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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

Is this abuse or just being a prick?

145 replies

NameChangerNYE · 31/12/2014 22:43

I've NC'd because I don't want this following me around.

I am wondering if this behaviour is normal or if it is an abusive thing? I'll try to explain as best I can.

Been with DP for nearly 11 years. We have kids, but no kids together.

We aren't speaking right now, haven't spoken since about 6 pm. He came in from dropping his kids off at the bus station to go back home after stopping with us for 11 days. I hadn't done the drying up from lunch. I was just watching a programme and then was going to do it after that but he got back earlier than I thought so it wasn't done. He said "why hasn't she done it". She being my DD. I said it wasn't fair to walk in and instantly say she should have done something when his son and daughter had been here 11 days and hadn't lifted a finger (literally). He then does this thing, which he often does, where he will shout his mouth off/say his bit and then I try to respond and he will walk off. In this instance, he said what he said, that I was lazy/my DD was lazy, he shouldn't have to walk in after an hours driving, and be expected to dry up. He wasn't expected to dry up I had just got engrossed in a tv programme and he was back earlier. But then he walks off when I try and respond. He says his bit, and then I was trying to reply and he said "oh just shut your mouth, stop going on about it". I tried to speak and say my bit/my response and he kept saying "shut your mouth" and slammed the back door. He went for a fag and then came back in and I sat at the table and tried to say, it isn't fair for you to come in and picking on me or my DD when your kids have been here 11 days and haven't lifted a finger, he wouldn't answer, he kept saying "i dont need this, you're giving me a headache, why do I need to listen to this". Eventually I lost and slapped both hands down on the table. He responded by thumping both his fists on the table, shouting in my face, and it scared me and I cried, it was just that i was scared, he said "oh now you start crying" and then he did it again, so hard that he knocked over his pint glass and all the beer went all over the wall in the kitchen and all over the table. My DD was in the other room and she started crying and I went to her and he said "oh now she's crying, oh yes oh whats wrong with her now, oh make it into a big thing".

He hasn't spoken to me since. He said at the time, "you did this". But I didn't. I did get frustrated because he wouldn't listen to me when I was trying to say that he had been allowed to speak his piece and then I didn't get a chance to respond because he just kept walking off, but I didn't do anything else to wind him up.

I'm really confused.

OP posts:
SlaggyIsland · 01/01/2015 00:34

Being "annoying " does not give anyone the right to assault you. And I'm sure you weren't anyway. I'm guessing that's just what he told you.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 01/01/2015 00:36

Jesus, just read your last post, so will alter my post to, ditch this violent, abusive excuse for a human as soon as. For your daughters sake as much as yours.

AnnieLobeseder · 01/01/2015 00:36

No-one ever deserves to be abused. If there is an aspect of your partner you don't like, if you find that they wind you up, you either work through it together or you break off the relationship. At no point is it ever okay to verbally or physically abuse someone because they "push" you. That's just the classic script from abusers. "I don't want to do this to you, but you wind me up/push my buttons. If you'd only dry the dishes/be nicer/let me get away with being a wanker, I wouldn't hit you".

Run. If not for your sake, then for the sake of your DD who is being deeply damaged by witnessing and being subjected to this behaviour.

NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 00:37

I'd like him to be the person he was. He won't be though will he. I feel like he hides who he really is and plays at being a nice man. He's 50 and I feel like if you get to 50 and you're a cunt then you'll be a cunt til the day you drop. I'm not scared of being single I'm just scared it's ME causing it. Like if he was with a 'normal' woman then he'd be the man I want him to be? Its me whose the cunt isn't it.

OP posts:
MistressDeeCee · 01/01/2015 00:39

A man who acts like that...I doubt its the 1st time.

I get weary reading so many similar threads..I just don't understand how women can stay with men like this, especially when their DCs are being emotionally hurt. Its not a criticism of said women...I genuinely don't understand it. Who would want to live like this? What for? Love? With a verbally and emotionally abusive aggressive bully who takes away his supposed love/lifepartner's voice?

He thumps the table, shouts into your face, makes your DD cry then mocks her?

What of years to come? Looking back down the years that have gone by never to return, blighted by a bully and wishing you'd left him to his anger when you could? What about your DD and her feelings? Are you going to protect her? Or stay with sergeant major? I should think she'll run a mile away from you both as soon as she's old enough.

Men are simply men. They aren't Gods.

I don't know what else to say.

NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 00:41

He's SO different when he's not like this but you are right. I'm an utter twat. I post in feminism a lot, hence the NC. I can't believe a "woman like me" is writing this shit. I really can't.

