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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Has anyone left a controlling partner who you share children with?

9 replies

Futurepast · 30/05/2025 09:03

I may struggle to get my point across without explaining in full but we’ll be here all day.

i moved out - well i was pushed out of our marital home after my husband ended the marriage along with our DC and dog. He changed the locks that day so I couldn’t get back in.

I always thought he was an angry and scary man but had no idea that it was control till my Doctor pointed it out.
since finding out he has another woman who he must have been seeing long before I moved out - probably still together which I can’t prove but they have known and spoken to each other for years (He claims she was just a client), it’s like my spell has been broken and I’m piecing together all the things he did and said to me.
He has always been exceptionally good at the way he word and phrases things, particularly in text so I have “no proof” of the control but at the same time he knew I feared him so the way he worded things spoke to me in ways it may not speak to others.

Today I took a propanol - first one since I moved out and told him a few truths (via text obviously). Can not believe I managed to do that.
He hates it when someone speaks back to him especially a woman.
obviously he worded things very cleverly and did what he does best by making it sound like it was all in my head and he’s adamant I have “someone helping me”. I have VERY few people in my like - because of him!

We have a child together and I am allowing him to see them. I’ve actually NEVER told him not to come to my house he expects me to do all the driving as he’s without for now which I have been except for one time when I wasn’t feeling well.
As I have set boundaries (just for the next visit at least) he’s making it sound like I’m using our child. That I’m bean mean and spiteful. But he doesn’t see and I fear he never will how he actually controls situations.

He keeps telling me he’s skint and that’s why he cannot help me financially but his job earns him and average of a grand a week paid daily and after tax so he’s either having the worst couples of months he’s ever had at work ever or it’s yet again another one of his bulls**ting stories as he likes to remind me I kept the savings. (The savings weren’t much - he could earn that in a month and it was ALL used to make our house liveable).

my question is (sorry it took so long) - should I at this point stand my ground or should I do what I do best around his and just please him for an easy life?
There is way more to this story and his character but like I say I would be here all day.
I just don’t want to make the mistake of letting my bitterness get in the way of my DC childhood. But equally don’t want my DC to see me being a pushover/mug. Child is only 6 but has witnessed many times dad shouting/screaming at me and me unable to fight back. I’m not sure if they understood as they’re disabled but is still able to see/hear/remember.

OP posts:
BookArt55 · 30/05/2025 09:08

What is it you are proposing for contact? What does he want?

Do not have him come to your home. Meet at a neutral place with cctv, a supermarket for example.

Do not rant in messages to him. Google grey rock method. Your rants won't change him, but give him evidence and information that he could use against you.

Gp- get counselling.

Is he a safe person for your child to be around? Did he play an active role as a father?

Futurepast · 30/05/2025 09:20

Have I done wrong for getting some of it out to him? It felt lethargic at the time but now I worry I’ve messed up.
I take her to his home but he now wants DC to stay over.
I believe they’ll be safe with him.

OP posts:
BookArt55 · 30/05/2025 09:34

It's done now, don't worry. Byt he used it to attack your mental health. Moving forward i wouldn't advise it.

So suggest the plan of every other weekend, get him to agree to that. Then say you meet half way, or 3/4 of the way closest to him. Then suggest times based on his travel needs. Or something similar. But if you make it the standard to run around after him then it will be always expected with you waiting around for him while he does not a lot.

Technically you could say he should pick up from school. Lowers your direct contact and your workload. Then you pick up.

Having a neutral location places a boundary between you and him, if he wasn't controlling then you would be okay going to his house. Part of his control is you running around after him with minimal effort from him, all on his terms.

What is the end goal? Does he want 50/50?

If he wants you to do all the driving then can he do school pick up etc?

Futurepast · 30/05/2025 09:35

*relief not lethargic 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Futurepast · 30/05/2025 09:39

The situation is a little too complicated at the minute.
He will never want 50/50 I can relax about that. He gets tired of DC after 30 minutes and always uses work as an excuse not to do school pick ups ect.
He just can’t see how he is and I’m starting to realise I shouldn’t expect him to.

OP posts:
Springtimehere · 30/05/2025 09:47

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

BlueMum16 · 30/05/2025 09:48

You say he ended the marriage and kept the marital home.
.have you sought legal advice to split assets and get a divorce? Don't let him keep the house when he probably needs to buy you out

Have you contacted CMS to ensure your DC is financially supported?

Take control of your lives back

BookArt55 · 30/05/2025 09:51

Yeh I thought that might be the case.
Time to put some boundaries in place. Me ex expected me to run around after the kids and does everything except bedtime to wake up at his house to lower his cms.
Suggest a plan, say Friday at 4pm to Saturday at 4pm *or more if you want. Once agreed, make sure you share it on writing with him and keep the evidence. Have times and location.
Then after that you need to get a plan in place for birthdays, Christmas, etc.
Try to get the plan so you can have a life. Or you'll never be able to book anything as a level of control i have dealt with is last minute changes to affect my free time and facilitate ex's needs.
Once you have this, and again put it in writing too. Then apply to cms. Take that power away from him also.

Seek legal advice. Get the knowledge you need so you know what to do moving forward. As he won't like sticking to the plan, but saying that I have a court order abd he still doesn't stick to it.

Thelnebriati · 30/05/2025 09:53

You have a stronger case than you think. Don't make any decisions or agreements or send him any more messages until you have had legal advice.
You really need to see a solicitor asap, for one thing if you are married and primary carer for a disabled child the judge is not going to look favourably on him locking you both out of your home.

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