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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

will you please answer these 2 question. would you leave and why?

179 replies

pollyanna0702 · 26/05/2014 19:48

Hi there, I have NC. I have posted before about my marriage but only in bits, usually whats bothering me the most at the time. I want to explain the full sad story and ask you to give me your advice on what you would do if you were me and what bits would bother you the most. I ask because I feel like I don't know my own mind anymore. Things are so ingrained. Thank you in advance for reading. This will be long.
Been with dh 22 years. 2 dc 7 and 16.
I will try and start with the early behaviour and work forward. Its a list I'm afraid as a story would be a book.

Met h mid teens, no other relationship. He is 6 years older than me.

He would squeeze my hands till they hurt then laugh and say it was a joke.

He would ring and say im coming now and expect me to drop everything and be readyIin minutes.

He expected me to clean him up after being intimate.

He would constantly ask if I had done something he asked over and over again. If I hadn't he asks why not so I have to make excuses.

After dc he never once got up in the night to feed or change because I was on ml.

He hates it when im ill and mocks that I'm putting it on.

Doesn't have any empathy for anyone ever.

Never says sorry

Moans about the mess. Even if I've cleaned he will find something to pick on.

Doesn't tell me he loves me.

Blocks my nose and flicks my lips when im going to sleep because he liles to fiddle with me.

I fell down the stairs into the living room, he was sat on the sofa just feet away and he didn't move or say anything.

If im asleep and my foot is hanging out of the bed he will scrape his nail dpwn the sole of my foot and make me wake up in shock.

If hes giving me a taste of something he has made he puts the spoon to my mouth gently but then rams it in against my teeth.

Criticises my driving

Asks me to get something say from the kitchen, if grumble whilst doing it, I hand him it and he says "it wasn't hard was it"

Cant stand it if im asleep. He has woken me up by grabbing my feet. I roused and he rubbed my face with his bare hands. I said I could hit you, he went upstairs and told our dc did you hear that, mum wants to hit me, thats abusive that is.

Lifts the end of my nose as he walks past me and says, hey piggy.

There's more but I think you get the idea. Is he autistic or just not very nice. Are any of these things normal? Would you stay and try and sort or would you go? Ive left before for a week but came back. He said it was daft to split up over something so stupid.

OP posts:
Fairylea · 26/05/2014 19:51

He sounds absolutely vile. I'd be out of there like a shot.

No way to live op. I'm sorry.

LadySybilLikesCake · 26/05/2014 19:54

It's not daft to leave if he's making you feel like crap all the time, you deserve better.

I don't think anyone can tell you what to do but it's not a normal relationship, from what you've written here he's abusive. Abuse isn't just physical or sexual, making someone feel worthless, crap or stupid is also abuse. You have to do what's right for you, if you're happier without him then leave.

Thanks
Chocotrekkie · 26/05/2014 19:54

You could have been seriously hurt falling down the stairs - would he have come to help you/call an ambulance.

That's the serious one in my book - the rest are just horrible/being a knob.

TheDudess · 26/05/2014 19:57

None of this is normal. He sounds absolutely vile and abusive.

He sounds like he enjoys seeing you suffer. Why would you want to be with someone like that?

By leaving him not only would you get your life back butyou would also show your children that that wasn't acceptable behaviour. By startistaying with him you are condoning his behaviour.

Norest · 26/05/2014 19:57

Yes I would leave. Because he is abusive.

Squeegle · 26/05/2014 19:59

He has no empathy. I would go. You're worth more than this. He's trained you into thinking you're over reacting.

Liara · 26/05/2014 20:00

I don't know if I would leave, as I do believe in trying to work things out.

But then I wouldn't be there in the first place. You have colluded by allowing yourself to be disrespected for 22 years. It's really difficult now to change that. You need to develop enough self respect that you just do not tolerate anyone treating you with anything other than courtesy. If he is unable to do that, then necessarily you cannot be with him. But it is often the case that when confronted with the need to, people magically become 'able' to behave in a civilised way where they previously said they couldn't.

drinkyourmilk · 26/05/2014 20:01

Yes I'd leave. He is abusive. I'd document everything and take advice.

