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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

How do o start this conversation? I feel like walking...

32 replies

Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 14:07

Not sure where to start, apologies if this is all over the place.

I'm not happy in my marriage, my dh can't have any type of conversation with me where our views differ without him rolling his eyes, dismissing my opinions or being hurtful. If I try to point out that thats what always happens, he'll start with the 'oh here we go again' 'you're always fucking right' (in horrible sarcastic sneer) 'dont start' or 'give over' and I just can't say anything without him basically leaving me feeling shaken, unliked and disrespected.

We have two young children together who adore him and he dotes on, but I can't help but feel like that's irrelevant to a point if I feel like I'm walking in eggshells. I'm a SAHM, and feel trapped, my career has gone down the drain and earning potential with two young children who'd both need substantial childcare if I went back to work (both preschool age) is minimal. I've never claimed benefits, dh earns above the threshold for us to be entitled to anything.

I can't even visualise what life as a single parent might look like in terms of finance and living arrangements and spilt custody, but I need to open up some sort of dialogue with him otherwise I'm going to end up telling him to shove the whole fucking thing up his arse and telling him I want a divorce.

I went to bed in tears last night in the children's room while he went to bed without so much as an acknowledgment that he'd been an arse, his parting shot was ' oh so now you're going to tell me how to have a debate as well'. I'd said he hadn't listened to what I'd just said when I responded to him and had just carried on with what he was saying without acknowledging my point of view. Sounds petty written down but it's so wearing every single time we talk about anything that I don't agree with him on. It's also the implication by the 'as well' that I make everything difficult, I just think if he dislikes my company that much maybe we just shouldn't be together as it's hurtful to me and he obviously doesn't like me that much anyway.

I honestly don't know how to start the conversation without him traipsing out one of his stock responses and getting angry and accusing me of making it all about me, or being told I'm playing the poor old me victim card... I just can't shut him down when he starts that because there's no recourse apart from playing into it by saying how hurtful and dismissive is which he then uses as evidence of how right he is...

Don't know what I'm really asking for but writing it down helps in itself.

OP posts:
Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 17:02

Bumping for handholding or a kick up the arse, whichever comes first

OP posts:
Outlookmainlyfair · 26/07/2017 17:08

It does sound like a no win situation the way that you have phrased it. Has he always been like that? Is he caring in other ways (I really hope so)? I had never realised before being a SAHM the toll it would take on my sense of self - so I can see how tough it would be.
He does sound as if he is being a dick!

Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 17:28

Thanks outlook nice to have someone to talk to.

He's not always been like this, although now when I look back on our relationship I can see certain things that indicated what he was like.

He's very misogynistic and scoffs a lot at anything vaguely feminist, also can be flippantly racist, which I've called him out on a good few times but he doesn't react well. Just seems to display a base level of male entitlement and privilege that he refuses to see or cares about. Things like, if we're talking about the house renovations we're doing if I want something he doesn't like he'll say 'who she paying for it?' to shut me down, he doesn't value my contribution to the family by giving up my career and raising our children. When I wondered about going back to work last year he asked me how I was going to pay for their childcare as off it had to come out of the money I would we bringing in and therefore wouldn't be 'worth' it instead of seeing it as a split cost.

I just don't know if it's even worth talking to him now as it just seems like such an entrenched behaviour.

I know I have my flaws, but we all do and I ALWAYS apologise if I recognise that I've lost my temper or snapped at him. I also ALWAYS let him know if I'm in a touchy mood because of my pain (I have chronic pain because of some medical issues) but if we ever have a blow out fight where I've called him out on some thing, EVENTUALLY, he'll say it's because he was stressed at work or whatever but I literally feel like I'm taking a pile of shot that he refuses to take responsibility for until he's pushed me so far I flip and end up in tears because t all leads to a row. I pussy foot around him to avoid rows when he's in a mood like that now as it's just too horrible. He never says sorry, and never preempys anything with an 'I'm sorry I'm really stressed can we just take it easy tonight' or whatever, he just storms about and nit picks till I take the bait and then it's alll my bloody fault for being too sensitive / victim / whatever

OP posts:
Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 26/07/2017 17:39

He sounds like a nightmare, I'm not sure how you would approach a conversation about his behaviour.

One tip I read on MN for financially abusive partners was to get cash back while paying for shopping, and keep the money as an escape fund if you have no access to family money and no ability to work as sole child carer.

I would do this and try to visit a divorce lawyer, and get evidence of his income/assets if you can, and if he put in text or messenger saying he wouldn't pay childcare, that too. New laws have made emotional and financial abuse offences, and if you can get legal advice you might be in a better position to decide whether to leave or stay until your dc are in school and you can afford to work.
Good luck, I hope you can change this situation, it sounds awful for you and your kids.

Wormulonian · 26/07/2017 18:27

I would get my hands on any documentation I could find about salary, mortgage, investments etc and see a solicitor to find out where I stood about staying in the house, likely maintenance (how the share of custody will affect it)etc.

