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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

Help..Dilemma - when to leave - escorts and cheating

38 replies

Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 21:56

I have a dilemma that I am trying to solve but I’m struggling as my mental state isn’t great and I’m not thinking straight.

Situation: married with 4 children.since I met my husband it’s been nothing but trouble and heartache and I’m now wondering whether it’s a bit manipulative.
At thr start my husband moved to be with me, made my life hell, turned his back to me as he spoke to friends, called me a whore, locked me out of the house in the snow and all sorts. I got pregnant and he left me on an evening out and had his hands up a girls skirt. I saw him and instead of apologising he said ‘go have the bastard baby on your own’. He was drunk. I then lost the baby shortly after.
fast forward and I now have 4 children with him.he stopped the extreme verbal abuse but other issues arose. Over time there have been various women involved. 2 months after marriage he kissed a girl, 2 weeks after our 2nd child he slept with someone. This has broken me but as our son was now 4 I decided to try to put the past in the past. I decided to go to counselling, stop snooping into his phone etc and to move on. I told him this and he was happy…..then….he used this as an opportunity to freely behave however…i I found £100 cash in his wallet. When I looked into it he had been messaging escorts. He said it was just to get off on as it felt more real. This lie continued until I found the messages saying he was outside the brothel, His story was he never went in because of guilt and he did come back with the £100 however…he came back and messaged another. The woman was half my age and looked completely different to me. That evening he told me off for being 15 minutes late home, constant lies. He told me he likes the thought of sleeping with other women.
Anyway I’m now 6 weeks in to discovering this and having my own therapy. I have couples therapy with him next week (dreading it!).
he is living here as if nothing happened. Asking me why I’m miserable as if it’s ridiculous. It’s making me so angry and I’m trying to keep it calm for the kids sake and be civil. He thinks it’s not that bad as he ‘didn’t go in’. Every minute I’m in this house with him is unbearable. I’m trying to take action that is the best for the kids and to make sure we are ok financially.
The dilemma is that I have reached my breaking point. He is drinking heavily daily (has done for a long time), his blaze attitude makes me mad and like he feels he has power/I can’t do anything. He badgers me for sex at the moment too. Situation is…
Our mortgage is up for renewal in March. I can’t get it alone (I’ve checked). I need an extra room for the kids and if I sell I won’t be able to afford this, the only way I can do it is to do joint mortgage and then him leave on the date it starts. I don’t want to leave as I have a very lovely community here with support from neighbors. I’m trying to balance this practical reason against the fact that I can’t stand to be around him as it’s making me feel ill. 3 months seems like an eternity for him to be essentially laughing in my face about it, I worry that in this time he will try to drag me back in again. He said it’s because we didn’t have sex enough. I have always been the one to make effort so not true,
Can anyone help me with a way around this that’s not going to screw me re the home, financially and also least impact to the kids.
sorry for the long post. There is so much more to this story and I’m only just seeing the true situation as heartache and bad treatment have traumatised me a bit.
xx

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 14/11/2024 22:01

When to leave?

Now.

Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 22:04

Frith2013 · 14/11/2024 22:01

When to leave?

Now.

Thank you. I’m just thinking I’ve stuck it out for lots of years. A few months of hell could mean I’m not screwed re the house and financially. X

OP posts:
Opentooffers · 14/11/2024 22:04

When you first got pregnant, but for some reason only you know, you didn't.

TipsyJoker · 14/11/2024 22:07

Speak to women’s aid. Immediately. You are being abused. And so are your children by living in this environment with an alcoholic, woman abuser. You can apply for an occupation order so he is made to leave the family home and you and the children can remain there. Do not tell him anything. Speak to women’s aid privately.

Get an STD check promptly too. You need to make sure he hasn’t given you any diseases or infections.

Do NOT sleep with him again. He’s unsafe and the last thing you need is to bring another child into this horror show.

Get on to women’s aid immediately. Seriously.

Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 22:09

I know right. I was young and didn’t see it for some reason. His charming side won me back every time but then soon it turned bad again. What should I do now? Wait 3 months for financial security and keeping my home I love or kick him out now and risk financial ruin and losing our family home and community network?

OP posts:
TipsyJoker · 14/11/2024 22:13

If his names on the mortgage you can’t just kick him out legally. So there’s no point waiting. You would have to get an occupation order from the court to have him removed from the property and not be able to return. Are you working?

Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 22:14

TipsyJoker · 14/11/2024 22:07

Speak to women’s aid. Immediately. You are being abused. And so are your children by living in this environment with an alcoholic, woman abuser. You can apply for an occupation order so he is made to leave the family home and you and the children can remain there. Do not tell him anything. Speak to women’s aid privately.

Get an STD check promptly too. You need to make sure he hasn’t given you any diseases or infections.

Do NOT sleep with him again. He’s unsafe and the last thing you need is to bring another child into this horror show.

Get on to women’s aid immediately. Seriously.

Thank you for your response, I’ve never heard it said like that.😢 I’ve had an STD check and thankfully all clear. If I go down that route re women’s aid I lose my home etc and I just think why should I lose that all. He earns a lot of money and can go on to be in a fancy house and I will be financially screwed even though I do have a good career, Doesn’t seem fair. To be fair my children have no idea. He is a good dad to them and does a lot with them/hands on with sports etc. Just shit with me.When I say he drinks a lot, he does but isn’t drunk if that makes sense? He seems sober and is tolerant to it so they wouldn’t know. X

OP posts:
unsync · 14/11/2024 22:14

I don't really understand your rationale regarding the mortgage. It is highly likely you will have to remove him from the mortgage once you divorce. You will either have to buy his share out so take on the whole mortgage or sell and get somewhere more affordable.

Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 22:18

TipsyJoker · 14/11/2024 22:13

If his names on the mortgage you can’t just kick him out legally. So there’s no point waiting. You would have to get an occupation order from the court to have him removed from the property and not be able to return. Are you working?

Thank you for your response. Yes I do work and my salary is good/proper career (one of my exit plans). He has said he will leave if I want him to but my concern is that once he leaves I lose the home, More stress for the kids and I feel if u can just wait till March it will mean home security for us and a home that is big enough to accommodate us. With my money alone I would have to downsize.

OP posts:
Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 22:19

unsync · 14/11/2024 22:14

I don't really understand your rationale regarding the mortgage. It is highly likely you will have to remove him from the mortgage once you divorce. You will either have to buy his share out so take on the whole mortgage or sell and get somewhere more affordable.

He has never been funny with money and has said as part of the separation he will pay half of the mortgage for another 2 year term until things have settled down,

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 14/11/2024 22:35

He SAYS he will.

He won't.

Frith2013 · 14/11/2024 22:36

I don't really understand the part about the remortgage.

If you get divorced the house will be split anyway. It won't matter how good your interest rate is.

Miloarmadillo2 · 14/11/2024 22:41

At thr start my husband moved to be with me, made my life hell, turned his back to me as he spoke to friends, called me a whore, locked me out of the house in the snow and all sorts. I got pregnant and he left me on an evening out and had his hands up a girls skirt. I saw him and instead of apologising he said ‘go have the bastard baby on your own’. He was drunk. I then lost the baby shortly after.

You just jump from this to … now we have four children. WTAF?

DeliciousApples · 14/11/2024 22:46

I wouldn't believe him when he says he will pay the mortgage. He's a bastard.

I'm sorry but you're probably going to lose the house.

Lots of people have been in the same position.

Some have tried living as flat mates, buying/renting a small flat that each person takes turns in while the other person is looking after the children in the main house, and other novel things like splitting the house up internally with partitions etc. Whatever they could do to keep continuity for the kids basically.

Speak to womens aid. They've seen it all before and may be able to help.

Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 22:51

Miloarmadillo2 · 14/11/2024 22:41

At thr start my husband moved to be with me, made my life hell, turned his back to me as he spoke to friends, called me a whore, locked me out of the house in the snow and all sorts. I got pregnant and he left me on an evening out and had his hands up a girls skirt. I saw him and instead of apologising he said ‘go have the bastard baby on your own’. He was drunk. I then lost the baby shortly after.

You just jump from this to … now we have four children. WTAF?

Yes I know it sounds mad, Obviously I’m telling you the bad bits. The other side of it is that things have been good, Thif happened over a period of about 17 years. Full on love and then every couple of years a huge event, mainly cheating, the verbal side of things stopped a long time ago,

OP posts:
Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 22:54

DeliciousApples · 14/11/2024 22:46

I wouldn't believe him when he says he will pay the mortgage. He's a bastard.

I'm sorry but you're probably going to lose the house.

Lots of people have been in the same position.

