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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect more than a mumbled apology?

293 replies

Mamapuddlefluff · 30/12/2018 08:34

This is my first post, but I've been here for a long time. This may be rather long.

Yesterday was my daughters 8th birthday. She has been treated under CAMHS for the past year and a bit for anxiety and panic disirders and was discharged just before Christmas, which she is very proud of - it's been a tough year. Her birthday is the only thing she has looked forward to or been excited about in a very long time.

So all going well yesterday we take her out for lunch upon her request; me, my oh, ds and other dd plus my mum. Having a lovely time until my brother drops by as he's lost his key so wants to borrow my mums and drop it back. No problem. He comes back ans makes a snarky remark to my mum and is told to hold his whisht and carry on. My oh, however started a full blown argument in the restaurant with him. They do not get on, never have but there's no real reason except a clash of personality. My daughter starts crying as its her birthday and i tell my oh to stop as he's upsetting the kids.

My brother leaves and my oh is clearly fuming. The manager comes and asks is everything ok as my daughter is now v upset. I tell my oh calmly that whatever his issue is, now is not the time as its our girls birthday just calm down. I'm very quickly given a mouthful and told she is full of attitude she needs telling off not him - meaning our daughter who only told him to stop nothing else. He declares he may aswell go as he's clearly causing a problem.

We all leave and walk home, less than 10 minute walk. On this walk our daughter begs and pleads with her dad to not go anywhere, that she is sorry and she will do anything to resolve the argument. He gives her the front door keys and says I'll be back when I'm back. She literally crumples and is in bits as her main trigger for her anxiety is people leaving/dying. I tell him enough is enough and to stop can he not see what he's doing to her. I'm swiftly told to shut up and she wouldn't be like that but for me anyway and that i can take the kids and f**k off. He stalks off and thats that.

I talk the kids home and try my best to calm our daughter down and reassure her. My mum is aghast but busies herself helping with my other two kids. My oh turns up an hour or so later and goes to bed for a bit. I try to keep things as normal as possible for my daughter so play jigsaws with her until my oh comes down and demands i stop as he wanted to do it with her. My daughter tells him she wanted me to do it but he can help later. He gets all ragey and says that we're excluding him, but we weren't i just wanted my girl to have something to do to occupy her mind and give her something else to focus on. He then sits in a strop for the evening.

The evening carries on we have some party food. We have birthday cake and my mum gets ready to leave and he gives a general applogy for the way he acted. My mum tells him it should be more than that really and she leaves. My oh tells me my mum has no right in saying this its his house etc. He apologises to our daughter and the kids go to bed. He literally mumbles a sorry to me and goes to bed himself.

This isn't the first time he's acted like this. I think he owes us more than a mumbled sorry but more than that he needs to address his temper i think. Or AIBU?

If you've gotten to the end thankyou for reading. Xx

OP posts:
birdonawire1 · 30/12/2018 10:13

Ask him to leave for a month and see if your daughters mood improves in that time. She is clearly very disturbed by his behaviour. Some people are especially sensitive to aggressive outbursts. I personally can’t cope with screaming rows and I am an adult

AnnaMagnani · 30/12/2018 10:13

I am so glad you are leaving.

Your daughter is anxious as she is a little mini-parent, believing she is responsible for keeping the peace in the house.

That's not the job of an 8 yr old. She needs to be free to be 8.

He isn't a great dad, children are v poor judges of character. Don't look back and keep them safe.

KatharinaRosalie · 30/12/2018 10:13

Besides your children, you yourself should not be with a person who screams at you, blames you for everything and refuses to take any responsibility. Good luck.

ILoveChristmasLights · 30/12/2018 10:18

Be strong.

You can do this.

It will be very hard because you will miss him, you will miss the future you thought you’d have and the kids will be upset and want you all back together, but YOU have to be strong because YOU can see the bigger picture, they can’t. Your (birthday) DD will need a lot of help from CAMHS again because she will blame herself. It will be really horrible, BUT, you will come out the other side of this and you and the kids will be much happier and the kids will ALL be stronger mentally as adults.

It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Don’t let him sweet talk or bully you into going back. There are people and services who will help.

Be strong and stay apart, for your kids.

Lollypop701 · 30/12/2018 10:21

Good luck op. I really think He will seriously back-pedal... and involve the children as blackmail has worked previously. Make him get help and prove he has changed... 6 months minimum counselling.

MrsTommyBanks · 30/12/2018 10:22

Do the freedom programme.
He is emotionally abusing you, and your children.
You need to get away from this very dysfunctional relationship.
I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but it is the only thing I can say.
Flowers for you, and your children.

ILoveChristmasLights · 30/12/2018 10:23

Don’t make this ‘temporary’. It needs to be permanent. It’s going to take quite some time to find a new normal and your DD will get worse before she gets better. A month is nothing after a lifetime (for the kids) of this.

He’s not all bad, people seldom are, you’ll miss the nice/good bits, that’s normal. But you HAVE to do this and stay apart for your kids. And you.

