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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

In a relationship with someone going through stormy divorce

36 replies

Earlgrey19 · 24/01/2022 20:44

I’ve been together with a guy for 4 months or so, we know each other well as we were friends before. We both have pretty strong feelings for each other, and he’s very caring towards me.

He’s in the middle of a difficult divorce, though. He’s extremely close to his young child, as a wonderful Dad to him, and is heartbroken not to be with him all the time, especially as his ex uses his son to get at him, which distresses the child (age 6), and keeps saying he wants more time with his Dad than he’s getting — his mum has agreed to his Dad having him 3 nights per week and no more. It’s very acrimonious from his ex — she won’t communicate with him including over their child at all. By the way neither his son nor my children are involved in or know about our time together yet as it’s early days. On Sun we met for a walk somewhere lovely and we sat having tea with a beautiful view. He was very upset that day because of a difficult drop off with his son. Throughout the day he mentioned it. I didn’t mind listening and supporting him. But I’m wondering about being with someone so caught up in this — if he’s ready to be with me. I said the next day, “I had a lovely day with you, yesterday”. He said “It was alright”. He meant he was really stressed because of the drop off of his son.

What had happened was that when he had tried to tell his ex that his son’s friend they’d just been with now had covid, she wouldn’t listen and slammed the door in his face. The son was upset he hadn’t said goodbye to his Dad properly and opened the door and came rushing out to hug his Dad, and his mum called him back. I’m not vilifying the ex, by the way, I do entirely appreciate that she has her own perspective. I’m just wondering about being in a relationship with someone very preoccupied with these difficulties going on. I wonder would it be sensible to take a step back and wait. However I think this situation could go on for years!!

OP posts:
litterbird · 24/01/2022 20:49

It will go on for years and might never stop. He really shouldn't be getting into a relationship at all. Its not fair on anyone being involved in this difficult time. I would take a huge step back as you are setting yourself up as his therapist. You should be having the best time with hearts and flowers, no worries and hopping and skipping around in love. Not wading through the remnants of a bad ending. Step back and tell him to contact you when the divorce is not only final but emotions, boundaries and routines are calmly in place.

PossiblyDreaming · 24/01/2022 20:54

He’s really not in the right place to be in a relationship. You need to take a step back and leave him to sort out his divorce. Once he’s done that, and has spent time on himself, then consider a relationship. You’re setting yourself up to get hurt.

MorningNinja · 24/01/2022 20:56

This would be a red flag for me - you're 4 months in and its affecting things. It'll only get worse.

When I met DP both he and I were in pretty acrimonious splits and our time together was an escape from that, not a place to perpetuate the misery.

moomee12 · 24/01/2022 20:57

Get out now while you can.

KatyAnna · 24/01/2022 20:58

Yes, I would say your concerns are spot on. This man is not ready to be in a relationship and you are already getting drawn into his ex said, his ex did, he said, he did, which are not at all your issues. You surely want to spend time with someone who is present with you in mind as well as body, and who also thinks your days out are lovely.

JustJam4Tea · 24/01/2022 20:59

It’s too soon.

Nailsbythesea · 24/01/2022 21:02

Back off. He has issues and you are being used emotionally. He is not able to function at the moment. Just stop seeing him -it is too soon and he is not in the right place for a relationship.

Ancientdreams · 24/01/2022 21:04

If he can’t enjoy a day out with you that’s not fair on you and I think you should call it off.

Trekkerbabe · 24/01/2022 21:07

I've been in the same position. It nearly destroyed me and I ended it. Get out and regroup after he is divorced. He needs to focus on his son and his divorce for now.

HaggisBurger · 24/01/2022 21:07

I’m on the other side of this (separated 11 months ago - dating someone for the last 6 which was sooner than if planned).
I’ve had my moments but my separation and divorce is amicable. My kids are in a good place. There are things that annoy me about my ex but I just don’t bring them to my bf. It’s just not appropriate. I just wouldn’t be dating in your bloke’s shoes and it’s really unfair of him to do so when he doesn’t have the emotional capacity. I’d put it on hold for now then reassess.

TracyMosby · 24/01/2022 21:08

It has been four months! Four!!! Why would you want to get involved with his shit show?
Three nights a week with dad is not a woman withholding contact or being difficult about it.

ESGdance · 24/01/2022 21:23

Why has the marriage failed?

When did he leave the family home?

If you knew him well before do you know his soon to be x wife?

Could this “dramatic” drop off be seen another way? Maybe she doesn’t want any verbal communication with her and he was pushing that boundary? He could have texted the info.

Levithecat · 24/01/2022 22:36

Honestly, too much drama for early on in a relationship. I could be the wife in this scenario.
As someone said, you’ll just end up his counsellor and miss out on the romance and special times. He should try to be present and go through this hard shit alone, and find a girlfriend when he’s healed from the breakdown of such a significant relationship (projecting, but I do think it’s true!).

FrancescaContini · 24/01/2022 22:38

It sounds really messy. I would walk away. He’s obviously and understandably very absorbed with the divorce.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 24/01/2022 22:42

Back waaaaaaaaayyyyy off and leave him to get on with it. It won't get any better for a long, long time.

Let him focus on his relationship with his son.

