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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sanity down the drain.. looking for advice

37 replies

nedwobyak · 02/10/2019 11:01

I'm new here so hello all. It's taken quite a bit of courage to do this if I'm honest...
Well this is likely to be a very long story but without the back history it's pointless me asking for opinions or advice. I'll try and keep it as short as possible. And I thank any of you in advance for a) taking the time to read and b) any words of wisdom or advice you can offer Smile

So I'm a single mum of 3, dd aged 20 has her own home since this year. Ds1 just turned 18, and Ds2 aged 11. Dad left the family home around 10 years ago and I have never had a partner since.
We have recently moved to a smaller property due to dd moving out (cheaper rent, smaller for me to manage as I have disabilities, and nearer amenities and school for ds2.
Right here's the long bit ds1 has always been difficult.... Since he was about 3 years old he's been angry, violent, and abusive. When he started school he wa referred to camhs who had him on their books for 8 years or so but did absolutely nothing, no diagnosis, no support offered.. Nada.
This behaviour got worse as he got older but he also has a tendency to be very jekyll and Hyde (at home be thoroughly evil, but elsewhere be pleasant as punch) and this continues to this day.
In the past he has assaulted me, threatened me, verbally abused me, psychologically damaged me and controlled every aspect of my life. He's threatened me with weopans, thrown hot cups of tea at me and all sorts and despite asking for help from children's services I was told I was doing a fantastic job of dealing with him and little help was offered.
Over the years the violent outbursts became less, but the verbal and psychological abuse worsened. I was physically abused by a sibling as a child and if I ever said anything to him about his behaviour he would say things like no wonder she used to best you, you deserved it, you're a psycho, you're toxic and you don't deserve to have a family etc. Then it would be things like.. No wonder dad left, no man in their right mind wants to be with you, I can see why he hit you and cheated on you. My own father left my mother when I was 17 and he tells me that was my fault too.
Now this isn't me blowing my own trumpet or making out I'm Mary Poppins but I can genuinely say I am one of the most caring soft hearted people who would do anything for anyone. I hate conflict, and I do my best to be the nicest person I can be. I've sacrificed my life for my children and have provided for and loved them unconditionally single handedly for the best part of 20 years.
He makes me believe these things and I am now in a place where I hate myself. I doubt my own judgement all the time and don't know who I am anymore.
He bunked secondary school all the time, started a college course and bunked that and would never get a job or contribute. He's lazy and sleeps all day and is awake all night keeping the rest of the house awake. There were some weeks I was surving on as little as 1hr sleep a day. He would go out of an evening and I'd ask on school night because of ds2 he was home by 11pm. Weekends he could do what he wanted. But he would stroll in the door at 2/3am and wake everyone. He'd leave a mess everywhere and would never clean up after himself. He would also smear faeces around the bath and leave it for me to clean (this still happens) he steals people's stuff and helps himself to whatever regardless of who it belongs to.
Anyway after years and years of his horrible nasty behaviour towards me, his siblings and my own mother I have been offered no support at all. Last December he assaulted me and I reported it to the police because I needed an end to it. We didn't see him all over Xmas or new year and he'd made a life with his gf and her family and I kind of felt relief that he'd moved on.
In January he came back and told me his gf was pregnant and he just manipulated his way back into our home (even though he hadn't fully moved out) he uses sob so tries to make people feel sorry for him and like a fool because Iove him regardless I fall for it every time. And took him back in.
Well, because his sister moved out I spoke to him about moving to a smaller property and asked him if he needed a room or was going elsewhere... He said yes he required a room still so I found a place big enough for me ds1 and ds2.
We've only been here 8 weeks and he's spent 6 nights here. Of those 6 nights he has absolutely trashed the house with mess, left faeces in the bath, woken me through the night on every occasion and not been very pleasant at all. He's messaged several times saying I'll be home at such and such a time so I put him up a dinner and he never shows with no explanation or anything. Then when I do see him and politely say look pls message in future if your not going to be back because I am wasting food and money etc, and he just gets abusive or refuses to talk to me.
The baby has been born now and I told him baby and gf could stay 2 nights with him preferably Fri and Sat so it doesn't disturb ds2 sleeping on school nights. We'll they've stayed twice and they are lazy they sleep all day and leave me to sort baby.. I cook food they don't even wash up or clean their mess. It was his birthday not long ago and they left mess all in the lounge and promised to clean it up in morning but they slept through til 1pm in the afternoon and because I had workmen coming out at 8am I had to get on and do it myself. I then found mountains of sick in the bathroom which took over an hour to clean.
Anyway, skip a little further forward...
Sobthe reason I ask him to spend a certain amount of nights at home is because I took the property specifically so we had space for all and I am on full benefits at the moment because of being out of work temporarily through a newly aqquired disability and I also fractured my pelvis which has changed my mobility. I cannot claim the full amount I am supposed to because its reduced as I have a non dependant registered as living here... But ultimately he's not living here (only when it suits him) he also contributes nothing to the household. He has recently started a job and said he will contribute when he starts getting paid, but I know darn well mineybwill be withheld if I don't let him get his own way etc, it's another avenue to manipulate and control.

