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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

Being married to a 12 year old.....

230 replies

Pinkpeter · 31/05/2015 11:17

Regular but name changed.

This is my second marriage. First was short and I'll advised, no kids. His second marriage too. He has three kids from previous marriage and a relationship before marriage. We have two kids together, 8 and 5.
I am generally quite unhappy. I am very conscious that I don't want another failed marriage but conscious that we have done marriage guidance twice but we still keep on having issues.

His good points: he works hard at work, does overtime, very involved with his other kids and fought for all the contact he has, which is standard now, every other weekend and half the hols. Lots of issues there, but they would be deal able with if we got on better. Lots of the issues there were probably caused by our very argumentative marriage and how he treats me in front of the kids.
He takes the kids out, parks etc, he pays all the bills, apart from food and clothes, shoes, birthdays etc, I pay all those. He moans I don't pay enough but I earn less than a quarter than him.
He used to be funny, kind, loving and pull his weight and be clean.
Bad points: he often shouts at the kids in a very aggressive manner. He can't cope when they are running around just being kids, he has a hobby that dominates a lot of his time and keeps him glued to the PC. He is often unkind, shouty, and makes jokes at my expense . If I do this back, he can't deal with it but thinks as long as he finds something it is ok to hurt my feelings or take the piss out of me.
He has put on a lot of weight and often smells, so much the living room stinks. If I say nicely, please can you have a bath, he makes such a fuss and is offended. He belches constantly, big loud belching, I mean, several every minute. I have asked him to stop but he just ignores me. His default reply to anything I say or ask is in a nasty tone or sarcastic. He speaks to me like dirt a lot of the time, even first thing in the morning when I can't have done anything to upset him. If I do upset him, he can sulk for days and won't speak. Then when he is ready, he can't discuss anything and I am expected to just get on and forget about it and never discuss anything. A big bad point...he never accepts he has done anything wrong. He always has a reason, an excuse, but he never accepts responsibility for anything. The house often has a bad atmosphere when he is around. He shouts at the kids, is unnecessarily mean to them, will not implement any discipline techniques, just shouting. They are not bad kids at all, quite well behaved but naughty sometimes, like all kids.
This morning I couldn't understand why the milk had been decanted into a glass in the fridge. I am never allowed to sleep past 8am or he will come into my bedroom, (we sleep apart as he snores and twitches terribly, plus sometimes he smells) . I ask him why and he said I didn't need to know. Very hypocritical as I have to answer any question he asks me. I then find out he took the bottle to the bedroom so he could wee in at night! And when I ask why, he says so he doesn't wake up our son !!!
I am utterly disgusted with this. He goes to the loo often in the night and I have said he should go to the doctors but he refuses. I just can't believe how disgusting this is and how he thinks it is acceptable behaviour. I already have to deal with his 12 year old sense of humour, typical tits, arse, fanny jokes.
I don't know what to do or what I want to happen. As he never takes responsibility , he never admits anything is his fault. I don't want to break up our family , I want him to just grow up and act like a man. I don't want to be married to a 12 year old, as I tell him frequently. I want adult conversation, he seems incapable of it at home, but can at work. He just gets home, and turns into a 12 year old. He has a responsible job, think accountant etc.

any suggestions cos I don't want to break up our family.

OP posts:
CrispyFern · 31/05/2015 17:47

You sound disgusted by him.
Is that what you want from life? To live with someone for thirty or forty more years who you (rightly it would seem) despise?
:(

nicenewdusters · 31/05/2015 18:14

Attilla makes an excellent point op, that he couldn't give a toss for your distress in the marriage. This is a very telling point. We are complete strangers but all empathise with your pain/confusion/distress/sadness etc. For the man to whom you are married to be so utterly dismissive towards your emotional state is just plain wrong. No minimising, no excuses, it's just wrong.

Pinkpeter · 31/05/2015 19:01

Saythatagain. Yes, I didn't understand it then and I don't now. I told him then when I left to go to my parents that he must change and I wouldn't accept that behaviour again and he swore he was sorry and would change. And whilst it has never got that bad since, there is often low level nastiness a lot of the time or pretending everything is fine. Sometimes though it has been ok. We went on holiday and it was nice. He only kicked off once. We can go a little while where the majority of the time he is fine , just shouting sometimes at me or the kids or saying something nasty, but those who say he minimises my feelings. Yes he does. At dinner tonight he said my dd was a drama queen, just like your mother.

OP posts:
iHAVEtogetoutofhere · 31/05/2015 19:13

That is a horrible thing to say to your Dd.
Insulting and belittling her and you at the same time.
What a rubbish Dad, to say that Angry

I have a different thread on here atm.

I am realising I HAVE to leave my H of 14 years.
I knew he was horrible after 7 years but for the last 7 I have been trying and trying and trying. It's no good - he wont change, he doesn't need to as it is all my fault - never his.

I have wasted 7 years, and it will only be harder now the children are older.

Don't be like me Sad

Pinkpeter · 31/05/2015 19:30

Ihavetogetoutofhere, where is your thread?

OP posts:
nicenewdusters · 31/05/2015 19:36

Pinkpeter. Almost every time you write something negative about your dh you seem to have to counter with a positive. You don't have to excuse him to us, or try to make him seem nicer. I fear that you're actually trying to persuade yourself, quite understandably. Only kicking off once on holiday isn't a good result - it's kicking off on holiday. Also, "just shouting....or saying something nasty..." isn't "just", only if what you're really thinking is at least he didn't hit me/us ?

I know this is so, so hard, but please read back over the thread after a night's sleep. What will change tomorrow ? Not him.

captainproton · 31/05/2015 19:51

You have to live with him not us. We don't have to live in fear of another outburst, put up with the stink. It is not our children growing up with an emotional abuser, demonstrating how women should be treated like shit. I bet your kids would be happier not witnessing that every day. do they ever stick up for you? If they do then they are fully aware of how he treats you and you are not fooling them by staying. It won't be a happy childhood for them.

NorahDentressangle · 31/05/2015 19:53

You can't change another person you can only change yourself.

So stop planning to coax or persuade him to shape up as you cannot do it.
You asking for divorce might make him choose to change but chances are it won't be permanent.

The DCs love him you say, but it sounds a wee bit that they are grasping at straws and when he chooses to be nice they are all over him, maybe in a desperate attempt to keep him sweet, encourage him to stay in a good mood as his moods and anger sound erratic, which must be horrible for them. Unnerving.

Likewise his family, if they know he 'can be difficult' or is someone who cannot read situations (or whatever, he does sound difficult) then they will, by habit, pussyfoot round him, encourage the best side from him. They don't want a bully for a son, or an oddball sibling.

Maybe you are all putting a gloss over a selfish bully.

Pinkpeter · 31/05/2015 20:15

I know what you are all saying. He has just made me a g and t. Is trying to be really nice to me dos he knows he has overstepped the mark. Doesn't that mean there is an ounce of something there that he does care about me?

It is telling I think, that he says practically everyday, oh you must love me so much! And I think, actually, not really. Or, what, to put up with you? I don't know anyone else who says, oh you must love me so much....surely most spouses say, I love you so much?! It confuses me as to why he says it that way round...

OP posts:
captainproton · 31/05/2015 20:20

no, he thinks I know if I get her a drink, chocolate, whatever then all will be forgiven and we can start again. It always works, I don't have to change the silly cow just accepts it and I still get to be the one in control.

FilbertSnood · 31/05/2015 20:23

This is v sad to read pink Sad

I don't know how you are feeling, but I know sometimes if I post about something and am not expecting the response I get, I feel defensive, and like I am not explaining it well and that people don't know how it really is - it's not that bad etc etc. however, sometimes I think I am just a little in denial and I think perhaps you are? Sad

You have to reach your own conclusion, no one can tell you what to do, but if you could maybe talk to a close friend or women's aid, it might help?

captainproton · 31/05/2015 20:23

If my DH tried to fob me off with a drink and 'you must love me so much' to excuse awful behaviour you describe he would be left in no doubt that was a lame apology.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 31/05/2015 20:33

He says you must love me rather than I love you because he doesn't love you! He loves that you love him. Pure narcissism. The g&t is nothing - a waiter can bring you a g&t. Making someone a drink is a basic social nicety, not a declaration of love or a signal that he is no longer abusive. It's a pathetic little sop and the sad thing is you are so starved of normal interaction that you are viewing it as a significant breakthrough :(

Pinkpeter · 31/05/2015 20:36

Oh no, you have misunderstood...he doesn't say you must love me so much to apologise....he never apologises unless I demand it and won't go on unless he does. Then he makes the most half hearted apology you can imagine. He says it in a I am so wonderful type way, look at me, I am so great, you must love me so much because I am such a brilliant husband and father...

OP posts:
Pinkpeter · 31/05/2015 20:37

I know that him bringing me and drink or chocolate is his way of saying sorry because he knows I am annoyed, rather than actually discussing anything or acknowledging any upset on my part and wrong doing on his part.

OP posts:
GoatsDoRoam · 31/05/2015 20:46

It's not his way of saying sorry. It's his way of fobbing you off without saying sorry (and without feeling sorry).

Giving you a G&T doesn't mean that there's something there and that he cares about you: the G&T says "Stop being annoyed at me now and go back to being a functional wife to me, on my terms."

Does he actually regret his behaviour? Care to change it? No. He's not sorry.

Custardmiteofglut · 31/05/2015 21:14

Pink your DH's 'you must love me' sounds like a massive ego trip.
It's the kind of thing my DH and I might say to each other jokingly if we were giving each other some food that we really liked - you must love me to give me your last rolo - type thing.
I don't see the point of trying to redeem your marriage to this inflexible, nasty individual.
You've been to marriage counselling twice already. You could try for third time lucky, but I suspect you're flogging a dead horse.
You deserve better Flowers

twistletonsmythe · 31/05/2015 21:18

He treated his ex in the same way - is that why they split?

Pinkpeter · 31/05/2015 21:43

I imagine it is why they split. He told me she divorced him for unreasonable behaviour. I can't see he would have been any different. I just looked back at some old emails. I was emailing him with issues very similar, calling me names etc in 2009. Nothing is going to change is it? It is just how he is. So I just have to decide whether I ca out up with it and whether the children are being damaged by it, cos if they are, then It would strengthen my resolve to leave...or get him to leave.

OP posts:
Pinkpeter · 31/05/2015 21:44

Whether I can PUT up with it, even.

OP posts:
captainproton · 31/05/2015 21:48

Pinkpeter, are you sure your children are not aware of how awful your DH is to you (or even them?) A good parent is a good role model, does not introduce fear into the home, it's not just parenting on daddy's terms when he wants to have a bit of fun with the kids to boost his ego. Does he take care of them when they are ill? How many nappies did he change? If they fall over do they ever run to him? Would he play the most mind-numbingly boring child's game for hours on end because he knows his kids love it?

Atenco · 31/05/2015 21:55

whether the children are being damaged by it

Pink, when we have children we have two goals, one is to help them to get the most out of life while they are growing up and the other is to equip them to be healthy adults and good members of the community. And part of that is done by setting them an example. What example are you setting them by letting yourself be treated so badly? Your son learns that that is how women are treated and your daughter does too.

GoatsDoRoam · 31/05/2015 22:20

I'm not saying this to be the voice of doom or to berate you, pink, but your children are being damaged. Growing up with the marriage you are modelling for them is teaching them incredibly damaging lessons about themselves, and about the kind of adult relationships they should aspire to. They are absorbing it all.

twistletonsmythe · 31/05/2015 22:39

And your children will be well aware of how badly he treats you, shockingly so.

AnyFucker · 31/05/2015 23:12

op, just tonight he called your daughter a "drama queen just like her mother"

he hates you, don't you get it ?

I don't care what he says ....words are cheap

and soon your daughter will be thinking "why does my daddy hate me, and why does mummy not do anything about it" ?

believe me, I was that child

and these days, my parents live a few miles down the road and I have minimal contact with them and they rarely see their grandchildren

I hate my father but I despise my mother for not taking me away from him, and simply being a bystander to the emotional abuse he meted out to her and to her children

she is a lonely woman now, with just her abusive husband to keep her company.

don't be like her

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