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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

How should I have handled this?

356 replies

Squished · 22/08/2010 23:38

This looks terrible written down in black and white. It wasn't as clear and obvious this morning. I wonder if I'm misinterpreting or misreading somehow. I need some perspective, although the way I've written it, I'm not sure what other perspective there could be.

This morning, DH brought DD upstairs into our bed as he and she were both awake before me. He gave her a sticker book to play with, and then sat back down at his computer. After a while, he decided it was time I got up (I was awake, but I still had my eyes closed, it wasn't that late, about 8 I think). So he told me that DD's feed was about to run out (she's on a supplemental feed through a gastrostomy atm) and I should go and get some more ready. I didn't move straight away so he said to DD, "I'll give mummy a cuddle, that'll make her get up". He lay down on top of me and basically started touching me and getting himself off. I asked him twice to stop and he ignored me, pushed his knee between my legs to get closer. I asked him to let me up and he said "DD isn't even looking". Obviously, at the sound of her name, she did look, and he told her (in a jokey way) to look away.

None of this was said nastily. He was smiling and acting normally. I didn't raise my voice or physically try to fight him off because of DD. I even wonder if that might be one reason why he brought her upstairs - because he knew I wouldn't fight in front of her? I've let her down so much. Between us, DH and I have basically taught her that no doesn't really mean no, stop means keep going.

This isn't normal, is it? Or am I overreacting?

He's been acting totally normal all day. I've been feeling more and more crappy as the day has gone on. I didn't even open my eyes this morning. I might as well have been a blow up doll.

What should I have have done to protect DD?

I'm not sure when I will be able to reply (it's taken me all day to write this), but I will be back when I can.

OP posts:
greenscarf · 23/08/2010 16:36

You all have my word that I will not report this to SS or the police or anyone.

I agree that MN has to remain a safe space to talk about this things.

This does not mean that I don't feel partly responsible now that I know what is going on.

loopyloops · 23/08/2010 16:37

Oh Squished, I really feel for you.

I think you know that the only thing you can do is to leave him, soon.

This sounds like I'm jumping to massive conclusions, and although he might not have shown any indications of this before, the fact that he has started getting off on your daughter being present during sex shows a possibility that he is in danger of committing a more serious crime in the future.

Where are you? You need to get out straight away. The police can be informed in a day or two when you have sorted out yourself and DD, but right now you need to know that you are both safe.

What, other than healthcare, is your financial situation?

Do you live anywhere near friends or family?

Would an offer of 2 rooms for as long as it takes to get you back on your feet help? I mean it. Wherever you are, we can whisk you away, even if it is only for a few days for thinking time.

Please leave him. Today.

wouldliketoknow · 23/08/2010 16:38

squished, how can you deal with this quietly without police? this man is probing to you that you are defenless, that he can put bruises on you, he can rape you and use your dc, that's what you admitted so far, you need the police to protect you, this can stop
i am really sorry that your dd is so ill, but he can use that as a shield
would you call the samaritans or someone else anonimously to hear a real voice? they won't call the police against your wishes, neither will we, but something must be done, you don't deserve this

wouldliketoknow · 23/08/2010 16:41

take loopy's offer, hope you meant it.
or find a safe house, for victims of domestic violence, the furder away the better

FluffyCut · 23/08/2010 16:42

how are you going to deal with it quietly with the least fuss?? Confused if you can't talk to anyone in rl, and you dont want to contact the police, and your husband already ignores you if you say no, then what exactly are you going to do?

im not trying to be harsh but im thinking of a 5 year old girl here. you can choose to leave she can't Sad

Meemah · 23/08/2010 16:44

I'm in tears reading this. Please please please get out of this situation. All love and thoughts going to you. Stay strong. (I know this isn't particuarly helpful but it's all been said. I just want you to know that people care)x

Squished · 23/08/2010 16:44

Elephants, no I haven't posted about the martial arts before, and that incident was a while ago so the bruise is long gone.

