I've become the angry housewife that everyone loathes; And now, I do

It has been 13 days since I have seen my husband. I waited for him to return home for 4 days and on the 5th, I was asked to leave the home, which I did so. On the 6th day, I returned back to my home town, where it wasn’t until the 7th day that I was sent a text message from him.

He had abandoned us.

He seemed to send sad texts that made me feel as if he actually missed me. It wasn’t until two days later that I realized how stupid I am to have fallen for his crap again. I asked him why he decided to abandon myself and our kids. He text me in return saying that I shouldn’t be so pessimistic and how its not healthy. My text to him was that he had abandoned his family and THAT isn’t healthy. He messaged me saying that I am the one treating him like ■■■■. I struggle to take care of three kids by myself because he disappeared leaving me with nothing, and I’m the one treating him like ■■■■. Go figure.

I had a panic attack on Friday; Just felt so trapped and helpless that I could hardly breathe. I asked him to call me so I could have someone to talk to. My mother was out of town, my children were asleep, and I have no friends to call on. He told me that he couldn’t… because he was too busy getting drunk – The same reason why he abandoned my children and I to begin with.

I’m sitting here on edge and wanting to cry. I never thought how hard this would be and I don’t think its very fair. He’s living a life of freedom and carelessness, while I am running out of money to support our three children, living with my mother who has such a random work schedule that I can’t even fit my own job into hers (She would be the only one to watch the kids). She doesn’t even make enough to cover the expenses of her house, food, or gas. I don’t have money to help her. I can’t sleep from worrying and I can hardly make myself eat anything, until I’m so sick that I start to dry heave. Then I have to or I start to actually vomit.

I don’t know anymore of what I can do right now, but I certainly don’t want to feel this pain anymore. I have no one that I trust to reach out to and these last few days, I’ve thought more and more on mutilation. Something that I thought I had moved on from. I feel as if so much pressure has fallen on my shoulders and I’m scared of where it is going to put me.

My kids have no idea what is happening. The first whole week, my oldest son cried and begged to see his dad. He cried every single night and there was nothing I could say to comfort him. If I tried to sit close, he’d push me away and say that he only wants to talk to Dad about video games. The second day of being here, I was woken up to my middle child crying because he wanted to go home and asked me if I could have dad pick us up. The first day of being here, the youngest seemed so different. He cried all day long and wouldn’t accept a bottle (He’s almost one). By the second day, he was a little better, but it wasn’t until the third day that he went back to as normal as he could be. Last night, my oldest son asked me if I would call Dad so he could talk to him. I called, but as per usual – he didn’t answer.

It has been two days since I have heard from him. I don’t even know where my life is going anymore and even while I know that I should just move on, I can’t say that he was a horrible father to the kids. In a sense, I know that he didn’t actually abandon them; The person he was trying to abandon is me. I just happen to be the person that he knows would take the kids with me.

His friends have been wanting him to leave me. Because with me around, I’m the “ball and chain” that won’t let him get drunk on a Wednesday night. Since the beginning of our marriage, I’ve felt like I’m battling a handful of jealous girlfriends that are butt-hurt that their buddy chose to have a family. I know from a fact that they were the ones to enable and encourage him disappearing – I heard it directly from one of their mouths.

I’ve been told already the many ways that what I am doing is what makes me so “strong”. It makes me a “good parent” that is only “doing what’s best for my kids”, but in all honesty, I am so tired of hearing it. I don’t want to hear the cliché of how to make someone feel better. I want answers on why my life was torn apart. I want everything to just merely go back to being okay again.

This is just so damn hard.

I’m so sorry this is happening to you. He is the one who left you… not the other way around. I’d say… please see a paralegal or something for child support. He told you to leave… he kicked you out. You might qualify for some sort of help and support as well.

He is the one abandoning his kids for booze…

I hope things turn around for you and the kids soon. That way you don’t need to rely on him… since he’s proven you can’t.

Department of Human Services in your area might have some answers. I am hoping things get better for you.

It actually wasn’t him that asked me to leave - It was his mother.

I didn’t want it to come down to where anything bad happens. I’ve spoken to a legal representative for legal advice and they told me that he would be charged on the account of abandonment and neglect. They even said that if the Judge found good cause, they could court order that he be put into a program that prohibits him from drinking for up to three years and were he ever caught drinking, he would do jail time. I didn’t want it to come to that, but I feel like I may not have a choice.

I just don’t know right now. I feel like every answer I come up with, I have thought would be mean, harmful, or wrong to do to someone.

I can understand that… I can see how you don’t want it to escalate…

for the sake of the kids I hope an answer comes soon.

Getting the kids away from his family sounds like a good idea. The Mom asked you to leave… so her son can continue partying… drinking and carrying on?

I’m glad your out of there. I can’t imagine how hard it is… or how scared you must be… but it will get easier and the kids will see what a flake their Dad is with their own eyes… kids grow up pretty fast.

My Dad was a bad drunk. Eventually, my Mom found some help in Al Anon. She said alcoholism was a thousand laughs and million tears.

I’m a pretty bad drinker myself, when I drink. I went to AA greater than 40 years ago and have not had a drink since then.

Yeah, your husband’s behavior would make me crazy, too. Wish I could help some way.

Jayster

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Thanks for sharing information!!

I know that this doesn’t sound like much, but the response you’ve left is really helpful.

My husband is afraid to be involved with any programs that would assist him in not drinking. He thinks that drinking is what makes him “a man” and is afraid that not drinking (or even slowing down on drinking) makes him less than a man. For that, I can’t even get him to go, but when I spoke with a legal representative last night (He luckily ran a hotline on his cell phone where you can call at any hour), he said that if I were to take my husband to court for a divorce, the Judge could make it court ordered that he participate in such a program on a mandatory basis.

I don’t even know what I’m going to do honestly. I don’t want to make decisions while I’m feeling this way - I’m afraid I will make myself regret it.

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Dear @Unit_Invalid~
You may not feel this way now, but this could be a blessing in disguise. I can`t see in anyway how this relationship could be good for you.
You have a chance to start over–without worry!
When you can see your way clear-get an attorney.
Get child support.
Get on food stamps and a medical card.
Get section 8 housing.
Go to a support group.
Sounds like a lot right now, but at some point you will be up and running…
Sending the best kind of wishes your way :angel: :bouquet: