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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

I just want to moan about selfish DH

202 replies

N0RA · 01/10/2017 09:51

I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself and want to talk to someone who will understand.

I know DH is completely selfish and our marriage is dead but some things just bring it home.

Last night we were all out playing in a local sports event - me DH and three kids - 12,14 and 16. It's very unusual for him to come out with us, the last time we did this was several years ago.

Unfortunately another person ran into me , knocked me over and I and split my head open. I had to be carried off amid much drama and blood and my kids were really scared.

DH behaved ok at the event, the first aiders told him to take to me to hospital and he agreed to do so. The most important thing in his life is looking good to strangers so he never acts up in front of people.

BTW Home, hospital and sports venue are all about two miles apart ( this is relevant ) .

He fetched the car without complaining ( in front of the staff) and brought it round as I couldn't walk very well and the first aid people put me in it. However as soon as I got in I could tell he was really cross.

He's very passive agressive, he doesn't argue usually, just does things wrong or " forgets " .

He was annoyed and obviously wanted to go home first so I could get my own car and drive myself to the hospital, so he didn't have to come for me later. So he " forgot " and took the route home so I had to "remind " him to go to the hospital, because I wasn't nearly well enough to drive.

Then he got " confused " about how to find the A&E department - it's a small well signposted modern hospital which he's been to dozens of time . So I knew he was really angry.

DH was just going to drop me on my own but 16yo wanted to come with me as all the children were worried. So that was fine.

DH wanted to leave me at the drop off area but 16yo couldnt manage to push me in the A&E wheelchair so he had to push me in ( she didn't realise you have to pull and not push ) .

Then he was annoyed that he had to check me in at the desk because I was too confused and bleeding everywhere from my head. On reflection I realise he could have asked DD to do this, but the receptionist was asking him and not her ( unsurprisingly I guess as she's a teenager and he's a grown man ) . So he gave them my wrong date of birth and address and they couldn't find me on their system.

He does all these things as part of punishing me for inconveniencing him, when in fact all it did was delay him even longer - it took him 10 mins when it could have taken 5. But if you pointed that out to him he would become even more angry.

So as soon as they found my details he left and took the other kids home.

Everything was fine in A&E, I got seen immediately and treated relatively quickly ( given that it wasn't serious ) and sent home about midnight.

However DH was obviously annoyed at having to come and collect us so he had let his phone go flat ( hes obsessed by his phone, he NEVER lets it run out of power) andhe didn't answer the house phone as he was busy ( watching TV).

I knew there was no chance of a taxi for hours at closing time on a Saturday night. We Started to walk home as it's only a couple of miles and I was feeling much less shaky by then and we ( me and DD ) are both pretty fit. But DD was upset so , unknown to me, she texted her younger brother on his mobile to get dad to come for us. So we had only walked about 1/4 mile when he arrived, very cross.

He's very resentful at having been thwarted so I know he will take it out on me and the kids . He will feel that I have backed him into a corner by forcing him to come out late at night to pick us up.

And today he's even more pissed off because I've not to drive for 24 hours and he has to take the kids to their usual activities.

He's especially annoyed it it's the Grand Prix which he always watches.

I'm sitting in bed feeling sorry for myself worrying about how he's going to take it out on me today. My guess is that he'll take the children late to their events ( his usual if he's asked to do anything) and he'll punish me later for sure.

He's pretty shit really isn't he? It looks worse now I've written it all down.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 01/10/2017 10:22

Please rescue your DC from this nasty abusive man!!!

PaperdollCartoon · 01/10/2017 10:22

Please leave this awful man, for your sake and your children's.

NanooCov · 01/10/2017 10:24

Please spend the day making a plan to get you and your children out. He’s an abusive twat and you and your kids (who sound lovely by the way) don’t deserve to put up with that shit.

N0RA · 01/10/2017 10:24

So many replies, thank you all for being so kind.

I know he doesn't like me, in fact he hates me. We live completely separate lives .

I've asked him to leave and he refused, he says he will force me and the kids to leave the house and so they would have to leave all their friends and their schools . I couldn't afford to but in this area on my own.

And he'd play the sympathy card with the kids ( your mother is throwing me out , breaking up the happy home etc ) .

The kids think he's a good dad. I don't think he is, but it's all they have ever known IYSWIM. They are protected from what he's like a lot .

For example, last night when he came home he rented a movie, so the younger kids think he's great. 16yo is a bit Hmm over the phone thing, but she wants to believe it was just a mistake etc. He's very very plausible , after all he fooled me for years into thinking he was just forgetful / disorganised / chronically late .

OP posts:
Alittlepotofrosie · 01/10/2017 10:26

This is one of the worst posts I've ever read on here. Please know you don't have to live like this.

RandomMess · 01/10/2017 10:27

Just put the wheels in motion to divorce, the finances, moving house could take years anyway!

Do you work?

