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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Low confidence, but DH has such high expectations

165 replies

DogTiredWife · 18/01/2017 22:38

I'm a regular on here, however NCed because this post is very personal. I've been married to DH for six and a half years, we have two DC. DH has a good job earns over £150k per year( in a good year teice that). He has always made it clear he wants our DC to go to private school and now our second child is coming up to that age. We live in London. I have been a SAHM for the last five years. I literally do everything at home and am totally financially dependent on him. Before the DC I worked and earned about £32k a year. However when we met I had some debts quite large ones after being made reundant several times, helping my brother during the recession, a bad friendship with an alcoholic friend who I was too weak to say no too and I had depression, and paid for a hiludau with DH. DH works long hours, mocks me, never does anything for the children, and gives me very little money (£1000 a month) I know to some people this is loads, but we live in huge house in London, he eats like a horse and has loads of allergies and expects me to pay for car maintaince, street parking outside the house £220 per annum, food (read fancy cheese, organic stuff), presents for his family usually £50 a pop, phone and broadband, kids presents, dinner parties, clothes, petrol, any handymen or plumbers and it's an old house so stuff goes wrong often. He pays the mortgage and utilities. But I'm not on the house deeds, it's for the most part paid off. He also has a flat he owns and rents out, I manage the tenants. He is never around in the evenings because he is at work I do everything with the kids, I rarely go out in the evenings, I never feel I can count on him on Saturday's he lies in till 11 then likes to go out yo fancy restaurants for lunch. He rarely plays with the kids but when he does he is good but it's easy to be good when you only do it two hours a week. I cook from scratch everyday, do all housework get up with the kids, always put them to bed etc. He is also a heavy drinker and drinks about half to a whole bottle of wine a night. Awhile back he told me he just has a low libido and maybe it will come back but basically he's not interested, I feel hurt but tbh I've gone off him because he humiliates me. I will never be as clever or earn as much as him, but now he says I must get a proper job by September so I can pay one set of school fees, I'm happy to work but I feel division of money is quite uneven if I have to pay school fees probably around £20000 a year when you factor in uniforms, transport and school lunches. AIBU to think this is all a bit unfair. He also has lots of savings, investments and a big pension pot. He cancelled the joint accpunt because he thought I was having a negative impact on his credit rating. When I say joint account he put money in and never used it but kept track on everything I spent and ig I had toask for extra money he makes me grovel, when we opened it he said, if you need more just ask but it hasn't been like that.

Sorry about the long ramble but do you think I'm being unreasonable to be a bit taken aback about paying one set of school fees? I know I'll still do everything else at home too, I don't know where to start with a job he always laughs at what I say, patronizes me and I hust feel soo useless.

OP posts:
Atenco · 19/01/2017 12:14

Bluntness I'm a bit surprised at your comments. You say you earn something similar but would not accept your spouse staying at home. Surely, with that high a salary you could give yourself the luxury of supporting them while they support you and the kids. I thought money was a means of being able to solve problems.

Having a spouse that is happy to stay at home to look after the kids and, in the process, looks after the house as well is one of the ultimate luxuries nowadays.

Jeanstootight · 19/01/2017 12:17

he's financially and emotionally abusive. I would suspect he is having an affair - If he is giving you £1,000 per month - what is he doing with the other £5-6k?

Go and see a solicitor, move out of London with the DC and LTB - this is an awful way to live and no example to your children. Private education is well overrated and I suspect you will have a lot more money living on your own! Do you have family or friends in another part of the country? where does your brother live, can you live nearer to him?

UnoriginalNN · 19/01/2017 12:23

I hope you find a way to rinse him until he runs dry.

Bluntness100 · 19/01/2017 12:27

Op. he is being abusive yes, buying your clothes from charity shops etc isn't on in this context and you worked before and can be successful working again, maybe it would give you more confidence.

Atenco. No , unless my husband had some form of illness or disability that prevented him working I do not feel and have never felt he should be able to just stay at home whilst I work to provide for him. For me, as he is more than able to work and a high earner in his own right, he should work. I do not wish to be the sole breadwinner. I also do not see why he should have been at home whilst our daughter was at school all day and I have never needed someone to "support me" at home. I don't need or want a househusband. I prefer us to share our responsibilities and us both work, fortunately he feels the same and has never had a desire to stay home and not work.

nauticant · 19/01/2017 12:40

I suspect though your bluntness might be giving the OP some doubts about whether she's is being reasonable in her financially (and probably other) abusive situation.

If you want to discuss the rights and wrongs of a non-working partner at home, you might want to do that on a thread which isn't about someone trying to find their way out of an abusive relationship that they really do need to leave.

