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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 whether to continue in this relationship - please be blunt!

96 replies

NicolaLesley123 · 01/09/2014 22:52

Hi everyone
I am 40 and my boyfriend is 44. I live in my own place with my 9 year old son, and pretty much it has been me and him since he was about 2 years old. I dated (unbeknown to my son) and then started a relationship with my current boyfriend in December 2012. My bf has lots of positive qualities in that he is very affectionate, always massaging my feet, stroking my hair, telling me that he loves me etc. I am not the most affectionate person in the world (particularly when I have pmt for a week) and it has caused some arguments. When I am not in the mood to be affectionate I am also not in the mood for sex, which again has caused some rows. There have been other stresses from day one which have added to some of our difficulties, namely my bf trying to organise contact with his children through Court. His ex gf has been very difficult (just to point out I met him a year after they split up)

Anyway, we have had 20 months of bickering, some of which has been witnessed by my little boy. When he is around I tell my bf to calm down (which he hates) or I tell him not to swear (it's fucking this and that when he is annoyed) and he continues to do so, saying that my son will hear worse in the playground. I have called the Police twice to our property, both times my son was there. The first time was due to my bf being extremely drunk and more agitating than anything, but his demeanour was upsetting to my son so I had the Police remove him. The second time, we argued and he pushed me onto the floor - though denied it immediately given that he was drunk (he simply couldn't recall it). He then would not let me get out of the property for fear I would call the Police. My son witnessed him standing in the way of the front door and he panicked. I got us out and called the Police. I believed that was it however the next morning when I talked it through with my son he said he felt sorry for him and that we should give him another chance. So we did.

I'm now getting to the crux of one of the issues. Our bickering continued (as you probably expected) mostly about his ex, the kids, my lack of affection and not enough sex. I explained that I didn't have 2 hours a night for sex (he likes to make a meal of it) as I have a full time job which is stressful. Anyway, to cut a long story short, he used my computer to go on Facebook. When he was out watching the match I went on my computer to fin his facebook account still logged in. So I did what any nosy gf would do and looked at it. I saw in the notifications that there were photos synced from his phone. This basically means that he took photos on his iphone which were saved to facebook but not shown publicly. I looked to see what they were and found a screenshot of his email address and hidden membership number for a dating site called "Genuine Affairs", a dating website for married people. I went sick. I then accessed his googlemail account and looked at his emails (I knew his password as he had given it to me previously and I think he forgot that I would have remembered it). Anyway, saved under his personal emails was confirmation of his membership to fuckbook.net and password and user name. I accessed fuckbook using both and found a half hearted profile set up which simply ha his D.O.B, height (2 inches out) and a strap line saying "I love sex". He swore blind that it was his ex that created the profiles and that he has had similar things through before.

We met on a dating site so there is every chance he gets junk mail from them, as I still do, however I have never received something thanking me for joining and my membership number. Anyway, his argument (and tears) was so persuasive I bought it. However, 2 months later it has come back to me as I believe he may be a better liar than I gave him credit for. That brings me onto the second part of my dilemma.

We booked a family holiday to go to Haven just a couple of weeks ago. We bickered leading up to it, so much so that I considered travelling up separately. Anyway, my bf reassured me that he wouldn't argue and that he wouldn't spoil the holiday for my 9 year old son. Anyway, the first night we got there, we went to the club. He got drunk by 10.30pm and I decided to take my son home to the caravan as he said he was bored anyway. My bf followed and started giving me grief for leaving early, for doing everything my son tells me to, and for being a "fucking tight cunt" for not buying him a drink (when he was doing perfectly well getting drunk without my help). In hi anger, as he was calling e all the cunts under the son, he shoved my son. It was an accident and done as he was trying to get to me but nevertheless, I was fuming. I went to bed with my son and the next day me and my son packed and left. We hung around the caravan park for the day (as I wanted to give my son at least one day there) and my bf sent me loads of texts and calls begging for my forgiveness, saying he wouldn't drink again. In the end, he was so distraught he threatened to commit suicide and therefore I called the Police, who removed him from the caravan and took him to the nearest train station where he got a train home. Me and my son remained on holiday for the remainder of the week and my intention was that it was over with my b.

