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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I abusive?

79 replies

youngandbroken · 09/06/2021 10:29

This is going to be very long sorry and I'll try not to drip feed, I am fully prepared (as much as I can be) to be completley torn apart here, I don't know if I am being unreasonable, I can't ask anyone in real life for an opinion on these situations though and I'm not sure what to do. My partner says that I am controlling and that I have an issue every time he wants to go out.

I do have trust issues, he has changed a lot since the start of our relationship but he knew I am hugely against drugs. I didn't know he took them when we got together, I was told that he didn't, I got pregnant in 2014 and had a miscarriage. That night I stayed with my mum for support and when I went home the next day I found all of his friends in the sofas, in our bedroom and the house in a complete state with blood in the bathroom sink, alcohol bottles and just a complete mess in general. He had gone to work. It was left to me to send everyone home and clean up while I was in pain and in a complete emotional state. I did suspect that he had been doing drugs that night but he promised me he hadn't, I was very naive and not in a mentally fit state to even process anything so I did just try to believe him and forget about it.

A year later I got pregnant again, this time thankfully the pregnancy went well. When I was 3 months pregnant we went to his brothers wedding abroad, where my partner got extremely drunk and confessed to me that he had in fact taken drugs that day and that he wanted to cheat on me but didn't but that he wouldn't do it again. I was pregnant, in a foreign country, he had spent the majority of the money I had so I couldn't just book a flight home and so I stayed and again just tried to forget about it and wanted to believe it was a one time thing. He was not supportive throughout the pregnancy, he didn't go to any scans and would often dissappear on nights out with his mates and wouldn't be home until 3-4am in the morning. I had to go hospital for low blood sugars when I was 8 months pregnant and he made me get the bus home rather than pick me up himself and so there were alot of instances in that time where he wasn't there for me and that gave me trust issues. He was there when our eldest was born, and over time he did become far more supportive and fell into his role as a dad and for a while things seemed ok.

The problems began when I realised that we weren't really going out together anymore, he would go out with his mates and leave me home with the baby and so I started asking him to spend more time with us, but I think I might have asked too many times - or just shouldn't have asked at all because he does deserve to spend time with his friends. He is the main breadwinner I only work part time for childcare reasons but he said that feels like he can't go out without me having an issue with it. I tried to reign that in and again things seemed OK for a while. I got pregnant again when our eldest was almost 4 and this time he was really good, he came to the scans, tried to help when I was uncomfortable and when I ended up having pre-eclampsia he rushed to the hospital to be there with me. I had an emergency c-section. He did go home that night and told me that he was going to the cinema with his friends (his mum would look after our eldest) , I was the only woman on the ward without my partner there and I did make a comment about it being a bit unfair of him. I was in hospital for 5 days, in that time one of his friends attempted suicide - obviously that's a horrible thing for him to have to deal with I know, but my partner did spend alot of time helping him and when I got home I was left alone with our eldest and the newborn baby healing from a c-section, while he went to go and visit his friend and help him when he was discharged from hospital. So I probably did make a few stroppy comments about that too, but I genuinely can't remember exactly what I said, I have severe depression myself and was very sympathetic to his friend though.

When my partner went back to work he was brilliant with the girls, he does alot with them and takes on the caring duties when he's home. I do struggle with housework and I admit our home is messier than other people's but I really do try, I asked him to help out with housework a bit more and he told me that I needed to give him lists and tell him what to do and because I don't do that it's my fault that he doesn't help out more. He said alot of my issues with the housework and being burnt out are my own doing because I don't tell him what to do and I need to be more assertive. We haven't gone out as a couple for over 2 years at this point, he has gone out with his friends, maybe not as often as he would like but definitely more than he has gone out with me, or even us as a family, but again he says that because I don't organise things that's why we don't go out. The problem is that I choose the wrong times to suggest things, each time I have suggested something he says that we don't have the money this month, or he didn't want to do that, or that it's not a good idea because the girls won't enjoy it or there's something else going in that he hadn't mentioned yet, so I got a bit nervous about suggesting anything because I felt like I was making stupid suggestions. I did begin to get really frustrated and fed up with him going out then, I resented the fact that he was going out more than I was and spending time with his friends while I was stuck at home with only the children to talk to. I don't have many close friends, I am a very shy person and really struggle to make friends so it is my fault really and I probably was being very unreasonable to show him how annoyed I was feeling. I did tell him that I didn't want to stop him going out but that I was just feeling a bit lonely that's all.

