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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do we need help is he abusive?

110 replies

Twoopposingforces · 04/04/2026 23:55

Hello

Me and my dp had a rare evening out on Thursday and my mum looked after our 10month baby. The evening was amazing. The following day, we both went into shops. He spent quite a while looking at clothes (he never buys clothes) and then he really wanted to visit his hobby shop before picking baby back up. I wanted to go to a new bakery. But it was in the opposite direction. After his shops I was then getting rushed so we could pick baby up and then rush home to collect cats from cattery. I wasnt happy with this and told him I didnt want to pick baby up, thank my mum and go. It seemed ungrateful and I wanted to at least sit for a bit. He said he would maybe phone cattery to extend stay (as I did with my dog to avoid the hassle... as we live an hour away from my mum).

He then managed to fit everything in car which meant we could pick up cats enroute instead of going home and him going back out. Ill admit I wasnt happy and wanted him to just call cattery. Anyway he told me we had 40minutez then we had to go to make it. In all honesty, I wasnt in any rush as I was pissed off our day was being rushed when he could just extend booking. I didn't hurry and he kept pestering me "we need to go, hurry up and have your coffee, be quick in bathroom etc".

He then said he would meet me in the car. I then down ten minutes later, I went to bathroom said bye to mum, she was saying bye to baby etc. In the car he told me to stop being in a mood as I was quiet. I told him I wasnt happy being rushed and didnt appreciate being told to hurry up at every opportunity. He sajd he isnt a mindreader and if I wanted cats in an extra night, I should have said. We then started arguing in the car. He was calling me selfish. I denied this and said he was being selfish as he could have been quicker in his shops.

He then told me I was in a mood as I knew I had done wring. I said no, I was in a mood at being spoken to like a child. He then slapped my thigh and told me to grow up. He was shouting and swearing in car. Baby was asleep but he was driving fast to make it to the cattery. He said afterwards he hated driving fast as we had our baby in the car. I told hin to stop blaming me he decided to drive fast. He kept saying "tell me why u were being selfish, I need to know as I don't want to be with someone sellfish what is the fucking root cause" I then asked him if he watched his dad hit his mum growing up, if not, what is his root cause for hitting me, my leg in the car. He then said he wanted me out the house. I refused.

He kept calling me a fucking bitch infront of our baby. When challenged he said I have broken his heart. All I do is argue with him and he can't take it. He said he does lash out but I cause him so much frustration. I told him to grow up. He then started on the "tell me why you are selfish, why??" I then laughed and said "wow, and you call me autistic. Shut the fuck up". I then had 999 on dial and told him if he touched me again id call the police. He then said to our baby that he was sorry she ended up with a mum like me and because if me her life is now drastically going to change.

I then said, what does that mean?? He said that he isn't in a position to coparent as I'll move back to my home city and he works full time. I said well you would see her at weekends. He then said why should he see her every weekend where is his time off to do what he wants. I then said he was a deadbeat dad. He said he isnt he would do what needed done. In bed he then told me he is feed up of me treating him however I like. And he is the bad one for reacting. We both agreed we love each other but when it comes to conflict its bad. We are now being civil to each other. But is he abusive??

I feel sad but he keeps telling me it was my fault and I am not a team player in this family.

OP posts:
BlanketBlues · 05/04/2026 00:14

You are both abusive.

ImLeavingWalford · 05/04/2026 00:23

@Twoopposingforces you actually went to bed together after that shit-show!

Toxic relationship. Both selfish and stubborn.

mondaytosunday · 05/04/2026 01:10

Whoa. You are not at all compatible and this relationship is dead. Do you both need help? Yes. But ending this relationship will improve things for both of you.

Ponoka7 · 05/04/2026 01:17

Yep, totally toxic relationship, because you couldn't be bothered communicating properly. Stay together without major changes and you'll fuck your DD's mental health up.

DeepRubySwan · 05/04/2026 01:27

You have a baby and it's very stressful. I think you guys need some relationship counselling to learn to manage conflict in non violent ways. Start with that. If it was up to Mumsnet everyone would divorce, everyone's childs life is apparently ruined and it's easy to leave. We all know this isn't true. Once you have both settled down talk to him about you both getting some therapy.

