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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

Finally ended it but I’m shaken

42 replies

Callialily · 05/03/2024 14:17

I could really use a hand hold/sense check today. Last night I told my partner of 7 years our relationship was over. He has been treating me like an emotional punch bag since I confessed to an EA 8 months ago. He was angry and had a short temper before that but it’s definitely worse now and I feel I’ve laid myself open to any amount of shit from him out of my guilt. Part of why I strayed was feeling unhappy and not liking how he spoke to me and dd, but I stayed with him because I didn’t want to break up the family.

now though, Anything from how I load the dishwasher to how I buzzed him to come let me and dd in as I forgot my keys when he was wfh, to putting the duvet on ‘wrong’ or the fact I suggested ordering pizza for dinner, to having one of dd’s friends over when he was watching football. Anything is fair game. He will flip out, storm into our room with the door closed and if I come in and try to talk/smooth it over he will say something like “leave me alone”, “I’m not happy with you”, and yesterday it was “leave me if you think I’m such a dick”. Obviously the cheating was horrible and I’ve taken a lot on that basis. But he has always maintains he wants to “try”. It feels like we have got to the point where tiny things I do annoy him enough to sulk for a whole night. He admitted this yesterday. He says he can’t actually stop this anger and arguing. He said he hates me sometimes. That he doesn’t think we want the same things and he doesn’t feel the same way about me. That his life has been ruined by me and he wants to kill himself. He says all this on a weekly or two weekly basis pretty much, in the shouting arguments he initiates in our room with dd able to hear on the other side of the wall (it’s a fairly small flat.) Yestrday she told me she hates that because she feels alone and has no one to talk to about what’s happening. I feel like shit and tbh that’s what prompted me to tell him it was over. I said we need to get a divorce. And for the first time, I meant it. I know it’s the right thing for everyone.

I slept with DD last night as she really needed me, she was upset as one of her friends had talked about “the d word” (divorce) and she’s scared. I reassured her and we went to sleep. Before that, he was coming in telling me to come and talk to him. I said no and hated that he was doing that in front of dd still, in her space. At 2.45am he came in waking us both up telling me I ‘better come talk to him in 20 seconds or I’m coming back in’, I ‘can’t just leave him then not talk to him’ etc. Banging around in the middle of the night. He’s never been physically aggressive but I felt vulnerable. I didn’t sleep at all.

im a bit shaken up today and I think she is too. He took off sick and is lying on the bed crying and refusing to speak to me about anything. I have gone out as I can’t be in the space with him.

im doing the righht thing for me and dd, aren’t I? He can be lovely too, funny, engaged, happy. We just had a lovely weeks holiday I booked which I thought would help. We had a nice date on Sunday to the cinema. But now he threw that back at me saying I didn’t show him enough affection. Says my job doesn’t pay me well enough, I have MH issues and need help, etc. I just can’t live with someone who doesn’t like me anymore.

OP posts:
YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 05/03/2024 14:20

You are but you need to get her out of this space and to where she can feel safe. Can you both stay with your mum or someone for a while?

Callialily · 05/03/2024 14:22

We live really far from our families (which I don’t think helped our relationship, we moved for his job/a pay rise). My mum is at best a flight away and she can’t take time off work. It does feel scary.

OP posts:
Collywobblewobbles · 05/03/2024 14:25

He behaves like he did last night again then its perfectly acceptable to call the police and tell them you feel unsafe, describe his behaviour and tell them its since you said you were ending things.

Absolutely right to divorce him

CeffylCoch · 05/03/2024 14:25

Is one of you going to move out? it sounds like you have done the right thing. Now you need to get away from him/get him away from you

CeffylCoch · 05/03/2024 14:26

Also how old is DD?

MinervatheGreat · 05/03/2024 14:34

You can’t go on living like this. His behaviour is ridiculous. Your poor DD.

If he feels so angry about your past behaviour he must sling his hook and sort it out between you from elsewhere.
You need some peace and space to go forward.

If you and DD can leave then so be it but do the proverbial ducks in row and then quietly just leave one day. No fanfare or fuss, just let him come home to an empty flat.
I’ve just read “real power doesn’t foam at the mouth!” Get out as soon as you can.

StrawberryWater · 05/03/2024 14:42

You need to leave because he's been escalating.

Get your stuff and go with DD and get somewhere safe.

Also if he threatens you again call the police.

Aquamarine1029 · 05/03/2024 14:51

You should have called the police last night. His behaviour is completely unacceptable, and you having an emotional affair is absolutely no free pass for him to behave this way. He is scaring his child. This cannot continue.

Lampslights · 05/03/2024 14:56

You need to get out op. And fast. Or rather get him out. Your poor child. For her sake, you need to do this, she cannot live in this toxic chaotic scary environment you have both created, and yes it is both of you.

savethatkitty · 05/03/2024 14:57

Re the EA, let go of the guilt! I'm not surprised you connected with another man your OH sounds a prince (not).

He's bitter & angry. He either 100% forgives you & moves on & it sounds as though he can't do that, so you definitely need to leave.

You've paid your dues. You've apologized for the EA, you tried to make it work. What's he done?

JonVoightBaddyWhoGrowls · 05/03/2024 16:18

Whether or not your EA was in response to him being abusive and unpleasant, the situation today is that he is being both. You are right to end things. Neither you nor your DD feel safe in the current environment.

It's hard, not least because you feel a certain amount of understandable guilt. But at th end of the day, the situation you are in right now is unsustainable so you have 100% done the right thing.

