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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

Dumped via WhatsApp after 4 years!

87 replies

Shockinpink · 25/04/2023 11:35

Absolutely gutted (and angry) and a bit of a WTF to be honest! We have separate homes although for the past two year we've been more or less together 24/7 and although things have been up and down for a while this is all totally out of the blue. He won't meet up to discuss things, he's decided he's not happy and hasn't been for a while and its apparently best for both of us to have a clean break? Just gutted and so upset :( can't believe he wont even meet me or discuss it in person. Who ends things like that? After 4 years. Feel in shock.

OP posts:
ImAvingOops · 04/05/2023 08:18

How does he propose getting your stuff back to you? Can you access the garage to retrieve it and dump his stuff back at the same time?

I know it's really hard but honestly you are well rid - you know what sort of man he is now. That's not something you'd have wanted to discover down the line, when you might have been further entangled financially or legally.
No woman needs a coward in her life!

billy1966 · 04/05/2023 08:47

OP, there can be such a detached brutality to men, particularly when they have had their head turned, even though they invariably deny that is the case.
I am sure some women may do it but I certainly haven't come across it.

@yogacushions @Thisisworsethananticpated

Her friends that I know of, were absolutely 100% supportive of her.

However, her children and his siblings were a bit of "I know he behaved badly(🤔🤨 eh yea, he divorced her..wtf) but he really needs you now etc....🙄.

Obviously she realised the above was completely self serving.

The discussion around it for her friends was just how much shit are women to suck up, and how selfish people are,....... and how even children that you have spent 30 years being the best parent you can be to, ......CAN throw you a bit under a bus because it they are used to you always self sacrificing yourself for them.

She had always been the coper, and even in a brutal sudden divorce she spared her children the burden of how awful the loss of her home and her garden had been.

But she was quietly adamant that she was NOT going to be sucked into his care for her future in any way.

Her children and his siblings had to step up and they have to an extent, but a LOT less than he expected though.

They all have their busy lives and he had lived his life solely for himself up to that point, his children weren't long protecting THEMSELVES from his expectations of them.

He lives a very different life now.

She doesn't even ask about him, but nods politely when her children mention him.

She hasn't met anyone else but lives a really full life and is thoroughly enjoying a great retirement.

Her friends privately think she dodged a huge bullet after 30 years of a lazy selfish man, to then be launched into the role of his carer shortly after you retire, is a very tough hand to be dealt, but one that in a loving relationship you would try and reconcile yourself with.

Much harder to do that with a selfish arse.

I think my generation of women are a bit different to our mothers, we are slowly becoming far less accepting of the role of martyr.

Having raised our children and mostly held down FT careers, helped our own parents, many are far less likely to just suck up nursing in laws and and laying down our lives for men that were sub par in the relationship.

My circle have firmly told husbands that THEY are responsible for co ordinating care for THEIR parents and that retirement will be about doing what THEY want and they won't be dictated to about how it is spent.

Wise women have a strong supportive network as they approach retirement that they know will be probably their greatest support and comfort in many ways.

OP, he's an arse, you are well rid.

I would say it is indeed likely his head was turned!

Mind yourself and allow those that care to support you.

C1N1C · 04/05/2023 08:57

It's not nice, but seriously? It's a clean break via WhatsApp. I've been talked back onto crap relationships because I've tried ending them in person... it's done, move on. Harsh but fair.

MaxTalk · 04/05/2023 09:02

Yep, message may be the best way sometimes. No facing them in tears, trying to change minds yada yada.

It's over, the end. Forget and get on with your life.

mopeymouse · 05/05/2023 00:54

My ex frequent dumped me over text, we were together many years. Gutless move.

VanillaSox · 05/05/2023 02:01

So sorry you are going through this.
Very wise advice to read the RunningInTheRain thread - I have a similar experience and there are so many wise words on there, notably
Lobsterquadrille2 · 20/01/2020 14:25
If you respond to his text (even though it's galling to be doing as he asked) you will get HIS long silence as a response. Nope. Let silence be YOUR weapon of choice.
@MissDew excellent words.

ninemonthstime · 05/05/2023 05:21

Years ago my partner, who I'd bought a house with, just left without telling me.

It affected relationships (and friendships) for quite some time as I didn't trust that people who I was close to wouldn't leave me. My dad and grandad had also both died within weeks of this, so I was very very insecure.

BeenThereTooo · 05/05/2023 05:22

@Shockinpink it is just so disrespectful when someone behaves like this. They have no decency. I expect you will find out that there is someone else. My ex H did similar but after a much longer time. Once we had divorce stuff settled I never spoke to him again. I wouldn't waste my breath on him.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 05/05/2023 07:50

billy1966

I’m so glad that your friend held to her guns
lessons learned and the audacity of them thinking she would step in !
very dignified

VanillaSox
yes Like you I’ve had the long silence and have learnt the hard way to accept retreat and delete

op it’s shit how men totally won’t communicate sometimes
but as I’ve learnt silence IS an answer

get your stuff back or send a friend or a courier 🚚
then throw yourself into healing cxx

Livelifelaughter · 05/05/2023 07:50

I think it's truly awful and you literally must be experiencing shock. I wouldn't start speculating about other women (MN always say this), just deal with the information that you have. I am going through a break up, I find planning time helps ...", tonight after work I will read X chapters of my book". I also find a glass of wine each evening helps and going for a coffee before work and reading the news helps (largely because there's something worse in the world than your immediate experience). I also have started doing a meditation app which again is something that gives me structure. I really feel for you.

