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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

On the brink

271 replies

blackcoffee · 28/09/2005 13:20

dp and I are having a really really bad patch. I think it is probably the end but, having been quite resolute to leave, I am now at the sentimental dithering stage. The trigger was an unprovoked verbal attack on me in front of ds which I found unforgiveable. He tried to brush it under the carpet but I wouldn't let that happen and during a second episode said some quite unforgiveable things to him as well. He is not speaking to me or ds at all, he stays in the pub til closing time and then sleeps in the spare room, or stays away (often away on business). This has gone on for over two weeks. My friend saw him drunk on sat night and he told her we were arguing (he usually tries to keep a good public face). He has not paid his contribution to ds nursery fees this month. I told myself I could sit this out until the baby comes (28 weeks preg) but he seems to be surviving on the regime of work/pub while I am beginning to crack up. I know I can leave but a big part of me wants to try and repair this dreadful situation at least for ds if not for myself. Just don't know how.

OP posts:
hhhhenleyonthames · 05/10/2005 17:57

Hide the money and the keys outside the front door - so that if he gets the mobile off you you can still walk out the house, slam the door, get in the car and drive away. Doesn't solve the problem though of having to explain all this to a small boy and get him out the house with you, if needs be; grim,grim.

I have been in a similar position to you and sometimes walking away is all you can do when the trying to negotiate is over and you suddenly there is no point in talking to the other party, because they are not willing or able to listen or don't have the guts to talk about it.

Wishing you the very best.

scaryman · 05/10/2005 18:23

Ninah - sorry to hear you are going through all this crap. If I can do anything to help at all, or if you want to pick my brains just let me know. Going through all this when you're pregnant is a complete nightmare. Hope you're coping ok.

CeeTee · 05/10/2005 18:24

Ninah...Has he stopped trying completely?

Nemo666 · 05/10/2005 18:29

argghhh ninah so pissed off for youy..what a spineless gimp. hugs hun if u need anything mail me

george32 · 05/10/2005 19:23

Ninah, I'm so sorry you couldn't get things sorted last night. Seems terrible that it has to be dragged out even more.
It is peculiar that he just doesn't seem able to communicate with you at all at the moment. Has he always been this distant?

ninah · 05/10/2005 20:15

yeah he's a spineless gimp! go nemo!
George you will be proud to know I had all your tips at hand for negotiating yesterday (eg I FEEL you're a bstard etc) and pisses me off I never even got to use them!
I don't know if he's stopped trying CeeTee. I will wait for Sunday and see what happens. How is your situation atm? going over to WTF next.
Henley thanks. I know you are right, there is a time for walking when you can't get there by talking. If he won't contribute to any discussion, what happens next is up to me, and I'm up for that. do you live in Henley - strangely enough he works there some days and if you see a scary bloke with thick eyebrows and a scowl on Friday/Sat it's him! so watch out
I shouldn't be flippant, I was SO down this am. SH sent me lots of emails today, and had a very busy day followed by a visit from friend tonight and what with you all being so v kind I feel very girlpower today. I am blessed with my friends and my children. Someone even sent me details of a house that might do us.
Life is an adventure not a prison after all. Please stay with me for the tough times, your support means a lot.
scaryman thanks - can't work out who you are, you are scary in October, right?!
my bc alias was taken from a very maudlin Sarah Vaughan song 'drowning past regrets in coffee and cigarettes' bout time I stoppped singing the blues xx

scaryman · 05/10/2005 21:12

I'm rickman.

CeeTee · 05/10/2005 21:46

Ninah,
Hi Love. Glad to hear that your day is so very girlpower, You need that.
If I were not in America I would think that we are sharing the same man....lol...
I'm doing well, I appreciate you asking. DH is in his angelic phase....gave me money to buy clothes for the family, telling me he loves me...etc...
so I'm really confused right now. I am trying my hardest to keep a level head & remember how he acts when he is not trying to "keep" me but It is hard (I'm sure you understand.)
Well doll..I hope your day continues to be lovely.
Take Care
CEETEE

glitterfairy · 06/10/2005 11:18

HI Ninah Saw a solicitor this morning which has helped. She was quite hands off but couldnt resist saying my dh was very arogant adn sometimes men like him need to look over the precipice at what their life will be like as a singleton and what they are about to lose.

She thinks I am taking on too much over all this and that I will crumble and make myself ill.

It made me think about what paps has said to me looking after ourselves in these situations and thinking about what is good for us and our kids. It is so hard because everything makes you want to try harder and take blame for some things but that in the end is not right. People have no right to treat others with disrespect or mess with their heads, especially when they say they love you at the same time that is just cruel.

I am thinking of you and wondering how today is going. Big Hug GF x

ninah · 06/10/2005 12:17

AAAH Rickman! got it
sorry my brain can't cope atm! hello and thanks so much, I have great respect for you and how you turned your life around.
Glad to hear things are better CeeTee - enjoy, (but keep a cool head!) we are definitely NOT sharing the same man cos the L word would choke mine! really pleased for you.
Hi gf! you say so many things that resonate with me. The thing about seeing anyone 'official' is that it puts a harsh spotlight of reality on what's been happening. Like your solicitor, the police didn't say a lot but one did say 'controlling, is he?' which made me think - a bit like you sol saying 'arrogant'. It makes you see that impartial people spot more than you think, despite the veneer.
I am still feeling quite militant today. Yes, there is no way this kind of behaviour is OK, we know they try to justify it by turning the tables but yes we do have to do the best for ourslves and our children. Our world can get very small trying to keep these kind of men happy - an impossible task, doomed to failure.
Don't think my p has a lot to lose, he will just start up with another gf, and then another ... and tell himself and his friends what a btch I was.
I have a friend at ds nursery and I told her a lot of stuff today, she was really nice. Keeping it hidden has been a huge pressure.
My ds says 'I love you mummy' lots at the moment, which is new, and seems to be a lot happier and more affectionate. Pple have told me they think our relationship affected him, and tho I always thought the ideal was 2 parents I now believe one happy parent is much better than 2 sad/angry ones.

glitterfairy · 06/10/2005 14:04

Yes that is not ideal ninah. I grew up with two parents trying to stay together for us and it was hell. I need to keep reminding myself of this fact.

You are right it is a big world and there are plenty more fish in the sea. Why should we try to keep these sort of men happy? they need to find out for themselves how to do it.

I am so worried about my kids and her though he will foist them on her and then lose it with them because they dont like her enough. He doesnt seem to understand that what is ok as a dentist is so not as a mum. SHe has no kids and has never wanted them as far as I know. She also has a paedophile as a freind admittedly in france but she ahs just been on hols with him. All of this worries me and I feel so protective of them too.

It is a mess and a nightmare.

ninah · 06/10/2005 17:08

yes the access thing is worrying. I am lucky in a way insofar as p does not have parental responsibility and will probably NOT wish to see (or maintain) his children. I would have serious concerns about his ability to look after a 3 year old on his own for any great length of time, and the gf factor is quite random, as you know. I am sure there are conditions you can impose particularly given your dh's past, documented, record and no doubt your solicitor is looking into this for you - I would imagine supervised access could be enforced? but I can quite see this must be a HUGE worry for you -the uncertainty is horrible. Blimey, she sounds nice, bfs with a paedophile!
How old are your children? presumably once they are of an age to decide they could refuse to go? don't know how this works for older children. Guess you have a list of q's with your solicitor, you are definitely doing the right thing to take advice as it seems such a minefield.
I always promised p I'd never deny him access if we split up, and I will do my best to make sure it happens if he seems to want it, but I am going to be very clear about how it takes place as no way I want ds sitting in a pub all day or foisted on gf's and neighbours just so he can say he has 'seen' his son.

CeeTee · 07/10/2005 19:49

Ninah, He dosen't tell you he loves you? That's sad...You deserve better. Keep your positive attitude...Just think of it this way, there are sooo many women who have already gone through tough divorces & made it out better than ever...If you have a divorced friend spend time with her for moral support. Take Care ok

george32 · 08/10/2005 11:10

When are you meeting up with him Ninah? Is it later today?
I hope it goes OK and you both manage to reach some kind of answer to this.
{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}} for you.

ninah · 08/10/2005 17:21

thanks for thinking of me George.
Was having a nice relaxed weekend as he said he would be working away and not back til 8pm Sunday, when we would talk. However out on bikes with ds just saw his car outside the local pub so now I am hugely tense. Either he was lying about being away and plans to stay round here tonight - or he plans to show up later, pissed. Oh hell.

doormat · 08/10/2005 17:24

ninah just to let you know that still thinking of you and hope all goes well
hugs

ninah · 08/10/2005 17:28

oh thanks for being there so fast dm! was getting in a bit of a stew, imagined I had another day to relax now I don't know what's going on

doormat · 08/10/2005 17:29

I know it is hard to relax right now ninah but just try to btw how is the pg going

ninah · 08/10/2005 17:39

dm I am HUGE! I think my stomach is going to burst. I simply don't know how it is going to get out ... well I do ...
Will try and chill, as you say. It's just a bit of a headf that he's back in the village a day earlier than I thought. And in the pub.
Ds is watching tom and jerry I better go and see if he's OK xx

dramaqueen72 · 08/10/2005 17:47

calling in to wish you well ninah. hope the berk stays well away tonight and leaves you in peace.
have a friends place 'on the ready' to go to last minute if he turns up being an arse.
take great care of yourself, ds and bump.
xxxx

ninah · 08/10/2005 19:22

thanks me too! wish I hadn't seen the blooming car cos now my mind is churning, at best he lied to me. If he really wanted to have a positive discussion he'd have been round here, or called or something. If he's not in the house by late tonight I'm tempted to double lock the door so that I don't have to lie awake .. then again I guess that's provocative behaviour.

dramaqueen72 · 08/10/2005 19:24

no surely thats 'safe' behaviour? you can always tell him you thought he was away and wanted to be safe??? do whatever you have to, to sleep easily and safely.

glitterfairy · 09/10/2005 16:55

ninah just caught up wiht this. HOw are you? Are you going to talk tonight or have you seen him already? Hope you are ok and thinking of you!

george32 · 10/10/2005 09:17

Ninah, thought I would post over here so I don't clog your other thread up.

How are you bearing up? I'm hoping you are still in your positive frame of mind but I know what a roller coaster emotions are for preggie ladies.

It is difficult to help practically on-line but if you need any moral support or want a shoulder, please give me / us a shout, there are lots of us here for you.

{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}

ninah · 10/10/2005 09:31

george thanks so much.
Well he got in at about 10.30 Sat night, we didn't talk at all, I went out on the Sunday but was waiting for the talk as agreed at 8pm. However he stayed shut up in his office til 9.40 then said he was going to the pub and we'd talk 'tomorrow' whereupon I pointed out this was the second time he'd let me down. He said the only thing to discuss is when I'm moving out. I reminded him we have children together. When he got back I was still up and I just said I don't want a row or anything I just want to sort things out like adults. He repeated about my leaving and I asked about ds he said he doesn't want anything to do with the children cos it will involve me and the only questions are 'when' and 'how much'. He also said he will only talk to me with someone else there cos I will lie about what has been said. Which is a good thing in my book. So I just sent the relate link. Feel terribly stressed and very hurt for ds.