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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

This is getting harder and I don't know what to do

120 replies

TrafficJunkie · 15/02/2016 07:28

I posted a while back about my partner and our relationship. Things hadn't neen going well, and I hadn't felt right for a long time. Upon posting on here, and with some red flags put up by my psychologist, I realised very quickly he is an emotional abuser.
For a bit of background, I will add some details....
He coerced me into an abortion 2 years ago
He sinks into depressive states where everyone else is blamed for it, and he spends days locked in the bedroom
He was a heavy weed user
He was unpleasant to my children, and imposed his rules on things, despite them not being his kids
He made me feel like I wouldn't be able to cope without him
He talked so badly about my family that. He almost convinced me they were scum and not to be trusted
He doesn't understand my autistic son, and calls our relationship weird
If I'm unhappy one day, or got pmt he follows me around, probing my every thought until I explode
He always seems to be able to make me look like the unreasonable one

And more. He did some things to my kids that should not have happened. He used to make them pick up lentils from the floor if they were too noisy in the morning. He used to empty one sons bedroom of all his belongings if ever his tantrum escalated. He rants at them sometimes, and can be a little rough sometimes if they aren't going where he asked them to.
A few weeks ago he proudly informed me that he had loosened the stair Gate (there for my dog, my kids are all over 5) to stop the kids from jumping over it (they lean on it with two hands and then swing through sometimes) and when I asked how that will stop them, he said "well, it will fall over when they lean on it" and three times I tightened it again, he kept loosening it, before he gave up.

I had a whole plan. I've been saving money, with a view to kicking him out.
It has not been easy.
He senses my moods well despite having no real emotion of his own, and has not left me alone.
I've actually told him 4 times its over.
First two times he just put it down to pmt.
That was over a month ago.
Third time, he took me seriously, ish, and started trying to sort out where he would go. But he's a clever man, and convinced me to let him stay. Made such great promises, of changing and admitting his faults and promising to get a job, and being nicer to the kids.
I foolishly agreed.
The fourth time, i told him, and i made some practical steps towards making him see it is real. I wrote a letter for us both to sign to our landlord. I wrote a list of any joint things needing to be sorted out. I even put a bunch of his stuff into a box for him to start packing. This time he accused me of sleeping with a man we both know.
Trouble was, his Mother was coming to stay. And, my period was late which he knew.
He tried everything. But i stood strong. I was quite proud. But then he fired back. Tried the suicide card. First, it was hints. Rifling through the medicine cupboard, and being cagey about what he was looking for. Then, directly telling me that he felt that way. I knew he had been sectioned before we met for this reason so I was wary and worried. He held me and said in my ear "dont worry, when i do it, I'll make sure you dont have to see it" which im sure was a reference to my trauma as a teenger, finding my friend hanged on my way to school. He knows I had PTSD from this which has only just been resolved.

But I caved. His Mother was coming, he made these threats.... I GAVE HIM A WEEK. I said when his mother has gone, he has to go too.
But the late period was hanging over my head. I did a test. It was positive.
Because of the abortion 2 years ago, I was scared but happy and not even considering telling him. But he found the test, and asked why I didn't tell him.
Then he worked his magic again. Again, I went from wary woman into head over heels lovesick puppy. He said all the right things. He was so happy about it.
A day later, and I've started my period. I don't even want to think whether it is miscarriage or not, it obviously is, but I'm trying not to think about that part.
And last night, he made my autistic son cry in front of his mum and the rest of us. I left the room because I was annoyed by it, he claims i was being weird. Im so confused again i dont know if i was? He has been struggling to cope with an extra person in the house these past two days. It has thrown off routines and he doesnt know how to cope. My partner is also quite insistent that he stays around everyone, when he would prefer periods of solitude. I found him in his room before dinner, which was really late (italians always eat late, something else he can't cope with) and he was a little upset. We talked and I managed to make him feel ok about coming to dinner. Nobody knew he was upset, and tbh I didn't think to tell anyone as all he had to do was eat dinner and then he could go to bed. He told off one of his brothers st the dinner table, a little bit taking out his mood on him I guess, but it was minor and I let it go: however my partner didnt. He told him to leave his brother alone and to take off his hood. This instantly brought my autistic son to tears and he left the table. I tried talking calmly to my partner about being more sensitive to my DS because he's feeling bad, and all he could say was thst he didn't do anything wrong. What he doesn't get, is that whilst he sounds polite and calm, there is something in his tone and facial expression that is upsetting. We argued about it, and I ended up practically putting my head down and he made me apologise to his mother for creating tension and leaving the table.

The part that is stark, is that my head was in the clouds again and I've been brought back down to earth.

What do i do?? Is it fair to change my mind again? Am i now being awful because i keep telling him to go and then changing my mind?

I just want him to go.... But he always convinces me :(

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 09:22

From it

Iamdobby63 · 15/02/2016 09:35

You need to prepare yourself for the possibility that he has agreed so readily to move out because he knows he can work on you to back down again.

One thing you know for sure is that nothing is going to change until you force it to.

I'm sorry, I know it's hard but there is a happy safe life out there without him. The stair gate incident was very sinister on his part and very alarming.

TrafficJunkie · 15/02/2016 09:42

I know.

I spoke to my HO. She said there are court processes i can go through if needs be. But to force him out of the tenancy would mean having evidence he committed acts of abuse.

If he signs the letter i wrote she has a few days this week and next week where she can come and witness the forms being filled out with another independent witness present.

He's gone out with his mum now.

He asked if things can be nice until he leaves.
Meaning he doesnt want me to ignore him and he expects it to go along as normal.

Which is how he has reeled me in before.

Im not going to let it happen again.

OP posts:
Iamdobby63 · 15/02/2016 09:45

If you feel your resolve slipping then re read your OP, and remind yourself how often you have agreed to give it another go and how you always end up back to feeling this way through is actions - not through you changing your mind.

DoreenLethal · 15/02/2016 09:46

He tried to say im the abuser

'In that case you had better leave tonight, hadn't you? We wouldn't want you to be abused by me one moment longer.'

QuiteLikely5 · 15/02/2016 09:53

Your HO said no action against him then? Gave you no constructive advice for the here and now?

Park? Is he having a laugh!!!

Oh he is trying hard

Nice for the rest of the week? How very fucking nice of him to turn his abuse off!!

Arghh

Marchate · 15/02/2016 10:08

In fact, since he intends to cut off the abuse whilst busy doing other things, he has proved what others have told you. It's his choice to treat you so badly. It is 100% within his control

ConkersDontScareSpiders · 15/02/2016 10:09

Tell the kids you have other plans.make some, and go out.Basically I would avoid him as much as possible. And if he questions that remind him that he needs to be spending the week sorting out where he's going to be living and packing, rather than going to the park.
He will say a lot of stuff about how it's your fault, you're the abuser, you're this and you're that.Close your ears to it.Its what they do.

TrafficJunkie · 15/02/2016 10:41

She said I could get an Ouster Order which forces him out for a fixed period but she said i woukd need evidence and she can refer me to a specialist if i wish.
I said i would wait it out this week and if then he doesnt sign will take her up on the referral.

Hes gone out with his mum now.

I don't know what she knows but as they speak in italian he could be telling her anything and probably is.

Im always so worried about conong off like the bad person.
Well I don't care anymore.

I'm sticking to it.

There was a period when he left for 3 months last year, i know i was stupid to have him back.... But the week he left, he called the police after an argument and said i had hit him. Because he had a cut on his inside lip (not my doing) I ended up being formally questioned. I wasn't arrested or charged. I think the officer could tell all wasn't right.

I wish i had never let him in my life. Ever ever ever.

OP posts:
TrafficJunkie · 15/02/2016 10:43

Ive cancelled my bank card as that was linked to alot of things thst are his eg Amazon account, Netflix etc

Makes things a bit awkward for me until a new one arrives but at least he cant benefit from it.

I need to get my phone back before he leaves as well.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 10:44

Start making a list of every practical thing that needs to happen and tick them off as a you go. It will be less daunting as you see that you can do it. You did it before, you can do it again.

ConkersDontScareSpiders · 15/02/2016 12:00

Why has he got your phone? Cancel the bank card but also make sure you cancel any direct debits going out of the account that are for things for him.do you have online banking and access to be able to do this?
And What AF said....
you can do this and you must!

TrafficJunkie · 15/02/2016 17:48

He has my phone because i got one for him on contract. I'll get it back asap.
I have changed Netflix to my name.
Tenancy is in progress. My HO knows and is expecting my call.
I nedd to change the name on the utility, we have pay as you go energy, but its in his name. Although it doesn't make a difference to me or him really, I'd rather not have post coming in his name.

OP posts:
Marchate · 15/02/2016 17:54

Don't lend him your phone

Make plans & stay safe

ConkersDontScareSpiders · 15/02/2016 17:55

You are doing well op.its not easy but im glad you are taking practical steps to get this man way from you and your kids.

DoreenLethal · 15/02/2016 18:20

You can tell them that you have taken over, send them a reading and have the new bill in your name. Give them his new address for them to chase the old payment.

And please get your phone back and keep hold of it.

dustmyduvet · 15/02/2016 19:05

So glad to see the steps you're taking.

Do not worry at all about being a bad person. Only he has that responsibility. You are being a good person by protecting your children from this sick, abusive man.

I would work on the assumption that he probably won't go by the date you've set. Try and disengage as much as possible, as others have said be completely practical about the whole matter.

He keeps threatening to take his own life, well, it's his life to do with as he wishes. It's also your life, and your childrens, and I think in every way possible you leaving him will save you all.

Keep posting if it helps.

TrafficJunkie · 15/02/2016 19:41

He went out all day and came back around 6.30. Ive got all the kids in my bedroom for a "sleepover" which they Are happy and hyper about!!

Ive given myself as much protection as i can.

They both breezed in as if everything is normal. He tried to make conversation. I just reiterated the importance of him signing the letter and being around to fill out the forms, to which he replied in a hostile manner that he will do it when he leaves. I told him he can't be ambiguous about it, it needs to be finalised before he goes.
Then i made sure he understood that not only does it give him rights to the tenancy of the house, it also means he is still liable for rent. And if i was to have problems paying, they would also ask him for rent money.

Then, the nail in the coffin, hopefully, was letting on that I've had discussions with his ex girlfriend. Something i did a long while ago, she only confirmed his behaviour and told me other horror stories.
He did not like that.
But he will certainly not bother to try to manipulate me into letting him stay anymore, he wouldn't be able to knowing I have talked to her.

OP posts:
dustmyduvet · 15/02/2016 21:16

Well done for maintaining your position. Of course he wants it all normal and chatty, then he can try and regain control again.

Enjoy the sleepover, hope tomorrow brings good things.

TrafficJunkie · 16/02/2016 07:07

Thanks Smile
I've organised one of our mutual friends, (more his than mine) to come and pick him and his Mum up on this Wednesday. He's being very kind doing this.

I've told partner via text but so far no response. Better for everyone that they both just leave. I also told him they are to leave the kids alone. Perhaps if it's very uncomfortable they'll go quicker.
And as they spent all day out yesterday they've obviously got money to eat out, so I told them to not eat any of our food and to buy their own.

I feel like I'm being an awful person, but I don't see any other way.

I guess his Mum doesn't really deserve it, but on the other hand she came to stay knowing things were unstable (as he tells her everything that happens from his side, and I'm sure he makes things up... A year ago she was awful to me because of what he said) and she allowed him to force me to apologise to her for causing a scene about my son.

Oh, and i wanted to clarify, when I left the room after he had upset my son... I went after my son, and stayed with him, and then brought him his dinner to finish on his own, which he preferred.
I'm still not excusing anything... Just wanted people to understand I didn't leave him to face my partner on his own... He had already left the room.

Anyway, this morning me and the kids are going to the supermarket, and then I'll see what the rest of the day brings.

I'm not sure whether to tell them now or when he's left?

OP posts:
ConkersDontScareSpiders · 16/02/2016 07:16

You sound better.much calmer and focussed which is great.you are doing really well.
Maybe tell the kids before he goes so it won't be a huge shock to them-they will notice him packing his stuff anyway so better to tell them and not have them have to wonder about it?
You are not a bad person at all-you just got taken in at a time you were very vulnerable by a man who is probably well practised in doing so.You are doing the right thing now and I honestly think when you look back on it you won't believe how strong you were finally able to be and how much better you and the kids will feel.

RubyChewsDay · 16/02/2016 07:28

I feel like I'm being an awful person, but I don't see any other way.

OP think of it as "I feel like I'm being the best mother because this is the only way"

You will be fine, absolutely fine. Your beautiful children will be so so happy.

TrafficJunkie · 16/02/2016 07:32

Thanks Smile I'm going to focus on the day to day and not let my emotions get the better of me when he's around. That's another way he gets back in... Pounces on me when im crying and tells me he loves me so much and would do anything for me.
Ugh.

I'm not falling for it anymore.

Some of these posts have been harsh but given me the perfect wake up call.

OP posts:
ConkersDontScareSpiders · 16/02/2016 07:47

That's the best way I think-if you don't show him as much as a chink in your armour he will hopefully get the message that bit quicker.

QuiteLikely5 · 16/02/2016 08:55

Don't tell the Dc yet. Let him leave first.

It won't be good for them if he doesn't end up going.

You will feel upset but don't cry in front of him he will seize the moment to prey upon your vulnerability.

If you let him stay your life will be unhappy and full of abuse as will your lovely children's life.

His love is not normal, healthy love. It is dysfunctional and damaging. The effects, if he stays will be profound on all of you.

Always post here for support especially if your feeling weak

Flowers