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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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

He punched me in the face.

538 replies

NeedAdvice2014 · 12/04/2014 03:35

I don't know if anyone's awake. I am in a bit of a mess, in lots of ways. My H went drinking last night. He has form for being aggressive and nasty when drunk, though never violent towards me before. About a year ago I threatened to end things and he stopped drinking altogether. All of our issues stemmed from his drinking so I gave it another chance.

He started having just one glass - excuses like not making other people feel strange. Then going out when he was staying with friends. Last night he went to a work do, initially he said he would come home for DCs bed time, then that he would go straight from work and come home early. He got back after midnight, O heard him falling around, he went into the spare room.

About 3 he came into our bedroom and got into bed. He lay half on top of me hugging me and put his duvet over us. I was annoyed he had woken me again and said "what are you doing?" He said "I was trying to be nice you fucking cunt". I went to the toilet and when I came back he was across the whole bed and on my pillows. I wanted to go to the spare room and pulled my pillow out from under his head - I did do this quite roughly as I was annoyed. He jumped pit of bed, pushed me across the room and punched me full force in the face. I screamed and said I would call the police and he got back into bed. I could feel lots of blood.

I have a cut on the bridge of my nose which bled a lot, it's still oozing blood now. My nose and forehead are going to be bruised. I am in the spare room and have locked the door, he is quiet.

What the hell am I going to do? Our marriage is over, I am not letting my DCs grow up in a home where this happens. We are supposed to have H's friend and his DC stay tomorrow, I am going to tell him to cancel it. But then what? I think I need to tell him to leave, but I can't afford the house on ky own. What will I say to DCs? And what will I tell anyone, especially work, about the state of my face? I feel in shock.

OP posts:
DustBunnyFarmer · 17/04/2014 14:49

Fab news about your DD's school place - especially having a clear outcome before Easter.

Itsfab · 17/04/2014 18:28

I haven't anything better to add but I would like to say just remember it isn't up to you to fix things that he has broken, especially with the children. He has to be the one to keep a relationship going and to help them feel safe and secure. He has caused yours and their heartbreak. He has to be the one to fix it and you need to let him and I mean let him as in he has to sort his job, place to stay, access to the children if that is safe and right. Don't fall into the trap of doing anything for him. You concentrate on your children and yourself.

Great news about the school Brew.

chocolatespiders · 17/04/2014 19:04

Glad the school place was sorted.. Hope you have a good Easter weekend.

Nappaholic · 17/04/2014 22:20

Hope you are ok Vicar? I've been lurking and feel invested in you almost as much as the OP!

Stay firm, OP. Give it maybe six months apart...either he'll have been able to convince you that he's changed by then, or you will be out of his thrall (and wonder why you ever were, perhaps) and have a better sense of perspective than you may have right now. In the meantime...bloody well done!

Thebeachismyhappyplace · 18/04/2014 09:51

Glad the school place is sorted for you.

Thinking of you this holiday weekend, have you got some fun times planned with DCs or your friend?

Stay strong, you are doing so well. Ad as said ^ don't worry about being his support your priority has to be you, then the DCs.

KeatsiePie · 18/04/2014 22:54

Hi Need. I'm sorry for the recent stress about school but so glad it worked out.

Re: figuring out how to manage your DH's presence in your and your kids' lives day to day, I think you're walking a line that is really difficult to walk. I don't mean you shouldn't be walking it -- in fact I think you are doing a really great job of communicating with him and checking/confirming/adjusting your boundaries as needed, and of being strong and practical - but it must be exhausting. You've had to step up and take on a whole lot that you were not prepared for (of course not) because he didn't deal with a very serious problem as and when he should have.

Maybe it will help for you, when you are trying to figure out how to walk that line, to keep that in mind the fact that he has put a tremendous burden on you and he needs to acknowledge and respect how much you are having to do, how much you are having to think about, and how very taxing things have become for you practically and emotionally because of him. I don't mean you should try to make yourself angry. I mean you should feel like it's okay to say "I don't know what to do about xyz boundary issue. If you're committed to making this time of separation work for us and our children then I expect you to work just as hard as I am on figuring out how to do it. That does not mean just deciding you will come around a lot b/c it seems easiest, b/c in fact it may be bad for us and for the kids to have you come around a lot, and it's not just my job to figure out what's bad for us. That's your job too. You should be going to AA meetings and talking to a counselor and doing research about how best to manage this for our children and for us."

I don't know whether that makes any sense at all, or even whether it's good advice, honestly -- I just feel like it should not be only your job to figure out how to make the separation work. If he's committed to getting help and being a good parent during this time, then he needs to be thinking and planning and offering you ideas, not just sitting around waiting for you to figure everything out. It's his damn fault after all.

I'm sorry if I sound ranty. I hope this will be a good weekend for you Thanks

NeedAdvice2014 · 19/04/2014 19:29

Hi everyone and thank you for checking and caring about me Thanks

Vicar I hope you're ok, I'm sending you every good wish.

I've read everyone's posts and thought about them a lot. It's all very confusing at the moment and my emotions are all over the place. I'm quite angry that I haven't had any professional support despite trying hard to get it, but I'm very lucky in having my best friend and all of you. I went to my first Al Anon meeting this afternoon and that was emotional, will continue with this.

My friend has gone away for Easter weekend, she was unsure but I insisted. It's challenging but good to be going alone.

Thank you again for your virtual presence.

OP posts:
AlpacaYourThings · 19/04/2014 19:32

Keep talking to us whilst your friend is away, you have a lot of support on this thread.

Have you got anything planned for the rest of the weekend?

DustBunnyFarmer · 19/04/2014 19:35

Still here and wishing you well. Do make use of the support you have here if you need it.

Flux700 · 20/04/2014 05:32

You are brilliant! Taking great strides

ThatVikRinA22 · 20/04/2014 22:16

thank you. need. thinking of you also. have as good an Easter as possible. x

Thebeachismyhappyplace · 21/04/2014 09:50

Hope you're having a good weekend.

I agree withKeatsie words:it is up to him to figure some stuff out. He put you in this position and your priority is to keep you and DCs safe. His is not to have regular contact with you all it is regular contact with AA to start him on the recovery road, and keep him there. He cannot earn brownie points by seeing DCs regularly.

My own dad tried to use his DCs as a bargaining tool in his recovery, needing to see us to keep him strong for detox etc. all crap. He needed to do it for himself and the pressure he out on us to gove him a reason to get well was cruel.

Not sure I am explaining myself but IMHO family and recovery ae not mutually dependent. He lost his family when he assaulted you. It is not your fault if he never makes it back to you.

I think you are doing an amazing job walking tHis very tricky tightrope. Am in awe of your strength.

nolongerbumpieorlumpie · 23/04/2014 05:31

Hey op, how are things going? Did dv support get in touch yesterday?

Stay strong Biscuit Brew

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