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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

to think he's being mean to dd and to stand up for her?

344 replies

BusyLizzie99 · 22/07/2013 02:40

DP and I have been together since my dd was one. She's now 6. Mostly he's great with her but recently I've been seeing behaviour I don't like and feel like he's jealous of how close we are and subsequently sulking/being mean to her. Am prepared to be told I'm being over-protective though. Some examples:

If she's been at her father's he makes a point of telling her what she's missed out on here.

The other day he was looking in cupboard under stairs and dd wanted to go past as her breakfast was in the other room. She said excuse me four times but he ignored her, then when she tried to squeeze past he stuck his bum back suddenly squashing her against the wall, causing her to bump her head and cry then told her off for being impatient.

Tonight when we were arriving home from walking the dog she picked up some pebbles from the front garden and slipped them in his pocket telling him he
could use them to find his way home (been reading Hansel and Gretel) and he told her off and chucked them back outside. When she went to collect them he slammed the door shut then shook the keys to pretend he was locking it. She then knocked on the door and shouted to come in and he again moaned and told her off for 'waking the next door neighbours child'. Then I washed up and dd was telling him about her day as he'd been at work and all he replied was 'mmm' to each thing, while playing with baby dd with his back to elder dd so she was excluded.

Tonight I was reading bedtime stories to elder dd and when we'd finished I was telling her 'the story of her day' as we do sometimes. She was giggling and we were cuddling and within a minute he was there plonking baby with us so we couldn't continue.

If she's laying cuddling our dog, whom she adores, he'll call him away. When she's walking him and she goes off in front, if dp deems she's too far ahead he'll call the dog rather than dd which has caused him to pull her over a few times.

There are more I could think of but I'm getting wound up just typing it! AIBU to think he's being an absolute arse to her and to stand up for her/against him in front of her?

OP posts:
BrummyMummy2012 · 24/07/2013 00:30

He is a complete bastard and if you have noticed these things he has no shame doin it in front of you, I absolutely hate to think what he is doing behind your back. Please, for gods sake leave him. This abusive behaviour only escalates and your daughter is at risk from this nasty mean child abusing bully!!

scottishmummy · 24/07/2013 00:30

Look,there's no gain in berating her. The only +ve is something gave her insight
Leaping all over her,isn't going to elicit an epiphany and yes you're right mn
Hard as it is,she's not ready to hear contrary opinion,I hope school or someone pick up her dd hard times

gingerchick · 24/07/2013 00:37

Surely the sides volume of posters who have been concerned about this tells you something lizzie people are just trying to get thru to you
You were concerned enough to post remember that a lot of us have experience of abusive men and we are trying to save you and especially dd from pain

Monty27 · 24/07/2013 00:37

FFS I can't believe I used the word 'only', sometimes that can be even worse than sexual or physical abuse. I wish I could delete it, I hope it hasn't been misconstrued in any way.

So do I SM. We live in hope. :(

gingerchick · 24/07/2013 00:39

*sheer

Monty27 · 24/07/2013 00:40

Sometimes however, hope isn't enough. What if no-one picks it up eh? Dd continues to suffer.

And the ds's will be witnessing all of this too and what will that teach them?

WilsonFrickett · 24/07/2013 00:41

So a few days ago, at two o'clock in the morning, you were scared and you were worried about your daughter.

Now you're not.

So maybe you want to wind down the thread, maybe he's doing a number on you, maybe you lied. I don't know.

But I'm not buying the difference between your first and last posts. At all.

Monty27 · 24/07/2013 00:42

Get yourself busy Lizzie.

Also, school's out this week in England and already is in other parts of the UK, so that'll be a long summer for your dd.

scottishmummy · 24/07/2013 00:45

A bundle of angry posts,predicting terrible future,berating op.it exists online only
At least maybe at school,good teacher will elicit something,spot a sign

Monty27 · 24/07/2013 00:51

Me too Wilson.

