Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Handhold for s*** about to hit the fan

237 replies

boymum9 · 05/02/2020 09:25

I have quite a few previous threads regarding my split for stbxh and his behaviour (i know you can look back through people's threads but not quite sure how, but included extremely controlling and stalking behaviour on his part)

Things seemed to have settled down for quite a few months when I discovered just after Christmas a hidden camera in my bedroom that he put in there almost a year ago now. Confronted him about it obviously and found out more details about what he was doing. I have taken the advice of my lawyer on the best courses of actions to take given my situation and that is in progress, but today or tomorrow ex h will be receiving a warning letter from the lawyers which is filling me with dread at what his reaction will be. As I'm writing this I realise it's stupid for me to feel that way given all he's done this last year, but through everything we have remained (somehow on my part) amicable for the sake of our two children.

I would just really appreciate a hand hold and any advice on what to say to him because I know his reaction will be full of emotional blackmail and I will come out of this feeling like I'm in the wrong!

OP posts:
boymum9 · 06/02/2020 13:35

Thank you for all the further messages.

No everyone's right saying a great dad doesn't do these things, I guess I never thought past the immediate of spending time with them and doing things with them. I know they are of the utmost importance to him and he loves them so much but he obviously didn't give them a second thought in his actions.

OP posts:
boymum9 · 06/02/2020 13:38

Yes @Lweji she knew at the time the thing that happened that caused us to separate, I remember she said something along the lines of me needing to get over what had happened in my childhood (sexual abuse in family) because what he did wasn't that bad....!!

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 06/02/2020 14:30

Well, ain't she just a peach!

What an awful thing to say. Flowers

avocadoincident · 06/02/2020 15:55

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree in that family! Thank goodness you've left them OP.
Now it's time to reap the benefits of leaving by cutting contact with the mother and minimising all contact with your ex.

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 06/02/2020 16:10

I've been on your previous threads and remember them well, boymum9. I went back to see what advice I'd offered.

In June I wrote Just another voice saying that, yes, this is stalking and you need to contact the police. If nothing else they'll have you on record so if you need them in a hurry they'll know the score.

This was on a thread on which dozens of women were urging you to stop minimising his behaviour and making excuses for your Ex.

I wrote that last summer, FFS. And here you are still making excuses for him. How many of us have begged you to take the threat this man poses seriously? And now you're even ignoring your own solicitor's advice.

He's dangerous. I mean it. He is dangerous. Obsessive, controlling men who sexually assault their wives, who stalk them, who instal cameras in an ex's bedroom - men like him are the type who sometimes go on to murder their ex wives. And if you don't involve the police they won't know to treat any call as massively urgent.

Please take this threat seriously.

hazell42 · 06/02/2020 16:23

You haven't remained amicable
You are just placating him
Been there. done that.
Instead if trying to avoid the row, you need to get bloody angry, which you are more than entitled to do.
If there is any placating to be done, it doesn't need to come from you

Hepsibar · 06/02/2020 16:34

Police now. His behaviour is weird and dangerous. Also a solicitor.

messolini9 · 06/02/2020 18:48

she said something along the lines of me needing to get over what had happened in my childhood (sexual abuse in family) because what he did wasn't that bad....!!

Your ex-MiL is a toxic bitch.
When someone tells you what "you need" to get over, what they mean is "I want you to not inconvenience me with facts, because your feelings mean nothing to me."

Telling you that her son's conduct isn't as bad as the child abuse you endured is such an extraordinarily batshit way of exonerating her son, it's easy to see where his abusive behaviour comes from.

@boymum9, how are you doing today?
I hope you have been able to make progress with the police & your lawyer.
The only way you are going to fully escape your Ex's influence is by bringing the authority of the law to him.
A man who is excused like he is by his mother & who feels criminal acts don't count as illegal if they are performed by him is not going to be stopped by anyone keeping their head in the sand in hope he will eventually go away.

He won't.
He knows you are on to him about the camera planting, & has already tested your resolve by informing you it did not constitute domestic abuse.
If you roll over & accept that, he knows you are still under his thumb. So he will not hesitate to dream up a new way of pushing your buttons.
When you show him that it is unacceptable & you are reporting it, he will be angry. But he is angry anyway. So do it. Once reported, he will know that he can no longer get away with bullshitting you, because you will have the police on your side, & he will know that he can't get away with bullshitting them.

Until you report his behaviour, it will not stop. He is too used to having you where he wants you - scared, gaslit, & keeping HIS guilty secrets for him.

Lecture over my dear.
Listen to your lawyer, & keep posting for support.

messolini9 · 06/02/2020 18:51

she said something along the lines of me needing to get over what had happened in my childhood (sexual abuse in family) because what he did wasn't that bad....!!

Your ex-MiL is a toxic bitch.
When someone tells you what "you need" to get over, what they mean is "I want you to not inconvenience me with facts, because your feelings mean nothing to me."

Telling you that her son's conduct isn't as bad as the child abuse you endured is such an extraordinarily batshit way of exonerating her son, it's easy to see where his abusive behaviour comes from.

@boymum9, how are you doing today?
I hope you have been able to make progress with the police & your lawyer.
The only way you are going to fully escape your Ex's influence is by bringing the authority of the law to him.
A man who is excused like he is by his mother & who feels criminal acts don't count as illegal if they are performed by him is not going to be stopped by anyone keeping their head in the sand in hope he will eventually go away.

He won't.
He knows you are on to him about the camera planting, & has already tested your resolve by informing you it did not constitute domestic abuse.
If you roll over & accept that, he knows you are still under his thumb. So he will not hesitate to dream up a new way of pushing your buttons.
When you show him that it is unacceptable & you are reporting it, he will be angry. But he is angry anyway. So do it. Once reported, he will know that he can no longer get away with bullshitting you, because you will have the police on your side, & he will know that he can't get away with bullshitting them.

Until you report his behaviour, it will not stop. He is too used to having you where he wants you - scared, gaslit, & keeping HIS guilty secrets for him.

Lecture over my dear.
Listen to your lawyer, & keep posting for support.

messolini9 · 06/02/2020 18:58

So sorry for duplicate posts, phone glitch (blush)

MulticolourMophead · 06/02/2020 19:03

There was apparently a technical hitch on the site this evening, now sorted.

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 06/02/2020 22:41

Yeah, duplicate posts turned up almost simultaneously on two threads I'm watching.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.