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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

Divorcing sulking DH - it WILL happen in 2021!

769 replies

jamaisjedors · 04/01/2021 07:40

Another year, another thread !

Can't believe this is thread number SIX ! and that I am still getting amazing support from all the wonderful mumsnetters out there ! Grin

RECAP :
First thread from December 2019 after my H ruined my birthday weekend (and 1st anniversay of my dad's death) by giving me the silent treatment all weekend to "punish me" for not being grateful enough for him coming away and buying me a present and a card.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3448545-Confronting-DH-about-his-sulking?msgid=84022238

Thanks to some amazing posters I realised that H's behaviour (which was not at all a one-off) was emotionally abusive and unacceptable.

I prepared to leave him and got plans in place but got "hoovered" back in by H with promises of joint counselling, individual counselling for him, and regular "date nights". Unfortunately none of that changed the dynamic in our relationship : 2nd thread :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3498886-Confronting-DH-about-his-sulking-part2?msgid=85957683

I started a 3rd thread in May when H and I had decided to separate :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3580872-LEAVING-sulking-H?msgid=88239005

and that's when things got nightmarish.

As everyone on here pointed out, the most dangerous time for women is when they decide to leave an abusive partner.

In a nutshell, H went missing, had an acute psychotic episode, was admitted to a psychiatric facility and stayed there for over 2 months.

Staff at the hospital warned me H could be dangerous for me and advised me to move out of the family home asap which I did, in fear for my life.

Fourth thread :
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/a3637219-DIVORCING-sulking-H?msgid=92845754#92845754

saw me going to court to safeguard the DC through a request for full custody with limited visiting rights for exH.

With the help of my great lawyer we got the decision we wanted from the judge but the battle never ends over every little thing - schools, activities, money...

Fifth thread :
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3786349-Divorcing-sulking-H-will-it-happen-in-2020?msgid=102523551

But exH appealed against the judge's initial decision so we had to go back to court in mid-February and with COVID etc. the ruling came in June 2020.

The saga continued as the judge ruled she didn't have enough information to make a decision about custody (exH didn't provide any) and so in November 2020 the whole family had to go for a "psychological assessment".

Right now we are still:

  • waiting for the expert's psychological report as to whether exH is safe to have the DC overnight
  • still waiting for the designated solicitor to draw up a financial settlement
  • waiting for exH to agree to the divorce - but after 2 years living separately (May 2021 or September 2021) he will have no choice.

Which is why 2021 WILL be the year of the divorce !

I keep posting after all this time because:

a) I have had and continue to get brilliant, incisive, caring advice and support from other posters
b) I regularly see threads from women with "sulking" partners and who might (I hope) gain some insight into their situation by taking a look at my threads and the advice on them
c) my threads are absolute proof of the fact that leaving an abusive man is dangerous (even when you are not even sure yourself whether he is really abusive or not). We were a "normal" family, looked "perfect" from the outside, and suddenly we have been involved with social services, police, courts. I can't even begin to imagine how hard all that must be without the financial means and real-life/online support that I have had.

Happy also for anyone to PM me if anything in my threads strikes a chord with you Smile

OP posts:
HugHeart · 21/11/2022 14:05

💐 I hope it goes well for you. I'm full of admiration for you.

RandomMess · 21/11/2022 14:06

You are a warrior!

How are the boys?

jamaisjedors · 23/11/2022 12:11

Ok so we've sorted out our conclusions for the judge and my lawyer is pretty confident that we will easily overturn exH's allegations.

The date for the hearing has been put back a week so more waiting but at least it will be done before Christmas.

It looks like the finances will be settled seperately, so there will be more wrangling, but one thing at a time I guess.

OP posts:
jamaisjedors · 23/11/2022 12:13

@RandomMess Thanks 😊I'm even starting to believe that myself !

The boys are doing great thanks, I had to tell them last night (on my lawyer's instructions[ to keep quiet with their dad about my new partner Mr DJ. They have met him and get on well with him which is great and so on that side all good.

OP posts:
DisforDarkChocolate · 23/11/2022 13:04

I can understand why you were given that advice @jamaisjedors but it's hard not to inadvertently let something like this slip out, especially when your ex is likely trying to find out about your personal life.

katmarie · 06/12/2022 14:52

Hi @jamaisjedors I was just thinking about you, is your hearing this week? How are you doing?

jamaisjedors · 08/12/2022 11:30

Thanks @katmarie , the hearing was last week - I spent days gearing up for it and then 2 hours waiting at the court and in the end the judge saw us for 5 minutes and has deferred til January as we still don't have a final report on the finances from the court-designated solicitor.

Exh didn't bother turning up, so at least I didn't have to sit in a corridor with him for 2 hours. I had been hoping things might have moved on by Christmas but it's not too be... Next date will be in January for ex's laywer to send in his conclusionsabout the finances, then we will hae probably at least another month to reply, so no idea when we might get an acutal divorce hearing.

I was really down after the hearing but as usual I have bounced back and will NOT let it ruin the holidays and Christmas.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 08/12/2022 11:37

Unbelievable, still surely it will be done and dusted in 2023??

Flowers
katmarie · 08/12/2022 12:10

How incredibly frustrating. You could teach a masterclass in resilience and patience at this point!

Mix56 · 08/12/2022 12:13

Enraging, so much wasted time for all concerned... but as usual you aren't let it eat you up ! Bravo

Mix56 · 08/12/2022 12:13

Hes stringing it out as long as he can, bastard

forrestgreen · 08/12/2022 13:31

I think this might win an award for the most protracted divorce ever.

I hope you all manage to have a wonderful Christmas

RandomMess · 08/12/2022 13:34

You should have had us over that first summer to help build a patio.

AngelontopoftheTree · 08/12/2022 15:10

I'm sorry@jamaisjedors that's shit!
Keep on keeping on

Forget all about this, and Have a lovely Christmas 🎄 😊

RobertsRadio · 08/12/2022 17:07

Fuck me, you could have murdered the little shit and have served your prison sentence by now.

LizzieSiddal · 08/12/2022 17:37

Gosh how bloody frustrating!

You’ll be free of him soon, hold onto that and have a wonder Christmas.

ValleysGirl72 · 09/12/2022 14:36

This is beyond a joke now!

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 09/12/2022 19:11

How much longer can he keep stalling before the judge gives him a boot up the arse? Surely this divorce must be up for a Guinness world record soon.

jamaisjedors · 13/12/2022 16:28

Thanks for all the patio comments, gave me a laugh Grin.
I will do my best to forget all this over the holidays and then grit my teeth and get back to it again in January.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Perhaps the next thread (and 2023) will be the year it finally happens!

OP posts:
Hughsrunning · 13/12/2022 16:47

I think we'd all pop open a bottle of champers on your behalf when it happens.

Joyeux Noel 🎄🎄

RobertsRadio · 17/12/2022 10:17

I think you should throw a big party when you are finally released from your prison sentence marriage and your Mumsnet army will show up and throw darts at a large picture of your Ex and drink your health and freedom with copious amounts of alcohol.

A very Merry Christmas to you Jamais, your sons and Mr DJ. 🤶

AngelontopoftheTree · 17/12/2022 10:23

Definitely throw a big party, and we'll all be there to help celebrate 🍾 🥳

jamaisjedors · 18/12/2022 16:27

Party sounds great, would love to have everyone! 😁If anyone has the stamina to stick it out til the bitter end of all this crap they are definitely welcome in France for a celebration!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 18/12/2022 19:45

Well I have a passport these days! I do love a party and socialising.

NettleTea · 18/12/2022 19:51

we will be there!