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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

Plesse tell me (although I do know it's not) it's not just me

74 replies

stuckx4 · 15/01/2014 07:04

Apologies in advance, on phone.

Husband went away for a weeks holiday straight after new year. I was not happy for him to be going but he ignored me and went anyway. I was left at home with 3 dc aged 6, 3 and a baby. Oh and a dog with no garden to be let out in. He has made it unsuitable! Eldest child has various sn. Some of these are behavioural.

Reasons I didn't want him to go:

1.We are completely skint through his career choices and have spent literally tens of thousands on hlm trying to get him a job in a specific field. Which he still hasn't got and he refuses to just take any job. I think i may have married an eternal student.

2.I didn't think I would cope. No family nearby. I am completely ony own here.

I didn't cope and the house is a mess. Was still a mess after Christmas as not found a home for everything yet. He received a frosty reception from me on his return but had to pull his finger out because I was admitted to hospital with abdominal problems that night. Basically he had to look after the eldest two and the dog whilst I was in hospital for three days. I kept the baby with me due to breast feeding.

From the moment I went in to hospital he decided that he was ill and started to fake cough and lose his voice. I do not believe this to be real as he has not coughed all night and his lost voice suddenly came back earlier. He has put this on for all friends and family. Even for the pharmacist when collecting my painkillers who apparently said that he should be the one in hospital?

I came home tonight with the baby and all hell has kicked off.

The dog had pooed in the house but got it everywhere. I carried the baby upstairs and put the eldest two dc to bed. He lay down on the sofa and said I'm not clearing that up. I ignored, next thing you know my bed time story is being interupted by swearing. I advise him to stop as we can hear him. He carries on and on now directing the swearing at me too, including the word cunt for good measure. He decided to clean the poo up but was throwing stuff around. I did get a little bit teary and this escalates his torrent of abuse further. Apparently I whine and no one wants to hear it.

I thought it was best to ignore him (frostily though) and go to bed. I discover that the dog has peed on it. Change all the covers sort everything out and finally go to bed with baby. He is still kicking off and going on about the house being a hovel. Go to bed having managed to aggravate stomach pains but manage to go to sleep.

I get woken up by him at 12.30 deciding to go to bed. I ask him not to because I don't want him to knock my stomach at all. For reference, he often doesn't bother coming to bed on a night and stays up watching tv and sleeping on the sofa (this happens a lot!). I am already sharing the bed with the baby due to not owning a cot (no space or money for one). He shouts at me that it's his bed too and tough luck if my stomach hurts and that I sm not the only one that's ill. I get up out the bed and just sit at the top of the stairs feeling a bit lost and sad. Baby starts crying go up to get her to more abuse about how everyone hates me. Apparently even my mum hates me. The house is disgusting. Starts threatening to throw stuff out etc.

Anyway he went back to sleep on the sofa eventually. I did say some mean stuff bsck too when he was shouting at me. Such as actually it's him my parents don't like and that they think he is a waste of space and only put up with him for me.

However is it me. Am I wrong. Is it just circumstances (ie no money, too small a house, being ill). Just need to rant sorry.

OP posts:
stuckx4 · 15/01/2014 09:06

I'm going to call my mum later and ask her to look at a couple of places for me if she can. Today has got worse. He agreed to take the kids to school. I got them all ready while he just lay there. Now apparently my car has broken down on the way there!

I know I should hsve left him a long time ago and have made things worse by having more dc. It just kept seeming like everything would get better and it would all be ok soon.

We lost a not very successful but coping business. I thought he was depressed because of it. We had a major court case that we won with the company but was years of stress. He decided to retrain due to lack of jobs in his field. However he set his sights too high and chose to retrain in an incredibly competitive field. If he does not get work experience soon then that is nearly thirty thousand down the drain.

I just kept thinking it would soon be ok.

OP posts:
stuckx4 · 15/01/2014 09:09

The other thing his fabulous new career is......law. He is going to make it so hard for me to leave.

OP posts:
MarjorieChardem · 15/01/2014 09:11

It will be ok, when you leave him. He is abusive and you and your kids deserve to live without his shit. Can you contact WA? Start gathering paperwork and anything important and get plans in place to get away. You sound like an amazingly strong person and you CAN do this on your own. You already are! At least when you've got rid of him you won't have to deal with being abused like this as well.

livingzuid · 15/01/2014 09:24

Lazeyjaney how does that help OP right now.

Please don't beat yourself up about this. You have 3 beautiful children as a result. There is no amount of stress ever that excuses domestic violence and psychological abuse. He broke your finger, took it and twisted it deliberately!! It seems almost sadistic to me.

Leave for you and your children he doesn't deserve your consideration. You will manage amazingly well.