I also started asking him what time he would likely be home from work, so that I knew when to start dinner and he said that constantly asking him is unreasonable and makes him feel like I'm rushing him and that he can't go out after work and do what he wants to do because he feels like I always need him at home. He brings up the fact that I am controlling alot. In February this year I attempted suicide because I was in a really bad place, felt like I was failing at everything - couldn't keep up with the housework, didn't feel like I had the energy or patience to deal with the children, felt like a useless partner and it all just got too much. I was discharged the next morning and the next afternoon he went to the pub with his friend. I made the choice to do what I did, I don't deny that and it was definitely my own fault and I was stupid I know that, but I thought he would at least stay at home with me and the children, I was feeling physically very unwell still (I do know that's my fault) and mentally really unstable so we did have an argument about that and again he told me I was controlling and that he needed to talk it through with someone because it was hard for him as well and I can understand that he needed support as well. There have been little arguments since then but mostly we've been OK I think. I did cause all the little arguments because I don't word things very well and I worry over how to say anything because it might cause an argument because I'll say the wrong thing and he won't understand what I'm trying to say.

Then on to today's argument. He wants to go out his friend and her son rather than me and our children and when I said that I don't have a problem with that, he can go out with whoever he likes I know she's his friend too but the way he worded it felt like he was saying that he prefers to spend time with her and her son because its less effort than spending time with me and the girls, he now says that I didn't show any enthusiasm when he mentioned something to me (he said he wanted to go somewhere and I said OK then that'll be nice) and that no matter what he does I always find an issue with it. And I think he's probably right, I do seem to cause an argument every time he wants to go out.

OP posts:
AryaStarkWolf · 09/06/2021 13:43

@youngandbroken

Thank you for all the responses I didn't think I'd get so many, I genuinely don't think he means to upset me, or be horrible. Everyone who knows him says what a lovely, helpful person he is and how good he is, but alot of you are right and my children deserve better and neither of us are happy. We live in a privately rented flat at the moment and other than gas and electric he pays all the bills etc. So leaving will be very hard, we aren't married we spoke about it but it never happened so I've really made a mess of my life. I work very part time as a waitress on minimum wage, I will take in more hours when my youngest is in nursery but that's a while off yet and still wouldn't be enough to survive on.
Everyone who knows him doesn't live with him though. Ever heard the expression "Street angel, house devil"?
DrinkFeckArseBrick · 09/06/2021 13:48

He 'wanted to cheat on you're when you were having a miscarriage but instead he took a load of drugs and invited his friends round to trash your house and left it for you to deal with.
He has been completely unsupportive of your pregnancies
He was unsupportive after your suicide attempt, despite abandoning you after a c section to care for his friend who also attempted suicide
He decides he is going out and leaves you to look after the baby (ok fair enough to an extent) but not telling you if and when he will be back is unacceptable. He shuts down any suggestion of you going out together or doing any family stuff but wont suggest anything himself.
He wont even tell you if he isnt going to be home from work late or if / when he wants dinner which is just completely rude and impractical. Its courtesy and respect to tell someone who is looking after your children if they are going to be doing it on their own longer than they anticipated.
Basically he wants to act like he is completely single and free of any responsibility and do what he likes on a whim and then calls you controlling if you dont go along with exactly what he says? Surely he is the controlling one, as I dont think you have loads of control over your own time when you are stuck looking after the kids every time he is out

Gilead · 09/06/2021 13:48

Wow, get rid.

BeeCool · 09/06/2021 13:49

You are NOT abusive and he is a cunt. You take the blame for everything HE does! He has battered your self esteem. Please start a plan to leave. Flowers

OldTinHat · 09/06/2021 13:55

What on earth are you getting from this relationship? Love, support? Nope. You'd be much better off, happier and secure, raising your children alone. He's doing nothing other than dragging you down. You deserve more.

NeedNewKnees · 09/06/2021 13:57

Oh you poor thing, you are being abused and gaslit.

For the "Helping Around The House" stuff, I strongly recommend a quick read of the comic "You Should Have Asked" which is here - english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/
He's dumping the entire mental load on to you, and then blaming you for his inaction.

He's making it your job to suggest family time while he bats them aside with excuses. He prioritises HIS entertainment and after-work drinking over you and your children.

He's a selfish, unkind asshat. He makes me think of John on this thread, as the lovely Rosemary escapes to a happier life without her controlling STBX. I am sure Rosemary would be the first to tell you not to put up with this for years.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/4257752-John-learns-to-adult

Emmylou1985 · 09/06/2021 14:10

You are absolutely NOT abusive! He is a piece of shit. And honestly, the lying about drugs, telling you there's never any money left and dodging being at home screams coke habit to me. Next time he's out with his friends, bag his stuff up and leave it on the front.
He obviously doesn't respect you, but you can sure as shit respect yourself.

Auntycorruption · 09/06/2021 14:24

@Ohsugarhoneyicetea

Your main mistake was not packing your things and leaving when you got home in 2014 after the miscarriage. Don't keep making that same mistake.
This.
OlympicProcrastinator · 09/06/2021 14:30

He’s done a serious number on you my lovely. He’s treated you like total shit from start to finish and managed to convince you that you are somehow controlling when it’s clear he has full control over you.

