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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to get us into a refuge?

37 replies

Flappypants · 11/06/2018 06:53

I've ended a coercively controlling marriage with a narc STBXH who has groped me in front of the children, driven at high speeds with us in the car (ds age 5 in front seat), emotionally and psychologically tortured me for 8 years resulting in two suicide attempts and self harm and now he is implying I have committed child cruelty to ds who has a neurological condition and physical limitations and who has a pretty bad food aversion by giving him cereal or a pouch for supper 2-3 times a fortnight in a bid to get something into him otherwise he won't eat anything at all. STBXH has pushed my poor son way beyond his capacity causing him huge distress and exhaustion and thinks he's the best Dad ever after 6 years of no interest. He has nearly 18 year old who has barely been here but who is now here every weekend for several nights without any word about it to me and she uses my en suite without asking me and just walks into my room. The atmosphere is awful and when I asked to ask me out of courtesy she kicked off and shouted at me saying she doesn't need to ask me as I don't pay anything. STBXH said I don't need to know when she's coming or going but I think it's courteous especially as he's given her a key without my knowledge. He has tried to threaten me after my solicitor wrote a letter outlining the reasons I want a divorce and my petition went in. STBXH wants to petition and has now put in a cross petition to a court in a different area. His is a very pathetic and spurious petition...like I'm disorganised and a bit messy etc.

He won't move out. The children are starting to be affected (dd breastfeeding a lot, ds asking to breastfeed again, he's getting angry and frustrated and the day STBXH took my son on a 3.5 mile walk he lost the plot and was screaming and hitting me in utter desperation. My heart broke) and I'm bring made to feel like a leech in my own home. I sit in the dark every night as I can't bear to see STBXH and now he's using his dd to create even more tension and discomfort. Ds asked to sleep in my room tonight and I said yes. If he needs to I won't stop it. Dh heard me go into my room where he had put dd to bed as she is in with me due to no room of her own and he just opened the door and walked in while I was in there to "find put what's going on" as he heard creaking. I said I was goingto bed. I have no sanctuary or privacy. He's been through my cupboards and belongings. He won't move out. I just don't know what to do. Women's Aid told me to get into a refuge 4 weeks ago. It is toxic and suffocating here and now he's using his daughter to perpetuate his financial and coercive control. They are both emotionally manipulative and say things to the dc like "if you love me you'll do x y z" or "I'll do/give you x y z if you hug/kiss me".

Help.

OP posts:
MilesHuntsWig · 11/06/2018 07:06

Speak to women's aid ASAP to get advice. YANBU you need to get away. So sorry you're in this position.

Imchlibob · 11/06/2018 07:07

Yes get yourself and the kids into a refuge. Do not give him any clue you are going - even if previously non-violent a man like this could become violent if he realises you are about to escape. Take as much paperwork as you can for you, the kids (birth certificates, passports) and proof of the marital assets eg house, savings accounts, pensions etc.

You need to escape. Do not hesitate.

LetBartletBeBartlet · 11/06/2018 07:09

YANBU and I know it may feel like an extreme measure, but you are living under terrible conditions at present.

Please take all the help that Women's Aid can offer you.

listsandbudgets · 11/06/2018 07:11

Im so sorry. You should bot be in thos situation. Womens Aid are right. He is abusing you all in a horrible way and you and yoir children can only start to recover by having a space away from him which is calm and safe.

Phone womens aid now
Get out and stay out until a safe solution can be reached for you all.
Wish I could come and give you a hug xx

Candlelight123 · 11/06/2018 07:13

Yes it sounds awful. Like a pp said - secretly take copies of financial paperwork, and your and the DC's original ID documents (just in case).

PumpkinPie2016 · 11/06/2018 07:17

YANBU - please ring women's aid today and get yourself and the children into a refuge xx Does he work? Just thinking you could leave when he is out to make it easier?

Otherwise do you have anyone who can come to support you while you move? A friend, trusted colleague, father?

Remember, you don't need to take everything with you - take what you and your dc need plus important documents - everything else is possessions that can be replaced.

Please update later if you can and well done you for being so strong and doing the best thing for you and your children Flowers

MotsDHeureGoussesRames · 11/06/2018 07:21

You have posted about this SO many times - why is nothing changing? You need to put the wellbeing of your children (and yourself!) first. This has gone on far too long. Please leave and go to a refuge or find another way out but be brave and go. I know yoyr solicitor has advised you to stay put but yoyr children are being damaged. Surely by now you have had enough time to gather your evidence and get your affairs in order to leave?

BoxsetsAndPopcorn · 11/06/2018 07:27

Motsd, I agree. Nothing changes.

OP needs to stop adding more children to the mix as she has a choice to stay, they don't.

whylie · 11/06/2018 07:45

GET THE FUCK OUT NOW !!!

Go refuge and get your solicitor to take him for everything you are entitled too... as for his daughter tell her to...FUCK OFF!...she not a kid she 18 an adult , who the hell does she think she is?
Please please get out there!
Or go to local DV charity moment you walk in they will sort emergency accommodation, also SS will get involved which is good as you are a fantastic person hun.
STXH is a pure dick!
And he does not deserve you or your DC and he will be lucky if he gets contact.
GOOD LUCK

smartiecake · 11/06/2018 08:09

Yes get out. If he won't then how else are you going to get some head space from him and get a break from the abuse? Its the first step to your own life and freedom.
Do you have anyone that can help in rl? Any friends or family that can support you emotionally and practically?

