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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Caught in the middle again

206 replies

FedUpAgain2020 · 30/05/2020 14:41

Our 17 year old daughter was going out today. She was really looking forward to it as she has been really good during lockdown and has not done much. She looked lovely in a new dress and DH wanted to take a photo of her. She refused (this has happened before, and he's been annoyed) and DH got really angry saying he does so much for her and she can't do one small thing, he won't bother doing anything for her any more. He said some really unkind things.

DD went out in tears and DH is now all grumpy saying she's spoilt the day while she goes off to enjoy herself. That won't be the case, because he has put a damper on things for her and she will be anxious about it all.

DD says she feels awkward standing there having her photo taken, its not about being unwilling to do something for him. She is often helpful and is a lovely girl. He can't see it any other way than DD has caused the atmosphere and if she had let him take a photo this would not have happened.

I'm so upset for her. I think DH is being completely unreasonable and horrible. He is generally a lovely man but he often takes things personally when that is not the case. I don't get it. He says she takes photos with her friends so why not for him? Should she have complied at his request? This is all so silly and unnecessary.

Views from other people would be really welcome.

OP posts:
Oldbutstillgotit · 01/06/2020 19:45

My friend lived with a bully who was nasty to their 2 daughters as well as her . Eventually it got so bad that the eldest , aged 16, told her Mum that either he left or she would. My friend divorced him. It was a terrible time as his behaviour became seriously abusive however it was the right decision.
Your DD needs your support of you will lose her .

CoffeeWithMyOxygen · 01/06/2020 19:50

The fact that he ‘apologised’ by text is really immature - she deserved a proper face to face apology. I’m not surprised she’s left, she’s clearly learnt that the only way to have her autonomy respected is to not be in his house. How has he reacted to her leaving? What are you doing to do to show your DD that you don’t allow her to be harassed and bullied?

MadameMarie · 01/06/2020 19:56

@FedUpAgain2020

I'm sorry I didn't return to this thread earlier, I value everyone's comments. Things have gone from bad to worse. He didn't get it, or want to get it, about the photo despite my attempts to explain how a teenage girl can feel. He had another go at her when she came back, and said some horrible things causing a lot of upset. Today he apologised to her via text from work but she told me she can't leave like this any more and will leave if he doesn't. I feel heart broken. Been together 30 years. I know he loves us but there have been several outbursts over the years and you can't unhear things despite apologies. I am gutted. I don't know what to do or where to turn. DD has gone to stay with a friend tonight Sad
Back your daughter all the way. Sounds like a horrible man.
Quartz2208 · 01/06/2020 19:57

Your daughter is right in saying she cant or wont live like this - so you need to make a choice as to whether you choose him or her.

I know which way I would go

MadameMarie · 01/06/2020 19:59

@quartz2208 It's a no brainer. Kick him out. Good thing now she's approaching adulthood she doesn't have to have anything to do with him so you don't need to worry about access.

Ninkanink · 01/06/2020 20:04

Horrible, nasty man.

And as predicted, wasn’t sorry at all. Men like this never are.

diddl · 01/06/2020 20:20

Wow-good for your daughter.

How can you say that he loves you both?

Soubriquet · 01/06/2020 20:26

If he had held his hands up and said “look i fucked up. I get it now. I’m sorry and I won’t do it again” I would forgive him and your dd probably would have too.

As it stands it’s everyone else who is wrong and not him. Support your daughter

cologne4711 · 01/06/2020 20:32

Hmm there is a lot more to this than just not wanting a photo taken.

I know teens can be drama queens but setting out an ultimatum like that?

Something you are not telling us OP. A lot of something you are not telling us.

DuckALaurent · 01/06/2020 20:39

@FedUpAgain2020 you back up your child.

If my DH treated my DD like yours has, I couldn’t look at him let alone live with him.

Teach your daughter that a man treating her this way is not acceptable. If you don’t, and you stay with him, you’ll lose her forever in the end.

WonderWebbs · 01/06/2020 20:43

I have a DD the same age as OP and I echo everything @Nearlyalmost50 says.

Mnthrowaway20202 · 01/06/2020 20:48

DH got really angry saying he does so much for her and she can't do one small thing, he won't bother doing anything for her any more. He said some really unkind things.

DD went out in tears and DH is now all grumpy saying she's spoilt the day while she goes off to enjoy herself.

He’s a nasty bastard. No one spoilt anything but him, he was vile and completely overreacted and overstepped the mark. He’s trying to justify his anger - don’t accept it.

He dramatically verbally abused her twice, before she left and when she returned then had the audacity to apologise via text? No, he needs to make the apology just as loud as the insults were. No wonder she didn’t want to accept it.

