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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

Husband said he wants to spilt up and I’ve been totally blindsided - part 3

974 replies

mummy917 · 29/06/2026 07:20

Just another follow on thread from the last 2 😊

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Lostpassporthelp · 30/06/2026 13:55

Just want to say @mummy917, I really hope that now he’s agreed to your schedule that he’s left you alone in peace over the last couple of days and you haven’t received random texts and phone calls.

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 13:59

Lostpassporthelp · 30/06/2026 13:55

Just want to say @mummy917, I really hope that now he’s agreed to your schedule that he’s left you alone in peace over the last couple of days and you haven’t received random texts and phone calls.

No more so far. I’m hoping it continues like this.

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Lostpassporthelp · 30/06/2026 14:02

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 13:59

No more so far. I’m hoping it continues like this.

I’m so pleased, for your own mental health the least you have to engage with him the better. It’s sad he isn’t making more effort to speak to the children before bed, but unfortunately I think you just have to accept that when he’s not with them the children are probably out of his mind.

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 14:16

Lostpassporthelp · 30/06/2026 14:02

I’m so pleased, for your own mental health the least you have to engage with him the better. It’s sad he isn’t making more effort to speak to the children before bed, but unfortunately I think you just have to accept that when he’s not with them the children are probably out of his mind.

Yeah I’ve definitely thought the same and I’m not so sure that a FaceTime schedule is a good idea when I have them as I don’t want them to be let down if they think he may ring. However, I’d like one for when he has them as I always want to at least be able to say goodnight to them.

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Lostpassporthelp · 30/06/2026 14:27

Yes, the fairest thing is to ask him if he’s okay with you ringing them before bed to say goodnight each night. When the children are with you, if they ask to ring him explain that Daddy is probably busy and may not answer. I wouldn’t try and ask him to ring them each night because it will just backfire on you. I also imagine they miss you a lot more than they miss him. Does your eldest have his own phone?

AcrossthePond55 · 30/06/2026 15:33

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 10:40

I know in the grand scheme of things that I’m still at the very start of everything. I’m undecided on what to do in regards to the divorce. I know I want to feel as though that part of things, I’ve actually had some input into it, and I am leaning more towards that than thinking he should pay for it as this was what he wanted.

It is all in my to do list about changing things on my life insurance, beneficiaries etc.

I have been looking at freedom rings this morning after someone suggested it and it is something I am going to treat myself to once the divorce is finalised.

I think instead of basing your decision on emotion (You wanted this, you pay for it!!!) you need to base it on what is best for you. Is it really best for you to have your finances and your life legally tied to his? Is there some emotional 'tie' that you don't want to break due to the 'finality' of doing so? To keep allowing him time to hide or spend money that should form part of a marital settlement if he decides to? To have no leverage or legal order that forces him to do the right thing? To keep living in a financial (and emotional) limbo? To have your home 'hanging fire'? If you feel that refusing to file for divorce is 'punishing' or hurting him in any way, I can assure you it is not. In his mind and in his heart, he is a single man. Divorce is just a 'technicality' to him. And if he expects to have to give up even a tiny part of his pension or other assets he has every reason NOT to file. And remember, as long as your home is jointly owned or rented, he has the right of entry.

Again, he has no real reason to file for divorce, has he? He is in control of his life and his finances with nothing in place to say he has to pay for anything. He avoids the chance that a court order won't be 50/50 thus having to pay maintenance, he's not required pay on the mortgage/rent or any remaining joint expenses. Nor is he required to hand over any part of his assets. He's really in the catbird seat, isn't he? And honestly, do you really feel it's causing him one moment of anguish that he's still married to you? I can assure you, it doesn't. Whereas it seems that you are feeling considerable anguish at still being married to him. You need to take emotion and pain and notions of 'revenge' out of this decision.

I'd suggest at this point you see your solicitor and get down to real brass tacks about what a total and final financial split would look like for you. And what his pattern of having the DC means as far as 50/50. And (forgive my bluntness), stop thinking with your heart and start thinking with your head. It's a good head and seems to be firmly attached to your shoulders. Get educated and make a rational, unemotional decision. Then, if that decision is that waiting for him to file is best for you, so be it.

FWIW, I decided on a legal separation vs a divorce. At my 'advanced age' and considering survivor's benefits (US) it was a better decision for me financially than divorce. But if I were a younger woman, especially if I had minor DC, I would have divorced DH. At first I was content to just keep the status quo, after all we'd been married 38 years, but after seeing a solicitor and understanding my financial liabilities I had to act. Debt in a marriage is different in the US, I would have been liable for any debt he incurred and any assets I had, even 'sole assets' would have been subject to seizure to pay a debt he incurred. And he was driving drunk and squandering money. 'Getting legal' was the right thing to do even though it hurt my heart because it legally divided all marital assets and legally removed any liability for debts he incurs. I will love the man until I die, but I hate the alcoholic. So I had to take emotion out of the equation and do what was right for me. Was it painful? Yes, it felt like a betrayal. But it was right for me.

