Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think we can't carry on like this

92 replies

mrlistersgelfbride · 12/11/2023 23:54

I should say in advance this may be triggering to some. I promise I'm not a troll and it isn't a reverse. I've posted on here under different guises over the years.

Tonight my partner (after an afternoon in the pub) said to DD (5) who is our only child "How does it feel to know you'll never have a sibling?"
When I protested ('don't say that') he said "Well your mum (meaning me) killed your only chance of one" I was astounded. DD kept saying "What , what?" and he said aside (to me) "Well what can I tell her when she's older when she asks? That's what I'll tell her, it's the truth".

Context ( I'll keep this as brief as I can):
Together 11 years. DD unexpected. We aren't married. I had post partum psychosis, struggled a lot. Lots of problems, arguements between our families, I got resentful of partner drinking and going out too much and not parenting (which he still does). Found out I was pregnant again when DD was 18-20months. I still had moderate depression (it's lingered for years). Both partner and I agreed on a termination. I went ahead with that.

Partner never got over it. It was 4 years ago and he's brought it up in arguements. He's called me a baby killer (I also had termination at 20 before I met him). He's played ther terminator music when I walk into a room...im not making this up. He's been really horrible. I would have considered another child with him later if we'd been able to sort things out. We've talked and talked, he will never see my side. Counseling didn't work. He spends his time at work, asleep, drinking and arguing with me.

Why have I stayed? Fear, nowhere to go, money, don't want DD missing out. Not all days are bad. We still go on days out and holidays together to try and give DD a good life. DD adores her dad, she tells me often. He's her favourite and she's rather live with him than me. Told me that too.

But there's no coming back from that is there? It's genuinely the worst thing he's ever said to me. Oh apart from the fact he's wished I'd rot in a mental asylum with my post partum psychosis.

He's drinking tonight keeping me awake, Monday morning is looming. He does this most weekends.
I've tried all sorts of tactics with him. He's a classical narc and the more I protest, the more he'll continue to wind me up. I tend to go driving the streets in my car to get away from the loud music , singing and wailing insults which is what I'll do later probably. Not for long, I don't want to leave DD with him at all. She always sleeps through everything.

I've spoken to my family, and whilst they hate him, they don't want to know. They don't take me and DD even for a night. Neither can any friends. When I've opened up to friends they just say kick him out, but he's 18 stone and a bully. It's not that simple.

I know AIBU will give me honesty.
I don't know what to do but I'm determined this will be my last miserable year living like this.

OP posts:
mrlistersgelfbride · 13/11/2023 01:05

@Blackandwhitemakesgrey I've thought about this ..He'd follow us and find me. He's not the type to take things lying down.

OP posts:
mrlistersgelfbride · 13/11/2023 01:07

@sweetgingercat Thank you. I agree it's good we didn't have another child together in the end.
I'm so scared of loosing DD to him. If actually never stop him from seeing her I just want to be free of this. To be rid of him.

OP posts:
Commonhousewitch · 13/11/2023 01:10

Are you primary carer or do you share?
do you think he would want her full time or just to hurt you?
why do you think he would follow you- has he actually threatened you? does he want to stay together- just as a control thing

Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 13/11/2023 01:10

mrlistersgelfbride · 13/11/2023 01:05

@Blackandwhitemakesgrey I've thought about this ..He'd follow us and find me. He's not the type to take things lying down.

Let him follow you? He will have a right to see his child - but if you can prove he is an alcoholic (someone will come along to advise how to do this) then the courts cannot surely give him unsupervised access?

You will have your own house and be able to get on with your lives for the most part. Your home should be your sanctuary. Where you come in and close the door and feel safe. Neither you or your daughter are safe from his mental and emotional abuse.

Cappuccino17 · 13/11/2023 01:11

@mrlistersgelfbride there is no reason or excuse for his terrible behaviour.
But I truly believe he is really really struggling and his outlet is to behave like this. This is wrong. But some humans go into an almost survival mode to cope like this. He does not know how to deal with the pain he feels within. He may have agreed with the termination but it's very clear through his current behaviour he really didn't want that.
You do not deserve this. But at the same time he is in pain. So he needs help and he needs to release all those emotions out maybe in your presence to a therapist so you can both get that closure together.
If you love him and want this to work you may need to help him at a very low point in his life.
Other options are you leave if you are very unhappy in your marriage.

EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 13/11/2023 01:13

Angry behaviour, yelling, screaming, being nasty, crying, shutting you out, sure those thing may be trauma. Playing the Terminator music that's something different and really chilling, it's calculated not hurt bubbling over. Trauma isn't an excuse to abuse someone, it doesn't make his behaviour ok in any way. No matter how traumatised you are there is never any excuse to abuse your child.

Pottyberry · 13/11/2023 01:14

OP I'm sorry he's such a monster. My sil had pist partum psychosis, and even though my career is in a mental health setting, after visiting her I cried for an hour - she was so ill and not herself for months, she missed bonding with her baby too.

You had to prioritise your mental health.

I think what he said is abusive to your daughter and you. It's cruel.

Can you contact Womens Aid for help? If family can't put you up could they help you research how to get help? Lend money for fees for legal advice? I'm glad you are looking to escape this abusive bully.

