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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

I don't know what to do

981 replies

lollipop7 · 25/07/2017 23:34

I gave up a career and a good life miles away when I feel pregnant with a man I thought I was in love with.
He asked me to marry him, told me he would always ta,e care upon us, encouraged me to take redundancy and plough it into our life together.
I'm now pregnant with our third child and si trapped and unhappy.

I have no job, no money and apart from my mum nowhere to go.
He has decided I'm good enough to have children with but not in his exact words "good enough to marry"
My credit rating has been ruined by a case of mistaken identity delisted notes of satisfaction. He's had all my money as I believed him all these years.
Last year when out second child was six months old I left before we moved house. I discovered a series of message to his drinking friends and parents that I had PND and was mentally ill. None of which is true.
He begged Me for a final chance, promised me he'd get therapy and set up a Trust Deed to acknowledge my contribution,
A year on and nothing. He is worse than ever and thanks to being pressured for sex one night I am six months pregnant.
He was out mountain biking with a friend tonight and our son managed to open two safety gates and fall halfway down the stairs. When he Came back home he was sulking and said he was obviously fine. Then two hours later he accused me of actually throwing himself down the stairs to get him home early because I am unwell and jealous of him having a life.
There are so many things I could write here but I can't face committing them all to paper, suffice to say they revolve around emotional abuse such as disdain, lies, provocation, undermining and general nastiness. He is a control freak, he cuts of my housekeeping to pay for holidays he wants. He says there is no money for luxuries but buys himself cds and booze and clothes all the time. His family are blind to his faults and I frequently come across nasty little message so where I am described as grumpy and arrogant. He is disningeous and provocative in front of my friends and family. In short he is a total bastard.
It has got so bad now that I am actually prepared to leave with nothing apart from my children in my car. The only asset I have left. He has said he holds all the cards and that he now wants to contact my midwife to tell, her I am unfit. This is because I slapped his face tonight when he accused me of injuring our son.

I just need to get something down as it is let and I don't want him to hear me on the phone to friends or my mother or sister.

I have thought about women's aid but I don't know.
I have left four times and always have to come back for immunisations, antenatal appointments, school terms etc. I feel as though all the pressure is on me. I am brimming out resentment at the uphheaval and turmoil in mine and especially my children's lives and on top of it have to get ready to give birth in three months.

He hasn't been interviewed under caution for assaulting me one night, but acts as though I think never happened and told the police commiserated with him and laughed about my desperate behaviour.
I feel as though he is trying to drive me to suicide or madness.

Just some words of advice or reassurance or comfort would be appreciated.

I feel incredibly stupid, vulnerable and lost right now.

OP posts:
Ellendegeneres · 26/10/2017 10:23

Wow the court has to stop him now. He doesn't give a crap about anyone or anything but himself and his own agenda.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if he failed to return dc on a contact visit. He's deranged enough for me to present serious concerns about how safe the dc would be with him- alone or supervised. Let's face it, even if your mum was supervising, he would manipulate (pictures showed that) or overpower her if he wanted.
Not saying that to frighten you, I'm actually frightened for you

Groovee · 26/10/2017 10:50

I’m just catching up. Am just gobsmacked at his arrogance over it all.

