Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

(d)h threatened to hit me

580 replies

itstimmy · 10/10/2010 08:52

Yes I provoked him.

When we met he said he had threatened to hit a gf before. And he said if another lady talked to him in a provoking way he would hit her, as apparently 'women who provoke secretly want to be hit'.

There have been lots of small things over the last 7 years I have wanted to speak to him about, I have, to no avail, he will just cut me off with a threatening look or sarcasum. And there have been a number of big things over the years I have had to keep a lid on when really I wanted to go ballistic with him. This has led to me simmering with resentment and anger at him, I just want to speak out and be heard and for him to actually take some action...but I dare not for this threat.

So yesterday it was a minor incident, I have been 'needling' him about it and making a few snippy comments, and in front of dd which I'm not proud of but I can hardly tell her not to do something when her dad is...it needs both of them to stop and have spoken to both indvidually about it. And I made one last comment yesterday, I was just incredibly pissed off but could not tell him how annoyed I was due to constant threat so made a pointed 'look what has happened, don't do it to the next one' comment and he got up from table and went to other room.

About 15 min later he comes to room where I'm folding clothes and warns me that I nearly got hit. To stop provoking him or I will get hit. He was not threatening me or trying to bully me he was warning me. And that it would hurt (said that a few times) and we have two small children in the house and that he did not want to hit me but I was provoking him into it. He was v scary, as he rarely makes eye contact and he did yesterday. First I tried to put on a I'm not scared leave me alone look but he told me I was provoking him, so I told him in a calmer (upset way, I was scared) why I had done it and it was wrong to have provoked but I had done it because he has been ignoring what I've been saying and I just want him to listen to me. In the end after a few more 'warnings' I asked him to leave, so (cursing myself now) I left the room and went to bathroom (door shut) so quietly cry my heart out, then when he went out drinking last night to do it again. He has left house again for an hour now and I just want to cry again. When he's in room I just start meaningless things like stirring porridge, feel a bit shakey.

I don't know what to do now. Does this mean after 7 years he is going to start to hit me? What will count as 'provoking'? Will going out all the time be provoking as I don't want to be in the same room as him. There have been a number of incidents over the years that have made me want to leave but I think this could take the biscuit.

On another note I don't think he loves or cares for me which is probably also where the provoking comes from...

I feel humiliated and scared. Wish I could threaten to smack him one...but even if I had the advantage I would not.

I know I can be a martyr and annoying but what the hell do I do now? I cannot move on without him actually taking responsibility for his actions in the house without getting so wound up he won't listen to me and then I get wound up and want to vent but can't.

What a mess.

He's back shortly so if I go quiet its for a reason.

And I married him because he reminded me of abusive dad...

Just rechecked this...I think I can see why he wants to hit me...but I just want him to LISTEN. And the provocation is down to that...you know where you just want to go "AAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! DON'T DO THAT!!!!' and then whatever it is gets blown over, no big row, just a quick vent...imagine keeping a lid on that for 7 years...and there have been some whoppers where I wanted to just go completely wild and walk out that I've had to keep a lid on. Am excusing my behaviour now...how the hell do I get him to listen...thanks for reading so far...

OP posts:
LoopyLoups · 10/10/2010 08:57

Call Womens Aid.

Hopefully someone will be along with some good advice, but for now... I think you know the answer to your questions, don't you?

This is not OK. Not for you, not for your children.

truffleshuffle · 10/10/2010 08:59

Shock poor you
Well you obviously need to tell him that you can't live like this walking on eggshells.
But are you able to broach the subject without making him angry? Maybe not so I'm not suprised that you feel shakey and scared.

Have you anywhere that you could go for a few days...

Faaamily · 10/10/2010 09:02

I am so sorry you are having to deal with this.

Your husband sounds extremely abusive. The threat of violence that you are living with is totally unacceptable. I cannot stress enough: a good man does not use the threat of violence as a way of controlling and silencing the woman he supposedl loves.

I would urge you to get some advice and support. Womens Aid is a good call.

ledkr · 10/10/2010 09:02

FFS this is terrible. Yes maybe go for abit. But in my experience this is the start of some seriously abusive behaviour.
How bloody dare he. Go back to folding clothes but then put them in case and LEAVE.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/10/2010 09:18

Speaking to your DH about things which bother you is NOT "provoking him", it's called communication. He sounds awful, and extremely dangerous.

amberlight · 10/10/2010 09:37

We all have a choice about how we behave.

Abusive partners are very good at making their victim think all the abuse and any violence is "their fault". That's how they get away with hurting woman after woman, and very often then turning to violence and rape of strangers and acquaintances too (much research on this, alas).

Do you think he would hit you if he was in a restaurant in front of people he was trying to impress and you 'provoked' him?

Nope, didn't think so.

He chooses whether he hits.

He chooses whether he threatens.

He chooses where.

He chooses how.

He chooses what sort of threat to use.
He chooses who to use it on.

This isn't a man out of control who is being forced to do awful things or say awful things. This is someone who knows how to make you afraid.

You're not "making" him do any of it. He's using fear to control you.

In most abusive households where someone is using threats of violence, the children are also hit or frightened witless by the abusive partner. Naturally they will say that's the fault of you too, which it isn't.

Children pick up on this stuff and end up so scared for themselves and so scared for you, even if you think they don't see it or hear it.
I'm not suggesting you do anything sudden, but the advice to contact Women's Aid is very good. They won't pressure you or do anything that makes it worse for you. They are there for quiet, very confidential help and advice, and to work with you in your own way and support you and the children in ways you can trust.

0808 2000 247 is the Women's Aid phone number, or www.womensaid.org.uk/ is the website and it tells you how to delete any record of you visiting it for advice ("Cover your tracks online" - top right corner of the screen), so he won't ever know.

