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How much help do you accept from Ex DP before feeling uncomfortable??...

12 replies

shanelle5 · 17/08/2013 09:35

Ok another advice post from me - sorry Blush
Im so sorry its long.
I know many of you would love to be in this situation so apologies in advance if it seems insensitive complaining/asking about "too much" help from your ex but there is a back story.
Ex is very controlling and will (and has) frequently used his apparent kind gestures as leverage to point score at a later date so I am nervous with good reason about the amount he is offering to do currently. He has a severe MH disorder and can be a very dangerous man so I do have reasons for feeling extremely nervous, and need some sound advice as to whether Im being unreasonable and need a slap in the face with a wet kipper or am right to be wary etc.

Ok so now Ive hopefully helped to understand the history, here it is. Ex is offering to pay off half of the debts incurred by himself (he peed off leaving me in the shit after racking up a loadof bills that Im still paying off) This is appropriate and Im in agreement with him contributing to these by half at least. But also he has started offering to pay pocket money to my 3 DD (his step kids), to pay for us to go to Center Parcs, to put us up in a hotel recently when I had taken them camping, and basically just trying to throw money that he doesnt have at us, it feels, as a way or keeping some control over us. For example, my girls dont speak to him, are hurt he left us the way he did and causing a lot of damage in doing so. It feels like the pocket money is a way in....We were happy camping, the insistence of him keep calling me and offering a fancy hotel felt like an intrusion, a knocking of my confidence in my ability to look after the kids and just generally him saying "you need me, and my help, you cant do this alone"..

The offer of him to buy me a car/holidays etc is much the same feeling and he has already started with the "after all ive done for you" and Oh you say youve got loads of friends but IM the only one doing anything to help you" lines. I knew he would throw it all back at me and to expect him to use all the "nice" things he had been doing and was wary initially of accepting any help from him but figured as I really need his assistence financially and he did leave me in debt. Also that I had no right to turn down help for my children so on their behalf I accepted whatever he has been offering even though I felt uncomfortable with it. He stole thousands from me and my children and what he is giving back to us currently is just the tip of the iceberg and can never compensate financially or emotionally for what he owes but I feel Im losing my self respect and dignity by letting him swoop in and "help" me then lord it over me making me feel that I should be grateful to him for doing the right thing (and of course above and beyond with the car/holidays etc).
I almost feel like im prostituting myself with the underlined/implied leverage he is gaining with the whole "Ive paid for this/done this for you" being used as leverage for contact with his son. Please advise me honestly, Im still recovering from a very damaging abusive relationship with this man and no longer trust my own judgement. My self esteem is so low and I dont have any RL family, just womens aid and a key worker from SS who all say he is manipulating me Confused

OP posts:
Svrider · 17/08/2013 10:33

Hi op
Why are you paying ANY of his depts?
These should be his to pay off, not you
Does he pay maintenance?

Do not accept money for car/holidays etc

Good luck with it all

WillyandTig · 17/08/2013 10:38

Trust the key worker and social services. He is trying to manipulate you through money.

bunchamunchycrunchycarrots · 17/08/2013 10:48

I think you are right to feel uncomfortable with this set up but I also think you need a new narrative re him 'helping' you with paying his debts. He's not 'helping' you, he's paying not anywhere near enough of his own debt. Does correcting him on this cause arguments? In your shoes, I'd let him pay the debts, but decline everything else. Just be a broken record, you are not in any need for his offers of 'luxury/treats' etc. You need to draw a line there and stick to it. If doing that means he stops paying his debts, does that have serious implications on your security/home etc. I'm guessing he's run these debts up either in your name or jointly - it might be worth looking into what you need to do if its left down to you and see what options you have. But ultimately I think you need strong boundaries with him and stick to them, even if it means you end up in a really difficult position financially. I've been in a similar situation with my ex, except he never offered any help at all. It's totally screwed my chances of ever getting that 'nice house' I want for me & my DD and I occasionally get Angry thinking about how he screwed me over. But I can't get blood out of a stone so I've just had to adjust to the severe lack of money I now have, and will continue to have for a long time to come.

YoniBottsBumgina · 17/08/2013 10:57

Don't accept ANY help - he sounds awful and manipulative and for this reason you must bring it right down to a cold but polite, businesslike arrangement, no rearranging things to be reasonable, no negotiation, set the terms and that is it.

If you have DC together (I'm sorry, this wasn't clear) he has set contact times (for DC benefit, not to "help" you although it will benefit you anyway, that's not to say he can use it as leverage), set maintenance (again, for DC benefit, nothing to do with "helping" you - he is meeting his responsibility to support his child, nothing more, nothing less. You do not have to justify what you spend this on.)