I've seen other families spending every spare moment they have fundraising to have a chance to take their DC abroad for treatment. It's an impossible task. :(

OP posts:
sorrento56 · 23/08/2010 16:44

Squished, what is it you need for you to be able to tell your h not to come home tonight and for you to tell the police?

Mouseface · 23/08/2010 16:45

Snap sAf. Not the beach though.

Squished

You are focusing on your daughter's medical condition and worrying about the future (completely understandable) when you need to worry about the here and now.

Cross the bridge re medical insurance when and if you come to it.

For now, you need to take your daughter and yourself and get away from this man.

As MrsReality says this is textbook violent abuser behaviour.

Read your words back. The way he controls you. He forced his knee between your legs to get closer to you. He ejeculated (I assume onto you?) with your five year old daughter watching. He doesn't stop when you say no.

He has cocooned you into his world. We are all saying the same thing here Squished. Does that not tell you something?

Most of us posting on here know from first hand experience. That is how we know that this is more than play fighting, more than a bit of messing around. This is abuse. Sexual, emotional and physical abuse.

You have to stop this. We have all said that you have to protect your daughter and yourself from this man.

Please listen.

What do you need? What do you want to do?

loopyloops · 23/08/2010 16:45

I most certainly did mean it. Please consider it Squished. For as long as you need.

booyhoo · 23/08/2010 16:46

elephants that is soo true wrt proving to her that she was defenceless. he has been working on her a long time to enable him to abuse her and dd in this way.

he is telling you you are powerless to defend yourself so that when he rapes you will believe that and not try and stop him.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 23/08/2010 16:46

You are lovely looploops, I wish I could offer :(

LL is right that getting out is the priority. I would worry about asking him to leave, given the history of violence and the knowledge that the presence of the children is no barrier to him :( What does anyone else think? Ideally you'd be safe in the house but not sure that's an option.

Do you have family nearby?

This thread has been with me all day.I think he is teaching the little girl what to do, by showing her her mother behaving passively.

sorrento56 · 23/08/2010 16:47

loopyloops - thank you for your kindness. I wish I knew where the OP lives so I can see if I can offer anything. Squished - please don't let your daughter become another statistic as an abused child. You never get over it when you are.

maduggar · 23/08/2010 16:48

Please remove your DD from his clutches :(

loopyloops · 23/08/2010 16:52

Squished? CAT me please.

wouldliketoknow · 23/08/2010 16:52

someone made a very good question... what do you need to be able to leave this man?, write a list, maybe we can help.

QS · 23/08/2010 16:52

He is grooming her 5 year old dd.

Squished. I am sorry. Sad I am almost certain she will be next. She will know what to do. Stay still with her eyes closed, while daddy gives her a "special cuddle".

MrsReality · 23/08/2010 16:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FluffyCut · 23/08/2010 16:56

excellent question, what do you need in order to get him away from your daughter?

confirmation on the insurance - ring them now and ask

somewhere to stay to get your head together? - loopy has offered it

someone to talk to - im sure any of us would be more than willing to help you

if you leave - toys and clothes for your dd - ive got so many i dont know what to do with them, all you need to do is ask, you can have as many as you want, trust me my dd likes clothes Smile

rl support - have you got family/friends?

loopyloops · 23/08/2010 16:58

Anyone know how CAT works? I've enabled it but not sure where to check in case she does contact me.

AnakisT · 23/08/2010 17:00

This post has been with me all day. I keep coming back to the fact that he said he was going to "give mummy a cuddle".

Not trying to be melodramatic, but it almost sounds like he is saying to the child that that is what a cuddle is like.

Also squished, no-one thinks that their partner is an abuser otherwise it wouldn't happen (at least not as much).

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 23/08/2010 17:01

Is this going to happen again tomorrow morning?

swallowedAfly · 23/08/2010 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

AnakisT · 23/08/2010 17:02

Sorry just to clarify i meant no-one thinks that their partner is a CHILD abuser.

loopyloops · 23/08/2010 17:02

Squished? Are you ok? Please at least let us know you're ok.