You could also play about on the Turn2us or DirectGov calculators to see what benefits you could get as a single parent - council tax discount, child tax credits etc. You will feel more in control once you are armed with information.

It sounds to me like your H is emotionally abusive so look up how to deal with that. Don't suggest going to joint counselling but have counselling for yourself if you feel you need it. I would seriously think about how he would need to change for you to be happy with the relationship - make a list, write down your boundaries. However, since he won't properly engege with you I don't suppose having a talk is on the cards. Don't make ultimatums unless you intend to act on them.
liveboldandbloom.com/11/relationships/signs-of-emotional-abuse

Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 18:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kittybiscuits · 26/07/2017 18:58

It's really okay to leave him. He's horrible. You deserve better.

Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 18:59

coffee I just can't see it, do I really need to start squirrelling money away? I have access to our joint account and he's never prevented me from having access to it, just makes those passive aggressive remarks about how he's paying for everything..

OP posts:
Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 19:00

kitty I just don't know if I'm strong enough Sad

OP posts:
kittybiscuits · 26/07/2017 19:03

That's okay. No wonder. It wears you down living like this. It's not 'oh just leave him', but start to think about it as something you could really do. Watch and listen to him with leaving as an actual possibility.

Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 19:05

Bollocks, I've asked for my posts above to be deleted.

OP posts:
Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 19:08

kitty that sounds reasonable, I just hate getting to the point I was at last night where my impulse was to just shout, fine fuck it if it's that bloody unpleasant let's just sell the house and get divorced. But I'll try and keep that voice quiet and live with the possibility not as an angry response to a situation but as a feasible possibility

OP posts:
Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 19:08

Fuck it, I'm on my mobile and this name change business is a faff

OP posts:
Fluffypinkpyjamas · 26/07/2017 19:12

Sounds petty written down but it's so wearing

No it doesn't sound petty at all. He sounds bloody awful and I think you would feel far happier without him and so would the DC, because when they are older, he will start on them. You ALL deserve better than this.

toughlices · 26/07/2017 19:13

We must be with the same person! Though my dp goes as far as saying people shouldn't be allowed opinions and only facts count! Arse!

Vedamakesthebesttoast · 26/07/2017 19:20

Off to do baths, thank you for posting. It's so fucking hard even considering letting go of what we're supposed to have even if the reality is a pale comparison.

tough how do you stick it? Yo have my sympathies and solidarity. Unmumsnetty hugs

OP posts:
toughlices · 26/07/2017 19:22

Well. I've just read the link for the emotional abuse and tick most of the boxes!

I posted a thread on here last night because I'd had enough and started shouting at him, it was over my hair! I usually ignore most of it, but have recently become aware that like you I am using avoidance tactics to keep the peace! I don't know when the last time I laughed was 😭

toughlices · 26/07/2017 19:25

Also, with him dismissing you, this too was happening with us. Until I refused to even play along with it any more! It was literally he'd be on long rants talking about what ever it was HE was interested in! Any time I spoke he sighed, or stopped talking or said the "conversation was over" in the end I refused to talk to him any more, just had enough! Even now I barely talk to him!

egginacup · 26/07/2017 19:31

My ex used to be like this. I put up with so much then in the end he had an affair and left anyway.

In terms of financial support if you did leave- I got child benefit, tax credits and housing benefit straight away. Ex gave me maintenance and I insisted he carried on paying the rent and bills until I had my finances sorted, which he did. I managed to get a term time only job, and with the top up from tax credits as well as the maintenance we actually weren't much worse off that before. And I was a lot better off without that arsehole!

If you want to leave, don't let fear of the unknown stop you. Go to citizens advice or look on the benefits calculator at entitledto.com.

yetmorecrap · 26/07/2017 20:13

It's interesting what you say about ticking boxes, I would do so too and part of the reason is pulling away!! I also could look as if I was having an affair(clearing mumsnet history etc!!!) on iPad all time , keep nipping out etc . I do it all for headspace

Bairnsmum05 · 26/07/2017 20:19

It is not petty, it's horrible way to live. It's not you, it's him. It's not your fault, it's his. You can leave, get a job, put kids in nursery. That's what I did, its def not easy, I know that but it is definitely doable. I'm so glad I did it, the pain and hellish times going through divorce are worth it now. Flowers

GlitterSparkles17 · 26/07/2017 20:35

You start the conversation by saying "I don't love you anymore, I don't want to be with you, either you leave or me and the DC's will find a new place to live.

This sounds utterly miserable, I don't know how you are coping and staying sane. He sounds like a total twat who thinks he's better than everyone.

kittybiscuits · 26/07/2017 22:07

It's so fucking hard even considering letting go of what we're supposed to have even if the reality is a pale comparison.

^ this, OP, you said it. It's not letting go of what you have, it's what you want(ed) it to be.

Shoxfordian · 27/07/2017 07:24

Hi OP

You seem to be very unhappy. I think you should look into leaving him. Speak to a solicitor.

Apocalyptichorsewoman · 27/07/2017 07:44

It sounds a horrible situation to be in - I really feel for you - Can you leave him and get a dog? X