My husband and I have had problems on and off for years. We've been married for almost 5 1/2 years now. We have a daughter (7 years old) and a son (4 months old). He decided 2 months ago to leave his family (myself, my daughter and my son) just days before the rent was due. He boldly told me that he wasn't going to pay it. He racked my cell phone bill up to $1,000 and said that he would pay it. He justified that by telling me that it accounts for the credit cards that I racked up over 5 years ago that he still pays on. I offered to help pay those bills, but he told me that I didn't have to. If he didn't want to forgive me, he should have cut me loose 5 years ago. Don't still hold on to the resentment 5 years later because I'm not trying to hear it. Getting back to him not paying the rent, he came back to my house and broke my phone, trashed my living room, and threw away my extra set of house keys. What a cowardly thing to do. He did all of this while I wasn't home, of course. He did all of this because I caught him in a minor lie in front of my parents. His pride was hurt. He tried to make me look like I was the liar in front of my parents when, in essence, it was himself. He moved back home with his mama. He still thought we were going to live as husband and wife after what he did. I will never, never take him back after what he did. How could you leave your wife, daughter, and newborn son knowing that they have no money for the rent? That is just callous. Thankfully, my parents have helped me through financially. Now, because my husband knows that I don't want him anymore, he's taking it out on the kids by not being there for them anymore. I could care less. He thinks that he's hurting me, but he's really hurting the kids. My daughter and I have talks everyday about how she is feeling and how this has changed her life. I am happy that he's gone because I was sick of the verbal abuse. However, I would just ignore it because I have an excellent self-esteem that he couldn't break no matter how hard he tried. I am a full-figured woman and there are plenty of men that compliment on how well I dress and look. Right now, I work full-time and take care of my children. I'm not ready to jump into any relationship with anyone. I'm trying to get and keep my life on track. <p>My husband pays me informal child support, but I don't even trust that anymore. I've gone to court to establish child support. He thought that I would never make it on my own financially without him, but I've proved him wrong. I can and I am. It's hard, but you can't put a price tag on piece of mind. So, to all the wives who have been wronged by their husbands, keep your head up. Jehovah God makes a way out of no way.

I am pretty much in the same boat with you. I am glad that my H has left me and my two boys. I have gone to counseling to really see this because I have to admit that I really wanted him back there for awhile. My H walked out on us and refused to come back and that is fine with me. I have been able to look back into my past and our marriage and I don't want to live that way again and I won't. The verbal, mental and emotional abuse went on for 8 years that we were married and it took someone else to show me. I have a peace of mind now that I can't recall ever having our entire marriage. At this point, there is not another woman that I have been able to find out. My H just said he doesn't love me anymore and walked away. He is paying child support though and that is something I have not had to argue with him about. I have a full-time job also and it is hard with two children but I am doing it and I feel really good. My H has been really good about his financial responsibilities and I am lucky that we don't have to get into a big mess with all that. I did get the D papers last Monday and I still haven't signed them. I have read and re-read the papers but I haven't been ready to sign them yet. I have never lived on my own before so at first this was really scary but now I know that me and my boys are going to be just fine and we can make it without my H. I really hate that our marriage has turned out this way but in the long run I feel that this will be for the best, not just for me but also for the boys. Everything I have done since my H left has been in their best interests.<p>K

To AbandonedMom:<p>At first, I thought that I was the only wife out there that was glad that their husband had left. Right now, I am just working, taking care of my 2 beautiful children, and will continue college for my 4 year degree in Accounting. I just received my 2 year degree this summer. My husband was and is very intimidated by educational success. That's the only reason he went to truck driving school. He finished in July and never once even tried to apply for a job in the field. Why waste your money for school and not use it? He does work, however. He does things just to make my life harder, thinking that I will call him to say that I need him. Somehow, I always seem to receive help from other people so I don't have to rely on him and he hates it. I'm just cooling out right now. However, when my divorce is final, I want to start dating again. I want to love a man who is genuinely loving, caring and compassionate. I'm not looking for the next Mr. Right because Mr. Right will come looking for me!

glad H is gone, tired of all the lies, found out OW is not the only lover, OW left her H for mine cant wait for her to go thur what she put me thur. seems like he was on every corner with younger women, H is a policeofficer & had A while working. Our 12yr old son told me that it was nicer now that Dad wasnt home, H now has time to do things with him on his 1 day H gets to see him, NO phone calls since July 2001 to talk with son at home & we are not speaking still blames me for kicking him out, tells son he's busy, OWH tells me he is still calling his W its on OW CallerID.