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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

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:
SilenceOfTheSAHMs · 01/01/2015 12:32

Op I have Pmed you. Feel free to ignore it, if I have over stepped the mark.

Thanks
tipsytrifle · 01/01/2015 16:17

He's killing us.

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!

NO. This is what he has told you. You believe him. He is wrong. He is an abuser. This automatically renders anything he says Wrong. You are the gentlest soul weighed down by despair, submission and self-loathing. Which he has burned into you with his misogynist brand-iron. Your daughter is learning from all this too. She saw him try to strangle you. The police apparently have this as the highest danger risk when assessing DV.

I think this is where you might be:

I really don't want to say sorry
He's killing us.
I really don't want to say sorry
He's killing us.
He's killing us.

It should be him leaving as the rental's in your name. I think it has to be that way with tenancy? Not sure on that but am sure others can advise.

AllThePrettySeahorses · 01/01/2015 17:18

Please don't let this foul excuse for a human being make your daughter cry in fear again.

Jux · 01/01/2015 18:36

You are not annoying, no more annoying than anyone else normal is.

He is a vile piece of work. A good man, the sort of man you actually want, would have noticed that you had waited on his kids for days on end, and done the drying when he got in, while protesting that you had done more than enough already and should have left the washing up for him. Actually, a decent man wouldn't have let you wait on his children for 11 days in the first place, and would uave turned up with flowers and chocolates to thank you for making a special lunch for them on their last day.

You're not going to find a man like that if you stay with this one. Only one thing worse than staying with an abusive arsehole like this for 11 years, and that's staying with an abusive arsehole like this for 11 years and one day.

Check what tax credits you'd get when single and what other benefits including HB. Is your dd's dad contributing, if not get onto the CSA or whatever they're called now and get the most you can. Get down to CAB tomorrow and find out as much as you can.

Remember, costs will be less if he's not there any more, you'll get Council Tax reduction too.

Get him out, and then think about moving to somewhere more affordable if you need to, but you may be surprised and find you don't.

Jux · 01/01/2015 18:44

As the rental is in your name, you can simplycontact your landlord and ask if you can change the locks, then do it. I'm not sure you even have to get permission as long as you give the landlord a new key.

Change the lock, and call the police on 101 to warn them than you have kicked out a violent abuser so they can put a flag on your address and phone numbers and get to you quickly if he makes a fuss.

dalekanium · 01/01/2015 18:45

I do feel conned. I still cannot shake the feeling that if he hadn't ended up with such a messed up woman then he wouldn't behave like this

I had a partner who was a bit messed up. Lovely but messed up and really annoying to live with. Want to know what I did? I said sorry, this isn't working for me and we split up.

I didn't strangle him, or hit him or shout at him. Thats the difference.

So. Even if you are as crap and annoying as you think (and I'm willing to bet my nice new hat that you are not) it STILL doesn't give him the right to abuse you. But you know that don't you.

JapaneseMargaret · 01/01/2015 18:52

If you were that annoying and horrendous to live with, he'd leave you. But he doesn't.

You're free to leave each and every day you wake up. Your daughter isn't, and is relying on you.

No victim-blaming. But the only person with the power to change this for you and your daughter, is you.

bunchoffives · 01/01/2015 19:36

Hope you are okay OP.

Come back if you still need to chat.

Remember - 999 - if you are threatened with any form of violence or intimidation.

Impala77 · 01/01/2015 19:42

I didn't know he had physically abused you in the past, that is a big no no, no coming back from that I'm afraid. The point I was making is that men are just angry, why are all those involved in gangs, riots, drunken fights etc mostly men?? I'm not justifying it.
It must be lovely living in a world where nobody ever shouts or argues and all disagreements are talked out over a cup of tea, sadly most people's relationships aren't like that. And for me marriage is about mending things when they break and not walking away every time you fall out, although I would NEVER tolerate being hit. Sorry if you all disagree with me but that's just my opinion.

bunchoffives · 01/01/2015 22:35

I don't think anyone would leave a marriage over falling out, would they impala ?

That is very different to a consistent campaign of put downs, sulking, silence, nit picking, criticism, nastiness, denial, control of what you wear, who you see, what you do, what you spend, if you have sex, if you conceive, how you parent etc etc etc. That's without mentioning any threats or violence.

It's difficult to convey how that wears down confidence and independence. How your sense of self gets lost, the confusion and feeling you're going mad. The Lundy Bancroft book describes it well.

Victims of domestic abuse come from all social, educational and financial backgrounds. They are not stupid, irresponsible or weak. Often it takes support to leave.

cailindana · 01/01/2015 22:53

Impala - shouting is not the norm. In 13 years DH and I have never shouted at each other. All of the couples I know well enough to know how they communicate are the same. Childish screaming is not normal.

Jux · 01/01/2015 23:27

Impala, you need to educate yourself about emotional abuse. You also need to check out your idea that men are angry. They are no more angry than women, and generally behave in the same way that women do when they're angry.

If that is not your experience, and I gather it isn't, then may I suggest that you check out the Freedom Programme as your ability to recognise acceptable behaviour seems quite compromised.

NameChangerNYE, see if you can get onto the Freedom Programme too. Try Women's Aid as well.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 02/01/2015 11:17

Right Impala, so everything else he was doing was okay in your eyes, because he is a bloke? Hmm

That is a shockingly bad opinion of men.

PuffinsAreFictitious · 02/01/2015 12:38

The point I was making is that men are just angry, why are all those involved in gangs, riots, drunken fights etc mostly men?? I'm not justifying it.

But you are justifying it, by saying 'well, that's just how men are' IS justifying it. It's also assuming that men are incapable of being anything other than abusive wankers.

NameChanger... If you're who I think you are, you know that what this man is doing to you and your DD is not ok. I totally understand why you're having so much difficulty seeing that though. Can you call Women's Aid? Even speaking to someone 'real' who can see through the fog might help you to gird your loins and kick this twat monkey out of your life.

Funkywotsits · 02/01/2015 20:55

Check out The Freedom Program online,this guys bad news and it will only get worse :(

MrsJuice · 02/01/2015 21:13

Unacceptable.
We see DH's kids a lot less than mine, but they are all expected to contribute the same - except our 2.5yr DD.
He is an arse.
DD's DS is older, and does loads. We apportion responsibilities in ages order.
Regardless, though, my DH would not have behaved like that. Confused

MrsJuice · 02/01/2015 21:28

I've just RTFT, the strangling stuff.
Leave.
You're DD needs to know this isn't normal.
DP and I went to Relate after 4 months because I was used to an abusive relationship. I needed to learn to lean on someone.
Love is about balance, trust, reliability and safety. You deserve it all.

43percentburnt · 02/01/2015 21:34

Op you haven't posted for a couple of pages.

You do sound like a really kind person. This man doesn't deserve you at all, by being with him you are not enjoying your life to the full. Being single for a while will enable you to rediscover yourself, enjoy life, not cringe when the key turns in the lock.

Don't sell yourself short op, life can be great. Don't allow yourself to share you and your dd's life with a miserable twat.

(She will remember the strangling btw.)

Good luck op, your post is sad. Make 2015 your year. You deserve so very much more.

Ps. When you get him to leave, wait for the grovelling, crying, shouting, blaming and promises of marriage. Write a list, tick em off. he blames you for his inadequacies (not travelling etc) because he it's easier to blame you then go out and achieve. If you were that bad he'd disappear and make your life better. He prefers to have someone to shout at, so he sticks around. This is the real him, the fake him was nice for a while to get you back. Real partner has reappeared.

AndTheBandPlayedForGingerbread · 02/01/2015 22:52

OP Please try to stop caring what he thinks, first of all. Other layers of detachment will follow more easily.

He is controlling you with words (as well as physical control, I know, but let's talk about words). Words.
The anger words, the twisting things around to always be your fault words, the blame and shame words, he has a lot of words! And then (!!) You don't get to use words yourself. Well, that's a fine dynamic he has set up there....conned is right on the bullseye. This is a tactic to have everything his way, at your expense. To your own life, you may as well be invisible.

You made his children's holiday go very well...And should have been thanked for it. But, no, that would have made him acknowledge you as a valuable being in the scheme of things. Ain't gonna happen. To be sure, he dumped on you the very moment he returned. Bastard. This is not you annoying him!

Also, please, know you are not in charge of his happiness, or in charge of his feelings. He can choose to be happy at any time. As you already know, he can choose to be annoyed at any time...a lot annoyed-a little annoyed-foaming at the mouth annoyed...He consciously chooses this for himself. It is immature behavior, so he doesn't want to own it-he blames you...(as he did his previous girlfriend and will do to his next girlfriend). From your posting, he has you convinced so he effectively has no responsibility for his behavior.

The worm will turn.
Let him use someone else.

Imho, he will not change and behave himself. If he were to do that, he would resent you for it (and make you pay somehow).
Detach completely. Due to the presence of your 12yo dd, I believe time is of the essence as her brain is being hardwired with this abuse, let her brain be hardwired with breaking away from it as well.
Good luck, and sorry you and your dd are going through this.

Cloudhowe63 · 02/01/2015 23:13

He is choosing to treat you this way. He is abusing you. Don't wait for more. If nothing else, consider what your daughter is learning from this.

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