captaincactus210
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2023
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 7
- Age
- 32
Hi, so I’m at a crossroad in my life. 8 months ago, I split up with my ex after a 6 year relationship. She has 2 children, their biological father is an abusive monster in too many ways. I took the children on as my own, I am committed to them and have raised them almost every day for the past 6 years. Within these 6 years it's been a rollercoaster of dealing with life and all its challenges, whilst trying to maintain a LTR and raise challenging traumatised kids that arent my own. I have a close relationship with the children, I Don't want to lose them. Unfortunately my ex uses them as emotional tools to push me into a corner every time something isn't on her terms. She comes in the disguise of doing best by the children but I'm not fooling for it anymore, she is a highly narcissistic control freak that must be the centre of attention in any situation. She is highly manipulative in the most covert ways, extremely calculated and deep down pretty twisted and troubled. On the surface is very attractive, everyone looks at her, everyone loves her kinda person. I'm at the point now where I feel as if I need to be as far away from her as possible because her claws have been so deep inside me I've not even noticed, only now am I starting to see things for how they are.
Since we split up I have carried on living with the ex and the children in an attempt to wait for the right time to leave, to phase out of this routine and into another, with the minimum amount of harm to the children as possible. We have been trying a 50/50 arrangement with the kids. This situation has now become unbearable, Im ****ing miserable, Im not myself, the ex makes my toes curl, Im short with the kids, the ex pushes me into a corner whenever I try to raise something, she is a control freak, she is clever, and is impossible to work with unless its on her terms. Most of our relationship I was in a beta frame and a complete sucker for her. However, life has been complicated for her with the kids real dad and I have been trying to help by sticking around until it's the right time for me to leave. I fear there will be no right time, the ex changes her plan all the time due to her chaotic life. I feel that one day she's going to turn around with her plan at the last minute and I'm going to be left to deal with everything. Finances and assets are messy but she's had complete control over it since the beginning and come the time to leave, nothing will be mine, she is clever she has planned it this way and I just feel like I'm being used for the kids until she doesn't need me anymore.
Basically I've had enough, I'm not going to wait for the right time. In my time off I've been out, I'm spinning plates, cold approaching, getting numbers, went all the way with one just last weekend. Reading, learning, growing, hungry for success. Making huge changes and climbing all the way. This situation is severely hindering my growth, this is huge success for me but I only wonder what heights I will reach when I am free from this toxic poison. Of course she blames it'll on me, everything is my fault, Ive only ever wanted the best and so far have submitted to almost everything. I'm 31 and I've been beta all my life, troubled childhood, bullied blah blah and now pushed around by an ex that I feel I can do nothing about out of fear of hurting the children. Im literally ready to take off , 2 lays in 2 weeks, plates spinning I want more more more! I know I'm hurting the children more by not being myself when I am with them and resenting them and the situation but its all because of the friction between myself and the ex. I know this can't go on anymore.
I'm planning to leave by the end of this week, I can't wait for the right time anymore. Am I doing the right thing? I know it's going to be difficult, I know she will up the emotional manipulation, she will take the car, the house, I'll have nothing left, I will have to let it all go as she plays the “you're not going to leave a single mum with nothing” card and start from scratch, I am ok with this. My biggest fear is hurting the children, I've promised them I will always be here for them. I plan to set myself up somewhere asap, and have them over as much as I can, the change is going to be soooo hard and Im scared ****less, Im scared she will stop me seeing them altogether, Im scared I truly will loose everything. But I’m thinking I’d rather lose it all and get out of her net rather than be trapped in it and still have a relationship with the kids. I don't think she will stop it altogether because I have a very deep bond with them and she will struggle on her own as she likes her own time. I guess from here, I'm still going to be under her control but at least it will be from a distance, I can put boundaries up, there can be a set routine with the kids etc. This is my ideal, but I know this world is far from ideal.
Looking at any positives, I am in shape, my game is getting good, I am seeing success in many areas of my life outside of this mess. My biggest fear is letting the children down like my Dad did to me. I want to break the cycle, be a good Dad and be there for them. But I’m absolutely useless to them all the time I’m still attached to their Mum. Resent grows every day, it's making me ill. Am I doing the right thing?
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, sorry it's a little long but I wanted to paint the picture as best I can. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Since we split up I have carried on living with the ex and the children in an attempt to wait for the right time to leave, to phase out of this routine and into another, with the minimum amount of harm to the children as possible. We have been trying a 50/50 arrangement with the kids. This situation has now become unbearable, Im ****ing miserable, Im not myself, the ex makes my toes curl, Im short with the kids, the ex pushes me into a corner whenever I try to raise something, she is a control freak, she is clever, and is impossible to work with unless its on her terms. Most of our relationship I was in a beta frame and a complete sucker for her. However, life has been complicated for her with the kids real dad and I have been trying to help by sticking around until it's the right time for me to leave. I fear there will be no right time, the ex changes her plan all the time due to her chaotic life. I feel that one day she's going to turn around with her plan at the last minute and I'm going to be left to deal with everything. Finances and assets are messy but she's had complete control over it since the beginning and come the time to leave, nothing will be mine, she is clever she has planned it this way and I just feel like I'm being used for the kids until she doesn't need me anymore.
Basically I've had enough, I'm not going to wait for the right time. In my time off I've been out, I'm spinning plates, cold approaching, getting numbers, went all the way with one just last weekend. Reading, learning, growing, hungry for success. Making huge changes and climbing all the way. This situation is severely hindering my growth, this is huge success for me but I only wonder what heights I will reach when I am free from this toxic poison. Of course she blames it'll on me, everything is my fault, Ive only ever wanted the best and so far have submitted to almost everything. I'm 31 and I've been beta all my life, troubled childhood, bullied blah blah and now pushed around by an ex that I feel I can do nothing about out of fear of hurting the children. Im literally ready to take off , 2 lays in 2 weeks, plates spinning I want more more more! I know I'm hurting the children more by not being myself when I am with them and resenting them and the situation but its all because of the friction between myself and the ex. I know this can't go on anymore.
I'm planning to leave by the end of this week, I can't wait for the right time anymore. Am I doing the right thing? I know it's going to be difficult, I know she will up the emotional manipulation, she will take the car, the house, I'll have nothing left, I will have to let it all go as she plays the “you're not going to leave a single mum with nothing” card and start from scratch, I am ok with this. My biggest fear is hurting the children, I've promised them I will always be here for them. I plan to set myself up somewhere asap, and have them over as much as I can, the change is going to be soooo hard and Im scared ****less, Im scared she will stop me seeing them altogether, Im scared I truly will loose everything. But I’m thinking I’d rather lose it all and get out of her net rather than be trapped in it and still have a relationship with the kids. I don't think she will stop it altogether because I have a very deep bond with them and she will struggle on her own as she likes her own time. I guess from here, I'm still going to be under her control but at least it will be from a distance, I can put boundaries up, there can be a set routine with the kids etc. This is my ideal, but I know this world is far from ideal.
Looking at any positives, I am in shape, my game is getting good, I am seeing success in many areas of my life outside of this mess. My biggest fear is letting the children down like my Dad did to me. I want to break the cycle, be a good Dad and be there for them. But I’m absolutely useless to them all the time I’m still attached to their Mum. Resent grows every day, it's making me ill. Am I doing the right thing?
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, sorry it's a little long but I wanted to paint the picture as best I can. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.