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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

I don't know how much longer we can continue like this

42 replies

MummySparkle · 11/08/2014 16:24

Title pretty much says it all. OH and I have been together almost 3 years, lived together 2 and a half years, and have an 18mo DS and a 9wo DD.

Ever since DD was born we have been arguing constantly. In fact we were beforehand, but it's getting worse. We argue over the house.

I am the first to admit that I am struggling. OH expects me to keep the house, but he refuses to help. He is constantly telling me to 'tidy as I go' as that will be easier, and he tells me how frustrating it is watching the way I go about tidying things. Yet he refuses to pick things up after himself. He complains if I leave a plate out, yet never puts his own in the dishwasher, ditto dirty clothes etc. I can't take any more of it. I am exhausted trying to provide constant entertainment for DS and to feed, change, settle baby DD. If DS isn't occupied then he throws things around and generally turns things into a state. Anyway I'm not blaming DS as that's to be expected.

I'm trying my hardest to keep on top of everything, yet OH doesn't appreciate what I has to do and spends a lot of time calling me lazy.

Almost every time he comes home he gets half a foot in the door and goes 'oh the house is a state isn't it?' No hello anymore, and then goes on to ask me what the hell I've been doing all day. And the bickering continues.

He calls me 'thick' a lot because I don't always understand what he says. I'm in the process of getting an adult aspergers diagnosis. I struggle a lot more when I'm tired, particularly with sayings I'm not familiar with ('it's just a bed' is a recent example - I took it literally, asked him to explain and he shouted)

Last night in the car I was driving and tired and asked him to turn the sound off on the video clip he was watching on his phone to help me concentrate. He did, but made a massive deal of it, telling me I was mean and cold and generally being a bitch over the last few weeks. I repeatedly asked him to stop talking so loudly at me but he wouldn't. I pulled over and asked him to drive. Which he agreed to but said 'I would t like it'. Then he drove like a boy racer with the radio on full blast (I am noise-sensitive and he did that deliberately to upset me) and our children were in the car.

I know that I haven't been the perfect fiancé recently. And I know that the house hasn't been perfect. But am I being unreasonable to ask for a little bit of help? He only works 4 days a week for a max of 5hrs a day. It's not that he doesn't have the time to help me, he just chooses to do other things. He rarely helps out at bedtime anymore, and only does so begrudgingly.

But I do love him. And when we're not arguing we have so much fun together. But I can't take much more of the continual put-downs. And I'm not really sure how we move on from this

OP posts:
MummySparkle · 11/08/2014 16:24

Sorry - I didn't mean for that to be so long. Thank you for reading it x

OP posts:
Vivacia · 11/08/2014 16:25

And I'm not really sure how we move on from this

Hell, I am.

TheHouseatWhoCorner · 11/08/2014 16:27

He's bullying you. Has he always been like this?

Fudgeface123 · 11/08/2014 16:28

He's a nasty bully, pretty soon there will be no nice times. Get rid...quickly

Jan45 · 11/08/2014 16:28

4 days a week at max of 5 hours so he works no more than 20 hours a week?

My blood is actually boiling, your so called fiancé is verbally abusive and also in charge of you and what you do and you allow it.

I actually don't know why you are with him, you'd be better off as a single parent, he has brow beaten you so much you actually think he's in the right. If you want to spend the rest of your days with a controlling bully then stay put, he won't change.

I would be full of resentful towards him.

Davidtennantmistress · 11/08/2014 16:28

Agreed what a pathetic vile abusive little man. He needs to damn we'll grow up.

Vivacia · 11/08/2014 16:30

What is it that you love about him?

Davidtennantmistress · 11/08/2014 16:31

Oh and fwiw, my hues is always a tip, my partner steps over the mess to give me a kiss and scoop the boys up. Tea time is frequently a shuffle of stuff off of the table to get to it! Only a self absorbed belittling little shit would make comments as he has done to you, any other partner would walk in and help you or ask what needed to be done. It's called support, and loving with a new born!

Jan45 · 11/08/2014 16:32

Then he drove like a boy racer with the radio on full blast (I am noise-sensitive and he did that deliberately to upset me) and our children were in the car.

This alone is reason enough to leave this arsehole.

notapizzaeater · 11/08/2014 16:35

He's abusing you again and again

Christ I had one baby and my oh was lucky if he had toast on the table !

Finola1step · 11/08/2014 16:37

And the very, very young children were in the car!

Yes, this alone should tell you to get rid of him.

Bustarhymes · 11/08/2014 16:44

I'm afraid he's a nasty bully. He's ground your confidence down so you can't see it, but he's ghastly. But I reckon secretly you know he ain't right.

GoatsDoRoam · 11/08/2014 16:51

He is a controlling arse, and thinks you are his domestic skivvy.

And he only works 20h/week? What bald-faced arrogance on his part to treat you like the housekeeper.

Leave him. You will find you have more time and much more peace of mind even as a single parent, if you aren't always scurrying around after his demands for a perfect show home.

Quitelikely · 11/08/2014 16:56

My heart goes out to you. I just couldn't stand it if someone treat me this way. I doubt he's ever going to be who you want him to be. Can I ask if you have ever considered leaving him? Or having a break maybe?

I think he is causing you more stress than is necessary when you've just had a baby. This type of attitude can bring on depression at such a delicate time.

If I was you I would seriously think about if this is the life you want for yourself

MummySparkle · 11/08/2014 17:06

When I work I work 30hrs a week, but because he earns more than me I still have to do it. He often says about how I don't earn anything, which is untrue as I'm getting maternity pay and my grandma pays half of our rent and I'm doing my best to sell stuff on eBay to fund my cloth nappy habit...!

He suffers from anxiety. It got really really bad just before DS was born to the point where he struggled to leave the house. It got a lot lot better, but he's had a few panic attacks since DD has been here. And his anxiety is always worse when the house is bad. So I try not to push him because of that.

In the car yesterday he said that for the last few weeks I've been horrible and cold and why can I see that it's me that's making us unhappy. But I don't think it is. I'm tired and a bit ratty (okay a lot ratty) and he's tired too.

I love everything about him. He is kind, most of the time he accepts me for who I am, funny brain and scars and all. He is a great dad, DS adores him and they have so much fun when they play. We have the same sense of humour and laugh and joke at silly little things. I don't think I could live without him. I just wish he appreciated how much I do

OP posts:
Vivacia · 11/08/2014 17:14

You're not addressing the overwhelming response here which is that your husband is abusive and you are conditioned to accept unacceptable behaviour.

He is kind, most of the time he accepts me for who I am

He is the exact opposite from your description. If he is like you describe for only five minutes of the day, that is too much in a normal relationship.

He is a great dad, DS adores him and they have so much fun when they play..

He isn't, from what you describe. Your son needs a parent who provides the boring, practical care-giving, not a playmate.

I don't think I could live without him

You could. How can you not realise that life would be easier without him??

Jan45 · 11/08/2014 17:15

Have you actually read your OP?

I think you must be in denial cos what you are saying now is the complete opposite of above.

You love the fact he calls you thick, he shouts at you knowing you are sensitive to noise, drives like a maniac with two small babies in the car and puts you down for struggling and refuses to help even though he only works p/t.

I think you are either in denial or he has done a right number on you and you are believing you are actually in a normal healthy relationship - you definitely are not.

Phalenopsis · 11/08/2014 17:15

He is a great dad Nope sorry, I don't think he is.

He suffers from anxiety He wasn't anxious when he was driving like a maniac was he?

I love everything about him Really? I wouldn't. He sounds abusive and bone idle.

theskater · 11/08/2014 17:23

Agree with everyone. You need a wake up call. Love yourself. He won't. This is not about work hours or house work. Take your blinkers off and live a bit. Smile, and wave him off. You'll be fine. More than fine. Find some nice people to be with. Good luck.

MummySparkle · 11/08/2014 17:33

Thank you everyone for all of your replies.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living with 2 different people. When the house is tidy and he is feeling well he really is a wonderful person, and he's great at all of the boring caring bits like nappies and dinner and bathtime. But when he's not feeling well or the house is a mess then he can be horrible.

I'm crying. Somewhere inside me I've been thinking what you've all said, but I thought I was blowing everything out of proportion. I am really. I'm annoyed with him today so I guess I'm only writing the bad stuff.

But I have nowhere to go, and no one to turn to. My relationship with my mum needs to go in the 'but we took you to stately homes thread' and there isn't anyone else I could turn to. Some nights I'd rather go and stay at his mums than here, but that's not going to solve anything really is it?

And I'm 24 with 2 children and a mad dog. I have a long mental health history including 15months as an inpatient and I'm covered in scars. Nobody else would ever have me. And nobody else will ever love up to OH when he's well.

OP posts:
MummySparkle · 11/08/2014 17:46

Phalenopsis

His anxiety is to do with social situations. He has had horrible horrible panic attacks before and he has been on medication since just before DS was born. I think the medication changed him somewhat.

OP posts:
Deluge · 11/08/2014 17:55

He sounds horrible. The boy racer driving is such a classic red flag. Have been with a guy that did that (bully who eventually became violent) and have heard that story many times.

Amping up nasty, bulling behaviour centred on your failings as a housekeeper/his woman when youve got a newborn is also classic.

Sorry. He sounds abusive.

dunfightin · 11/08/2014 17:58

OK, best possible scenario is that both of you are finding new DD a huge strain - as everyone does. But instead of shouting at you, driving like a maniac and being a general arse he could actually help as others have said i.e. scoop up DS and an armful of toys, give you and DD a huge kiss and show how glad he is to see you all.
He may have anxiety etc, but he needs to go to a GP asap and sort for the sake of DS and DD. Taking it out on you is not just unfair and unhelpful it is either something that needs treating or he is an abusive, entitled arsehole. It really doesn't matter which.
You are doing the right thing by recognising the problem and seeing what you can do to solve it.
In the short-term what other family do you have around? Who can help you for a bit or even just keep you company, give you the spare pair of arms that your (D)P obviously isn't able to offer.
With your health history do you have any support from MH services? How about the HV? Can you access more support/any professional support or voluntary - in some areas there is voluntary help for homestart.
I had this kind of start with my second DC and it very nearly broke me.

PS I have a bag of cloth nappies (used, but still usable although not whiter than white).
I'll send them if you want, just PM me your address. Meanwhile Cake and Thanks

Vivacia · 11/08/2014 18:01

I thought I was blowing everything out of proportion. I am really.

The bare facts that you've stated are not acceptable. They don't need exaggerating to be bad, they just are.

I'm annoyed with him today so I guess I'm only writing the bad stuff.

No good stuff would wipe out this bad stuff.

I'm worried that you're staying with him because you don't have any other options. That's ok, I would stay too if I'm honest. However, that doesn't mean you can't start to create other options for a future date. Enlist the support of professionals - your doctor, Women's Aid, your health visitor etc.

If you were able to leave in February, what would you have in place?

thestamp · 11/08/2014 18:47

he's a great dad who drives his children around at scary speeds? to ensure that he frightens and punishes their mother?

yeah he sounds amazing.

OP please just read your initial post and think this through. he's a complete cunt. really. you need to get out of this relationship and fast.

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