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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Dealing a husband that shuts you down

11 replies

Hopek · 13/02/2022 03:30

Married woman here,I seem to have it all,to the outsiders but am dying inside.I am Married to a nice man financially but emotionally and mentally draining man.He supports us financially so I feel lucky not to worry about finances while I stay home with our 3 and 5 year old kids. My issue is to him as long as he is bringing in the money,pays the bills(to be fair not all bills are paid in time (right away),I have found myself in a position where I have to call in to ask for more grace periods or installments.so even if he does his best with finances, we still struggle, but not so much to pressure me.

My problem is, he is a baby man at home even though successful in career. I find myself supervising him like a 2 year old. that would not be a problem if he didn't have the nastiest attitude when being corrected.For example,He doesn't pay attention to keeping anything he finds clean clean,or orderly.He is extremely disorganised.whereas I agree it's my job to clean the 4 stalled house because am a stay home mom(we can't afford a cleaner) .it is our responsibility to keep it clean as a family.I have no family I can return to for support for whatever ever since our kids were born, his family live far,they still work full time and cannot help with the kids.if they do it's once in 6months etc.So am tired,exhausted but he doesn't seem to understand where am coming from when I ask him to take the roll of mentioning things in order. He gets upset, throws tantrum when corrected etc,which makes me feel ungrateful that he is working his ass off,he tells me that too.each time I correct him,he shuts me up immediately or shuts me down.I feel I don't have an understanding person in him,I feel my feelings are not considered,on top of all these he doesn't keep his word,for example,I asked him to help with the kid's play room,it was a mess with toys (since he is not at home Monday to Friday, I proposed he takes care of the kids on Sundays,that was after I almost lost my mind with 2 kids ,by the were a new born an a 1year and 3months old .And sleep deprivation .he was always in bed on weekends as an entitlement for his day job.i had to make sure the kids didn't cry if I wanted a peace from him,otherwise he would storm the room and I would feel his wrath of being woken up from his sweet sleep.After a long struggle and fights both verbal and physical,I gave him an alternative and he was smart to step in to help hence him having a Sunday with the kids).

Even though I have had issues with the kids as my stress factors.My major stress factor is my husband. He doesn't listen to me.i get shut down immediately.so because of always being shut down, our problems are never solved which leaves me feeling angry,with time resentful.i have been battered before,latest was last Christmas (reason was because a day earlier we were invited by our neighbour since i have no family here, an

A little background about his family. is a blended family so they prefer to have the children of his step father over on Christmas and us on a later date because we have kids and they(his step brothers) don't plus his older sister doesn't like children. So his mother says with us present on Christmas at the same time as them,they won't have time for the kids.That's another story but, So am still afraid of leaving,because am financially totally dependant on him.I tried finding a night job, he shut me down about it ,saying the kids need me,his job will be on the line,he is always exalting his needs above my needs.his career above mine.yet he claims he didn't marry me to be a house wife etc and that he I don't have stress about finances. I feel he doesn't get it.he calls me nagging, and ungrateful but honestly I just want a listening ear and understanding heart from him.i am starting to believe am too much for him and hence seeing myself as a problem in his life. Any counselor would advise to talk to him about how I feel,but that's the problem, I can't talk to him.his mom has called me lazy and a person with excuses,reason because when the kids were born, I prioritised them over having a clean house,which he would take photos and send them to his family in return his family would call me dirty and messy,which wad the opposite, I was just choosing to take care of the kids who were under 2years at that time,so yeah,I don't have a listening ear from his family either.
After a long struggle, I managed to bring him to counseling, the first counselor,saw him as the problem and advised him to get further help but he never did,I brought in the second counselor, she said I was the strong one mentally and emotionally so I had to shoulder his behaviour because she believed he was not ready yet or there yet.so he doesn't get it .and needs time to be rehabilitated(he did nor a proper up bringing.he raised himself although his parents are still alive.)
I am at the stage where I want to check out completely but the problem because of his lack of understanding, he throws tantrum,if I sexually check out.we have a big house if he were understanding we would just seperate bedrooms and we don't have to see each on a daily basis as he works.but he doesn't instead confuses me that he loves me and doesn't want to lose me,yet,he won't let down his walls and be understanding.
Any help? Or anyone been there?

