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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

not sure who is wrong (probably both)

60 replies

mspmsp · 27/03/2014 11:21

Been having pretty much the same argument repeatedly with dp since our son was born..
It comes down to the fact that he seems to be of the opinion that because he works, his days off should be days off and I of course look after our 7 month old/do most of the cleaning/cooking etc every day. It all sounds a bit petty but nothing major has happened it's just little things over time wearing me down. The kind of things I mean are:

When I'd just had ds I had to stay in hospital 3 days to try and get him to breastfeed,which meant zero sleep, because every hour or so a midwife would cone along and help, and my son was crying a lot of the time plus it's just hard to get sleep in a hospital which is fine I didn't expect much sleep but the day I came home (we weren't living together then) he went home at about 8pm because HE was tired, I thought he would help with the night feeds atleast one day so I could get some rest after the whole child birth thing but no, HE was tired. He thinks this was totally fine and that I'm being selfish not thinking about his needs because "it's not all about you, I was tired and needed sleep too" sounds petty but it upsets me that his needs always come first but I think after Labour and no sleep for 3 days straight he could have put my needs above his for one night.

I've been pretty ill the past week and he chose to use his his days off to go over his brothers (fine I don't care about that) and then came back and went to sleep on the sofa, so leaving me with all the cleaning and a screaming teething baby on my own again. He also decided he didn't want to change ds so just put him on the floor to sit in his own poo asleep until I realised he needed changing.

The ONE time I asked him to watch ds since he's been born, for half a day so I could get an assignment finished for my ou course, he got a call from his friend and decided he would shout at me for ' dictating his life' because he wanted to leave and I said, well you can take ds with you like I have to everywhere I go.

He shouted at ds when he was 3 weeks old because he agreed to do a night, ds was crying (as babies do) and he sais to him "you are not going to fucking dictate my life like this" well yes actually babies do dictate your life they depend on us for everything they can't be naughty at 3 weeks old ffs. I let this go because figured it was stress and lack of sleep

This morning after our argument ds woke up at 5am and I (stupidly) thought well I'll let dp get up and see how he likes it when it's unfair (he has work today usually I would have got up but I was trying to prove a point) he went mad, shouted t me and had a go at ds. I got up after this.

He thinks his money is HIS and I have no right to say "you shouldn't really spend £450 on an x box we need to save for a deposit to rent somewhere" because that is me dictating his life. So is saying we needed to save whilst staying at my parents rent free, which they did so we could save to move out.

Other that though he is a good dad, he does sometimes help but he thinks he is doing me a favour by doing so, it hard to explain, he'll help if I ask but I get annoyed that he doesn't seem to be taking the responsibility of being a parent at all but maybe he is right and I am being petty, he does go to work and long hours so I get that he is tired but I'm tired too. Surely this isn't really how it works anymore? Seems kind of old fashioned to me but I don't know, I'm 23 and no one I know has children so I ave no idea, be a case that I'm not coping well with being a mum and taking it out on him when it's hard.

OP posts:
Nomama · 28/03/2014 11:25

I won't apologise for being so blunt, LtEveDallas is right.

Stop being an overly forgiving pillock and grow a pair of what he lacks.

You are at your mum's stay there this time. Turn your phone off. Contact the police, let your mum give him a piece of her mind.

He is what he is, a bullying twat who is already a serial non daddy. You won't change him. But you can change you.

Get a grip and get the life you deserve!

Jengnr · 28/03/2014 11:27

Well done for getting out. Now don't go back.

Ignore the threats and the abuse. They're not exactly signs that he's a good person to be in a relationship with are they?

mspmsp · 28/03/2014 11:31

I'm not that young, 23 last week, he's 24. I guess you're all right but it's sad, I know he can be nice he just seems to have lost all empathy recently. I've definitely not been perfect I am pretty immature at times and definitely have provoked him but it always ends up my fault. Someone called the police (just a stranger who saw what was happening) because he was pushing me over during a drunken argument when we were out at a work night of his and somehow that all ended up to be my fault, I refuse to make a statement so it got dropped cause of no evidence, yet it's still apparently my fault for talking to people other than him (granted I was being drunk and embarrassing but not inappropriate or anything) ss got involved but they didn't seem concerned about him really. I have pushed him etc before which is very wrong but he jumped on me during an argument the other day with his arms around my neck, again I kinda believed that was fair enough because I kept moaning at him but these opinions on his general behaviour are kind of making me realise I'm being an idiot.

OP posts:
amverytired · 28/03/2014 11:41

Trying to strangle someone really is very very serious.
It's a very strong indication of violence to come.
The line has already been crossed.
Please do not minimise this. Walk away with your baby.

Endymion · 28/03/2014 11:41

This is not a good environment in which to raise a child. He is an abusive bully - pushing you because you were embarrassing him. How dare he!

Do you think the physical stuff is escalating since you had the baby? That's quite common.

You owe it to your baby to provide a secure and happy childhood which is not to happen with this man in your life.

Nomama · 28/03/2014 11:44

STOP IT! Repeat that to yourself.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES HIS TEMPER IS HIS FAULT.

You could have snogged a total stranger in the street and he shouldn't have tried to strangle you.

STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!

amverytired · 28/03/2014 11:50

Why do you think it's fair enough? Because he says so?
There is this idea that in normal relationships there is fault on both sides, that things can be worked out if both take responsibility for arguments.
You are not in a 'normal' relationship. Your partner is violent towards you, you can't fix this by talking.
I think you need some support here to see the wood from the trees.
You sound very appeasing, women's aid can help you with this.

