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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

Did I do the right thing?

6 replies

Butterbeer22 · 19/04/2022 10:36

Hi, I'd really ike an outsiders perspective on this, whether I did the right thing...

Me and my ex were together 15 years, and have 2 DC. We split about 4 years ago, as he wasn't nice to me, treated me like shit and had a temper, however we still remained sort of friends. I regret alot of things these past 4 years as we were still fwbs every now and then, and he used me alot and I was a mug, a lot of history and trauma.
He got a new girlfriend in October last year, moved in with her, her daughter and family by the November and proposed and they were married last week, so it's been a whirlwind for them.
These past 6/7 months we've only spoken when it's to do with the kids and I have been able to use this time to grow and move on, and I told him I was happy for them both and me and her get on well when we do drop off and pick ups.

Monday of last week, 5 days before his wedding he was at my door saying he needed to speak to me, I thought nothing of it and invited him in. What he wanted was sex from me, he was very pushy and kept asking, while I was saying no and to think about what he's doing. He was then moaning about her to me and I asked why are you getting married so fast then, and he said it felt right at the time. He then started trying to get me to have sex with him again, really pushy and in the end I started to cry and told him to go. He finally went and then called me apologising and saying maybe his GF is just stressed, and I said it was OK and they just needed to sit down and talk.

As the hours went by it started to sink in how messed up it was to do that and i got really upset. The following day he called me and asked if I could get our kids to get their hair cut for his wedding and I said no. He asked why I was short with him and was it because of yesterday. I blew up on him telling him that what he did was so wrong and that you're never gonna be happy in a marriage when you're lying and that she should have a choice knowing what happened. He told me that it's non of my business, he fucked up and that the stuff he said about her, he didn't mean it that way. I got really angry with him and told him how I've been moving on these past 6 months and I was doing great and now I feel I've been brought right back to square one. He asked if I was going to tell her, I said I wouldn't as, I didn't want to ruin his life, but if he's happy to get married keeping what he did, then that's up to him.

We hung up and he did get married on Saturday. I contemplated telling her, but a couple of close friends who I trust alot, told me not to say anything, as they could probably still get married, he could deny it and then I'd look like the crazy ex who desperately wants her ex back and then the hostility for drop offs and pick ups would be awful.

I spent a few days after what he did with so many emotions, but now I feel I'm back to my normal self again and ready to carry on, however am I just as bad for not telling her?

OP posts:
sweetbellyhigh · 19/04/2022 10:41

What a prick he is, no wonder you feel confused.

  1. Don't tell her
  2. Focus on your own recovery. You can do this by:
* limiting contact with your ex to childcare arrangements only * not letting him into your home * not going into his home * looking after yourself in every way ie. physically, emotionally, mentally

Let your own life and dreams be your focus rather than allowing yourself to be at the mercy of his toxic ways.

Itwasntmeright · 19/04/2022 10:48

I think you’re right, the messenger always gets shot, and you still have two children to co-parent with him. You do however need to put some seriously strong boundaries in place with him. Only communicate with him about the kids when you have to, never let him past your front door and never allow him to talk to you about his new wife. It’s a shame for her that she’s married a complete arsehole but sadly that’s something she’s going to have to find out on her own, because any intervention from you would not be welcomed and you’d probably come off worse. Just distance yourself as much as it’s humanly possible to.

Butterbeer22 · 19/04/2022 10:53

@sweetbellyhigh thank you for responding. In these past 6/7 months that's exactly what we've been doing, he has the kids every other weekend and he picks them up from school and drops them off Sunday.
Since that time he's never come in my house, (he won't be anymore) as she is there with him and one of the things he said was that she said he shouldn't be friendly with me, so I'm not sure if that's why she is there all the time. He also said she hates that we have kids together and he had a life with me, which I get, but after what he did I don't know if he was just saying that stuff to me.
A friend also suggested that maybe he's seen how I've moved on and has done this as some sort of sick way, to make me feel like I can't move on, but I am not going to let him do that to me.

OP posts:
Butterbeer22 · 19/04/2022 10:55

@48Itwasntmeright thank you, yeah you're right it would only make me look like the bad guy.
Yes there are now strict boundaries in place and he won't be allowed in my home again.

OP posts:
Itwasntmeright · 19/04/2022 11:07

At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what he thinks or why he did it, you need to just ignore his game playing and do your own thing. If she’s suspicious of him then she’s right to be, but that’s not your business or your problem. You haven’t done anything wrong and you’ve nothing to reproach yourself about, so just leave them to the mess they’ve created and concentrate on yourself and your kids. There’s bound to be a ton of drama between those two, just don’t be the one who gets sucked into it. Like I said, distance yourself as far as possible and stay well clear of him.

Butterbeer22 · 19/04/2022 16:24

Thank you all for your replies, it's good to have an outsiders opinion other than those who are loyal to me.
I'm glad to know that I've done the right thing by not saying anything and I will continue to do so, as I'm not the type of person to hang it over someone's head or blackmail them.
I feel for her, as she has married someone who absolutely hasn't changed and slowly his mask will slip.
But now I'm going to get on with my life, and keep moving forward.

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