that's for sure and he is not really able to love you very well.

Ditch and move on is the best advice. Hard but will get easier. X

panicstationsready · 03/05/2020 18:26

The future we talked about the plans we discussed. were all false because he's a lying cheating fuckwit. Why would you want to be with someone who is this awful?
And then he’s going to meet someone else and do it all with them instead. No, He'll meet someone else and do exactly the same to them - and won't you be glad it's not you being pissed around again?

BackseatCookers · 03/05/2020 18:26

If you're being totally honest, if he said he wanted to get back together right now, would you say yes? If he said please come and see me so we can talk and fix things, would you say yes?

If so you are in danger of making some incredibly damaging and traumatic decisions and you need to seek some help to unravel why, through counselling.

something2say · 03/05/2020 18:26

You built the future too soon love. It gets made by happy days stacking up, not deciding to do it. In your case, lots of deeply unhappy and worrying days came to pass, and it means that future was all pie in the sky x

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 18:28

Thanks for all the replies so far. I really appreciate it and the chance to talk about it and express my feelings.

I literally feel in physically pain at the moment and can’t even think straight. I don’t want to get out of bed or go to work tomorrow.

The poster who mentioned their own mum. Very sorry to hear you went through that . But I know people do react in different ways to things. What one person does someone else wouldn’t. I don’t judge him or anyone for struggling to cope with grief and doing bad / strange things. I really don’t. I don’t judge but obviously what’s been happening recently is a different kettle of fish altogether.

OP posts:
something2say · 03/05/2020 18:28

Panic stations is right.

He will go on like this, not go on to the future you had planned. You are the one who will go on to that future, but just with a different guy.

This guy doesn't do good things does he.

something2say · 03/05/2020 18:30

Just be shocked for now then.
Save thinking about the future for later.
It's ok to be gutted and disappointed xxx
We've all been there.
If I think back to some of the men I've cried over, I feel a right fool now!

Wanderlust21 · 03/05/2020 18:31

Tbh op I hope to goodness he never has kids because we certainly dont need more people like him in this world!

And we've said tho, the kid thing is just something he said to make you feel bad. It's utter nonsense.

Everything else aside, relationships shouldnt be dramatic like this. They should be easy and comfortable and bring out the best in us. All he has done is screw with your head and make you miserable. Life is too short for that nonsense!

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 18:31

If he wanted to then no as he’s made it clear that deep down he wants his own kids one day
That’s something I can’t do anything about and can’t give him so it would never work for that alone and I would always have it in the back of my mind. I had a hysterectomy at 31 when I was with my ex husband. I was very distressed but needed it got medical reasons and didn’t think I would be single and having to meet someone and tell them I can’t ever have children. He knew from the very start
As I say I knew him through friends so he was aware before we ever got together

OP posts:
IWantT0BreakFree · 03/05/2020 18:31

This is a short relationship and although you say you’ve taken things slowly with the kids, that’s literally not possible if you’ve only been together 18 months and they already feel they know him well enough to have him move in. You’ve described quite a lot of instances of fairly poor judgement and risky behaviour in your OP and, especially given that there are children involved who stand to be affected, I think it would probably be wise to consider some counselling for yourself to explore what is leading you to take these decisions.

  • you introduced someone into your kids’ lives who admitted up front that he may not be a permanent feature and “couldn’t guarantee” that he wouldn’t leave to pursue a family elsewhere.
  • You continued a relationship between yourself/your children and this man after learning that he is a drug user who also had some involvement in dealing drugs.
  • You don’t use condoms when having sex with a man who has been caught on several occasions attempting to procure the services of escorts or chasing sexual encounters behind your back with women on dating apps and women he has met in the street.
  • If I’m reading correctly (because you talk about him cuddling you and you being at his house yesterday), you are seeing this man during lockdown despite not living together and despite him being obviously someone who pays for sex with escorts and is therefore having intimate contact with potentially lots of strangers, who are also having lots of intimate contact with lots of strangers. You are then going back to your children.

He is a misogynist who believes that women are sexual objects and that he has an entitlement to sex. It’s very obvious from the outside that he is not genuine in his displays of remorse to you. He laughs about it and brags about lying to you with his friends and he actually plans his coke-fuelled prostitute binges ahead of time (hence going to the flat a day earlier than everyone else). These aren’t moments of madness. They are calculated plans.

I think he’s just not that into you and is now bored of stringing you along. All the effort seems to have come from you; you want to stay together, you want to do counselling, you want to give it another go. He has actually suggested breaking up in the past and he even said at the beginning that he might leave one day to have a child with someone else. He didn’t make any attempt to change his behaviour to make the relationship a success. He’s the one that’s ended it now. He’s obviously not committed.