Endofyear · 05/04/2026 01:30

You both sound pretty awful to be honest. Poor baby!

ToKittyornottoKitty · 05/04/2026 02:15

You are as bad as each other

MarxistMags · 05/04/2026 02:36

You were both being childish.
Start communicating with each other !
And without the swearing.

PollyBell · 05/04/2026 02:45

No i dont see how you acted any better to be perfectly honest

PinkyFlamingo · 05/04/2026 02:52

What a shit show of a relationship to bring your child up in. And I know someone will always disagree with this and say "the babies here now"! but why bring another human being into this?

ShortiePant · 05/04/2026 03:00

You both need to learn how to communicate like adults and not bring the baby into arguments.

Imagine if your parents did this? If they did, then I'm sorry for you, and you know it's not right.

If you can't calmly talk about bakeries, cats and relatives visits, then consider communication courses, books, lectures, podcasts etc and attend or study together.

It will help you with this relationship, other relationships, including with your children, and employment.

LadyMacbethWasFierce · 05/04/2026 03:01

OP. I have rejoined this site after an awful bereavement (death of my daughter) with the intention of being kind and helpful where I can. I will never be brutal or deliberately nasty.

But truly, you and your child’s father are as bad as each other. Your post made for depressing reading. It’s all toxic.

You only get one chance to give your child the childhood she deserves. Make the next few decisions count. I think you probably need to separate from your child’s father. But whatever you do, try to do it with as few arguments as possible.

Isawthelightinhiseyes · 05/04/2026 03:07

BlanketBlues · 05/04/2026 00:14

You are both abusive.

this.

disturbia · 05/04/2026 03:16

Both your behaviours are unbelievably childish. You need to both grow up you are parents. Exposing your baby to that type of behaviour amouts to child abuse

fallback76 · 05/04/2026 03:20

You are both being abusive. Poor child. Separate for her sake, growing up in an abusive household is damaging on so many levels (I speak from being that child).

MaggieBsBoat · 05/04/2026 03:30

You were both abusive. But honestly you seem really difficult as a person. I couldn’t handle being with someone like this.

DaisyChain505 · 05/04/2026 04:04

How old are you @Twoopposingforces

This sounds like a very young toxic relationship. It’s sad to hear a child is involved.

GamingIsNotForLosers · 05/04/2026 04:18

Have you posted about this before?

DallazMajor · 05/04/2026 05:21

This is all very odd.

I mean who puts their cats in a cattery to go on a night out.

Ilovelurchers · 05/04/2026 07:14

He's completely wrong to hit you, and yes that's abusive.

I do however wonder if your consistent appalling treatment of him, endless criticisms, insisting on having your own way constantly, etc etc, also constitutes a form of abuse.

You need to separate, quite obviously. It sounds utterly appalling. Perhaps both stay single and focus on being parents and developing emotional maturity and kindness to others.

And why were your cats in the cattery due to date night?

Passaggressfedup · 05/04/2026 08:40

There are some frustrating moments and petty arguments which really don't matter in the scheme of life that should never excalate to abuse and resentment. This is one of them.

Arguing on and on expecting the other to admit they were wrong is a complete waste of energy. You have to accept that your partner will regularly do annoying things and you've got to let them go...and that goes both ways.

somanychristmaslights · 05/04/2026 08:47

Your poor child, growing up in this environment. You’re being abusive to the baby!!!

SamphiretheTervosaur · 05/04/2026 08:53

You both need to find someone to mediate your battle for adulthood

You are both wrong

You have a child

Seriously, find a counsellor and learn how to be adult about wherever it is your relationship is headed

LondonLady1980 · 05/04/2026 09:04

Well that was quite an escalation!!!

I’m guessing this isn’t the first time things have snowballed and then blown up like this?!

Regardless of all the verbal attacks towards each other he shouldn’t have put his hands on you.

This isn’t the kind of relationship you should be raising a child up in so you need to have a mature conversation and decide whether to either seek professional help or separate, but whatever you do you need to make sure it is done maturely and amicably for the sake of your baby.

Twoopposingforces · 05/04/2026 11:39

I do love him. Just overs arguments have gotten so nasty. Not from him, me too. I was always a bit nasty and then he started it. I try not to be nasty now.

OP posts: