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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

In shock, should he leave?

637 replies

Ialwaysthoughtitwasadojo · 25/11/2025 12:37

Sorry if this is a bit muddled, I’m honestly in shock. We’d actually been getting on better recently, he was finally making an effort, and then today he suddenly announced he wanted out, and doesn't see a long term future with me.

We’ve been together 12 years, two DC still at home, 7 and 9. The marriage had been hard because he gets incredibly grumpy, makes no effort, but we had been going to therapy and I thought things were getting better. We've just had a wonderful week away together.

So first of all, I'm feeling blind sided, has anyone had this? I feel so torn like I should try and save it. My therapist did say he was emotionally abusive, so I probably need to give my head a wobble. I thought maybe she was over reacting.

Also, he doesn't want to leave. He wants to stay in the house for 6/7 months if needed, whilst we figure things out! I can't do that. I can't pretend we're ok, it will be so much harder to get over! He's the one that wants out and works away all the time, can I ask him to leave? I'm primary carer, pick up all the slack and work from home.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
ThisAutumnTown · 27/11/2025 12:20

I’ve just rtft and what an absolute twat he is.
I also agree with other posters that he’s having an affair and I think he’s being so cold and distant to you to try and alleviate his guilt.
Do not leave the house. It’s jointly owned so you do not have to go anywhere. Start proceedings and do all you can to get him gone!

MO0N · 27/11/2025 12:23

OP, this man is now your opponent.
It's probably a good idea to play your cards close to your chest; do not let him know what you are thinking or feeling. Keep a detailed log of everything that happens and try to be neutral and business-like in your dealings with him.
Find your poker face and keep it on.

MostlyHappyMummy · 27/11/2025 12:24

I hope this doesn't sound harsh - you're going through a very difficult time - but it's is going to be a very long and difficult road if you don't stop considering his feelings and needs and wants.

He will do what is best for him
You need to do what's best for you
you have to trust that what's best for you is what is best for your children

It will be hard to switch from doing everything for him to doing nothing but it's the only thing that will protect you

Mix56 · 27/11/2025 12:31

“I want to make sure he sees the kids”

Its up to him to make sure he sees the kids.
In the long run, beating yourself up to make him want to step up & bending to any sudden changes in plan to manage his visits, will backfire on you.
You need to make a fixed calendar. If he misses his visits, he forfeits.
unless, it fits in with your plans, (trips, visits, birthday parties, visits to family & friends)
You need to state this from the get go, otherwise he will walk all over you & constantly change plans at the last minute.

Smilesinthesunshine · 27/11/2025 12:41

Ialwaysthoughtitwasadojo · 27/11/2025 11:32

Thanks so much for this, I just spoke to a solicitor who said I needed to start divorce proceedings before anything could happen, feeling so lost with it all! I'll start a spreadsheet of what's what with the finances.

I think further up thread you mentioned that you have put additional lump sums towards paying off the mortgage. Please ensure that you include this on your spreadsheet. If he stays in the house he should pay that money back to you.

MO0N · 27/11/2025 12:42

He will do what is best for him
You need to do what's best for you

@MostlyHappyMummy is spot on here.
Try to let go of the idea that if you're kind and reasonable with him he will respond in kind, he won't, he will experience you as a weak person who deserves to be exploited.
I'm not suggesting that you should be aggressive or overly adversarial, this would be counterproductive, it will give him an excuse to be aggressive in return which will be stressful and possibly dangerous for you.
Try to be polite but calm and neutral, don't give anything away or tell him what your plans are, you'd be giving him a heads up so that he can to make plans to thwart your plans.
Man often tend to assume that women are unable to be rational and strategic and they will therefore be easy to out maneuver. Let him think that.

LadyGAgain · 27/11/2025 13:21

This guy sorted my friend. Beautifully. Her ex DH was being a nightmare and refusing to engage after he chose to leave (affair). Tried to hide money etc. Bryan was brilliant. Knights plc is the firm. You can google. Good luck OP. I am so sorry with how you’re being treated. Lovely holiday. Sex. Fun. Then like a bolt out of the blue. Disgusting. And so sad.

