My husband left me last February for a woman he met on Tinder. He met her and moved in with her 4 days later. This had come out of the blue for me. I had no idea he was so unhappy and I was working very hard to make his life happy; always trying to be perfect. I worked full time, then came home to the second shift of family and house. He was the fun dad and I was the drudge. He was very controlling about who I spent time with and so I gradually let my friends fall away. I welcomed his friends into our house even having two of his young relatives living with us.
After the separation he became outwardly abusive. He was threatening and nasty, spreading lies about me and undermining me at every opportunity. He also became superdad, attending our child's sporting matches for the first time. I was struggling a as I tried to find a house and re build my life while he was travelling every weekend with his wealthy girlfriend. I bore the brunt of the children's anger. The day after I moved out of the marital home, she moved in and started renovating.
A few months later I reconnected with an old friend. It's been 9 months and we are very strong. Sadly his ex - wife waged a smear campaign against me with their mutual friends and children as after 3 years she decided she wanted him back. When we had been together 6 months, his former wife took her own life. His children will not have me in the house and will not accept that their father is in a relationship with me. I am allowed to see him two nights a week.
I struggle that we met when we were both single and yet our relationship is not wanted and my ex husband forced a woman into my children's life and they happily have accepted her presence.
Sadly on Tuesday I told my daughter a few truths about her father. Now she won't have anything to do with me. My children all think their father is wonderful despite the way he has treated me. His partner has deliberately cultivated friendships with school mothers and puts me down to them. I was not even able to attend my sons 21st nor my daughters 18th because of his new partner. He continues to control and abuse me now through legal channels. I don't know whether I should walk away and let time show the children I am not who they say I am or stick up for myself? This is very distressing.