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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

Long moan, sorry.

13 replies

PatsysDouble · 01/01/2012 09:48

Sorry in advance for a rambling message - just need to have a moan without off loading on RL people on New Years Day.

Background - H moved out a couple of months back at my request after almost a year of trying to sort things out between us. No affair, no violence, huge lack of support, love and respect over the years, coupled with a few major events and now on my part a lack of trust that things can be as they should be. 3 kids.

Had a great day yesterday just me and the kids. He is here today to spend the day with us and I feel like crap already. I don't like the way he talks to me and questions my views, pushing things to try and make me out to be wrong/unreasonable etc and I feel totally panicked when he is here. If I say anything to him about how I make me feel that it's all down to me and he is doing nothing wrong. Other people don't make me feel like this though.

They have all gone out for the morning now and I feel really sad. He says he wants things to work out but the person I see coming round here several times a week is not someone who desparately wants to work things out.
What would that person be doing? I'm not sure, but certainly not being constantly confrontational and then telling me it's hardly surprising.
Of course it's not surprising really but the 'I really love you and want things to work out' that he says when leaving after a day of making me feel really uncomfortable always seems more like a piss take.

Unlike some people posting on other threads, I don't feel beside myself when he is not here. I feel calm and cheerful and like I can be the Mum I ought to be. I haven't missed him at all (although he's round several times a week anyway). My work has improved and I don't feel like i have a massive weight on my shoulders on the days when it's just me and the kids.
They obviously love him, I am the main carer, and I am crippled by the thought of not having them with me if I push ahead to finalise a separation rather than try and make things work.

I am terrified to make things work, as the month prior to him moving out was the most bleak one I have ever had I think - on the verge of tears all the time - work, shops, walking down the street. I can't go back there.

I've no idea what I'm actually asking if you are still reading this (thanks!) but feel a bit better for waffling. I did post a while back, but he registered on MN and may or may not have found my threads. He certainly had a lot to say about the opinions of strangers!

Thank you and Happy New Year.

OP posts:
cookcleanerchaufferetc · 01/01/2012 09:57

Sounds like you are doing great without him - brilliant! From your point of view I can't see why you would take him back. It doesn't sound like he has been loving. I would expect him to be attempting to "date and romance" me a little to show his love!! If he is like this now then I guess he would be a twat if he came back permanently. if he has free rein to co e and see kids etc why don't you set some ground rules, like him having them every other weekend, overnight in week etc? Maybe some structure and the realisation that the relationship has ended would be beneficial to him, maybe he feels as though you are leaving him hanging.

Are the kids coping without him? It sounds as though you are a happier person which will make a difference to the kids. Even though he may be a great dad etc that is not a reason for getting back together.

Is there aNy reason why you would not get full custody of kids? It may be shared and that would be hard but he is their dad.

Why don't you be honest about how you feel with him? It may be worth seeing a lawyer first to see what rights you hAve.

Good luck and well done for turning the corner. Hope 2012 is better than 2011!

bejeezus · 01/01/2012 09:59

Sounds like you have done absolutely the right thing by seperating from him.

Can you limits your contact with him further? He only needs to see the kids, not you. Detach from him, don't listen to anything he is saying, 'smile and nod'!

Why do you think the kids won't be with you if you seperate?

Well done x

PatsysDouble · 01/01/2012 10:07

Thanks for replying - I feel calmer already for venting.

The kids are coping fantastically. That was my big mental block before pushing for the trial separation. There have been no tears or change in behaviour (so far, touch wood etc etc) no problems with school, wider family have noticed no changes.

We do have particular days that he come by in the evening and then one day at the weekend but Christmas has meant more days. He can't have them at his at the moment as the accomodation isn't appropriate. Mostly I've been going out and having fun myself with friends on the weekend day.

No real reason why they shouldn't remain with me - just terrified that it doesn't always work out that way.