As far as your rings, you wear them until you truly don't want to. I still wear mine and probably always will, but then we are still married although I'll never live with him again. If the day comes that I want to take them off, I will. But I had a cousin who divorced due to her exH cheating & leaving for an OW and she wore hers for probably 5 years after the divorce. She wasn't emotionally attached to him, but I guess she was to her rings. She took them off when she felt it was the right time for her to do so.

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 16:17

@AcrossthePond55your advice is invaluable and I know I need to take emotion out of it but as you said, it is hard to do.

I know what I need to do and I will make sure I budget for paying for this divorce asap.

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letmebetheone · 30/06/2026 16:21

Ive read through all your threads and I think you are doing amazingly well.
The only thing niggling at the back of my mind is the Facetime thing.

Im not sure you facetiming the children when they are with dad and him facetiming them when they are with you is ideal.

Having been on both ends of this situation we had several problems with it. When we had his child she mum would insist on facetiming every night. Almost every time the little one would get upset and want to go to mummy. She was fine all day but when bedtime came around and she was tired just speaking to mum would upset her.
We discussed it with her mum and her response was that if her child was upset we should do the decent thing and bring her home.

She would not agree to stop the facetime every night and it was always the same for the child when she did so eventually we called her bluff and drove the child home where we were met by the the response that she was about to go out and couldnt take her daughter back.

After that she stopped the facetiming and the little one was far more relaxed and went to bed happy. She just got so upset seeing mummy in the other house.

Her mum would not allow my husband to facetime when daughter was with her. She said it was 'mum time' and she didnt want the pattern of having to be there for facetime every night especially when she got a new partner.

It really did turn out better that dads time was not constantly interrupted by facetiming from mum and vice vera.

PyongyangKipperbang · 30/06/2026 16:22

And dont forget that you can request that he pays half of the court fees incurred, although the court has to approve this.

PyongyangKipperbang · 30/06/2026 16:24

letmebetheone · 30/06/2026 16:21

Ive read through all your threads and I think you are doing amazingly well.
The only thing niggling at the back of my mind is the Facetime thing.

Im not sure you facetiming the children when they are with dad and him facetiming them when they are with you is ideal.

Having been on both ends of this situation we had several problems with it. When we had his child she mum would insist on facetiming every night. Almost every time the little one would get upset and want to go to mummy. She was fine all day but when bedtime came around and she was tired just speaking to mum would upset her.
We discussed it with her mum and her response was that if her child was upset we should do the decent thing and bring her home.

She would not agree to stop the facetime every night and it was always the same for the child when she did so eventually we called her bluff and drove the child home where we were met by the the response that she was about to go out and couldnt take her daughter back.

After that she stopped the facetiming and the little one was far more relaxed and went to bed happy. She just got so upset seeing mummy in the other house.

Her mum would not allow my husband to facetime when daughter was with her. She said it was 'mum time' and she didnt want the pattern of having to be there for facetime every night especially when she got a new partner.

It really did turn out better that dads time was not constantly interrupted by facetiming from mum and vice vera.

I was thinking something similar.

@mummy917 being truly honest with yourself, are you facetiming for their benefit or yours? I understand why you want to as this is such a big change for you, but I cant help thinking that it might unsettle them.

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 16:28

Well so far they’ve been okay when I’ve FaceTimed and no upset or anything. I’m just trying to do what I feel is best for them and to know that I haven’t just disappeared but yes, it also is for my benefit too. I take on board what you’re all saying though and it’s something I will give thought to.

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DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 30/06/2026 16:32

base it on what is best for you.

That seems like a great navigational tool from @AcrossthePond55 that could be applied to complex situations. I think we often worry a lot about how something will affect DC, friends and other people but not as much about how it will affect us... but this is a good reminder to readdress that.

ItsOkItsDarkChocolate · 30/06/2026 16:35

letmebetheone · 30/06/2026 16:21

Ive read through all your threads and I think you are doing amazingly well.
The only thing niggling at the back of my mind is the Facetime thing.

Im not sure you facetiming the children when they are with dad and him facetiming them when they are with you is ideal.

