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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to stay with DH

79 replies

Mum2DD · 05/10/2024 18:17

dv trigger warning

I have been with DH 7 years, married 1. The first 6 years were amazing. What I would class as I what I previously didn't believe in terms of real life happiness.

The last year we have both had a lot of stress. I lost my job and was struggling for a while (am main breadwinner) and DH went self employed for the first time. Money flow has been tight but okay. I've been in a new job since which earns well and I love for about 10 months now.

I also had a sudden bereavement which I struggled with and DH has had his mother diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.

We get on very well day to day but DH is quite insular and when he does get annoyed and a row starts it gets explosive. During these times he freezes me out and refuses to talk to me for days or weeks. A lot more backstory but that's the gist. I've struggled to cope with this and therefore sought help from a psychiatrist because of the bipolar. The psychiatrist expressed concerns that he was medicating me to deal with DH, instead of my medical condition.

A few of weeks ago, DH went out with friends and come home drunk - don't mind that, is fine. He went straight up to bed instead of saying hi which I thought was odd. I went up to our bedroom to check on and he was awake and on his phone but slurring. I laughed and asked him to pass me his phone (mine was downstairs and we often use each others) so that could show him this funny video of a drunk husband returning home. He immediately started acting weird, said I can't have his phone, went onto his messages ( li could see this from where I was stood) and deleting them. This raises alarm bells and I asked for the phone again. He said no. I tried to then grab it off him and he shoved me off. He then ran down the stairs and I chased him. I reached for the phone again and he threw his arm out and shoved me away. Then ran into the toilet and locked the door. I ended up with a broken nose and broken foot from his shoves.

I was in shock and slept om the sofa. The next day he said he didn't remember anything. I asked him to take me to the hospital as I could not walk, which he did and dropped me off. I couldn't really process what had happened.

We stayed polite but not really together the next couple of weeks. I then had a telephone assessment with the NHS for my bipolar and disclosed that I was struggling to understand that this fight had happened in about 10 seconds and now I had all these broken bones.

It turns out they then referred this and the police tirned up and arrested DH and took him into custody. I was so shocked. I lied my arse off to the police and all the other services and said I fell, or was nothing to do with DH. They released him after 20 hours.

He's now home. He was so angry to start with because he said I must have told someone something. I've told him it's all been a misunderstanding and I love him.

He seems back to normal now and wants to work at things. I want to too. I know this sounds insane but this is not who he is. I want to give it one last chance.

How do I do this?

OP posts:
SusieKL · 05/10/2024 18:24

OP, your husband is an abusive man and despite grabbing for his phone, which is not ideal, he assaulted you in a very violent way. I feel that you have to leave him. I’m sorry but that level of violence is frightening.

SusieKL · 05/10/2024 18:24

I hope you’re recovering. X

overindulged · 05/10/2024 18:27

You also don't seem concerned about what he was deleting off his phone? Apart from the fact he assaulted you, it sounds like he's been cheating as well?

Galectable · 05/10/2024 18:28

You are not safe with this man. You need to see a lawyer and consider your options. He attacked you and then claimed he didn't remember what had happened. This is appalling behaviour. Please don't make excuses for him or lie about it to the authorities. His drinking is out of control and he wouldn't share what he was doing on his phone - is he having an affair? Find a friend who will encourage you to keep yourself safe. It won't be easy but you need to put yourself first.

StripeyDeckchair · 05/10/2024 18:28

You were being unreasonable to chase him around the house trying to grab his phone

BUT
He broke your nose & your foot!
WTF!
That is a lot more than a shove
That is assault

You need to get out before he does some serious damage or kills you.

unbelieveable22 · 05/10/2024 18:36

Please don't make excuses for him or minimise his behaviour. He didn't just shove you did he? Shoving doesn't break your foot or your nose.
He has shown you exactly who he is. You are probably still in shock. Please do not cover up or lie for him anymore.
There will be others here who have been through similar and will help you see exactly what kind of man he is. No excuses. Wishing you strength.

Lyra87 · 05/10/2024 18:37

You need to leave before it escalates. A broken nose and foot is not something you should come back from.

silverandyellow · 05/10/2024 18:38

This is very concerning. Are you downplaying what he did, as I can't get my head around how him shoving you as you tried to get to his phone resulted in a broken nose and foot? He is a violent man. Is this the first time?

Mum2DD · 05/10/2024 18:40

Thank you for the replies. I know I was being unreasonable chasing him and trying to grab his phone. I think this is what confusing me in my head.

But he could have pushed me away without hurting me. And we have always shared phones when needed so I couldn't understand the problem and I was panicking.

I am quite small and he is 6 foot 6 and musclar so I am a gnat in comparison. In my head I want to justify this as he was just drink and big and clumsy. But I know logically that can't be an excuse. I've lied and lied to protect him and pretend it wasn't an accident but the x rays show where the breaks were couldn't be a fall. I love him so much. I'm so afraid of what to do.

OP posts:
Beezknees · 05/10/2024 18:40

YABU. It IS who he is, you're in denial. You cannot change an abusive person. He's mentally abusive (silent treatment is mental abuse) and now he's become physically abusive.

You don't say whether you have DC. I really hope not because children should not have to grow up in a household like this.

