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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've ruined it, and I don't know how to fix it

57 replies

AllMyFault · 22/10/2017 20:55

So can you lovely people please help me? Because I don't know what to do.

Situation is this: Husband is 23 nearly 24, I'm 25, and we have a DD together who's 2. Been married since April 2016, together since 2012.

But I think my marriage might be over, even though I've tried so hard.

H has health problems, he's supposed to be having an operation to fix the main problem but nothing has happened. He's supposed to have chased it up, but he says he doesn't have time, or he doesn't care as he's been like this a year now and has decided it's forever.

DD also has additional needs. She's 2.4 but more like an 18 month old in her behaviours and development, has limited speech and has hip problems. She's a little sweetheart though, and attends Nursery 3 days a week.

H says everything is my fault. I deal with DD wrong so that's why she reacts badly to him when he's changing her nappy, why she runs away from him when she throws a tantrum. He says I am not the nice person and good mother everyone seems to think I am. Apparently I manipulate everyone, from my mother and child to the Social Worker involved to offer us support. He says everyone sings my praises to him and he hates because I do nothing I'm lazy and I should count myself lucky that he's still with me, as he's considered leaving me.

I've tried so hard to do everything. DD wakes up 3 times a night, and I never moan or say I'm tired, because he works anything up to 6 days a week, and his job is harder than mine. I take DD to all her appointments, restrain her if I have to, I take notes and ask questions. And I feedback to H about it. I change all her nappies, because he can't deal with poop, I bath her because he doesn't want his colleagues thinking that there's something wrong with him for bathing his infant daughter. He does do bedtime most nights because I apparently don't do it right so she stays awake longer when I do it so he can't play his games online with his friends, which is his only thing outside of work that he does.

His shifts are variable, so I do all pickups and dropoffs at Nursery, even when he can do them he won't because he thinks I've told lies to the Nursery Manager about him so doesn't want to see her in case she says something to him - I'm still not sure what I'm meant to have said. Because of his shifts I can only do very limited jobs due to DDs conditions meaning I have to be available at the drop of a hat, and take time off for appointments. So I do work from home for my old university, I hate it, it's boring but it pays DDs Nursery fees which is the important thing. H won't change his job to something more family friendly because he doesn't want to leave his colleagues short staffed and having to cover more hours.

He says I'm evil, and that's why I have no friends, because they see through me like he does and are scared away.

If I leave him, I'll lose my DD. He says he'll take me to court and he'll win because his family are super rich and can provide her with a place at any school she needs to go to, which I just can't afford or cover. They can get him the best solicitor where I'd have to be at the mercy of whichever would accept a small amount each month. He says if we go to court he'll say I'm manipulative and that I hurt DD because a couple of times when having a really tiring/stressful day I've shouted at DD. I've always apologised after, said it wasn't her fault, given her a cuddle and done something she wants to do like go to the park.

I need to fix this, because I'm going to lose my DD otherwise. How can I prove to H I'm sorry and fix this?

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

Check which sw you have - a normal one or a disability one.

Start writing everything down - the next time he really shouts call the police yourself and ask for him to be removed. This is not a good atmosphere to raise your dad

notapizzaeater · 23/10/2017 10:26

Doh ! Auto correct dad = DD

Whinesalot · 23/10/2017 10:35

Please do whatever it takes to get away from this man.

The police being called is your major weapon.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh · 23/10/2017 10:37

Thanks Springy it's fine now - son's 18, father never been in touch. Now also separated from husband/son's step dad but he's still his dad.

Ultimately went NC with mother Wink

Fault Totally agree with calling the police and asking to have him removed when he kicks off. It might well raise a safeguarding concern, but you're known to them anyway.

CP SW and disabilities SW are from different teams, so it's more likely that she is still involved just to keep an eye on things.

She might be saying those things to him to encourage him.

Have you asked her why she has told you that your DD only has one parent and its not you? It's not usual for them to speak to the primary carer like that. Their role is to support and encourage. If she really had those concerns, she's be escalating LA involvement.

Acadia · 23/10/2017 15:02

My mother used to use the same lines - "I see what no one else sees, I know the real you, everyone will find out you're evil, everyone will find you're damaged, I am all you have, you are nothing without me..."

Yeah, we don't speak. She was an abuser, not a mother.

Abusers can't lock you in a cage with a key. It's too noticeable. So they keep you locked up with their words and fear and threats.

Your daughter faces a future as a vulnerable adult - she needs to be away from him or she risks choosing a partner who is abusive too.

Speak to your social worker about fleeing to a refuge, so he cannot stop you.

NinonDeLenclos · 23/10/2017 17:26

I repeat that it would be a very good idea to tell your GP of the abuse. First because it will corroborate the police involvement (against your SW), secondly because it will help if you need to claim legal aid to divorce.

I'd tell the GP asap, but don't tell them you're considering divorcing yet or they may think it's a ploy to get legal aid.

Walkingdead11 · 23/10/2017 17:37

NARCISSIST PERSONALITY DISORDER, textbook case I'm afraid. Please get away from him as soon as you can!!

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