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 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:
HeebieJeebies456 · 30/12/2018 13:41

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.
Seems like you have an abusive db as well as OH.....and both you and your mum ignore their behaviours until something hits crisis point.
I take it db lives with his mum and your dd will be exposed to his toxic behaviour too?

I don't understand why your OH's threats and anger issues have not been raised during dd's CAHMS treatment?
Has no one spoken to him and suggested anger management or counselling/parenting classes to him?
Seems like you have consistently chosen not to tackle this head on with him.
Shame i's had to get this far for you to start making a stand.

RayRayBidet · 30/12/2018 13:45

Good luck OP, it's hard now but you will look back and be proud of your strength.
Please update us if you are able when things have settled down a bit xXx

Touchmybum · 30/12/2018 13:48

Would like to hear that you are safely out, shuddering to think how that waste of oxygen will react to you leaving!

lololove · 30/12/2018 14:26

Please my lovely, tell a friend/calm relative that you're packing to leave so that they can keep in touch with you and see how you're doing.

You may need the intervention of a friend/relative to help you get out the door if he starts screaming that you're not leaving or more. If necessary don't be scared to call the police to get you through the door.

You're so brave - well done love!

ChasedByBees · 30/12/2018 14:34

I would speak with your DD’s GP and contact SS. He is abusive, both in the initial post and in screaming in your face. Threatening to leave when it’s your DD’s anxiety trigger is so unhealthy.

The key here is going to be damage limitation during contact if you do leave. Your GP and SS may be able to help with that and it will show how seriously you are taking this. Your DD is being harmed.

Mamapuddlefluff · 30/12/2018 14:40

Thankyou for all your replies.

I have gone to my Nanas with the kids as she is my best person for support. He didn't realise i was leaving as he went back to bed. I've taken essentials and documents to my nanas and christmas and birthday presents for the kids. He knows we've gone now as he's rang my phone countless times. He was v angry but now he seems apologetic and says he didn't think I'd ever leave.

My younger two think its an adventure and they love my Nana so they don't have an idea what is going on. My daughter does and she is v quiet but doesn't want to talk right now as she says she needs time to think.

No matter how apologetic he is i can't go back there. I didn't realise until this morning but i am quite isolated from my friends and family but my Nana is going to help me work out what to do from here on in.
I feel in a bit of a daze. So many times i imagined leaving, but i didn't ever think i would.

Thankyou everyone for making me realise what i knew, i just needed clarification it wasn't in my head. He has made me doubt myself so very much.

OP posts:
RayRayBidet · 30/12/2018 14:43

Well unlike him, you don't use leaving as a threat. So glad you have your Nana for support.
Look after each other Flowers

Touchmybum · 30/12/2018 14:46

Stay strong my dear, you have done the right thing. Don't let him talk you round. He doesn't care about his own DD's mental health - that says it all about the man.

Take care x

GroovieGazelloo · 30/12/2018 14:58

Well done for making it clear that he has gone too far. You seem very brave and a lovely mum too.
I'm sure the circumstances are not ideal but it sounds a godsend to be able to stay at your nana's with your children at this time of your.
Keep talking good care of yourself, your little ones and your nana. 🥰

GroovieGazelloo · 30/12/2018 14:59

Not "your"

  • year. Wink
magoria · 30/12/2018 15:00

He didn't think you would leave because he is abusive and thought he had you where he wanted you.

If it was only you then you may not have left, however you like most mothers when they realise will put their DC above anything.

Please may sure to tell your DD this is his fault and she is not to blame in the slightest.

rememberatime · 30/12/2018 15:05

I also left for the sake of my daughter - very often there is one child in the family who is treated worse an becomes the person to blame for the failings of the narcissistic parent. Read up on the scapegoat child. My daughter was also in this position and it took me until she was 14 before I finally left and it was the best thing I couldn't do for her mental health. it took a year and then she blossomed.

Your daughter may blame her self for this crisis as it was an argument that took place on her birthday that resulted in this. (this is how she may see it). She will need a lot of reassurance that this is not her fault and that this is what YOU want, for her safety and that of her siblings. Make it clear you are protecting her because that is what a mother must do.

Expect her to be worse before she gets better and to even blame you for "ruining" her relationship with her father. She may even beg you to return and say she feels sorry for him. Just keep in mind the reasons you left and don't let her decide her own fate (she is much too young for this). Be strong - this will get better.