OP posts:
Windywinston · 01/01/2015 00:42

Honey it's not you, it really isn't.

SaltyandSweet · 01/01/2015 00:44

It is NOT YOU. And all that "a woman like me" stuff is you beating yourself down and that is the last thing you need now. Everything can change from right now if you want it to. Leave.

NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 00:44

Tomorrow he'll be like, morning, do you want to apologise? And I'll start to say errrrno dickhead I'm not wrong but then he'll walk off while I'm talking or eye roll me or minimize it and I'll be left thinking I've blown a normal tiff out of all proportion.

OP posts:
AnnieLobeseder · 01/01/2015 00:46

No-one would stay with an abuser who was a cock all the time, would they? But the okay times don't make the shit times okay. You know this. If you post in feminism you must know me, and you don't need me to tell you anything you don't know. It's okay for you to have got this wrong, feminist doesn't equal infallible when it comes to relationships. Deep breaths, let your heart feel what your head knows, and make your plans. I hope this new year brings you the peace you and your DD deserve. Flowers

bunchoffives · 01/01/2015 00:47

I think you need to read up on abuse and see that the way he behaves is not remotely your fault or connected to how you behave, but is intrinsic to him and all about power and control, making himself feel good by making you feel bad.

Read this, it's by a psychologist called Lundy Bancroft and the book is called Why Does He Do That?

Once you can see that the way he behaves is a common pattern of abuse you will understand that it is NOT you, it's him.

NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 00:47

I think I am annoying though. I know the whole "he wouldn't do it to his boss" thing but he always says, well we take things out on those closest to us.

OP posts:
Windywinston · 01/01/2015 00:48

let your heart feel what your head knows

YY to this, beautifully put Annie.

NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 00:51

I have anxiety problems. I can't, or won't fly because of my anxiety. He always says how oh I'm 50 and you won't let me see the world, I'm wasting my life. I've always said, go with your pals I don't mind, but he never does he just uses it as another stick to beat me with.

OP posts:
NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 00:53

I need to go. He's killing us.

OP posts:
Windywinston · 01/01/2015 00:53

Well we can all be annoying at times, it doesn't justify abuse. You know that.

AnnieLobeseder · 01/01/2015 00:53

No, we don't take things out on those closest to us. We nurture and treasure them. And on the rare occasion when we are a bit snappy with them through no fault of their own, we are mortified at our behaviour and apologise. What a fucking awful concept, that those nearest and dearest to us should absorb the blows we're actually launching at other people we don't dare to touch.

So fucking what if you're sometimes annoying? The correct response to that is "Honey, I love you but I find it frustrating when you [insert annoying habit] because it [has this effect on our family life]. Can we talk about this?" Not to scream in your face, or even hit you, and refuse to listen or discuss the problem. So no, it's not you being annoying, it's him having no fucking clue about how to engage with you as an equal human being.

TheCowThatLaughs · 01/01/2015 00:54

He's definitely the cunt. Where did you learn to accept abuse from a violent arsehole like him? No one deserves to be hit and strangled.
How will you feel if your daughter learns to accept abuse?
You know you need to leave the bastard

AnnieLobeseder · 01/01/2015 00:57

I need to go to bed now, I'm taking the small out trampolining early tomorrow. I'll be back tomorrow, stay strong, be kind to yourself, love yourself.

grumpyoldgitagain · 01/01/2015 00:58

Strangling you over the kitchen sink ?

You should have reached out and stuck a knife in the cunt, well justified as self defence in an abusive relationship

Get out now, think of you and your DD and leave

NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 01:01

I read this particular part of MN a lot. I want to scream at people to get out. Yet I'm doing the same. When he's nice he's sooooo nice. Yet I feel like I'm fighting all the time. He's so controlling. He thinks he's right ALL the time. Sex is terrible because it's ALWAYS about him.

OP posts:
MorrisZapp · 01/01/2015 01:03

Annoying is standard. Living with another adult is bound to lead to annoyance, that's life. But treating somebody like crap is another matter. He has absolutely no right to do this.

And Annie's line was perfect. Happy New Year x

TheCowThatLaughs · 01/01/2015 01:04

It's difficult because he's fucked with your head and it's making you question yourself but you know he's in the wrong don't you? How old is your daughter?

NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 01:05

I AM listening. It's just hard to hear. Particularly when I know that I AM annoying. I try to be funny too often, I embarrass him a lot thinking I'm funny. I'm awkward socially. I'm not very clever. I'm a bit fat. I'm not really the best woman!

OP posts:
NameChangerNYE · 01/01/2015 01:05

Daughter is nearly 12.

OP posts:
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