However, I met up with him when I got back and we talked things through. I said I would see him away from my son (once a week when he goes to his dad's) to see if we can have an argument free relationship. He seems calmer and has not drank for over a week. However, my son does not want me to be back with him. Even though he said he is not scared of him, he has no faith that we won't argue in the future. I am so confused at the moment as my bf has lots of good qualities, and sticks with me when I am going through the worst pmt moods possible, and I believe him when he says he won't drink to keep us. But then, the doubts re the dating sites resurface and I wonder how we will have an argument free relationship when all that doesn't add up, and my son feels the way he does. I'm waffling now but would really appreciate your comments on any aspect of what I have said.
x

OP posts:
kaykayblue · 02/09/2014 10:02

Hi OP - I'm glad that you have decided to kick this man to the curb for good, and I really hope that you look into the suggestions of others about learning what a healthy relationship is.

You grew up in an environment a bit like the one you are in now, and if you continue to have unhealthy relationships, your son will perpetuate that cycle.

I also think you need to do a lot of work on your self confidence. You aren't leaving this man just because your son doesn't like him.

You are (I hope) leaving this man because he treats YOU appallingly, along with the fact that it sets a terrible example to your son.

You are the parent. You are the one who should be calling the shots. Not looking to your child to make decisions on your behalf.

hellsbellsmelons · 02/09/2014 10:09

As already recommended - Please do the 'Freedom Programme'
You have missed sooooo many red flags here it's quite astounding.
I'm glad you 'know' what you need to do. Just make sure you do it.
Don't listen his tales of woe or suicide threats.
That there is the biggest red flag of them all regarding abuse!
If he call threatening suicide - call the police immediately.
They will soon stop him wasting their time!
One text ending it.
Then block and delete and disengage!
You will be showing your son that this is NOT OK.
HE cannot behave like this when he is older.

Castlemilk · 02/09/2014 10:10

I lost myself for a while...

Yes you did. REMEMBER THIS. Don't make this mistake again. You CANNOT AFFORD TO if you want a happy, emotionally healthy child. Forget about your son being the one to say give him another chance - that conversation shouldn't even be happening, your son should not have witnessed any of it. Don't fall into the trap of seeing your poor son trying to deal with stuff beyond his years and interpreting that as him being 'mature' or 'ok with it' - he isn't, he's nine, and he's well on the way to being emotionally damaged by all this.

As for your boyfriend, there's nothing to say - he's an utter twat, and I'm very glad you are getting rid of him. Don't stay in touch, at all. He's worth nothing.

Ships99 · 02/09/2014 10:14

You must leave this man. I left my husband and marital home for a damn sight less than this.
Your boyfriend is abusive, to you (which is reason enough to leave).. But also to your baby.
GET AWAY FROM HIM ASAP.
Your son is the most important person in the world to you. And he needs to know and feel that.
Good luck

AttilaTheMeerkat · 02/09/2014 10:23

Yes you did lose yourself for a while.

I asked you what you learnt about relationships when you were growing up and it was of no real surprise to read this "I grew up in a household where arguing and fighting was commonplace". All that rubbish you learnt about relationships now needs to be unlearnt otherwise you may well find yourself in the same or very similar sort of abusive situation yet again. You were targeted by this man, they have radar for women with innate low self worth and he exploited you.

Re this:-
"I swore as a child I would never put my own child through that"

But you did and the resolve to get rid has to be yours and yours alone. Not because your son does not like him, your son has had to go along with your wishes. You've always had a choice re this man, your son has not.

DieselSpillages wrote this,"I am glad to hear that your resolve is to end it but I am concerned with Being single is better than being with someone my son no longer likes. It still sounds like your Ds is the one making the choice. You should be leaving this guy because he is abusive towards you and you deserve better. Good luck and keep strong". This poster is absolutely correct

Seek counselling for yourself to work on you and deal with the stuff you thought was buried because it is certainly not. Never allow yourself to be put in such a vulnerable position ever again in a relationship for your sake as well as your son's. You need time and space to heal along with a complete break from dating until you have truly started to love your own self.

SolidGoldBrass · 02/09/2014 10:23

You defiitely need to look into the Freedom Programme or some other feminist-based counselling. You say you were single with your DS for about 6 years - was his father a shitbag too? Were you happy single, or were you desperately seeking a new partner and unable to do so because of lack of babysitters or something?
Until you can be happy single, happy enough for it not to appeal much to give up the single life unless the man is absolutely wonderful then you are going to be vulnerable to woman-hating losers like the one you are now binning.

