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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:
LagunaBubbles · 30/12/2018 10:55

At least you are leaving now before more emotional damage to your children is done that can last a lifetime.

CalmConfident · 30/12/2018 10:56

Wishing you all the best OP, hold your nerve and follow through no matter what tricks / stunts he may now pull. You are a brave and great Mum

Apileofballyhoo · 30/12/2018 11:01

Mamapuddleduff, I'm so glad you are leaving. I wish my DM had done the same. I'm one of four DC and each of us ended up with bullies because that's what seemed normal to us. One of us died young (natural causes) and we all think his marriage had a huge influence on that. The rest of us suffer from awful stress, anxiety and depression.

My DM felt she 'couldn't take the kids away from him' as he loved us so much. He did love us but he was extremely volatile and incapable of being a normal father. She felt she 'did her best to protect us' and it was better than being from 'a broken home'.

I see other people who didn't grow up walking on eggshells and I'm so envious of how they can go through life without fear.

Louiselouie0890 · 30/12/2018 11:05

Leave him

PotteryLady · 30/12/2018 11:08

You're doing the right thing- good luck

NotTheFordType · 30/12/2018 11:17

Well done OP.

Once you're safely away, I'd recommend posting on the Relationships board. Lots of people on there who have left, or are leaving, abusive relationships.

TacoLover · 30/12/2018 11:20

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

First post said it all really.

Well done for leaving OP!Smile

UnleashTheBulsara · 30/12/2018 11:23

I felt physically sick reading your descriptions OP.

Please PLEASE don't go back. Don't force your kids to cope with this horrendous abuse any longer Sad

Your mother and brother will help you all I'm sure

Starlight456 · 30/12/2018 11:27

I am glad you are leaving. Take documents z passport Burt certificate . Any financial evidence you can lay your hands in his ni No.

Also phone your mum tell her you are coming.

The one thing that stood out for me was her biggest fear is leaving/ dying and guess what he constantly threatens it.

8 is very young to be under camhs for anxiety I am sure her mh will improve

PushHop · 30/12/2018 11:29

Well done OP.

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/12/2018 11:30

I hope your dds mental health will be ok. As a pp said she may need help again from cahms.

I had and to a lesser extent still have a lot of anxiety based around abandonment. My mother didn’t threaten to leave but she abandoned me psychologically and was always threatening me one way or another. I spent my entire childhood up until my early 40’s trying to appease her. Then I got some really good therapy.

You are doing this for you and your children. It will be worth it. 😊

Maryjoyce · 30/12/2018 11:32

Good luck

supersop60 · 30/12/2018 11:33

Stay strong OP and get support IRL. He'll come pleading and crying and promising to change OR screaming and shouting and making threats. Be prepared.
Imagine your daughter in a few years time saying to someone - "My dad was an arsehole. Thank God my mum had the courage to leave him"
FlowersBrew

ashtrayheart · 30/12/2018 11:36

Well done OP. Don’t get sucked back in by promises of change and declarations of mental health issues from him (which are quite likely I would think).

ohfourfoxache · 30/12/2018 11:39

What to include on your safety packing list
www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/domestic-violence/leaving-abusive-relationship

TatianaLarina · 30/12/2018 11:53

Where are you actually going to go?

glueandstick · 30/12/2018 11:55

Well done and good luck. MN is a fantastic source of info and support- use it.

Stormy76 · 30/12/2018 11:55

Well done for finally seeing through him, I feel so sorry for you and for your children. Your daughter is clearly very sensitive and has been able to read the situation, watch for signs of hypervigilant behaviour. Go to your mums and focus on your kids, please don't stay with someone who thinks that behaviour is acceptable. I think all of you needcounselling because your situation sounds appalling, I think we can all guess why your brother doesn't like you nasty bully of a OH. Go to your family or a refuge.

AnoukSpirit · 30/12/2018 11:58

Sounds like you know this chap quite well...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=d5NHBn5p9vY

Colourfullanguage · 30/12/2018 12:01

I just want to add that your daughter’s mental health will likely take a big dip after you leave, you may feel it best to go back again. Don’t. Children do not know what is best for them in the long run. He will very much contribute to her anxiety and I felt a bit sick reading your original post. Good luck

KirstyAllsoppsFatterTwin · 30/12/2018 12:01

What a useless, nasty cunt of a man.

KirstyAllsoppsFatterTwin · 30/12/2018 12:09

he's a fantastic dad

Genuinely perplexed at how so many women post threads about cruel, abusive men and follow it up with this line.

Me too. I think some women are so conditioned to accept appalling behaviour most of the time from all the men in their life that when there is the occasional glimmer of something nice or normal, (ie; what most of us would just expect as standard behaviour) they jump on it as evidence that there is an amazing man there somewhere, underneath all the hideous, dysfunctional abusive shit.

KirstyAllsoppsFatterTwin · 30/12/2018 12:10

But it's not what a man is capable of some of the time that matters, it's how he is most of the time.

CountessOfNowhere · 30/12/2018 12:11

Agree with Colourful. Your DD will be better in the long run without him - keep hold of that thought.

HellsBellsAndBatteredBananas · 30/12/2018 12:13

Your husband sounds totally toxic and his presence is dependent over yours and your children's compliance. Yesterday he did not get things 100% as he wanted so it was more important to him that he get his way than for your daughter to be happy on her birthday. He is telling you that he is the most important person in the house and then you smooth things over and by doing so agree with him.

Your poor poor traumatised daughter actively begged a fully grown man to stay and said she would do anything to keep him there and resolve the argument and YOU do not see how that this has already set her up for her entire life to be dependant on the presence of others? she will never be able to be happy on her own. She WILL end up a victim of domestic violence and sexual assault as at the tender age of EIGHT you have all taught her to do anything to keep a man that treats you like total shit. What you should be doing is kicking him out and showing her that the behaviour is totally toxic and will not be tolerated. SHE is your priority, not that wanker. Children are a product of their upbringing and you are creating a perfect storm that is a constant cycle of abuse.

You need to kick him out. HE is the reason your child is scared of being left. YOU are the reason she is staying that way.

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