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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

Is it time to leave?

70 replies

veeeee · 06/03/2012 12:17

Have name-changed for this since DH sometimes googles my mn nickname to see what I've been posting.

This is a long one so thankyou if you manage to get though it!

Firstly, I've been married for 11 years, with DH for 13 since we were 18. We have a 4 month old dd.

I'm very very unhappy being with DH and the arrival of DD has made things worse - it's just something else for us to disagree on! I suppose I'm just going to use this as a place to vent about everything and try to get other people's perspective. And before anyone says so, yes I have tried to talk to him about it. He says that I'm the one with the problem so if I don't like it I can leave and if I haven't left then it can't be that bad.

So I'll split this into the main areas that we disagree on.

Housework - when we got married, for some crazy reason (probably because I was mainly raised by my nan and it is her viewpoint) I decided that I wanted to be a "good" wife and take care of my husband by basically doing everything around the house. Initially I was at university while he worked so I was at home more than him so it seemed logical that I did the housework and cooked dinner (even though I worked evenings and weekends). Once I finished university, I had a job where I worked 8-4 whilst he worked 9-5 so again I was home before him. In his opinion, this meant that I had more time to do housework than him and so I continued to do it, and ensure dinner was on the table when he got home. I then trained as a teacher which means that I "finish" work at 3 although I then spend evenings and weekends working but still he thinks the house is all my responsibility. Now I'm on maternity leave it's even worse. He does nothing at home except moan about the state of the house or that his ironing isn't done or that dinner isn't done or, if I've cooked chicken burgers and chips for example, it's not a proper dinner.

Evenings - he plays some sort of sport at least 3 evenings a week and on Saturdays. He uses this as another reason why I should be looking after the house - because I'm at home while he is out doing leisure activities! He says it's not his fault I'm too lazy to persue a hobby (which isn't true, I enjoy things such as reading which he doesn't agree is an acceptable leisure activity for me).

Sex - he thinks that my body belongs to him and that I owe him sex, even if I don't want it. He gets progressively meaner whith name calling and comments (see later) as days without sex go by until I give in just to get him off my back. He thinks he is entitled to put his hand in my bra or molest me whenever he wants to. We never cuddle because I know that for him it has to be sexual. He didn't speak to me all day on Sunday becuase I didn't want sex with him on Saturday evening after we had been at a family party - he felt he should have been rewarded for enduring the whole party. It's always about his gratification anyway, I've told him things I would like him to do but he never does them.

Comments and name-calling - when we first got together, I didn't mind so much the name-calling, I thought it was a bit of a laugh. I don't find it funny anymore and I've told him and he wont stop because he says that I shouldn't have a problem with it. His latest name for me is "MB" which stands for mega-bitch. He uses it all of the time instead of my name e.g. "MB do you want a cup of tea". He changes it every few months, I've lost track of most of them but he went through a phase of calling me Pot-pot once because I'm a pot-bellied pig.
He constantly mutters little comments like "it's unreasonable of you to go out when the ironing isn't done", "have you seen my football top, I doubt it's been washed", "we've got no milk, I can't believe you haven't bought any" among others.
There are mental health issues in my family and I suffer from depression which I control really well! He says that he has "taught me how to behave like a normal person" and constantly tells me that we don't have any problems in our relationship, it's all in my head.

DD - he had told me I cuddle her too much and spend too much time playing with her. He feels I should sit her in front of the tv more often so that I can get on with the housework.

Finally, he thinks he knows everything about everything.

There is more but this post is mammoth as it is! I hate being here but he makes me feel as though I'm the problem and I suppose I am. I don't want the same sort of relationship I wanted when I was 18. I want to be loved and respected and treated as an equal. Am I wrong to have issues with the above points?

OP posts:
moonwalk · 06/03/2012 15:03

i think you'd be better off without him.

it's not in your head. he is mean to you and has an attitude problem.

this is coming from a very lenient person...

good luck!

oikopolis · 06/03/2012 15:21

ok your husband is a knobber, and a criminal frankly. there is no doubt about that.

i understand that you feel bad because your dad/mum was in an abusive marriage etc. and you feel like you've failed if you admit the same thing has happened to you.

but you know what?
you need to get past that because you have a daughter.

if you stay with this guy and take this shit, you are saying to her, very clearly: "DD, you are worth nothing, just like your father says i am worth nothing. when you grow up, make sure you go out and find someone to abuse you, just like mummy is being abused. and make sure you feel too ashamed of it to admit it, so you never rock the boat, you just take it. also, make sure you have children, and you fuck them up as much as possible by making them watch you take the abuse."

i'm sorry to be so blunt. but don't do that to yourself and your DD.
break the cycle of abuse.
fuck what anyone else thinks about it, this is your DD's happiness at stake here. And yours!

birdofthenorth · 06/03/2012 15:33

there appears to be litle reason to stay another day. You need to be actioning when and how, not if. I'm sorry you are going through this.

CrockoDuck · 06/03/2012 17:30

Having read through this thread, what's coming through loud and clear to me is your total lack of self-worth and inability to trust your own judgement.

"What if it's me? What will people say about me leaving such a perfect man/marriage" etc.

Point one - it's not you. I hope seeing everyones replies here has shown you that. People on this site take no prisoners - if they thought you were making a mountain out of a molehill, that's what you'd be told. No one is just saying what they think you want to hear, which is often what happens in real life.

Personally, I could not tolerate being called names and living with a man who expected me to open my legs when ever he fancied a shag. That is disgusting. A man who genuinely loved you for who you are simply would not treat you like that. A real, concerned man would willingly shoulder some of the housework the moment you became pregnant. He simply hasn't bothered, has he, because he doesn't really give a shit.

Point two - as other's have said, I bet some of your friends and family already have their suspicions. It's probably something they couldn't quite put their finger on, but something, somehow is not quite right. And how can they be expected to support you if they don't know what's going on? Give people a chance and don't assume you already know their reaction, because you don't. If any of my friends came to me in this situation, no matter how much I'd previously liked their DH, I'd be desperate to do anything I could to help. And you know that that is how you'd respond too if it was one of your friends.

Please don't be taken in by the "I'll take DD if you leave me" bullshit. It amazes me how many men say this and how many women worry about it. It's grandstanding, that's all. Unless you're a neglectful, abusive mother then he stands zero chance of taking custody. Zero. At the most, he'd get equal custody - and I bet if it came to it, he wouldn't want it. How would he spend 3 evenings a week on his sporting hobbies with a baby to care for? Nah...disregard such nonsense for the deluded rantings that they are.

Finally, you need to take financial advice to see what your entitlements would be as a single mum. You'd probably get a fair chunk of his wages, plus various tax credits on top of your wages. You'd definitely get 70% of childcare costs paid. Small doesn't necessarily mean shithole - and your DD is just a baby, completely unaware of her surroundings. As long as Mum's still there with cuddles & love, that's all that will matter. Honestly.

Time to go. Just do it. You have an amazing, happy future just waiting for you, so go get it :)

horsetowater · 06/03/2012 17:48

I think you have a good chance of getting everything you want out of this if you play it carefully. Do you have a diary? If not, start writing down every time he says or does something. You can password a document on word, make sure it's hidden well in the settings. Give it a few months and then take it to a solicitor. You are married, and his behaviour is unreasonable - you should get to stay in the house and he should have to pay for that.

Remember that abusers have make a beeline for victims - they can spot them a mile away, it's how they survive, they find their emotional prey and see their weak points. It's not your fault, you are just not like your mother and father or him, you are a decent person, a sensitive person, perhaps overly kind. Unfortunately nobody told you that you were an ideal catch for an emotional abuser. Your parents laugh at his jokes because they don't want to feel your pain.

I would take your time but get heaps of evidence and look forward to a smooth divorce. If you really cant wait, look on the Gingerbread website - they can also talk to you on the phone and give you excellent advice on money and entitlements.

SorryMyLollipop · 06/03/2012 17:50

Hi Veeeee, Yes, it is time (for him?) to leave! You sound very unhappy and he sounds like a total nobhead!

As a working single parent you would be entitled to tax credits (more than you think probably) check out the entitled to website

Mitsouko · 06/03/2012 18:02

Oh my God - my heart really goes out to you...

What a vile, horrid, pathetic excuse of a man. The abuse he heaps on you is disgusting, and the sexual assault just chilling. Please, please break the cycle of abuse and get out - if not for your own sake then for your little girl's. Don't let her grow up with a father like this - the damage will be very, very hard to undo.

My sister and I both grew up with with a father who was abusive - mostly emotionally but sometimes physically as well. Most of it was directed at our mother, who after years of taking it finally had the courage to walk away and take us with her. Yes, we struggled a bit with money, but we were fine!

After heaps of counseling and many unwise relationship choices I finally settled down with a good man in my 30's. Unfortunately my sister hasn't been able to do this. She has severe depression, eating disorders and can only love men who treat her like absolute shit.

This is what happens to girls who grow up in homes like this. Please, please get away from him before it's too late.

Good luck and take care x x

Ample · 06/03/2012 18:11

Good grief, how did you last 11 years Shock There must have been something to start it off even before your dd was born.

Sounds like he resents you and dd for attention not paid elsewhere?
Whatever the reason he sounds like a prize dickhead.

You are asking is it time to leave?
Most definitely.
Don't listen to his threats. Make plans NOW.

Ample · 06/03/2012 18:12

Good luck

neuroticmumof3 · 06/03/2012 20:40

This is abuse, plain and simple. Your DD will be much better off in a shit hole with a mum who's not being sexually bullied/coerced than in a home where abuse is the norm. Abusers always threaten to take your children away if you leave. The reality is it would be highly unlikely for a court to remove a child from its main carer (you). It really concerns me that he complains about the amount of time you spend with DD. Abusive men frequently attempt to undermine or ruin mother/child relationships. None of this is likely to improve, control and abuse tend to escalate over time. Start planning your escape.

tuffinmop · 06/03/2012 21:18

dump the tosser. Your baby is small enough to be unscarred by the experience. He is awful. Good luck I know its hard to contemplate leaving (I am doing it now)

veeeee · 08/03/2012 18:39

Thankyou for your advice, it's all I've thought about the past couple of days. There have been a couple more incidents and I'm sure that's cant carry on like this.

I think I'm going to have to leave in the next few days if I'm going to do it, or at least tell him that's my intention. He got quite a large redundancy payout which he has arranged today to pay off the mortgage despite me telling him not to. I don't think it's fair to allow him to do that and I don't want it to be yet another thing he can throw back in my face. I don't really know how to go about it though.

OP posts:
oikopolis · 08/03/2012 18:43

don't tell him anything yet. Please. be very careful about that.

ring Women's Aid before you say a word to him.
trust me on this.
if you open your mouth too soon, he will either become more abusive in order to strike fear into you, or he will try to talk you round, and i think you are still feeling quite vulnerable right now and you might believe his empty promises.

be careful, get support.
glad you are thinking of leaving.

RabidEchidna · 08/03/2012 19:05

He is a twat leave him

neuroticmumof3 · 08/03/2012 19:45

I agree with oikopolis. It's risky to let him know you're planning to leave. The risk of physical assault increases as a relationship breaks down so you need to be careful. Plan your exit strategy without his knowledge.

HotDAMNlifeisgood · 08/03/2012 20:02

Oh dear me yes - don't tell him it's over until you have planned your exit/are somewhere safe.

Regarding paying off the mortgage: the house is a joint asset, the redundancy payout is family money. You have nothing to feel guilty about.

And if you're worried about it being "yet another thing he can throw back in your face"... He will be flinging around every piece of blame his imagination can come up with, once you go. You will have to be strong enough not to care about any of them. One more thing won't make much of a difference.

wisewomanmummy · 08/03/2012 20:17

Veeee You must be strong for your dd. I spent 25 years with a verbal abuser and he got worse as I got weaker. Leaving was the BEST thing ever for me and for my 2 children. Plan your escape and don't tell him anything until you are ready to go. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY! He is the guilty one.
Life is too short to be a doormat to a bastard.

veeeee · 08/03/2012 21:41

Well I've been told off twice this evening :( he usually moans that the ironing isn't done so my mum took it and did it for me but that's not good enough because he can't believe how lazy I am.

I did chicken with leeks for dinner but just did oven chips with it and that wasn't healthy enough. He's been at home all day so could have done it himself!

Actually 3 times because I was asked "are you going shopping this week. Did you actually do food shopping this week?" followed by a sigh and eye-rolling when I said no.

I just don't understand why he has to complain about everything I do :(

OP posts:
HotDAMNlifeisgood · 08/03/2012 21:43

why does he do that?

neuroticmumof3 · 08/03/2012 21:50

He complains about everything you do to keep you walking on eggshells, to undermine you, to erode your self esteem and to manipulate you.

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