He lives in lala land if he thinks he can compete against bushy-tailed 20 somethings who will work all hours of the day for peanuts and take all the shit thrown at them which I bet he wouldn't do (I used to work in corporate law for a magic circle firm and they work lawyers into the ground. Even getting into local law firms is insanely tough).

Speak to your parents. Ask for help. Phone WA and also maybe the DV unit where your parents are. Others will have more advice but just start making a plan, financial things like bank accounts and making sure he doesn't stop you from using them, passports, etc.

And keep posting :)

Walkacrossthesand · 15/01/2014 09:46

stuck, I'm so angry on your behalf! He wants to live in an ordered, calm house, expects you to provide this, thinks it's easy to maintain but is completely incapable of doing it while you're ill (and enters into an 'I'm iller than you' fest), and doesn't grovel in abject apology at his own failure to maintain what he has expected of you! So glad you're exploring options to leave him to it - and BTW don't worry about his law 'qualification', it doesn't make him a hot-shot lawyer who'll be able to stitch you up in the divorce.

MasterP0 · 15/01/2014 10:01

OP that's terrible! A partner is supposed to enhance and better your life not be a selfish abusive burden.

So sorry that has happened to you, nightmare to be in hospital with a baby and the house, dog pooh, swearing, dog wee. Can't you get rid of the dog, dog food/insurance is expensive and you clearly can't cope with looking after it?

Only YOU are in charge of your happiness, it's time to take back control for your sake and those darlings. So even if it's not you, you are the enabler and you need to stop enabling/allowing his bad selfish abusive behaviour towards you and your children. Good luck

Lemonylemon · 15/01/2014 10:16

"The other thing his fabulous new career is......law. He is going to make it so hard for me to leave."

OP: Don't believe one word of it. It's complete and utter bullshit. He can "practice law" all he likes - doesn't mean he knows everything about family law. Even lawyers need lawyers who work in different fields to them. I see this every single day as I too, work in law.

Get yourself some advice from Women's Aid; CAB; Surestart etc. Get advice re. your eldest child's schooling. There is no one school which is better than all the rest which stops you moving. Honestly. Get as much help as you can. You sound completely and utterly overwhelmed by it all.

Dollydishus · 15/01/2014 10:29

It's great that your eldest is in a good school but there are lots of good schools. And whatever the school is doing that's good won't make up for him and you and the other DCs living like this.

Take your passports, birth certificates, any key documents like that, and go today to your parents.

You sound really resilient and and lovely. He sounds awful.

It seems insurmountable now but in a year's time you'll thank your lucky stars that you took your children to a better life.

Dollydishus · 15/01/2014 10:33

Are your parents supportive? Do they know he broke your finger?

I bet they'd come and get you and the children in a heartbeat. I would.

Even if you leave with nothing but the clothes your are wearing, it can only be better than this.

Dog mess everywhere, being called a c*, having your finger broken! this is an awful way to live.

Dollydishus · 15/01/2014 10:34

And I say that as a MNetter who's never said LTB. I do think a lot of things can be worked through. But not this.

stuckx4 · 15/01/2014 10:52

My parents only know so much. I understand that they do not want to take over my life but sometimes I think that they are so obsessed with not taking over and allowing me to live my own life that they hold back too much. If that makes any sense. I also think that I annoyed everyone in rl by not leaving before so stopped mentioning any problems and started covering everything up. I feel like I have been a stuck record for years now. All the time wanting something to change.

I have not always had the best relationship with my parents. It has been fine for about 15 years now though and I am even closer to my mum since having the dc.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 15/01/2014 10:57

Please don't stay any longer than you have to.

Move closer to your parents and your extended family. You will find another school that will be good, you are a committed mother and you will fight for that, when you have lost the dead weight hanging round your neck. You would cope better on your own than you do with the constant worry and stress of living with an aggressive, immature arsehole.

He broke your finger!

He doesn't care about you and your comfort even when you've been hospitalised.

He leaves dogshit and urine in the house - he can't even look after an animal let alone your children.

He can't support his family financially through his own pride and poor decision making.

You are not stuck there. It may seem insurmountable but you can do it. Believe in yourself.

NoSquirrels · 15/01/2014 11:06

Please don't worry that your parents won't support you. I am sure they will be so relieved that you have admitted you need them that they will be only too happy to help. Sometimes, when you feel you can't say anything without making it worse then you stop talking about it at all. It doesn't mean they don't care, I'm sure. Reach out to them, please.

Thinking of you.

Allergictoironing · 15/01/2014 11:54

OP your parents may well have thought that if they kept on about it
they would drive you away, so decided better that they stayed close to you. This is what happened with me and my dsis, I realised that if I kept going on about her (now ex) H it might persuade her that he was right saying I was A Bad Person & she shouldn't want to stay close to me.

