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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

Relationships

me again! its still going on (long sorry)

103 replies

vanilla01 · 20/06/2013 06:53

silly really that im even here asking for help again and not seeing it through. but i am terrified of going - im so bloody weak.
its still going on - my OH totally controlling everything i do and then tells me its my fault! is it?
ive been with him for 20 years - 2 children and 1 child from a previous relationship which he wants nothing to do with. has nothing to do with my mum and dad - he doesnt like them for some reason - never has - they have never done anything to my knowledge to upset him.
i worked up until i had the kids he pestered me to leave work which i didnt want to but he wore me down - moaning that nothing got done at home whilst i worked (he has his own business and i do all the bookwork for ect for the business too) - so i left work. he still moaned.
his agument is he brings in the money the least i could do is keep the house clean, do all the admin work for the business that keeps a roof over our head. but according to him i do nothing, i never clean properly, there are always mistakes with the bookwork. i use HIS car but never keep it clean, i dont displine the kids properly. "he gets up at the crack of dawn everyday to work 15 hour days for me to take the piss - but im happy spending his money" seriously if i meet the mums for a coffee he is on the phone asking why this that and the other hasnt been done. im always on tender hooks and either dont go on coffee mornings now - or go for about 20 minutes and rush home before he can call me.
he even went away to portugual with his mates last week for 4 days (because he bloody works hard and deserves a break) and during that time i went to a spa for my friends 40th (not something i do often and was really looking forward to it) - he even controlled me from portugual, rang me constantly - and if i didnt answer the phone which i couldnt at times he sent me text messages saying "oh too busy to answer your phone as usual" then called me asking why the kids werent at home whilst i was out enjoying myself (they were at a brownies event with my mum up at the village hall) - put a total downer on my day.

about 2 years ago i started baking - basically i have never wanted to be a stay at home mum, im one of those people that has a bit of ambition and always looking for something creative to do. so its was by accident i found that i could bake. i had challenged myself to bake the kids birthday cakes - and it just started from there - people are now constantly asking me to bake them cakes. i foolishly thought he would love that - im bringing in money - at home with kids ect. oh my god he hates it - and over the 2 years has kicked up such a fuss when i have been baking - "oh you can bake for tom dick and harry, but you cant clean the house for your family or type up this letter for one of my clients ect ect"
i have had to start baking in secret how crazy is that baking CAKES in secret, as soon as he walks out the door at 5am in the morning. anyway he found out that i had been baking and has thrown a complete paddy - telling me im selfish, i do nothing around the house, all i want to do is stuff for myself, i spend all day baking to earn nothing, and use his money to buy all the ingredients - he would love to stand at home and bake all day but he has to earn a living for us ect ect.

im droning on again - but the bottom line is i am terrified of leaving, why i dont know - i dont want to be with him - i hate him. the kids adore him. i dont think he would let me leave without a fight. it would complelty destroy the kids. ive thought about leaving on my own - just going without a trace. im on antidepressants because i hit such a low point. they help me cope with it all i think. i dont sleep, constantly on edge wondering what i have done wrong today, what am i going to get told off about today. i ahve no self worth - i hate myself, constantly digging myself out. what am i going to do? x thanks for listening

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KatyTheCleaningLady · 21/06/2013 14:25

What would your husband do if you didn't clean or cook dinner one day because you were out with your phone turned off, and then, when he went off on you, you just rolled your eyes, laughed, and walked out of the room?

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vanilla01 · 21/06/2013 14:28

katythecleaninglady - scream and shout at me for about 2 hours telling me how selfish i was, ive got the life of Reilly, im ungrateful, then would give me the silent treatment, i would think

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pictish · 21/06/2013 14:29

Yes, he is one abusive fucker isn't he?

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KatyTheCleaningLady · 21/06/2013 14:29

What if you literally ignored him? Like, pretended he wasn't there or walked out of the house?

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thefrozensouth · 21/06/2013 14:30

Whatever you do, keep posting on here - these wise folk will help you, and support you, and enable you to leave behind the abuse that you are enduring.

Please don't let your children grow up to believe this is how men can treat women. Do you want your son to grow up to be his father and your daughter to grow up to be you? (Even if she can bake great cakes).

Get them out of there very soon. Show them what you can really be like - a strong, independent woman who had the courage to leave behind the horror that is your life. You can do this. Get support from wherever you can - family, GP, Women's Aid, solicitor, CAB, wherever.

If you can bake in secret, you can get support for yourself in secret. Just do it.

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vanilla01 · 21/06/2013 14:31

the last time i walked out he chased after me and begged me to come home - literally begged.

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FeegleFion · 21/06/2013 14:36

Abusers often use a tactic that confuses, like the one you describe.

What they do is offer a small 'token' of affection, like the text saying if baking makes you happy, go for it.

Of course he's going to retract it, however that text (and any other kindness like flowers etc), keeps you thinking "See, he does care about my happiness, he does love me. Maybe I'm overreacting to the way he is".

This is a classic tactic and it is used by all abusers.