You need to choose your daughter over him. Else when she leaves, she won’t look back. You’ll be heartbroken in years to come when she doesn’t bother with you and keeps a very large distance. You’ll wreck your relationship with her for life if you choose him.

MulticolourMophead · 01/06/2020 20:49

DH got really angry saying he does so much for her and she can't do one small thing, he won't bother doing anything for her any more. He said some really unkind things.

OP, I have read all your updates, and your situation really resonates with me and also with my DD (20 years old).

I left my ex 3 years ago, also after 30 years. Your posts strongly suggest this is far from the first time your DH has been a jerk.

I left because he was abusive, and he also said similar things whenever someone refused to do something he asked.

From my DD: "Your DH is a horrible man and a coward not to even apologize in person. This is just how my abusive dad was, to everything, and it made me feel that everything he chose to do for me came with strings attached. He also stropped when I refused anything and he frightened me so much."

OP, your DH needs to understand that this isn't about the photo, but about he expecting his DD to do whatever he asks, without any respect for her autonomy. What if she'd been with a boyfriend, who said "he does so much for her and she can't do one small thing, he won't bother doing anything for her any more." and coerces your DD into sex acts she doesn't want to do.

I know he loves us but there have been several outbursts over the years and you can't unhear things despite apologies.

How do you know he loves you? For me, actions speak louder than words. My ex told everyone he loved me when I left, probably to put pressure on me. But his actions towards me when we were alone told a different story. I've never had a compliment, and I got serious unkind digs whenever I felt good about myself, or had achieved something great.

His behaviour is teaching your DD that she should be compliant and do whatever anyone else asks, and that's seriously crap.

Mnthrowaway20202 · 01/06/2020 20:50

Wait this has happened several times in the past? Spanning years??

When will you actually put your daughter first? For fucks sake, she’s had to live with this for years? You’re aware that you placed yourself child in an abusive situation? He will never change, as evidenced by how this keeps happening.

BarbedBloom · 01/06/2020 21:00

I suspected there was more to this and that this wasn't the first time. Someone at work has never met her grandchildren because of a similar situation (she chose him).

I think you now have a clear choice to make. The fact he didn't get it and sulkily apologised over text though he still didn't get it, speaks volumes. He won't change. I am also interested in what he is like with you and how frequent these outbursts have been.

Pertella · 01/06/2020 21:17

Someone at work has never met her grandchildren because of a similar situation (she chose him).

Yep. I was going to say that if OP chooses her husband, then be prepared to not be at her graduation, wedding, baby shower, and to have very limited time with any grandchildren (if at all).

LizzieLoafer · 01/06/2020 21:20

If you don't support your DD you will lose her.
Is he worth it??

Msmcc1212 · 01/06/2020 21:22

It’s her choice. He does need to respect that.

NotTheOnlyPomInTheVillage · 01/06/2020 21:30

My DS is like this. Hates having his photo taken. We have hardly any photos of him and tbh it is quite upsetting.

EKGEMS · 01/06/2020 21:37

Boy have you missed the main point of this storyTheonlypominthevillage Do try to keep up

Likethebattle · 01/06/2020 22:03

That was my dad he’d strip and have tantrums to get his way. I grew up frightened of his moods. He always wanted to take 6000 photos of the sane fucking thing. I said no to the 20th exact same photo of me and my mum at my brothers graduation. I got told as a 21 year old woman to ‘straighten your fucking face and do as I tell you!’ So I look miserable in those pictures.

He also got a video camera and took it in holiday. He filmed us looking at menus Ffs,not interesting and really annoying, every time I Turned around that fucking video camera was out. If I said no I was given abuse. I hate my photo being taken now because of it, I find it hard to say no to anything in case a person gets angry. I was sexually assaulted because I was scared of someone getting angry....

Cocobean30 · 01/06/2020 23:06

Sorry but you say you don’t know what to do? You finally put your child first and leave him

diddl · 02/06/2020 06:45

"If he had held his hands up and said “look i fucked up. I get it now. I’m sorry and I won’t do it again” I would forgive him and your dd probably would have too."

Yup!

But to have a go yet again when she got in-he really does want to bully her into submission, doesn't he?

And an apology by text-he doesn't think much of her at allSad

JudyCoolibar · 02/06/2020 07:00

OP, does he know that he has driven your daughter away?

Happynow001 · 02/06/2020 07:53

I know he loves us but there have been several outbursts over the years and you can't unhear things despite apologies. I am gutted. I don't know what to do or where to turn. DD has gone to stay with a friend tonight
This really can't be allowed to go on though OP. If things don't improve you will lose a good part of your daughter's life because, if you stay in this situation, your daughter will draw away - not just from your husband but you also as you cannot protect her from his moods and his bullying.

Please think hard about where you want both you and your daughter to be in the future.