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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

Could DP be abusing his daughter?

131 replies

NameMe · 24/02/2011 08:49

Ok I'm going to lay it all on the line here. I'm leaving my DP in two weeks time and since this became official, the cloud in my head is starting to clear and I'm becomming concerned with what is emmerging. That is, signs that he perhaps has or is abusing his DD.

Please just bare with me because my head is like spaghetti. I'll try and be brief and concise. His daughter is 13 and has continuously wet the bed, apparantly right from when she was potty trained, she has never been completely "dry". She has had numerous hospital appointments but they can never find anything wrong, they just say she'll grow out of it but this shows no sign of happening. More disturbing is the fact that when she sleeps out, it NEVER happens. She wets the bed here almost every night yet last year she went on a week long residential trip and never wet the bed once. When she stays at friend's houses she never wets the bed. When she has friends over it never happens either. I should've been suspitious about this to start with BUT the problem was he was never alone with her. There was never really any time when he could be doing something to her because I would've heard or seen SOMETHING. But I never did. I would never normally accuse anyone of this but something is not right and I've been thinking this for a while now but I've not done anything because I honestly cannot see HOW he would manage it iyswim? I'm always around. But I would be lying if I said I didnt have any concerns about him at all. He is a strange person, lies about the most stupid things, constantly acting secretive and odd. I found porn on his computer last year, some of it was quite "young" barely legal stuff. I pulled him up on it. The "young" stuff he reckoned just popped up with the other pages.
I don't know what to beleive because SHE acts wierd too. When she walks past him she strokes his head etc, it almost seems a bit too intimate or maybe I'm being paranoid? She's constantly asking him for hugs and asking him to "go and see her" in her bedroom and when he does, they shut the bedroom door now I'm not for one minute suggesting she is instigating anything but I know she craves attention and I'm concerned that she perhaps see's ANY attention from her dad as being positive? He almost seems scared of her too, like she has some kind of a hold on him. For instance she has a rabit which is NOT looked after and the poor thing is neglected. We decided we would rehome it. She kicked off. Later that night he was in her room, door closed etc etc and when he came back down he'd TOTALLY changed his mind of rehoming the rabbit. Now I know this could be innocent whinging playing a part but something is telling me I've been a fool and something is wrong.
As I say I'm leaving so I wanted to put this out now to you and get "feedback" on whether I am being paranoid/dillusional etc. I was abused as a child so maybe this is clouding my judgement?
I can't help thinking even if he ISN'T doing anything now because I'm here, was he when it was just the two of them? is that why he's looking forward to me moving out? I'm really hoping you all come on now and tell me I'm talking shite and being paranoid.

OP posts:
boolifooli · 24/02/2011 09:46

When it comes to barely legal porn it just means women NOT over 40. If he knew you had taken to looking at his pc etc its not surprising that he has taken to shutting the door when talking to her. I wet the bed until almost a teen, as did my oldest dd's. If dp was a woman none of it would raise eyebrows. I was bought up by my dad, when one parent leaves the remaining parent has to adopt both roles and it seems your ex has done just this as in the affection and closeness that you describe.

boolifooli · 24/02/2011 09:50

As for his ex saying he was weird? It's hardly unusual for exes not to give glowing reports.

Snorbs · 24/02/2011 10:19

OP, this might be an innocent (if peculiar) father-daughter relationship or there might be more going on. Based on what you've written it's absolutely impossible to say. Which is, if you are who I suspect you are, what you have been told the dozens of times you've posted about this relationship.

Nobody here can give you a guaranteed "yes, he's abusing her" or "no, he's not".

You ignore the advice given here, which is fair enough. You ignore the advice given by the NSPCC. Which is a bit odd.

What is it that you actually want to be told?

glastocat · 24/02/2011 11:25

Box room surely? Hmm

GypsyMoth · 24/02/2011 11:32

And now, as always, shes been scared off!!!

EldritchCleavage · 24/02/2011 11:45

She's posted before, under another name. I remember the previous threads. Loads of suspicion and postings which certainly give rise to concern, but the OP (if it is the previous poster I remember) never actually wants to do anything about it.

OP there has been a lot of, well forgive me, but hand-wringing from you about their relationship before, if as I suspect you are the person who has posted before. No one can tell you definitively yes or no to the abuse question and other people's anecdotes one way or the other are of limited usefulness. You are with them day in day out, we only see one side summarised on a computer screen.

