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What to do? Stay or go?

6 replies

Mummaof2x · 21/03/2018 10:31

Heya I’m really feeling in limbo at the moment, finding myself staring to loose my love for my partner of 10 years. We were together for 5 years before DD came along and I saw the red flags but was young and naive and thought I could see past the anger issues and emotionally controlling ways. Of course back then I hadn’t realised it was emotional abuse and blamed his bad childhood thinking I could take him in under my wing and help him.
I’m now drained 10 years later and with a 5 and 2 year old, he can be a good dad but if he’s in a bad mood he has no filter for the children and they pick up on his anger. My DD is 5 and starting to copy his behaviour.
I’ve told him im close to leaving and he’s got abit better but still feel very unhappy with the dynamics of the relationship. I’m sick of living in a place that has punch holes in the wall from him, too embarrassed to have friends over, he ses he will fix it but keeps putting it off (it’s been a year now) I say I don’t want to live in a place where everything is bodged and his reply is that’s what I’ll get if I’m with him. I do all the childcare which I don’t mind but I do mind when he’s drunk and messes up the kids routine by disregarding what I say.
I also no he would make it hell for me if I left him, luckily I can go back to my mums but he already tells DD that I’m a shit mother or I’m horrible, she thinks her dads cool but I feel he’s a bad influence and worry if we have to co parent I won’t b around to try shelter her. I worry he will try brainwash her into thinking I’m bad, he’s very manipulative, once when I said I was close to leaving he said he would take the kids off me, I’ve become stronger now and starting to see through his manipulative ways so I know he can’t take the kids off me but he can use the kids as weapons and worry that he will. Have to add we would be in a hard financial state if we left but I’m prepared to work my ass off to better my kids and my life. Anyone been in my shoes? Or got advice?

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pumpkinpie01 · 21/03/2018 10:48

I know its easier said than done , but it can be done! You really need to leave him, you sound so unhappy. My ex would drink too much, never helped with childcare, quite capable of doing DIY but rarely did, he was emotionally abusive I couldnt see a way out and put up with it I had a 2,6 and 10 yr old, sounds very similar to your husband. Its draining, it drags you down and you deserve better , you know you do. Splitting up is hard but you know you are not going to live happily ever after with this domineering lazy wast of space so please try and get the ball rolling to start a life without him. Kids pick up when mums are unhappy, you and the kids deserve better x

celticmissey · 21/03/2018 11:00

Bless you life seems very risky and miserable for you and the children at the moment. You are right to leave in my opinion -violence is never good to be around especially for children - it can be very damaging. Look for a domestic abuse support service in your area. You can refer yourself normally or there is the National Centre for Domestic Violence you can speak to. They could help you discuss an exit plan for leaving so you do it as safely as possible for you and the children. They can also help with legal advice taking out restraining orders etc and local housing accommodation/finances. Don't feel threatened by his threats about the children he's just trying to frighten and control you - but do record what he says and when he says it - you can refer to this in court if he contests custody of the children. You and the kids deserve a happy life - but you can get specialist help and advice to get you throught it. Best of luck

Mummaof2x · 21/03/2018 11:58

Thanks for your advice celticmissey!
Pumpkin pie I would love to know your story, how did things go when it came to custody of the children? I know my daughter doesn’t want to leave her home and we would have to. We live in a mobile home on his parents land so it’s not like I’m going to kick him out. I know she wouldn’t choose to live at her nannies. My son is 2 so luckily he doesn’t have much to say on the matter but my daughter loves her dad to the moon even if he is angry sometimes, I hope she will one day see I did it for her best interests as well as mine. X

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Mummaof2x · 21/03/2018 12:03

I’ve already got a stash of money, clothes and toys at my mums waiting. Things got really bad in jan/feb so I was very close to leaving but he could see that and is now being nicer so it’s almost harder! I’m aware of the cycles of abuse though so I’m almost waiting for his next wave of darkness to say enough is enough. I think I’ve got so used to it being terrible that when it’s just about ok I think it’s great. It’s hard when he’s nice I feel like I’m betraying him by thinking about leaving him.

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Mummaof2x · 21/03/2018 12:07

Sorry to keep on but I have wrote a dairy of everything since January and also have voice recordings of him when he’s going off on one but I don’t want it to get to that stage. I do feel some peace that I have evidence though as I just don’t know if he will get nasty over custody of the kids.

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pumpkinpie01 · 21/03/2018 13:44

When we split up he decided he didnt want me to have any free time whatsover so he refused to have the kids all at the same time, he drank more, gave me endless grief, cried to my mother (Who thought as he hadnt been physically violent I should stay with him!). Im not going to lie life was stressful there were endless arguments, there was no reasoning with him over seeing the kids more, he once pushed me out of the car in front of the children, it took me 2 and a half years to divorce him he ignored all the solicitors paperwork, the list goes on. But... I was happier, happier mum = happier kids. There was no one criticising me, being too harsh with the kids, swearing in front of them etc. And now fast forward 14 years my kids are happy well adjusted lovely people I have been with my lovely partner for 12 years and we have a 4yr old together, life is good. You can do this. Can you get your name on the list for a council house? How does that work where you live ? Can you move into your mums ? Can you claim benefits to hep you get by ?

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