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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to just rant about my life to just get it all out.

12 replies

numbersixty · 01/10/2021 07:35

I'm feeling a bit low lately and can't seem to shake the feeling off. The main reason is that I think I have married the wrong person for me and my children and it was all my fault. I have pretty low self esteem and generally lack confidence all round. I also have social anxiety. I've been like this pretty much since I can remember.

He's the only bf I had ever had and looking back at the time I was was just grateful anyone was even interested in me and married him. He wasn't perfect but I know noone really is though and ignored my gut feeling.

After we got married things changed. He became really moody, wouldn't speak to me for days at a time, ignored me if I spoke and I had no idea why. One moment he would be "normal" and things were good then out of the blue he'd stop talking and become moody again. Id constantly go over in my head what I did / said. If I asked him what was up he'd ignore me or just leave the room or say nothing is wrong, it's me.

He would slam doors around and I knew something was up. It left me feeling on edge all the time and I didn't know when he would be in a mood or ok.

When things were "normal" it was all ok and I was happy. Things weren't perfect but they were ok.

After I became pregnant with my 2 kids who were only 18m apart things became really bad. I barely got any help from him and he stopped talking to me for months.there was other types of behaviour that was horrible too. It was horrendous. I was exhausted, lonely and i cried everyday. I just needed help. He'd hate if I went over to my family's house during the day with the kids so I would try to rush back before he came back from work so he wouldn't know. He would sometimes check and ask if I'd been and sometimes I'd lie and say no.

After my Dc2 was 3m I told him I was leaving. He said he'll change and I agreed and things did change. Massively. For a long time he's maintained this for the most part. However his old ways of being moody and not talking properly are still there albeit not as severe.

Over the years I've come to realise that he's not the type of father I wanted for my children or a life partner for myself. I feel stuck here as financially I can't look after myself and kids and my health is getting worse.

I feel sad and have just accepted my fate with him. I feel the worse for my children. He barely spends anytime with them or talks to them. I find myself noticing how other people's DPs are with them and their children and I feel so sad. I can't even get myself to reply when dh says he loves me.

On the most part I'm ok plodding along ok but then something random will occur and all my past and all the emotions come rushing back and I want to run away. Recently my niece has had a baby and her DP is absolutely lovely and he's doting on DN and baby as you would and it all came back to me. When I had my first id had an op and could barely walk and was left to do everything for baby. I remember gritting my teeth through the pain as I moved around the house trying to put the washing on as if ran out of clean baby clothes. I cried thinking about it.

I know I am to blame for the situation I have got myself into. Maybe one day I will find the energy and a way to leave.

I'm not really looking for anything. I just needed to talk to someone and get it out. I feel a bit better after writing this ridiculously long post. Apologies and thank you for reading.

OP posts:
LunaTheCat · 01/10/2021 07:41

You poor love - that is horrendous.
You need to be proud because you have raised beautiful children and been a good Mum despite this horrendous abuse from your husband.
It is good you have “talked” here but you also need to talk in real life - contact Woman’s Aid, contact a lawyer.
Do you have friends? Your family. Talk to them.
You have power,you have strength. You can put yourself first.
There will be many many good women behind you.

TrueRefuge · 01/10/2021 07:50

This is so heartbreaking to read. I'm sorry for everything you've been for.

You don't need to wait for things to be "bad enough" to leave again. Just leave (well, speak to some loved ones, gather important things and make a safety plan first.) But just leave.

You will be so much happier and more at peace alone.

Well done for writing here, it was very brave. Keep writing, but as PP said, speak to people in real life too.

Spiindoctor · 01/10/2021 07:58

If your health issues are anxiety or stress related leaving him (or him leaving) will probably greatly help them.

DoesHePlayTheFiddle · 01/10/2021 08:06

You say you are to blame - I don't see it that way. We all do what we can in our situations. So don't blame yourself, love yourself and be kind to the young woman who has endured so much.

So, now you know that you want something different from the life you've had. Don't waste your energy on analysing and wrestling with it. Whenever you can, do a tiny thing towards freedom for you and your children. Gathering documents, saving a few pounds here and there, reading up on how to access somewhere to live, talking to supportive family members if you have them, all small things that bring you a little closer to your goal.

You can do it.

numbersixty · 01/10/2021 08:56

Thank you all for your kind words.

I'm sorry and I know it's pathetic of me but I can't leave. My health issues are physical. I only work pt as that's all I can manage. I would love to have my own home but life would be so much more of a struggle and we the kids would be worse off. I am at a point where I've just accepting that this is my lot in life and I need to make the best of what I have.

OP posts:
DoesHePlayTheFiddle · 05/10/2021 05:06

If you are in it for the long haul, it might be worth asking your gp to get you on a waiting list for talking therapy. You might have to wait a year or eighteen months, and you will need to check where you are on the list every few months because they have some dodgy ways of making their lists shorter. But it can be dine, and talking to an impartial listener does help.

nzeire · 05/10/2021 05:14

Therapy, anti depressants and something fabulous for you and your kids. When I finally realised I could only change ME life became so much happier. Cook great food, play fab music, organise playmates. Touch base with people that make you happy. Take care x

nzeire · 05/10/2021 05:37

I meant play dates, but if you fancy a playmate, why the heck not!

Strugglingtodomybest · 06/10/2021 19:15

I'm not really looking for anything. I just needed to talk to someone and get it out. I feel a bit better after writing this ridiculously long post. Apologies and thank you for reading.

No need to apologise, honestly. If it makes you feel any better, a few of my friends have confided similar to me, you aren't alone. My only advice is, find good friends. Flowers

DoesHePlayTheFiddle · 08/10/2021 22:17

Dine? Done.

Twelveshoes · 08/10/2021 22:26

You need to make plans to leave. Staying will destroy your mental health eventually. It isn’t a sustainable situation long term.

MyPatronusIsACat · 08/10/2021 22:27

OMG how sad Sad I think waaay more women are in this position that you realise. Marry the wrong person, because they think they are in love, or because they don't think they will ever get anyone else.

Then they have a child or two, and are basically then tied to that man... Because a woman's career is the one affected by having children - never the man's... So her income drops and she struggles to survive alone... Please don't feel you have failed at life, because as I say, lots of women are in your position.

Many just suck it up and stay, and learn to manage their stale or bad/dead marriage because it's easier than leaving. They prefer the security and having 2 lots of money coming it, and in some cases, things do get better as the couple ages and when the kids have left. Some don't have this happen, and they split in their 40s or 50s...

I wish you well, and send lots of love. It's hard, but you are not alone in how you feel ... Look after yourself and you lovely children @numbersixty Flowers

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