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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

DP and his DD are in for one hell of a shock. Have I gone too far?

264 replies

BlackBirdSinging · 02/05/2011 17:21

I have namechanged but am a regular (cod, gregs etc) I frequent the step parent forum so if you recognise me pls don't out me. Brief background - DP and I got together 4 years ago, I moved in with him at first but found it hard to make the house feel like my home so we eventually moved to a mutual house (me, DP DSD and DS). He is a true disney dad, hands her everything on a plate, she does no wrong, she's misunderstood etc. It has caused no end of arguments but its not just this, he constantly lies to me and keeps things from me, goes against my wishes, does whatever he wants and doesn't factor in my feelings on anything. The gist of it is that I feel I have been taken entirely for a ride. I earn double what he does which isn't a problem, I would have been willing to say what's mine is yours but they have been taking the piss for years. The original plan was that we split all income (mine and his wage) and then pay half the bills each, put a bit into savings and then split whatever is left so we each have "an equal amount of personal money". This worked well at first until he stopped paying his half of the savings. He'd blow all his money and then expect me to give him some of mine. He insisted that DSd's pocket money be doubled but still insisted on us paying for everything for her so she never had to spend it. He agreed to expensive horse riding lessons without consulting me about it despite the fact that I'd be the one that had to pay for them. Last april we booked a holiday abroad, we decided to lay down £1000 deposit. When it came to booking it DP said he had no money but if I laid it out he'd give me £100 towards it and then paid me the rest when he got paid. I was furious but did it. Needless to say I never saw the rest of it so I personally have laid out £900 on the holiday. He's put £100 on it. (remember the household income is split so it's not as if I have more money than him, we both have the same). There was always a lot of whispering etc going on between him and DSD, they'd go in the kitchen and shut the door and I'd hear them whispering etc. One night I read his text messages and she'd sent him one saying "just tell her your using her car, you pay for it too". He replied "but she'll be using it then" and she replied "she can use the old one, dont let her boss you around. I'm seriously not going in the crappy old car, we are using hers. Just dont even tell her, just take it x" and he replied with "lol I'll see what I can do".

This was basically a discussion on him using my car to take her to a party. We have two cars, a 10 year old rover and a 2010 Focus. The focus is mine. I was planning to use it this particular night to visit friends (in which I'd also be driving friends in it). He went outside that night, came in said his car wouldn't start and he'd have to take mine or DD would be late. I said he couldn't use it as I also had plans. He said I was being selfish making his dd miss a party just so I could visit friends for an hour. I backed down. I saw them pull away laughing in my car. I didn't want to cancel so tried the rover myself. It was fine. When I saw the texts I realised what had happened.

Things like this happen all the time. I checked his phone often after this and noticed they had given me a rather cruel nickname which they referred to me in their texts. They were also laughing about my DS being bullied on facebook and I came across a text in which she was trying to convince him to take my credit card to buy her a laptop. (He was considering it, I could tell by his responses).

I checked her phone once too and came across messages between her and a friend in which she told her friend that I was a horrible bitch and really selfish and her dad hated me and only stayed with me for money etc. They had a good laugh about me and towards the end she told her friend "I hope he kicks the shit out of her cos I know he wants to and shed never be able to prove it was him lol"

So, nail on the coffin - she came home from horse-riding one day with a leaflet about a pony camp. He asked me if I'd lend him the money to let her go. I said no, simply because he still owed me £400 for the holiday PLUS we still needed to find another £2k to pay OFF the holiday which was blatently going to be left to me to pay. We ended up having a massive row, I told him I was sick of him and wanted to split up. He said he couldn't wait to see the back of me. Stupidly we did make up but he told her she could go on the pony camp. I told him that if she went on the pony camp, not only would I refuse to pay a penny towards it but I'd also take both of their names off the holiday booking. When I checked his phone later that night she'd sent a text saying "what if she really does take us off the hol?" and he replied "don't worry, she won't x" Another text read "if you do split up, make sure we get the focus" and he replied "lol I definately would".

So the current situation is I HAVE taken them off the holiday booking. I have paid off the Focus so it is legally all mine and I have secured DS and I another house to move in to when we come back off our holiday. My brother will be collecting my belongings (almost everything in the house since he hasn't paid for sod all)

They have no idea about any of it. Why the hell am I starting to feel guilty/scared/nervous about the whole thing?? I know the shit is going to hit the fan because he can't afford to keep that house himself so he'll get thrown out. He'll be furious about the car (so will she) and they'll be gutted about the holiday. Have I royally cocked all this up? I feel like I'm doing the wrong thing somewhere. I'm gutted about the whole thing and just can't think straight.

OP posts:
BlackBirdSinging · 02/05/2011 17:44

I'm not as strong as I appear. I'm actually shitting bricks about the whole thing Sad I'm just gutted that they'd (he especially) would treat me like this. It's the backstabbing that has got me the most. I know I don't deserve that. I have told DS what is happening. His first response was "oh god, what about the car??" ffs what is it with the car??!!! lol

The holiday is at the end of may. I have spoken to my landlord and handed my notice in. I spoke to her in confidence and explained what was going on, made it out to be an abusive relationship which I needed to escape sercretely from = She agreed and will be refunding my deposit. Now I feel guilty that I made myself out to be an abused housewife when really I'm not, not in the violent sense anyway.

I'm torn because I really feel I should tell them about the holiday but if I do, all hell will break lose.

