I'm sitting here in shock and feeling really upset tonight and would appreciate some outside perspective.
Things have been difficult between my husband and me for a long time. We have a child with complex needs and I have ended up carrying the vast majority of the responsibility for managing appointments, school issues, day-to-day care and the emotional fallout, alongside working. For years we didn’t see eye to eye with ASN and the associated adjustments we’ve made (essentially I’ve driven them and he has i think felt pushed aside, though I’d say he’s just not engaged in it all). He also has a history of losing his temper and really shouting about 2-3 times a year with seemingly no trigger, although recently that seemed to have improved. In fact, earlier today I found myself thinking that maybe, somehow, we might actually be okay in the end.
Then tonight happened.
Our son's duvet cover was wet, so I put it in the wash. As my husband sleeps in the spare room (I co-sleep with our daughter), I took his duvet and put it on our son's bed, leaving my husband with a sleeping bag and a smaller duvet for one night until the other one dries. It was a fast practical decision made after a busy day.
Later, while I was trying to settle our daughter to sleep (which was already difficult), my husband stormed into the room shouting about how dare I take his duvet. I explained why I'd done it, but he just carried on shouting.
At that point our son came in. He was home on time and asked if his friend could come in for a while. My husband immediately started shouting at him, swearing and telling him to get rid of his friend. My son questioned why, saying he wasn't due in bed yet and just wanted to hang out. My husband got right up in his face to the point where I genuinely worried it was going to become physical.
My son then said, "What about Mum? Doesn't she get a say?" and my husband shouted, "No, she doesn't."
His friend left, clearly uncomfortable. My son is now crying in his room and won't speak to me. My daughter is frightened and crying too.
The truth is that I'm exhausted. Between caring for our daughter, working, and trying to keep everything afloat, I feel like I'm on my last legs most of the time. People often say "just leave", but the practical and emotional reality of separation feels almost impossible when I'm already barely coping.
I also think I've made a lot of excuses for him over the years. Because so much of my focus has been on the children and their needs, our relationship has often come a distant second. I've told myself he's stressed, that things could be worse, that we're both under pressure. Lately I genuinely felt we had got to a better place, which is why tonight has come as such a shock.
Am I overreacting, or is this as bad as it feels tonight? I feel heartbroken for both children and honestly don't know what to think anymor