Flappypants · 11/06/2018 21:40

I know I've posted about this before and I know it seems nothing changes. I've ended it and am now paralysed with fear again about how to get out and what the ramifications are. My solicitor says he can get a court order to get me to bring the dc back especially if I don't go into a refuge and go somewhere else instead. He says the courts will look much more favourably on my plan to move near my family 1.5 hours away from STBXH if I do everything "properly". He's a slippery conniving sneaky bastard though and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants...I'm worried that I'm being dramatic and would be using a service that is for people in much more immediate danger than me. But then I look at what he's done and how he's twisted my mind and my life and I haven't imagined it and I don't want my babes exposed to it more than they absolutely have to be. There is no guarantee a court would find in my favour (even though my case for moving is very strong) whether I go into a refuge or not. It has been a huge step ending this marriage and now stbxh managed to find a solicitor who uses a court that turns petitions around quicker than the court my firm uses so he's got there first.

I'm sorry if you're finding me frustrating. EVERYTHING has changed. I've ended something that I never thought I'd be able to. And now I'm scared of the outcome of the divorce for the children and me. That's not being unreasonable surely?

OP posts:
DewDropsonKittens · 11/06/2018 21:49

You need to try to calm and get practical

Gather important documents, passports, birth certificates any cash you can get your hands on
If he has access to your bank you need to either draw all the money out as soon as you leave or ask a very good friend if you can transfer to them

Gather some clothes

Ring women's aid

Go to a refuge

Asap

DewDropsonKittens · 11/06/2018 21:50

Also.. keep quiet at this time don't shout or get angry, do all you have to do you and your children can be safe

Women's aid will help with solicitors and courts etx

Please leave, with your babies

Ionacat · 11/06/2018 21:59

Ring Women’s Aid and take their advice and go. Don’t worry about solicitors etc. get out of there so you and your DC are safe.
The refuges are set up so that you can get legal help, support for both you and your DC and they are used to conniving STBXHs. Going is the hardest thing, but once you’ve gone you will have support and you will no longer be facing this on your own. There will be legal support, support for you and your DC, financial help. Please ring and go.

GabriellaMontez · 11/06/2018 22:05

Just get out.

trojanpony · 11/06/2018 23:29

God I remember all your previous posts.
How are you still in this relationship? The final step is getting the hell out of there.

you are not being dramatic - I’m guessing you can’t see how abnormal/unhealthy your situation is - woman’s aid and shelters are made exactly for people like you.

Follow you solicitors advice - I also echo others stay calm and get your shit together.
You need to protect your kids

Flappypants · 12/06/2018 08:33

Solicitor doesn't think I should go into a refuge. Well to be more specific he says if anything go into temporary accommodation locally until we can make the move to near my family. He is writing to stbxh to say we want to move and this is the case for it. Stbxh will hit the roof and say no and at that point we go to court. In the meantime we are here with him trying to get through each day. Yesterday I came home after getting my phone sorted because I think it's been tapped and he was working from home so i had no break from him. Took dd to the park to get away.

I'm not sure my solicitor reslises exactly how awful living in this house will be once he knows I want to move away and "take the children away from him".

OP posts:
trojanpony · 12/06/2018 08:50

How many solictors have you seen?
this sounds like terrible advice... I would consider seeing someone else and getting a second opinion as I’m not clear How he going to get a Court order to “bring you back” if you are leaving him.

You know how badly he will react much better than the solicitor, personally I would get the fuck out while you can (I.e. go down the shelter route)

As a question: was your phone actually tapped?or did they not find anything?

Troels · 12/06/2018 08:57

Your solicitor writing can put you are further risk, I'd call WOMENS AID and go with them.

Sunshinegirl82 · 12/06/2018 09:01

I would call women's aid from a pay phone. Ask them to put you in touch with a solicitor that understands the situation and seek advice from them. Your solicitor may well have a plan but what they're suggesting is clearly unworkable so you need a different plan.

You need support. Women's Aid are there to help you, use them now.

LittleBearPad · 12/06/2018 09:04

Your solicitor’s advice is all very well and good of you were dealing with a reasonable man bit you aren’t.

Follow your gut and go into a refuge. You and the children will be safe and then you can find plan next steps. Take birth certs, passports and anything small and valuable that belongs to you.

BanginChoons · 12/06/2018 09:14

You should go to refuge OP. Your ex us emotional abusive, the freedom programme would call him the "headworker". You need to be away from him so you can think clearly. Women's Aid is a good starting point. Good luck.

theWarOnPeace · 12/06/2018 09:16

Your reasons for seeking to go into a refuge are absolutely VALID. You have every right to access support there. Go. Ring women’s aid and go. I know we have to trust our solicitors, but unfortunately, IME they are not all experts on every element of a case. Your safety and mental wellbeing and that of your children is the biggest priority right now. There’s no legal reason why going to a refuge would be detrimental to your divorce proceedings.

OhHolyFuck · 12/06/2018 09:55

Ring the national domestic abuse helpline - 0808 2000 247
They have access to the database that shows which refuges have space
Take paperwork if it's safe, especially passports

Good luck

Onlyoldontheoutside · 12/06/2018 10:10

Go before that letter arrives,your solicitor has no idea of what may happen.Go to a refuge,this is exactly the right move to make and they can give you the right help and advice.