Tour · 01/10/2017 10:30

I would leave. What an absolute pig.

miniloco · 01/10/2017 10:30

I can't believe this is your life. This is so sad. I have no practical advice on how to leave him/get him out, but you can't live like this. The kids might think he's great now, but as they get older they'll realise what he's like. It might not be something you can do tomorrow, get out I mean, but you can work towards it. Life is too short to live like this.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 01/10/2017 10:31

You already know how horrible he and your marriage are, as you said so in your op. What are you going to do now?(big hug-my dsis had one of these)

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/10/2017 10:32

You and he need to be apart now also because you cannot fully protect your children from his abuses of you and in turn them. You are both the blueprint for their future relationships as adults; you would not want this abusive relationship for them. They cannot continue to potentially learn that a loveless dead marriage is their norm too.

You are married and therefore have more power than you think but you have been ground down by him over the years to think you have none and that you cannot manage on your own. Good legal advice of your own would be very beneficial to you in your circumstances.

Abusive men always but always refuse to leave and make all sorts of threats; this is basically done to keep their victims in line as a means of power and control. He has done this to you for years and he does this also because this works for him. Your children, particularly the eldest I would think, do not think he is at all a good dad because they see all too clearly how you are treated by him. He is therefore no role model for them to look up to or follow., he is deliberately confusing these children as well by his behaviours. At the very least they are seeing a shedload of mixed messages.

scootinFun · 01/10/2017 10:33

Oh that's awful - poor you. Do try and think about ending the marriage (but stay resident in the house)

Pollydonia · 01/10/2017 10:34

Good god that is awful, please please get this toxic man out of your life. Flowers

wingerkite · 01/10/2017 10:36

He's not just selfish, he's hideous and abusive. Sad

amousehaseatenmypaddlingpool · 01/10/2017 10:36

I'd be talking to a solicitor if I were you.

LuxuryWoman2017 · 01/10/2017 10:37

Well, he can't 'force' you and the kids to leave the house.

Why don't you start the ball rolling with a solicitors appointment? It may seem impossible right now while you are in the midst of this crap but please remember people leave marriages every day and it would be a rare thing for a partner in that marriage to simply say 'OK then, yep you're unhappy, I'll go pack my bags'

Start with smallish steps to see where you stand legally

N0RA · 01/10/2017 10:38

Your DD must know he gave the wrong date of birth and address on purpose. He wanted you to drive yourself to hospital with a head injury so as to minimise the inconvenience to himself, and she must be aware of that too

I haven't asked her but she will just think he was confused. And he didn't say he wanted me to drive, he just " forgot " and was going to drive straight home. Because he was so stressed etc. And then there would be no point in my not taking my own car there.

His favourite phrase is " plausible deniability " .

He doesn't think he's done anything wrong. For his point of view, he gave up his whole evening for me, took me and the kids to this event and paid for it , took me to hospital, looked after the younger kids on his own for the whole night and then came out very late to pick us up.

And now he's taken one child off to their activities - the others want to stay home to look after me.

It sounds great when you put it like that .

OP posts:
stayathomegardener · 01/10/2017 10:39

You sound strong but worn down by your H.
Personally I would be booking a free solicitor on Monday morning.
This is no life for you or your children.
Also remember you will be entitled to more money in the divorce as your children are young. Don't let this go on any longer you are worth so much more. Flowers

BitOutOfPractice · 01/10/2017 10:40

Christ this is appalling op. Truly appalling. Divorce him. Even if he don’t move out, divorce his pathetic sorry arse. He’s an utter monster

RandomMess · 01/10/2017 10:40

So you want your DD to choose a husband who is abusive to her too, and your DS to think its ok to treat their partner like that....

It is very likely you will be able to remain in the home until youngest is 18. Please go see a solicitor urgently

Summerof85 · 01/10/2017 10:42

Ugh, he is punishing you for having a head injury and inconvenicing him?? Hope your head is better this morning, everyone knows how serious they can be, if you have anymore symptoms go back to hospital. As for your husband.....what would happen if, god forbid, if you got a serious illness or chronic condition or something, would he be supportive? Sounds like he wouldn't. I hope your day is okay Flowers

N0RA · 01/10/2017 10:43

newmumFeb17

Sorry if I've brought back some bad memories. If your dad was like this then you will understand how great these men look from the outside and how hard to is to describe what they are really like.

OP posts:
Ambonsai · 01/10/2017 10:45

I think you'd be very surprised at what your children think of him.
You need to see a solicitor, there is no reason you can't divorce him. He cannot force you and the children to leave the house.

Shinesweetfreedom · 01/10/2017 10:46

I hate him more than I hate my exh father of my child who when asked to look after his own child,tried to smash my front door in in front of his child when I was in hospital.
But then you see,he is out of my life now and I don't have to put up with his shit anymore,so the blessed peace I feel is amazing.
Then I read your post,and you have got an arse in your life and I just want to shout at you,get rid of this twat asap.
Mentally his games are screwing you over,and the kids.
You will not believe the blessed peace when he is gone.

bastardkitty · 01/10/2017 10:48

YOU know what he is like. Your children have a deformed view of him beche is the only father they have and he manipulates then. I completely understand the feeling of wanting others to see and know what he is really like - but most won't. Only my closest friends believed me and my family stood by my 'poor ex'. But I have never regret forcing the separation and I have never missed that bastard even for a millisecond. People like this quietly destroy you.

bastardkitty · 01/10/2017 10:48

*beche = because