FacebookWillEatItself · 02/09/2014 10:42

The thing is Nicola even if you are a cold bitch, even if you are a monster when you have PMT, even if you are never in the mood for sex and always reject him, it's no justification. He can walk away at any time - no kids together, no home together, no tied finances. But he doesn't. He chooses to stay, and to make you the scapegoat for all his supposed problems. He turns things onto you and tells you it's your fault that he acts the way he does, but the truth is he just enjoys it.

You can't change the past, you can't take the blame for things that happened in your childhood that shaped you, that you had no control over, but you can and must change the future, FOR YOUR SON as well as for yourself.

Otherwise your son is going to grow up with a very warped idea of what an adult relationship looks like, and very low expectations of others and of himself.

BitOutOfPractice · 02/09/2014 11:22

Nicola it's not about your son "not liking him". It's about your son having more insight than you and realising that this man is an abusive bully who is no good for you.

Don't say "I ended it because ds didn't like him". Take done responsibility for this and say "I ended it because he is a violent drunk and was a terrible influence in my DSs life and I am in control of my own actions"

NicolaLesley123 · 02/09/2014 11:28

His dad was a good man but things didn't work out. I dated casually for 6 years but no one was ever good enough to meet my son. Hey what did I know! ?

OP posts:
NicolaLesley123 · 02/09/2014 11:30

I know and I will. Thank you for your advice. I feel confident in my decision.

OP posts:
AnnieLobeseder · 02/09/2014 11:35

I got as far as the part where he swears in front of your child and physically assaulted you and stopped reading because nothing more needed to be said. Get out now, for your son's sake even if you don't have enough self-respect to remove yourself from this abusive man.

I'm pleased you seem to have realised that it's best to remove him from your life, but this horrified me: Being single is better than being with someone my son no longer likes and I will embrace it.

No. Being single is better than being with anyone who doesn't bring a whole lot of value to your life. Who doesn't make every part of every day better for being there. Yes, you need to get away from this man so that he isn't a terrible role model for your son on how women should be treated. But why do you respect yourself so little that what you want and need isn't important?

GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 02/09/2014 11:47

Good. Well done for seeing the light.

Letitbee · 02/09/2014 11:51

DO not tell or let you child think you ended this relationship because of him in anyway. This is YOUR choice you need to hold yourself responsible for.

Matildathecat · 02/09/2014 12:06

LTB. Never said that before.

No brainer.

CarryOn90 · 02/09/2014 13:10

"Someone my son no longer likes"?! Are you actually serious? It's the fact he doesn't like your boyfriend, rather than the fact your boyfriend was violent towards your child?!

You asked for bluntness: I find the idea that a mother could allow somebody who has been violent towards her child near them ever again disgusting and it is beyond my comprehension

Itsfab · 02/09/2014 13:25

I stopped reading when I read he won't stop swearing as your child will hear worse he thinks.

Horrible horrible man.

Don't let him treat you both like shit any more.

When a mother puts her lover before her child it will come back to bite her on the arse and she will regret it when they child doesn't want to know her and leaves home as soon as they can.

mutternutter · 02/09/2014 14:23

Leave before he gets nastier

Unrealhousewife · 02/09/2014 15:38

Glad you've made your decision OP. You have normalised the aggression in childhood, that's why you can't see it in persepective.

Life can be good. :)

Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 02/09/2014 15:46

I'm so glad you have decided to end it with him.

My mother's boyfriend would hit me and she didn't so anything to stop him, I was twelve. Once he had persuaded her to move 250 miles away from our family, he punched her in the face before he left.

I could not find it in me to have any sympathy for her, because I felt she had none for me, and 20 years later I still think less of her for that.

Please, please, don't let our story be like you and your son. He needs to know how much you value him.

heyday · 02/09/2014 17:52

You are in a very common situation. You argue, he is abusive, even in front of your DS but then it all calms down again and you very quickly overlook the abuse and ignore the gradual erosion to both yourself and your son's safety and self esteem. We can all advise you to leave him but of course only you can physically make that decision and then follow through. Things are not going to get better are they? And you know this. You can't change him but you can change yourself. A happier, healthier life for yourself and your little boy lies firmly in your hands. I truly hope that you do the right thing for both your sakes.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 04/09/2014 10:42

OP I have PMed you. :)
Hope you're feeling ok today x

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