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pictish · 21/06/2013 14:42

Feegle is right.
Abusers aren't stupid - they know if they are awful all the time, their victim would just up and leave...so they temper their abuse with periods and incidences of reasonableness, contrition, apologies, admissions of guilt, displays and words of affection and support, so that their victim is lulled into a false sense of security whereby she thinks 'he IS sorry and he DOES love me'...only for her to fall foul of his abuse once again.

It is called the cycle of abuse.

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AgathaF · 21/06/2013 14:50

the last time i walked out he chased after me and begged me to come home - literally begged - what was it then that made you go back?

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anonacfr · 21/06/2013 15:00

Your last post reads like the diary of a Victorian servant. Your work 18 hours day and you're expected to feel grateful for your car?

And let me guess your 'lovely holidays' involve you running after the children while the tosser relaxes because his life is so hard.

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anonacfr · 21/06/2013 15:01

Sorry I meant the post where you describe your typical day.

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FeegleFion · 21/06/2013 16:39

Excellent link Pictish

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Djangounhinged · 21/06/2013 16:46

You're getting lots of great advice and support here OP, I hope you can find the strength to start planning to leave. It will be so much better for you and all of your children.

I'm furious and anxious on your behalf, you sound like an amazing person. Don't let him tell you otherwise any longer.

Good luck x

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thefrozensouth · 21/06/2013 22:03

vanilla are you okay?

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Viviennemary · 21/06/2013 22:10

Your life sounds miserable and you owe it to yourself to get out of this misery. Think forward 10 or 20 years will you think I should have left or will you think I should have stayed. That will be your answer on what you should do. I hope things get sorted out.

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Jux · 21/06/2013 22:34

Get yourself and your children away from this nasty abuser. Tell peopleIi real life what he is like and what your life is like. They'll already have some sort of idea. I went out for the day with a friend a couple of years ago - dh rang me at least 8 times! She was like this Hmm. It'll be far less of a secret than you think it is right now.

And gather copies of bank statements -business and personal; get passports, birth certificates. Put them all somewhere safe; maybe ask your eldest if you can leave a folder of documents at his place for a while?

Phone Women's Aid and talk with them about devising an exit plan.

Write down as much as you can remember from past years, and then note down all new incidents.

Talk to a solicitor. Find out your rights and what you really are not allowed to do.

Talk to the Police Domestic Abuse people too.

Just get as much support as you can in rl and here.

And then go.

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DHtotalnob · 21/06/2013 23:31

pilgit is exactly right. And it will remain their default template for relating to people if nothing changes.

Just wanted to ask, if you've been together since your son was 5, and your racist H has nothing to do with him....... how did that work??

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SpecialAgentTattooedQueen · 21/06/2013 23:44

Just wanted to ask, if you've been together since your son was 5, and your racist H has nothing to do with him....... how did that work??

^^ This. I wanted to ask but didn't want to seem insensitive. Does your DS know he feels this way about him?

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vanilla01 · 22/06/2013 07:02

hi specialagenttattooedqueen - we lived separately and i more or less bought my son up as a single parent - we didnt live together until i had my daughter (with him) so my son had already left home and was 18. the thing was during the first 12 years we lived seperatly and saw each other at the weekends like a girlfriend and boyfriend - but he would never get invloved with my son. ive never told my son about why he doesnt get involved i just fluff around the edges.

this morning he has told me he is moving out - YEY - and ive got to get my own car, a job and that ive had it too easy. i said i didnt want anything from him and was happy to move out myself (im in his house) - he said he is going to tell the kids about it all - i know he is bluffing becuase he does this when he doesnt get a reaction from me - ive just been going along with it all agreeing with him and he is getting fustrated - he is trying to get me to react. i wish he would just pissoff

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Pollydon · 22/06/2013 08:47

Stay strong Vanilla Flowers

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NeverBeenToMe · 22/06/2013 09:55

You need to see CAB or a solicitor. If you do not have an income yet, he will exercise his financial hold over you, maybe by threatening to stop paying the mortgage, not paying etc. Take control of your life vanilla and start living it how YOU want x

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KatyTheCleaningLady · 22/06/2013 10:24

Definitely time to "lawyer up" as we say in America. He can't actually cut you off without a penny.

The two things to do right now are to get copies of all financial information and see a solicitor. Start today. When he realises that you are going, he will take moves against you financially.

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KatyTheCleaningLady · 22/06/2013 10:24

Definitely time to "lawyer up" as we say in America. He can't actually cut you off without a penny.

The two things to do right now are to get copies of all financial information and see a solicitor. Start today. When he realises that you are going, he will take moves against you financially.

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TSSDNCOP · 22/06/2013 10:42

He can't even do this bit with real balls can he?

It's Saturday so he thinks it'll be hard for you to lawyer up on the weekend, and by Monday you'll have forgotten all about it.

In your one life, don't let this man take years from you. Don't look back in 20 years and wish you'd taken him up on today's offer.

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HansieMom · 22/06/2013 14:57

You can have live without his constant phone calls and requests now!

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