Lottystar · 15/01/2014 12:05

Op, you poor lady, I'm so sorry you're going through all this alone. I have two young dc with a very supportive husband and this is hard enough sometimes!

First things first, get some legal advice and contact Womens Aid. Talk to your Mother, have an open and frank discussion - tell her everything and say why you did not disclose these things before. Mums usually have a sixth sense in detecting when you're serious about your actions so I'm sure she will take notice and your family will help you. You need to leave this man - he may only be abusive to you now but do you really want your dc growing up in this terrible atmosphere. You can do this for them! Be strong, no woman should have to put up with verbal and physical abuse.

Sorry, your dog needs to go, you have enough on your hands with 3 dc.

Life will be better without him, hard but better. Good luck xx

stuckx4 · 15/01/2014 12:11

Thank you for all your supportive messages. I do feel completely overwhelmed at the moment. One problem just seems to lead to another.

I have got a little bit of money stashed with my mum, ironically I was starting to save for a new car. Think I may turn it into a moving fund. I know things have blown up a bit now but will calm down again. I also know that he has been interested in moving to my parents area but sending me first so no need to hide activity too much.

OP posts:
livingzuid · 15/01/2014 12:22

Move to your parents area without him. Ditch him. He's nothing but an abusive husband. Get some legal support.

Be honest and upfront with your mum. Lottystar is correct with the sixth sense! I bet they would be in the car and driving round to get you all now if they knew the extent of how bad things were.

So sorry times are tough :( make a plan to leave, it can be done. You don't deserve this and neither do your children.

Hermione123 · 15/01/2014 12:29

Hi op, my dsis stayed with a pig dh for yrs and we did get fed up with hearing appalling tales and her then doing nothing or defending him to us. Your family will rally round once they realise you are serious. I wonder whether you need mh help too? No need to answer, just something for you to consider. Please do get away from him. So what he's doing law? He sounds completely idle as well as abusive. In your situation, I'd re-home the dog, best for everyone.

stuckx4 · 15/01/2014 20:10

I know I need mh help too. I have loads of issues. Probably why I am still here. My real df died when I was a child and my dm could not cope with me or her grief. I was neglected by her. She started to get her act together then met my step father. I was sent to boarding school and have quite a poor relationship with him. He is ok now and is fantastic with my eldest.

Although if anything happened to my dm I do see that being the end of our relationship.

I am aware i was not very mature when I met my husband and was probably quite needy. This is far from the case now. I have to do everything on my own. I don't even bother mentioning a lot of things in my life to him and just get on. It's easier than the grief I get when I ask fot anything.

OP posts:
OhGoveUckYourself · 15/01/2014 20:23

Oh this is just awful - you really can't stay with him, there is nothing positive at all in your posting. I think you really have to be totally honest with your parents and make plans to leave asap. Do you feel up to seeing your GP or phoning Women's Aid?
I can see that all of your problems are dragging you down but try and do one thing at a time. It makes me so angry that women put up with so much from angry, entitled men ( I am aware that it can be the other way around but DV stats show 93% abuse is men to women) and feel powerless to act. This is not a life for you or your DCs.

Deathwatchbeetle · 16/01/2014 08:03

Since he appears to be a totally useless nob it would be much better to get away from him.

Sadly I think it would be better too to give the dog to an animal shelter. Even the dog is getting stressed out!

Totally unforgivable that he got arsey about cleaning up the dog poo - you had just got back from hospital fgs and with a young baby that poo should have been cleaned up as soon as.

Hermione123 · 16/01/2014 08:18

Hi Op, go to the GP to get the ball rolling to get yourself some help, and get a plan to get your life back the way you want it. You may be surprised that you feel much calmer when he's out the picture. You may also get more help re dc if you are on your own officially, people tend to think the partner can be doing more than they are doing.

KouignAmann · 16/01/2014 08:27

Think of the investment in his career as a sunk cost. If by good luck he makes it into a good job he can support his kids better in future. But you need to leave him for your own sake. He will grind you down.

stuckx4 · 16/01/2014 16:13

He seriously thinks he is this downtrodden bloke. That he coped amazingly without me around oh and actually said it would have been best if I died in hospital and then everyone would be happy.

Oh and because I keep removing his body armour for skiing from the dirty clothes bin (it won't go in the wash and even it does I am not doing it) he said that if I take it out again he will slit my fucking throat when I am sleeping. Of course this was denied when I texted him about it. He's not stupid enough to pit anything in writing.

He is never normally as bad as this. However I normally can get on with everything.

OP posts:
livingzuid · 16/01/2014 16:46

Dear lord. Please leave. Now. Get essential documents and Run as fast as you can. You and your children are in serious danger from this man. Do it for their sakes.