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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

Can't trust or love him after years of lies but the kids need him around

12 replies

RubyGems · 29/12/2007 12:00

In may of this year my husband and I separated. He'd been getting increasingly irritable, aggressive, sneaky and lazy and I'd had enough. He'd pushed me to my limit because we have 4 kids and I'd stuck by him through so much, making excuses for his behaviour etc

Anyway, unbeknown to me, turns out I'd been living with a cocaine addict for the past 8 years! Looking back the signs were there but he's an accomplished liar and any suspicions were talked out of me.

I was determined to go it alone, get a divorce etc but slowly he's somehow back in my life again, mainly because of the children. He's been clean for 6 months now and is a totally different person. He's patient, considerate, gentle, kind, a fantastic dad etc, all the things he always should have been.

The trouble is though is that I just don't love him anymore. He chipped away at the love I had for him and it's gone. I still feel angry and resentful that he now seems happy and he's determind to stick around as long as it takes until I feel something for him again. I really don't think it's going to happen.

We can have good days out, and the kids now have a great relationship with him, but then something reminds me again of what he did. The money he spent, the sneaking around, the lies.

I feel that either I allow him to help me bring the kids up, and I do mostly need the help because they're a handful, and deny myself ever finding love again OR tell him it's definitely over and he'll probably take off somewhere, the kids don't see there dad much, I'm stressed out with looking after them but I have the chance of meeting someone else and finding love again.

I truly don't know what to do. He's so obsessively in love with me, constantly telling me he loves me, leaving me notes etc We do get along now, we don't sleep together (although this is annoying him)and if he ever stays over it's in one of the kids rooms. But he's here every day helping out and I like that but he feels more like a brother or something.

Deep down I'd like to meet someone else, though they'd probably have to be mad to take on me and 4 kids! There's no way I can date someone though while he's still around.

I'm so confused, although I'm happier in every other area of my life now that drugged monster has gone. I feel so lonely and in need of love. If I met my husband today I'd think he was wonderful, but unfortunately I can't forget what he's done to me (but he thinks I should have by now!)

What do I do? What would you do? I could end up with no one at all. I feel it's my turn to come first for a change but as usual I'm putting everybody elses feelings ahead of mine.

Thanks for reading this

RubyGems

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OP posts:
ggglimhoho · 29/12/2007 12:15

could you do counselling - either by yourself or as a couple?

FlllightAttendant · 29/12/2007 12:25

That sounds really hard for you.

It does sound as though you are still angry about the past and have lost respect for him. Not surprising, either of those things.

I don't know if counselling could give you some clarity? It doesn't have to lead to staying together iyswim. It can just help you, alone or together, figure out the knots.

RubyGems · 29/12/2007 12:35

Hi
We had relate counselling a couple of months ago and finished it because basically we'd run out of things to say.

He cried alot but stalemate was reached really because he's full of remorse but I'm still angry and can't forgive him.

Flightattendant, you're right I have lost respect for him, I lost that some time before we split up. He's trying so hard to win me round and I feel sorry for him really because he can't do anymore than he's doing.
(what does IYSWIM stand for, I can't work it out!)

I don't wear my wedding ring anymore and I don't want to wear it ever again. I was cheated into staying married to a drug addict, a situation I never imagined myself in in a million years. But I have 4 kids and managing on my own frightens me

OP posts:
lemonstarchristmastree · 29/12/2007 13:43

RubyGems. You could be me. I am in exactly the same position with my husband who was/is a cannabis addict. He was chaotic, aggressive, and eventually violent so I kicked him out in August this year.

I had no idea how much he was using or how totally ingrained in the addicts life he had become

Now he is clean, and working and so sorry for what he has done. I am struggling with 3 little boys and a FT job - and he wants to come home and I don't know what to do.

like you I am grateful for the help, and can see that he is much much better....but I don't know if can ever love him again, or forgive him for the lies and betrayal.

sorry , not much help but You are not alone. There is a support thread for the partners of addicts here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/7/410292 do come and join us !

lst x

RubyGems · 30/12/2007 16:15

Thanks for the support LST x It's a sad fact that there are many in our situation. It's hard when you see your partner clean and see the person you always should have had.

I'll check out the link, take care, Ruby x

OP posts:
charliecat · 30/12/2007 16:25

Yes if only we could put all the shit in a box and seal it, forget about it and start again.
Ive been on my own for 7 months because of my inability to do this.
I feel lonely sometimes, and on my own and loads of other crap feelings but I have done the right thing.
I dont have thats headache anymore, the one that said this isnt working. And I dont feel wrong all day, as i im playing.
What would you tell a friend?

RubyGems · 30/12/2007 16:39

Hi charliecat

I guess sometimes it gets to a point where being on your own is the only option. It's always so complicated when kids are involved.

I know what you mean about feeling wrong all day. It would be easier if I still really loved him but he didn't tell me about his habit until my love had gone. Now he's clean he's transformed into Mr Perfect and deep down I don't think I'd find a better guy but sadly he's also the same guy whose caused me so much pain.

I think if I had a friend in my situation I'd probably advise them to give it a go because on the surface it looks that easy. But until you've lived through it you've no idea how it feels to have been lied to and manipulated for that long.

hope you had a bearable Christmas and I hope 2008 will be your year x

OP posts:
charliecat · 30/12/2007 16:55

I completely understand how you feel. Its going ok....then you remember
I hope you find clarity in 2008
Someone mentioned counselling, could you go on your own? Chew this over by yourself, with someone?

RubyGems · 30/12/2007 17:11

TBH I've had counselling in the past for depression (another of DH's legacies) and in this situation it's something only I can work out. That's mostly why I'm in here cos I need the opinions of other people who're going through the same kind of thing.

If I could erase the memory I'd be fine! DH keeps saying let's move forward , think of the future etc but the human brain doesn't work like that (especially the female one!) I need the memories to protect me from it ever happening again.

We can have a great day out, then something reminds me of whats happened and before you know it I'm thinking "you bastard" all over again!

OP posts:
charliecat · 30/12/2007 17:13

Yep. Know that well.

jellyjelly · 30/12/2007 21:15

I just wanted to give you some sort of encouragement for trying to fight for what you have got.

I split with my partner (my ds daddy) for lying, drug use, drink and affairs etc. I could never get over the hurt that he caused me and the deceit. Its been 18months and the anger is still there. I can understand how you feel.

RubyGems · 31/12/2007 10:59

Thak yo jellyjelly, I really hope life will improve for you. The anger is the hardest thing to deal with because you often see glimpses of the relationship you could have, that's why you stay with them for so long.

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