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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

Splitting up after 11 years together

11 replies

Louloud78 · 25/03/2026 20:09

Hi
To cut a long story short I am splitting up with my partner of 11 years. The house has sold and we are both buying separately. I really didn’t want it to come to this I still really care for him we are on good terms probably because we are still having to live together.

Things haven’t been right for a while for about 4 years really, where I was diagnosed with a health condition where I had to undergo intensive treatment for near enough 12 months. Whilst having treatment my partner was next to useless and totally let me down.
I don’t want to go into the ins and outs but towards the last part of the treatment we weren’t even speaking. I felt in those 12 months he didn’t look after me, his moods were terrible and took a lot of his frustrations out on in both myself and dd, dd at the time was studying for her a levels I just think he could have stepped up for both of us. We did talk after my treatment ended about splitting up and selling the house but we decided to give it another go. I also didn’t want to make such a life changing decision after having to go
through something so traumatic previously.

Fast forward 3 years I got over his behaviour whilst I was ill or I thought I had, when the resentment reared its ugly head again.Since my illness I have to have an mri annually the
appointment was on a weekend where we were due to go away for the weekend in his much loved camper van, I knew he would ask me to move the appointment and guess what I was right! I obviously didn’t and since then
our relationship has gone down hill to
the point where I moved to my parents for a couple of weeks last summer. I have tried talking to him so many times it just gets frustrating as he doesn’t listen talks over me and makes me feel I’m making things up on occasion to the point i
think I’m going mad at times. When I came home in the summer we tried to give it another go him actually making an effort a lot more so than me as although the resentment has reared it’s ugly head I was also so sick and tired of doing everything in the house he’s not made a meal in years does nothing round the house etc. We did talk about going for counselling but he refused to go if it didn’t mean that we would still stay together, I couldn’t guarantee that!
So October this year I pulled the plug on our relationship I was sick of coming home not knowing what mood he was in, if he would speak etc in a nutshell I think he’s emotionally neglected me to the point where I’ve felt lonely in my own relationship.
We are both devastated but I don’t think he thought it would get this far but it has, since then he had done a massive u turn in his behaviour, helping round the house his change in attitude, nicer to be around that now I am
second guessing if I’ve done the right thing. I feel
so sad it’s come to this that it didn’t need to it got to the point a few weeks ago I think I had some kind of breakdown due to the house selling and the realisation we were actually splitting up but I’d been unhappy for such a long time on and off I’d just thought I’ve been given a second chance at life and would I be better off on my own. Sorry for the long post.

OP posts:
Stanstedsucks · 25/03/2026 20:25

Good riddance! Move on, grab your life back. You’ve overcome so much, don’t waste another minute on this man.

Louloud78 · 25/03/2026 20:52

Thank you for the advice I know deep down inside you’re right.
Friends and relatives have commented it’s a bold move on my part which makes me think at times is it the right thing to do I have I not tried hard enough and shall we give it another go. I’m just scared we will be back in the same situation in 6 months time give or take if we do try again.
It is such a shame we have a lovely home, dad getting older and getting her own life we should be enjoying ourselves.

OP posts:
HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 25/03/2026 21:02

I’m sorry OP, it must have been very scary to have a serious health scare like that.

The fact that your partner was unsupportive for so long at a time when you were vulnerable is awful.

You now know that when the chips are down, he’s not someone you can depend on, and from the sounds of it acted very selfishly. This isn’t someone you want to spend your life with.

It really seems like he has only changed his behaviour now that he knows you want out - this is really manipulative. How long will that last? Until the next time you are vulnerable or need something?

It shouldn’t take you ending the relationship, or even threatening to do so in order for him to pull his weight and show you some respect and care.

I know it’s hard to make such a massive life change, and you will miss parts of being in a relationship, but I really think there is no coming back from how much he let you down when you needed him most.

Louloud78 · 25/03/2026 21:57

Thank you you’ve hit the nail on
the head with the whole situation. I feel quite insulted to a certain extent that he has done u turn and started helping round the house, acting like a normal person on a regular basis not just when he feels like it. He’s also a lot more pleasant to dd just lately too so he’s obviously fully aware of his behaviour previously.

OP posts:
Louloud78 · 25/03/2026 22:00

Prior to getting the results of my diagnosis he was my absolute rock as at times while waiting for the results I couldn’t get out of bed I was so
worried and anxious he made the agony of waiting a lot more bearable. It’s when o got the confirmed diagnosis and what treatment entailed things changed .,,

OP posts:
Slightyamusedandsilly · 25/03/2026 22:10

he has done u turn and started helping round the house, acting like a normal person on a regular basis not just when he feels like it.

This jumped out at me.

He couldn't do this when you were fighting for your life. But now you're leaving him, he can? Meaning he could have done this when you really really needed him. He just didn't want to.

FlapperFlamingo · 25/03/2026 22:20

If you don’t do it now I guarantee you’ll be doing it later. He won’t change! Sorry OP the whole thing sounds very rough, I hope you move on and get the support and love you deserve.

PotatoHeading · 25/03/2026 22:33

Louloud78 · 25/03/2026 22:00

Prior to getting the results of my diagnosis he was my absolute rock as at times while waiting for the results I couldn’t get out of bed I was so
worried and anxious he made the agony of waiting a lot more bearable. It’s when o got the confirmed diagnosis and what treatment entailed things changed .,,

Maybe he thought it would come to nothing and then disassociated himself from you once you'd been diagnosed. Shit reaction not taking care of you. You know you've done the right thing. No matter how bad the relationship you go through a grieving process. It's normal but you'll be ok. No point in looking back or going back. Anyone can change their behaviour for a short while but they always revert to type. New life to look forward to. He hasn't had your back when he needed you so you don't need him.

Louloud78 · 25/03/2026 22:34

Thank you I know you’re right even my 22 year old daughter has said this multiple times when I have been having a wobble. She loves him he’s brought her up since she was 10 but can see how our relationship has deteriorated and how I’ve shrunk into myself due to
our relationship, although she loves him she also thinks I deserve better which speaks volumes she also gets frustrated with his hot and cold behaviour as he can be like that with her too at times or until recently anyway.,

OP posts:
Enrichetta · 25/03/2026 22:41

I was also so sick and tired of doing everything in the house he’s not made a meal in years does nothing round the house etc.

Just think of all the things you could have done during all these years if he had pulled his weight!

I also hope you haven’t sacrificed professional advancement, salary increases and pension investments due to having to do more than your fare share.

Louloud78 · 25/03/2026 22:50

No not sacrificed anything professionally or financially what’s mine is mine and the same definitely goes for him too if not more 🤣

OP posts:
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