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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

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:
HolaWeenie · 16/02/2016 09:14

Find the strength by remembering that you're doing it for your kids.

TrafficJunkie · 16/02/2016 20:15

Well.... He is leaving tomorrow.
His friend is coming late afternoon.
Ive got the HO coming in the morning to sort out the tenancy.
Ive notified all the benefits offices that he is going tomorrow.
I've had to tell the kids. They saw him packing. They took it fairly well. Moderately upset, although I know there'll be more to come. I've tried to be honest about things as best I can for them, I've made them aware that some of the ways he treated them and me were not ok, and that by him leaving, I am doing the best thing for all of us.
I think a part of them believes he will come back.
They are sad more about what they maybe gain by him being here-such as practical things like learning stuff from him or just things being easier. Its very superficial at this stage.

I can't believe he is actually going.

I got upset again myself today. A bit more mourning for what was good, and what could have been perhaps if he wasn't the way he is.

I still love him a great deal, because, the good parts of it all we gel so well and he knows me, and in some ways does love me with parts of himself.

But I'm not deluded. I've got damage to repair with the kids and myself.

I know he is incapable of change and probably of real love.

But it still makes me desperately sad.

And I don't want to be alone.

OP posts:
RubyChewsDay · 16/02/2016 20:26

You will never be alone, you have your wonderful children.

Ive been single for 3 years now, I honestly wouldnt have time for anyone. My DD needs me, she is my priority. I am happy working & providing a future for us two.

We dont have a lot, but we have eachother. Today we stayed in and made soup as we had no money to go out. But she loved it, the interaction, the fun.

If I met someone it would be years away yet.

You will wish you did it ages ago OP.

TrafficJunkie · 16/02/2016 20:39

Yeah i know i will really.... We had a 3 month break a while ago abd I adjusted really well to him not being around and I know I'll get used to being alone in the evenings.
And I plan on retraining now and taking my driving test and lessons so I will be busy enough daytimes!!

Its just, he filled a hole in my heart for a while. But created a bigger one in the end.

I'm glad I have my kids and I'll do anything for them, despite what has happened. I was so low... I thought it would be worse for them if we were alone.

I don't cope well with breakups. But I have support.
Plus the kids are really being amazing about everything.

OP posts:
goddessofsmallthings · 16/02/2016 20:43

You won't be alone. You'll have your dc with you and they must be your first and only priority if you want to have any hope of repairing the damage that allowing this child abusing twunt into their lives has done to them.

That said, I "can't believe he is actually going" either and if he does go off with his friend tomorrow I suspect it won't be long before he lays siege to your home and attempts to get his feet under the table again.

Please make contact with your nearest Women's Aid branch and enrol on the Freedom Programme and invest in a copy of 'Why Does He Do That' by Lundy Bancroft. www.womensaid.uk.org

Are you still seeing a pyschologist? If so, ask him/her for strategies that will enable you to keep your feet on the ground and your head out of the clouds and look for ways in which you can validate yourself instead of embarking on sexual relationships with abusive men to prop up your self-esteem.
'
'

RubyChewsDay · 16/02/2016 20:51

You can keep busy in the evenings doing all the housework/laundry/batch cooking so you wont feel lonely.

Then you get the whole weekend free with the kids, win win!

TrafficJunkie · 16/02/2016 20:56

I am not, I was seeing him for something specific.
We never discussed things like that.

I plan on changing the locks when he has gone, in case he cut a key, and I'm going to change my number so he can't get hold of me.

If he ever turned up on my doorstep I would turn him away.

Deep down I want nothing to do with him.
I know I have issues when it comes to relationships and I know exactly the reasons why.
I can work on those, as I am still in touch with my MH workers, and tbh I will keep my feet on the ground by getting myself a decent job, and focusing on the kids. That will validate me.

This relationship has been the worst I've ever had and it has made me extremely wary of predators.

I want to be on my own with the kids for a while, rediscover my own parenting style rather than his, build up a team at home so we work together to achieve what needs to be done, and allow my kids to socialise and myself to socialise. It will be wonderful to have friends round, and see my family more often.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 16/02/2016 23:33

You sound very positive. Well done.

goddessofsmallthings · 17/02/2016 02:15

I'm glad to hear you've got a plan, and I hope you have the strength of mind and purpose to stick to it when the abusive tosser tries to win you round with tales of pie in the sky having undergone a Damascene conversion as you're the woman for him and he'll do anything to prove his love except fuck off and plague some other unsuspecting soul.

If you find yourself wavering read your thread and post again. You've got so much to look forward to that I can't bear to think of you going backwards and exposing your dc to his, or any other man's, cruelty again.

Wine Here's to your future which is as bright as you want to make it.

Starface · 17/02/2016 02:53

Hi. You're doing brilliantly.

Just to say that another way of getting support is to get a referral / self-refer to your local MARAC. This is a forum bringing together all the local agencies dealing with domestic abuse, statutory and voluntary. It should help you access all that is available. Your housing officer should be able to find out how to do it through their adult safeguarding lead, or else I'd literally wander in to a police station or call 101 and ask them to help facilitate it. It will help you get all the help you need.

TrafficJunkie · 17/02/2016 05:37

Thank you. I'll look into that. I don't want to end up here again.
I actually feel a big sense of relief this morning.

OP posts:
Allice · 17/02/2016 06:18

Hope that today goes well for you. Just think, this time tomorrow he'll be gone x

TrafficJunkie · 17/02/2016 06:40

When I'm not around him, I feel perfectly fine.
Just when he's around that the emotion flows.
So I have a feeling I'll be ok when he's gone.... And not this broken feeling wreck.

Kids are having mixed feelings... I don't know what to say to them... They feel happy about it, but also angry, sad too, I guess like me. But my adult brain can make good sense of it, and I can tell myself that it's the best and I don't really want him around even for the good stuff....

What do you say to a child who misses someone who is bad for them?

OP posts:
wannabestressfree · 17/02/2016 07:08

Children are forgiving and trust the adults around them. My father used to cry and apologise after breaking my bones and I forgave him as I loved him.
You are doing the right thing by them. They will be safe and will probably go through lots of differing emotions.
It's your time now though :)

PosieReturningParker · 17/02/2016 07:13

I understand that you can accept him being awful to you, people can manipulate and crush your self esteem. But you have a duty above yourself with your kids to ensure their safety and happiness.

I'm finding it difficult to understand anyone who stays with a man abusing their kids.

PosieReturningParker · 17/02/2016 07:17

Oops. Thread has moved on.

I hope he goes, never let him back.

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 17/02/2016 07:34

Hope all goes well todayFlowers

Starface · 17/02/2016 07:53

Tell the kids the same general message you are telling yourself. Acknowledge the ambivalence and the complexity of the feelings. But once acknowledged and validated, tell them what you are telling yourself: it's for the best, and the good stuff isn't worth the price of the bad stuff.

TrafficJunkie · 17/02/2016 15:37

He went at 11 today.
I took the kids for a walk whilst he got his stuff and himself out. I allowed them a short goodbye.

Theyve been ok since lunchtime. They are letting out their feelings and talking them through. Mostly, its disappointment coming out. Kids are great at distracting themselves and living in the moment though. I admire that.

Im all over the place. I literally spent 24/7 with this man, he was with me all the time. Now I feel like a lost puppy without its owner. My stomach is in knots and I feel sick.

Got a busy day tomorrow which is good for us all, and then a relaxing day on Friday i think. At the weekend they see their Dad.

I absolutely know it is the best thing and I will never let him back. Even now, when i feel like a part of me has been ripped off, I don't want him here. It had become sickening the way I felt I could never be without him.

OP posts:
TrafficJunkie · 17/02/2016 17:31

Well.... I got through to teatime. We are sat watching a movie, kids with pizza in hand. They are happier now.

I cant wait for bedtime.

OP posts:
Fishface77 · 17/02/2016 17:53

Well done you! Happy new start! Flowers

RubyChewsDay · 17/02/2016 18:07

Well done OP,

You will feel 100 times better, so will the children.

TrafficJunkie · 17/02/2016 19:59

Thanks. I think they will too.
They are confused though. Earlier they asked me if their Dad was going to come back. And my eldest said "just close your eyes and picture him in a suit" errr.... No.

I think they are just pinning their hopes onto the next best thing that they know.

I've told them it'll be the five of us for a while, just working as a team and enjoying each others company. I've told them of my personal goals. Stuff that benefits all the family.
My autistic son has been fantastic. He's always been older than his years, and today he proved just how grown up he is.

They already have ELSA sessions at school as a group, because of the family dynamic of two high need children in the family - and I'm hoping thry can talk openly furing those sessions in the following weeks to give them extra support.

OP posts:
dustmyduvet · 17/02/2016 20:31

Came back to the thread to see if he'd gone - well done you !!

Enjoy a good night's rest. It's going to be a roller-coaster for a bit but you sound strong, positive and focused. I hope you feel bloody proud of yourself - you should do x

ConkersDontScareSpiders · 17/02/2016 20:39

You've done amazingly OP-really. You sound so positive and focussed on the kids and that exactly what you and they need.
Wake up tomorrow and feel amazing because you are free and you and the kids are safe and happy as a little uncomplicated family unit-exactly as it should be.

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