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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Abusive ex partner

10 replies

darciaaa · 08/06/2025 20:08

So it’s a long story, I just need some input here on if it is generally me with the problem or it’s my ex as j feel as if I am going crazy.

I was with my ex for 10, the first two years we were deeply in love and it was the perfect relationship and he was the perfect guy.

As soon as he started hanging around with his brother who had been out the picture for a number of years due to him having people after him he had to moved city but then moved back.

All of a sudden plans revolved around his brother and all I would hear was about his brother and how amazing he was.

He did the same when he met me, would say I was the only person he knew who could afford to buy a Gucci bag and had their own house etc.

I feel as if he gaslighted me until someone better came along as in terms of wealth, money etc.

At this point he lost complete interest me and every weekend he would be with his brother who is a musician.
He even told me “I love my brother more than you”.

If I tried to explain I felt pushed to the side I was told “I am coming in between him and his brother.”

I left him soon after but he wouldn’t leave me alone.
Calls, texts etc.

We tried again but this time he left me as “he didn’t know what he wanted” but yet still wouldn’t leave me alone.

Again he still kept in touch.

I know I should of changed my number and moved on 100% but I always thought maybe it could go back to how it was when we first met.

By this time I had hit 33 and still in the same situation and we both wanted children.

I ended up getting pregnant and he was back to his old loving self for abit.

When DC was born he was back to his old usual horrible self again.

By this time I sold my house and moved closer to my own family as I was not getting any emotional support from him at all after going through a near death experience giving birth.

DC was 10 months old when I moved.

Now the abuse is 100 times worse despite him
not living with me anymore.
He lives 45 minutes away and complains about the drive etc even though even before I moved I was doing 99.9% of the childcare anyway.

Its come to the point where we literally despise each other.
I have to take tablets now because just even being near him makes me severely depressed.
He stays for the weekend then goes back despite me asking him to get a hotel and offering to pay half towards it just so he isn’t in my home.

He will belittle me, talk down to me, tell me what to do, argue with anything I say, I feel as if I am on egg shells.
He complains about sleeping on the sofa and dosent understand why I don’t want him in my bed despite us not being in a relationship, he is crazy.

Our DC loves his father so much that he cries every time he leaves and it breaks my heart seeing DC so upset.

I get told I am stopping my ex living his life, I am holding him back and he regrets getting me pregnant because he hates me so much.

I leave him alone in the week, it’s him who contacts me asking to FaceTime DC.
He does pay me but complains he is paying me too much based on his calculations and what his friends say.

I am not even allowed in my exes flat so I really want to make arrangements where he dosent enter my property but living 45 minutes away it will be hard.

The only solution would be to get another place in his city so my DC can see his dad more.

But I am really keen to push for a formal arrangement so our contact is minimal as possible as I really can’t even be near him or talk to him for long periods as I start to feel severely depressed.

When my ex is here I don’t say anything unless I am asked a question and keep out the way until he leaves to avoid any confrontation.

I don’t know why he hates me so much as I took him on holidays to New York, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Canada in the past.
Always helped him in life, offered support and this is how he treats me.

Even if he gives me a lift I have to give him money, but yet he eats all my food and us s my utilities without offering any money.

Jusy wanted to ask for advice as I feel so depressed and if I am going crazy and it is me with the problem.

Sorry for the long post.

OP posts:
Jesswebster01 · 08/06/2025 20:17

Honestly this is madness put your foot down if he wants to see his son he can drive 45 minutes and take him to his for the weekend. Don't let him in yours to sleep for the weekend. Get a parenting app and communicate through that. If he tries to speak about anything else ignore him any messages outside the app ignore it he's doing everything he wants getting his own way.

BookArt55 · 08/06/2025 20:18

Yeh you need to put in some boundaries in place.
He ca the enter your home. So either he takes little one out to the park and has day visits, or he takes child back to his house and you meet half way for drop off.
I would get a parenting app, can't get free ones, I pay for OFW. Nothing can be deleted, you can switch on and off notifications for your sanity. Only communicate in writing.
Ex will kick up a fuss when you inform him in writing. He will likely show up at your door, you will need to call the police.

To be clear, you do not need to live this way. You do not need to deal with his behaviour. It is really hard to make the change, so write it down what you want and refer to it whenever he tries to make you change your mind.

TheFormidableMrsC · 08/06/2025 20:23

Why on Earth are you letting him stay with you? That’s utterly ridiculous and you need to stop it. Tell him to make an application to court to formalise contact, download a parenting app for communication and block him on everything else. You don’t need to see or speak to him except very briefly at handover. You need strong boundaries here.

darciaaa · 08/06/2025 20:29

Hi,
I have suggested so many times to go through more official channels so we don’t have to communicate directly with each other but he just says he will take my son off me and go to social services.

