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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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ayeokthen · 15/10/2016 19:24

I wish I'd done that Lynn I binge watched the first 3 and now I'm stressed waiting for the next one!!

skyyequake · 15/10/2016 19:50

I haven't seen either of those! I have Sky so I usually put new series on to record, or go on catch up, or if I miss them then I have to wait till they come out on boxset Grin that happened with season 2 of The Flash. I fancied watching something new so put the s1 boxset on and got hooked, only problem was that by the time I finished, season 2 was airing on episode 18 or something and catch up only goes back 2 episodes so I had to wait till last month to watch it! Season 3 starts on the 25th though so I'm eagerly anticipating this one Grin

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skyyequake · 16/10/2016 09:28

So XP is supposed to be having DD today... Anyone want to place their bets as to how it'll go?

For reference, because I don't think I mentioned it on here, his nans funeral was on Friday. He turned up Thursday evening because his smart clothes were still here (different part of the wardrobe so I'd missed them when packing). He was playing a very woe-is-me act. Now I'm not a monster, I appreciate that he must be upset, and I was perfectly pleasant whilst still maintaining boundaries that I wasn't his shoulder to cry on anymore.

He was supposed to have DD yesterday but cancelled as he was "too emotional". Again, I'm not going to throw a hissy fit about it, but I am a bit Hmm as I had to look after DD on my own the day after my nans funeral as he was working, and got no support from him beyond the actual day of her funeral...

So anyway I'm expecting he'll either cancel again or he'll be playing his mopey act...

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 10:08

What time is he due? He'd better turn up or the wrath of many MNetters will fall on his head Angry what an absolute bellend Angry

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 10:14

Well that's the thing, I normally text him when DD wakes up from her nap, which used to be around half 12 - half 1 but its getting later and later so she normally doesn't wake up till after 2 now. I'm not sure if I should text him and give him the option to pick her up before her nap or just wait until afterwards as usual...

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 10:18

Would she sleep in the buggy? I think if you think she'd be ok before the nap you should text him so that way you're not wondering all day and being held to ransom by whether he turns up or not.
That sounded like I was telling you what to do, I'm sorry, it's not what I meant. I just mean you shouldn't have to wait to see what his plans are because it means he's still in control.

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 10:28

She will sleep in the buggy if she's very tired, but she needs to be walked in it and I highly doubt he can be bothered.... I also have no faith that he'll get her to sleep on time so I'll probably get a call at 5 to 6 saying that she's sleeping and he'll bring her back when she wakes up Confused

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 10:50

Oh that's a tough one because if she sleeps then I'm guessing you'll be in for a night of it. Hmm, what do you think is best? That's if he bothers to turn up at all.

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 10:54

I'm just going to go with what we normally do, and if he complains then I'll tell him that he can pick her up earlier next week but make sure he gets her to sleep around 12 or we'll go back to after nap...

She's looking tired now, she might have an early nap as she had a sort of late night last night (she went down about 7:45)

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 10:57

Hopefully you get it sorted into some kind of routine, it needs to be what you and your DD need, fuck what he thinks.

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 11:02

Hope so but I expect it's going to be an uphill battle...

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 11:05

Yeah, I think (sadly) you might be right. Your DD is the only thing he has control over any more and he will use her to get to you. Would it work if you set times, for him to come, for her to nap etc and if he doesn't, go for supervised? Contact centre sort of thing?

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 11:25

I'm not sure at the moment. I don't know what's best... Its the lesser of two evils.

Either DD grows up with sporadic visits for her dad, which I'll try to make more bearable by simply not mentioning when he's supposed to come over so she doesn't get her hopes up.

Or she grows up having a dad who's being forced to come and see her, possibly going to contact centre which she will know as being the place she sees daddy, only for him to make an excuse last minute...

This week is obviously different as his nan just passed, so I think I'm going to have to play it by ear and see what happens next week once he's run out of valid excuses.

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 11:45

Yeah I get it, you're in a really tough position. I hope that this weekend goes ok and next week you'll have more of an idea what game he's playing. Hope you're ok xx

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 12:19

I hope so. I hoe he gets it into his head soon that I'm not going to let him back, not matter how much he pouts and says he misses me and loves me and is sooo sad etc. It's exhausting every time he comes to the door to get DD. It takes twice as long as it needs to because he's busy telling me how he feels and I'm thinking "I don't care!"

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 12:49

It's exhausting isn't it? XH pulled the "she's my wife!" shite when I first met DP, never mind the fact we'd only been married a year before I kicked his arse out and we'd been apart nearly 4 years by that point. Oh and he had 3 more kids since I'd fucked him out Hmm
Can you shut him down and only allow him to talk about DD? I know it's way easier said than done. Has he been in touch yet?

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 13:05

Oh yeah I can see XP doing something like that... Thank fuck I never married him!

Normally I just let him finish and then say "ok" or nod briefly in acknowledgment that I heard him and then start talking about DD. Sometimes he outright asks me questions and it takes a bit more skill to dodge them. I don't want to be outright nasty as its not fair on DD because he's a child who's unable to separate his feelings from DDs well-being [sigh]

She went to sleep about an hour ago so I'm not sure when she'll be waking up... She did seem very tired though.

I haven't heard anything from him. Tempted to just not text him to see how long it takes for him to enquire...

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 13:13

Oh I wish I'd never married him! It was just another level of control.
Yeah I know what you mean, he's being a twat.
I'd leave it and see what he says (if anything!)

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 13:17

I guess I'm lucky he didn't want a cheap registry office do... He, of course, wanted a huge showy offy wedding to show everyone that we could afford nice things. But we never had any money so we couldn't afford it... Ironic isn't it Grin

He's just text me to ask if DDs awake!

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 13:19

Sounds like you dodged a massive bullet there Grin XH was the same, he wanted the big fancy wedding (my dad was paying) and got it! I hated every second of it.
Is she up yet? What did you tell him?

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 13:19

He's just asked me why I blocked him on facebook... Not sure what I should say Confused

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skyyequake · 16/10/2016 13:20

No she's still asleep so that's what I told him!

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 13:21

Eh because your life is none of his business any more? I'm stunned he's surprised by this I really shouldn't be should I? why the fuck would you have him on FB when he's being such a dick?
Has he responded?

skyyequake · 16/10/2016 13:25

I'll write how the conversation has gone:

Him: Is DD awake yet

Me: No she's still sleeping, she went down around 12

Him: Ok is she ok and why did you block me on facebook?

Me: She's fine

Him: Thank you and so why did you block me then

I haven't replied yet

Oh this going to be a "thing" isn't it?

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ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 13:29

He'll get bored soon, if you keep ignoring him. Hopefully he just doesn't come today so you can avoid his shite. Is your DD still sound asleep?

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