Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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

Had enough of Emotional Abuse from DH..

57 replies

KK8 · 02/04/2012 23:30

Hi all.

Long time lurker here but never had to courage to post.

So been with DH for 9 years, married for 5. DS is 7, I've had 4 MC's so no subsequent children.

My problem is the way my husband speaks to me. He works away around Europe during the week and I work PT in school hours to fit around DS. He constantly tells me how lucky I am to have a roof over my head provided by him, and how others would kill to be in my position. I sit in that house once DS is in bed and my family is 100 miles away. The only person I have nearby conveniently is MIL (and, obviousy, he worships the ground she walks on.) I may add at this point that he gives me £300 pm for the food shopping for the three of us and that is it - I don't ask him for an extra penny. What I want - I buy with my wages and I also pay off my own bills from a loan I took out when we first had DS and credit cards I ran up during the time up until last year when he was still giving me £140 pm for food for the three of us. I buy DS clothes and shoes when he needs them because I feel I can't ask DH. He buys the latest football kit/trainers, but I buy uniform/plimsols etc..

He has refused since day one to put my name on the house, so I have nothing to my name. But he also refuses to sell up and move so we can own a joint property - presumably because he doesn't want us to be equals. His dad is a builder and turned the 1 bedroom bungalow into a 3 bedroom house for minimal cost so there is undeniably profit in the property to enable us to move. He calls me ungrateful for the fact he puts a roof over my head. I am ungrateful for everything. Last month I was doing MIL's hair and he was talking about taking DS out of school to go on holiday (something we row about ALL the time because he thinks he is above the law and can take him out whenever he likes) We already took DS out for a long weekend at Centreparcs last November and I told him at the time we wouldn't be able to apply again this school year - so he keeps banging on in front of his mother and I simply say 'I'm not having this conversation' because I don't want to row in front of his mum, (who by the way completely agrees with him because 'in my day' we did what we liked with our children and took them out of school whenever we liked) her children range from 30 to 23!! Conversation is changed and honestly I forgot about it until his mum left and he came in screaming about how rude I am to speak like that in front of his mum, how selfish and ungrateful I am, if anyone else had been offered a free holiday they would have snapped it up and been grateful!! He honestly does not see us as a family unit with a joint pool of money - he sees it as a holiday paid by him is a feeebie to me and therefore I have to be eternally grateful. I walked out and told DS I was nipping to my friends because I didn't want him to hear anymore than he had. I texted DH 'sort yourself and DS out for dinner, I don't want anything from you' because we were meant to be getting takeaway. About an hour later I get a text saying he can't order their food till I get back (?!?! There's about a dozen takeaways within delivering distance from us!) and when I get back, not only does he deny receiving my text (no red exclamation mark on my iPhone!!!!) but DS is on the sofa going oh mum I'm staaaarving why have you been so long!! And DH starts calling me (in front of DS) selfish for making my son wait for him dinner whikle I go off in a strop :-(

Another example - last year I did his lottery numbers for him which I have done MANY times before, and 4 numbers came up, so he was obviously pleased, but when he was putting DS to bed I realised I'd scribbled one fucking number out wrong!! So he won a tenner instead of 60 quid. He gave me a week to get the difference into his bank account. I had to borrow it off my mum :(

About a year ago I packed everything I owned and went to leave. I said I wanted to go while I am still young enough (30) to find someone else and start again, and he promised to changed. He recognised he fell into the EA category (because I did LOTS of printing and pink highlighting!) and obviously he was ok for a while but it creeps back doesn't it and he's back to talking to me like a piece of shit again except for when he wants sex.

DS is picking up on things now and a couple of times has said 'Dad doesn't like you' which has been the icing on the cake for me and makes me ant to leave but I AM SCARED TO!!!!! Please if you've been in this situation before I'd love to hear of similiar stories....

I could give a million other scenarios :-(

If you made it this far thanks, I really didn't mean for it to be this long!! xxxx

OP posts:
pictish · 02/04/2012 23:35

Just go.
You poor woman...he sounds a proper tyrant.

TodaysNotAGoodDay · 02/04/2012 23:38

Wow, sounds like it's a bit rough for you. If you can get a free half-hour, maybe think about giving someone a ring, like Women's Aid who can help you whether you decide to stay or go. You don't deserve to be treated like this at all, and your DS will grow up thinking this sort of behaviour is normal and okay. It's not. Please get help from someone.

oikopolis · 02/04/2012 23:38

God how utterly unbearable it must be to share a house with this person.

you poor thing.

leave. it's the best thing for your son, and for you. nothing can be gained from staying. really.

you will be afraid, but that doesn't mean you can't do it.

Goawaybob · 02/04/2012 23:41

Oh my god, this man is a vile bully, get your DS away from him :( Google women's aid. TEll your family you want out and ask for help. Hes a pig, a vile bullying pig. REading about the lottery ticket made me feel sick . Im sorry i dont have any practical advice but there will be plenty who do.

Lueji · 02/04/2012 23:42

You do need to leave now.
He will just do enough to keep you around and it's nit likely that he'll ever change.

Only if he wants but it won't happen while you stay with him.

cestlavielife · 02/04/2012 23:42

You are married so the fact you not on the deeds doesn't count for so much you would be entitled to some of his assets . Ask a solicitor.
But just leave first and sort that later.
He is a nasty man

TodaysNotAGoodDay · 02/04/2012 23:43

0808 2000 247 This is the Women's Aid number. Please call them.

KK8 · 02/04/2012 23:49

Thank you so much for your quick replies - I knew you guys were supportive on here but I am touched, thank you. It's what I need to hear I think. Has anyone been through anything similiar? I'm keen to hear storie's of the same..to know I'm not the only one I suppose..

Thank you so much xx

OP posts:
TodaysNotAGoodDay · 02/04/2012 23:53

I was in a similar position to you. I had nothing and nowhere to go and I needed to escape. I went to Women's Aid for 18 months. I loved every minute of being there, the women who work there are fantastic. If you do go, take important things like driving licence, passports and birth certificates. It's very hard at first but it gets easier very quickly. My one regret is that I didn't leave earlier.

oikopolis · 02/04/2012 23:54

there are sooooo many ladies who have been through this KK8.

this thread might be helpful to you: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1425123-Support-thread-for-those-in-Emotionally-abusive-relationships-number-7

FateLovesTheFearless · 02/04/2012 23:55

Really, you don't need this man. Not one little bit. As you say you have nothing to your name and so you have nothing to lose. You stay with this man and you have years of your life to lose. You will end up resigned. Get yourself out and have a happier life. You only get one, don't waste it with a twit like him.

ThatGhastlyWoman · 02/04/2012 23:59

He's deliberately keeping you short of money as a way of controlling you. Among other things.

He is truly horrible. I hope you manage to get out of it and get a decent settlement.

akaemmafrost · 03/04/2012 00:00

This man is the twin of my ex Sad. I had a nervous breakdown in the end.

Sorry I'm tired now and just off to bed but will come back tomorrow.

HoudiniHissy · 03/04/2012 00:05

KK8, you being married to him would entitle you to a claim on the house. If you don't want to hang about and force him to sell, you can apply to put a charge on it of your share of the proceeds...

With DV in the mix there is even a chance that you can apply for an occupation order in some circumstances and FORCE him to leave...

Get to the CAB and get some serious advice on what you would be entitled to. That will wipe the smug smile off his face for a start!

There are hundreds of us that have left shitty men like yours, and not once did any one of us ever regret it.

Your son needs to get away from this man. the sooner the better. get him and yourself out as soon as you can. plan it organise it and do it.

it'll be the best thing you ever did!

AwkwardMary · 03/04/2012 00:05

KK I haven't been in your situation but my closest friend had a similar husband. She was 35 when she left him, taking their two children with her.

He was in the police and had terrified her with tales of how she'd not get to keep the kids but with some help from her family who had NO idea what hell she'd been living in, she left one day when he was at work. She has not looked back.

Yes it was very hard at the time...her children were a bit older than your DS...but still, she was worried they'd resent her for taking them away...they adjusted fine. Their whole life was easier because they didnt have a scary bastard living with them anymore.

They lived at her mums for about a year before she got a place of her own (rented).

She's met someone else now and is like the old girl I knew before she married the knobhead as we call him. He sees the DC on a semi regular basis and they're just fine without him. I really really hope you can leave this man...it sounds awful.

jbuckley · 03/04/2012 00:06

That business with the lottery ticket is truly revolting. My friend was in a similar relationship. She got out. To be honest, she met someone else and carried on an affair for a year before getting out. But she's still with the affair guy and her loser husband has continued to be a loser.

You are no fool and you got it spot on when you said he doesn't regard you two as a unit. But he married you and that gives you certain rights when you do leave.

Please you are young and you will meet someone else again one day - leave this odious person and start your life anew.

Yes it will be tough but my god, you have it tough in your current situation - anything's got to be better than this surely?

Nyac · 03/04/2012 00:07

I hope you will get away from him. The way he's treating you is dreadful.

AwkwardMary · 03/04/2012 00:07

Do you have any family or friends to help you or at least confide in?

Pickgo · 03/04/2012 00:09

A solicitor will tell you that if you divorce you will get 50% of the assets of the marriage - that includes the house regardless of whether he has put your name on the mortgage or not. And pensions, savings etc.

I too think the only way you'll life will get better and you will be happy will be to get rid of the horrible, controlling and extremely bad example that is your h. He will never change.

Make a plan to leave. See a sol, CAB. You will get tax credits if you work more than 16 hours. As others have said take important docs (his type take great pleasure in withholding them post separation), empty any joint accounts.

KK8 · 03/04/2012 00:12

Thank you, I'd actually been thinking people would reply 'well you should be grateful woman what are you complaining about'.

DS loves DH dearly but I can tell when he's talking to him he's looking for a positive reaction and desperately trying to please him. A while ago we were going somewhere and he said oh no don't put that coat on me mum, dad bought it and I might get it dirty :-(

OP posts:
TodaysNotAGoodDay · 03/04/2012 00:15

I've PMed you KK8.
We would never tell you to be grateful for being abused. Your poor DS, imagine being that scared of his father.

Pickgo · 03/04/2012 00:20

That's the worst part of being with an emotionally abusive partner, they destroy your self-confidence and self-esteem. They grind you down with no respect, treating you like shit and criticising you. In the end you can't feel sure that you are judging things straight.

When I left I felt better within a day! After 2 weeks I realized that I should have gone years ago for my own and my DC's sake.

Have you read Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft?

or this www.drjoecarver.com/clients/49355/File/IdentifyingLosers.html

Make that exit plan!

KK8 · 03/04/2012 00:21

Forgot to add, my family (although they live 100 miles away) are all 'kind of' aware of the situation - I don't discuss it in depth, because it's embarrassing. I moan about little things and they know what he's like but obviously no-one will say just leave the bastard!! I have sisters in law - 2 maternal - one paternal, who are all good listeners.

I've had car tax, service, cambelt and two new tyres due all in a week at nearly £400 and no chance of DH paying for it, he never has - my car, my responsibility!!

OP posts:
KK8 · 03/04/2012 00:23

Pickgo - I have been looking at this and meaning to read it for a while - but it's how do you get it in and read it without DH seeing?!

OP posts:
jbuckley · 03/04/2012 00:37

KK8, now is the time for you to start standing up for yourself. Order that book and let that damn fool you live with see you reading it! He works away most of the time anyway so you should be able to sneak it in. He has worn you down honey - part of you agrees you should be grateful that he has put a roof over your head!

Now's the time to fix up. If he should come across that book and question you about it, just refer him to the problems you've had in the past when he promised to change, and say to him"you might want to take a look at this, it's all about men who behave like you."

He has scared you for long enough. I have been in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship - mine actually admitted that he had started ''to enjoy bullying'' me. Those were his words, not mine. I really don't know if yours can change, but I can tell you there is no chance of him changing while you stay with him.

What you wrote about your little boy and the coat is heartbreaking. Don't let this freak of a man knock the confidence out of him - get yourselves out of there.