Gettingthere2022 · 24/01/2022 22:44

I’m the ex-wife (well soon to be fingers crossed) in this scenario. Our split was not amicable but I wasn’t causing the drama. My ex and I split (I ended it) because of his cheating, lies and general selfish behaviour. He was back with the OW within weeks - not living together but seeing each other whenever kids (mine are older than the one in OP) with me.

He is absolutely paranoid about my motives in relation to the kids and finances, not sure why because I’ve been bloody reasonable.

He has used OW throughout the relationship as well as more recently essentially as therapy but she seems happy to put up with it, she has moved into a rental close to him they both seem to think the children don’t know (kids have seen her in the neighbourhood and didn’t think it was a coincidence) and is constantly on his phone when with them.

Kids are not happy and don’t have much respect for him and really don’t want to have to meet her. They know he cheated with her and they feel he doesn’t care about them as much as he cares about himself. The whole thing is a shit show. I have to keep reassuring them but they are switched on kids.

In my view in a situation where the split is so fresh and children are involved why is there a rush to be in a new relationship?

My ex who has caused both the kids and I so much pain over the last 18 months could have spent the last 6 months focused on rebuilding his relationship with the children instead of practically moving in with the OW.

The OW is happy with the breadcrumbs my ex throws her way for now, he gets company, sex and a therapist and doesn’t have to pay for anything (tight bastard who admitted to using sex workers). The OW is having to hear about all his money woes, issues with his kids and anytime I don’t agree with him has to hear about that too. What a great start to their “relationship”.

I appreciate you are not the OW but clearly there is a lot for him to resolve and their child should come first. You should consider letting him go so he can focus on his child and finalising things with his ex.

Fireflygal · 24/01/2022 22:50

3 nights is not withholding contact.

He isn't ready for a relationship if there is drama at drop offs - he is reacting and triggered and may indeed be causing it

If he is insisting on 4 nights is that for finances??

AgentJohnson · 25/01/2022 03:44

He needs to find another emotional crutch. Walk away.

PicaK · 25/01/2022 07:33

He's over reacting.
He wants to control his ex.
He must know she wants a fast handover. He could say his goodbyes etc before he rings the bell.
But he chose not to do that. Then he chose to relay information right then and there that could have been texted.
He caused the upset.
His distraction that day was him fuming he didn't get his own way. Didn't impose on his ex how long he'd spend at her house.
Run.

MzHz · 25/01/2022 07:36

You think it’s bad now? Wait til she finds out about you.

Run. He’s not worth it. Nobody is worth that shit.

Northernsoullover · 25/01/2022 07:48

As someone who started dating someone who was in the middle of a divorce (not amicable) I'd say get out now. The eventual divorce did not bring him closure and he never let things go. For example the divorce settlement. The ex asked for absolutely everything (the house which was his before they met) his pension which had been accrued before they met. The judge said absolutely not but did award a decent settlement. Well for 6 years I never heard the fucking end of it. They both had a fair settlement but no, in his eyes she didn't deserve a penny. Maybe that's how you feel mate but it's the law and it was proportionate. I tried pointing out that it was 'fair' I explicitly said I didn't want to hear about it. But he kept the bitterness. I'll never date a divorced man again unless he says (and shows) that he and his ex respect each other.

RantyAunty · 25/01/2022 09:29

You are being used as an emotional tampon and sex.

I reckon you didn't get into a relationship to listen to a man moan about his ex.

Neveragain85 · 25/01/2022 10:28

I also met someone going through a divorce despite having been separated for 4 years. During the next 3.5 years they battled with solicitors, then negotiating directly with each other, then went onto the second set of solicitors each before it went to court. It's been so hard as I feel our chance of being in a happy relationship has been ruined by bringing all these unresolved issues into our relationship. I definitely didn't ask the right questions at the beginning but I had no idea separated people conducted themselves like this, I was so naive! Unless you are very good at detaching, which I am not, it will be a struggle & may cost you the relationship anyway so better to move on now before you get attached

jimmyjammy001 · 25/01/2022 10:42

Walk away, just walk away, don't feel guilty, it's not your problem or responsibility that his marriage has failed and he will now have years and years of fighting with the ex over the children, it's called baggage for a reason and it will affect you, it will drain your relationship that you have and any future you have together and any future plans you may have will be scuppered by his past.
There will be lots of dramas, hassles, problems and his number one priority will be his child, you will allways be second and expect to support him all of the time. Walk away before you get any more feelings for him, long term it just isn't going to work out, you may feel you know better, but just read all of the comments on here advising otherwise, lots of people have been through this before and no one recommends carrying on

Squeezyhug · 25/01/2022 11:10

He’s not ready and whatever his issues are they’re not your problem.You’re not in a relationship with just him. You’re in a triangle with the ex as well.
Your relationship should feel wonderful and carefree at 4 months but he was only able to say “ was alright” about your day out ?
Not good enough ... whatever his reasoning. He’s not ready for a relationship.

Btw... Having ds for 3 nights a week is pretty good. Nearly 50/50.
What does he actually want?

If the ex wants minimal contact with your bf at handover, then he can do a longer goodbye with his ds before he drops him off at her door.
It sounds like he’s not over her and wants to see her more.

He sounds a bit of a ‘victim on purpose’

Yes take a huge step back.

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