Do not accept money for your children who aren't his - they aren't his responsibility and he is not doing it out of the kindness of his heart. You say they don't want to see him? That makes it simpler, no contact, no maintenance, pocket money, whatever he wants to call it - keep them out of it.

You need proper legal advice about the debts - are they solely in your name? That could make things tricky.

miku · 17/08/2013 11:12

Hi S, Ive had a similar but more low-key situation, where manipulation is used for control purposes. I can hear your conflict within yourself- and that's what it is. YOU know that his involvement with you feeds into your insecurity. THIS is his role in your life- to strengthen your self respect, and own security. YOU have done wonderfully without him, have 3 DD of your own, and you have to really learn to love and respect YOURSELF. HE is not part of your story, but reflects back your own fear and insecurity. Please allow yourself to really separate from him, and let him get the professional help for his illness.
I am only saying this cos I understand it well. :-)

shanelle5 · 17/08/2013 11:49

OOh thankyou all SO very much for the wonderful, helpful replies.
Yes the debts were in joint name. When together, we ran up debt of massive proportion for all essentials, gas/electric, rent, council tax, whilst he stole my and DD savings and gambled them away Blush Sad
Then he skipped off and left me to pay it all, and yes I am liable - not to mention stupid for getting myself into this situation so I have put them all onto lowest poss re-payment plans which I can manage at a squessze but they will take years to pay off and as half are his, I was fooled into getting suckered in at first of the nice, seemingly genuine offers to help.
crunchycarrots yes you have it SO right, any questioning,correcting on my part will cause arguements and I am a little scared/intimidated by this thought. I have conftrontation and just the thought of him kicking off again makes me feel sick inside. I go along with stuff Im not comfortable with for a quiet life. Im ashamed of my weakness and KNOW I need to be stronger and start saying no. Blush
Yes that would leave me very skint and its been tempting to go along and accept the money for the actula difference it makes and a quiet life to boot but as I said and you have all confirmed, its not right and I need to grow a pair and instill some boundaries.

YONI yes we have a 9 month old together, which has made it tough for me as Id really like to walk away and wash my hands of him, altogether but I have to see him regularly and put up with the way this makes me feel so DS can have contact.

MIKU just, thankyou xxx It really helps when someone understands asd sometimes I am so very muddled I dont even know what is right anymore Sad

OP posts:
shanelle5 · 17/08/2013 11:50

Sorry for all the spelling errors, I hope you can decipher! I AM literate really, just have a 9 month old chewing my arm Smile

OP posts:
balia · 17/08/2013 12:04

I agree with all the advice given - and would add - detatch. Step back from conversations unless on basic practical stuff to do with contact. Write out the debts, making it clear which part of it is his responsibility. Then like buncha says, everytime he 'offers' to help out, you can just say - "we can talk about things like that when the debt is paid off".

And you are getting maintainence, are you?

miku · 17/08/2013 12:36

it can be really damaging to children to be in between 2 arguing parents, and firm boundaries and also very clear times/ money repayment will stop you feeling manipulated. (again I have been there)
Sounds like the SS could to step in to support you here......for the sake of the youngest. Its not always best to see father if father can be unsettled....IYKWIM..

TwoStepsBeyond · 17/08/2013 13:32

If he has money to throw around he should be paying more off the debts, not offering to put you up in a hotel when you're quite happy camping etc.

I would suggest that whenever he offers to pay for something 'unnecessary' you should say "thanks that's not necessary, I can manage, but if you have some spare cash feel free to pay some extra off the debts". It won't be easy for you to say that if you could use the extra money and you find it hard standing up to him - I imagine he won't make it any easier for you either - but he needs to know he's not in control anymore.

Agree with Balia, make a proper repayment plan, not just the minimum, and if possible get some legal help to make sure he sticks to it, but don't accept his 'help' in other areas as you know it comes at a cost.

shanelle5 · 17/08/2013 17:27

Thankyou for all the advice, it has given me the courage to do what I need, I just do not trust my judgement so much these days, so when I think Im getting something right and my instinct tells me otherwise, I find it better to check and appreciate the wisdom and honest advice you can get on here.
Also I find it rather spooky (but helpful) how spot on the other parents on here are! Its obvious that a fair few of us have had the same type of relationship which is unfortunate but good to be able to support and advise each other Smile

OP posts:
miku · 18/08/2013 16:52

xxxxxx

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