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younger model

(105 Posts)
Kacee Fri 27-Feb-15 14:59:03

My husband of nearly 40 years has left me for someone 17 years younger than him. He is 63 she is 45. We have grandchildren, she has no ex husband or children. It has completely devasted me, 6 months down the road I am in as much pain as the day it happened. I have ended up being treated for pyschosis and severe depression.
He tells me he loves her and is in it for the long haul.
How do I get through this. I am lonely & miss him dreadfully. I want him to come home.

Charleygirl Fri 27-Feb-15 18:27:40

Kaycee it happened to me but I was a lot younger than you, in my mid 40's. I also agree that you should stop telephone contact and as difficult as it is, you should try and get your financial life together and see a solicitor because soon he will be asking you for money and/or 50% of the house. If he does not want it, she will!

Try and put on a brave face if you meet him or he rings you. My ex married the lurv of his life 6 months after divorcing me but rang later saying that he regretted it. He is still with her but she applied the financial thumb nails/screws so controls every euro that enters that flat.

You are fortunate that you have your children and grandchildren.

Would you ever trust him again if he did return? I think not.

6 months is nothing- I hate to say it but it is something that may remain with you for a long time but try to go out with friends, slowly make a life for yourself and forget about him.

I sold our marital home before our divorce because I could not afford to pay the mortgage alone indefinitely. I did exceptionally well financially and gave him next to nothing.

Wheniwasyourage Fri 27-Feb-15 18:34:52

So sorry Kacee. Can't offer any better advice than you've had, but I feel for you. flowers[hugs]

annsixty Fri 27-Feb-15 19:03:59

I don't want to hijack this thread or pry charleygirl but did you contribute more than your H before you separated? My DD and her H split 6months ago and I am really worried about her situation She is in the house and he is renting but they both say most of the house is his.There are children 15 and 12.

KatyK Fri 27-Feb-15 19:30:41

This is so sad flowers

merlotgran Fri 27-Feb-15 19:35:44

Can't really add anything to the above advice, Kacee but hang on in there. All things must pass. flowers

annodomini Fri 27-Feb-15 19:44:21

I agree with Charleygirl on every point. Once you start working on the practicalities, you will at least have a distraction from your painful feelings of rejection which is one of the worst things that can happen to a human being. I've been single for 27 years and it took a few years for me to establish myself as an entity without him. I had great support from my sons who were then teenagers and mature beyond their years. We are still very close, though they are middle aged dads in their own right now. Good luck.

rosequartz Fri 27-Feb-15 19:52:21

I agree with Charleygirl too.

Worries about the future will only be worse if you don't get the financial side sorted out satisfactorily.

I can't see how a marital home in both names can belong more to one than the other, annsixty even if one worked and one was a stay-at-home parent.
It's easy to say be strong when you are feeling so bereft, but you have to try to be strong for yourself and your your future.

Envious Fri 27-Feb-15 21:12:39

It's the grass is not always greener thought that comes to me. I imagine he was quite flattered a 45 year old woman found him attractive and at 63 might find it way too tempting. If he did come back Id make sure he'd agree to therapy with you to find what was truly missing in your relationship or what he felt was missing or it's possible he'd do it again.I hate to be blunt or hurt your feelings but there is something emotional and possibly physically that woman gives to him he thinks he needs.

soontobe Fri 27-Feb-15 22:02:19

You say upthread that you have some good days.
Good for you.

janerowena Fri 27-Feb-15 23:31:01

It does take a long time to get over what you are going through, but you do get there. It's two steps forward, one step back, I found. And yes, sometimes they do want to come back, but quite a few friends have discovered later on that it has been because the other woman had got cold feet.

There are all those stages that you are warned that you will go through, Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Yes, it is just like a bereavement. the person you knew is now dead to you and a cold and occasionally cruel person who suddenly seems like a stranger has taken their place. If you really do still want him back, and if his relationship isn't going to work, it will probably be a year before the cracks start to show for them. Until then they are still in their honeymoon stage.

seasider Sat 28-Feb-15 06:56:28

I agree that you should take steps to protect your self financially. A letter from a solicitor will give him a short sharp shock . And her too if she wants to get her hands on his money. You need to try and get angry now. Show him you are moving on and try and keep your self busy with family and friends. It is hard but you will get there and if he ever asked to come back make sure it is on your terms. flowers

shysal Sat 28-Feb-15 07:40:55

I would echo the comments of others, advising legal steps to protect yourself financially. I learnt from experience that a 'gentleman's' agreement with a husband whom you previously thought was an honourable man means nothing when another woman puts on pressure!

This situation is almost worse for you than a bereavement. It is not final, so there are many 'what if?' emotions, preventing you from moving forward. Try to make a new, secure life for yourself, and you just might decide that you are better off without an untrustworthy husband. flowerssunshine

Grannyknot Sat 28-Feb-15 08:39:00

kacee the advice that you are getting that it's time to get mad, is good advice. Years ago when I had a cheating fiance, I was so understanding, until a very good friend of mine said "Stop being so nice, he's an asshole". It was a lightbulb moment. Until then, I'd been making excuses for him!

