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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

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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ayeokthen · 05/10/2016 22:49

There's a couple of mums who had theirs 14-15 then their kids did the same. One wee girl is 15 and when I spoke to her she asked why I was talking to her as nobody else did. My response was that we're both Mums, it's nice to be nice!

skyyequake · 05/10/2016 22:58

Oh bless her! I get what that's like to a certain extent as I look much younger than I am so I got a lot of the up-down judging sneers whilst I was walking along with my bump. Plus I got a lot of judgement from my "friends" who simultaneously stopped talking to me...

I probably still get the looks now tbh but I'm too tired to notice Grin

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GiddyOnZackHunt · 05/10/2016 22:59

I've been called Granny several times! And when I see any new HCP I get the tactful "And you are...?"
My Nan was married at 18 and a mum at just turned 20. They were together until death and she was bloody brilliant with little children. Better than me.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 05/10/2016 23:01

Buggeration. ^^ that sounded like a judgement on not staying together when it was meant to display youth is no bar to making great decisions and being a great mum.

skyyequake · 05/10/2016 23:02

My DGM became a mum at 26 and she used to tell me how she was considered an "old mum" and all her friends were concerned as they were all married and having children around 19-21! Strange how people seem to forget that it wasn't that long ago that that was normal...

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skyyequake · 05/10/2016 23:04

I didn't take it as a judgement at all Giddy I'm glad your nan was happy!

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GiddyOnZackHunt · 05/10/2016 23:05

Pre-contraception days! Get married to have a sex life.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 05/10/2016 23:07

Her own mum died when she was 8 and she said once that having a family, something she could call her own, was all she ever wanted.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 05/10/2016 23:09

Perhaps we should go back to sleb crushes Grin

ayeokthen · 05/10/2016 23:12

My best friend married at 16, had her daughter at 17 and was the best mum I ever met. People looked down their nose at her age, and made all sorts of assumptions. Wrong assumptions I have to say! She died at 44 unexpectedly, and a lot of our ex workmates who had sneered and looked down at her turned up for a front row seat at her funeral. It made me sick! It doesn't matter if you're a young mum, older mum, single/married/divorced Mum. As long as your kids are loved and have everything they need (need mind, not want!) then you're doing just fine! Giddy your post didn't seem judgemental, it was lovely!

skyyequake · 05/10/2016 23:13

Ahh true, hadn't thought of that!

I totally understand that line of thinking! I had a crappy relationship with my mum and felt like the outsider in my family. Even though I never really knew what I wanted to do career wise I always knew that I wanted at least one kid. I wanted that chance to have a good mother-child relationship even though I'm on the other side. In fact, all my life I imagined myself as a single parent to a daughter, I just couldn't picture a dad there IYSWIM? I must be psychic Grin

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ayeokthen · 05/10/2016 23:17

I had/have a very complicated relationship with my Mum. In fact it's only the last year or so we've sorted things out and got close (funny how a cancer diagnosis changes priorities eh?), she freely admitted she never wanted kids and had us to make my dad happy. I only ever wanted to be a mum, not to have a baby, but to be a mum. I always saw myself as a single mum too (which I was for a long time!) Skyye you must have known!!

skyyequake · 05/10/2016 23:25

I don't have any contact with my mum. In fact my sister (15) found me on FB earlier this year and apparently when she mentioned it to my mum, she told her she didn't want to know... Not surprised really but still stings a bit

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GiddyOnZackHunt · 05/10/2016 23:31

I have to say my mum is probably my best friend Blush Smile

ayeokthen · 05/10/2016 23:33

Skyye that's heartbreaking. And she's an idiot, she's missing out on a strong, funny, inspiring, supportive, amazing, resilient, wonderful woman who is an amazing mum!

ayeokthen · 05/10/2016 23:34

Giddy I used to wish I had that, now my mum and I are close, but not like that. I hope my DD can say that about me one day, that I'm her best friend.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 05/10/2016 23:46

If you two keep on like this I reckon your dds' might :)
We always knew we were the centre of her universe. She had our dad, friends and work but she'd have traded it all for us. She's not smothered us or made us responsible for her happiness though. If I'm half the mum she is I'll be doing well!

GiddyOnZackHunt · 05/10/2016 23:55

I hadn't read your post properly, sorry.
I can't imagine how that feels for you :( I can't imagine saying that about my dd. I suppose somethimg must have brought her to that place and that can't be good. It can't have been your responsibility though. You know that?

ayeokthen · 06/10/2016 06:56

Giddy I hope so! She tells me I'm her best friend every day Grin my boys have always been mammy's boys, but she's been a daddy's girl since the minute she was born!

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 08:26

I really hope I have that relationship with DD one day! I still feel that longing for a normal mother-daughter relationship tbh, not a perfect one but just the kind of one where when you're ill you think "I just want my mum" when I'm ill I just want to be left alone

I know exactly who's fault it was Giddy (except hers obviously, she is a grown adult) but also my stepdad. They met just before I turned 6, he was lovely at first, made a real effort, even baked me a birthday cake. My sister was born a year later, a month before I turned 7. When mum fell pregnant is when the crap started. Small stuff at first, passed of as "jokes" sound familiar? and mum just sought of went along with it. Its a bit pathetic really, my DGM told me before he turned mum against her too that she felt she couldn't be "choosy" when she came with "baggage".... The baggage being me. I don't think she ever thought he was being nasty to me, she convinced herself that I was just being unreasonable, especially when I got older and everything could be blamed on my being a stroppy teenager.

So when Giddy said she knew her mum loved her more than she loved her H... I know for a fact that mine doesn't, cause she chose him over me.

But anyway, I'm glad I cut contact with her long before I had DD. Else I'd never have any confidence in my own parenting, I'd be fending off criticism left right and centre and being told I didn't have a clue what I was doing. That would have been the final nail in the coffin when DD was first born, I was enough of a wreck as it was!

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SixtiesChildOfWildBlueSkies · 06/10/2016 09:19

Morning skye . Just a quick 'hello and how're you doing?' as I'm about to nip of for a couple of hours work.

ps - I know mine's a bit older more mature than your deliciously lovely men upthread, but can I put a vote in for Daniel Craig?....sigh, swoon! Grin

GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 09:30

I hope this hasn't upset you too much. Is it Freedom today?
It's interesting that you've started seeing the parallels between your mum's H and your xp. For someone who's been through all this and is still young you do sound very strong and sensible. :) You're going to be fine and your dd won't ever feel like the 7 year old you.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2016 09:32

Ooh Daniel Craig sixties Grin
George Clooney is on my list.

skyyequake · 06/10/2016 09:32

yumyumyum

I wasn't too sure about him when they cast him for Bond but he's grown on me Grin also he's younger than one of my choices oops

Hope you have a good day at work Sixties!

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skyyequake · 06/10/2016 09:37

No Freedom is tomorrow, very much looking forward to it!

Tbh I've been practising keeping it out of my head since school. I had my relatively tame wild child days back then... Now I put all of that crap in a little box in my head. The only way I acknowledge it is to make sure I'm not falling into any vicious cycles!

Thank you! I try very hard not to fall into those patterns. It's a fight between my nature: to be open and honest and caring, and my nurture: to be shut off and keep things bottled up because no one wants to hear it.

I think if it wasn't for my DGM I would be majorly fucked up by now!

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