Hope your scan goes ok x

Potentialmadcatlady · 26/10/2017 11:38

I’m unlurking to post after I just finished reading your whole thread from start to finish. Massive massive hugs to you from me- a total stranger who thinks you are amazing and strong and wishes you all the very best.
I have been where you are.. it was shit, totally shit, I lost everything but my kids..I lost my home, my pets, my job and any chance of my career restarting,my credit rating destroyed, my reputation in tatters, my sanity ( nearly not not quite). My ex sounds very similar to yours and my barrister/Solicitor often said to me he was a total bastard and mine was the worst case they had dealt with. He believes he is above the law. The judges ( two separate courts) ended up ordering court orders that left me with nothing because ‘they needed to get me away from that man and the only thing they could do to protect me was to give orders which meant I got nothing but my freedom’ They told me to go build a new life with my head held high because I had done nothing wrong. He regularly still tries nonsense but eventually the court saw him for who and what he was and finally said enough so he doesn’t get away with it anymore. At the time it was totally awful ( I’m not going to lie).. handing my kids over for contact with a man who refused to believe the youngest was life limited/needed lots of medical support and medication. Who didn’t look after them. Handing them over nearly broke me BUT we are now a few years down the line.
It hasn’t been easy.. it was damm tough...but we survived.. The kids and me are a unit- they trust me and I trust them.. we work together to try and keep our heads and hearts above water. They are both now out of contact orders and occasionally see their Sperm donor- they see him to ‘keep him off our backs’. We all gradually learnt to grey wall him and now I have no contact at all with him except via my Solicitor ( he’s not allowed to contact me at all or come to House- kids all old enough to speak to him direct if they want)
I’m telling you all this to say it’s not easy and I nearly didn’t survive but I did. My kids are amazing strong individuals who survived. They are doing great in school and they have friends. They are lovely well balanced normal teenagers. I have rebuilt my friendship group from scratch and thanks to a little help from family we have a safe secure home that is totally ours and no one can take it away from us- ever.. We are safe, we are warm, we have food and we have each other. We don’t have much we we have enough.
I know how truly shit it is and I know how awful it is when the panic really starts and the awful horrible anxiety/panic sets in ( I have ptsd and anxiety because of what I/we went through) I cope now by just getting through that day and have learnt to ‘ride the waves’.. it sounds trite but it’s true- things always seem better after a little rest/sleep and some decent food.
Hang in there, take care of you and your precious babies and ride the waves.. you are enough, you can do this, you are strong enough to keep them safe.. I wish you and your family all the very best... we can do this- baby step by baby step

rainbowstardrops · 26/10/2017 11:39

I have only just seen your thread and bloody hell woman - you are amazing!!!!!
Your ex is clearly a very troubled, ill person but you are handling him brilliantly.
I am totally in awe of you and your strength. Don’t give up!!! FlowersCakeBrew

Dsmummy · 26/10/2017 11:55

You are literally superwoman. I’m so happy for your children that they have you in their corner. Stay strong!

Idontmeanto · 26/10/2017 11:59

How’s your morning been? Is the social worker able to intervene before Sunday? Thinking of youFlowers

flutterby12 · 26/10/2017 12:05

Oh what's he like. Fingers crossed for scan.

Contact SW - hound them if needs be.

ElephantsandTigers · 26/10/2017 16:19

lollipop7 - I have read all your posts on this thread with my heart in my mouth. What an absolutely made of steel mummy you are.

I can’t offer any legal advice though with my dealings with incompetent police tells me you have to make official complaints before they do what they are meant to do Hmm but I can offer cake, baby sitting if you’re near and a huge arm of strength. You have got this and you will be okay. IME abusers get what they are due eventually. —It’s a bonus when they have to plead guilty, go to prison then die— It just doesn't happen as quick as we would like.

lollipop7 · 26/10/2017 18:58

So a few things have happened today.

I have just instructed my Solicitor to send a letter to the other side saying as we have still not seen the court order nothing is agreed and contact will therefore not be taking place on Sunday.

I have everything ready to apply for a stay of arrangements through the Court when I finally see the order. It won't be through my current solicitor's though. On Monday they will be receiving a formal complaint from me and Once I've lodged that I have a new solicitor's my Women's Refuge have recommended to me. Just need to lodge the complaint and formally terminate instruction so there is no conflict of interest.

The harassment has continued but now my poor Mother is being hounded by him and now also HIS mother. It's an absolute disgrace. We've had texts, mobile calls, emails and the landline is going non stop. So I'm going to have to call the police. Again. It's like a nightmare.

At least my poor little baby turned head down at some point in the last 24 hours. Growth scan shows all is well and he weights 7lbs at just under 38 weeks. Ten days to go before I meet him. His legs measure 41weeks and 4 days so I expect I'll be cutting the feet out of all the newborn sleep suits.

Should feel excited but just feel hunted down and let down. I started crying in the sonogrpaher's room when they were scanning me. She said she'd read my notes and just held my hand gently. I felt like my heart was going to break.

I just want a day without crying. More fool me.

OP posts:
Idontmeanto · 26/10/2017 19:07

Can I just say Grin
Well done baby Lollipop and well done you for being decisive.

holdthewine · 26/10/2017 19:11

Oh Lollipop, the sonographer holding your hand just made me cry. So many of us are also here figuratively holding your hand.

RandomMess · 26/10/2017 19:13

Hang on in there, you are making progress and yeah on baby going head down!!!

Mustang27 · 26/10/2017 19:14

Oh lollipop what a bloody day!!!

Massive hugs and I would love nothing better for you to have a crying free day. What a lovely sonographer.

flutterby12 · 26/10/2017 19:41

What a day! Like mother like son then with that family! They should be ashamed of themselves.

So pleased your wriggler has turned though - let's hope he stays that way! I remember my son turning at 37 weeks - Christ it was uncomfortable!

ElephantsandTigers · 26/10/2017 19:45

If you need a baby grow or ten I, and I'm sure others, would like to send babygrows.

Youcanttaketheskyfromme · 26/10/2017 19:47

I honestly admire you. You are incredible- so strong.

flutterby12 · 26/10/2017 19:54

Yes if you do need anything I can send some stuff too! Just bagged all my son's stuff up (we are moving house) and he's one next week - sob! He started walking today!

Ausparent · 26/10/2017 19:59

I have no advice or information but just want to add to the hand holding. Reading your posts made me feel overwhelmed just thinking about what you have been through and are going through. You are amazing and although your children got the shitty dad, they certainly won the mum lottery. Xx

Frouby · 26/10/2017 20:36

Keep going lovely. Just keep doing what you are doing.

The whole family sound wired to the moon. But don't forget how far you have come. 3 months ago you were living with him. Now you don't. And he is only allowed supervised contact. I know the supervision isnt good enough. And I know the system has let you down but unless the father has been obviously physically abusive to the dcs (and usually more than once) it's really difficult to get anything like that. And you have done that with a shitty solicitor.

Just think what your new solicitor is going to do with all this ammunition he keeps giving you. Every email, every text message, every phone call is another bullet for you to fire. Flowers

GrabbyMcGrabby · 26/10/2017 20:48

I still have little to offer other than support. Have read all your posts now and feel pathetic by comparison!

So more FlowersFlowersFlowers. I imagine your Mum could do with Wine or Gin and your little ones Bear BearGlitterballGlitterball

Clever baby for moving! StarGlitterballHaloGlitterballStar

And to save for a few weeks time GinWine

Sherbet38 · 26/10/2017 21:17

Lolli I've read your thread today and just wanted to add to everyone that has told you that you are amazing. Brave and a wonderful mum. You're children are very lucky to have you. Keep on keeping on, one day at a time Flowers

Idontmeanto · 26/10/2017 21:27

I’m about to clear out some age 3-4 boys stuff actually. Let me know if it’s any good posted up for your son.

Bubblebath01 · 26/10/2017 21:34

So sorry, my situation sounds really crass. OP, you are are a fantastic mum. Xxx

rainbowstardrops · 26/10/2017 22:52

I feel you have many, many people on here giving you a virtual hand hold (and hugs) so don’t you forget that. We’re all behind you 100%.
I’m in awe of your strength.
You go girl!

lollipop7 · 26/10/2017 23:09

You’ve all gone and made me cry again 😉

It’s gone quiet so I am going to either get something hideous in about ten minutes or he’s got pissed and gone to bed feeling all powerful and smug. Tool.

I think I’m getting better at making decisions now. Enough is enough with all the shit.
The drawbridge is up. The doors are bolted. I’ve got a couple of Rottweilers by them just in case and then there’s me sat up in the rafters with a shotgun. At last that’s the metaphor / analogy call it what you will, i am too tired to channel Lynne Truss tonight!

He’s not getting anywhere near my babies.

It’s strange, the worse things get now in terms of inevitability the calmer I feel. Well for now!

Bending but not breaking anymore.

Thanks as always for these uplifting and affirming posts. You don’t know how much you’re helping me get through. I’m so touched at the kindness of strangers.

OP posts: