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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

Ending our relationship??

3 replies

highflyingmum · 01/01/2025 19:19

I've been with my OH for almost 11 years. We have a child together and I also have a young teenage daughter from my previous marriage - I'm widowed.
I found out a couple of years ago that my OH was speaking to another woman who used to be a raving friend of his from years back. I never felt suspicious at this initially, in fact I was pleased he was getting back in contact with old friends, etc. Over time, we were at a wedding abroad and his phone went off in my hand as I was returning to our hotel room to put our phones on charge - I opened it to find messages from her with images of her in lingerie. There were responses from my OH calling her beautiful, etc. I felt sick and almost flew home with the kids but I just done my best. I had it out with him eventually and he said she had body confidence issues - I mean so do I but he's never used the word beautiful to compliment me. Anyway, we carried on as normal but it always haunted me. I recently found an old mobile phone thinking it was my daughters so I charged it to restore it back to factory settings in order to get it destroyed. I decided to look through the photos to keep any but found screenshots of text messages, and images of a woman naked! The texts said things like she has naughty thoughts of them together, etc. That's when I realised this was my OH old phone... the images and screen shots were dated back as far as 2019! Meaning he'd been having this 'online' secret affair with the woman for longer than I realised. I had it out with him again about a year ago, he apologised but I feel he's made no effort to reassure me - I have lost all my trust in him. He protected her feelings over mine when I said I was going to contact her, he told me that they 'ended' it ages ago as it wasn't fair. I asked him if he had slept with her and he denied this to which i do believe him for reasons but how do i know for certain??
He's also so full on, he can't leave the kids alone, he's so hyperactive, he hates spending money even when we have to. I feel like i have to beg him for money just to go get food shopping. I do work and earn my own money, i pay the bills in the house and shopping but as the cost of living has gone up I can no longer afford this alone. He pays our mortgage, sky TV and he completes any work that needs to be done on the house - however, we've lived in our house for 9 years and all work carried out by him can take years at a time and the final touches rarely get completed.
He never supports me with taking the children to or from school, or to clubs, etc - I do it all. I make sure all the bills are paid, including his company tax bill which I have no links to at all.
He makes excuses at the weekends to lay in bed most of the time by saying he has a migraine, or feels unwell. He goes to bed around 7:30pm most nights. I walk the dog, he rarely does. Most mornings I get greeted with sexual innuendos, which is tiring - I never get a 'normal' supportive hug or I love you without the demand of wanting something sexual.
There is more to this but I'd be typing all day.
I just need advice - I'm not happy, I'm tired. But I don't want me and my children to be left without a roof over our head or ruin the great relationship I have with his family.
I'd appreciate any guidance or strength to get through this.
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Pankoberry · 01/01/2025 19:21

"I have lost all my trust in him"

This is all you need to focus on really. If there is no trust, there is no foundation to be be together.

TipsyJoker · 01/01/2025 19:49

See a lawyer. Find out how much you’d be entitled to if you split. Check with cms how much you’d expect to get in maintenance. Have a look at how much it would be to rent near your children’s school and how much of a deposit you’d have to save. See if it would be possible for you to buy him out the house.

Hes a pig. He has lied to you the whole time. He’s been having illicit sexual affairs with ow online at the very least. I bet he would go ape shit if you’d done the same with a man. And this is only what you know about. What else is he hiding. You deserve better.

NeedsMustNet · 02/01/2025 11:24

Am so sorry. All of what Tipsy Joker said, I second.

What kind of advice would you particularly like?

I suggest that you imagine your daughter is in the same shoes you are in - with her relationship - in 20 years’ time. What would you suggest she does? I think that after all these lies and half truths (which might also be complete lies) you need to prioritise what really matters and what is meaningful and truthful.

On top of the lying and gaslighting, which is a form of abuse, your role in your relationship doesn’t sound at all fun or rewarding. He isn’t treating you kindly or like an equal.

I hope you are finding the advice you need in some of these replies. Trust yourself, would be mine.

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