Musicinthe00ssucks · 19/01/2017 12:55

I rarely advocate leaving a spouse on MN but in this instance I would advise you divorce him. He won't change and you won't cope with paying those school fees. You will get a good settlement and maintenance from a divorce and will be much happier for it. Ask yourself what exactly he is bringing to the table for you and your DC apart from a home - which you would get as part of a settlement anyway!

ComputerUserNumptyTwit · 19/01/2017 12:57

Indeed, nauti

Bluntness have you actually read the op's posts? Hmm

DogTired I thought of you this morning, when I bumped into someone who had been in similar circumstances, newly single with zero support from the father of her young, just-school age children, when I interviewed her for a job three years ago. Since then she's not only leapfrogged me the once salary-wise, but three times. You'll get there too, I'm sure Smile

KERALA1 · 19/01/2017 13:07

Exactly nautical the worst possible thread for the militant wohm anti sahm brigade to launch onto. The op is obviously beaten down enough.

The poster who surmised the legal reasons for the Dh behaviour is spot on. You've had some great advice on this thread op - good luck x

dollydaydream114 · 19/01/2017 13:20

He is fearsomely clever

I strongly doubt that he's any more clever than you are.

He's just a bully who has controlled and intimidated you and encouraged you to put him on a pedestal, while making you feel inferior.

You can see what he's doing to you - and he can't see that you can see, if you get my drift. He is not anywhere near as clever as he has led you to believe.

All the best, OP - your situation is horrible but I have every confidence that you have the strength to escape it.

dollydaydream114 · 19/01/2017 13:21

If you want to discuss the rights and wrongs of a non-working partner at home, you might want to do that on a thread which isn't about someone trying to find their way out of an abusive relationship that they really do need to leave

I couldn't agree more.

Bluntness100 · 19/01/2017 13:29

I suspect though your bluntness might be giving the OP some doubts about whether she's is being reasonable in her financially (and probably other) abusive situation.

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 19/01/2017 13:33

As for why people get stuck in abusive relationships, it's like boiling a frog. Put a frog in a pan in cold water and very gradually turn up the heat. You'd think the frog would jump out once the water reached a certain temperature, but they don't. Or at least that's what I've been told.

People in abusive relationships gradually, gradually being boiled. But OP has registered the heat, and is readying herself to leap for safety! Hurray, OP. It's crap now, but I bet it gets better.

Take practical advice from the posters here who know so much, take your time, and then make a break for it. I would be planning to be out of this situation well before September.

Don't even think about staying - he's screwing you over, OP, but what is it doing to your poor DC seeing you put down like this?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 19/01/2017 13:33

I would absolutely agree with PP that you must not argue with him. He will see it as a challenge and won't care how much he tramples over you to win. Go with phrases like "there is nothing left to discuss".

Don't give him a hint of what you are planning just get as much information as you can about the financial position, his assets etc. quietly. Maybe even make a show of looking for jobs. Then when you are ready leave. No fuss, no big showdown, just go.

BarbarianMum · 19/01/2017 13:38

Agree with twinkle he is arrogant and he is totally under-estimating you. Start thinking less about what he says and wants and more (much more) about how you'd like your life to look in 2 years time.

See a really good divorce solicitor for advice, now (pay in cash or from your own account if you have one). Start gathering financial info together.

Start looking for work (he will have to pay big time if you split but having your own money will give you more control and a safety net.

Set up a savings account for yourself and start siphoning money into it.

Find yourself a counsellor if you need one (divorce is v stressful).

I know it all sounds daunting but your are in such a strong position.

nauticant · 19/01/2017 13:40

Money is the main issue here

No, the main issue here is the husband's abusive nature. Despite your proffered reasonableness you're not really getting this.

Your Devil's Advocate approach is really not helping on this thread.

ComputerUserNumptyTwit · 19/01/2017 13:46

Money is the main issue here

No it isn't. Money is simply a means of controlling and abusing the op. She can go out and earn megabucks and her husband's treatment of her will still be appalling. I know, I've been there. And actually when my earnings equalled my ex's (bearing in mind he had been forever pushing me to earn more money) his attitude towards me worsened.

KERALA1 · 19/01/2017 14:04

Nah its not the money. I had an abusive relationship in my twenties (I was a young professional, happy family background). Because of this I was able to get out but was difficult. Its hard to describe the weird mix of confusion, horror and love. I earned 10x what he did but didn't make any difference to the relationship dynamic.

Atenco · 19/01/2017 14:12

I've also stated she should get a job, get the financial documentation in order and prepare to go

I have two issues with this. The OP already stated that she was planning to get a job as soon as the children started school. So your telling her to get a job is a bit off.

