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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Marrying an abusive partner.

89 replies

thefinerthingsinlife · 28/07/2010 14:34

Ok I have been posting in Feminism/womens rights about this and one of the lovely ladys over there reconmended posting it here.

I'm sort of posting on behalf of my sil, she is in an abusive relationship, but wont pist on here herself as in her eyes its not 'proper' abuse. So I intend on showing her your responses.

Brief discription of the relationship

My sil is 29

She has been in the relationship for 4 years. She jumped straight from one relationship into this one. She meet him on the internet and move 100's of miles to live with him.

We found out 6 months(roughly) he has hit her a couple of times and is regularly verbally abusive to her on a daily bases.

She works full time to pay the bills and he does not work.

A few month ago it reached a head and she had enough of the abuse and left, and was temparaily staying with a friend my dh and I were going to travel and get her, she told us she quit her job and was all set to move back down. However just before we were leaving she rang and said i'm staying up here. Dh asked if she had got back with the boyfriend and she said no.

It turns out she had got back with him and was back living with him.

Her parents are very pro-marriage and are encouraging her to marry him as that will help 'fix' there relationship. And they keep asking her about when they are going to have babies.

She thinks this guy is her last chance to get married and have a family, a thought that is reinforced by her parents.

I have tried everything to make her see but she has no self confidence and can comprihend that she can not rely on others for her happiness, and that she needs to love herself before anyone else can.

Please her her see that she doesn't have to stay in an abusive relationship and she most definately shopuldn't marry him/have children with him

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ElephantsAndMiasmas · 28/07/2010 18:00

She needs to know it is never ok for someone to hit you. Even if she was standing there telling him to do it, he shouldn't.

Does she work? I'm trying to think of frameworks of support that she has away from him.

thefinerthingsinlife · 28/07/2010 18:05

fruit of the spirt you mean this?

Yes she works full time, he doesnt work so she supports both of them.

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Katisha · 28/07/2010 18:42

Yes basically in the New Testament (Galatians) Paul is writing about what should characterise a Christian, and says that they display these attributes:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Here's another good one about what love looks like (1 Corinthians) :

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

But as I say, anyone can quote the Bible to their own ends, and I'm sure our man thinks he is very righteous. So getting engaged with bible verse flinging is probably counter-productive.

Katisha · 28/07/2010 18:43

He doesn't work??? Why not???

thefinerthingsinlife · 28/07/2010 19:08

Because he's a lazy f**k!

He is apparently looking for work but has been for 4 years. But every so often he has a hair brained get rich sceme that he invests her money in

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Katisha · 28/07/2010 19:16

I imagine he thinks ordinary work is what lesser mortals do. He is above all that. And if he were to work, he would immediately make a fortune.
Oh dear.
SO how are you going to get her to see the thread?

MaudofallHopefulness · 28/07/2010 19:19

Aside from the fact that her partner is a lazy, abusive twunt, I really do want to stress that even if he wasn't, 29 is VERY YOUNG! She has loads of time to find a lovely man. She has time to be single for a couple of years and sort herself out and meet someone and get married and have kids. It really isn't her last chance and she should not feel pressured at all.

SassySusan · 28/07/2010 19:20

Message deleted

thefinerthingsinlife · 28/07/2010 19:43

Katisha i'm starting to think you've met him, you hit the nail on the head with being above working.

She's meant to be visting in the next few weeks fingers crossed, she normally comes twice a year and spends a night with us. So we will sit her down then and show her.

I think theres going to be alot of tears.

And i know im going to need all the luck in the world

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Katisha · 28/07/2010 19:47

Sadly I've had dealings with two of him. They all seem to follow the same script.

(Fortunately it wasn't me in the relationship on either occasion, but was close enough to be affected.)

Alambil · 28/07/2010 20:51

is she a christian too?

feel free to mail me - I am christian, married my abuser, had a child with him and reaped the consequences - too long to go into here but am more than happy to type an essay email to you

freedom6606 at hotmail dot com

AnyFucker · 28/07/2010 20:53

abusive, lazy cocklodgers are two-a-penny, tbh

although I feel sorry for your SIL, I feel sorrier that she hasn't got the gumption/self-respect to realise how badly she is being played

if she isn't ready to open her eyes to it, you are pissing in the wind, despite your best intentions

thefinerthingsinlife · 28/07/2010 21:06

ive just email you lewisfan.

It does feel like that AF, but I feel like I have to do somthing iyswim

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thefinerthingsinlife · 28/07/2010 21:07

yes she is a christian

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AnyFucker · 28/07/2010 21:18

I know, finer

I don't think you are wrong to try

I posted about a dilemma I was in wrt a mate of mine a couple of weeks ago

There is only so much you can do...until people really are prepared to listen

Katisha · 28/07/2010 21:20

ANy point in emailing the thread to her, or does he intercept all her emails/note her internet activity?

BertieBotts · 28/07/2010 21:21

Have not read the whole thread - but can you print out/email her a link to the thread Reality posted months ago which gets bumped every now and again. Called "Listen up everybody" if you want to search for it.

Also sounds like she could do with a copy of Toxic Parents.

And finally if she thinks she would be wasting women's aid's time by ringing them perhaps at least get her to look at their website, she might change her mind, she might not.