Having been on both ends of this situation we had several problems with it. When we had his child she mum would insist on facetiming every night. Almost every time the little one would get upset and want to go to mummy. She was fine all day but when bedtime came around and she was tired just speaking to mum would upset her.
We discussed it with her mum and her response was that if her child was upset we should do the decent thing and bring her home.

She would not agree to stop the facetime every night and it was always the same for the child when she did so eventually we called her bluff and drove the child home where we were met by the the response that she was about to go out and couldnt take her daughter back.

After that she stopped the facetiming and the little one was far more relaxed and went to bed happy. She just got so upset seeing mummy in the other house.

Her mum would not allow my husband to facetime when daughter was with her. She said it was 'mum time' and she didnt want the pattern of having to be there for facetime every night especially when she got a new partner.

It really did turn out better that dads time was not constantly interrupted by facetiming from mum and vice vera.

@mummy917

I’ll be honest, I’d also had a concern about this, and this poster nicely articulates why, and from firsthand experience, mine was just from hearsay.

Hard as it may be at first, it may be kinder, and more boundaried, in the long run.

Candleabra · 30/06/2026 16:53

I’m in awe of all the great advice from wise and strong women on here.
Well done @mummy917 you are doing well and with this support you can’t go wrong. It is hard to stop putting yourself last (which you’ll find you’ve done without thinking for years). By putting yourself first and taking care of yourself you are also safeguarding your children’s future.

BettyscakeShop · 30/06/2026 17:11

I also agree the FaceTiming is detrimental to the children. They need to get used to dads being dads time and mums mum time.

If they start to rely on it then any break from it will be upsetting for them meaning you are tied to it every night. In time you may wish to go out, nap, date etc etc. You may be unwell.

I would also find it incredibly intrusive having my ex FaceTime every day I had the children.

Its also difficult if kids are not settling, running late etc.

I think this is a bad idea, although with good intentions.

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 17:26

Thanks everyone, I’ll speak to their dad and say this to him and see what he says, he may well agree.

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GrumpyButOk · 30/06/2026 17:37

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 16:17

@AcrossthePond55your advice is invaluable and I know I need to take emotion out of it but as you said, it is hard to do.

I know what I need to do and I will make sure I budget for paying for this divorce asap.

You do need to budget for it, because he will always be "waiting until payday", and he has bills coming that he hasn't even thought of yet, plus a tattoo to get finished.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 30/06/2026 18:18

On whether you should pay for the divorce or wait for him - I think you should consider whether it's better to get it done as quickly as possible even if that means you paying. My concern from what you've said is he is completely irresponsible with money, and he could easily start running up debt.

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 18:55

He has shown how he prioritises his money especially over the last 3 months. I always had a niggling feeling I’d end up paying for it anyway.

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PyongyangKipperbang · 30/06/2026 19:37

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 18:55

He has shown how he prioritises his money especially over the last 3 months. I always had a niggling feeling I’d end up paying for it anyway.

Just dont forget to insist he pays his half (it will be added to your settlement).

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 21:27

I am a big fan of voice notes and I wish there was a way I could add you all into a group chat and summarise the shit show of tonight in a voice note.

You all have explicit permission to say you told me so for what I saw as making sure the kids had what they needed by paying for the mattresses at his house.

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Woodfiresareamazing2 · 30/06/2026 21:28

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 21:27

I am a big fan of voice notes and I wish there was a way I could add you all into a group chat and summarise the shit show of tonight in a voice note.

You all have explicit permission to say you told me so for what I saw as making sure the kids had what they needed by paying for the mattresses at his house.

Oh no, what's happened?!

anotheruser124 · 30/06/2026 21:32

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 21:27

I am a big fan of voice notes and I wish there was a way I could add you all into a group chat and summarise the shit show of tonight in a voice note.

You all have explicit permission to say you told me so for what I saw as making sure the kids had what they needed by paying for the mattresses at his house.

No one will want to say told you so at all. I think its just unfortunate that so many of these useless men follow the same pattern that lots of posters are speaking from experience. That also means they have had the same happen, so they will completely understand what you are going through.

Just remember however pissed off you are feeling now about the fact you got the mattresses (im assuming he has got paid and spent it on himself perhaps?) You did right by your kids and you cant ever feel bad for that.

mummy917 · 30/06/2026 21:33

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 30/06/2026 21:28

Oh no, what's happened?!

He is refusing to pay me back for them. Yes I should’ve seen this coming, yes I should’ve known better, yes I’m a mug. I’m so angry with myself and this is why I always get shit on from a great height, because I think people can’t truly be that twatty. Clearly they can and they will.

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ChristmasStars · 30/06/2026 21:35

I'm so sorry. What's his feeble excuse?