It's also common for women in abusive relationships to act badly, like you keep telling us.
People do not behave well when under stress, this leads to confusion (fog) where the abused woman feels that she is contributing and/or is responsible for the aggression her partner is showing.
The only way to break this cycle is to remove yourself from the situation, get some help like counselling to deal with what you have been through and how this has shaped your thoughts.
You will find it very hard to think clearly while he is putting psychological pressure on you. On top of that you may be getting well-meaning but wrong advice from others around you.
Things like relationship counselling, anger management or even just to try to do things his way to avoid triggering his anger.
There will always be something that you do wrong, the goalposts will always shift.
You can't fix him.

You will be a much better mum without him.

bleedingheart · 28/03/2014 11:56

Get away from this waste of space. Christ, I'm scared just reading this.

23 is young! Don't throw your life away on him. You've told him what you need and want. He knows he isn't doing what he should, he doesn't need educating. He already has a child, he knows they cry and poo.

This is why relationships need to be addressed in schools because a woman shouldn't have to ask if this is normal or not.
He pushes you about, he sabotages your study, he harangues you if you try to take a break, he won't help out and he leaves his DC in a shitty nappy because he can't be bothered to change one nappy?! Sod that.

Lweji · 28/03/2014 12:03

Look, he's abusive, and it's not surprising that he is upping it now that there is a baby on the scene.
You should have made a statement when he pushed you, drunk or not.

Everybody can be nice, when there are no responsibilities.
He has the potential to be nice. But he isn't and he is choosing not to be nice.

Do get out.

Lweji · 28/03/2014 12:04

Don't let it get to your 30s or later to claim your life back from him.

RiverTam · 28/03/2014 12:09

yes, he is certainly abusive; however you sound quite emotionally immature - 23 (just) is young, very young.

Get away and stay away - and don't ever hook up with anyone like that in the future. Being a single mother is better than being with an abusive twat like this.

Holly300 · 28/03/2014 12:16

OP please listen to all the advice given (however blunt it may be).

LTB! He will not change and it will only get worse. We are all telling you this out of experience. It's not too late for you to be happy and find someone that respects you.

He may well tell you all the things you want to hear... That is manipulation. Ea people are very good at that. Please don't fall for it and please don't be bullied.

MN is here for you, but please wake up and realise that this is no life for you and dc. Plus, I'd be a bit worried that he shouts at the baby!

Ploppy16 · 28/03/2014 14:39

Oh Love..
So far we have: childishness and jealousy of a small baby who he already shouts at.
Gaslighting - making everything your fault.
Physical Abuse - whatever you did or do does not give him the right to get physical with you.
Utter laziness: on Sunday night my 13 year old DS got to his toddler sister before I did and was finding her comforter which had fallen out of bed for her. This kid could give lessons on laziness at times and still got out of his bed to comfort a 2 year old. Do you see your OH doing this at any point?
A failed relationship and a child he doesn't see.
It's not good. You are young and can actually see what he is doing, you reference it enough in your posts.
Don't waste the best years of your life on this git anymore x

LineRunner · 28/03/2014 14:46

Hi, OP.

Please may I add to the voices of the all the other MNers telling you to get the hell out of this awful relationship. Please.

You will be a great mum, away from him. You will be happier, and safer, and better off in all ways, as will your DC.

somewheresomehow · 28/03/2014 17:25

My dd is two years older than you and if she told me that her relationship was like this I would tell her to kick him to the kerb and come home, and probably apply for a restraining order as well.
Please don't put up with him any more.

Charley50 · 28/03/2014 17:40

He is very immature. You are both young but you seem mature and ready to be a good mum. It doesn't sound like he is self aware enough to see his own errors or poor behaviour therefore he won't want to change or be able to change. The only way I could see him becoming a good dad is if he wants to really be one. There are parenting classes for young men if you live in a city.
I've got a feeing he hasn't had strong male role models in his life? That's not an excuse for his bad behaviour if I'm I'm right btw.
It's ok being on your own, you're stronger than when you are carrying a manchild.

Charley50 · 28/03/2014 20:22

When I posted before I hadn't read the stuff about him hitting you, harrassing and threatening you and putting hid hands round your neck. He is a dangerous man. You are hopefully in a safe place now at your mums. Please stay there and call the police if you need to. He is majorly abusive and has no self control. Shouting at babies too :-(
Be strong for yourself and your child.

Charley50 · 28/03/2014 20:22

Btw you cannot change him.

Linguini · 28/03/2014 20:31

You do not shout at a three week old baby there is no excuse. How on earth is he going to be when DC is teething or anything else that comes up? sorry do not excuse any of his behavior how do you think he is a good father?? Dear oh dear. This is only going to get worse and worse, believe his Ex he already left one family behind. He is incapable. LTB!!

Holly300 · 29/03/2014 19:36

OP how are you today?

RandomMess · 29/03/2014 19:43

Wow, he's really not ready to be a parent is he. I think you need to stay away from him and concentrate on yourself and your baby.

namechangesforthehardstuff · 29/03/2014 20:10

When SS remove a child permanently from a parent the first thing they do is look at the family. Is there anyone who could adequately (by which they do mean just adequately, nothing more) parent this child? A grandparents, an aunt, a nephew by marriage, anyone. So if he's such a great Dad and fought so bloody hard, why isn't his DD with him now?

LaurieFairyCake · 29/03/2014 20:14

Just leave him

You picked someone crap to have children with, don't make it worse by staying.

Rexandralpf · 29/03/2014 21:43

Red flags. Alam bells. He is physical to the point he jumps on you with his hands around your neck. He screams at a 3 week old. You can choose to leave him and put your sons needs first or you can choose to stay with him and ruin your babies life. Because that man will ruin your sons life. His behaviour is mot normal or justified. This man is not a good role model to your child.

Rexandralpf · 29/03/2014 21:45

That man is dangerous I agree