Dp talks to me like I'm a ****

[Thecowjumpedoverthemoon]

We had a massive row yesterday.

Nothing major happened but I went a bit doolally after he spoke to me like a .
Then acted like I'd done something unforgivable, said I was a c and he wasn't interested in me anymore.

I can only give examples of what he is like (even when he's in a good mood).

If anyone leaves the kitchen door open (it's cold in there) he won't say 'can you shut the door please' on our way through, he will wait until we have left it open, then make a sarcy snide comment like 'yeah, you just leave the door open then thats fine'
He can't say something politely when it's happening he will leave it until the 'mistake has been made, then make nasty comments, it really gets my back up.
He does it to my teen son and he does it to me in front of the kids.
I usually get annoyed and pull him up on it, which ends in a row with him telling me I'm a c*.

Yesterday we were in the car, he was in the back with ds2 2yo.
I pulled off from our parking space, when a few seconds had passed he said 'you just pull off when I haven't clipped ds in properly, that's fine, you carry on'
I said ' why couldn't you say something before I pulled away?' He then said 'yep it's my fault, all my fault'
I realise I should have been more thoughtful and realise my mistake, but think he could have helped the situation by telling me when it mattered.
This then became about me not taking responsibility.
When we got home he unclipped ds from his seat and took him out at the end of our road, which infuriated me.

Later we argued which ended in me crying for hours.

He made nasty comments about my mental health too (I have ocd).

I felt dead inside and am still feeling shock from his comments.

I know I make mistakes and am far from perfect but I just want him to stop setting me up to fail in his books so he can verbally abuse me further.

I'm lonely, I live nowhere near family and friends, I can't leave and won't leave this house.
My sons need to stay here so leaving isn't an option.
I'm afraid I just have to live with this but limit the damage.

I already have to manage what's on tv at weekends because of the nasty comments he makes about people on tv, he thinks he's hilarious!

A lot of the time we get on great but I've realised this is only when things are going 100% his way,

He is negative a lot of the time and if we do something as a family he just points out how crap everything is. It's draining.

I looked into leaving but my son will be devastated and I will get the blame.
From the outside I have it good because I'm a SAHM.

Btw his dad does the same, makes sarcy comments.

Just want to know what your thoughts are!

[Dinnaeknowshitfromclay]

We let a house to a Mum on benefits with two DCs. I have great respect for her. It was a bit rocky at the beginning and we let her pay the deposit in three portions. We had loads of choice regarding tenants but were astonished at the lovely manners her little boy had (5yo) and felt we wanted to help her as we took to her as a person too. 16 months in now and all's well. We are committed to keeping her as a tenant and she loves the house and is doing a great job as a single mum.
I had an exDP that was EA. I felt trapped too. I read a book called 'Men that hate women and the women who love them' It's a long time ago but men evolve so slowly I'm sure it's all still relevant (:)) but it was a revelation to me at the time. I felt like I was reading about HIM! I moved back home to care for my Mum with cancer and one day he rang (2 weeks before she died) demanding I go over to his house, I said no as Mum was so ill at that point and he said to not bother going back ever, he thought this was a threat, but it was a 'final straw' moment and never went near him again. I get to hear about him every now and again and he's still a monumental bell end.

[ProudestDad]

OP, you wrote:

He made nasty comments about my mental health too (I have ocd).

I felt dead inside and am still feeling shock from his comments.

The comments made by this bully are emotionally damaging and the feelings stated by you in your original post are worrying for me. I believe that great injury has already been inflicted on you.

In my experience verbal abuse might not have caused me any physical bruises, but the psychological effects of the words said to me, words that made me too feel "dead inside," did manifest themselves in an emotionally damaging and physically painful way. These very real effects, for me, are were more difficult to put behind me and get over than the bruise I suffered from the smack in the face.

Good luck

[ShinyBauble]

As you aren't in immediate danger I don't think packing cases and leaving is the best plan.