OP posts:
Hopek · 13/02/2022 03:46

Sorry I see so many spelling errors.
I wanted to finish the reasons I was battered on Christmas, the neighbour invited us and too was present he agrees to the invitation, the next day,he felt sick(due to Covid-19 he had his concerns) I called the neighbour he said it's OK we could go since we live like a family anyways,and they were fully vaccinated, so he wanted to stay which was OK,but he wanted to control my decision and force me to stay home as well.something I rejected, then he thre tantrum, I stayed silent and kept my peace, I got the kids ready, he got more furious, went blocked my way,stood in the way and blocked me, when I tried to pa's through, infrint of my kids,he pushed me hard on the floor hitting my head on the wall.i blacked out for a while, when I got back up, my tail bone was bruised. I was determined to go to the neighbour's, he pulled me and tore my shirt at the back as I tried to run through the back door.For 2weeks I couldn't walk properly. The neighbours must have heard the scuffle( hoyses are attached) he came to my rescue, the kids and were able to live the house.before we left,he ordered me to cover up the torn shirt.

OP posts:
HeyRememberThatTime · 13/02/2022 07:20

Your husband is abusive. I'm sorry you're living like this. When he attacked you at Christmas you should have called the police. Has that happened before?

Even without the physical violence, so much of what you describe is emotional abuse. I hope you will leave him but I know it's easier said than done and I don't know the best way to go about it. Hopefully someone will be along with practical advice.

hattie43 · 13/02/2022 07:51

It won't be good for your children to see this animosity. This relationship won't last .
My advice is get yourself some personal financial security and leave . If you don't you'll be typing the same thing in 5 yrs 10 yrs etc etc.

As an aside I never understand why a woman sacrifices her financial security by giving up work and never having money of her own. Many relationships break down and you need to work towards financial independence. Start building an emergency fund , plan a pension etc etc . Money allows you freedom to make decisions and choices for yourself . If you do split up you can keep a roof over you and the children's heads.
Your husband is abusive and if this is not the life you want make steps to leave . Good luck it's never easy .

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

JanglyBeads · 13/02/2022 08:08

www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

Please get in touch with Women's Aid, they will listen to you and support you to work out what to do next.

Hopek · 13/02/2022 09:18

Yes the physical abuse has been on since I got pregnant with my first.I don't remember what the cause was but, in the middle of the argument, I left and went to the bedroom ofcourse I was pregnant so I didn't want to risk our baby.i tend to be quite when upset, so I got quite,and he tends to follow me everywhere when I walk away from the argument, at that time our apartment was small so I was in the bedroom. He comes and asks me to sit up so we can talk.i refused.He continues talking( something you may say explaining your side of the story) but when we have an argument and I stay quite,to me that's should be a sign that am not interested in the cat fight. I am trying to take a step back to process my feeling,something he did not understand and takes personal and comes and evades my spaces ,doesn't keep quite or let it be for a moment so we can revisit the topic later when we are both calm,he instead accuses me of ignoring him and giving him the silent treatment.i have let him know reasons why I would be quite in such situations, what he should etc he promised he would change(when we were not fighting) and yes ,he broke his word over and over again.For him,In an argument, he wants to go full force without holding back,yet he does alot of damage than a hurricane and with this, after such storms,I need along time to forgive and let go.So he doesn't give me the space to mourn my feeling and lost energy in the fight or nurse my wounds I sustained as he wants to for you to talk to him there and then after a fight.He has intentionally blocked me from going to bed in past as well, blocked me from walking out of the door to go to the only friend I had at that time in that village his reason is that she was divorced and could poison our marriage. He has broken my phones,laptops in the past.

so yes when I was pregnant,during an argument, he hit me on the head with a pregnancy pillow.you know the huge ones pregnant women use to support their bellies.Next time around 7months into the same pregnancy, he pushed me on the wall,and I was lucky the tall metallic open shoe stand(about a metre high) didn't cut my fat belly open.but it left me with a slight cut.