In shock, should he leave?
LadyGAgain · 27/11/2025 13:22

Image is under review. Bryan Scant 023 9236 4323.

cocog · 27/11/2025 13:34

Apply for a divorce and get things moving aim to separate as soon as you can don’t let him financially ruin you or leave you with all responsibilities your already saying he can’t or it won’t work it’s his responsibility as the kid’s father to make some sort of regular contact work. I think it’s someone else too even if it’s not strictly started yet he’s showing all the signs and the therapist right he wants to stay where he’s cleaned up after and cooked food even if your absolutely destroyed emotionally in the process because that’s the best for him. Get him out asap I’m sorry this happened but you won’t be in 2 years! X

EuclidianGeometryFan · 27/11/2025 13:45

Ialwaysthoughtitwasadojo · 26/11/2025 20:23

The decorations are up 💪🏻 I loved it, kids loved it, he always got grumpy over getting it all out and getting the lights detangled…. None of that this year! We all loved it (and I managed not to cry for the duration).

When you say "We", do you mean soon-to-be-ex husband (STBXH) did it with you and the DC?

The very first step, before booking a solicitor, before opening a spreadsheet, before thinking about the house, before any of the big decisions that will come in the next days and weeks and months, is to get your head round the relationship ending.

It is over.
You are now a single person.

Let me say that again:
You are now single.

Just because circumstances force you to live in a house with him, doesn't mean you act like a couple.

A. Search for all his financial information, just in case he tries to hide assets and cheat you out of a fair settlement. This is the first step because you have to do it before he realises what is happening and has a chance to hide stuff.
It may already be too late, if he has planned ahead.

B. Tell the children as soon as you have done step A.

C. Move him or you out of the shared bedroom. If he refuses, move all your clothes and toiletries and everything else out. Find space elsewhere. Sleep on the sofa or on a mattress in the DC room if you have to.

D. Stop all shared meals and shared food. Sort out the cupboards in the kitchen into 'his' and 'hers'. Label the shelves in the fridge, or just tell him which are his. There is no need to be petty - you can still share ketchup and salt, for convenience. Then you shop and cook only for you and the DC.
Ask him for a plan for which days he will shop and cook for the DC. He won't be able to give you a rota, but if/when he announces that he will cook tonight or tomorrow, you tell him you won't be eating with him and go out.
Never sit down to a shared meal with him.
He will tell you that you are being stupid, unreasonable, spiteful, crazy, etc. etc. You are not. Single people who share space with flatmates don't have joint shopping and joint meals.
He will waste money on takeaways when you don't cook for him, just to prove a point. Let him.
Don't talk to him about anything except practical day-to-day arrangements for the children. Nothing else. Just don't talk to him. Absolutely don't get into arguments with him.

E. Sort day-to-day finances. Don't get bogged down in the big picture or final settlement yet.
Contact the bank and get your name taken off any joint accounts. Take half of what is in any joint instant-access savings.
Leave the direct debits for bills to come out of the current account which is now in his name only. Arrange to pay halves on household bills, so you pay into the account that the direct debits come out of.

F. Stop doing any laundry for him.

G. Never clean or tidy the room where he sleeps.
It will be a hopeless task to get him to stick to a rota for cleaning communal area, so just clean them as much as you fancy, or not. Don't thank him or make any comment when/if he cleans a communal area.

H. Work on the assumption that you are 100% the parent, no 50/50 or set days for him to have them (not yet), so don't bother to ask him about when he is working or available. Don't ask him for anything.
Instead, if you want to go out you either do it on the spur of the moment when he is around, or you plan ahead and book a babysitter. Tell him when you book a babysitter. If he says there is no need, or objects, tell him that you cannot plan around his work schedule so you do need a babysitter and will book one.

Then, when you feel ready, contact a solicitor, start making decisions, and get the ball rolling.

blackpooolrock · 27/11/2025 14:02

Work on the assumption that you are 100% the parent

Why would you do that? you're letting him do what he wants to do - he has no responsibilities now. It's what he wants...

Make him the parent 100% of the time - force him to take responsibility for his children - to clean for them, cook for them and do everything else for him. Sit back and watch him flounder. When he says hes going out say i can't take the kids, say sorry my diary is busy. When he says i need to work abroad for 4 weeks ask what's the childcare arrangements he has made? what's he doing on the weeks you don't have them - force him to make these decisions.

When he says he can't do it you have the upper hand.

MostlyHappyMummy · 27/11/2025 14:08

EuclidianGeometryFan · 27/11/2025 13:45

When you say "We", do you mean soon-to-be-ex husband (STBXH) did it with you and the DC?