You can always be nice, and understanding, at a later stage. Now you need "I am woman, hear me roar" not "I will survive".

sunseeker Sat 28-Feb-15 10:31:25

I have to agree with all the advice you are being given here, get some advice (either a solicitor or Citizens Advice) protect yourself financially. Take comfort in your children and grandchildren. Don't ring him, if there is some maintenance that needs to be dealt with in the house do you have a son-in-law who could help you, or ask around for the name of an odd job man. I agree that you should now get mad at him and the greatest revenge is to show you are getting on with your life without him.

Kacee Sat 28-Feb-15 11:16:06

Once again thank you all so much for your replies. I have actually read him most of these replies.

I hope, and would like to think that he would not want to hurt me financially.

I think this is still in the honeymoon stage IF as he says it has only been going on for about 4 or 5 months.

tanith Sat 28-Feb-15 12:26:29

Kacee why did you do that? The replies were for your benefit , telling him whats been said really serves you no purpose..

Stop contacting him and get on with your life , I'm sorry to be blunt but I feel like I want to give you a good shake and wake you up to what he's done..

I wish you all the best .........

rosequartz Sat 28-Feb-15 12:36:16

I am left a bit open-mouthed too, that you read him our replies!! They were for you - probably I would have quite a different reply for him which GN would possibly withdraw!

It sounds as if he wants his cake and eat it, keeping his options open just in case, probably blaming you and feeling aggrieved and trying to justify himself.

stdavids

annodomini Sat 28-Feb-15 12:50:04

You really want this despicable specimen back? I would join tanith in that good shaking. Wake up and smell the poison.

soontobe Sat 28-Feb-15 12:50:33

You sound determined to try and hold on to him. Tightly.
Even with your mental health as it is, you sound determined to hold on.
Your life has changed.

Kacee Sat 28-Feb-15 13:19:30

Oh dear, I did tell you I would be saying the same as you are saying if I was looking at it from your side.

I read him the replies because I want him to understand how badly he has treated me.
Tanith & annodimini, I accept your good shaking & rosequartz I accept whatever you think would be withdrawn.

soontobee, you are absolutely right I want my old life back. I am not totally blameless in letting our marriage slide.

Maybe in my defense I can give you a bit of background on me.

One of our rows ended with him telling me I think differently from other people. I have been on anti depressants for approx 30 years but what he said struck a chord. I have tried to explain over the years that one side of my head constantly argued with the other. The right side would think of something, sometimes something simple like 'ooh I am going to have the bigger slice of cake' the left side would then tell me that if I did that something dreadful would happen to one of my daughters. This happens all the time, every day. When I found out about the other woman I fell apart completely, my daughter took me took me to the doctor who wanted me taken to A & E straight away and warned me that if I didn't go willingly that there was a chance that I would be sectioned. After much persuading she left me in the care of my brother. We were sent to the mental health clinic who put me on my current medication. All the years of fighting in my head had been misdiagnosed, they were voices which is why I am on ant-pyschotic medication. So you see I have not been that easy to live with so it is not all his fault!!

I understand your disbelief in my contact with him, my family are the same, they say I am torturing myself.

Thank you very much for your replies, they are quite comforting in a strange way xx

J52 Sat 28-Feb-15 13:21:20

I am amazed that you read your errant husband what has been written here. I wonder, and I hope I am wrong, if you have been emotionally bullied in the past?

This person is not your controller, to be in charge of your life and feelings at his will.

Sorry if that sounds harsh. I wish you well, but will not post again. x

J52 Sat 28-Feb-15 13:24:24

I posted before reading your previous post, which shows we do always understand other people's lives.
Sorry that you do have emotional difficulties. I hope you get the right professional help. flowers x

J52 Sat 28-Feb-15 13:25:28

Omitted 'not ' understand. x

Mishap Sat 28-Feb-15 13:30:48

I am sorry that you have mental health problems, and, as I am sure you realise, this could be a contributory factor in your marital problems. You will find that Gnetters are very understanding about mental ill health and I hope that you will find us supportive.

These problems will clearly make it more difficult for you to deal with the decisions and hurt that follow on from your OH's behaviour. Do you have a CPN or SW who might be able to help support you during this difficult time? It might be worth considering having a chat with someone who could possibly hold your hand during all this. It sometimes helps to have someone outside of the family at times like these. They could put you in touch with all the right practical advice and be beside you as you work your way through it all.

flowers

Kacee Sat 28-Feb-15 13:33:42

J52, I think I was emotionally bullied and did tell him this but i was not frightened of him, in past years he was the perfect husband and everybody thought I was very lucky to have such a good husband.

I do hope I have not offended anybody by reading him some of the posts. I think my head is saying that if you make him feel guilty enough he will come back....... I know..I know, the other side of my head is shouting ' why would you want him back for that reason it wouldn't work'

I really am a wimp aren't I, but I do miss him.