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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

What to do? (EA? SA?) Legal advice needed as well please - warning, it is extremely long!

493 replies

StickorFold · 25/04/2012 10:57

This is going to be long and warbled, and might not make too much sense, maybe a bit bitty, but will try and put as much as much detail in as I can so I'm not adding to it after.

Firstly, I am an old MN'er, used to be a prolific poster, so it may be that the odd one of you may work out who I am, I would really appreciate it if anyone that suspects just keeps it to themselves please.

Secondly, think it goes against MN rules to have two accounts, though I hope for this one occasion we can over look this, as it is the only way I feel safe enough to get this out and hopefully gain some advice.

Thirdly, I may not be able to reply as ofter as I'd like, but will try my best to get on when I can.

OK, so, background: H and I have been married for 11 and a half years, three children, he is a good, loving dad, he works extremely hard (60hrs a month), he is ace at helping out around the house, he does most of the cooking, involved in bath times/bedtimes (when he is here), he does put the kids first in everything, and that reason, and that reason alone, is the only reason we are still together now.

I also work, of sorts, I have two failed/failing businesses under my belt, and am now working part time while youngest is at nursery and the older two are in school, plus evenings/weekends (17-20 hrs a week). I will be coming back to my 'job' in a bit.

His 13 years older than me, we met when I was 17, moved into a flat together, got engaged, got married, and (planned) DC within 3 months of us meeting. At the time, I thought he really must have loved me, now realise he pushed us both into it, nearly losing my family along the way (didn't speak to my lovely mum for over a year, she missed my eledest's pregnancy/birth/first xmas etc.), I lost all of my friends, he didn't have any as he had moved from a different part of the country to be with me, because he loved me soooo much Hmm

He told me about a week before we got married that he had two children, by different women, that were only 5 and 6 years younger than me (the children!). He said he was young and stupid and that he'd never seen either of them, though he did pay a very small amount of CSA (big of him, eh? WHY couldn't I see it at the time? Angry) I have since found out that actually he did live with the mother of the second child for a while after she was born, but that it didn't work out, so all the 'firsts' we were doing to gether with our first child, weren't actually his firsts at all Sad.

He'd had a long term relationship with someone who he said he never wanted to marry, or have children with, even though she wanted to desperately, he apparently just left her one day, and then met me within 4/5 months and declaired his undying love ("I didn't love her enough, she was nothing like you, didn't I prove that when I married you and not her?")

He had a difficult upbringing, don't want to go into too much detail as I don't feel that would be fair of me, but, very quickly, his mum left him, his older siblings and his dad when H was very young, and by the time he was a young teen, his siblings had all moved out, and his dad had practically moved in with a new lady, H was fending for himself from 14yo.

Over the course of our marriage, I have obviously matured from being a 17yo girl (in essence), and over the last 3-4 years I have come to realise that H is (subtly) EA. He was very controlling over a friendship I had with a girl, to the point where we ended up moving 30 miles away, which was very convieniant for him. And it was the turning point in my mind, I could see as clear as day what was going on, what he was doing to me, and I told him we were over, neither of us could afford to move out, so we carried on staying under the same roof, big mistake, within a month, you'd never know we were going to split. I have now 'lost touch' with my friend, and have no others.

Since then, I have done a fair amount of burying my head in the sand, trying to 'tune in' to when he was preasuring me in any way etc. couple of times I known for sure and talked to him about it, he always wormed his way out of it, and after a few days of uncomfortableness (for me) I'd get over it and it was placed under that very lumpy carpet, with all the rest of the shit.

Throughout the whole time we have been a family, he has always (and I believe will always) love the kids wholely, and properly, there are a couple of very small odd things that have become sticking points over the years (e.g. he insists that when we all eat dinner, we don't cut into a boiled potato (or whatever) and just eat the potato, we also cut a bit of the fish (or whatever!) and eat the fish and potato at the same time, I know that is really odd, but it is just one of the tiny things that sticks in my head) He also can never seem to manage the small things we ask of him, e.g. I have two sugars in my cup of tea, he never ever puts two in, why not? Hmm

About two-ish years ago, I got very drunk, with him at home, saturday night, overdid the wine, not a regular occurance. When I woke up in the morning I thought I could remember him having sex with me in the middle of the night, I asked him and he denied it, I questioned myself (was I that drunk/dreaming?) but (sorry for TMI) I found the 'evidence' as I went to the bathroom, if you follow my drift? So I knew he had, I thought maybe he was drunk as well and couldn't remember. Wrote it off as a strange night.

