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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

On the brink of separation - am I mad?

71 replies

TheLuckyMrsPine · 25/01/2017 14:05

So I had a thread in AIBU.

Basically over the last 7 years or so my husband has become increasingly volatile. It is always someone else's fault. I have always done the apologising just to keep things stable for the children and to avoid any big fall out.

Examples I can think of include calling me a slag for going out night before my DD2s 1st birthday. FWIW I am very conservative and didn't drink and was back before midnight.
He has made me feel ill saying that we haven't got the £ to pay for children's music lessons but then buying a £1200 watch.
Refusing to pick children up when my car broke down
There are a couple of times when he has gone hugely mental screaming and shouting at me.
We went away to a family wedding. He kicked our dogs shit in the rental cottage garden, I gave him a bag and said would be better if he picked it up as they would be playing there. He had a huge meltdown which he continued in public, in front of DDs and before the ceremony the next day. I was so distraught none of us turned up to the ceremony and my dad, who had come down with us and paid for the cottage ended up going alone and walking 3 miles back to the cottage. To find my husband playing super dad and drinking all his wine!

He never arranges or offers to help with anything to do with the girls during the week. Sometimes they need to be in different places at different times (different schools). He would be unaware when they are performing, when parents evening is etc yet receives all the same communication as me. He even expects me to tell him when his haircut appointment that he made at a salon I don't go to is! He doesn't write it on the calendar!

2 years ago following my mothers death, DH decided to redevelop my fathers home into a 4 bed with 2 bed annexe. I raised reservations as DH can get jealous of my friendship with my dad and how much they love him. DH adamant he wanted this.

I went back to work 15 months ago full time but had to drastically reduce my hours as no help with washing, cleaning, cooking, shopping etc etc.

My dad kindly does the school run and cooks on the 2 days I am out the house.

Yesterday I was due my annual appraisal. Last chance to get it done before deadline. Typically DD1 who is 12 had a temperature. I arranged for my dad to sit with her whilst I went to do appraisal - then I would be back, 3 hours max. DH went crazy, saying that my job was not important, that a parent should be at home etc. I was furious that he would say that. Of course in the past I have taken days off to look after them but it was not necessary for yesterday. We left on not speaking terms.

In the evening he came in obviously expecting everything to be ok. As I was clearly still annoyed he sat in silence through dinner, the started slamming dishes around. He then said that I hadn't "learnt" anything from the doomed wedding trip, smashed a glass and left.

Today he has said that he is the victim as he tries to please everyone (I honestly don't see this) and he is sick of my dad being around. I don't know what I can do about this. My dad does help me two days a week as no one else can and DH won't pay for wraparound school. He also often eats with us but then goes. Don't spend time with him at weekend at all.

For context my job pays small amount a month, I pay for the running costs of the main family car, pay for any dog related things, children's phone, pocket money etc. My dad does pay one set of school fees - this was left as part of my mothers will though with express directions.

If I ever ask for help around the house he says that whatever he does won't be good enough, or he'll do it later or that he does. He doesn't! He has not done a food shop or cooked in over 10 years. I get no support with my "unimportant" job but have to be a sounding board for his stressful job Hmm

I think I am done. I can't do it anymore my self esteem and self belief is so low I often wonder if it is me that is the problem.

Would I get tax credits etc to help me out as I live sort of with my dad (essentially one dwelling). The house is owned by all three of us. How would all that work?

OP posts:
Adora10 · 25/01/2017 15:45

You would be mad to stay, good luck getting away from him, he sounds toxic.

ImperialBlether · 25/01/2017 15:47

The wedding incident would've done it for me, I'm afraid.

DH decided to redevelop my fathers home into a 4 bed with 2 bed annexe.

Please can you clarify this? Are you and your husband and father all living in the same house? Who owns it now?

He sounds absolutely appalling. How can you believe your children are unaffected by this? I'm so glad you've reached the point where you realise he must go.

Hermonie2016 · 25/01/2017 15:52

Sounds like my marriage and I finally separated 3 months ago.

Please don't worry about finances, if your H is a high earner it's likely he will have to continue to support you and pay school fees.

There is a likelyhood that you could stay in the house until children are grown.
My H is lovely to the dc's but awful to me.

I felt like I just became my H's whipping boy and his anger became more menacing until I felt afraid.

I am very sad to end my marriage but I cannot allow myself to just take the abuse.
Like your H, he accepts no responsibility for his behaviour and as a result he will not seek treatment..that means it will never get better, only likely to be get worse.

I made a decision that I would not tolerate his behaviour anymore.Once I knew I was acting reasonably there was nothing else I could do but ask for him to leave.Thankfully he did.

The relief was enormous.I am very sad for my children but I can't change H's behaviour.

TheLuckyMrsPine · 25/01/2017 15:59

imperial the house is owned by my father, myself and DH. It is classed as one dwelling although the annexe is self contained.

Hermione my position sounds like yours was. He is a great dad to the girls. I have been told the way things are are my fault/ dads fault so many times that I think in the pit of my stomach I believe this. I also feel like the whipping boy.

I feel like he is trying to isolate me from my dad as he knows he is my only family. He would then have full control over me and there would be no one to help me get away.

I just feel like I have a constant voice telling me if I do x,y,z then it will all be ok. I can't seem to think about how I would get him to leave.

I don't think he will leave unfortunately.

