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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

do i end it with my partner even if hes sick??????

49 replies

proudmum2 · 30/01/2012 13:13

well i dont even know where to start.......i am a mother of 2 beautiful children and have been with my partner for nearly 5 years.

when we first got together both of us were in a bad way, him from the break up of his last relationship, which resulted in him losing his house and job and trying to end his life, and i had turned to drink when my marrige had broken down, i stopped drinking when i left my marrige. well as i say we have now been together for almost 5 years,

we have had our ups and downs like every other couple. my partner has always been a big drinker, but i put that down to his break up, so thought in time his drinking would decrease and we could all be one as a family. we have had many many arguments and discussions about his drinking over the years, how it effects us as a family, everytime he says he will change and stop drinking, when my partner has had a large amount of drink he becomes nasty, slams doors, throws things, screams and shouts in my face, even when he has a couple of drinks, this more times than not results in him sleep walking, he trys to climb in wardrobes switching lights and appliances on in the house, waking me up from my sleep accusing me of having a "go" at him, which means i have to be alert at all times.
my partner has a drink every night, and drinks in the day at weekends. over the years this has taken quite a toll on myself and the kids, it all came to ahead last august, my partner even though he had quite a bit to drink insisting on going with my 8 yr old daughter to the shop (its on the same street she had been loads of times by herself) when they returned my daughter had said that he kept stumbling into the road, at hearing this he just erupted, accusing my girl of being a lying bitch, he started screaming and shouting, swearing really up in my face, all i could do was just leave and go upstairs with my 2 children we were all scared, when my partner has had a drink i have learnt to just avoid him. as i said it started taking its toll on me, i couldnt sleep as everytime i closed my eyes all i saw was him screaming in my face, i was crying all the time, the slightest thing was scaring me, i was shaking, constant headache, i couldnt take it anymore, so i packed his bags and asked him to leave, he did his usual "im sorry, i will stop drinking, i love you, please give me another chance" routine, i repeatedly asked him to leave but he refused saying i was making the wrong decision and he couldnt live without me and my kids and i really tried to stick to my desicion, but there was that voice in my head saying what if he harms himself, i would have caused it. its like a massive black cloud over me, so i gave him one last chance...............

forward a month of us trying to work it out and he wakes one morning and has loss of vision, several trips to the hospital and hes admitted with a infection somewhere in his body causing the damage to his eyes, the hospital have never found this infection and he still has to take medicine daily and have injections into his eyes to try get his eyesight back to what it was.

so here we are are 5 months after all his promises and his drinking hasnt stopped and my life is basically the same, his latest excuse for being a nasty drunk was because i innocently told my sister that he leapt out of his chair cheering when his football team scored, other people were there but as far as he was concerned he didnt move, so all hell broke loose, i was accused of make stuff up and using that as a excuse to be horrible to him, again i had to leave the room to calm the situation, its seems that mine and the kids lives are spent upstairs out of his way, i havent sleept for about 3 weeks, im crying all the time, i dont seem to be able to function other than taking care of the childrens needs, i tried speaking to him this weekend but he says his usual routine, and that its the stress of having to have a injection in his eye again tomorrow, i told him that i cant cope anymore and is response was that i agreed to take care of him, he needs me.

i really feel like crap, its like being blackmailed, if i end it he might harm himself, and i cant throw a ill man out.

i just dont know what to do anymore, its tearing me and my children apart.
please help.

OP posts:
PocPoc · 30/01/2012 13:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DoesNotGiveAFig · 30/01/2012 13:15

Second pocpoc

squeakytoy · 30/01/2012 13:17

YANBU, but I think you should ask for this thread to be moved into Relationships rather than here.

ISayHolmes · 30/01/2012 13:17

Get out. The situation is destroying your sanity. You can't stay in it out of misplaced guilt forever, think of the impact it's having on you and your children. He will use his illness as an excuse to behave like this forever, I doubt it will ever end. It's his trump card to keep you there when he sees you about to slip away.

Tooblunt2012 · 30/01/2012 13:18

I agree too - leave.

WTFlike · 30/01/2012 13:18

Get your kids away from him.

aleene · 30/01/2012 13:19

You can't go on like this. It is okay to end a relationship with someone if you are scared and feel threatened by him, despite their health problems. People who make threats about harming themselves rarely act on them, it is just a way to emotionally blackmail you.
If he is likely to be violent you need advice about this.

WhereMyMilk · 30/01/2012 13:22

I have never said this before. But you do need to leave him. Now.

He is an abusive alcoholic and neither you nor your DC should be around him. He won't change. You do not need to look after him. He is an adult and can look after himself. Whatever he does after you've split is not and will never be your responsibility.

Contact women's aid. You must get rid of him before he damages you or your DC irreparably.

pictish · 30/01/2012 13:22

You must leave. Do not delay.
Are you really going to sacrifice you and your daughter's happiness for this person?
I hope not.

