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AIBU?

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Husband regularly calls me names

34 replies

Danni221008 · 08/05/2025 20:13

I don’t even know where to start. Our relationship has always had its ups and downs, he’s never liked me having a social life, always back late when he knows I’m going out. Or there will be a drama at home when I’m out etc. It got a lot worse around 5 years ago after our 3rd child was born. I’d hired a friend to take over my position at our family business as she was in need and I had to go on maternity leave.

He became distant, had a short fuse would cause arguments over nothing and blame me, we went away for a week and he kept walking off disappearing being moody for no reason, and then decided to sleep in another room. It got worse and worse until I finally told him he had to leave our family home I couldn’t take it anymore. We spent around a year apart. In that time my friend kept being mentioned, he brought her things too. Eventually I got into his phone bills. Found even when we had been away he was on the phone to her every day. When we split it was morning noon and night texts at 5am through to 11pm at night - he kept saying - she’s just a friend that I’m fucking crazy and need assessing.

Eventually I begged him to come back that I’d do anything and he said I needed to sort myself out and have counselling. So I did. We moved forward.

Now a few years later and lots of counselling and doing what they said - focus on myself and make myself happy, I started the gym back in February, I needed something for myself. Time away from him and the kids and the business. And it’s made me so happy, I feel so much stronger mentally.

There seems to be 6-8 week cycle of his outbursts, calling me horrible names - always in front of the children. Won’t let me have a say in anything, it’s always his way or the high way, no compromise at all. A couple of weeks ago he lost it, got in my face and called me a fucking cunt in front of our 6 year old, I shut myself away in the lounge so he would stop. My girl came through and she said mummy I’m so sorry I made daddy mad at you. It broke my heart. She thought it was her fault. It wasn’t and I told her she had done absolutely nothing wrong. I don’t want this hurting my kids.

The next day came a apology- could hardly call it that and I told him so. The next day another apology saying there’s no excuse for his behaviour but he was cross because I was offloading on him about the kids that week. So still again blaming me. I told him to sleep in another room and he went mad telling me im a fucking bitch he can’t stand to be around me and he’s done with this shit and selling the house. I agreed.

The hard part for me now is I’ve been told for years I’m crazy, I’m wrong, I need to change etc etc h counselling was a waste of money because he doesn’t see that I’ve changed.

I know i don’t want this anymore. But I’m second guessing everything. I just really need someone to tell me to be strong, it will be better once we’re divorced. That there is a better life out there. I’m just so scared of all the changes, having to move, I’m now jobless as can’t work at our business how will I afford to live with 3 kids and work. My work has been as flexible as I wanted working for myself. I just feel so anxious all the time and my hearts racing when I wake up in the morning. Sorry I’m completely waffling now.

OP posts:
IveGotAnUnusuallyLargePelvisISwear · 08/05/2025 20:41

I know it’s scary right now but your life and your kids lives will massively improve once you offload this abusive prick. It’s hard though when someone has torn you down for years with gaslighting and other awful behaviour.

As far as him having contact with the children, you probably can’t prevent that but please do watch out for him using his tactics on them. My ex did a number on our children and while one no longer has contact with him as a result the other one continues to struggle to deal with him and there’s very little I can do apart from remind them they don’t deserve to be treated badly by anyone including those they’re related to.

Zanatdy · 08/05/2025 20:35

You are not the problem. You never have been. If you feel weak, remember your DD’s words. You can have a happier life away from him

DaisyChain505 · 08/05/2025 20:28

None of the above is healthy or normal.

Ring womens aid or a similar charity so you can get some more advice that is specific to your needs. But he needs to go.

I would start only communicating with him through a co parenting app like family wizard. These can be used as evidence in court.

Set a ground rule that he isn’t to enter your property when collecting the kids. He is to wait in the car and you send them out. Same with drop off.

QuickFawn · 08/05/2025 20:24

There’s quite a few names I could call him

leave him op

it’s so sad reading so many posts like this, why do people have such low bars with their partners

bigknitblanket · 08/05/2025 20:23

Jeez, what am I reading here? He had an affair with your friend and you begged him for another chance?
Yes, you will be better off divorced, there is a better life out there than being abused in front of your kids by a gaslighting arsehole!

AliasGrape · 08/05/2025 20:19

He’s abusive. He’s angry BECAUSE he’s abusive and not because of anything you could do/ not do. It’s damaging your children - that behaviour in front of them is abusive to them too. You need to get them out of this situation. You need to be strong. You're second guessing yourself because for years he’s used DARVO tactics and gaslighting on you.

Have you tried Women’s Aid as a first port of call?

PinkyFlamingo · 08/05/2025 20:19

I think you need counselling OP to understand why you went back to him and why you put up with getting spoken to like this.

MsNevermore · 08/05/2025 20:18

I beg your pardon?!!!!!

You absolutely aren’t the problem here OP.
You've been gaslit and emotionally abused for years.
And the fact that he has these “outbursts” in front of your children is extremely concerning.

StarsandCucoos · 08/05/2025 20:16

He's toxic, abusive and this is not a healthy relationship.

You would feel so, so, so much better without him.