Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Sister in Abused Relationship

9 replies

wendieann · 13/03/2012 15:24

For the last 6 yrs my sister has been involved with a man who is mentally, verbally and emotionally abusive. A few years ago they got engaged and she asked me to be her matron of honor. At first I did, then once I saw what was going on, and them splitting up 3 times during a one year span, I said NO, to being her matron of honor. I couldn't. Well, she bought her dress, and all the bridesmaids bought theirs. She asked me to be MC. Once again at first I said ok. Then turned it down when she split up another time. Needless to say they didn't get married and he ended "refunding" all the bridesmaids money.

Every few weeks they split up. She calls me crying and I run to help her. After all, "this is it! I'm leaving!" It never happens. He will text her and verbally abuse her, and ALL of our family. In his bent mind we are all sexually active with each other, and my sister of course sleeps with everyone. My sister lost her license, and then he must of loved it as she no longer could leave his home. They live several hours away from me.

The worst part is my nephew witness' all of this. He is terrible gambler, and does it quite openly, he uses drugs all the time (not in front of my nephew but I am sure at 10 now, he can smell it!!), he doesn't do anything with my sister/nephew. Sure, he will rent hotel rooms, etc. but sit on his computer and gamble, while they swim, etc. He buys them so many nice things, but will quickly turn around and use it all against them.

He is now starting to be more "violent". I have seen him toss her on the floor, and then have her come sit beside me and tell me how afraid she is of him.

My sister also drinks. We all feel she drinks so she can cope with this life.

Recently, she wanted out again. This time moving out of his town, inside of into one of his "other homes". We all ralled around her, and moved her into my dad's house. He's never there anyhow. Rented Uhaul, and had many people helping. She didn't want to pack, so we all did it. Then we helped set up her basement suite. I spent the night as he already showed up 2x.

With in 4 days, she finally enrolled my nephew into his new school and he was quite excited about going. (my 20 yr son lives at my dad's too) My son who already had the upstairs would witness, this man, driving by constantly, and even parking in front, sitting and waiting. He has done this before....

During their relationship the cops have been called 2x. Once by my nephew as they had such a bad fight, he called them! He was only 6 yrs OLD! When the cops arrived my sister, made it out like there was nothing wrong. The 2nd time, he took her cell phone and we had no way to contact her. SO, we called the cops to check on her.

Anyhow. 4 days later, none of us hear from her. She removes herself from facebook, stops answering texts, etc. Then we finally find out, she went BACK. As I speak, her furniture is still at my dads. Her son is back into his old school.

Prior to her leaving, he was finally renovating their home. New floors, cubboards, counters, sinks, tub, etc.etc. New table/chairs, etc. Extensive renovatings. My mom heard from her. Guess he is also buying her a car for she gets her license soon.

I can't do this anymore.

I can't wait, listen and hear all the terrible things that happen. Help her move then expect to sit across the table from him, a few days later!!!!

I am emotionally done. I have no empathy for her. I fear for my nephew. Everyone does.

I know her cycle. Now she will praise all the "good things" he does for them. And anything "bad" she defends... Oh, he doesn't hit me... but I guess tossing her around is okay.

All of her family have been verbally, abused by this man. Yet, she doesn't care. She tries to GUILT us into going to see her...after all she is family!!!

I don't want to. I don't want to be part of this anymore. I don't want to risk my children being part of it. I am tired of being abused by this man.

sigh.

OP posts:
GeekCool · 13/03/2012 15:29

She is so under his control :(

One of the worst things about being there, is coming out and realising your relationships with friends and family are damaged, sometimes beyond repair.

Try to step back but don't withdraw completely. You cannot force her to see his true self. He wants this drama, he is waiting for you all to give up on her. Then he has her completely.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 13/03/2012 15:40

Can Social Services help given that there's a child involved? If he's already had to call the police out, is he on their radar already? I'm sure you feel like kidnapping your sister and her son, getting them out of harm's way.

HoudiniHissy · 13/03/2012 15:58

She will see what she needs to do one day.

He IS waiting for you to give up on her and then he will tell her that you don't care about her and she'll see that he's 'right' and then that you will have literally thrown her to the wolf that he is.

Your DS is 20. He's old enough to understand what is going on and tbh, it's likely that he'll learn from it, not be corrupted or harmed by it. You can support him and talk to him about it if he's bothered.

Tell her that you can't bear to watch him treat her like this, SHOW her how your life is different and that she deserves AT LEAST the same.

She can't see the wood for the trees, she is frightened, she is confused and she is isolated. He is poisoning her mind and if you turn your back on her or show her that you will bail, she can't possibly rely on you for support. Your support needs to be unstinting, tell her by all means that you can't watch, that it's wrong of him and that you are fearful for her. Tell her you won't have him in your house, that you won't have him anywhere near you. Tell her outright that he is abusing her and that she needs help. tell her that the DC are being directly abused by being exposed to this, tell her that her children will grow up to think this is normal, and they will live as she does when they are adults, unless she saves them, by getting everyone out and away from him.

Can you get her to see what her legal options are wrt benefits and money etc?

Buy her Why Does He Do That by Lundy Bancroft (get a copy yourself too, it may help you see that this is not HER fault.) Suggest to her to call WA, to try and get on the Freedom Programme, although that won't happen until she sees that there is something wrong with his treatment of her. Tell her that it'll be OK, and that when she leaves it will get a lot better, very quickly, but she has to stay away and keep him away from her and her son.

She was slowly brainwashed into this, she will need to be slowly led out of this, she will come to the conclusion herself hopefully.

Without support she is stuck there. Dig deep. She's your sister.

izzyizin · 13/03/2012 16:30

Are you in the U.S.A?

wendieann · 13/03/2012 16:41

Thanks so much. I live in Canada. I have gone and talked to a Domestic Violence councellor. She agreed until she is ready to leave for good, there is nothing I can.

As for the police, I even called them when my DS20 told me he was stalking the house. They said, it was up to her to call and make the complaint, but will keep an eye on the house.

As for my nephew. In the eyes of child and family services, as long as he is fed, clothed, goes to school, and has no signs of abuse there is nothing they can do! My dad plans on talking to the child's father (different than her partner) We all think he should go to his fathers and the can "work on their" relationship. My sister's partner though uses his money to manipulate both of them, and the biofather can not keep up with that!

My sisters partner has even accused ME of sleeping with my father! How can she keep going back!! It's insulting to me! It's like he can abuse me verbally and she doesn't care.

The counsellor said, to keep in touch, by letters, emails, or whatever way I can, so she knows I am here.

I just don't want to go visit her anywhere, and listen to her praise this man... or have her show all the stuff she gets materialistically, when I know, it's all a show.

My ears no long want to hear it. I know my other sister, and mother will step up too. So, if they do... I feel better knowing she isn't "alone".

I have ran to her soo, soo many times... I guess I am kinda handing this cry wolf to someone else...so I can give myself a break from it.

I have my own children to think of and other issues I have to deal with... another topic all together! lol

OP posts:
wendieann · 13/03/2012 16:51

Yes, I have taken her to a lawyer during one of her previous breakups... I have said, I don't want to be around him. Then she either throws at me, "I'm your sister and I miss you." OR depending, "I'm not going anywhere without him." :(

For years I have told them to get into counselling. I have her emails... One yelling at me that they "don't need counselling", to "we've booked appt." to "not going to that one" etc.etc.

Excuses are a dime a dozen for literally everything in her life. Even her drinking is a problem. He will buy her the booze, then call her an alcoholic. She will hide the booze, and of course he will find it. Heck, I've seen him buy it and then dump it in the sink! I've seen him "label" his booze too!!!

He brings up things from when they first met! He brings up how she murdered his child! (abortion 2x!!!!)

I don't understand... I really don't.

OP posts:
wendieann · 13/03/2012 16:54

He was threatening her once, and I stood in the middle (she is 100 pds wet) and he tossed me to the ground! I took pictures of it and was going to charge him, but she went back... this was a few years ago.

NOW

I have watched him toss her to the ground, and I feel almost cruel and careless. I looked, saw, seen she got up. I didn't react to it at all... It's like I have become cold...uncaring.

OP posts:
foolonthehill · 13/03/2012 17:06

you are emotionally drained you can see it all so clearly, yet she's still there. perhaps you just need a break from thinking/caring/reacting. Regroup and find a way to let her know you love her but are taking some time out. And why should you meet up with her DP if you don't want to.

wendieann · 13/03/2012 19:15

Thanks foolonthehill.... I do need a break.... I can love her without being part of her abuse.... Only I can protect myself... since isn't capable of protecting herself, or her son right now... She isn't about to stand up to him about us/me/family/friends...etc.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page