SpringSprungALeak · 05/03/2024 16:32

@Callialily

((((HUG))))

you are not just doing the right thing, you are doing the responsible thing!

DD needs to be free of his behaviour & attitude ASAP (as do you, obviously)

he's using you EA to try to justify his behaviour, but it doesn't. I get he's hurt (his ego if nothing else) & that it's changed his feeling towards you, but it's not a pass to act like a Grade A wanker. It's just not.

where would you be best supported? With friends where you are now or with your mum & old friends where you lived before? Where do you want to live?

children move schools all the time, she would soon make new friends.

its not always enforced that you can't move away if you're scared of him & have a support network where you used to live (and especially if you moved for his job etc)

get a diary & write down what he's doing/saying.

you say he hasn't been violent, but it's only a matter of time.

try to get him to move out to family friends as it's his area. If not you may need to get help from women's aid etc. do you have a friend nearby who would look after your most important papers & sentimental items if you need to leave??

Callialily · 05/03/2024 18:45

Dd is 6. He’s never been violent nor do I think he would be- but he does storm around loudly like the middle of the night last night, slams doors, bursts in when he’s angry etc. I get he is still angry, I cheated. But when he even admits he can’t rein that in how can we ‘keep trying’ as he says he wants to?! I feel like I get pushed to the edge again and again then he’s shocked if I want to leave. It’s also the way he talks to me. Shouting and swearing with dd in next room. Sulking all night, she’s well aware. His anger is normal to her. I hate it. I’m scared of the future but I can’t do this. Even if I feel guilty taking her out of school (which I think I will have to) and her home. This is just so toxic and escalating.

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 05/03/2024 19:11

You’re doing the right thing OP. This can’t carry on, for your DD’s sake if nothing else. It’s such a relief when you stop living with someone whose mood changes so quickly and who spends hours / days sulking.

Daleksatemyshed · 05/03/2024 19:24

You're doing the right thing Op. You shouldn't have had the EA but what's done is done. He can't forgive you so you're both wasting your time trying to make this work, he doesn't want the split but he can't go on punishing your for ever, especially when your DC gets stuck in the middle

YorkBound · 05/03/2024 19:29

You're doing the only sensible thing. Even if he wants to, he clearly cannot get past the infidelity. It sounds like his behaviour may have contributed to your EA but only you will know that for sure.
Your DD needs you to be strong on this one. She mustn't grow up thinking it's normal for a man to behave like this in the home.

Hatty65 · 05/03/2024 19:31

Don't give in to this. You are absolutely doing the right thing - you can't bring a child up in this toxic environment.

If he is abusive again call the police and ask them to remove him. Make it clear to him that there is nothing to discuss and you are done. No conversation will change this.

Call Women's Aid if necessary. But whatever you do, don't let him guilt you into trying again. This will all be thrown in your face as 'something you did that means he can't trust you'.

aurynne · 05/03/2024 19:49

Every time you doubt what you need to do, look at your 6 year old daughter and thinik: this is the man she will choose when she's a young woman.

Gert her out of there. Soon.

OriginalFloorboards · 05/03/2024 20:05

OP you are doing the right thing. Lots of sensible posts on here from others.

I reiterate others - it does not give him the right to do this and frighten you and your DD. I don’t like what he’s doing. Please either get him out or you both leave. Probably easier for him to leave but I don’t think he will make anything easy for you.

The atmosphere must be hell. It will be draining you to not thinking straight.

Sending you a hug.

mathanxiety · 05/03/2024 20:29

Next time he says the word suicide, call police. Next time he behaves as he did last night call the police.

Tell the dispatcher he's having a mental health crisis, you have a child there with you, and you are feeling threatened.

If he goes without sleep for another night, call police/ ambulance. Again, tell them it's a MH crisis.

Pigglyplaystruant99 · 05/03/2024 20:55

So sorry you are going through this. It's always clearer from the outside looking in, worth no emotional attachment to with of you. FWIW, I'd say this relationship is never going to work and you must prioritise DD's emotional welfare at all costs. Please leave.

golf7 · 05/03/2024 21:10

That's what happens when you cheat on people. Why is his job to fix the relationship. You broke it ! The answers would be so different if this was a man posting here.

You cheated . You hurt him and wonder why he's acting hurt at losing his child wife and possibly home. Its not all about you ffs

whatsitcalledwhen · 05/03/2024 21:39

golf7 · 05/03/2024 21:10

That's what happens when you cheat on people. Why is his job to fix the relationship. You broke it ! The answers would be so different if this was a man posting here.

You cheated . You hurt him and wonder why he's acting hurt at losing his child wife and possibly home. Its not all about you ffs

It's not his job to fix the relationship.

It IS his job not to scare his daughter.

Opentooffers · 05/03/2024 21:41

You've had 8 months to get your ducks in a row, so I hope for your DD's sake you have a plan. If you don't, you'd better get busy with one.
You've exposed your DD to more than she needed to be. How horrendous for her having him come in and out of her room all night. I hope you stick by your words and mean it, as I'm seeing emotional outburst, then hiding in her room. What you need to be now is calm and detached and to move out asap.

SlackAlice1 · 05/03/2024 21:45

golf7 · 05/03/2024 21:10

That's what happens when you cheat on people. Why is his job to fix the relationship. You broke it ! The answers would be so different if this was a man posting here.

You cheated . You hurt him and wonder why he's acting hurt at losing his child wife and possibly home. Its not all about you ffs

Bollocks.