Leave. You deserve so much better than this.,

Anycrispsleft · 09/06/2021 15:01

My god, that is an absolute buffer of dickheadery from your partner. But two things in particular stick out:

  1. Look how your partner treated his friend after his suicide attempt compared to how he treated you. Why do you get treated like crap and his friend gets supported? Because your partner is a dickhead who only actually interested in looking good to his mates.

  2. The reason for the argument today is because you're not stroking his ego by being upset. If it's slowly dawning on him that the reason you get upset about him not being around is mostly because you would like him to do some parenting and housework, and not really because you miss his stellar presence, there's probably a very cold wind blowing for him right now.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 09/06/2021 15:19

@kidneynewname

This is often suggested on MN but I always find it helpful.

Read your post back and imagine it was your DD describing her relationship.... what would you advise and would you think she was the problem?

Please do this!

We often tolerate way too much ourselves... Stuff we'd be shocked with if it was our daughter /sister/best friend

StopPokingTheRoyalTitDear · 09/06/2021 15:33

He's controlling you with emotional abuse by the sounds of it. It’s a common tactic for those types to turn it around and insist you are the controlling, abusive one in the relationship.

You deserve to be happy and not weighed down by this loser. He won’t behave any better these types never do in my experience. Consider doing the freedom programme or at least having a google of it. You might recognise him in quite a few
Chapters.

youngandbroken · 09/06/2021 15:51

I feel a bit sick now he's sending nasty messages then nice ones afterwards.

OP posts:
tiredybear · 09/06/2021 16:08

oh wow, OP. that was really hard to read. I couldn't just scroll by.
He has done a real number on you, you are in NO WAY to blame and absolutely 100 percent not abusive.
well done for taking the first step and talking about it here. There is a huge amount of knowledge from amazing ladies on here who have escaped terrible relationships like this.
So keep talking, keep listening, take it slow .... but there IS a light at the end of this dark dark tunnel and there are lots of us to hold your hand on the journey to the happiness you deserve.

Spanglemum · 09/06/2021 17:31

OP, he is abusive and selfish. Do you have any support for your mental health? Or Health Visitor or social worker you can speak to? Or go to the GP? This is not a healthy relationship. Do reach out because there is help and support out there. He doesn't treat you right and he blames everything on you. Your mental health will probably improve if you're not with him.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 10/06/2021 14:43

@youngandbroken

I feel a bit sick now he's sending nasty messages then nice ones afterwards.
This is pure gaslighting and breadcrumbing... So you get destabilised... Ooh he's nasty... No he's lovely... He didn't really say/mean that....

Please please look up Dr Ramani on YouTube about narcissism...

Accusing YOU of being controlling is a very common strategy with abusive men

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 10/06/2021 14:46
heyyellowyellow · 10/06/2021 14:58

Oh my word, he is horrific. I know you will be finding it very difficult to read all of our replies saying that he is being really terrible to you and you might be so far gone in your thinking of his behaviour being your fault, that it’s difficult to take on board that it absolutely is not. Is being able to end your relationship with him a possibility? I hope it is, I am so sad to read how much he has skewed your thinking and pretty much broken your spirit. Please get out of this.

Nicecupofteaandacake · 10/06/2021 15:11

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

The problem is that I choose the wrong times to suggest things

The problem is you've hitched your cart to a complete twat of a donkey

Basically, this ^
FrumpyBetty · 10/06/2021 15:39

He has been training / gaslighting you - probably for years. It's him
... not you. You have done nothing wrong. Leave him and claim benefits which will see you through until you get things sorted.

youngandbroken · 10/06/2021 16:01

I don't even know where to start with leaving, or what to say, I feel like I would be tearing the family apart and breaking our daughters hearts and that's without the practical side of things. As well as that I know it sounds ridiculous but I do love him. He thinks everything is fine after yesterday and is acting totally normal. He has told me that he will be going away for a few days in August to see his friend.

OP posts:
VettiyaIruken · 10/06/2021 16:08

He's a wanker who does not have your back. You aren't the problem. He is. You are reacting to his awful treatment of you
You don't have to stay with him. Flowers

Ladyface · 10/06/2021 16:12

By leaving you will be showing your daughters that women do not have to put up with poor behaviour from partners. As for him going away - the cheeky bastard - when do you get a break? On the plus side, it gives you time to change the locks and bag up his belongings.

Ladyface · 10/06/2021 16:14

I would bet serious money that your depression goes once you are free from this twat. He has ground you down with his gaslighting. The good news is that you can leave and you and your dc will have a better, happier life.

EloquentlyBrash · 10/06/2021 16:14

I think there is a calculator called ‘entitled to’, it should tell you what you’re entitled to if you leave him. Is your tenancy joint? Perhaps contact shelter for advice on that. Have a look on Rightmove and see what properties are around and how you could work your hypothetical budget. You don’t have to act on it but it’s the start of a new beginning of you want it x

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