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 25/01/2017 16:03

Suggest he moves into the annexe? Stop looking after him, just look after yourself and DCs. Say 'oh, I haven't cooked, we ate at a friends etc. Just get very bad at housework etc.

ImperialBlether · 25/01/2017 16:05

OK could you imagine selling the house and everyone getting 1/3 each? What could you buy for that? Would you want to continue living with your dad?

SoFeckingCross · 25/01/2017 16:19

He is a great dad to the girls

How exactly is he a great Dad?
There is nothing in any of your posts that show him as a great Dad.

Yes you children may appear to adore him but thats what children is abusive households do they will be walking on eggshells too.

He's an bully and an abusive shit and you need to get rid

AshesandDust · 25/01/2017 16:28

To answer your question - no, you're not mad, you're living with a madman.

SalemsCat · 25/01/2017 16:31

Of course you need to get away from this nasty twat. I've got no idea about the legalities of the shared ownership of the property but you and your dad need legal advice on this.

user1479305498 · 25/01/2017 16:44

I reckon there should be a secret code way of letting us know all these unpleasant gits out there--so we dont all end up dating them and thinking they are marvellous when we first meet.!!

Naicehamshop · 25/01/2017 16:46

God - this sounds absolutely awful op. I don't really know what to suggest but you've got to end this marriage. Sad

Catherinebee85 · 25/01/2017 16:51

Your dad sounds amazing. Your dad would probably throw a party if you decide to leave him.

I don't think you've any chance but to end the relationship judging by what youve said. It's no good for any of you.

Hope you have the strength to do it. Would be worth planning logistics before addressing it and maybe seeking support from your dad, friends and maybe some legal advice before acting?

BlankTVscreen · 25/01/2017 17:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kittybiscuits · 25/01/2017 17:37

He's not a great dad - he is highly abusive to DCs mother. Standard behaviour for the emotionally abusive man - so nice, such a charm offensive around other people and a total cunt to you. You will not regret leaving this piece of shit excuse for a partner.

mummytime · 25/01/2017 17:49

He is not a great dad to your girls.

Just look at what they are learning by watching him and you: about the relative value of men and women? about what to expect in a relationship?
And you have said he refused to give them a lift? He kicks dog poo over a rental cottage garden when your DD should play there?
This is not what good parents do.

Kick him out and then get a Shit Hot Lawyer. He will only be entitled to a small percentage of the property, and hopefully you can buy him out or similar. (It will be less than 1/3 because some of his share will be givn to the primary carer.)

tricornel · 25/01/2017 20:57

Time for YOU to kick the shit. Out of your life.

notangelinajolie · 25/01/2017 20:58

Oh you poor thing. This is not a marriage. He is a bully and he is not a good Dad - children have the habit of loving unconditionally and this is what you are seeing - lots of kids love their Dads but it doesn't make them a good Dad. If he was a good Dad he would be a good role model, he would be doing the school run, he would be helping with homework, he would be helping his wife to bring up their children in a happy home. By placating him and bowing down to him you are enabling him. Think about the kind of message you are giving your kids - you know there is a chance that they will think his behaviour is normal and how it's meant to be and they may well end up in marriages just like yours. Do you really want that for them?

Your home sounds far from happy right now. And your poor, poor Dad who has had the home he has lived in all these years turned into the house from hell. Please listen to all the good advice on here and get this man out of your all your lives.

RandomMess · 25/01/2017 21:03

I agree you need a shit hot lawyer and get him out, if carries on like that you will feel threatened and end up calling the police!!!

I think even if you sell up you and your Dad can get somewhere together and that man you are married to can go to h*ll

notangelinajolie · 25/01/2017 21:08

OP please read this.

liveboldandbloom.com/07/relationships/controlling-men

StrartinngfromHere · 26/01/2017 07:22

Your H sounds a lot like my horrible exH and you really are better off without him.

I kept the peace for years, putting up with childish temper tantrums including in front of my family. He always had to be the centre of attention and be praised even though he actually did fuck all except go to work - I worked too for most of our long marriage. He measures everyone by how much money they earn.

I'm too damn stubborn for my own good so I put up with it for years, trying to focus on his good points and keep everything together for the sake of the DC. I'd have done far better to walk away they very first time he showed what he was like.

In the end I caught him out cheating which turned out to have been going on for years - shouldn't have been surprised really as its all part of the love of drama and attention seeking. Divorcing him was definitely the best thing I ever did. The calm and the headspace when he is not around are great!

It's still all my fault of course and he is still Mr Wonderful who is worth so much more than me, but I don't have to subscribe to any of that now!

heppi · 26/01/2017 07:41

OP, your dad sounds lovely, it's ok to ask for his help to get yourself out of this situation, I'm sure he's just waiting for you to ask. You say you don't want him to have to fund you/the house, but if he can do so comfortably I think you should let him, at least in the short term.

0dfod · 26/01/2017 08:13

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DragonRojo · 26/01/2017 08:17

I'm surprised you've lasted this long. If I were you, I would speak to a solicitor and start getting ready for leaving him. It's not a good example of a relationship for your children. They will not hate you for separating. I separated when my son was 12 and he became much more relaxed straight away as he didn't have to hear his dad and I arguing regularly.

0dfod · 26/01/2017 09:00

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0dfod · 26/01/2017 09:01

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