Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

..to dread today after dh yelled at me in front of my mum

113 replies

grahamcoxonsglasses · 09/09/2016 08:56

Last night, dh called me a fucking stupid deaf bitch, while my mum was within earshot (she's staying for my birthday weekend)

Context - our bedtime, 11:30ish dh checked on ds (8) who doesn't sleep !!

Me: Is he in bed?
DH: Yes
Me: Is he actually asleep? (in a surprised way!)
DH: He's going to get some water
Me: So he's not asleep?
DH: Like I said, he's going to get some water, you stupid deaf bitch.

This was completely out of the blue. My mum was just behind me, so i closed the door and told DH not to speak to me like that in front of my mum and he just got louder with a really aggressive tone.

So, I said goodnight to my mum and got into bed and did that silent crying thing. Ended up on the sofa, which i've explained away as being the result of a daddy longlegs in my room.

Today, I have the day off work to go shopping with my mum - it's going to be awkward and she's going to want to know why he spoke to me like that and I'll have to pretend it was nothing.

He's ruined my weekend.
:(

OP posts:
RB68 · 09/09/2016 10:04

you are not deaf he didn't answer your question - he did what my dh does which is answer the question he thought you were asking which isn't actually what you asked at all.

He did it because he knew you wouldn't like the answer and that is also why he turned on you. It is completely unacceptable to do so. I frequently pull my DH on stuff like this - he doesn't call me shit like that as he knows better as I give as good as I get, BUT he does the whole sarcastic tone, I know better act when actually he is reacting to something he is assuming I am implying!!! Which of course is entirely unreasonable. Its got to a point where I just raise an eyebrow at him.

MrsHathaway · 09/09/2016 10:11

What they all said.

FWIW I think "stupid" is worse than "fucking" (meaningless intensifier) or "bitch" (placeholder insult for female person) so it isn't about the swearing itself, but the aggression and the disdain in it. If I were your mother I'd be far more unhappy about what that signified than his choice of vocabulary.

I'll have to pretend it was nothing. If you pretend it was nothing then she'll wonder and worry what "something" looks like. If you have normalised this kind of behaviour then you must be very unhappy indeed.

JellyBelli · 09/09/2016 10:13

You are being very unreasonable if you are going to pretend this was nothing.
You poked him, and in response he acted like a shit. If he doesnt like the way you communicate with him, then he needs to deal with that like an adult.
Its not OK for him to talk to you like that in front of your Mum and kids or in private. You need to decide what you are going to do about this, not pretend it didnt happen until it all blows over.

bibliomania · 09/09/2016 10:21

OP, I really feel for you. I remember cringing at then H screaming at me when my mother was on the other side of the bedroom wall. I hadn't yet admitted to myself that it was abusive because I'd got used to it. This was massively difficult because I had to start the very, very painful road of confronting my own denial. It's terrifying. But you shouldn't have to live like this, and you don't have to.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 09/09/2016 10:29

Your post really reminds me of me, a few years ago. Maybe it's not that bad, or maybe it is. It strikes a chord though, about the way I felt, when I was in a very bad way. Stbxh... I loved him so much. And I continued to try and make it work long after I should have done. I slip slided gradually into a very bad state, he was abusive, but it took me a long time to see it. And longer to admit it, to myself really, though it showed through my need to stop others seeing it.

Was humiliating, and if others witnessed it, it made it real. And the pressure of others needs and expectations on me about how I should react, it was too much to bear.

I think people can forget that parents won't always respond in a helpful way. So, it can be great that they find out, and they offer tremendous support and love that helps you. But also, it can just add to the number of things you have to cope with.

In my case my parents weren't the supportive type, so it was about how bad it made my mother feel, and how upset she was etc etc. It actually diverted my energy into managing her, which wasn't helpful at all. But I did the right thing in the end. And that was to get me and DS free of stbxh.

So... I understand the awfulness of having to go through the grilling, reaction and demands of family when they see your partner behave badly.

And yes, I cared more about their reaction and their demands of me to react however they wanted... All much more than the horribleness of the way my husband treated me.

It's what happens when you live with someone who treats you like shit. You go into cover- up mode as at least everything can look ok, that's something important to self esteem and pride and a desperate need to act like you're living the life you should be.

I hope today's not too bad. Flowers

Sometimes close family can have the right idea you know. Of course, sometimes they don't, and that's a whole other mess!

Take care of yourself. Your feelings matter just as much as anyone else's.

flippinada · 09/09/2016 10:53

Very good post Miscellaneous.

OP I'm guessing you might be feeling overwhelmed by these responses. Are you OK? Flowers

chocorabbit · 09/09/2016 10:58

I agree that he should never speak to you like that and you should not tolerate it. He doesn't care about you crying or sleeping elsewhere. You have to confront him.

I agree with Assortment that parents complicate things and he will use your mother against you, he will say that she is interfering thus changing the topic, you embarrassing him to her etc. There is nothing wrong with you mentioning how embarrassing it must have been for your mother to have witnessed your abuse but don't discuss it too much with her unless you know that she is the quiet type. Don't allow him to deflect.

scallopsrgreat · 09/09/2016 12:37

Yes really good post Miscellaneous and good points about parents not always being supportive.

