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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

Husband hasn’t come home!

698 replies

Worried00 · 07/09/2023 05:20

My husband went to play darts last night as he does every Wednesday. I’ve woken up at 4.30am and he isn’t home!!!
I’ve tried calling him and WhatsApping him- no answer and no reply. He hasn’t read my messages.
his darts team are his old work mates who I have no contact information for.
im worried sick. What do I do!? Do I call the police? Do I call hospitals !? Help, I feel sick

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
lto2019 · 07/09/2023 22:17

Often admitting to something 'bad' is to cover for something worse. It will all come out eventually - in the meantime - he has come up with something he thinks you might forgive. The only thing I can think of in terms of the darts 'cover' is it gives a fixed evening to be out - as it is for the team whereas a night out at the pub you might be more likely to ask him to go a different night or miss a week.

Rubiconmango · 07/09/2023 22:18

OP I divorced my ex husband after seeing an Instagram message from a woman (I was using his phone at the time openly in front of him! And didn't even know he had an account because he 'wasn't a social media person'), which I opened, and was absolutely flabergasted when I saw a whole pool of RANDOM ow he'd been exchanging messages with, mainly trashy naked women with absolutely no class or self esteem! It took me 6 months before I actually filed for divorce. My mind was made up. The 6 months was for me to process! In my now touch wood - amazing marriage, my husband came home with alcohol breath. We don't drink for religious reasons. I told him to pack his bags and leave for the night and go be with 'his boys' since their influence was more valuable than the standards of our marriage. Not only did he plead to not leave, he called in sick the next day to resolve his error! IDGAF what the opinion of others is here on my personal account (I expect to be called controlling and abusive by women with low standards for themselves).

My point is, when you have personal standards WHICH YOUR SPOUSE SHARES IN, you know what you're willing to accept or not accept when that bar is lowered by your spouse! A lot of holier than thou comments on here from women who probably accept very less for themselves. And sorry that you've been called abusive and controlling! Women who accept less for themselves tend to drag other women down to feel better about their own compromises in life.

Do what makes you feel self respect. My family and friends were shocked I'd divorced my ex since 'he hadn't had an affair'. I told them he did - my definition of affair wasn't he had to stick his less than decent weeny in someone lol, and that I had to wake up and know I stood my ground with my delabreakers, and could look at myself in the mirror proud everyday.

I'm now happily married (and he'd never be a fool again with drinking ;-))

Point is, I'm sorry for what you'll be going through, but you sound like a woman who has self respect and firm standards for yourself, and wanted to drop by to say, we're not many, but you're not alone in standing up for what you value in a relationship, and you'll be happier for it when you don't compromise those standards. I can only imagine the heartache and questions burning through your mind, all while having to continue adulting and parenting, alongside a generous amount of exhaustion!

Sending love and hugs and hope you're OK. This too shall pass xxx

Mumsmet · 07/09/2023 22:37

Dontstoptherain · 07/09/2023 11:13

As an aside, if he wasn’t prepared to insure me on his car, not a chance he’d be taking mine out for no other reason than “it has air con” and leaving me without a vehicle!

Exactly! I wonder why OP isn't insured on his car.

Loubelle70 · 07/09/2023 22:40

Shahira78 · 07/09/2023 14:27

What kind of woman? A strong woman who doesn't like the piss taken out of her and knows her worth.

^this
OP isnt daft. She knows what to do/ask. Bug+er insurance now...fcol!. I would drive 300 miles without insurance possibly if i thought my partner was in danger/ill etc. When we are in adrenalin mode we do some things, cant believe the flack on here that's continued. Her OH is back... emotional for her, give the woman some support geez. OP knows what she needs to ask and what to believe. All the best OP x

IncognitoMam · 07/09/2023 22:41

Wow that's a shocking update. I couldn't trust him again. So sorry for you.

Pickledpetunia · 07/09/2023 22:42

Girl I’d be doing the same. 4 months of lying is wholly unacceptable imo. Not coming home with YOUR car especially when there are young kids involved who need to get to school is what I would see as the controlling bit here - aimed at the poster who claims you to be abusive... 🙄

Why didn’t he take is own flipping car instead of leaving her with one she can’t legally drive?!

OP don’t let them tell you where your line is drawn.

Loubelle70 · 07/09/2023 22:43

IncognitoMam · 07/09/2023 22:41

Wow that's a shocking update. I couldn't trust him again. So sorry for you.

I will have to look bk at update sorry OP . TY mam xxx

Loubelle70 · 07/09/2023 22:51

Pickledpetunia · 07/09/2023 22:42

Girl I’d be doing the same. 4 months of lying is wholly unacceptable imo. Not coming home with YOUR car especially when there are young kids involved who need to get to school is what I would see as the controlling bit here - aimed at the poster who claims you to be abusive... 🙄

Why didn’t he take is own flipping car instead of leaving her with one she can’t legally drive?!