The next incident happened when our second kid was born, we had been fighting almost the whole day(yes whole day, he wouldn't control himself, so we fought in episodes, series,seasons whatever you may call it.like we start shooting a series about house hold trash recyclable trash,which was his only job at home which he never did without my supervision or countless reminders.in this particular incident he had not taken the recyclable trash out for about 6-8months.i was tired of reminding him and had give up.( didn't drive a car at the time,hence not being able to do it myself. ) so yeah that day after seeing so much trash on the balcony I was so upset,at myself that I couldn't drive, I mixed that with 3hour sleep since I had a newborn and a toddler,with little help from him.i was pushed to storm the room where he was still sleeping after a whole night of computer games. I confronted him.As always,he hates it when I confront or question him.That wad the cause of my battering.He would then do what I asked him to do with tantrum like a teenager. So I felt I had a newborn,a toddler and a teenager. I was OK with the newborn because they never physically abused me.
Alittle bit about my back ground, I come from a Christian home where submission in marriage is emphasised and women are responsible for home keeping.So I did not grow up seeing nasty arguments, hence my silence during arguements (I never knew how to argue or raise my voice,something he took advantage of.Then I learnt the hard way and started standing up to his bullying behaviour, Then I feel I became him,something I dread.

I have called police on him 2x the first time, I had come from work, shortly after our wedding, I was working an evening shift,since I couldn't drive I had about 4hours to and from.By the end of the day I would be destroyed as my job requires me to physically lift etc. I was working full time, and took care of the house hold full-time.i was tired,i returned at around 22:30,he wanted sex, I was not up for it, he took it personal, threw tantrum, I ignored him, went to bed, he came to give me forced cuddles, I let him I would rather sleep, he started from there,I left the room, to the bathroom locked myself there hoping the wind will die down, nope, he started shooting episode 2, I had work the next day so I needed sleep, like I said he always put his needs above mine hence not getting the point or empathising. I didn't know what to do,he was drinking wine and he threw the glass down,started walking in the floor with broken glasses, I felt scared for him and me,like he was a danger to himself and to me, so called the police.When the police arrived, if he hadn't hit me then there was no case.They assessed the situation as a small family argument and advised we separate temporarily to breath.I couldn't explain how I was feeling.i was feeling guilt for calling police,for confronting him,so I felt I was the problem. And not mature enough to handle such a small arguement.

Second time I called police was that day after he assaulted me because of the recyclable trash episode.,series.almost the same situation, the fight started in the morning, it was now close to midnight, I had been ignoring in between and picking my battles for the sake of the kids,because the situation was getting out of hand so I needed to put our kids first above my feelings..since their father was already out of control.That evening once they were in bed,he started from where he stopped.blocked me for going to bed, I managed to go to bed,he came and turned on full lights, and started talking/discussions, ( his talking is so intense that it goes through all my nerves.it is not this calm conversations .They are more of accusations and blame games.They are never solution oriented but him playing the victim so it never ends.Even though the real victims here would be our kids).So I had had enough, I wrote our neighbours upstairs and asked them to help me call police.i was scared.which they did.The woman was pregnant at that time.

My husband rarely drinks so he is not an alcoholic.but he does smoke weed,I honestly don't know what I was thinking to marry him, it's mainly because I was a Christian and I thought I was strong enough to change him, how stupid! But also I never judged him, I wanted to love him the way he was after all there are many Christians living like Satan himself. I saw beyond his weed or cigarettes, I was not so bothered by it but I was mistaken,I played myself.And I blame myself for leading me here,now with 2kids it's too late,I feel if I leave,he is mostly a great dad,our kids love him, if I leave I will be breaking the family,something he has told me over and over. One kid is now going to school,next year the second one will start, I was hoping that once the pressure of children is taken off me, I might work and be able to leave quietly as I don't want our kids to feel the pain of finances die to my decisions. So I feel staying is selfish but leaving is selfish too.

When the police arrived, I was asked if he had beaten,I knew what that question meant for him and for our kids,I found myself protecting him again.so I said no.The difference with this police segment, after he had drunk wine,he left the house to the cellar to find more wine,which terrified me hence me locking him out and left the key in the door.i was smart though to record everything since morning and I sent the Audios to the God parents of our kids. So when I locked him out, he got impulsive and went to his car and drove off,he was a bit drunk.Our neighbours had gone outside to meet the police,so as my husband drove off the police were arriving,he was driving recklessly endangering the pregnant neighbour who was standing in front of the parking house, so she told them that they just bypassed him.The police went after him,and asked ordered him to stop, he did not listen(he never does,which is the main problem of our marriage).he continued and bumped into a street light pole with 100km/per hour. It was a miracle he made it.The took him to the hospital.i remained home to recieve beatings from his family.His mother blamed me.our kids God mother sent the recorded audios to his mother ,things got even more worse.the God mother was the only understanding of them all.i should stop here otherwise I will be launching a book if I go on😀

OP posts:
Peridot1 · 13/02/2022 09:26

You need to leave him. He is NOT a good father. A good father doesn’t hit his wife.