RandomMess · 26/05/2014 20:02

He's vile and abusive and I would leave.

JonSnowKnowsNothing · 26/05/2014 20:02

Welled up reading your OP. It's actually shocking!
This NO WAY TO LIVE! This man enjoys your pain, fear and discomfort. He is an abusive bastard.

DorothyGherkins · 26/05/2014 20:02

I would leave. Things sound intolerable as they are, and there is absolutely no chance that a man as heartless as this could ever change.

Fairylea · 26/05/2014 20:03

Most of the behaviour is abusive by the way. Even the flicking you during sleep etc and tickling your foot out of the bed to suddenly wake you. It's all about control.

onionlove · 26/05/2014 20:03

I think everything on your list is hideous and you should leave you're worth much more than this, what a bully, get away from him and be free to enjoy your life x

BosieDufflecoat · 26/05/2014 20:04

Taxi!

pollyanna0702 · 26/05/2014 20:05

Thank you. I really think I know I need to and I want to but I'm struggling with what to say to him when I muster the courage up to do it. How to avoid him making me look like I'm over reacting. I don't want to hurt him or turn his life upside down which is what leaving will do.

I know my dc are more important though and I need to find a way. Some of the above examples are years old. Its not all the time.

OP posts:
KidsDontThinkImCool · 26/05/2014 20:05

Vile, nasty man. No one deserves to be treated like that. Please, please, please leave and don't ever go back.

BosieDufflecoat · 26/05/2014 20:06

(That was the short answer. The long one is that yes, I'd be out of there. I'm sorry you've had no other relationship for comparison, or you'd have known a long time ago that this isn't how a relationship should be. He is not nice. I hope you can get out of there.)

Viviennemary · 26/05/2014 20:06

He is a vile bully. Leave immediately.

JonSnowKnowsNothing · 26/05/2014 20:09

Please don't imagine that there are only a couple of "acceptable" reasons for leaving a marriage (violence, cheating, etc.) If your husband is not loving you, cherishing you, supporting you and sorry but in your case if he seems to downright hate you you are ABSOLUTELY entitled to leave.
You get one shot at life - what are you going to do when you look the mirror aged 70 and think "fuck, it could have been so much better."

Helpys · 26/05/2014 20:11

I hope I would leave. You've been there so long, it makes me think of the story of the frog in hot water.
Here

500smiles · 26/05/2014 20:11

"Is he autistic or just not very nice."

Just not very nice.

DS has autism, he still treats people kindly and with respect. Your DH does neither

theeternalstudent · 26/05/2014 20:12

You don't treat someone you love or respect like that. I could not live in an environment where I couldn't even sleep without being harassed. What kind of message does that say to your kids? That this is how adults should treat each other? Sorry, is that anyway for anyone to treat each other irrespective of their age.

I think you know this though. Only you can make the decision about what you would like to do about it.

LadySybilLikesCake · 26/05/2014 20:14

"I don't want to hurt him"

It's not ok for him to hurt you in any way though. You deserve to be happy, you deserve better.

sproutsmum · 26/05/2014 20:15

This is not daft, this is horrible. People who love each other show that by caring for them , tucking them up on the sofa when they are poorly , a gentle caress as they are passing , a cuddle when settling down to sleep.

These horrible things he does are small enough on their own for him to try and excuse them and make you feel like you're over reacting. You are not. It's a long slow process and the new 'normal' creeps in ever so gradually until you aren't quite sure you trust your own gut.

Really , if you feel miserable all the time because this person is in your life , your space and your head and the things that they do bring you heartache rather than joy. Get rid. I very rarely post , but I had to. It must be a terrifying prospect after 22 years , but he hurts you,who watches their oh fall down the stairs and does nothing? please get him out of your life xx

rumbelina · 26/05/2014 20:16

You are not overreacting, please hold onto that. There is a better life out there for you. These behaviours are horrible and sinister but you may have lost faith in your ability to see the reality of it. This happened to me under EA. Looked back later and wondered how I'd put up with it for so long.

Please leave....good luck.