ILoveChristmasLights · 30/12/2018 10:25

This is beyond ‘getting help’ This is who he is. Him getting counselling will do fuck all.

needsahouseboy · 30/12/2018 10:25

I'd be telling him to move out the house. He's very abusive and no wonder your daughter is having struggles with a Dad like that. She would be much better if he left.

Why are you allowing him to treat you this way? My Dad was an utter arsehole to my mum and guess what....yep I seem to be attracted to the same kind of arsehole and get treated in the same way. I now prefer to stay single because I just don't trust my judgement and wouldn't put my child through having to live with my inability to immediately recognise a prick.

AWishForWingsThatWork · 30/12/2018 10:26

I hope you and your children are safe, OP. Your posts are chilling. Your OH is an emotionally abusive arsehole and he is clearly a prime factor in your daughter;s mental health issues.

I'm glad you've decided to leave him since he won't go, but I hope you have alerted friends and family so you are safe.

Kahlua4me · 30/12/2018 10:28

I also think that leaving him would be best for everybody. Your daughters mental health is clearly affected by his behaviour and I suspect he knows that and is using it for his own benefit. Your db probably sees the problem with him which is why they clash, perhaps have a chat with him...

Time away from oh, not living in the same house, will be good for you all. Over time your lovely dd can revert to simply being an 8 year old without feeling all the pressure of keeping everyone calm and together. Children need a calm, loving home more than they need parents together when it is clearly not good for anybody.

Good luck with working through the change in your life. You will be fine and are doing the right thing for your children.

LovesLaboursLost · 30/12/2018 10:28

You’re making the right decision. I hope you’re able to stick to it and that your daughter improves.

AlexDrake1981 · 30/12/2018 10:30

Good for you Mamapuddle. Please don't change your mind about leaving as you may find he completely changes tack, & promises you the earth once he realises you are going. Also want to echo what just about everyone else has said. He definitely won't change, however, he will definitely get worse. I've known men like him & they're 'always right', they just don't have the capacity to see they have faults. Flowers

HSMMaCM · 30/12/2018 10:31

It sounds like your mum will support you 100%. You can't let your daughter's mental health decline any more. It could be catastrophic.

Colabottle10 · 30/12/2018 10:32

I think you know the real reason for your DDs anxiety this last year and you need to get rid of him.

AloneLonelyLoner · 30/12/2018 10:39

I am so glad and hope that it’s true that you have left. He is an abuser and that is not something I’d say lightly. As a mother you know your duty is to protect your children. Your poor babies. Poor you. Stay strong. There is light at the other end of the tunnel I promise. Stay the course. Please don’t go back. Please. Please.

Fuktifano · 30/12/2018 10:40

Please try to access support, the fact that you feel you need to leave without even asking him to speaks volumes 're the level of power and control he has. When his apologies and promises to change don't coerce you back (Please don't be duped he will never change) he will try to make life very difficult for you and the children. Emotional blackmail, financial abuse and manipulation over child contact will follow. Please contact local women's aid and Scottish 24 hour helpline number is 0800 027 1234. Seek advice from family solicitor. Also Scottish women's rights centre.(assuming Scotland due to language used in op) speak to your health visitor or gp who may be able to link you in with other local supports, and good good luck, he is not going to make this easy for you, but it will be so worth it.

Pachyderm1 · 30/12/2018 10:40

He’s a really horrible bastard OP, and it seems pretty obviously that he has a very negative impact on your 8yo’s mental health.

I couldn’t live with someone so awful. What does he bring to the table that makes it worth staying with him when he’s so vile?

iamthewalrusgoogoogjoob · 30/12/2018 10:43

He is destroying your daughters life. You need to end the relationship and protect her. I hope you really have left.

Oysterbabe · 30/12/2018 10:45

You're doing the right thing. Stay strong.

Serialweightwatcher · 30/12/2018 10:45

I hope your life improves and your daughter's mental health without this toxic person in your life - the way he carried on and has previously carried on, I wonder if he's ever threatened your daughter privately that he will leave if she doesn't do this/that ... maybe that started the anxiety or overhearing him - whatever it is, this man isn't right and a fantastic father he most definitely is not when that's the way he can behave ever, more so on such a happy occasion for your daughter Flowers

tinesltitties · 30/12/2018 10:48

Can you not see the connection between your partner's behaviour and your child's mental illness?

THIS. That's basically it.

At his best he's a fantastic dad

Not much use if he is a cunt the rest of the time.

OP, your her mother. Do the right thing by her, not him.

tinesltitties · 30/12/2018 10:50

Sorry, I didn't RTFT.

I went someway down to your comment about him being a fantastic dad and replied.

GabriellaMontez · 30/12/2018 10:52

Pack passports
Important documents.
Any cash or bank cards.
Photograph documents that may be useful e.g. tenancy agreement, bank account numbers or statements.
Any baby photos you'd regret losing.

willyloman · 30/12/2018 10:52

Is he an alcoholic? sounds like any excuse to feed whatever his addiction is. Never recommended before but LTB; he's not good for your family. Do put your daughter first.You are only able to work on your own actions - you'll never be able to 'persuade' him to better behaviour. Good luck.