Overall just let her know whatever she decides to do you'll always be there if she wants to talk or needs somewhere to stay or anything - if she can't see it now she might do in a year, two years, five years down the line - if she has left him once she might one day be able to gather the strength to do so again, when she realises that marriage has NOT calmed him down, and she needs to know you are not going to turn around and say "I told you so".

MarineIguana · 28/07/2010 21:26

Another thing for her to remember is that given that marriage will not solve anything, and things will probably get worse, there will very likely come a time when she does leave him anyway. When she makes that decision she really does not want to be having her kids over to this nasty, damaging man to look after - and that's the best-case scenario. The worst is that he turns out to be one of those controlling men who so can't bear being left that he takes revenge through the children.

She's lucky, very lucky, that she hasn't had kids with him - so now is the time to get out.

She's only 29! 29 gives her plenty time enough to have kids, and to go to counselling and sort out the self-esteem problems her appalling parents have lumbered her with.

thefinerthingsinlife · 28/07/2010 21:28

I have emailed her the signs of a loser link. So by her response to that i'll see wethet to email her this or to wait till she comes down.

I'll search for the reality thread.

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ElephantsAndMiasmas · 29/07/2010 02:41

good thinking. let us know what she says x

ValiumSingleton · 29/07/2010 11:14

Here it is BB

By: RealityIsMyOnlyValentine

I shall say this only once.

Actually, no I won't, I will keep repeating it until the message gets through.

Every person deserves to have a relationship where they are treated with respect, love and equality.

There is never an excuse for verbal, physical or emotional abuse.

If you partner treats you like shit, it is their fault. It is not because of something you have done.

You can't change an abusive man by being 'better' or sticking by him where others haven't, or by changing yourself.

Most people have happy relationships, where disagreements happen and are resolved without resorting to shouting, name calling or violence or screwing someone else.

Most people's partners are happy for them to pursue their own friendships and interests, work and education, have access to money, make decisions.

Most people in a relationship stay faithful. They don't have affairs or cyber-sex or obsessively wank over porn day and night.

Don't be fooled into thinking that dysfunctional relationships are the norm. There are many of them on here, but then people don't tend to ask for advice on healthy relationships, so we hear less about them.

Relationships are not supposed to be hard work, that is a big fat myth. Yes, you should work at your relationship but that is not the same thing at all.

Nobody should live their life in fear of angering their partner, or skirting round issues that might upset him. Or put up with cheating and lying for fear of rocking the boat.

Nobody should 'stay together for the children', or because of your marriage vows. If your husband treats you badly, he has broken the vows. Children are much much happier being brought up by parents who live apart than in an atmosphere of fear and loathing.

Just because you've escaped a level 10 bastard, doesn't mean you should settle for the level 8 one that comes along. The only acceptable level of abuse is none.

Just because all your friends are in bad relationships, doesn't mean that you have to be.

I really want to debunk the myth that all men are bastards. They simply aren't. If you feel that all the men you meet are, it's because you are unconsciously sending out vibes to these men. They can spot a target a mile off.

Be on your own. It is much easier than sticking by a tosser. If you have been in more than one abusive relationship, seek some counselling, you may be co-dependant, or you may be modelling relationships on a warped template, perhaps from childhood.

If he abuses you, he is not a good father. Good fathers don't treat the mother of their children with disrespect.

It doesn't matter how much he says sorry and makes it up to you, if he continues to abuse you those apologies are worthless.

Don't be fooled into thinking the abuse isn't 'bad enough to leave'. If you are treated in any way less than cherished, loved and respected, it is bad enough to leave.

There is never a reason to stay with an abusive man. He won't kill himself if you leave him, he won't take your children, and yes, everybody will believe you.

thefinerthingsinlife · 29/07/2010 11:22

thank you VS i've found it and im just reading through it now, and have sent her a link to it with a message saying dh and i love her and would do anything to see her happy

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ValiumSingleton · 29/07/2010 11:41

Good for you, thefinerthings.

It's a really good sign that she has allowed you to see the truth (or something close to it). I remember if friends used to ask me awkward questions I couldn't face them any more. The number one thing which delayed my leaving my x was not having anywhere to go. Is there anyway you could prepare, if not a room, then a ready made up bed in your house for her? If somebody had told me that they had a bed and some wardrobe space ready and waiting for me, whenever I felt ready to come to them.... it wouldn't have been 8 years before I left.

You know that bit in the church where they say does anybody know of any lawful reason why these two should not be joined together in holy matrimony? Do they do that or is it just in films?! I would seriously think of standing up and saying 'yes, he is emotionally and verbally abusive to her and i wouldn't wish this marriage on my worst enemy".

I wonder if 'the banns' mean you can go to the vicar/priest with your concerns??

Seriously, she might hate you for 6 months, but when her thoughts settle she will be eternally grateful to you.

It sounds like her parents are idiots so it would have to be you and her brother that would be there for her, for at least a year???? At least she doesn't have children, yet. Oh please get outtttta there before she has kids!!

ValiumSingleton · 29/07/2010 11:43

oh, hang on, I remember from earlier up in the thread, he's a pillar of the church community. eughgh

thefinerthingsinlife · 29/07/2010 11:50

VS my dh and I told her we would drive and collect her when ever she want, day or night.(she live in doncaster, we live in sussex) and she knows she is more than welcome to stay with us.

I think they do. I have no issue stand on the pew shouting at the top of my voice, exactly the type of 'man' he is, even if it meant everyone hating me, if i knew it would mean she was safe, id do it a hundred times over.

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