The very first step, before booking a solicitor, before opening a spreadsheet, before thinking about the house, before any of the big decisions that will come in the next days and weeks and months, is to get your head round the relationship ending.

It is over.
You are now a single person.

Let me say that again:
You are now single.

Just because circumstances force you to live in a house with him, doesn't mean you act like a couple.

A. Search for all his financial information, just in case he tries to hide assets and cheat you out of a fair settlement. This is the first step because you have to do it before he realises what is happening and has a chance to hide stuff.
It may already be too late, if he has planned ahead.

B. Tell the children as soon as you have done step A.

C. Move him or you out of the shared bedroom. If he refuses, move all your clothes and toiletries and everything else out. Find space elsewhere. Sleep on the sofa or on a mattress in the DC room if you have to.

D. Stop all shared meals and shared food. Sort out the cupboards in the kitchen into 'his' and 'hers'. Label the shelves in the fridge, or just tell him which are his. There is no need to be petty - you can still share ketchup and salt, for convenience. Then you shop and cook only for you and the DC.
Ask him for a plan for which days he will shop and cook for the DC. He won't be able to give you a rota, but if/when he announces that he will cook tonight or tomorrow, you tell him you won't be eating with him and go out.
Never sit down to a shared meal with him.
He will tell you that you are being stupid, unreasonable, spiteful, crazy, etc. etc. You are not. Single people who share space with flatmates don't have joint shopping and joint meals.
He will waste money on takeaways when you don't cook for him, just to prove a point. Let him.
Don't talk to him about anything except practical day-to-day arrangements for the children. Nothing else. Just don't talk to him. Absolutely don't get into arguments with him.

E. Sort day-to-day finances. Don't get bogged down in the big picture or final settlement yet.
Contact the bank and get your name taken off any joint accounts. Take half of what is in any joint instant-access savings.
Leave the direct debits for bills to come out of the current account which is now in his name only. Arrange to pay halves on household bills, so you pay into the account that the direct debits come out of.

F. Stop doing any laundry for him.

G. Never clean or tidy the room where he sleeps.
It will be a hopeless task to get him to stick to a rota for cleaning communal area, so just clean them as much as you fancy, or not. Don't thank him or make any comment when/if he cleans a communal area.

H. Work on the assumption that you are 100% the parent, no 50/50 or set days for him to have them (not yet), so don't bother to ask him about when he is working or available. Don't ask him for anything.
Instead, if you want to go out you either do it on the spur of the moment when he is around, or you plan ahead and book a babysitter. Tell him when you book a babysitter. If he says there is no need, or objects, tell him that you cannot plan around his work schedule so you do need a babysitter and will book one.

Then, when you feel ready, contact a solicitor, start making decisions, and get the ball rolling.

This is a really useful post for you

EuclidianGeometryFan · 27/11/2025 14:29

blackpooolrock · 27/11/2025 14:02

Work on the assumption that you are 100% the parent

Why would you do that? you're letting him do what he wants to do - he has no responsibilities now. It's what he wants...

Make him the parent 100% of the time - force him to take responsibility for his children - to clean for them, cook for them and do everything else for him. Sit back and watch him flounder. When he says hes going out say i can't take the kids, say sorry my diary is busy. When he says i need to work abroad for 4 weeks ask what's the childcare arrangements he has made? what's he doing on the weeks you don't have them - force him to make these decisions.

When he says he can't do it you have the upper hand.

Edited

Because it is best for the children.
They are not pawns in a game of chess.

He is going to go off to work - pointless to think otherwise. Why play silly games pretending you won't have them and he will have to arrange childcare for when he is out the country 5 days next week?
Both parties know the OP will be having the DC, and he will be going off to work.

It is not possible to "force" a man to take responsibility for children when he know you are still around. The only way to force it would be to move out completely, leaving the DC behind, and not give him your new address so he could not drop the DC on your doorstep before heading off to work.

My suggestion to the OP in this particular case is so that she does not have to talk to him about when he has them and when he works. Her best strategy is silence - no engagement, no communication, no discussion.
This is to protect her own emotions, to avoid further argument and abuse and opportunities for him to play silly games. It is removing the DC from being used as a weapon.