But secondly, quite a few of us are the opinion that putting the children in a private school will give the husband a stick to beat the OP with for years to come. So if the OP waits until she can get a job, the children will have started in school, meaning the private school, and that will just open up the next stage of her abuse.

timeisnotaline · 19/01/2017 14:15

Absolutely to the leave him! In the interim, say he will have to decide which child he loves less and won't pay for, and he will have to tell them that, you don't have the money because you've been bringing up your children. Look up what it would cost to have someone manage the property and he can either outsource and pay someone or he can pay you that much. If he doesn't ,stop managing it (and hope the tenants trash the place)

Werkzallhourz · 19/01/2017 14:15

Op, I put your DH's take home pay at £7,500 a month, of which he is giving you £1000.

Again, there's also the rental he receives but as you haven't given details of any mortgage he might pay on that flat, then it's difficult to assess whether that increases his income anymore.

Personally, I think in this situation, what he is doing classes as financial abuse. And it probably will not stop.

I also suspect that if you do get a job, the £1000 a month he gives you will stop entirely but he will still expect you to cover all the current liabilities you listed as well as pay for half of the school fees.

I would really question whether you want to spend the rest of your life living like this, because it does come across that you are a very low paid housekeeper/childcarer/PA/rental agent.

The80sweregreat · 19/01/2017 14:41

He doesn't want to know really does he? expecting you to find a job that will pay school fees is unworkable. Who will be looking after the children and the home if your at work? does he then expect you to pay all the child care costs out of this money ( not to mention your own costs of fares, lunch money and all the associated costs of working?) He is the one being totally unreasonable here and playing on the fact that you do not have any back up with regards family and his own money too. I am not saying don't go to work by the way, but by the sounds of things if you do this he will then expect you to pay for everything and do all the home running on your own too! I think you should be going to see the Citizens advice bureau or a solicitor in order to find out where you stand financially. He sounds awful and a marriage should not be this way. lots of advice on here too. He needs a wake up call and running you into the ground. Good luck and please find the strength to stand up to him - you deserve better than this man.

JuddNelsoninTheBreakfastClub · 19/01/2017 15:30

Just to add OP you are not stupid or useless. You look after the house and children and manage the properties - maybe a potential future career in that? Also would think you are entitled to half these properties as you are married?

To those saying why do people let themselves be treated like this, it's easy to think that if you are not in the situation. I'm not in an abusive relationship but feel I've been bullied in the workplace. I moved back into the area I used to work in after being in a different area for 8 months. There was a recently promoted manager who was giving me a hard time, I wasn't really aware of it at first then noticed a few things she had done to undermine me. I'm not good with confrontation but I've made her aware that I'm onto her and may well have a showdown with her if anything else happens, things have improved a bit. I think what I'm trying to say is sometimes you don't realise the situation as people can be very sly and manipulative and you do question yourself. Like the PP who said about boiling a frog.
Also, you said you left him before so things must have been bad for a while and you were strong enough to do it. Where did you go?
I agree with others in that if you get a job he will expect you to pay more and may even stop giving any money or reduce the amount.
I also would be questioning where all the other money from his wages is going every month. Do what others here have advised, get as much information and advice as possible and plan what to do. Good luck x

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 19/01/2017 23:57

Wow - Fidelia's post was a real hard-hitter but by God it was useful!
OP - read Fidelia's post again and again - your H may or may not be having an affair, but the rest of it even without that - yes it could all be from different causes, but to me it really lined up well. :(

Do go and see a solicitor as quickly as you can.

kittybiscuits · 20/01/2017 04:20

OP, Bluntness's posts on your thread show, at best, an alarming lack of awareness about emotional and financial abuse and very poor mind-reading skills. In fact the posts read like some kind of watered down version of your H.

Much more likely is that your H has repeatedly manoeuvred and forced you in to situations for which he then blames you. To be honest he sounds like one sadistic fucker because he clearly enjoys making you quake and squirm. He's not fearsomely intelligent. He's actually quite a crude and lazy but clearly a psychopath and it must be very frightening for you. Life will be infinitely better for you when you get away from this joy and confidence sucker. I'm sure you were very able before he set about systematically destroying your confidence and self-esteem. Also you will get a similar amount of money, if not more, when he is forced to pay you the legal minimum maintainence with the added advantage that you will never have to be under the same roof as this vile cunt ever again. As much as I want to tell you to switch Lord Fauntleroy onto value crackers and processed cheese slices, I'm afraid it's time for cards played tight to you chest and absolutely a shit-hot lawyer so you can plan and execute your escape. If the new law on coercive control was applied with any force, he would be locked up.

kittybiscuits · 20/01/2017 04:35

When you leave him again, OP, he will be in bits again. Behind a controlling pig like him is a pathetic little boy who cannot face his own fears and insecurities. When you leave and he is crying to all and sundry saying he can't believe you ruined his life, don't look back, not for one second. His only empathy is for himself. You will need your own empathy for yourself and your poor DCs who cannot rid themselves of this spectacular fuck-up.