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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

Where do I start?

999 replies

skyyequake · 15/09/2016 16:34

I have no idea what I'm expecting to get from posting here, so I guess that I'll just tell the story and you can just shake me/comment whatever you think

When I met DP he was wonderful, we clicked straight away, had lots of laughs and he seemed really down to earth and wonderful. We quickly started spending most of out time together (I worked PT but with lots of overtime, he was unemployed) All my friends had gone off on their second year of uni around this time and so I wasn't spending time with anyone other than him. I was 20, he was 22.

Anyway, I guess I kind of got lost in that world without many outside influences and before I knew it (far too soon and before I really had time for my thoughts to catch up with me) we were engaged and I was pregnant. (I was happy about being pregnant and I wasn't forced into it)

The first time we had a disagreement was about me texting my friend (who was male) he said I was texting and felt like I was more engrossed in my phone than on our time together. I disagreed but compromised and agreed to text less. This quickly dwindled into not texting at all due to DPs sulking every time I sent a single text.

The next time I heard from my friend was when he sent out a mass Christmas text, I replied and we got talking. I mention I was pregnant and he congratulated me. It was at this point that DP went mental because I was smiling at my phone (because I was excited about pregnancy) and I apparently gave him a "look" which meant I must be flirting/cheating or something. I told him I could talk to whoever I liked and this just seemed to confirm to him that I was doing something dodgy. We had a massive argument. He told me I had no self-respect (I had been completely honest about my sexual history). This was the first time he pushed me to break down in tears.

Over my pregnancy, we had a ton of arguments where he would blow up and tell me I was lazy, stupid, naive, etc telling me that he was just trying to make me a "better person". I can't count the amount of times he left me in the bedroom balling my eyes out, cradling my bump and apologising for bringing her into such crap.

During my first trimester I had really bad morning sickness which left me feeling nauseous all of the time, I could barely sleep, and I was still working PT on a shop floor so on my feet all shift. It left me feeling depressed and exhausted. He would complain to me that we weren't having sex, because it made him feel like I didn't care about/love him anymore. One time we were in the middle of doing some sexual stuff and I suddenly had to dart out of the room to literally go and throw up in the toilet. When I got back he was sulking because "it didn't make him feel very wanted"

After DD was born, DP had to go away for a couple of days to paint up and move us into our new flat (we were in a shared house before). It was supposed to be a couple of days and I was in hospital for 3, when he still wasn't done I went to stay with my DGM. It took him (and family members) 3 weeks to complete it. When I would get frustrated that he would give me a "done by" date and then on that day say that they were nowhere near finished, he would yell down the phone at me that he was stressed and exhausted (I was looking after a newborn essentially on my own, whilst DGM did what she could she was nearly 80 at the time).

DGM overheard some of this, and when I told him that he was just stressed etc, she told me to never let him get up with the baby at night, as it only takes one time of anger for him to do something. He's never laid a hand on DD (now 14 months) but I always keep that in the back of my head.

Since we subsequently moved into our flat, DP has left basically everything up to me. He never did night feeds, rarely did nappies, hardly ever did any cleaning/housework. I was left with PND and when we argued he would corner me (although he denies this) and yell in my face whilst I was holding DD. Sometimes he would force me to give her to him, I would resist at first but then give in for fear he would try and snatch her off me and hurt her. Then he would continue screaming at me whilst he held her. He would continue to call me a lazy, naive little girl and would tell me that he had to break me down from what I was in order to build me back up again, and that at least now I had some self-respect.

In between all this he would be lovely. He would apologise for things he had said, citing anger problems as the reason. He said that he didn't mean anything he said during anger, even when I pointed out that that surely is what he's really thinking and he'd just done away with his filter. He denies this.

We broke up earlier this year for three months. It was always temporary, until he proved that he could step up and do his share of housework and childcare. After that amount of time he really seemed to have changed and so I (stupidly) let him back.

Almost immediately he began to fall backwards and has become more and more difficult to try and talk to about it. Telling me I'm nagging/moaning/"the only one who hasn't changed is you". This culminated last night when he accused me of not cleaning to "the same standard he can" and that when I was on my own with DD my "standard of hygiene was unlivable" (I spoke to my NDN today, who was around a lot during that time, she said there was nothing wrong with the cleanliness of my home)

He has also told me on occasion that I'm not really Bi, because you can only be gay and straight, and that it doesn't matter anyway because I'm with him so sexuality is irrelevant. He's also suggested that I'm more likely to cheat on him because I'm Bi.