We do need to sit down and sort it all out. I will get on the phone on Tuesday to sort out a legal appointment first.

In the mean time I know I need to rise above it and not let him get to me. He shouldn't be able to reduce me to tears in a boring conversation about practicalities for the day. In the rest of my life, I'm a calm and practical sort of person who is not fazed by much!

OP posts:
bejeezus · 01/01/2012 10:13

Do you want insight? Do you feel like it would help you, if you understood his behaviour?

You may find some of the links and discussion on the emotional abuse support thread interesting

RandomMess · 01/01/2012 10:17

Sounds like you need to frim up on boundaries, don't spend time with him and when you do what happens if you pull him up on his attitude towards you?

Do you fear it is going to get nasty when you call it a day.

It sounds like it is over, you are happier without him, it's just (hah!) a case of sorting it out.

PatsysDouble · 01/01/2012 10:27

Random mess - that is so true (your last line) and made me chuckle!!

Bejeezus - it would help me rationalise things, yes. I'll have a read later (supposed to be working while the house is quiet!)
In the past I wouldn't have said he was emotionally abusive, but even he managed to acknowledge that stone walling was a common occurance. Many other examples when I think of it - ignoring me when upset (hours, days), not talking (hours, days), not respecting my views, undermining, rubbishing my contributions to family life................

I don't know what he will throw at me if I say I want to call it a day. He did move out when I asked him to. Even he had realised there was little else we could do (although now says I made him go, that there were plenty of other option (he can't give me any other than say all we needed to do was communicate better).

If I pull him up on his attitude, he denies he is doing anything wrong and says it's all in my head. Thankfully the one positive outcome of months of joint counselling was me recognising that it isn't in my head.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 01/01/2012 10:40

Well there you go he is happy to come around and continue to bully/abuse you no wonder he thinks everythink is fine because for him it is.

Can you engineer him seeing the kids every time without your presence? I think you need to establish that he has a relationship with them without your being there at all.

It does seem that it may kick off when you tell him it's over...

PatsysDouble · 01/01/2012 16:12

Ugh, he's now demanding we talk about things before the end of next week. Oh joy. I'm not going to be pressurised.

And complaining that I don't give him any positive feedback and encouragement to try and sort things out - hmm......shouldn't he be doing that off his own back?????? If he's as keen as he says he is, shouldn't he be persisting and trying to convince me there is something worth trying for, rather than not bothering if I don't respond positively?

Had a lovely morning while he was out, even went for a run being inspired by the couch to 5k threads. Instantly feel stressed when he's back in the house though.
4 hours until he goes...............

Not doing very well at the rising above it either. I turn in to someone I don't want to be when he is here.

Bejeezus, are you able to link that thread? I've been searching back but can't find it.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 01/01/2012 18:28

I would insist that you have any conversations in therapy Grin

bejeezus · 01/01/2012 19:00

I relayé to so much of what you are saying op- they will always make it your fault, the onus is always on you to try harder to make it work

I can't link to the thread as I am on my phone right now, its on the first page near the bottom at the moment

Well done for the run

bejeezus · 01/01/2012 19:03

There are strong arguements against going into therapy with an abusive partner. I think that if the therapist identifies him as abusive, then she will refuse to counsel you anyway

They just use it to get further ammunition from inside your head

RandomMess · 01/01/2012 19:14

I didn't mean being in therapy but I can't think of the word - basically having someone neutral there - hmm the mediation service?

bejeezus · 01/01/2012 19:54

I found mediation awful TBH. IME the mediators role is to facilitate an agreement, they are not concerned with whether that agreement is fair or not. It's very much aimed at negotiations between 2 mature/rational/fair minded grown ups. My STBXH effectively lied to and manipulated our mediator. This experience is shared with a lot of the ladies on the abuse support thread.

Don't know what the answer is though really. Maybe negotiate through solicitors, because they are definitely acting un your interest, and usually quite aggressively?

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