Skatersbeskating · 30/12/2018 15:07

i just needed clarification it wasn't in my head

It really isn't. Stay safe & stay strong.

Get ready for the script.

The tears, the threats, the promises of change, the anger, the guilt etc etc etc Hmm

Please do the freedom programme. Talk to your brother as well if you think it will help.

You have changed your DDs life from today.

Be careful with contact visits. Stay aware.

Flowers
whatsnewchoochoo · 30/12/2018 15:08

Please please don't go back. It will make your daughters problems worse. No matter what he says, no matter what she says. Don't go back. You can do this

OyOy · 30/12/2018 15:08

Well done, I'm incredibly impressed and relieved.

Of course he isolated you from everyone, that's part of the abuser's playbook.

Give yourself time, a lot of time - block his number and ask your Nanna/Mum/brother to be the conduit for communication.

Let the school know what is going on and, I don't know if it's possible but, take him off the list for pick-ups.

Good luck, keep posting if you need support!

Thinking of you all

Flowers
CheshireChat · 30/12/2018 15:08

Mamapuddlefluff of course he didn't expect you to leave, your 'role' was to put up and shut up.

Don't go back under any circumstance as he'll escalate the abuse to punish you and probably your eldest as well as he'll be appalled a girl might stand up to him.

HellsBellsAndBatteredBananas · 30/12/2018 15:09

Well done my lovely, this really is the hardest part over with. All you have to do now is stay strong and NOT GO BACK. He won't change. And your kids are more important.

Call women's aid for advice, maybe also shelter or your local council. Do you work? Can you stay at your nanna's for the next 3-6 months while you save for your own place?

You should also look into the freedom programme. You would really truly be fit from it and it will help to clarify in your mind exactly how he is abusive and how it can impact you all.

You really have done the best thing ever. First step to freedom and happier lives

KatharinaRosalie · 30/12/2018 15:09

i am quite isolated from my friends and family let me guess, he was always in a bad mood and grumpy if you spent time with friends and family, so at some point it was easier not to?

Purpleartichoke · 30/12/2018 15:23

She is learning that she is responsible for his moods. The incident you are describing OP played out in my house over and over. I honestly will never be completely past it.

What I wish my mother had done is left. I would have still had visitation because this kind of abuse isn’t easily recognized by the courts, but at least I would have had periods of time where I could relax.

Let me guess, she is always on her best behavior when he is around. She might even scramble to tidy up or sit up a little straighter when he gets home. She is quick to try to appease him when he is unhappy?

Purpleartichoke · 30/12/2018 15:26

Op, it took me awhile to type my post and I see you posted an amazing update.

Explain to your daughter that you left because what her dad is doing is wrong. He is an adult who needs to take responsibility for his own actions.

KirstyAllsoppsFatterTwin · 30/12/2018 15:26

A man who is lovely 364 days of the year and then batters the fuck out of his partner on the 365th is not a man anyone should stay with - just because he's "nice most of the time".

Yes I take your point NotTheFordType but my point was that you can't cling on to the occasional crumb of decency this sort of man drops you and use that as a reason to keep persevering in the belief that he's basically good but flawed, when the truth his he prefers to act the cunt 80% of the time and has no intention of stopping.

KirstyAllsoppsFatterTwin · 30/12/2018 15:31

Mama I am going to guess you had your children very young and perhaps he is your only real relationship so far? Maybe this is the first time you've left him, maybe not. But if over the next few days you start to feel scared of being alone and worry about what the future holds and are tempted to go back because better the devil you know, and if you get ground down by his begging and whining and promises to change, PLEASE PLEASE come back and read this thread over and over until the message hits home. You are worth so much more than this. Your DAUGHTER is worth so much more than this.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 30/12/2018 15:35

I’m so glad you’ve left op, reading about your dc begging him when walking home was just heartbreaking....

beanaseireann · 30/12/2018 15:46

OP
Well done for leaving.
Wishing you all the best. It's great you have the support of your Nan and by the sounds of things, your brother also.

AcrossthePond55 · 30/12/2018 15:50

says he didn't think I'd ever leave.

The literal 'translation' of this phrase is "I know I treat you badly but I always thought you'd just put up with it".

No, you really can't go back. God bless Nanas, eh? Let her coddle you a bit, then the two of you can figure things out. You reconnect with friends and family as soon as you feel up to it. I guarantee they've been waiting for your call.

Swipe left for the next trending thread