SM, school's out for now :(

BrummyMummy2012 · 24/07/2013 00:57

I've just read your replies and previous posts. There's no smoke without fire.
I cannot believe you have sat there and made excuses for each 'concern' you raised. You have no issues leaving him? Really? Then why the fucking hell are you still there?
If I noticed ONE incident between my partner and child even similar to the ones you've described, an Internet forum would be the very last place I would be voicing my 'concerns'
The fact you are still in that house, placing your own child at risk like that, proves you aren't got to be a mother at all! You've even raised concerns about the relationship between him and your youngest child! Are your alarm bells broken or something? You said "DP just lurks around BECAUSE NONE OF THEM WANT HIS HELP" seriously.. And don't say you don't leave them alone with him because you say In a pp that they DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE WITH HIM!
You so say :
"Tonight she was playing in elder dds room while I was saying goodnight to elder dd and he goes and stands over her. Low and behold, within ten seconds of him being there she's coming back over to me and crying at the prospect of him taking her. I sometimes feel it'd be easier alone."

Children simply do not cry at the prospect of an adult talking to them unless they are AFRAID!!!
If you do not leave him then I sincerely pray to any god that exists that social services come and remove ALL of your children because you clearly do not have the mental capacity to safeguard your own children!!
I don't give a damn if people don't like what I have said, I'm not sugar coating anything when it is perfectly clear that these children, ALL of them, are being abused!!!

Waffling · 24/07/2013 01:00

@WilsonFrickett That's why I think the last posts are from the OP's partner.

whethergirl · 24/07/2013 01:08

Wow, I can't believe how over dramatic the responses here have been, considering the ambiguity of the incidents you describe, which are very much open to interpretation. Many of the comments here have been incredibly vile and unhelpful. Thing I've noticed on mumsnet is that it only takes a few people to get the ball rolling, and then they all pile in.

You sound like a great mum and if anything quite over protective of your dd. You probably give your dp a much harder time than you would if he was your ds' real dad. Just as I think other posters here would not be so harsh.

Having said that, you're right to notice these things and talk to him about what's bothering you.

But seriously if this is the worst that you can come up with? And I have a feeling that you've deliberately painted these incidents in the worse light, not realising the responses you would get.

Yes, I understand how low level EA works but I also don't think anyone here is qualified to make such a diagnosis based on a few paragraphs.

The following are not making excuses for your dp, although I'm certain many posters will disagree and will be completely shocked that I'm 'sticking up' for him. I am just trying to take on another, very possible, perspective:

If she's been at her father's he makes a point of telling her what she's missed out on here

I think he should be told not to do this, but I don't think it's definite that he is doing this deliberately to hurt her. Maybe it's more of a catch up chat? This is very difficult for anyone to judge having not heard these conversations ourselves.

Re the cupboard under the stairs incident: If I start hoovering for example, blow me down if ds does't then need to get past me several times at that precise time. I tell him to wait, and if he trips over the hoover or I elbow him as I'm hoovering then I explain this is why he needs to wait. However, if it's to the point where he cries, then I would comfort him/apologise. But was this a one off - does he normally comfort her if she is hurt?

Re the pebble incident: Yes, it does seem harsh, on the other hand impossible to know for sure without having witnessed the incident and not knowing other relevant facts, for example, does he always tell her not to pick pebbles from the garden. As you said, he wasn't at his best after a 12 hour shift, and I'm not the best parent when I'm tired, been working all day and have PMT. We are human!

And who, hands on heart, can honestly say they've never had a conversation with their dc when all they've done is respond 'mmm'??

Tonight I was reading bedtime stories to elder dd and when we'd finished I was telling her 'the story of her day' as we do sometimes. She was giggling and we were cuddling and within a minute he was there plonking baby with us so we couldn't continue.

I honestly don't think this is a big deal, he might have thought you were having so much fun that he wanted the baby to join you? I'm sorry, but this is not an EA incident for christ sake! (aimed at other posters!)