Another one thinking you may be overwhelmed Flowers

JustWantToBeDorisAgain · 09/09/2016 12:50

I think more worrying than your mum is the fact that he spoke like that full sto, especially as your ds was awake.

Don't pretend and don't apologise for his behaviour.

JingleMum · 09/09/2016 13:36

I've been in this boat, OP. My DP wasn't as nasty as yours was Angry but he talked down to me, in an aggressive manner in front of my Mum & Sister. He then done it again on another ocassion in front of his Mum & Brother. First time I asked him not to do it again, it was embarrassing etc. Second time I went fucking MENTAL. I flipped out & told him 3 strikes and he's out. I was absolutely furious & made his life hell for days. He hasn't done it since...

I never discussed it with my Mum. Maybevsee if your Mum brings it up? If she does, tell her it was out of character & you'll be having strong words to ensure it doesn't happen again?

JingleMum · 09/09/2016 13:37

*Sorry, haven't read the whole thread. You may have already discussed it with your Mum.

Topseyt · 09/09/2016 14:06

I guess you are currently out with your Mum. She has come to go birthday shopping with you so I imagine (hope) that she cares a lot and was worried by what she was forced to hear.

I hope you have not minimised this to her. I highly doubt that this is the first time your DP has spoken to you like this, and it won't be the last.

Use the opportunity to garner as much support as you can. In fact, it is possible that he has inadvertently done you a favour there by showing your Mum his true colours. If so then make the most of that.

The best birthday present you could give yourself would be if you could kick him into the long grass.

Happy Birthday, by the way. Flowers I hope you can spend it without having to put up with your DP's sorry arse hanging around you and wrecking it even more than he already has.

grahamcoxonsglasses · 09/09/2016 15:19

Hi all, thanks for the responses. I am just back from my day out - nothing was mentioned.

I am used to be spoken to in this way, but it is normally fuelled by my husband's inability to handle his alcohol - so will be when he's been for a 'quick drink after work' and rolled in at god knows when.

Last night there was no drink involved and it took me by surprise. I gave him a mouthful, but in shouty whispers but everything he said was completely filled with venom.

I've not heard from him today, he didn't come in the front room and say sorry to me this morning (as he would if it was post-drinking twattery). I'm at a loss as to why he's behaved like that. We had a very pleasant evening eating fish and chips watching Question Time with my 'rents.

I don't want to discuss it with my mum. I love her, but she is bloody judgy, and she would kick the living shit out of him (verbally). Then I would get the "you can always bring DS and live with us..." all the time. Nope.

OP posts:
allsfairinlove · 09/09/2016 15:30

Hasn't your DM brought it up? That's quite shocking TBH.

allsfairinlove · 09/09/2016 15:32

Shocking in itself, I should add

flippinada · 09/09/2016 15:33

Ok. You say your Mum is judgy - but tbh it sounds like her judgment in this case would be right (being angry at the way he speaks to you and offering support). Or do you mean she's generally judgemental and critical?

It sounds like you are resigned to this kind of behaviour from your H which is very sad and I'm wondering if you are caught between your Mum and your H?

PatriciaHolm · 09/09/2016 15:37

He behaved like that because it's who he is! The alcohol makes him relaxed enough to say what he thinks, and because he gets away with it, he's getting more relaxed about it. He knows he can call you appalling names and get away with the "venom".

You think your mum is "judgy" because she would have torn a strip off him? really? Your perception of normal is seriously skewed.

Just because you don't want to live with your Mum doesn't mean you have to live with this vile specimen, and expose your child to it.

Costacoffeeplease · 09/09/2016 15:40

So this is your 'normal'?

It shouldn't be, you know

The2Ateam · 09/09/2016 15:42

My mum would have given him what for. He would have been very sorry.

It's very wrong, and disrespectful to you & your mum. The first thing he needs to do regardless of what you decide is to apologise to you both.Flowers

Willow2016 · 09/09/2016 15:46

If you were my daughter I would have pulled him up on that sharpish. Nobody would talk to my kids like that and not get the massive hint that they were being an almighty asshole. Thats not judgy thats merely pointing out the obvious.

You should clear out with kids and find somewhere to live where you dont have to put up with his vileness, drunk or sober neither is acceptable (nor your mum if you have a straiined relationship) . Do you want your kids to think that this is an acceptable way to treat someone you are supposed to love? What happens when he starts doing it to them when they p him off?

flippinada · 09/09/2016 15:47

I agree with PP it's disgusting (and pretty telling) that he hasn't even apologised. Really feel for you OP as you sound resigned and sad. Life doesn't have to be this way and you deserve to be treated with love and respect Flowers.

CalmItKermitt · 09/09/2016 15:48

Your mum sounds great.

Let him give him a verbal kicking and take her up on her offer of somewhere to stay til you get sorted.

CalmItKermitt · 09/09/2016 15:48

Let her.

liz70 · 09/09/2016 15:55

OP, imagine your DS, fifteen or twenty years from now, speaking to his DP or DW like that. Being foul-mouthed and abusive, talking to her as if she were crap. Because there's a very real possibility that it could happen, if this is the "normal" in your home. Children learn from their parents' actions. Think how proud you'd feel of your DS then...

Purplepicnic · 09/09/2016 15:55

Your mum is judgy because she knows that your husband is abusive.