OP don’t let them tell you where your line is drawn.

^this.
Updated myself on OP post.
He might be telling truth but, and im not one to fling this out there, he is interested in either a barmaid or someone in the pub hes been going to. OP had already thought all these things we are saying. OP will come bk when she can x

commonground · 07/09/2023 22:56

there has never been a darts team.
He has been out with his friends in the pub.

Eh? Isn't that where you literally play darts? In the pub?

This thread is bonkers.

Buildingthefuture · 07/09/2023 23:10

Does he think you came down in the last shower op? Why would he fabricate a “darts team” which is literally always played in a pub, as an excuse to….go to the pub?
It is a crock of shit and he’s been at it for 4 months? But conveniently last night he “fell asleep on a couch”? Whose couch? Where?
I am so sorry op, but you obviously know this is bollocks…..

Backtoblack1 · 07/09/2023 23:13

Any signs that there might be somebody else? X

Jessicaarga · 08/09/2023 00:06

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whynotwhatknot · 08/09/2023 00:24

i wouldnt mind my dh going out once a week for a drink

i wouldnt like it if he lied about it

umeboshionigiri · 08/09/2023 00:34

@Worried00

Thank you for the final update - please don't worry about letting us know further - our concern was if he's home safe or not - now......well. Look after yourself and take yourself out for a strong coffee this weekend hun while you mull things over

Awittyfool · 08/09/2023 02:27

Why drive if you want to go out drinking? You can’t do more than a half or two and surely that’s not worth lying to your partner about.

Eileandover · 08/09/2023 04:02

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Susieb2023 · 08/09/2023 06:41

OP I’m really sorry he did this to you and the children and has been lying for four months. Like others believe, I believe that this lie will be just sitting on the truth which will be worse.

Kicking him out and taking time to think and possibly delve deeper is exactly what you need to do!

Hope you’re ok!

5128gap · 08/09/2023 06:48

His change of story is just an on the spot ill thought through attempt to cover something else. He is admitting to what he has to, that he isn't playing darts, because OP knows now there isn't a darts team. If OP had discovered for certain his colleagues weren't even at the pub, he'd have said he went alone. If she had found a hotel receipt he'd have said he goes to a hotel for some space alone. If he was seen there with a woman they'd have been 'just talking' etc.
He invented the darts team because its more of a commitment than just drinks and whatever he's doing he doesn't want anything to get in the way.

VisionsOfSplendour · 08/09/2023 07:38

SlideAway1 · 07/09/2023 22:06

Categorically he is using cocaine on the sly

What are the sure signs it's that rather than another woman or a mid life crisis or the OP not being truthful about whether she'd be bothered or he's simply a liar for no reason?

Not me but a friend had a sort of similar thing with her husband, I don't think he was taking drugs but it would be useful to know how to tell

Hollywolly1 · 08/09/2023 09:22

I wonder is the reason he took your car was he knew you wouldn't be able to catch him out,he may have thought you were on to him so knew you were not insured on his car.I think the awful part in all this is leaving you and your children high and dry unable to get to school or work. He didn't just become a liar in the last 4 months ge was probably always sneaky

oiltrader · 08/09/2023 09:47

I think men need that break with friends in the pub and some women get jealous. I have seen it with my female friends. i dont keep tabs on DH as that would lead to stress. x

WunWun · 08/09/2023 09:56

The fact that there would be no vague reason to lie about going to the pub with friends suggests to me that he is seeing someone else. I'm really sorry OP

Daffodilsandtuplips · 08/09/2023 10:07

But why lie about it and continue to lie about for four years. Op said she doesn’t mind him going out and having a drink with friends so why lie to her.
Another thing to consider… if he is driving to the pub nights and drinking it means he’s been drinking and driving.

willWillSmithsmith · 08/09/2023 10:13

oiltrader · 08/09/2023 09:47

I think men need that break with friends in the pub and some women get jealous. I have seen it with my female friends. i dont keep tabs on DH as that would lead to stress. x

But how is saying you’re playing darts better? Darts are held in pubs or clubs. Darts, socialising and booze go together in most people’s minds so his lying doesn’t make any sense unless there’s more to this than meets the eye.

FUPAgirl · 08/09/2023 10:51

C1N1C · 07/09/2023 16:18

So to me it sounds like OP disapproved of husband drinking, so husband told OP that he wasn't a drinker, when in fact he was. He then lied to her that he was out at darts just so he could get a sneaky drink in.

If OP has conclusive proof, that was all it was, I.e. testimony from friends and proof he was around their house, part of me actually feels sorry for husband. It almost sounds like a controlling relationship???

The "I just needed a night to escape/relax away from my abuser?"

The alternative is that mates are covering for him and he HAS been cheating, but this is an interesting twist...

Or maybe he is ashamed that he is drinking up to near midnight on a weeknight, when he needs to get up for work at 5.30am the next day. Do you think he is legally and safely fit to drive then?

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