Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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

What do I need to do now

6 replies

veryfuckingpeeved · 14/11/2020 11:21

I'd be so grateful for any advice. I've found out in the last couple of days that my husband has had an affair. The details are really outing but he is self employed and to cut a long story short, what he has done means that he can't go back to the business he was freelancing for (not because I've asked him not to). I was also quite friendly with the woman involved. It's been a double blow because not only do I have to deal with the betrayal, I also suddenly have a massive financial problem to solve.

We have a toddler DS who I have always done most of the day to day care for and have a freelancing business of my own that I fit around my son. The house is mortgaged in both our names but I put in all of the capital to buy it.

DH is very keen to try and repair the marriage, whereas I am pretty sure that there is no way back. I'm upset about the betrayal, but I'm more angry about the complete recklessness as the consequences of his actions were completely foreseeable. There is a background of him generally being totally disorganised and making stupid decisions that I've then had to step in to solve, and I've had enough. I've asked him to move back to his parents to give me space to work out what I want to do, which he has done.

This was a bolt from the blue and I'm not quite sure what the next practical steps are that I need to take. Before this all came out, the marriage was reasonably happy although he was very reliant on me and his disorganisation was a constant source of stress and mental load. However, I certainly wasn't considering divorce IYSWIM so I hadn't looked into anything.

I think I'm coping quite well and I've already applied for and been given some better paid work since it all came out, and I'm quite pleased with that. While of course I'm really furious, we are still able to communicate calmly and are on as amicable terms as it's possible to be after something like this so I'm hoping this won't become ugly and we can work out a way forward. The only thing that really matters to me is making sure that DS is happy, secure and provided for and my husband says he feels the same.

I'd be so grateful just to be able to talk through what I need to do next and air my thoughts a bit. The thing that is upsetting me the most is what will happen with residency for my son. I want him to have lots of contact with his dad but I strongly feel that the best thing for him is for me to be the resident parent as he is used to me being the one that looks after him, I have an income, and I've just generally got my shit together far more than my husband. DS is also still breastfeeding. But I've read online that the preferred solution is often 50/50 and it's scared me as I don't think it's right for our situation. DH has said that he doesn't want to be resident parent.

Sorry for the long post. My mind just feels completely overloaded and things feel quite insurmountable, although I'm sure I'll find a way through in the end.

OP posts:
3JsMa · 14/11/2020 13:41

Gosh,I am so sorry about your situation as it's not an easy one.
I did separated from my STBEXH over a year ago but he found a new girl pretty much straight away so I am thinking he was already in relationship before(separation was connected to DV).
What you wrote sounds absolutely amazing as you sound quite secure financially.
I had absolutely nothing and 4DC.
Another positive thing is that he doesn't want to be to disruptive residence wise so I don't think you should worry about it.
Do you think he is likely to go to the court about residency in the future?If not and is keen to cooperate it's win-win for you.
Mine was really abusive and neglectful towards the children and still maintains that he is a real victim of the whole situation.Never paid a penny to support the children,refused to arrange proper contact so they did not see him since last August.
I know it is very traumatic but you sound so strong and organized you and your DS will be much better the way you are planning.
Hope everything will work for you.Good luck.

veryfuckingpeeved · 14/11/2020 14:31

Oh gosh I'm so sorry to hear about your situation, how difficult Sad financially things will be tricky initially because obviously we cut our cloth accordingly for two incomes, but I will sit down in a couple of days when I feel a bit more sane and see what can be done.

I'm not sure about residency in the future. I hope that we will be able to agree it ourselves but I'm not sure if it needs to be recorded officially? Certainly at the moment he is happy for DS to live here full time, but we have agreed plenty of access time. It's still early days though, so who knows whether things will change.

OP posts:
Mix56 · 14/11/2020 14:44

Often the contact is one midweek afternoon, & EOW. & half the school holidays
Remember any regular plan set now, even amicably will probably roll over if one day it gets less friendly & goes to court.
The above contact is seen as fair once DC is in school, as each parent gets to have an alternate w/e when DC are not in school.
Ideally you make a plan & stick to it as if not later down the line things become problematic.
If he decides not have "his" w/e it is forfeited & not just swapped unless it suits you too.
You should get the capital you put into the house, & the equity split.
(can you buy him out?)
He pays Child Maintenance.
Whilst your are bf, he does not get overnight.

Mix56 · 14/11/2020 14:47

Contact ideally should be anywhere, but not in your home. he needs to get his own place, or go to his mothers

veryfuckingpeeved · 14/11/2020 14:50

Thank you Mix65, that's so helpful. I'm definitely not in a position to buy him out at the moment but I'm relieved to hear that I would get the capital back.

We've agreed for now that he will have him one weekday and one day each weekend but not overnight, although EOW would be fine for me too. Eventually he hopes to find somewhere to live nearby to make it easier. We're on good terms so I don't mind him spending time with DS here to save DS having to do lots of car travel.

OP posts:
Mix56 · 14/11/2020 17:24

I think the word is; "boundaries"
As long as it stay amicable it's fine, but if it changes & habits have been made, what if he just rocks up & expects to spend a few hours on your sofa, or in the garden with DC, without prior agreement...
You need to Think ahead, what if you find a new bf ?
He may not be so amicable in the long term, he might assume the equity is split 50/50, & fight over your extra deposit. I would get professional advice asap on that, & get him to sign something whilst he is still being reasonable & friendly. It may well all change when he realizes you will not have him back & he hasn't got any money to set up a new home

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread