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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

am i mental?

15 replies

mommy2anangel · 16/07/2017 20:50

Ok I will try to be as brief as I can.

Been with DH 11 years, both age 30. Two kids age 7 and 2.

There have been many problems and issues but we've always worked through them and things were great until just after DD2 was born.

A lot happened in 2015. DH finally made a friend but the friend was a bad influence. He went from drinking very little to all of a sudden going out on the lash at weekends and rolling in at 3am or later, drinking at home, drinking at family meals etc. We got into tons of debt (my fault mostly) all of which resulted in us splitting up for a while but still living together. 2016 was off/on for the majority.

Things improved but hit a wall in Feb 2017. We'd had an argument over his drinking so he called the police and reported me for fraud (saying I'd got him into debt without him knowing, not true). He got aggressive and I left with the kids for 2 weeks. He then absolutely begged for me back, crying, pleading, promising he'd do anything. I'd never seen him like this before and I went back.

Things were good for a while, he stopped going out on the lash, made an effort with me and the kids, but slowly and surely it started dwindling, he started drinking more at home and went back to doing nothing with the kids at all. We had a row over him drinking and he called the police, who visited and saw nothing amiss so left again. DH alleged he hadn't had a drink but I can tell when he has, even one beer changes the way he acts. He's a nasty drunk. I threw him out and stupidly agreed to give him another chance.

We went on holiday last week and he did NOTHING with the kids, it was me going to the pool, doing every nappy, bedtime etc. I was up all night every night with DD2 as she was napping late, and DD1 playing up. I even had food poisoning and still did everything whilst he had a full night's sleep and a lie in every night! He ignored DD2 when she was having a tantrum and left me to deal with her each time. He was moaning every time she cried or had a tantrum, making comments like "ffs shouldn't have bothered" etc. He spent all holiday drinking and was drunk/tipsy every day except for 2 (as we had a car those days). One day he was so drunk he was throwing up everywhere. He tried to tell me it was something wrong with the cocktail but in reality he'd had too much to drink and had been refusing to eat all day (incase it sobered him I suppose!) I had BOTH kids on the flight there AND back, it was really hard work!

Then we get home and Thurs night DD1 was playing up. She has this behaviour where she screams the house down over silly things (blocked nose, nightmare when she's not even been asleep yet, can't sleep, moth in her room etc) and I mean SCREAMS. I go to her to avoid DD2 being woken up, but then she won't let me leave the room. If I try she starts screaming. She'll also scream OWWW for no reason like she's being killed. She's done this for over 4 months now and most nights of the week, sometimes I'm awake 22 hours a day. Coupled with her revolting attitude and talking to me like shit and it's exhausting! I'm ashamed to say I have lightly smacked her a few times. Not hard, and I think I was more upset than she was! I've vowed never to do it again. I think I was just so tired and fed up it just happened, no excuse and I hate myself for it. It will never be happening again. DH has also lightly slapped her, but that thursday he hit her so hard there was a very clear handprint on her thigh. It did fade quickly but I was horrified. I yelled "get off her!" because I didn't like the way he hit her. He then got aggressive, called me a vindictive bitch and said the only reason I'd yelled is so that the neighbours called the police and he got arrested!!! Nobody called the police but DH said HE was going to?!!!

The next night I stayed in a hotel with the kids, sent DH an email detailing his behaviour on holiday, the way he slapped DD and basically the fact he does SFA and I literally do it all. Yes he works full time and I don't, but when he gets home he does nothing. At weekends he has a lie in and does nothing. And I mean NOTHING. He has bathed DD2 once in her life and she's 2! Never ever done a bedtime or cleaned or cooked or anything! I told him he had til noon the next day to leave (saturday). Came home saturday at 11am and he was in bed so I told him to his face to leave.

Came home at 9pm and he was still in bed. DD2 was poorly so I asked him to get up so she could come in bed with me. He ignored me. He set his phone up videoing the room for "evidence". I don't want to be recorded in my own home!!!! I slept on the landing outside DD2s room as I was worried about her cough. He has stayed in bed the whole time, not once getting up or coming downstairs. He has work tomorrow and I shall be throwing his stuff out then. I also have a meeting with the police over him slapping DD that hard.

What worries me is this:

  1. What if he tries to snatch DD2 from nursery? He might do this out of pure spite if he thinks he has nothing to lose.
  2. What if he makes up lies and calls social services to have the kids taken from me? He often used to record me telling off DD1 and said it was "evidence"!
  3. I am a sole tenant so I can kick him out but what if he tries to smash back in?

Our neighbours are very posh and look down their nose at us as it is, if we start having police turning up etc. I can see them complaining to the landlord! Bare in mind they've been listening to DD1 screaming for months!

DH often says I'm mental, and he makes me question my own sanity. He says he doesn't drink much but I think he has a problem. 2 years ago he might have a pint a month, MIGHT. Now he has 2-3 pints at every family meal (instead of pepsi like before), drinks at home at the weekend and sometimes during the week, goes to the pub at lunch and/or after work during the week too. It's not just how often or how much he drinks, it's the way he gets so nasty after even one drink! Then he calls me mental saying I go moody if he drinks and I control him.

He is a good man in many ways, he looks after the car and renovated our old house all by himself. He earns good money and pays for everything.

I question though - am I mental? Is his drinking normal? Is his holiday behaviour normal or am I overreacting?

I'm worried about him being suicidal - last year he bought a gas mask to kill himself as I was leaving him, it was only by chance I found out after snooping on his emails - he says I'm controlling by snooping but I knew something was off!

He's now just come downstairs and is sat in the other lounge in silence - I wonder if it's so I can have the bed or maybe he's just fed up of being in bed all the time.

I don't know what to do! I feel guilty!

OP posts:
Aspieparent · 16/07/2017 21:00

No your not mental. He is.
Your doing the right thing getting him out. Ges not good for your or your dcs. As for video evidence i wouldn't worry whats he trying to prove that your actually parenting. He sounds vile and you and your dcs will be so much better off without him.

Grooves · 16/07/2017 21:16

No, you're not mental. But take it from me, you won't make him see the error of his ways unless he chooses to.

My partner is a drinker, he drinks ridiculously, all weekend too when he gets the chance.

With regards to nursery, you can tell them that you're having problems with your partner and he's not allowed to take her!

LuxuryWoman2017 · 16/07/2017 21:20

No he's not a good man, he's a useless father and a drunk.
It won't change so make plans to get him out of your and more importantly your children's lives as a matter of urgency.

gamerchick · 16/07/2017 21:30

Your poor kids having to put up with this joke. Get him out and keep him out.

Your bairns are what's important here, not whether he's suicidal or not. That isn't your problem.

Aquamarine1029 · 16/07/2017 21:36

HE IS NOT A GOOD MAN. Paying bills does NOT make him a good man. Get him the fuck out of there and move on.

TeachesOfPeaches · 16/07/2017 21:39
  1. Unfortunately yes he can take her from nursery if he wanted to as he is on the birth certificate.
  1. It's very common for false reports to be made to ss. They will investigate as they see fit.
  1. If he smashes up your house then call the police
BloodWorries · 17/07/2017 09:08

I'm not sure that a nursery can stop DD2 dad from taking her if he is registered as her parent with them. He has as much right to say don't allow mum to take as mum has to stop them.
They might be able to delay him and give you a call, but even then if he insists then I'm not sure what they can do without a court order or something from the police.
What I'd suggest is speaking to a solicitor regarding this. It might be worth taking a few days off work and keeping both DDs with you if you thing this is a risk until SS/police/court can put something in place if they decide he is a risk (I think he's a risk).

I don't agree with snooping, but if you can keep an eye on his emails again and make sure he's not up to something again. Simply because if he's depressed and going off the deep end it will help him get support and also be actual evidence (opposed to his attempt at evidence) that he's not fit for unsupervised access to the children. And please don't let them fob you of with you supervising the access. My poor DSis did that and it was a nightmare for her and the kids.

BloodWorries · 17/07/2017 09:11

Oh and it might be embarrassing for the neighbours to see the police coming and going at all hours, but seriously if he hurts you or the kids, tries to force his way in, threatens you or anything that is posing a risk then call them each and everytime. If it goes on enough you can seek a restraining order which will help keep you all safe.

If he's nice and friendly then you need to work together to raise the kids, but not in the same house and not in a relationship.

thethoughtfox · 17/07/2017 09:14

Don't hit your child again.

thethoughtfox · 17/07/2017 09:16

It will damage your relationship with her and give your husband ammunition to legally use against you. Get legal advice now. Keep a detailed written record of his drinking and unreasonable behaviour.

mommy2anangel · 17/07/2017 19:12

Well I changed the locks and left him a bag in the porch and text him to tell him. He's not collected it but has just sent me an email making up loads of lies of things I've allegedly said/done to DD1, saying he will have the social involved, accusing me of being violent to him (he used to be violent), making up loads of lies about how I control and abuse him! Basically everything he does he's said I do!

OP posts:
LuxuryWoman2017 · 17/07/2017 19:36

Keep that email and any texts he sends. Can you ring womens aid for advice and perhaps the non emergency police if you think he'll come round and kick off.
Don't worry about the things he's written, that was a foregone conclusion.

DiamondShine · 17/07/2017 19:54

You describe him as a good man in some ways... he would NEVER have been violent!

I hope you get this sorted out for yourself and your children

Chloe800 · 09/08/2022 10:03

Hello
i have just ready your comment from 2017 and wondered how are you now;0)

Ohtoberoavingagain · 09/08/2022 13:38

Getting nasty after one drink is often a sign of topping up. An alcoholic, or very heavy drinker, won’t completely clear alcohol from their blood so one or two drinks raises their blood alcohol to way over the limit.
You have good reason not to let him take either child as he may well be drunk driving even if he says he’s just had one, or says he hasn’t drunk since the night before.
I think you need a solicitor. And I’m afraid his behaviour is awful, I doubt he’ll change.

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