I have no friends left, I don't know if my dad will understand how bad it is (he usually has excuses for him), and my DGM died in June. I'm NC with my mum, and I have no one left except my NDN who is lovely and probably the only reason I haven't gone insane.

I don't know if I can get him to leave again. The only reason he left before was because I got him to think it was his idea, he won't make that mistake again.

I keep telling him that I want the person I met back, but I don't think that person exists anymore, if they ever did.

Sorry for any typos and that this is so long.

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51
kaitlinktm · 23/09/2016 18:06

Brilliant Skyyquake!
(BTW it's none of his business what you do on Sunday.)

FantasticButtocks · 23/09/2016 18:14

when we argued he would corner me (although he denies this) and yell in my face whilst I was holding DD. Sometimes he would force me to give her to him, I would resist at first but then give in for fear he would try and snatch her off me and hurt her. Then he would continue screaming at me whilst he held her. He would continue to call me a lazy, naive little girl and would tell me that he had to break me down from what I was in order to build me back up again, and that at least now I had some self-respect.

'I'm only trying to be nice' - bit fucking late for that!

skyyequake · 23/09/2016 18:37

Thanks guys Grin

kaitlin I know its none of his business but I wanted him to know dad would be there to keep him on his toes Grin

Fantastic I know its too late! When he came to the door and I started handing him his stuff, he sighed and went "why are we doing this?" I told him (after looking at him like Hmm ) that its because he treated me like shit, and that it always ended up that way, but it wash going to anymore because I wouldn't let it (I was much more articulate to him but I cant for the life of me remember my exact wording Grin )

He's still trying to tell me it was partly my fault. I told him I wasn't going to point fingers, because either way it isn't a relationship anymore.

He was most glum about having to give the keys back!

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skyyequake · 23/09/2016 18:44

And I've just found a graze on DDs knee. He never mentioned she had fallen over that hard Angry

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GabsAlot · 23/09/2016 19:25

complete idiots playing the victim card

and if he cant even tell u dd ha fallen over or clean up her graze i personally dont think hes fit to have her alone

sorry just gets me angry

GabsAlot · 23/09/2016 19:26

glad u got the keys back -u didnt wanr him beforehand did u

skyyequake · 23/09/2016 19:43

Her leggings aren't torn and I didn't hear her crying, so I guess he didn't notice? But it would have been nice for him to mention that she'd fallen over? I know she stumbles a lot as she's not used to this whole walking thing yet, but it takes a harder fall to graze the knee no?

She's quite robust so I not surprised she didn't cry lol

And no I didn't warn him about the key, he was very sulky when I asked him!

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43percentburnt · 23/09/2016 20:20

I'm really late but have rtft. You are doing great.

I had my dd at 20 too, my partner was an arse. Took me until my late 20s to leave - so well done you. His behaviour escalated significantly over time. But that was several years ago and My life is amazing now, I have a lovely husband and three more children. I am established in a professional career. I'm really happy.

The OU is great - also have you tried any of the free future learn online courses? It will give you something positive to do in an evening if you start to wobble!

43percentburnt · 23/09/2016 20:23

www.futurelearn.com

There you go, sorry about the non fancy clicky link - have 2 babies snoozing on me and a precariously balanced tablet..

43percentburnt · 23/09/2016 20:25

Oh keep a diary, include today's fall, you never know. Set up a new email address and email yourself so it can't be lost. I kept a diary at work - it's horrid to read now. Still makes me anxious.

skyyequake · 23/09/2016 21:01

Oh wow 43 thanks for that link! Unfortunately my laptop has just died on me Sad so I will save that till I can find a replacement!

Its so strange that we have such similar circumstances. Tbh I think I still might be in the relationship if it wasn't for the support I've had on here.

I'm watching say yes to the dress and keeping myself hopeful! Grin

I will start keeping a diary. I'm really going to try to get supervised access. If nothing else he has self-confessed anger issues which he has not had any therapy for so that should work in my favour!

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GabsAlot · 23/09/2016 21:57

ok he couldnt see but yeah must have been a big fall to graze

i agree with supervised access -do u know where hes living

GiddyOnZackHunt · 23/09/2016 22:44

Well done on getting those keys :) Even so it wouldn't hurt to change the lock as belt and braces. I can't imagine he's taken you seriously enough to cut copies but if your dad can do it for the cost of a new barrel then it should be cheap.
What's happened to your laptop?
Hope dd's graze heals quickly.
Hope tonight is quiet for you.

kaitlinktm · 23/09/2016 22:47

Oh - yes I see why you told him your Dad was coming - good thinking!

(You can tell I'm no good at this sort of thing - but that doesn't stop me rooting for you all the same.)

skyyequake · 24/09/2016 10:41

I'm going to get a pic of the graze next time I need to change her nappy because she's a pain with trousers so I'll have evidence just in case.

Giddy I highly doubt he's made a copy. I had to ask him three times before he gave them to me. Once before the park, obviously he thought I'd forget if he postponed, and then twice afterwards! The only reason he reluctantly gave them back was because he was playing his Good Guyâ„¢ role.

My laptop has been doing this thing where it randomly turns itself off. It's now gotten to the point that it can't even get through the start up without switching off. Sad

Also NDN is back! She was heading out as we were coming back from the park. She was organising herself and her DD as he left in a sulk. She saw him afterwards sitting in his car. Apparently as soon as he saw her he went all floppy and hard-done-by again but before that he was fine! She knows he's playing a game. I told her everything when she came back last night and we actually had a good giggle about him and her XP. She's also done the Freedom Programme!

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ayeokthen · 24/09/2016 10:43

Hi Skyye, well done with everything you've achieved this week. You're flying! I'd be hacked off with a graze too, not that it happened, but that there was no explanation of it. DS came back from his dad's with a shiner once and I went ballistic, it was a proper black eye. Turns out he'd run into a cupboard door edge. I get that accidents happen, but XH couldn't understand I was pissed off because he didn't know how it had happened!!!

skyyequake · 24/09/2016 10:49

Exactly! Obviously she's going to get grazes from the park, especially as she wants to go faster than her feet can carry her at the moment! But surely you would notice if they fell down hard enough to get a graze! They're not SO fragile that a teeny stumble would cause it.

A bruise I could understand. She's always getting bruises and I have no idea how she got them because she never cries Confused but to break the skin is different!

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43percentburnt · 24/09/2016 10:54

Tbh I have done a course on a tablet, you may be able to do it via your phone, it'll just be much more scrolling!

If I had known about MN at the time I like to think I'd have left sooner. It was easier to be with him as he made splitting up very difficult - despite the fact he regularly said how awful I was.
Can you get him to communicate via text and email? So you have evidence of his anger issues? My ex used contact to scream at me, he would follow me to work to scream at me, scream out of his car window at me, scream and be menacing at every opportunity! 10 years later he is still bitter and screamy but fortunately in a different town!

ayeokthen · 24/09/2016 10:57

Document all of it Skyye, it'll help your case for supervised contact.

43percentburnt · 24/09/2016 10:57

X post, yes take a picture and make a note. If he shouts or is angry with you in front of her make a note.

skyyequake · 24/09/2016 11:09

I would do the course on my phone 43 but unfortunately my phone crashes and goes back to the home screen every five minutes! Technology hates me Grin

He's very tech phobic, I highly doubt I'd get him to email. I've only been communicating via text so far.

He avoids yelling in public. He's very conscious of what everyone thinks, whilst simultaneously telling me I'm pathetic if I care what people think Hmm He was forever telling me off for "making a scene" when I was simply calling him out on his shit and he didn't like it!

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GabsAlot · 24/09/2016 11:35

thats what my sis ex use to say stop exaggerating and making a scene whislt smiling

sorry just reminded me of him

i would say im not comfrtable u having her as u dont even notice when she falls

GiddyOnZackHunt · 24/09/2016 12:31

Yes they doesn't sound like a man with copies. He's not very smart is he?!
Not sure what's going on with your laptop then. It could be the internal battery if it's been getting worse or a disk error maybe. You might be able to pick an old pc up from a repair shop which would be easier to maintain.

skyyequake · 24/09/2016 13:27

Probably the battery, I've had to have it plugged in to use for the last year or so Confused my DGM has left me some inheritance and I was planning on using a little bit of it to get a new laptop. I might see if I can get a super duper cheap temporary one until that's possible.

And no he's not very bright Grin even though he has never outright admitted it he's always been jealous of my smarts and education. Didn't know that at the beginning or it would have been a deal breaker but you should see him now, jumping through hoops to find excuses as to why he failed his GCSEs.

Apparently he was getting straight A's in primary school and was getting GCSE predicted grades in yr 6 Hmm Confused

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skyyequake · 24/09/2016 13:59

This is the graze. Its a lot better than yesterday, her whole knee was bright red!

Where do I start?
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