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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

My head is frazzled, am I being abused or just silly?

244 replies

perfecthouse · 15/09/2015 13:42

This is how it is: I don't work at the moment due to illness, I am trying to find a job, I worked right from leaving school but i'm a little limited now...it's just a bit more difficult, not impossible. My partner works. We both have our own homes, we don't live together but he is here much of the time. I have never asked him for anything towards my bills...why would I? It's my home my responsibility. I buy the shopping every week, I cook all his meals. He "borrows" money from me often and then doesn't want to give it back...saying well he takes me shopping and that costs petrol. He also "reminds" me of anything he's bought me in the past (birthday and Christmas gifts).

When he comes back from work the house has to be spotless (difficult with two kids, and a dog who sheds everywhere, brings muddy footprints in and is a complete maniac jumping up the walls and dirtying them. But I try my best. In fact, I spend most of every day cleaning and he still finds fault.

When he comes in, he demands a hot drink and parks himself on the sofa, if i'm tired from cleaning all day he's funny with me, if i'm not, he's funny with me...I haven't done enough. If I've taken any time for myself, he's funny with me because i'm lazy. I'm not allowed time for myself when he's here...i'm not giving him enough attention. I'm not allowed to read a book, use the internet. If I do, I don't love him anymore. He controls the tv, sometimes he'll say "put what you want on" but then he'll huff and puff and make it very obvious he's bored. When he isn't at work he wakes up, I cook breakfast, he goes to sleep on the sofa and does nothing all day, while I run around for him. He deserves it, because he's exhausted apparently.

He constantly whinges that I show him no affection anymore, don't cuddle up to him on the sofa...how can I when i'm squashed up in the corner with his legs on me..so I cant move? Some nights i'm so uncomfortable I go and sit on the floor but he takes that as a personal insult too. He doesn't give a flying fart that I have back problems.

His moods are changeable, sometimes he's "perfect partner", sometimes he's "passive aggressive" and sometimes he's downright bloody nasty, will flip at the slightest thing. Example: the other day he called me up when he was in the bath. I went up, he started shouting at me saying I had more sleep than him (not true), I walked out of the bathroom (didn't want to argue) and I was getting changed into my pyjamas when he runs into the bedroom naked. I was putting my clothes away, he shouted "MOVE". I didn't move straight away, it was probably less than 30 seconds to put my clothes in the draw. He picked me up and pushed me over, saying I was "fucking horrible".

I'm so sick of his moods, sick of treading on eggshells, he's never hit me but he's done some awful things. I don't deserve it, I think i'm a good partner. I wash his clothes, I make his meals, I make his lunch for work, I bail him out when he has no money, I do everything he asks. Where am I going wrong?

OP posts:
perfecthouse · 16/09/2015 11:22

aw thanks for your help justaboy but my kids aren't his (phew), we aren't married and this is my house not his...so it should be simple really, ifhe wasn't such a stalker

OP posts:
Justaboy · 16/09/2015 11:28

Yes just to confirm when i said the kids are his i meant did you have the children with him i.e. was he their father?.

Either way i think a bit of legal advice won't harm there many be a need for court injunctions if he starts pestering or stalking you etc.

IMHO it would be very worthwhile.

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 16/09/2015 11:30

You don't need a reason to end a relationship, it is your life and your choice whether to be in a relationship or not. "It's not working for me" is just fine. "I don't think we should see each other anymore" is just fine. "I want to end it" is fine.

It doesn't matter if he calls you selfish, or what his friends think. You can tell your friends the exact truth whenever you want. Most people are aware that abusive partners are very different in public and private - they may express shock, disbelief even at first - but you know the truth.

This man is ruining your life, you don't need him in your life. It does shock me that so many women put up with horrific behaviour from men just because they don't think anyone else will want them. That's what he wants you to believe. You can be perfectly happy on your own, you certainly won't meet anyone else while this man is grinding the very life-force out of you.

summerwinterton · 16/09/2015 11:32

oh and they always have a crazy ex - couldn't possibly be his fault could it.....

ClearBlueWater · 16/09/2015 11:44

I'd change your locks (he might have had a key made).
I'd change your phone numbers (and the kids) and report harassment.
I'd call the Police and tell them what you have told us.
Make sure you tell them about threats re SS and the wine bottle pic.
If he is stupid enough to do this then you have been upfront 'first' as it were and it will take the sting out of his lie.

OP, I have been in a horrible relationship for YEARS.
Only I am married to him and our children are joint.
As is the mortgage / debt etc.
It IS hard to extricate yourself.

But we BOTH have to. I am 17 years in, and it doesn't get easier, you just get tireder and have less faith in yourself. Do it sooner, rather than later.x

ps - mine has a 'crazy ex' too. Funny that! Wink

eddielizzard · 16/09/2015 11:48

it IS simple.

and your kids will be the first to thank you for getting rid of this complete waste of space.

HE IS NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

perfecthouse · 16/09/2015 11:57

are you still with him clearblue? Sad.

I'm in a goldfish bowl really, even if he doesn't come down here, he's fb friends with one of my neighbours, she tells him whether my curtains are closed or open. They're closed because I don't want him taking photos of me! Its not very nice though, having to live like this.

OP posts:
LoisPuddingLane · 16/09/2015 12:01

I think a shift is needed so that he stops being the point of reference for everything. He should not be the reason why your curtains are open or closed. If anyone else was taking photos through your windows, you'd report them to the police. Take the same tack here.

He should not be the reason you do or don't do anything. Give your life back to yourself and your kids. Fuck this awful human being right off.

Grumpyoldblonde · 16/09/2015 12:03

Defriend them both, he won't harass you forever. How do you get on with the neighbour?

summerwinterton · 16/09/2015 12:03

your neighbour takes photos through your windows and sends them to him? You need the police. This is gone so far beyond ok now.

summerwinterton · 16/09/2015 12:04

And block him and any of his friends on facebook - and tighten your own security settings on there too. You need to stop putting up with this and start being proactive.

LoisPuddingLane · 16/09/2015 12:04

Yep. Big girl pants time.

Joysmum · 16/09/2015 12:08

I'm selfish apparently, he has no money or food

Just goes to show how much he lived off you then doesn't it Wink

You don't live together and yet he's revealed right there that he sees you as his meal ticket Angry

perfecthouse · 16/09/2015 12:11

i'm not friends with my neighbour on fb, he is...I don't even know her. Im picky who I friend. Just another example of how well known he is. Bah.

OP posts:
Saltedcaramel4 · 16/09/2015 12:13

Go talk to the neighbour or at least put a nice note through her door. Appeal to her good side. Tell her that he comes and takes photos when her curtains and that she's enabling his behaviour through Facebook updates. Please can she stop

TheImminentGin · 16/09/2015 12:16

Get nets or voiles for the windows, or better still yes, do as others have said and report any photos taken through them.

LoisPuddingLane · 16/09/2015 12:16

You can get opaque stuff for the windows too as a temp measure, which would mean you could have the curtains open but that nobody could take photos. Why is he taking fucking photos?

ImperialBlether · 16/09/2015 12:24

I'd get a restraining order against anyone who photographed me like that!

OP, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you earlier, just trying to put some fire in your belly!

He clearly spends all of his money on himself; in his budget you pay for all the bills - now he's panicking that he will have to pay his own.

Be brave and tell him where to go. We're all behind you. You can keep this thread going for as long as you want and there won't be one person who will say you should take him back.

perfecthouse · 16/09/2015 12:29

to intimidate me probably, he's always done it.

OP posts:
LoisPuddingLane · 16/09/2015 12:31

Well that stops now. Can you see how insane and wrong it is?

ImperialBlether · 16/09/2015 12:32

Do you find when you type it all out you realise how wrong it is?

perfecthouse · 16/09/2015 12:32

that's ok IB Grin I know you meant well! i'm a little sensitive at the mo!

OP posts:
perfecthouse · 16/09/2015 12:35

Im clearly not fast enough typing! Yes, I kind-of see it...if my daughter was treated like that i'd be in my rocking chair on the porch with a big gun Grin

OP posts:
Grumpyoldblonde · 16/09/2015 12:35

The following is about intimidating behaviour, and how serious it is in case you don't believe all of us:

Intimidation or harassment is a personalised form of anti-social behaviour, specifically aimed at particular individuals. People experience repeated incidents and problems of intimidation and harassment day after day. In some cases, the victim and the perpetrator live close to each other, often as neighbours. The intensity and frequency of incidents, combined with the proximity of victim and perpetrator, not only makes harassment and intimidation extremely distressing, it also makes it difficult for recipients of this kind of abuse from taking a stand and speaking out against the behaviour.

What can be done?

Local authorities have a responsibility to take immediate enforcement action to protect those who are being harassed or intimidated. This may be through an injunction or an interim ASBO (which may be obtained without notice to the defendant) and can provide immediate relief and raise confidence in the ability of local agencies to tackle this sort of anti-social behaviour.

Anti-social behaviour orders and injunctions are available to protect people from behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress. An order on conviction may be appropriate where someone has been convicted in court for an offence related to their intimidation or harassment of another person. Where action is taken in the county court, an ASBO can be made against a party to the main proceedings or another adult whose conduct is material to the proceedings.

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 16/09/2015 12:37

Ok - I think you need to speak to the police now. This is serious - it's actually scary. There are some excellent laws against harassment and stalking, you can even get a restraining order against him.

This man is stalking you, photographing you, bullying you, making threats (eg report you to SS) and getting your neighbours to spy on you. This is despicable behaviour - and I think the police will act.

I think you need to come clean with your children - explain to them how he has been behaving and how his behaviour is unacceptable in a relationship. Make sure he can't contact them. This is really disturbing.

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