During the time I was dark, was he mean? YES, YES, YES and YES.
He was worse, much worse. Then he'd send messages through the kids, leave little notes in their overnight bag, send me solicitors letters every 5 minutes because I wasn't raising the kids how he wanted.
He'd not pack them any overnight clothes just to get on my nerves, send his OW round here to wind me up, send me emails entitled 'OW's Lover' etc etc just to hurt me.
The only time he ever stops that is when we're in contact and the only time he's ever nice to me is when I sleep with him, so I'm damn well screwed, for want of a better word.
If I cut him off, there'd be a solicitors letter on my doorstep the next week.
The only realistic way I can cut him out is to walk out on the whole family, which I am not psychologically able to do. I have thought about it many times, though.