OP posts:
hobbgoblin · 02/05/2011 17:44

you say you remember cod - hmmm... you're right about things seeming fishy.

ohmyfucksy · 02/05/2011 17:44

I think you're being too nice - change the locks. It's your tenancy, so you can. Or cancel it. Otherwise it might be difficult to get them out.

madonnawhore · 02/05/2011 17:45

If your original post hadn't included the bit about you taking all your stuff and leaving, I would be telling you to do exactly what you are doing.

Don't feel bad one bit. They don't deserve anything from you, and you don't owe it to them.

Bluebell99 · 02/05/2011 17:45

They sound horrible. You are doing the right thing. When is your holiday, would love to hear how it all pans out?!

QueenLaQueefer · 02/05/2011 17:45

Make sure you take half of the savings too and stop your standing order.

Will they have somewhere to go? I guess they can use the time you are on holiday to find somewhere else.

ohmyfucksy · 02/05/2011 17:45

x post, well done

TragicallyRoyallyHip · 02/05/2011 17:45
Shock

Good on you!!! What a fucking arseholes.

Enjoy your wanker free holiday!!

AlistairSim · 02/05/2011 17:45

Good grief.

He sounds appalling.

Please come back and let us know how the big reveal goes.

bustersmummy · 02/05/2011 17:45

Get your brother to make sure he keeps the keys of the car and if he can locks it in a garage.

Or take the starter motor out

HRHDuchessLauraNorder · 02/05/2011 17:46

Wow you've put up with so much for so long, how nasty Sad

Good for you for sorting yourself and your DS. I have no advice but I wish you all the luck in the world, you're doing the right thing Smile

Pancakeflipper · 02/05/2011 17:46

You need to get out of this ridiculous relationship and you know that.

I worry for you in case DP and DSD react in a horrible way. But I doubt there's a nice easy-peasy way. So sending you fierce determined vibes to keep your chin up and keep marching to a brighter future.

Will you enjoy you holiday or will you be fretting? Shall we recommend you books so gripping you'll not give a second thought to the grasping fools you have left behind?

Loads a luck.

grumpypants · 02/05/2011 17:46

how old is the dsd? part of me feels that if you are not in any imminent danger (apart from financial) it is a bit wrong to drop it on her that she is not going - what about school? It is he that needs to be viewed as the wrong party here, not them as a unit.

Basically, you have recently discovered that he is treating you as an atm, and you have been duped into letting them use assets; he has not been taking financial reponsibility seriously, expecting you to fund both of you? And you want to leave, which is totally understandable.

So, you go on holiday and the same day your brother clears the house and moves your stuff somewhere new - they find out while you are away that you have left them. After four years, is there any relationship between your ds and him/ dsd that could be damaged?

Ooosha · 02/05/2011 17:47

Dont tell them about the holiday! Stay strong and go through with what you have planned they sound truley awful.

madonnawhore · 02/05/2011 17:47

BTW what you've described is emotional and financial abuse, so while you might not have any physical scars, their behaviour has still had an abusive effect on you and your son.

Stay strong and well done. You have the whole of mumsnet cheering you on and wishing you the very best in your new, wanker free life.

SauvignonBlanche · 02/05/2011 17:48

You may not be subject to physical abuse but the texts between him and his DD seem like emotional abuse and what about what was said about your DS?

TheOriginalFAB · 02/05/2011 17:48

He might not have hit you but he is abusing your nice nature.

PonceyMcPonce · 02/05/2011 17:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HerHissyness · 02/05/2011 17:50

Hand your notice in on the tenancy, you only have to give a month's notice, you literally have no other option. You can't have two tenancies as far as I recall, he won't pay, the agreement is in YOUR name YOU will get sued, it's the last thing you need. He will be still taking money off you, PLUS legal fees even though you have kicked him out of your life.

It's Cruel but utterly and honestly fair under the circumstances.

Be ruthless, THEY were planning to be with you and your car.

I admire you deeply for what you have done. Total Kudos to you BlackBirdSinging, YOU ROCK!

Joins in a STANDING OVATION.

grumpypants · 02/05/2011 17:50

out of nosiness curiousity, why did you rent for four years with them rather than buy? Esp as you obv have lots of cash (payying off the car finance, coughing up a grand's deposit?)

LittleWhiteWolf · 02/05/2011 17:51

Bloody hell, good for you OP. I think you're being kind, quite frankly.

I do feel for the step daughter, purely because with such a wank father enabling and encouraging the bad behaviour he's demonstrating, what chance does she have?
(OP, that wasn't meant to make you feel guilty--you have to look after yourself and your DS!)

MsToni · 02/05/2011 17:53

Good advices ^

Also, you mentioned your brother will come for your stuff before you leave on holidays, can you and your child stay with your brother and leave from there? If you stay in the house for the night, he might beg you, bring emotions in, try to get you to change your mind, or worse become violent. You never know...

Good luck.

Reality · 02/05/2011 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ZZZenAgain · 02/05/2011 17:55

I think you are handling it exactly right. You may not have protected yourself enough. I'd go back through the thread and make a note of things people have recommended you do, go and see a solicitor to get some good advice, hide your passports now at your brother's house along with any cherished heirlooms, valuables,. Take a day off work to try and get it all down or at least letters written and posted , phone-calls made so as much as possible you have covered yourself.

I think it was fine to say what you did to the landlady. You could otherwise just end up paying their rent for ages. It was ok. Everything is ok, don't trust them an inch, horrible sounding pair of scroungers. Don't weaken. Really I have never heard anything like your OP it is unbelievably horrible.

ivykaty44 · 02/05/2011 17:57

Gosh father and daughter deserve each other, hope they live together for a long time...........

in bedsit land

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