You are better off without him. Your kids are definitely better off without him. What you really need to address is why you’ve invested so much in a relationship that was so unhealthy and why you’ve taken risks with your children’s well-being.

BackseatCookers · 03/05/2020 18:32

I literally feel in physically pain at the moment and can’t even think straight. I don’t want to get out of bed or go to work tomorrow.

Break ups are horrible, we've all been there with the physical pain of them.

It doesn't mean they aren't the right thing to do.

Mourn the loss of who you thought he was because that is NOT who he is.

He's shown you that time and time again and then some.

I know I sound like a broken record but you need some counselling for you, to stop this kind of relationship ever happening again and to get good boundaries in place so you can be happy and also model healthy behaviour for your children.

BackseatCookers · 03/05/2020 18:34

If he wanted to then no as he’s made it clear that deep down he wants his own kids one day. That’s something I can’t do anything about and can’t give him so it would never work for that alone and I would always have it in the back of my mind.

So the reason you wouldn't get back together is because YOU feel YOU are lacking something HE needs / deserves?!

Come on woman, get angry! Get real! He has treated you like shit, he's booked sex workers while in a relationship with you!

And the main reason you wouldn't get back together is because you perceive yourself as lacking in something?!

Again, what would you tell your daughter to do as an adult in your situation?

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 18:34

Probably because I wanted to be that family unit again and I loved him .

Just to clear a couple of things up
I haven’t had sex with him since I found the messages in Feb about hookers

They are also pre lockdown so let’s say he did have sex with an escort it was pre lockdown (doesn’t make it right. Just saying to the Person who mentioned it)

OP posts:
2bazookas · 03/05/2020 18:36

Peter Pan lost his Mum and found another in you.

You've already got a little boy to bring up; who deserves a better role model than a lying druggy boozer who shags tarts.

winterchills · 03/05/2020 18:37

Vile man. Sounds like you really are well rid of him. When your not as hurt and upset you will thank your lucky stars u got rid of the looser

lookingatthepast · 03/05/2020 18:38

Yes when I found out about the escorts being called I said angry and upset what is so wrong with me? Are you seeking them out for a particular sexual request you won’t tell me about etc. I admit that

I just feel absolutely worthless , unloved , sad and a failure. I told him all that weeks ago and that’s when he’s said more and more it’s his fault I feel that way, he’s done this to me doesn’t deserve me and he keeps hurting me and I deserve someone better and he’s doing what’s best for me as he keeps letting me down and hurting me

OP posts:
enragedpenfold · 03/05/2020 18:41

So he takes drugs, shags anyone that he can pay, uses dating apps to find free shags, leaves used condoms around, and dumped you, but you STILL want him back to play daddy to your kids?
Fuck that noise. Get some self respect and some counselling and get royally fucking angry with the piece of shit.
Someone did a real number on you to convince you that you should be desperate enough to want this low-life.

CuppaZa · 03/05/2020 18:41

Oh lovey, you did find evidence of cheating. Numerous times. You so desperately wanted it not to be true that he didn’t even have to try hard to convince you of his lies.
You also need to seek help for your self-esteem.
The man is a dirty pile of steaming dog shit that had zero respect for you.
He doesn’t want you, yet is dressing it up to look like he is the good guy doing you a favour.
He’s scum. Block him, have a cry and seek support

Wanderlust21 · 03/05/2020 18:42

And he would be right. So please stop looking for reasons or justifications for his actions. And start protecting and respecting yourself.

He is already looking out for number 1. He doesnt need you to put him first too.

People do bad shit because they feel like it and they can. They continue to do it be ause they dont care who it hurts. People who dont care about you do not deserve your pity, excuses or love.

Brownyblonde · 03/05/2020 18:43

Let's hope your ex DH doesn't get wind of the fact his kids are around a druggy and escort user. I feel so sad for the desperation I see in your posts. He will be really lapping up this desperation. I expect you're like a mother figure to him. Nice and comfortable like an old shoe. Picks up the pieces. You need some self respect abc quick.

TippledPink · 03/05/2020 18:48

I agree with others there is more than enough evidence that he has cheated on you. I would have dumped him when I saw he messaged a girl on the dating app whilst on holiday! Why didn't you confront him then? He is showing you who he is- the first 18 months should be great, honeymoon period- if you need counselling now your relationship is just not worth saving. You clearly love him for whatever reason but he does not show he loves you. Read your op- you should set a higher standard for yourself!

Susanna85 · 03/05/2020 18:48

Oh you are so much better than this OP. Honestly you don't need this shit.

Break ups are always hard but in a year's time you will be SO glad not to be involved with a person like this.
(He uses prostitutes while in a relationship... ew!! Get angry!)

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