Leave.

2rebecca · 30/01/2012 13:24

I don't see that someone's health is relevant to whether or not you want to live with someone and be their partner and lover.
Alcoholics get more illnesses than non alcoholics, if you wait for him to be healthy you'll never be rid of him. if he was interested in his own health he'd stop drinking. he can't expect you to look after him if he won't care for himself.
His illness is irrelevent.

cutteduppear · 30/01/2012 13:24

You leaving might be the one thing which makes him get help for his behaviour.
It would be worth it to save you and your kids; also to save him from himself possibly.
Him blackmailing you won't help anybody.

Groovee · 30/01/2012 13:26

He's ill but that doesn't mean you have to stay with him. He sounds like a pathetic excuse for a man. I'd get him out now if the house is in your name or get in touch with womans aid. x

livvymc · 30/01/2012 13:26

Leave him. Right now. Pack your things and go. You and your children should not be going through this. He is abusive and shows no signs of wanting to change. Good luck

2rebecca · 30/01/2012 13:26

I would also be wary of someone who blamed losing their job and trying to end their life on the break up of a relationship. Alcoholism causes more people to lose their jobs than divorce. Have you spoken to his exwife at all?

switchtvoffdosomelessboring · 30/01/2012 13:29

His illness is his own fault. Leave him

proudmum2 · 30/01/2012 13:40

i know what i need to do, doing it is the hard bit, i have nowhere to go, i have 2 kids both in school this is their home, i have up rooted them enough in the last 5 years, i just want him to leave, but feel guilty for not being strong enough last year when i packed his bags, it feels like this is my punishment for believing that he could change.

OP posts:
pictish · 30/01/2012 13:43

I think it's a case of packing his stuff for him and putting him out, to be honest.

LizaTarbucksAuntie · 30/01/2012 13:46

pack his stuff, put him out, change the locks.

Sorry you're having to go through this, really, you're in my prayers.

Second asking it to be moved to relationships btw

Doodlez · 30/01/2012 13:52

Pack his stuff and leave it out for him. Change the locks and get a couple of friends round to see you through the tantrum he is bound to create.

If he tries to top himself, it's not you that's caused it. He and he alone will be the cause. He didn't lose his job because of the breakup of his last marriage. He lost his job and his home through being an alcoholic. His last wife saw the light. Now, you must also.

This isn't about him being ill (either alcoholism or dodgy eyes). It's about you safeguarding your children and yourself.

Do it now.

Callisto · 30/01/2012 13:52

Your children are scared of your partner. This should be all you need to know to judge what to do. Throw him out and change the locks. His illness is self-inflicted.

thepeoplesprincess · 30/01/2012 13:56

Can you ring a member of his family and ask them to come and get him? You've done your best for him- make him someone else's problem.

randommoment · 30/01/2012 14:15

Proudmum, throw him out now for the sake of your children; even if you feel in some obscure way that you deserve punishment for believing he could change, the children don't. He's way past the point where you can help - in a weird way you are part of the problem in that you are enabling his behaviour.

Do what Doodlez suggests about chucking him out, and get in touch with Al-Anon to help support you and keep you strong in saying no when he starts banging on about 'coming back because I've not had a drink for ages honest', 'I'm going to kill myself and it's all your fault' and all the other crap alcoholics come out with.

Voice of bitter experience.

And very very best wishes and mn hugs.

springydaffs · 30/01/2012 14:27

Is the house in your name? Call Womens Aid 0808 2000 247 for sound advice and support - they will go through with you your legal rights and will also be a listening ear. They also have a service where they change the locks free of charge asap.

You need to be away from this horrible man. I agree that he lost the job, house etc because he is an alcoholic. He is using you as a punchbag for his unresolved rage - the rage he drowns in alcohol. None of this is anything to do with you and it is appalling that your children have been subjected to this. The children come first: get him out

If he kills himself he was going to do it anyway, only set it up to make it look like it was your fault. It's not your fault, never was, never will be. It's his fault, his responsibility. He lost his eyesight because of the booze, probably. It's his arm that raises that glass/bottle, not yours.

Have you spoken to your GP? Get some support in place asap. Start with Womens Aid, go to Al-Anon etc. Get as much support as possible, hes turned you into a wreck Sad

FoofFighter · 30/01/2012 14:30

I hope you find the strength to leave and am wishing you well, you can do it. I have and so have plenty of others. yes it is hard but even while it is you'll feel so much relief. I never knew what the expression feeling like a weight lifted off my shoulder felt like til then.

Call Women's Aid or go to a family or friend's house.

Good luck xx

controlpantsandgladrags · 30/01/2012 15:23

you have to get him out. If you can't, then you and your DC need to get out. You have a duty as a mother to keep your children safe; they are not safe in this environment...his behaviour is damaging them and you.