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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

I thought I'd been reading too much Mumsnet!

463 replies

Shaz10 · 29/06/2010 21:55

But it turns out I was right, he is having an affair. Claims to be in love with her and not me. Shit shit shit shit shit.

OP posts:
WhenwillIfeelnormal · 16/07/2010 10:39

Yes, your parents are privately imagining dismembering him and the OW limb from limb...

Just go right ahead and take that stuff. It is only when he realises that his choice to return has been taken away from him, that he may want it back. It is vital in these situations that he thinks he has really burned his boats. Only then will he consider the true consequences.

And yes, rain never helps when you're feeling like this, does it? Probably reminds you too, of those grim days in January, February and March when this nightmare started.

Shaz10 · 16/07/2010 13:57

Done it. It was ace. Went down to his place of work and told him, then about 20 minutes later when I was driving along I saw him in a car racing to the house. Gave him a beep and a wave, and laughed and laughed.

OP posts:
stillfrazzled · 16/07/2010 14:05

You are a goddess

countingto10 · 16/07/2010 14:06

You go girl

and he thought you would take this lying down

rupert22 · 16/07/2010 14:33

Oh how cool are you! Fantastic

WickedWitchSouthWest · 16/07/2010 15:38

Shaz, I've been reading this thread but haven't commented yet as I real have no expertise but just wanted to say that firstly if I ever have any problems
with my dh I'm coming straight to mn - the advice -and support here is fantastic! And secondly I'll be putting out a shout to you because you are truly an inspiration! Keep your chin up and relish that look of panic on his face as he raced to save his belongings!!

AlCrowley · 16/07/2010 15:58

Ha ha. Excellent

theQuibbler · 16/07/2010 17:37

I do, in all honesty, think you're brilliant.

You're handling this with such style, even though it must hurt like hell.

Good for you.

Shaz10 · 16/07/2010 18:21

I honestly don't think I'm doing anything out of the ordinary.

I do think he needs a big dose of reality and this sort of thing may help.

I also couldn't have done any of this without you all. So thank you.

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glintwithpersperation · 16/07/2010 18:40

then about 20 minutes later when I was driving along I saw him in a car racing to the house. Gave him a beep and a wave, and laughed and laughed

hahaha - fucking brilliant

Shaz10 · 17/07/2010 00:28

Feeling less like a goddess. Have been out with some lovely friends and had great fun, but everything's caught up with me and I feel quite sad. Have not drunk too much! But still feel melancholy.

Everyone loses in this. He loses his wife, son, past and home. I lose my husband, my security of a family, my self-esteem, all that I knew and pretty much everything else. Apart from my wonderful baby. I don't see how she can really feel she's won, as it's not how you're supposed to find a man and fall in love. If it were me I would always think I'd done it the wrong way.

When I asked him to leave the other day, he said "I understand". I answered "well I bloody don't" and to be honest I still don't. None of this makes any sense to me and I still think I'm going to wake up and it's all been a horrible dream.

We're meeting sometime this weekend to discuss access to our son. I am going to raise the subject of the house too. I want to scare him a little (if I haven't done so already) into realising it's not just about so-called romantic secret meetings, love letters and soppy looks across the office.

She's back Sunday. Is it vindictive to arrange a meeting for Sunday? Or shall I be a good girl and suggest Saturday? If I'm honest I have more time on Saturday.

OP posts:
rupert22 · 17/07/2010 00:54

Shaz this is the really hard adjustment time. I can only imagine how you are feeling. But, when you think of the alternative, that he could be creeping about behind your back seeing ow and you being oblivious, which is preferable? Knowing has got to trump that.

Arrange a time that totally suits you, if thats Sunday, so be it.If its Sat, do that, the game playing is over now anyway.

Shaz10 · 17/07/2010 08:28

I shouldn't play games it's true. I do have the odd evil thought and I tend to express it here in case it comes out somewhere else.

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countingto10 · 17/07/2010 08:29

Shaz it's never over until it's over IYSWIM. My DH spent approx 6 weeks at OW's before he came to his senses . In that time I made sure whenever he saw me I was looking great and was nice and civil to him - it played with his head eg my DW is lovely what the hell am I doing ? And the OW became more neurotic eg not liking him having contact with me, being in the marital home etc. He realised that would be how his life would pan out.

As I said, he didn't move back straight away, we went to counselling etc. So it may not be the end for you but do not hang around waiting for him. Work on yourself, do things that make you happy, get him to babysit so you can go out in the evenings etc. When OW realises that his first call is to his DS(if he is a good man), when reality kicks in, the affair doesn't seem so exciting or indeed, to your H a not so attractive alternative.

Good luck and look after yourself.

Shaz10 · 17/07/2010 08:32

Has anyone read this week's Grazia? It's page 51 I think. It's not a great article but the headline is something like "Our relationship suffered when he left his wife". I do think of that a lot.