I personally feel that it's hard to judge based on the incidents you have provided. I'm not saying the other posters are wrong. Maybe they're right, maybe this is the beginning of EA. Or maybe he is just a dad who love his dc but sometimes gets it wrong like we all do?

My only advice would be to talk to him about these incidents when you notice them. Keep being aware as you are already. And listen to your instincts, if you think something is wrong then there probably is.

Secretswitch · 24/07/2013 02:26

Lizzie, I am sorry you feel this way. The person I am sorrier for is your daughter. You are the adult in her life, making choices and decisions for her. You began this thread because you had concerns about the behaviour your ....man...displayed. Your instincts are correct. This person is emotionally and physically abusive. You have witnessed it. You know it is happening.
I am not going to sugar coat anything for your sake. Nothing you have written here can be interpreted as anything but abuse. We are speaking about a defenceless child. You are a grown woman and able to decide if you want to stay with an abuser. Your child does not have that choice. My only hope is that if you won't protect her, then someone else will step in and do it for her. This little girl deserves an advocate.

Monty27 · 24/07/2013 02:31

@waffling and wilson, me too.

Zazzles007 · 24/07/2013 02:32

OP I can't believe your last post. You have clearly flip-flopped because you don't like the responses that have been posted here. According to your original post, there are more instances that those which you have written about so this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Do you know how much abuse is tolerated in this (and any other) abusive situation? ZERO TOLERANCE!!! Its not a case of "Oh its ok, he is good to her at other times", the fact that he is physically and emotionally abusive to her AT ALL is DAMAGING.

And yes I am Angry, I can't believe you are now defending this shit of a man. Its so much easier to just turn on MN instead of squaring up to the abuser in your home isn't it??? Angry

Monty27 · 24/07/2013 02:40

I think dp is on here now, because I cannot actually believe the U-turn in OP.

If it's OP then it is despicable.

Monty27 · 24/07/2013 02:42

Well, nothing can be more despicable and truly wrong than any of this.

plannedshock · 24/07/2013 02:45

I haven't read all the posts but this was me when I lived at home. Started off good, mum had his babies, he realised he didn't like me as much as them.
Your partner is being a spiteful twat, in the end I didn't hate him as much as I hated my mum for allowing it. Your daughter can't live by his moods, one day a cunt the next buying ice cream.
I really do hope you can sort this for your daughters sake because its soul destroying. He's the adult shes the child. There's nothing she can do to warrant any type of spiteful nasty behaviour. She's a child.

Chippednailvarnish · 24/07/2013 07:28

Well done OP, now he knows you're on to him let's just wait for the abuse to escalate to a new level when your not around.
Oh no wait, he's never left alone with the children is he Hmm

lunar1 · 24/07/2013 07:38

Let's just hope the stately homes thread is around when your dd is an adult. She will need it.

Hissy · 24/07/2013 07:47

From the start, this thread, of the 2 started was by FAR the most important.

Yet the OP spent all her time over chit-chatting about how to get the baby engaged with a guy that is shockingly abusive with her DD.

These men give off an aura, it's like a big black cloud of evil. No wonder the 1yo has cottoned on.

The lack of engagement on this thread could be due to fear of réactions to her situation, and while there were a few harshly worded posts, stating that one of the worst things you can do is allow abuse of your child, never mind if it's only recently that you've noticed.

That's true.

They DC have no way of protecting themselves, and if the only person who can, won't, it's not surprising that there'll be frustration.

The OP is not ready to face up to what's happening in her life.

I hope she wises up soon, cos all of her DC are being actively harmed by the continuation of this situation.

The P IS an abuser, no other word to describe him.

To use any other word is called 'excusing'

Hissy · 24/07/2013 07:48

Agreed Lunar, she'll also need the DV support thread too.

:(

pigletmania · 24/07/2013 08:14

Op tell me this, why would you not leave him Alaine with your dd? That is concerning tbh

pigletmania · 24/07/2013 08:15

Alone doh