Anyway yesterday I tried making him aware of the ful situation and it got very heated. He won't talk to me about anything and just does what he wants when he wants and I am getting so annoyed with it. He woke me twice early hours of Monday morning at 3am when he came in and at 6am when he went for a bath and I later found faeces all over the place in there. It's making life a misery and I can't go on and I've told him this.
He got very verbal and angry yesterday when I confronted him about it all. And I asked for his door key and told him not to come back. I am sick of living in fear never being able to say anything or lay any house rules and generally being dictated to by an 18 year old. It's making my 11 year old miserable too. Well anyway yesterday he told me I was disgusting and he threatened me twice, tried physically taking my phone off me when I told him I was going to call the police and verbally abused me. He then told me I was to stay away from him and "his" family otherwise he would get me "sorted out"
I am now sat here today feeling like I'm the bad guy, feeling guilty that I asked him to leave but I have had an absolute gutful of it and I cannot stand the thought of spending any more of my life living like this. I have endured 15 years of this and am at the end of my tether. What would others do in this situation? I potentially want him to live elsewhere for the safety and sanity of myself and ds2. But also I feel terribly guilty throwing him out ... Please help Sad

OP posts:
independentfriend · 02/10/2019 17:29

He cannot, for the sake of his younger brother as well as you, live with you any longer.

What you can do is tell other people about his vulnerability in the context of his awful behaviour. If you know who his GP is, there's nothing to stop you writing to them about him. There's also nothing to stop you making a safeguarding referral to adult social services if you think he's at risk himself (as well as posing a risk to others). You can write a letter/email for him, saying he can no longer live with you due to his behaviour, he can use as proof of homelessness if he wants to apply for a council house.

You might also be able to help the mother of your grandchild - does she know the extent of his stalking? If she wants help to get away from him, you might not be the right person to assist directly but you could share your experiences with her and confirm you want to be involved with your grandchild, whatever your son is doing.

You might need to give serious consideration to moving house again to somewhere smaller/more affordable and not telling him your new address

nedwobyak · 05/10/2019 07:39

Okay so here's an update and a bit more on the story...

Ds1 was causing arguments yesterday between his gf his sister and myself regarding the baby. His gf has been complaining that we never go down there to see baby and she always has to pay petrol to bring him here etc, it's a long bus journey for me I don't drive nor does my dd.
Well both of us have given money for petrol for her as we understand its unfair for her to spend out all the time... The money has been given tonds2 to pass on but he hasn't been and she now thinks were lying about that.
He's convinced gf I said I didn't want to see baby.. But truth is he's completely twisted what I said. The baby was used as a tool against me the other day by ds1 and I said I didn't agree with him using baby as an emotional weopan and if he was going to continue doing that then it's fairer on me and the baby that I back away, I will not stand for a baby to be used for that purpose. I love the baby with all my heart he's my first grandchild and regardless of my feelings towards my son I have overwhelming amounts of love for gs.
Anyway my dd was trying to set the record straight with sons gf and it was clear she believes every word my son has said. From day one of his relationship with her he has made out our family is terrible and me, dd and his grandmother are horrible people (we are far from it) he has used this to deflect from his own wicked behaviour within their relationship.
Anyway cut it short he turned up at the house day before yesterday and stayed here (I have told him for weeks on end I don't want him living here but he doesn't listen) slagged off gf no end saying she's a control freak blah blah blah... Turned water works on a little bit clearly to rope me back in.
Anyhow the police called my phone trying to get hold of him regards an offence from a few months ago he committed on her, they wanted to know his address to send court papers for it. We'll I wasn't giving his address out and being at home alone with him getting the backlash for doing so, so I gave him the phone and he told them himself. He's then pursuing the police asking for what evidence they've got and trying to find out as much info as he can about the case but rightly so they have told him he needs to speak to his solicitor regarding it.
He apparently had a massive row with gf the day before yesterday and it seems weird to me that the police contact him the day after that for something that happened 3/4 months ago I think there's alot more to it.
Anyway he went down to her house last night to spend time with baby and during this time was when his gf and dd were messaging one another and it was clear from the messages alone how many lies are being told. And she's believing them all!!!
He came home at 11pm and said for the safety of my son I want nothing more to do with you and had his phone on record telling blatent lies about how I apparently beat him and tortured him throughout his childhood and that his child was not safe around me. This is absolute bullshit... Even in times when he's had knives and screwdrivers against me pinning me down or throwing hot cups of tea or assaulting my ds2 I have never ever laid a finger on that child. I have never hit any of my childten due to being physically abused by my own sibling I cannot bear the thought of inflicting pain on an innocent child because I know how it feels.
He took some clothes and said he wouldn't be back. This I am grateful for but I dont believe him one little bit.
He's clearly got scared and is using this story he's concocted because he's scared of her finding out how devastatingly badly he has lied to her. Again protecting this grandiose projection of himself playing the victim when he's the bloody bully!!!
I am absolutely she'll shocked that he can stoop this low and tell such lies. He's dmagaing me beyond repair and I now entirely wash my hands of him.
He's vulgar.
Clearly this is a case of getting 100% in her good books before court (battery and assault against her) at an attempt for charges to be dropped / statements retracted???? I am so concerned that she is believing all his lies and I feel she is going to be the one who replaces me and ends up bullied and mistreated too. I'm sorry but he's dangerous and I've been screaming this for years but no one will see how serious it is. Sad Sad Sad

OP posts:
Atalune · 05/10/2019 07:48

Don’t let him in the house.

Change the locks.

It’s really that simple.

ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 05/10/2019 08:02

You have to disengage with your son. You have to.

Change the locks to start with, and talk to the police. Show them this thread.

In an effort to remain as his mother, you’ve been enabling his unbelievable behaviour and he’s sidestepped any effort for the authorities to help him. If you step back, and out of his life, it may persuade him to seek help. He really needs it.

Meanwhile you have your youngest to consider. You’re harming his early years as he’s witnessing a lot of this.

Why does DS1 trump DS2 in his needs?

Lastly, see if you can get counselling. Try GP or Women’s Aid. Get a bit of perspective on your situation and find the strength to go through with some tough love on DS1.

I too am a conflict avoider and have found talking to someone so helpful in establishing my boundaries.

nedwobyak · 05/10/2019 08:19

Thankyou for your reply I appreciate it.

Ds1 does not trump ds2's needs.. Its merely through fear I have enabled ds2's behaviour. I know I have enabled him and I feel terribly bad for that and hate myself that I haven't been strong enough to deal with it and challenge him. He knows this and has taken full advantage of the situation. And I am aware how damaging this has been for Ds2 hence why I have been screaming from the rooftops for help with the matter.
Cps dropped the charges against him for assaulting me and ds Dec last year which wasn't helpful as that was when I had the intention of ending it all with ds1 and moving just with Ds2.
I've started writing an actual book about the abuse and have kept diaries of most of the episodes and do intend for it to be seen by someone (I don't know who) so it can be recognised exactly how bad things have been.
I have now made the decision not to speak with ds1 or have any contact at all and anything he needs from the house he can arrange to do through a third party or the police. I'm just feeling so guilty that I let this go on so long because he was very good at treatingnme and family so badly then using sob stories and pulled me in to feel sorry for him, because he knows how soft, caring and vulnerable I am. That's been his game all along.
Like another poster said he will climb over my body when he's done and move onto the next victim and my fear is that's his gf and baby.
I have been in touch with many outside agencies for help and advice historically and more recently and I intend to seek further help with regards to building back confidence and the strength and knowledge to stop this and support for me and Ds2 x

OP posts:
ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 05/10/2019 08:26

I think you’re amazing to have continued as long as you have done, but hopefully you’ve realised that a boundary needs to be set up, in order for your safety and DS2. Like someone said upthread - put your life jacket on first!

Once DS1 no longer has the same sort of control over you, he may move onto someone else... as people have predicted. But your and DS2s mental and physical safety needs to be put first.

nedwobyak · 05/10/2019 08:27

I do realise it's as simple as changing the locks and having done with him. But it's hard to do when it's your child... Regardless of how much of a shit they've been. I realise now though exactly how bad this had all been and how he's used situations to his advantage.
He knows exactly how to get me to feel sorry for him and I've fallen For it everytime. Like I said to another poster, it's through fear my attitude and behaviour towards him has not been what it should have been.
I was even too fearful at one point ask him to leave or to change the locks because of repurcussions... I was too scared to say a darn thing to him. Sometimes too scared to mention the poo smearing or stealing because of the abuse I'd get back.
You imagine being in a house alone with someone like that just you and your Ds2.. the last thing you want to do is cause anger in him and subject Ds2 to dangerous situations. It's so hard to explain what I mean.

OP posts:
nedwobyak · 05/10/2019 08:31

And yes I now stand my ground and will not engage with him whatsoever. And I will not give him house room again. I can assure you all of that. I'm just worried now about what happens next and how far he will take things and if he's going to try and make life a misery from the outside.
I am seriously considering taking him to court for historical psychological and physical abuse if I'm honest and pursuing a non molestation order for safety reasons...

OP posts:
AppropriateAdult · 05/10/2019 08:41

Well done, OP. My heart goes out to you, I can only imagine how difficult this must be. Your son sounds like a psychopath, and I’d be very worried for his girlfriend and their child.
I think you’ve 100% done the right thing in cutting him off and kicking him out. Please do get the locks changed ASAP so that physical barrier is there. And I think a non-molestation order is a good idea; the more he’s on the radar of the police at this point, the better.

RhinoskinhaveI · 05/10/2019 11:18

It's so hard to explain what I mean
Ned, I do hear you, your son has known you all his life, he is able to read you very specifically, he understands that you are someone who empathizes strongly and he uses this against you
he uses all his knowledge and understanding of you against you, it's as if he is the person who best understands how to subtly but effectively torture you, as if he has taken the normal mother son bond and twisted it into something poisonous

palahvah · 05/10/2019 13:07

You have a choice now between contiuning to enable him and his awful behaviour (and there is no evidence from what you've said that he has any desire to change)
OR protecting you and your younger son from all of this. It's not too late now but if you leave it any longer what is that going to do? What is it going to do to your younger son?

ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 05/10/2019 16:19

Could you view changing the locks as being a message to him that you'll no longer give him room in your house?
He can still call you, text you, meet you on neutral territory, but just NOT come to your house. You still keep lines of communication open that way.

I appreciate that he is your son (and I have one a similar age) but a lot of the 'games' he's playing with you - and the effect its having on you - is similar to Domestic Violence. It is Domestic Violence, really... its just everyone assumes its between man and wife/ partner rather than via the children.

Go to the Police. Just go and talk to them, or their DV unit, and figure out with them the best way forward.

I also wonder if Womens Aid would also be able to advise you.

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