Sodthesystem · 27/11/2025 14:54

Agree with poster where they said - do not be kind and compromise thinking it will make him do the same. He will see it as weakness and he will attack that weakness.

pencilpot99 · 27/11/2025 15:33

OP so much brilliant advice on here. @EuclidianGeometryFan absolutely nails it. I wish I had had that advice 12 years ago when I went through something similar. All I can add is, make sure you tell IRL friends/relatives you can trust and lean on them. They will want to help. They are the people to get emotional with so you can be cool, calm and in control when you have to deal with your STBXH. You can do this. Sending hugs x

Scarydinosaurs · 27/11/2025 17:22

To be clear: is he saying he wants the children 50/50? Or is he wanting to stay in the house, and you take care of them (where?) when he is away, and then he has them when he is back?

Surely he can see how mad that is when you say it out loud?

Tiswa · 27/11/2025 17:45

do you want to him to have the house? Because I think selling might be better

Ialwaysthoughtitwasadojo · 28/11/2025 08:13

To answer some questions, he is wanting the kids any time he can have them. Sometimes he’s randomly here for a few weeks at a time, so in that scenario he’d be wanting to make up for the time he’s away. I just don’t see how we’d make it work.

He wants to buy me out, I don’t know how I feel about this, as it’s all so soon! I think keeping the house is good for the kids, and I would be the one that’s in it more!!

I am finding it said that I know he’s told his family and not one of them has reached out! They’re a bit awkward anyway, but a message would have been nice.

OP posts:
honeylulu · 28/11/2025 08:31

Don't let him bully you into buying you out. The kids will live mainly with you so it makes more sense you you and them to stay in the house, if the asset split will allow it (you're likely to get more). Please don't rush into agreeing anything like this.

Donnyoh · 28/11/2025 08:33

I agree with PP, you don't have to work to his timescale. It is perfectly in order to say that you're not agreeing to anything until you have processed everything that he is doing to you.

Newbutoldfather · 28/11/2025 08:45

You are still massively letting him control the narrative.

Given that he travels, it is 80% likely he has (at least one) other woman somewhere.

You need to tell the children, start the divorce and stop enabling him. I think him not moving out is cruel. I rented a house within a few weeks of my ex asking for a divorce and had the children there. It is massively cruel and stressful to stay. He has the funds to do so.

In the interim, separate beds and he does his own washing etc. Maybe share the cooking but just in the interest of the children.

Planesmistakenforstars · 28/11/2025 08:45

I know it's early days and you don't want to think about formal custody arrangements, but at every step try and get him to articulate, in writing if you can, but if not keep a record yourself, what it is he wants. He is going to turn nasty at some point and he will almost certainly accuse you of trying to stop him seeing the kids as part of that. His demands to just have them whenever he is available is patently unreasonable to anyone but him. He has probably spun his family some yarn that paints you in a bad light. I know it's hard, I know you're still in shock, and I know you can't just switch your feelings for him off overnight, but he is not only not your friend now, but he has and will now be actively working against you. He does not have your interests at heart. He only has his own interests. You need to protect and fight for what is best for you and the kids. Don't let him bully you into childcare arrangements that suit him and leave you hanging.

Sunnydaystoday · 28/11/2025 08:47

Any decent man knowing he is away so much would want the least disruption to his children.

Not him. Selfish bastard.
Do not agree to anything.
Everything must go through the solicitor.
I would think the least disruption if your location suits you and you can afford it, is for you to stay.

It is so important you find a good solicitor so that you get the maximum you can.

Do not hope for the best.
He is not a good man.
Treat him like an enemy, because he is.

goody2shooz · 28/11/2025 08:49

@Ialwaysthoughtitwasadojo he wants he wants - it’s not always what HE wants. Take your time to think about what works best for YOU and the dc. He doesn’t get to drop this bombshell on you and you immediately start worrying about what he wants and how to facilitate that.
See a lawyer and find out where you stand, then go forward from there with what is best for you. Remember, he’s got a head start but he is not the boss of you!

Tiswa · 28/11/2025 09:01

@Ialwaysthoughtitwasadojo Is the basis of your relationship him pretty much doing what he wants and you going along with it because you don’t have to

what he is suggesting is entirely inappropriate for your children with no stability and I suspect the buy out would not necessarily be the amount you should get

legal advice work out what you want and what works for the kids and think selling would be best - get your own place with your children and let him figure out the rest about how he thinks it should work

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