Some have tried living as flat mates, buying/renting a small flat that each person takes turns in while the other person is looking after the children in the main house, and other novel things like splitting the house up internally with partitions etc. Whatever they could do to keep continuity for the kids basically.

Speak to womens aid. They've seen it all before and may be able to help.

Do you think I need women’s aid? I don’t feel unsafe in the house and he has never been physical with me. It’s just a very stressful situation to think the man I love is seeing escorts x

OP posts:
Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 22:55

Frith2013 · 14/11/2024 22:35

He SAYS he will.

He won't.

I was planning to get it written up legally x

OP posts:
ProvincialLady24 · 14/11/2024 22:58

Just because you walked through the wrong door doesn't mean you have to stay in the wrong room.

Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 23:01

A few people are saying women’s aid. I’ve never thought of it like this before. Not sure it’s an abuse situation as I don’t feel unsafe, Kids are safe and happy, doing well in school and go to clubs etc, Just like I’ve lost my rational thought process over the years, very stressed out and can’t think clearly to see the situation as my anxiety is taking over my brain. My main priority is the children and securing a safe, happy future for them. Feel like moving home would rock their world too much on top of their parent separating,

OP posts:
Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 23:02

ProvincialLady24 · 14/11/2024 22:58

Just because you walked through the wrong door doesn't mean you have to stay in the wrong room.

Thank you. I know I have to leave now. I’ve had a sudden realisation. It’s just the timing I can’t figure x

OP posts:
CagneyNYPD1 · 14/11/2024 23:08

In the nicest possible way, you are kidding yourself regarding the mortgage renewal next year. Even if you do stick it out and sort the new mortgage, you have absolutely no guarantee that he will actually leave, let alone leave and continue paying.

He abuses you emotionally and puts you at risk sexually. It wouldn't take much for him to financially abuse you too.

End it. Tell him that you want a divorce. Clean break. Sell the house and spoilt the quirky. Apply to CMS for the children. Move into a smaller house and start rebuilding yourself. If you don't, you will never be free of this vile man.

CagneyNYPD1 · 14/11/2024 23:19

CagneyNYPD1 · 14/11/2024 23:08

In the nicest possible way, you are kidding yourself regarding the mortgage renewal next year. Even if you do stick it out and sort the new mortgage, you have absolutely no guarantee that he will actually leave, let alone leave and continue paying.

He abuses you emotionally and puts you at risk sexually. It wouldn't take much for him to financially abuse you too.

End it. Tell him that you want a divorce. Clean break. Sell the house and spoilt the quirky. Apply to CMS for the children. Move into a smaller house and start rebuilding yourself. If you don't, you will never be free of this vile man.

Apologies for the typos! "Spoilt the quirky" should read "split the equity"

Mexico2000 · 14/11/2024 23:38

CagneyNYPD1 · 14/11/2024 23:19

Apologies for the typos! "Spoilt the quirky" should read "split the equity"

😂😂 I didn’t even notice it but it made me laugh in a shit situation so thanks. I’ve just told him to forget the counselling and he needs to leave and he said fine he couldn’t give a f**k and he will leave so there we go. The reality is that the mind game now stars with manipulation. Threatening me with all sorts of stuff to make me not kick him out. I know tomorrow he will refuse to leave. The courts would favour kids staying in the family home and I’m not going to lose them no matter what. Just draining 😭

OP posts:
unsync · 14/11/2024 23:38

He's probably saying that about the money because it keeps you there. It's just six months, then it'll be something else. It's a way of controlling you. He doesn't believe you will go. After all the appalling things he's done to you, all the previous abuse, you stayed, so why would you leave now? He's keeping you sweet.

If you are serious about leaving, please get help to put a plan together. He sounds nasty and they can be unpredictable when they realise they've lost control of you. Your local Women's Aid / Refuge can help you. They can also help you deal with the aftermath too, you may not realise it, but it's not uncommon to develop PTSD after leaving an abusive relationship.

Noseybookworm · 14/11/2024 23:58

Get yourself legal advice asap so you know where you stand. Don't go to couples counselling with him, that's just a waste of your time. He's an abusive, lying cheating bully and he won't change. Why you had 4 children with him is very difficult to understand as he treated you badly from the beginning. That's something you need to explore in your own counselling, why you were prepared to put up with being treated like shit and didn't walk away immediately. Get yourself a plan and leave, life will be much better for you and your children without him.