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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

Can we have a thread for people who know they need to leave but aren't quite ready yet?

114 replies

NoCapes · 23/05/2016 13:40

I've attempted to start threads about my relationship before but I always let them die because I get quite a bit of "your poor children, think of them" or "why did you have kids with him?" responses which just makes me feel even more guilty and like shit, which is the very opposite of what I started the thread for

I would really like somewhere to brain dump all of the things he does/doesn't do/says so I can't convince myself that it's not that bad, and tbh I really need some support
I don't really have anyone I feel I can do this with in real life (they've all heard it a million times and are bored of me) and I know lots of people have been through similar things on here but I never seem to attract them to my threads, I usually get the judgypants

I don't feel ready to end it yet, I can't guarantee that I'll stick to it yet, I wouldn't trust him to have the children alone yet, I rely on him financially 100% atm
I'm just not ready to let go of the idea of a 'family' I had in my head yet
But I know I will, I know he'll never change, I know this isn't right
I'm just not sure when

There must be others in this situation? Fancy helping each other reach the end goal together? Without judgement

I have Cake?

OP posts:
absolutelynotfabulous · 24/05/2016 17:43

Oh God the Water Torturer! That's spot on. I heaved a massive sigh of relief when I came across that description in Bancroft's book.

It describes my 'd' p to a T; supercilious, contemptuous, snarky, reasonable. The reasonableness is the worst part because it drives you to the edge in an argument, leaving you with nowhere to go.

He messes with my head. He dotes on dd (genuinely) but has such contempt for me. I've no idea why. He cheats, sometimes subtly, sometimes not.

Someone upthread mentioned the impact of childhood and repeated patterns. I had a very stable childhood but my mother sometimes displayed this same kind of passive-agressive contempt towards me. Maybe I'm contemptible?

OP you are not alone. Sadly.

virabhadrasana · 24/05/2016 17:52

yes be careful when you leave.

my x didn't actually punch me but he pushed me, then he pushed harder, then it was a push and a shove and a poke, then a rougher shove and a rougher poke. It was escalating but he would still have identified with a man who didn't hit his partner Hmm ....... so when I did leave I was terrified. I had tried to sneak away (I'd been posting things to my parents) but somehow he read my mind and on the morning I was going to leave him he asked me if I was leaving him and I knew he'd be really angry if I lied so I said yes. he dragged me to the floor by my hair, my neck cricked, my wrist and knee hurt. It happened so quickly that I couldn't tell you why the various bits of me that ached and stung did ache and sting. But............. be careful. As is depressingly typical, the most violent he ever was to me was the day I left him. My eye was very blood shot and my mum took a picture of it. His mother accused me of doing it to myself!

virabhadrasana · 24/05/2016 17:57

,my x also holds me in such deep contempt. It is baffling. Perhaps it was because I put up with him. he held me in contempt because I settled for him. he was a vacuum stuck together with low self-esteem and a big ego, and he knew it long before i did, but then, when he knew that I knew it too, and still i stayed, obviously he had no respect for that. I saw through him and saw that he was nothing and still I stayed.

he has a little less contempt for me now that I have rebuilt a life without him in it.

BlueFolly · 24/05/2016 18:39

Koala4444 You want a child with a man you want to leave just to keep your DS company on overnights With his father? No, that doesn't sound like a good idea.

LetThereBeCupcakes · 24/05/2016 20:42

virab that sounds horrendous. Sorry if I've missed this but how long since you got out?

Had a brief look online at houses today, so depressing. No way I could afford anything. I was a fool and sold my own flat, put all of the profit into this place with him. He put nothing in.

Finally finished the housework for this evening, he's been lounging I'm bed watching TV for over an hour. Can't even chill in bed with a book because he's watching TV in there. Back is killing me so could do with lying down.

LetThereBeCupcakes · 24/05/2016 20:42

Sorry for the whining. Blush

virabhadrasana · 24/05/2016 20:46

Nearly 9 years now.

You're entitled to whine.