Call Woman’s Aid. They can help you.

TerraNovaTwo · 13/02/2022 09:33

Life is far too precious and short for this bullshit.

He sounds utterly repulsive. Agree with PP to contact Women's Aid. Look at options, seek advice, make plans and leave quietly.

CrackerGal · 13/02/2022 11:18

His family beat you too?
Are you all in the UK?
You really need to get yourself & your kids out of there.
Read back over what you've written.
What would your advice be to your daughter if she told you her husband had done all that?
If you're in the UK you can go to women's aid. You can leave with the clothes on your back just you & your kids.
Sounds like you'd be better off starting fresh away from him.
Of course he's going to say you can't break the family.
That's what abusers do, they manipulate their victims.
His family sound just as bad, did they really beat you?
You need to get out fast, or your kids will grow up thinking that's how men act.

CarolineMumsnet · 13/02/2022 15:24

We're so sorry to hear you're going through this, OP.
We hope you don't mind, but when these threads are flagged to us we like to link to our web-guides, which we hope may be helpful. If you'd like to, please do feel free to take a look at our Domestic Violence page.

Very best wishes from all at MNHQ Flowers

Hopek · 13/02/2022 15:50

Thank you ladies for all your advise and encouragement.unfortunately I am in Switzerland not the UK.i have just read through the link of women Aid,and it is more clear.Language barrier is also not working in my favour either as am an English speaker and require German to be understood.Am planning to acquire some money from him so I can consult a lawyer (As I don't want to raise any suspicions.)

Before I got married,I was always wondering why a woman would stay in an abusive relationship. But tasting abuse first hand,when children are involved leaving becomes even harder because one feels trapped like I am but doesn't have the courage to live Especially when they get death threats like I do,saying if I dare walk away with the kids he will find me and kill me. I also have hard time accepting social money that's why I want to first get a job so I can afford an apartment for myself. I don't want to run away from dependency to more dependency, One asked here what advise would I give to my daughter in such a situation, having a job and money for yourself is everything.I am mostly battling with if my kids will ever forgive me for separating them with their father etc.Because he said if I ever left with the kids,he too would live the country and the government won't force a penny out of him.so I would be on my own.I am literally as scared,confused,yet in pain.Knowing the kind of person he is,if am to leave I need to have planned out every single step in silence.
And I agree with someone that said in 10 years I will still be posting the same if I don't leave now. Truth,I don't wish him bad inspite of all he has done,I don't have it in me to throw him in jail or have him punished,I just want a peaceful transition which he definitely won't cooperate to.

Atleast after reading from all of you,I have the confidence that I am not imagining things like he has made feel,calling me crazy making me question my own reality.I really appreciate each and everyone here that has lent me their ears,the fact that you gave me a none emotional picture of my situation. Helps me feel heard and understood.

No,to be specific someone who asked if his family was beating me.The answer is No, not physically but verbally yes to make me question further my reality and make me believe I was indeed the problem not their son.But their son was physically beating me or bruising me.

OP posts:
CrackerGal · 13/02/2022 16:22

That's good I'm glad his family aren't physically hurting you, although it's not acceptable they're trying to gaslight you into thinking you're in the wrong.
I think something got lost in the language barrier & translation that's why I thought you meant this.
Are you from Switzerland too?
Do you have any family around who could help you?
There is no shame in accepting help while you need it from the government or whoever. Don't think that there is. I job etc could come later.
Sounds to me like you need to get to a safe place, that's your first priority.
If he's giving you death threats as well do not tell him when you decide to leave in case he decides to follow through on his threats.
Surely the children would be more unhappy in a violent home that one where their mum isn't working yet & is relying on government assistance, but that they're safe in?
I think you need to get out fast.
You don't deserve to be treated this way.

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