The brutal fact is you have been worried enough to post about your DSD's various issues for a while now but have done little. In your mind you know what you really think. Please have the courage of your convictions and act accordingly. The fact that you are leaving is irrelevant.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 24/02/2011 11:51

Boxroom

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 24/02/2011 11:51

Big Fish, Little Fish....

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 24/02/2011 11:53

Cardboard box

GypsyMoth · 24/02/2011 11:55

She has done something....... She posted before saying she knew we all called her boxroom troll, but she needed help. She's now progressed to being a few days off leaving. But she won't post again on this thread.

tethersend · 24/02/2011 11:59

Thought it sounded familiar... it's a bit odd.

I would think twice before anyone posts their own experiences...

Mouseface · 24/02/2011 11:59
Confused

Why does bed wetting in an older child, indicate sexual abuse?

Why are you leaving DP BTW?

Sorry if you've already answered or don't want to.

FioFio · 24/02/2011 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted

AgeingGrace · 24/02/2011 12:10

Hi, OP :) I remember your other threads, too. I'm so glad you're leaving! Well done!! Don't let other posters put you off, I'm concerned about your DSD too. Brilliant that you're starting to get enough distance on things to ask some pertinent questions.

As you've said, you did do the things you're supposed to do about extended bedwetting. It COULD be nothing, but I agree it could be a trauma response. And you're right to feel you should do something if possible.

Talking to her about it's probably not the best idea as your relationship is strained anyway. I reckon it's worth ringing the helpline someone posted above - perhaps, too, mention your worries to her GP in confidence?

Above all ... congratulations Grin

QuintessentialShadows · 24/02/2011 12:13

OP, it might have given better responses if you had posted under the same username as the last time, where you were totally honest about everything.

I am really glad you are leaving. I am wondering if the best thing is to talk to social services about this man and his daughter. In time, she may thank you for it.

tethersend · 24/02/2011 12:19

FioFio, there's never a right time for that information.

Never.

Mouseface · 24/02/2011 12:19
abbierhodes · 24/02/2011 12:22

Right folks, the boxroom woman didn't turn out to be a troll in the end, she had genuine issues, so give her a bit of a break, eh?

OP, I'm so glad you're leaving. I can see why some posters think you're over reacting, but from what I remember of the backstory I'd say there is genuine reason to be concerned. Get in touch with the NSPCC as recommended by others. Good luck.

QuelleLeJeff · 24/02/2011 12:24

Agree with Grace. I'm so glad to see you are finally taking these final steps, it really will improve you and your DC's lives so much.

I think you've always been uneasy about their relationship TBH, and I think you got fogged up in wondering whether it was down to some sort of "step parent jealousy", I think you need to speak to some professionals really and urge you to call the helpline given earlier.

LoopyLoopsHulaHoops · 24/02/2011 12:24

I will say what I said on your last thread. If you have suspicions, you have a duty to do something about it.

Doing nothing does not make you appear as if you are struggling to decide, more that you are desperately seeking attention for yourself.

BooyFuckingHoo · 24/02/2011 12:27

TBH none of what you describe is ringing any bells for me, but i don't live tehre and if you are getting a vibe then i guess you can't ignore it.

CrispyCakeHead · 24/02/2011 12:28

also curious why bedwetting indocates abuse?

OP, if you have your suspicions you must act on them in, but to throw something else in that no-one else has on this thread so far...you say she barely speaks to you and you don't have a good relationship, and that when she is away from home she is dry? Have you considered that you and your fragmenting relationship with her father may be the cause of her anxiety at home that is leading to the bedwetting?

GORGEOUSX · 24/02/2011 12:34

Your DP should not be closing the door when he goes to see her in her bedroom! Alarm bells ringing.

I find it hard to believe that you haven't suspected for a long time, and are only now voicing concerns because you are leaving him.

I think you should ring NSPCC - they will be able to interpret these 'signs' better than anyone on here. If he's innocent, great, if he's not something ought to be done.

squeakytoy · 24/02/2011 12:37

I do not know any of the previous thread history, but nothing in the Op would ring abuse alarm bells to me.

The daughter clearly has issues against the Op, and resents the Ops relationship with her father.

The bedwetting isnt going to be helped by a cup of tea last thing every night, so I dont understand why the father insists on that. Confused

It sounds a very messy relationship, but to me does not sound like an abuse situation from what has been posted in the Op.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 24/02/2011 12:38

I also remember your other threads under your other names and am glad you are leaving.

If you are concerned, then you have a duty to report your concerns.

They will be investigated.

People should always report genuine concerns.

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