Since then I have woken up to feeling him ejaculating on me, or wiping me with his t-shirt after he has ejaculated on me, or woken up just as he has tried to actually put his willy in me, sometimes I have asked him what the bloody hell he thinks he's doing, sometimes I just pretend I'm still asleep. Any time I bring it up, I apparently should feel lucky that he still wants me after so long, and after the children, and if I was more willing he wouldn't have to resort to these measures. Now I am the first one to admit, our sex life has suffered over the years, we tend to go in spits and spats, sometimes it can be two or three weeks, sometimes 5 or 6 times a week, no pattern to it, sometimes it is when I am most angry/hurt that we have more sex, not sure if that is me trying to regain some control?

Money has always been a problem, we've never seemed to have enough(!) (though TBF we have never been as tight as it is right now, now we are struggling for food at times, whereas, whilst there might not have been much left over 12 months ago, there was some) I was a SAHM until 2 years ago, I have tried and failed two different businesses (trying to work around child care etc.) neither of which had big outlays, but both of which really needed money for advertising that we just didn't/haven't got.

H point blank refused for me to get a part-time evening job, either in a bar/shop/etc. Saying that we'd never see each other, I'd miss the kid's bedtimes etc. But we were desperate for money. That stupid bloody program came on the telly about the phone sex line girls, H jumped on it, said it was be perfect for me, I could do it while the kids were out, and maybe some evenings to get extra money in, and that it might open my mind a bit and give us a boost in our sex lives. So for the past 4 weeks I have spent many evenings, in and out of the garage conversion, to deal with bedtimes etc. while trying to take/dodge calls from people. He will say things like "Did you touch yourself for any of them?" "Have you made much on your wank line?" "Oooo, bet you're all turned on now, talking to those other men". He sits in the living room watching the phone to know exactly when I'm on the phone and when I'm not, watching porn, sending me pictures of his errect penis over a photo of me, sending videos of himself wanking over pictures of me on the laptop etc. This is all supposed to get me in the mood... Hmm and Sad and Angry.

So, after a shit week last week, and having made some extra money, I went and bought us some wine on Saturday, I drank nearly two bottles (again, I like wine, but not usually that much!) H actually poured the last glass of the second bottle but I said I'd had enough and was going to bed, we had sex and I went to sleep. Next thing I remember waking up, he was on top of me, having sex with me, my legs were closed underneath him, he was completely squashing me, I was whimpering, actually whimpering (makes my bloody boil when I think how I was), I was saying no, ow, no, but strangely, I wasn't screaming and shouting it, or trying to move away or anything, I was just a pathetic whimpering heap, why didn't I try to stop him? He ejeculated in me and gave me an extra tight squeeze, and rolled off me. I asked him why he just carried on when I was saying no, and he said he thought I was moaning in pleasure Hmm He asked if we were ok, I said yes, rolled over and went to sleep.

He spent Sunday morning walking on egg shells, being extra nice, I didn't say a word about it and just acted normal, thinking I needed time to work out what I was going to do, and it was best to keep my cards to my chest as it were.

Yesturday we got into bed, he asked, actually asked, out of the blue, "can I cum on you?" I said no in a lighttone and pointed to the bathroom, he seemed to shrug it off, gave me a kiss on my cheek, turned over and started to fall asleep, I turned over and led there with my eyes open, he obviously presumed I was asleep, he started wanking, I purposefully moved to see what he would do, he just carried straight on, I heard/felt him get his t-shirt to clean up (it is always his t-shirts) and then he was asleep, I came downstairs and cried. He has absolutely no respect for me, I think the porn thing is playing a part in this, he never (seemed to) used it before a couple of years ago, and slowly but steadily, he has been using it more, and in the same time frame I am becoming more and more of his object to do with as he pleases, when he pleases.

So, for anyone that has got this far (and bloody well done if you did!) firstly, am I being unfair on the kids to take them away from their dad when he is brilliant with them? They love him to bits, it will break their hearts and I don't want to risk being the cause of the that.

Secondly, we rent our house (both names on tenancy), he owns the car but I drive it 99% of the time, we have no savings etc. My mum lives 200 miles away and it is the only place I could go. The only way I can get away from him, with some money in my pocket to get us there and a means of getting us there is if when he next get's paid (last working day of each month) to move some money from our joint account to my own, (this will leave bills here unpaid), take the car, pack up everything I can get in it, and take the kids and I to my mums. He will know exactly where I am, I'm not scared of him, but the fact I have cut all ties (except the kids obv.), will show him that we are over. He will hate it, he will hate me for doing it, but he will calm down fairly quickly, and realise he's pushed it too far, for the sake of seeing the kids.

Would I be facing any legal repercussions in taking the car/money? I just dont know how else to do it.

Right, this is humongous, I am sure I still haven't given all the details, but I really just wanted to get as much as I could down. Thanks to anyone who has made it to the end, and if anyone has any advice, I am all eyes ears.

OP posts:
StickorFold · 26/04/2012 16:49

Shit, he's home, will be back tomorrow - thanks everyone x

OP posts:
OxfordBags · 26/04/2012 16:54

Just remember that he's never felt that way about you whilst raping you in your sleep...

MooncupGoddess · 26/04/2012 16:56

Texting him when you get to your mum's is a much better idea.

Apart from anything else, if your escape plan goes wrong (car breaks down, child starts vomiting, whatever) and you have to return home and postpone the escape until another day, you really, really don't want him to have found the note in the meantime.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 26/04/2012 16:59

"I can't stop/help worrying about him, I have been with him my whole adult life, the fact that he is such a big part of me is exactly what's taking me away, but the fact remains, he is still a part of me, of who I am".

He trained you well.

I would read up on codependency when you have the chance; perhaps your sister can buy you a copy of "Codependent no more" written by Melodie Davies.
Also you need to read "Why does he do that?" written by Lundy Bancroft.

No, he is not a part of who you are and never has been. You've had children by him; they are the only good to have come out of this relationship. You were targetted by him can you see that?.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 26/04/2012 17:00

"Will he ever realise what he has done?"

Unlikely. I would say no.

Chubfuddler · 26/04/2012 21:56

Hope you're ok.

FatherDougalMcGuire · 26/04/2012 23:53

The phone issue....could you buy a cheapie new phone, put your old sim in it, and then 'break' your old phone on the morning of the day you are leaving and show it to him broken so he doesn't expect you to call him til the afternoon when you would theoretically have had a chance to buy a new one?

You are doing the right thing, but of course you feel guilty and sad for him, you have loved this man for a long time, you can't just switch off that ability to feel compassion for him. Staying would be a huge, huge mistake though, one that it's fab you finally have the strength not to make. Be proud of yourself for that.

StickorFold · 27/04/2012 01:03

Yes thanks, I'm OK, I can't bare laying in bed next to him, so have come for a sneak. Might well accidently end up falling alseep down here. Whoops!

Having baaaad thoughts of what if he goes the other way? Realises he could, potentially, end up in serious trouble, he's lost his family, lost his home, he's no mates, no family of any use, he'll have no money - well very little (!), what if he does something really stupid? I want to ask him in the note/text to not try to contact me for at least 24hrs, but am now thinking if he doesn't try, I'm going to be worrying myelf sick he has done something, and then he may as well have been banging the door down for all the 'time' I'll get.

I think I am going to go with the idea of working then a McD's for DS3, someone said about saying I'd dropped my mob down the loo, (think it might have been my sister via text actually thinking about it!!) I might tell him that in the phone call at 9, then he'd have no reason to suspect anything until I haven't picked up the house phone, hopefully if anything, he may get home an hour or so earlier than usual rather than mid-afternoon.

Still playing scenes in my head of him spotting us on the motorway. I think I'd panic and cause a bloody accident.

OP posts:
oikopolis · 27/04/2012 01:07

don't think about his actions.

a) he is unlikely to do anything. really. i hate to say this but you and the children are replaceable. he's had other women in the past, he's going to find another one and have kids with her after you.

b) your children are your concern. you cannot take his choices on, you just can't. you've got to focus on your kids and if it's a choice between them and him, i know you'll choose them.

i can imagine you are a wreck. we are all behind you though. fwiw. x
you're so brave and your kids are so lucky to have you.

StickorFold · 27/04/2012 01:21

Thank you can't let them come yet.

Well that is at least one thing, he won't be having anymore kids, I sat and watched his vasectomy!

OP posts:
StickorFold · 27/04/2012 01:27

Oooh, I forgot, I went back undercover on DS1, "what three things would you take to a desert island you were going to be stuck on for 6 months?" His Answer: "You, food, laptop" easy as that Grin.

How on earth we've got 3 great kids out of the mess that is 'us', I have no idea.

OP posts:
AMJ3 · 27/04/2012 01:37

Stay strong and focussed.trust me u will be doing ur kids a favour by getting out of this mess. Ds1 said he would take u to the desert island. If he was that great with the kids y didn't he mention his dad? will keep u in my prayers. xxx

StickorFold · 27/04/2012 01:50

DS1 has always been much closer to me than his dad, they do bicker, they go through patches of barely being able to grunt at each other, but ultimately, he loves his dad, and for his sake, somewhere, in some way, I hope H loves him back. DS1 is very sensitive, very wise in a child like kind of way, very much not into football and other 'boys' things. He is so clever, he knows the workings of a computer better than he knows the back of his hand, he is acing at everything in school. In some ways, everything his dad isn't.

DS2 is going to be the hard one, he is so close to his dad. He loves sitting watching Simpsons with H, and playing football, the playful (and it is only playful) rough housing etc. He will be the most affected by h not being there, no doubt about it. Luckily, he still loves my cuddles, and tells me this everyday, so I have got something to offer him!

DS3, he is so chilled, goes through equally clingy stages with both H and I, but mostly just can't be arsed about much! He is a food monster, as long as he has food, Peppa/Geroge Pig, and a cuddle from anyone he will just get on with things.

God, how I wish it was Tuesday tomorrow, having said that, since I've got to be up in 3 hours, maybe I should be wishing it was a leeeeetle bit earlier on Monday night?!

OP posts:
AMJ3 · 27/04/2012 02:20

Like I said. Don't worry about the kids. They will be fine. Kids r more clued up on what's going on then we realise. And they will understand. Maybe the younger ones will need time but they will k ow deep down that it's a good thing. Get some sleep. :)

StickorFold · 27/04/2012 07:14

4 more days. And then I can get out of his reach. Everytime he touches me, or even looks at me, I am fighting the urge to smack him round the head with a bloody heavy somethingorother.

4 days. If I can do this, the leaving day will be a easy-peasy in comparison!

He makes my skin crawl. Must stay in bed tonight though, else he'll know something is up.

OP posts:
TheHappyHissy · 27/04/2012 07:22

You can do this. I know what kind of effort you need for this, I've done it, I don't need that herculean strength these days, so I'm sending it all to you!

StickorFold · 27/04/2012 07:24

Do you know what the strange thing is? AFAIK, he has no clue that we are leaving, and when we do, he'll be asking himself (and probably anyone else he can get to listen) why. Why did I leave leave and take his kids 200 miles away. He will play the victim, am sure there will be accusations thrown at me, I can see him doing it.

4 more days until the fun really begins, but at least I won't have to have him in my bed, expecting me to welcome him home from work, listening to which person dared to do/say the wrong thing today.

I am feeling very angry today, probably because I am shattered, probably because I have had to bite my tongue umpteen times already this morning, I am sick of it, and I can't wait until I get the chance, that one moment where I am going to be carried by adrenalin and anger, and hurt, and frustration, and I will be able to tell him exactly what I think of him.

4 days. Doesn't usually seem a long time. It feels like forever sat here.

OP posts:
BranchingOut · 27/04/2012 08:25

Thinking of you and wishing you all the best.

mumofkyle · 27/04/2012 09:19

Morning! I so very nearly came and got you yesterday; I coudn't bear the thought of you doing this all on your own and having to wait until Tuesday but DH said you needed to do this for you - he also sends his love.

The odd thing my DH had a missed call from yours on Tuesday, he didn't see it until late and then forgot until I updated him last night, he texts him a lot of jokes but doesn't usually ring?

StickorFold · 27/04/2012 09:25

Thank you :)

Am going to use today to get prepared for the preparation! Lists, things to remember, sort the paperwork/account no's. etc. I keep thinking of things that I mustn't forget, but that can't be packed until the last minute: the pin reader thing for the bank, phone charger, the kids air beds and the pump, his wedding rings (he only wore them for the first 6-ish months, can sell them, along with mine, when I need to) anything else small, grabbable, and sellable.

Also need to work out exactly what to tell the kids and when, not just about H and I, but why we're going to Nana's on a school day etc., without H.

And am blocking visions of him 'catching' us on the motorway, else I am going to be a nervous bloody wreck by the time it's time to go, and then will forget the important stuff.

OP posts:
StickorFold · 27/04/2012 09:27

Sorry x posts!

H rang him? Did he leave a message or anything? Shit. What if he knows? Shit.

OP posts:
StickorFold · 27/04/2012 09:29

Do you think your DH (god this is confusing!!) could ring mine, and sound OK? See what he was ringing for?

Shitty shit shit.

OP posts:
StickorFold · 27/04/2012 09:32

Sorry, that has thrown me, I didn't take in the rest of your post.

I really need to wait till Tuesday, I need to have the money, and the car tax sorted.

If he knew, there is no way he'd be calm, is there? How could he know anyway? I didn't even start the thread till Wednesday, is your DH sure it is was Tuesday?

OP posts:
mumofkyle · 27/04/2012 09:38

I know I didn't know what to make of it either. It was definitely Tuesday as Dh was in London. Do you want him to ring him back?

mumofkyle · 27/04/2012 09:40

DC1 might ask questions but I think the excitement of going to Nanas will be enough to start. I wouldn't stress about that side of things yet xx