Cappuccino17 · 13/11/2023 01:16

I think the word abuse is being chucked around like it means nothing. He manipulated their daughter to believe OP has deprived her from having a sibling.
Ofcourse it is still wrong. Wouldn't call it abuse though.

Gowlett · 13/11/2023 01:19

I understand that it’s not easy trying to get away from a guy like this. It’s often not as simple as “just leave”. Especially when your kid loves their dad. But the abuse will be damaging to them in the long term. I worry about the same with my DS. The main thing for you though is to be careful that he doesn’t use your past postnatal situation to get custody of your child.

Pottyberry · 13/11/2023 01:22

I think calling a woman a "baby killer" and playing Terminator music at them, and telling a child that their mum killed any chance of them having a sibling, and getting drunk and keeping your partner awake are all very abusive acts.

Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 13/11/2023 01:22

Cappuccino17 · 13/11/2023 01:16

I think the word abuse is being chucked around like it means nothing. He manipulated their daughter to believe OP has deprived her from having a sibling.
Ofcourse it is still wrong. Wouldn't call it abuse though.

He is constantly arguing in front of her. He is emotionally abusive to her mother in front of her. He is verbally abusing her mother. The little girl is present while all this is going on daily. A child that age is an extension of their mother. He is trying to break the bond between mother and child by twisting things to show her mother in a bad light. He is using terrifying language to describe the mother this child loves. Telling a child their mother is a killer? I would call that abusive although it may not be seen as such in a courtroom. At least without a psychologists report to back it up.

catin8oots · 13/11/2023 01:22

Did you post about him before?

I remember the bit about the terminator music. And you're still there???

Runnerinthenight · 13/11/2023 01:24

Sweetie, you need to get rid xx

MariaLuna · 13/11/2023 01:26

Revolting man. She's a child!!

Thing is, what are you going to do about it OP?

he always just threw it back in my face in nasty ways. I know I should see it from his side

Who the fuck made you think you have to ^see it from his side! when he's putting that on you and a 5-year-old. Poor child.

Get rid of this nasty man and go into therapy for you and your child.
You will thank each other going into the future.

I'm a solo mum. My son becomes before any asshole who needs to fix his life instead of trying to blame me for it.

Cappuccino17 · 13/11/2023 01:29

I believe the OP is being emotionally abused. But not sure if it is all in the presence of their daughter? If it is then I can agree that, it is abusive for their daughter to see that. Some partners are covertly abusive so children don't notice or it's in the absence of their kids.

If it was just the 1 comment about OP not giving her a sibling then I wouldn't class that as abusive to their daughter.

MeinKraft · 13/11/2023 01:37

He is an evil man OP and I can almost guarantee your DD is not sleeping through it (been there as a child) please contact Woman's Aid for the sake of your daughter, I beg you.

Britneyfan · 13/11/2023 02:05

OP, this is domestic abuse (and pretty awful stuff at that in terms of psychological/emotional abuse). Ignore the person saying otherwise. Please call Women’s Aid or your local domestic abuse service and get some advice from them. You definitely don’t need to be trying to see things from his side here. And be aware that woman who have suffered from puerperal psychosis are often found to also be suffering from domestic abuse (both happened to me also).

Nomnomnom66 · 13/11/2023 02:05

Your relationship is dead. The whys and wherefores don't matter at this stage and he's allowed to feel sad after the termination, but if he's saying things like that to your DD, it's over. You need to just make arrangements to split.

RantyAnty · 13/11/2023 02:07

He's an abusive drunk.

Maze76 · 13/11/2023 02:07

@mrlistersgelfbride You need to protect your child and yourself from any further damage and the only way to do this is by ending the marriage,
Yes it’s scary and I’m sorry your family and friends aren’t as supportive as they should be , but you need to protect your daughter.
He is emotionally abusing you, seek legal advice asap. You pay towards the mortgage you will receive money from the sale of the house and possibly spousal and child support.
seek legal advice and end this

Giggorata · 13/11/2023 02:20

This vile abuse is designed to hurt you, and worse still, saying these things to your daughter is also designed to hurt you, through her.

It is nothing to do with him being upset or traumatised. It is that a cold and sadistic man has found the ideal stick to beat you with.

Please get the fuck away from him as soon as you can, by stealth, as remember the most dangerous time is when a woman leaves.
Go to a refuge, ask for help and support from Children’s Services, get legal advice, all in secret.

RobertJohnsonsShoes · 13/11/2023 02:20

Fuck that. Pack your bags and go. What an utter arsehole.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 13/11/2023 02:56

Get the fuck out of there.

Now!

He is deliberately hurting you and your child.

Contact Women’s Aid. Ask to be signposted to other services that can help you. Ask for advice as to whether he can be barred from the house while you sell and move. Contact a solicitor to find out about forcing a sale of the house.

Lieblingsessen · 13/11/2023 03:16

RobertJohnsonsShoes · 13/11/2023 02:20

Fuck that. Pack your bags and go. What an utter arsehole.

No. He should leave, not OP and her child.

When he is at work, OP, you should get a locksmith to come and change the locks. Then pack up his clothing and leave them on the doorstep with a note telling him you are finished with him. If he tries to break in, call the police.