Mum2DD · 05/10/2024 18:43

silverandyellow · 05/10/2024 18:38

This is very concerning. Are you downplaying what he did, as I can't get my head around how him shoving you as you tried to get to his phone resulted in a broken nose and foot? He is a violent man. Is this the first time?

He pushed me away from his phone with his arm, his nose hit my face and broke my nose. I relied back and let go of him. He then trod on my foot and shoved me backwards. That's when my foot broke. He then ran into the bathroom and locked the door and stayed there for a while. I stayed on the flooor in the hall as couldn't move

OP posts:
Mum2DD · 05/10/2024 18:45

We both have one DD each. Mine lives with me. His doesn't and visits. My DD is 14 and wasn't here when this happened. She adores him and hates her actual farther. He is her father figure.

OP posts:
unbelieveable22 · 05/10/2024 18:48

@Mum2DD you have 2 daughters? Do you love him so much that you would put them at risk? Do you love him more than them?
Put your children first and protect them
What if he harms them next time if you stay?

Mum2DD · 05/10/2024 18:49

overindulged · 05/10/2024 18:27

You also don't seem concerned about what he was deleting off his phone? Apart from the fact he assaulted you, it sounds like he's been cheating as well?

I asked him what he was hiding when he sobered up. He said he doesn't remember. He said he would swear on this daughter's life he hasn't cheated on me. I asked what about flirtations / text affairs. He was silent.

OP posts:
Beezknees · 05/10/2024 18:53

Mum2DD · 05/10/2024 18:45

We both have one DD each. Mine lives with me. His doesn't and visits. My DD is 14 and wasn't here when this happened. She adores him and hates her actual farther. He is her father figure.

You think a man who physically assaults his wife is a good role model to your child?

silverandyellow · 05/10/2024 18:55

So head butted you? I don't think that was an accident. And even knowing that he had just hurt you he proceeded to then trample on your foot? If it was a genuine accident he would have stopped to see if you were okay and profusely apologised. Whatever was on his phone he didn't want you see so bad that he was willing to assault you to ensure you did not. Not coming in with you to the hospital is also very telling. This is not the kind of treatment you deserve.

BirthdayRainbow · 05/10/2024 18:56

He has hurt you so much that you have two broken bones.

He was up to no good otherwise why delete messages.

You are on medication to deal with him.

If you love him and want to stay with him then you have to understand that he knows he has got away with violence on his wife and it is more likely than not that this will be repeated.

Of course YABU to stay but plenty do. Just hope that next time he goes out that you don't leave in an ambulance.

If he was truly truly sorry you'd know. If you don't know, he isn't.

Why do you love a man who is violent? What is it about that that you love?

LadyMary50 · 05/10/2024 19:00

Mum2DD · 05/10/2024 18:43

He pushed me away from his phone with his arm, his nose hit my face and broke my nose. I relied back and let go of him. He then trod on my foot and shoved me backwards. That's when my foot broke. He then ran into the bathroom and locked the door and stayed there for a while. I stayed on the flooor in the hall as couldn't move

That sounds like he head butted you…

narns · 05/10/2024 19:03

I'm alarmed at the extent of your injuries.

When I was initially reading through this I thought well you're trying to forcefully take something belonging to him from him to the extent that he's run away and you've chased him, and then he's had to lock himself in a bathroom to get away! BUT the extent of your injuries suggest he was really violent, rather than trying to protect himself/his belongings.

How has he reacted to the injuries you've sustained and is there any other history of physical assault or controlling behaviour/financial abuse etc?

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 05/10/2024 19:04

@Mum2DD Sorry everyone, but some people, like the OP, will never take advice even though it is the best advice they will every get!! this OP is going to carry on with this abuser until he seriously injures her or worse!! no idea why she is lying to protect him!!

Beezknees · 05/10/2024 19:06

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 05/10/2024 19:04

@Mum2DD Sorry everyone, but some people, like the OP, will never take advice even though it is the best advice they will every get!! this OP is going to carry on with this abuser until he seriously injures her or worse!! no idea why she is lying to protect him!!

It's the children I feel sorry for. I was in an abusive relationship, I put up with it for me, but as soon as DS was born I knew I had to get away, and did. I would never ever allow a violent person to live in the same house as my child, the most important thing in the world to me.

Sunshineclouds11 · 05/10/2024 19:09

He's saying he wants to work at it now because he's been caught being violent.

Who's to say this won't happen again?
Why didn't he stay at the hospital with you? ESP when you couldn't walk.

I feel he knew what he was doing as if something like that happened by an accident you would immediately stop and ask if they're ok.

You need to leave. I wouldn't want my kids around him

Spirallingdownwards · 05/10/2024 19:12

Leave him and show your 14y old daughter that domestic violence is never acceptable, especially when he was also trying to hide his affair evidence.

thepariscrimefiles · 05/10/2024 19:14

Mum2DD · 05/10/2024 18:43

He pushed me away from his phone with his arm, his nose hit my face and broke my nose. I relied back and let go of him. He then trod on my foot and shoved me backwards. That's when my foot broke. He then ran into the bathroom and locked the door and stayed there for a while. I stayed on the flooor in the hall as couldn't move

This is totally fucking horrific. He did all this to stop you accessing his phone messages so he is obviously cheating.

How can you stay? Aren't you terrified of him?

Quartz2208 · 05/10/2024 19:15

Your poor poor daughter that she is being made to live like this with this man

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