LetThereBeCupcakes · 24/05/2016 20:50

9 years, wow! I hope I have your strength when the time comes.

virabhadrasana · 24/05/2016 21:58

You will have because I'd no strength at all. I just knew that if I were dying, I'd leave him. I had this weird thought, if I were told I had a year to live, then I'd go home to my parents' house. Then I thought, why don't I do that anyway. The rest of the time I was fantasising he'd die so that I could pack up without him screaming at me and trying to prevent me leaving. So, actually, I was a basket case when I left, i understood nothing about abuse, hadn't heard of lundy, I spent the first 18 months arguing with him by text / email, basically looking for his 'blessing' or approval for leaving him. Nuts.
He was never going to give it. He just carried on abusing me telling me I was cold hearted, selfish, hysterical, dramatic, blah blah blah blahh BLAH, and I put myself right up the dock for some reason, as though I were on trial, and I allowed him to cross-examine me over and over again.

so....... if you have the wisdom after you walk away / get him out to cease defending yourself and let him accuse you of everything under the sun, being a cold hearted selfish bitch etc.. then you will have fast forwarded through the first 18 months of the shit I put myself through!

Because when I left, i was only physically in a different place for the first 18 months. That was still good though! Still an improvement! Getting in to bed every night and thinking phew, that bastard is not in it. Still good. But, I only started to really move on when I stopped communicating with him. I dropped the rope. google lighthouse blog + drop the rope. Great article. REALLY helped me.

QueenImpatient · 29/05/2016 12:42

Nocapes I feel like you've read my mind! I'm exactly where you are. Not so much financially but in every other aspect. In a bad situation. But not ready to leave.
Love is blind sometimes & I often wonder which would hurt more; the misery I feel now or the misery I would feel without him. It's not as black & white as some people think!

Thinker03 · 30/05/2016 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thinker03 · 30/05/2016 09:45

So glad I found such I good thread I started my own and have got some good advise so far but it's a bit of a slow thread so I'm jumping on thus one! Hi everyone xx

I have been married to my DH for just over two years but we have been together for 16 years! We had our first child together when we were in our teens and 'very much in love' and inseparable we had another child when our DS started primary school then got married and had our last!

My DH is a very good dad and the children adore him. More than they do me I secretly believe as he is "fun" and doesn't strictly enforce the house rules! He is not work shy at all and works very hard to provide selflessly for the family. In every decision he makes his family ALWAYS comes first day in day out. That's the plus side.

The problem that although he is not violent he is VERY VERY VERY AGRESSIVE!! & Confrontational with profanity being used to express both his anger and frustration to his joy!
I have tried for years to figure out why he is the way he is but over the years I have just become worn out tired and fed up because his attitude and aggression is the basis of our weekly (often heated) arguments.

Trust me I can and often do give as much as I get!! And that's when he backs down the most But when the children are around I always try to diffuse the argument making it into more of a debate or i just say "ok whatever" and I dont argue back. Most of the time my DH ends up apologising and laughing it off. The kids are no way scared of him apart from quite naturally when he is telling them off.

I am just so worn out by all the arguing stemming from his aggression, one minute everything would be fine then if I do something that 'frustrates or annoys' him he will flip out shout and swear. Then most of the time apologise after.

His family know what he's like as over the years we've argued loads in front of them. They refer to him as "ticking time bomb" but they also put him on a pedalstall because he is such a loyal son brother uncle hands on hard working father and they brush aside this IMO major flaw.

I spend part of the week feeling lucky that I have 3 wonderful lovely children, a home a job a DH who loves his family but the other part feeling so low and depressed that we argue so much and that he is so confrontational and often derogotive.

When we argue we can sometimes not speak for a couple of days I will stay upstairs on my phone in the evenings after work and the kids will prefer to be around their dad. His line of work has always allowed him to be able to pick and drop kids to school as I work in town. They love me as I am the one who always plans the exciting trips holidays meals extra curriculum activities etc but I guess they do get to spend more time during week with their dad.

My DS who is almost 15 loves his family unit and hasn't seemed to notice how turbalent it is at times describing me and his father's relationship towards each other as beautiful although sometimes repellent. He said "dad loves and protects you so much" and "when I grow up I want to be just like dad...minus the swearing and I want my wife to be just like you I know you guys argue at times but you always kiss and make up and that's what matters"...

What he doesn't know is that I at times I am just so unhappy I often fantasise how life would be without my DH. Then snap back into reality when I think it just wouldn't work out logistically with three kids. I think how selfish it would be of me to put my happiness before theirs. I put a smile on my face every day to my kids family and Co workers and so NOBODY knows but you guys how I feel deep down and that is that I hate my life so much at times wishing that I didn't have children for a person who doesn't "select his battles" nip picking me into the ground.

BTW we have had lots of talks about this he says sorry acknowledges wrongs then does same thing week after. 😩

I just want to run away?? But always feel bad for the kids..they adore him.

I'm not afraid of him one bit and it's three children I have the last being 1 years old. I only work part time and I just don't know how the family would function with just one parent.

My DH earns enough to pay the mortgage on our home and other house hold bills and I earn enough to cover groceries and a few utilities I just don't know how we would manage and I know the kids would miss him very badly and i fear that it would be for my own selfish reasons (my happiness) for breaking up their family unit where they feel so happy and secure.

I could just continue playing along and putting on a smile then I may feel resentment when I'm older for wasting my life!

Seems like it is a lot of 'I' and "me" that's why I am battling with what is best to do. Is there anyone out there like me who took the plunge left and is much happier??3

inastew · 06/06/2016 23:26

Jings. Thinker03 I am a bloke in tears reading your post above.

I can offer no help, sorry. If I won the lotto tomorrow I would buy another house and move me and kids there. Reality is a cannot afford finacially to split.

Generally it seems people only wish they'd separated earlier. Not read anyone who regretted it. If they did, guess they could try go back and 'try again' with partner.

Mums4wine · 07/06/2016 15:17

Room for another? I bring Cake

Except his standards were so high he wanted a chef, housekeeper and escort. And he wanted her gratitude !!!!! *

^ this...

Thinker03 my DH sounds like your DH's twin... and our relationship is so similar.

DH is passive aggressive all the time.. Simple car journey's escalate into huge rows. Example, i gave directions one day on a family day out - they were wrong due to a road restructure in a town I hadn't been in for a while... Even though DH didn't go the wrong way he blew up saying 'you think you know everything all the time'.. this moved on to a complete character assassination of me.. then eventually a comparison of him vs my deceased ex.. On that occasion he apologised as he knew he went too far... but the norm is he ends by saying it's me who's argumentative... Calls me an a*hole under his breath and so on.

He isn't all bad and is a good dad & friend. Maybe it is me.. but at this point the bad outweighs the good.. and I've checked out... I deep down don't believe he can be happy either, but as soon as I try a grown up discussion he says i'm his world blah blah.

He's away on business right now & my week is great. Stress free. I have a 13yr ds and 4 dd.. DH has few friends and isn't close to his family, he's probably closer to mine so I know he would be devastated. Long term I'd like to buy him out of our house but know it would be horrendous getting him to agree & he'd struggle to afford rent. Also the implication on the kids are weighing heavily on me........ But I can't carry on forever.

Can we unite?

X

Fatcakes · 16/06/2016 18:49

Hey, I've been lurking. Same story here.
How is everyone?

inastew · 16/07/2016 09:14

Any updates previous posters can share?

Soopermum1 · 16/07/2016 13:42

Can I join? Been with DH about 18 years. For the last 3 years he's been depressed and on very heavy medication. He's a different person now and I need to accept that. He's horrible. I grieve for the man he once was and I know that after all this time, medication, support, counselling psychoanalysis that this is just who he is now. I used to look forward to his psychiatric appointments hoping there would be something that will fix him. A small part of me holds onto that hope bur I need to see the reality of the situation and move on. It's fucking up my mental health and my DS is witnessing all the heartache and is distressed. When he threatens to kill himself sometimes I secretly wish he would get on with it Shock

duckyisback · 16/07/2016 15:41

Just found this thread.

I fit right in!

Have been married 4 years, together 10. At the beginning I was young, he cheated on me all the time in the first year or so, It was obvious but he would deny it, I was so naive I just let it slip.

We have a ds 19 mo. I suffered pnd after having him and received no help. It was a traumatic birth and both me and ds were in hospital for a week afterwards. When I came home the house was an absolute filth pit. It was disgusting. There was even a dog shit on the kitchen floor. I could hardly move and was in a hell of a lot of pain but had to start tidying from the moment I got in. Things had been pretty rubbish before then but that was probably my snapping point where I thought I need to leave.

He told me I didn't have pnd I was just a nasty bitch.

So many things have gone on its too much to list.

A few months ago I just couldn't bring myself to lie and when he said 'love you' I couldn't say it back. He asked me if I loved him and I just said no. The next day he started begging me to not leave him, then he turned nasty when I said I wasn't happy.

I left the next day. He begged and pleaded me to go back and I gave in Sad. I really shouldn't have. He made all these promises about changing and he did, he was like the perfect husband.

Our sex life was non existent before then, I decided as he had changed so much we needed to make an effort in that department too. It went well for two/three weeks. I then found out I was pregnant. He's gone back to exactly how he was before, minus a few things.

I know again I need to leave but I can see how manipulative/nasty he can be so I am preparing myself. I need to find somewhere to go first, make sure I'm ready for his behaviour.

I'm also worried about giving over my precious ds for the day to him without me there. He has never had ds alone for more than 30 mins/an hour, and that's with me in the house. He has him so I can have a shower/tidy.

inastew · 30/07/2016 22:18

"He has never had ds alone for more than 30 mins/an hour"

That is outrageous.

stupid123 · 01/11/2016 20:46

Do folk tend to just snap and walk out as had enough?

Or more common to plan your escape slowly and carefully?

Worriedmummylondon · 03/11/2016 20:22

Can I join? I am desperate to leave my relationship but my partner is so rubbish with our toddler I would hate to leave him alone with him. Even if I pop to the shop round the corner when I come back the toddler is in tears. 'D'p has unrealistic expectations of a 2 year old and also is careless around him. E.g. Leaving the front door open without supervising ds. I'm scared he would get run over or some other kind of disaster if left alone with DH. I'm struggling so much to stay though I'm so miserable and stressed, the only reason I stay is to keep ds safe. How am I going to cope with this until ds grows up. I hate my life. I keep going though to keep my son safe. It would be lovely to have others to talk to in a similar situation.

duckyisback · 03/11/2016 21:04

I snapped and left.

Things are currently awful for me. I'm homeless, sofa surfing with ds, hardly any money as everything has been suspended and can't find anywhere to live. Have had to put in a homeless application and am waiting to hear.

But I don't have the horrible anxiety/pain I had when I was with him.

And hopefully things will get better.

I was the same, staying for ds sake. Terrified of handing him over to stbxh, but he has hardly bothered with him at all. Asks to see him a couple of times a week for an hour or so, I stay there just in a different room.

Since found out that minutes after I left him he was messaging other women too. Think it was his plan all along, he just wanted me gone as much as I wanted to get away from him. He was just too scared to admit it.

Worriedmummylondon · 03/11/2016 21:19

I nearly snapped and left tonight but feel too scared to go. I know I need to leave as I am starting to become depressed but can't stand the thought of 2 year old ds having to deal with his dad alone Sad

duckyisback · 04/11/2016 05:45

Worried, do you work? Is there any way of saving a bit of money away to get a bit of rent &a deposit for a house?

Worriedmummylondon · 04/11/2016 08:22

No I do not work at the moment but come September I can go back to work and receive 30 hours free preschool which will make it viable for me to work again. That gives me more options but still doesn't get rid of the fear of leaving ds with dp Sad I feel so trapped with no way out, I'm constantly racking my brains but can't think of a way out of this mess which is my life.