Even earlier he was making me feel dizzy with his verbal abuse and I asked him to leave and he refused to go and when I threatened to call the police he said he was going to report me to the police as well.
God knows what for as I don’t even say anything to him.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the app to communicate through?

I really can’t go through all this next weekend.

OP posts:
Jesswebster01 · 08/06/2025 20:53

darciaaa · 08/06/2025 20:29

Hi,
I have suggested so many times to go through more official channels so we don’t have to communicate directly with each other but he just says he will take my son off me and go to social services.

Even earlier he was making me feel dizzy with his verbal abuse and I asked him to leave and he refused to go and when I threatened to call the police he said he was going to report me to the police as well.
God knows what for as I don’t even say anything to him.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the app to communicate through?

I really can’t go through all this next weekend.

Get hidden camera or recorders and next time he threatens you have proof

BookArt55 · 08/06/2025 21:35

Unfortunately, as you say the abuse is 100 times worse now... and when you put boundaries in place it will most likely get worse again because he won't like the change, you not doing as you are told.

Ring doorbell
Hidden inside cameras
Call police immediately if he shows up and everytime
Tell him about the app and then block all other forms of communication
Screenshot all current abusive messages as he may delete
Speak to neighbours and explain in they hear shouting to call the police
Have a password wjth friends or family that if you text it or say it on a call it means there is a problem
He will threaten court as a way of getting power back.
Google the power and control wheel, it may help you to understand his actions.
Therapy for you, and depending on age I would consider for your child too.
Reach out to these https://www.ncdv.org.uk/. They will be able.to.give great advice.
Notify school/ nursery about the issue.
You should get a plan in place Before notifying him of anything.
Court would ask what the status quo is now. Which is you as the main carer and him not actually being the main carer for even one overnight technically. They would not force you to have him stay. They may state he is to have your child for every other weekend, given the distance it can't really be more.
He will threaten lots of things to win back control. It is unbelievably difficult to stand firm. But the charity are great at support, including non molestation orders if/when possible.

domestic violence

Domestic Violence & Abuse · Emergency Injunction Service

A free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic violence regardless of their financial circumstances, race, gender or sexual orientation.

https://www.ncdv.org.uk

Paperweight7 · 08/06/2025 23:22

The advice @BookArt55 has given above is spot on.

OP, it is scary but you really need a formal arrangement in place. This is not a sustainable situation and your dc will be aware of how you are being treated by your ex. He will make threats but call the police if you feel threatened. He can threaten you with Social Services but you are not actually doing anything wrong for you to need to be concerned. Agencies are also often very aware of tactics used by abusive men.

I called the police on my ex (who threatened me with various things on many occasions) and my ex backed off. I also called Social services first and highlighted my ex as a risk to our child (which he was due to his anger problems). I also contacted a solicitor in secret to find out how things might play out in court which gave me the confidence to make things more formal. I saw a counsellor who helped me understand my pattern of being lenient towards my ex to avoid conflict and how to set boundaries. The fact your ex stays with you despite only being 45 minutes away is madness - I commute longer each way for work!

Call Women's Aid if you can for advice. It seems like you are still trapped by your ex despite leaving him and they can offer you further support.

Paperweight7 · 08/06/2025 23:25

Just to add, the big mistake I made was trying to persuade my ex about going through a formal route. I was delaying myself out of fear. I could just apply to court myself or cut off contact with our child until he applied. We didn't need to agree to it as an option first.

darciaaa · 08/06/2025 23:58

@BookArt55
Thank you so much for the excellent piece of advice.

I have never never heard of that website but I will
be contacting them tomorrow.

I found the ourfamilywizard website online and have informed my ex that all communication will be through that from Monday and for him to download it

He wasn’t very happy and was now demanding to come every day after work as he says he needs to FaceTime DC every day.

@Paperweight7 my ex lives 19 miles away, he was 30 minutes away in my last property when I lived in the same city, he is very resentful and bitter at how much he has to drive to see DC and says all the time “I have taken DC away from him”.

I am scared of arranging a more formal agreements as I don’t want any more conflict and abuse but after today I just can’t have him in my house anymore and your right DC is probably aware of what’s going on and I do not want DC constantly being exposed to this negative environment.

I try to be civil with him when he is here but he just constantly belittles me and patronises me to the point where I will be in tears in front of DC.

I am not even allowed to enter his property and I haven’t been for the past 6 years so it’s unfair that he gets his peace and privacy but I don’t get mine.
I honestly feel like a prisoner in my own home when he is here and that I have to watch what I do and say in case I say the wrong thing to cause an argument.

OP posts:
BookArt55 · 09/06/2025 00:11

What is your suggested contact plan? Does it include a phone call? These personally didn't work for me as he would expect a lot, plus would use it as a way to snoop in my home still. They can be ten mins long, once or twjce a week, my ex wanted 30-60mins every day. I ended up doing them in the same room, or outside.

Daily- he is funny!
Well done for putting those boundaries in place!! Stay firm!

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