Ofcourseshecan · 05/05/2023 09:09

billy1966 · 02/05/2023 09:28

This.

He didn't want to explain himself and has likely chosen to see where it will go.

If it doesn't go to plan, he will most likely turn up with some story of being confused and having a wobble.

Do not entertain him for a minute.
He is a user.

Some men can be brutal.

My friends lovely colleague in school was married 30 years when her teacher husband came home one night and bluntly told her it was over, he no longer loved her, wanted a divorce, house to be sold, no discussion at all.
He was just done.
Absolutely brutal.

They were both retiring in the following 12 months.
She was stunned.

He'd always been selfish and she had raised their children largely alone.
He had lots of hobbies like golf.🙄

They sold their lovely house and garden which was her pride and joy and she found it all very hard.

He of course had met someone 10 years younger and they had a couple of great years holidaying etc.
He never felt the least bit contrite for what he had done and the upset he caused.

She bought a little house and has created a lovely life and garden for herself, but it was hard.

4 years on from their divorce he had a stroke that fortunately was caught early but required some months of rehabilitation.

His relationship hasn't survived this huge change of his circumstances.

Her son started trying to discuss "what to do with Dad" and what would be best for him, and suggested that Mum brings him home 🙄as he needed to be looked after🤨, when he finished rehabilitation.

Her very steely position to her son was that they were divorced 4 years ago, she had barely seen him since, his health difficulties while obviously a huge shock for HIM, had nothing whatsoever to do with HER, and she wanted no part in any discussion as it really was NOTHING to do with her.

Her daughters tried to be more understanding but were also a bit surprised that lovely, kind mum, who has always put everyone first was not prepared to "help out" with Dad.

She had to be very firm with them all.

She accepted HIS sudden decision to end their marriage and the sale of her lovely home and garden, she NEVER burdened THEM with her sadness and shock, protected THEM from it all.

She had absolutely no intention of being guilted by them 4 years after her divorce to become his carer having been discarded the way she was.

They accepted her position and she has stuck to her position ridgedly.

It caused a lot of discussion among her friends as to the unbelievable expectations of some women to suck up awful treatment and still be "kind"🙄.

He has shown you who he is at his core, brutal.
Be glad you know.

Good for your friend, Billy.

It caused a lot of discussion among her friends as to the unbelievable expectations of some women to suck up awful treatment and still be "kind"🙄.

I am so glad they saw it this way. I have a feeling that, a few decades ago, people would have been shocked and considered her selfish. So we have made some progress over the years. I’ve also heard that it is much more common for men to leave wives who have become disabled, and for women to stay as carers.

BonnieLisbon · 05/05/2023 11:01

billy1966 · 02/05/2023 09:28

This.

He didn't want to explain himself and has likely chosen to see where it will go.

If it doesn't go to plan, he will most likely turn up with some story of being confused and having a wobble.

Do not entertain him for a minute.
He is a user.

Some men can be brutal.

My friends lovely colleague in school was married 30 years when her teacher husband came home one night and bluntly told her it was over, he no longer loved her, wanted a divorce, house to be sold, no discussion at all.
He was just done.
Absolutely brutal.

They were both retiring in the following 12 months.
She was stunned.

He'd always been selfish and she had raised their children largely alone.
He had lots of hobbies like golf.🙄

They sold their lovely house and garden which was her pride and joy and she found it all very hard.

He of course had met someone 10 years younger and they had a couple of great years holidaying etc.
He never felt the least bit contrite for what he had done and the upset he caused.

She bought a little house and has created a lovely life and garden for herself, but it was hard.

4 years on from their divorce he had a stroke that fortunately was caught early but required some months of rehabilitation.

His relationship hasn't survived this huge change of his circumstances.

Her son started trying to discuss "what to do with Dad" and what would be best for him, and suggested that Mum brings him home 🙄as he needed to be looked after🤨, when he finished rehabilitation.

Her very steely position to her son was that they were divorced 4 years ago, she had barely seen him since, his health difficulties while obviously a huge shock for HIM, had nothing whatsoever to do with HER, and she wanted no part in any discussion as it really was NOTHING to do with her.

Her daughters tried to be more understanding but were also a bit surprised that lovely, kind mum, who has always put everyone first was not prepared to "help out" with Dad.

She had to be very firm with them all.

She accepted HIS sudden decision to end their marriage and the sale of her lovely home and garden, she NEVER burdened THEM with her sadness and shock, protected THEM from it all.

She had absolutely no intention of being guilted by them 4 years after her divorce to become his carer having been discarded the way she was.

They accepted her position and she has stuck to her position ridgedly.

It caused a lot of discussion among her friends as to the unbelievable expectations of some women to suck up awful treatment and still be "kind"🙄.

He has shown you who he is at his core, brutal.
Be glad you know.

Good for her.

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