Start to make your exit plan. You'll find him easier to deal with knowing that it will only be for a short time more. Does your son finish school next summer? Six months will give you time to work on your skills with online courses making you more employable if you will need to get a job, get advice from the likes of Women's Aid and Shelter, open a bank account and put some money away. Hide any evidence carefully - if you ever get a bank statement out, don't put it down on the table, hold it until you hide it away again. (And if you get caught, say you were saving for Christmas/holiday/son's college.)

[iworemyfringelikerogermcguinns]

Hi OP

My mum was and still is like this - she is relentlessly negative and sarcastic and over time this led to my lovely loyal dad becoming completely hen-pecked and my brother and I having very little confidence.

The worst thing for me is that because I grew up in such an environment, it was normal and I also became very sarcastic and nippy, without ever realising it. My P7 teacher told be that I had a very dark sense of humour, FFS.

I do not, ever, want to be like the draining PITA that my mum is - she's not got a good word to say about anyone. But I can be a total arsehole. So one of the best things that ever happened to me was when I was backpacking and I spent a couple of days with a lovely Kiwi man I'd met who told me, very politely and non-judgmentally, that I was the most negative, wingey person he'd ever met. I think hearing it from a stranger made me realise how bad I was. I still need to monitor what I say / think and try to be nicer - it helps a lot that I work in a place where we are all very professional and don't bitch or slag off our clients. However, I also probably accepted shitty treatment from my ex for years because it was normal to me and I'm probably still more of a pain than I think I am.

So what I'm trying to say is that regardless of why he's like this, the example he's setting for your DC is a harmful one. I've learned that the hard way.

[Chaoscarriesonagain]

Posted too soon!
Too long. I know what it's like to feel distanced.

I'm not entirely sure of what advice to post , I know myself j didn't want to hear it.

What I can tell you is that you certainly don't deserve this. If you're prepared to accept it there's a whole eod out there of support and opportunity - where you least expect it - and you're in the right place here - read my previous posts to know just how much!

[Chaoscarriesonagain]

Hi OP. Your post rung true to me in many ways , from a situation I once found myself in (1 year on)

I don't think well of how your DP is talking to you; disrespectful, patronising. I recognise this as I put up with it for too l

[ProudestDad]

Dear OP,

Please read "The Verbally Abusive Relationship, How to Recognize it and How to Respond" by Patricia Evans

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Verbally-Abusive-Relationship-Recognize/dp/1440504636?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

This bully will not lovingly and respectfully share the ups and downs of life with you nor will he take responsibility for his abusive words and actions. He will not change. The book will show you that none of his behavior is your fault. The book will also show you the negative effect that your receiving the abuse could have on your DCs.

I learned a lot from this book after leaving a verbally, and ultimately physically, abusive wife. I wish I had read it years ago and seen her for who and what she actually is - an abuser.

I believe that you should leave now. It will never feel like "a good time" to do so, but it will all work out because I promise you that you will be free of feeling the need to walk on the egg shells.

Stay or go, this is your decision and this forum will be here for you in whatever you decide to do.

You have the power to end your sadness because you are nothing less than amazing :-)

[flippinada]

Excuse random odd words, am on phone.

I also meant to say sorry for your loss x

[flippinada]

BiHubby he might be depressed but that's neither here nor there really. It's moot an excuse for behaving in an abusive way.

OP, I also recommend calling women's aid. Men like this mess with your head until you don't know which way is up and they will often up the abuse when they perceive you as being dependent on them (hence it escalating after you became a sahm) You have more tights than you think here.

[BiHubbyLondon]

This is awful, but it sounds like he might be suffering some sort of depressive illness, to behave in such a bullying, horrid way. Is he hiding things? Does he talk about his feelings?

[tallwivglasses]

How's it going, OP?

[Fairenuff]

I can't leave and won't leave this house. My sons need to stay here so leaving isn't an option. I'm afraid I just have to live with this but limit the damage.

It's not possible to limit the damage, I'm afraid. If you can't leave you will have to put up with this. And so will your ds. Sorry

[Olddear]

Have you spoken to your teen? Try and suss out how he would feel about you and dad living apart? Not sure quite how to phrase it, but if you could get him to talk about how he feels when dad belittles you/him?

[ohfourfoxache]

One step at a time. You've got an awful lot to take in and it is going to take time to fully realise that you are not the one in the wrong.

Baby steps, start putting some money aside, talk to your family and, if you can, see a solicitor. Don't tell him you're doing this until you feel strong enough x

[gingermop]

I was in a relationship like that for many years, was so unhappy and lonely, c* was my ex's fav word too, so vile.
I put up with it for so long because I didnt want to upset our children.
I got to a point where I couldnt go on, breaking point, I realized I deserved better, my kids deserved better, we left, best thing I ever did.
u only have one life, please dont stay in a relationship like this just for the sake of ur kids, trust me they will b much happier one u r happy x

[Retroformica]

Can you just religiously paraphrase everything the way he should have said and using a normal nice voice. It's what I do with the kids. So DS says demanding 'I want milk now' and I say nicely on his behalf 'please can I have milk mum'

But why can't you leave him? Your son will grow up and talk to you and other women if you stay and put up with it.

[Thecowjumpedoverthemoon]

Thanks for the replies.
I have a lot to consider, my head is spinning.

[Anniegetyourgun]

He was great until I became a SAHM. What does that say?

It says he hid his true colours until he had you where he wanted you - dependent. Then he gave rein to his inner arsehole.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

So his dad is the same, his mouth is a weapon. The only time life is sweet is when everything goes his way. It is easy for me to say don't take it to heart because you provide a useful service in his opinion: an audience. It's demoralising hearing how rubbish you are. He bigs himself up by belittling others. Has he started on the DCs yet?

Any time he chortles at or ridicules something on tv or bad luck affecting others, he considers it a win for him. The more he finds fault or sets you up to fail, he scores. Any perceived chink in your armour, I bet he glows. What kind of dad gloats about DS2 not being strapped safely in, just to take a cheap shot at the mother? What next, a candle not fully extinguished, a broken glass on the floor like lying in wait?

From the outside I have it good because I'm a SAHM.
You don't though, do you. If family and friends are far away they don't see you often enough to get a truthful picture. People who know him and have met you will think, "Poor her, rather her than me".

Teen son will see you ground down. He won't hold P in any regard. The little ones won't know any better but they're going to know when Daddy's shouting and Mummy's crying.

[tallwivglasses]

So glad you're thinking of escaping this sad excuse for a man.

In the meantime, disengage...and how about some coping strategies? Cunt bingo, for example? (And make a note every time he says it). How about out-sarkying him? "Sorry I didn't shut the door. It must be so tiring for you living with such an idiotic cunt. How do you cope?" Or laugh in his face, tell him to keep his hair on, sing, change the subject breezily, or just ignore - anything to stop his nasty behaviour getting to you. Stop doing things for him (youre such a cunt you'd probably get it wrong anyway...) And Never apologise.

I'm looking forward to this worm turning at last. You can do it, OP

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Also bullying men like this person more often than not refuse to leave so you're going to have to seek legal advice to get him out. You are not powerless although he would like you to think that you are.

Do call Womens Aid; they can and will help you here.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would rather you and your son away from this man and settled than being together and miserable with him abusing you within your home.
GCSEs are tough going but the way things are at home he would be better off out of there as well. He cannot very well study and revise properly whilst all this is kicking off at home; he likely fears for your safety as much as anything else.

Squirreling money away takes time, lots of it and that is a commodity you really do not have a lot of. It could take months even years to save enough to get out and at what emotional cost to yourselves in the meantime?. The longer you remain within this environment at all, the worse it will become for you and your children.

Your children do not need such a poor role model as a father figure.

What do you want to teach your children about relationships?. What do you think they are learning here?.

[Thecowjumpedoverthemoon]

Myopathy?
My mouth shut!

[Thecowjumpedoverthemoon]

I was a lone parent until my son was ten when we moved here to be with him.
I know what it's like I'm not scared of being on my own, it's the emotional upheaval that it will cause my teen, he's sensitive and we moved here to 'settle'.

I have a plan,
In the meantime I will just keep myopathy shut and keep away from him as much as possible.

He was great until I became a SAHM.
What does that say?

[BuzzardBird]

I second contacting Women's Aid. Please don't let your sons grow up thinking this behaviour is acceptable.