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countingto10 · 17/07/2010 08:38

And there's "Getting rid of Matthew", a book about a man who finally leaves his wife and his mistress then decides that actually it was the "affair" that she was enjoying, not him and especially not his DC

A great novel I read after my DH left (which my Dsis lent me) was Water Melons (by Marion Keyes I think) about a woman whose H left her a day after she gave birth for a neighbour and her recovery from that - it was very funny and just the tonic I needed at the time.

Anniegetyourgun · 17/07/2010 10:08

Ah, Counting, I remember that book, got it from a penny stall at the school fete I think and didn't keep it. I hadn't been in that situation but it was still a good read. Towards the end she confronts her husband, and he keeps on and on about how she was so difficult to live with but he is kindly prepared to take her back. She had been considering whether to get back with him if he was truly contrite, but was completely turned off by his refusal to tell, or even apparently think, the truth. At the time I thought this was a bit silly and unrealistic, and that it rather spoiled the story was otherwise very engaging. I mean, he wouldn't just stand there and pretend he hadn't done anything at all when he had clearly shagged the neighbour, that's madness. But lo, a few years on I discover it is indeed the very behaviour that real arseholes men come out with as often as not. XH did something very similar in front of the counsellor, completely ignoring reality and rambling on about a relationship with some very strange woman who I didn't recognise at all, but who was apparently supposed to be me . I'm not sure who was more confused: me, knowing that it was all totally off the planet, or the counsellor, having no idea what was going on at all.

Not sure what I just said makes sense, but it still makes a lot more sense than what he came out with.

Er, that was a bit of a hijack, sorry. But there's a point in there somewhere about how the guilty party (cheater, abuser or simply Very Annoying Person) can completely rewrite recent history to their own satisfaction and even appear to believe it. You can go mad trying to get your head round it.

Anniegetyourgun · 17/07/2010 10:08

"That book" being Water Melons, sorry.

WhenwillIfeelnormal · 17/07/2010 10:39

Shaz strange as this might sound, it was actually a bit of a relief to read a bit more from you in your post last night, in terms of your feelings about this. I think it's an indication that you have moved on a bit from the shock and are now processing some very human feelings of loss and sadness.

I wouldn't describe what you have done as "game-playing" either, it is simply taking control of a situation and taking back your power - not letting those two control your life and that of your son's without you having a say in it. I applaud what you have done - you did the right thing and won't regret it.

It does the situation no good whatsoever if your H thinks he can vacillate endlessly and keep his options open. I agree with posters who say that he is no doubt casting himself in the lead role of some "torn between two lovers" drama - and is getting an ego boost from that. Much better that he starts realising that his behaviour has caused him to be left with one (very dubious) woman, who doesn't seem to be certain about him herself - and without the woman he vowed to love and daily contact with the child he professes to adore.

I'm sure others are right that the OW might feel very differently when reality kicks in and she has to deal with others' reactions to her role in breaking up a young father's marriage - and a toddler with sticky fingers in her child-free house will prove to be an effective passion-killer. However, yet again I imagine you don't want her to be the reason he sees sense, do you?

If he does ever get his head out of his arse long enough to conclude that she isn't what he wants, then of course it will be your call to decide if you can forgive. But (and this is entirely personal, because I know I could never have done it) it's a different matter forgiving if he only comes back because he was dumped by the OW.

In your situation, if he ever does decide it is you he wants, I'd be doing a lot of checking behind the scenes and talking to the OW, if necessary, to establish the truth.

rupert22 · 17/07/2010 15:18

I do apologise if it sounded like i was saying Shaz was game playing I really dont think that atall.

I just meant, do what comes naturally, dont bother thinking it through to the best 'angle'

I think you are handling this in a very inspiring way Shaz, i mean that. There is a lot of truth in the idea he will start to feel trapped with an ow who cannot possibly trust him, how could she? He was sneaking about lying when he met her. You call the shots now Shaz, its all on your terms. He most likely will come back, 'offering' to come home. The reality rarely lives up to the fantasy.

Iwish you all the strength and love in the world dealing with this.

Shaz10 · 17/07/2010 16:37

Oh I need to develop the "aloof, dignifed" attitude. He came round and we discussed access etc. And I just can't stop with the barbed comments and getting upset! I know this is the way to make him annoyed with me and glad he left but I just can't help myself.

OP posts:
Shaz10 · 17/07/2010 18:07

Just made up for acting like a bitter old hag by sending a very grown up and dispassionate email confirming the details of our conversation.

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QueeferSutherland · 17/07/2010 18:09

Well done Shaz!

Shaz10 · 17/07/2010 22:10

Oh I'm so naughty. I sent him a big ranty text because my son was taking 3 hours to get to sleep and until 10 minutes ago we were both crying hysterically. Called him all sorts.

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armbow · 18/07/2010 15:04

hi shaz, not been around on your thread lately but have been keeping up with you !!

don't beat yourself up about little slips ups - play the long game, you are doing so so well stay dignified because however this pans out you want to be able to look back on this in time and feel proud of how you dealt with it. which by the way is bloody brilliant i love the way you took all his stuff to his work VERY BLOODY BRILLIANT !!!