Tippychoocks · 10/10/2010 09:43

Please get some help: this isn't normal or excusable. You say you've married him because of your abusive father - please don't risk the pattern continuing with your children. Get some help to get safe.

ImSpartacus · 10/10/2010 09:46

He told you right from the beginning who he was, he told you he would hit you.
He was setting you up to be in the position you are in now, too scared to talk in case it provokes him.

You cannot provoke someone into hitting you. It is always their choice.

I am sorry but this will not get better.

EmpressOfTheUniverseReality · 10/10/2010 09:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hairymelons · 10/10/2010 09:56

It's not your fault he wants to hit you. Please get help to get somewhere safe. I'm really sorry you're in this situation.

itstimmy · 10/10/2010 10:03

Thnak you thank you thank you i can't see for crying. I lived in a threatening family my dad threatened violence for years by his behaviour. He never hit though.

I just thought what with it being 7 years it would not happen, that i'm such an annoying person to live with that he has finally snapped. he was so cold though, he nearly always is as he said it all. what scared me is he used same voice with dd1 today. Maybe my story is biased, maybe i have forced him down this route. I don't want to break up I want my children to live in a proper family, dd1 will be heartbroken if he left. He has totally taken over her care, I have never felt like she is mine since she was born so now he has to read her bedtime story and has to get her up in the morning. I'm sure he would not hurt her, he has smacked her before. Shes currently getting picked on at school by a little boy and he's teaching her to fight back, kicking pushing etc...but she's not like that, totally the opposite, she will never do it and its not helping her. I'm just rambling now... I should know all about this, had councelling about my family, I thought I could improve my marriage, but its never been loving...I just crave affection, been sleeping with dd2 because it feels so nice to be wanted to cuddle up. h cuddles only in bed when he's cold or after sex. after dd1 we had sex and even though i told him not to he practically raped me, never apologised, just explained he had to get it in, and I'd just had a baby out of there (and was stitched up afterwards). tmi!

Is this serious? I have wanted it to end for a long time but did not want children to lose their dad out of the house, he spends so much time with dd1

sorry for rambling, thank you so much for replying.

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/10/2010 10:05

Yes, it's serious, get out of there. Sad

ImSpartacus · 10/10/2010 10:06

The best thing you can do for your children is to remove this man from their lives.

You do not deserve any of this.

{{hug}}

BelleDameAvecBroomstick · 10/10/2010 10:07

Phone Women's Aid today here.

Keep yourself safe at all times - and get you and your children out of there. This is not teaching your children anything they should be learning. Do it for them if you can't do it for you.

JoanHolloway · 10/10/2010 10:13

Oh timmy. you know it is serious.

He is a bully, he is abusive and threatening, and you are not living in a loving home. And it's not your fault.

Phone Womens Aid, keep posting. Well done for starting the thread. x

itstimmy · 10/10/2010 10:17

I can't believe that he would, I'm sorry I must have exagerated, i can't believe its that serious. I just want to say this is not happening, it can't.

But did read on wa page about 'sexist, racist' that's him, all with arguments that cannot be argued against. Like everything else. He could not understand why I did not like the term, and excuse me for any offence caused, these are not my words 'buck n**r' as in a black man. He used it in front of dd1 when she was younger and could not understand what was offensive about it. He has stopped mainly using these terms in front of dd1.

He comes from an abusive family himself and prides himself on having escaped, well not totally, he works with them everyday but has no feelings for them anymore. We both know all about abuse that is why it cannot be happening, he know's what it can do.

OP posts:
howdidthishappenthen · 10/10/2010 10:25

The ladies here who had experience of this are giving you good advice. The boiling frog anaogy comes to mind. Please make immediate and definite arrangements to leave. I hope you're OK.

EmpressOfTheUniverseReality · 10/10/2010 10:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

amberlight · 10/10/2010 10:35

You are worth someone's true love and true respect. A good partner always loves, always cares gently, always wants to see his partner happy and relaxed and able to enjoy freedom. They never seek to frighten, they never seek to hurt.

One thing I learned in working with domestic violence refuges for many years - abusive partners only say things that are true about themselves. It's nothing to do with any of it being true of you.

I am so sad that he has treated you this way.

itstimmy · 10/10/2010 10:38

I don't know for sure he will hit me, I don't want us to leave, dd1 has just started school, she has lots of friends here. got to go will be back tomorrow thank you so much again...its just too big too enormous to take in, i have been reading wa its helping too

OP posts:
itstimmy · 10/10/2010 10:39

thank you amber

keep thinking i hear the car

OP posts:
itstimmy · 10/10/2010 10:41

i still feel its my fault. and i know about abuse for gods sake i lived with it and then got out of it and read lots of books on it and how it occurs, the effect on victims, had years of councelling...

OP posts:
itstimmy · 10/10/2010 10:42

come to think of it, i want my money back from councellor...always thought he wasn't v good but didn't want to hurt his feelings Hmm

OP posts:
giveitago · 10/10/2010 10:42

Hasn't hit you before because you've been walking on eggshells ensuring that he doesn't.

You may have thought you were in control of the situation these last 7 years by bending to his will and putting up/shutting up and just feeling bad, but that means he's successfully controlled you all.

If you were to go up to your dd's room and just say 'well actually, mummy will put you to sleep tonight' - I reckon that would be 'provocation' enough for him.

You are not provoking him - he is controlling and abusing you and really his kids too by marginalising their mother.

Get this op - you have done nothing wrong. He is wrong - very wrong in his treatment of you and his children.

itstimmy · 10/10/2010 10:43

give...overrulling him would not go down well usually but given yesterdAY

OP posts: