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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 · 08/10/2016 10:04

You need special shampoo I think and would need redone quite regularly. I love the 20 seconds of courage, I've been doing it! Go for it!

SixtiesChildOfWildBlueSkies · 08/10/2016 10:05

Morning skye sorry I missed you yesterday but it's been somewhat hectic, and we're just getting the motorbikes ready to go out for a run.

I just feel so bloody stupid! Like, looking back there are so many red flags waving madly at me and I just didn't see them. I tried so hard to be open-minded and sympathetic (we come from different backgrounds/upbringing) and I feel so used .....you didn't put yourself into this situation intentionally - none of us do. We 'loved' these people, these abusers, and the old saying that 'love is blind' is so true, in the first instance anyway.
The thing is, you've done something about it NOW, so keep looking forward to that brand spanking new sparkly life you and DD are going to have.
Like you, I'm a brunette with blue eyes and fair skin. Over the years my hair has been green, blue, pink and purple - oh and henna red too. That colour you've chosen is fab-u-lous, so what are you waiting for?

Where do I start?
skyyequake · 08/10/2016 10:17

I'm waiting for money Sixties Grin

And thank you for your vote of confidence... I'm still having ups and downs, hopefully this counselling will help with my self-esteem issues!

Your sunflowers look gorgeous! I wish we had a garden, but then again I'd probably be awful at maintaining it Grin

Have fun on your motorbikes! I used to ride on the back of my dads when I was younger and it was so much fun!!

aye thanks for the tip! The 20 seconds of courage is wonderful, it really helps me to get out of my comfort zone... Have you watched We Bought a Zoo yet? Its a very sweet film and you get to see the origins of the 20 seconds!

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 11:25

I haven't watched it, I'll get DP to find it for me 😄 I'm glad you're confidence is going up, it takes time, especially after such a shitty relationship. XH constantly told me I was lazy (eh naw I wasn't!), useless, fat, unloveable, worthless, ugly, and many many more things. Yesterday he came to the door to get DS just as DP rocked up with a massive bunch of flowers and cake. When XH asked why DP replied "just because". You should have seen the look on his face Grin I did feel a bit sorry for his fiancée though, she looked gutted.

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 11:53

Haha I can imagine my XP would have looked like he'd just stuck a dozen lemons in his mouth Grin Props to your DP though!

My confidence is like a rollercoaster tbh always has been! Yesterday I felt like I wanted the ground to swallow me up, today I've been badly dancing round my living room without a care in the world!

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 11:59

Haha, that's exactly what he did look like! DP brings flowers and cake a lot, but he timed it yesterday to show XH that I'm loved which was awesome Grin and who doesn't like cake???
I like the thought of you dancing about without a care in the world, hold on to that feeling! Has your x come for DD today?

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 12:14

Haha I like that, just the right amount of "in your face" without being petty Grin and yes cake for everyone!! Cake Cake Cake Cake Hopefully if I get time this week I'm going to attempt to make some muffins for Freedom as I think a few of us could use some comfort food!

No, he's working today so he's got her tomorrow. Dad and my sister are coming over tomorrow too so will have some company Smile

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 17:36

Indeed Grin ooh muffins sound lovely, what kind? Aw that's good that your dad and sister are coming. Any plans?

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 17:52

I'm going to try and put together some cherry and almond ones... Hopefully they turn out ok [fingers crossed]

We don't have any plans atm... But I'm sure dad will want to go out and do something and since I don't have DD we're not really as limited!

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 18:04

I'm sure they'll be lovely, I've never thought of cherry and almond, it sounds really tasty!
What do you want to do?

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 18:21

I just went into the baking aisle in Sainsbury's and went "hmmm what sound nice in muffins?" so they might turn out awful Grin I'm also putting some honey in them!

I don't know I'm terrible at thinking of things to do!

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 18:44

Cherry and almond sounds really good together, I'm going to try and find a recipe and nick your idea. Grin
Me too haha. Get him to take you out for lunch Grin

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 19:27

Oh no yours are going to turn out so much better than mine! Blush

That's a good idea, might get him to take me shopping too Grin

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 19:29

No they're not! I'm rubbish at muffins that's why I make cupcakes because icing covers a multitude of sins haha.
Genius!! Free lunch and some shopping, tell him you'll bake him some muffins as a thank you Grin

ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 19:29

Can he be convinced that Wine and Cake are 2 of your 5 a day? Grin

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 19:44

Now I'm 100% sure you're being modest Grin

Mayyybe... We'll probably end up having pizza though Grin

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 19:46

It's actually a dream of mine to make a picture perfect naked cake sad I know that doesn't need to be decorated!
Pizza is good, I love pizza! I've been marinating steak all day for our dinner but the football is on so he can wait until half time Grin no chance I'm missing this!

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 20:02

bahh it doesn't matter what it looks like I just aim for it to taste good Grin

argh I can't watch football I just can't make myself care! I think the only sport I watch is the olympics/paralympic tbh and that lasts me the four years in between Grin

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 20:07

Tasting good is definitely more important than looks! My lovely gran used to bake the most beautiful cakes, and they always tasted awesome too.
I'm such a crap girl, I love football, formula 1, rugby and cars and I'm rubbish at girly stuff. DP is happy tho, he knows a ticket for a game is an ideal birthday/Christmas/anniversary present for me Grin thankfully we both support the same team (since before we met like)

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 20:15

meh I'm just not that into sport... I prefer superheroes and action movies myself!

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 20:21

Horses for courses and all that Grin it's funny, XH hated me watching football as he said it made me seem manly. DP loves nothing better than taking me to a game Grin

ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 20:22

DP is superhero daft, well batman anyway. The kids all have tshirt that say I think my daddy is batman Grin there's one in next that says my mummy is Wonder Woman, you should totally get that for your DD!

ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 20:22

m.next.co.uk/g54142s5#709805

skyyequake · 08/10/2016 20:26

Do me a favour: tell your DP Skyye says Superman is better than Batman Grin

It only goes down to 3yrs Sad but it is very cool though!

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ayeokthen · 08/10/2016 20:37

Haha I did and his response was "Pfffft Batman has a kick ass car!" Which is his response to anyone who says that 😂 Yes he really is a grown man who said that Grin