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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

Abusive partner....please help

580 replies

linziluv123 · 14/01/2018 11:51

Hi, I really need some advice. My partner is abusing me and has done for 10 years. I’m finally at the point where I can’t go on anymore.
He’s simply horrible to me everyday, says unkind things to me in front of the kids all the time. He blames me for everything that goes wrong. A recent example is Friday, he wanted to put a bid on something on eBay, I asked him his maximum bid. I entered his maximum bid seconds before the end. He didn’t win it so went absolutely mental at me calling me all sorts of nasty things. Basically he didn’t understand how ebay works. Kept telling me the item was worth X amount. He told my 6 year old I’m a druggy too during his rant. (I smoke maybe half a spliff in the garden of an evening, don’t touch anything else, alcohol included. I have give up completely now though so he can’t use it against against me). He said he was leaving but never did. Just sat there with bags packed and coat on sniping at me all night.
I could give you examples of this of about 3-4 times a week from him.
He threatens to leave me and live with his mum, but says he’s taking my 6yo daughter, splitting her up from her 9yo autistic brother (both his children). He’s done it before so I know it’s not just talk.
I’ve had police and SS involvement over the years but it’s only ever me expected to jump through hoops, never him. He’s been allowed to act in this way all his life just cuz he’s bigger and louder than most people.
My mental health has been shocking for 10 years with multiple admissions and medication regimes. My dad hated him but sadly died in August. Around the time he died I just got shouted at and made to feel like shit then too. He even brings it up now saying my dad would be ashamed of me. It hurts so much.
I work full time, he hasn’t worked in 15 years. He’s “disabled” you see. When I finish work I literally have to do everything in the house. He sits at home either sleeping or gaming all day whilst I’m at work. At weekends he has to lie in until 11 and I have to constantly try and keep the kids quiet else he gets up shouting at us all.
I wanted to visit a friend who really needed me yesterday but he wouldn’t allow it. He went to his mates interest.
He’s been violent before but hasn’t been for a while. I admit that I did something bad last year, think financial infidelity. No excuses but my mental health was exceptionally poor and I made some shocking decisions. On the front of it he forgave me but realistically he absolutely loves having yet another stick to beat me with.
I make it easy for him to be awful to me really by doing stupid things but I honestly feel he sets me up for failure. I’m desperate to go to uni and complete my Nurse training but he won’t allow it as we would lose £5000 a year. I’ve suggested he got a job but he won’t.
People think he’s a great hands on Dad but they don’t hear the way he shouts at them. Tells them to shut up then shouts at them for repeating it! He makes it clear he prefers our daughter and I know this is because my son will only ever try and stick up for me. He blames me for my son being autistic, says it’s because of my mental health. I honestly don’t think I’d have mental health problems if it wasn’t for him!
He knows I’m terrible with the finances, yet won’t take over them, he’d rather let me fuck them up so he can shout at me more.
I dread finishing work everyday. I never know if he’s going to have a go at me. He demands to drive a fast boy racer type car despite having no job, but I’m responsible for paying for it, so it’s my fault when things start to go wrong with the car.
He threatens to tell his mum what I did last year and that keeps me “in check” I really would be mortified if she found out as I’m so ashamed. He doesn’t even show remorse or apologise anymore. There are literally no redeeming features anymore. It’s my fault by default every time.
So why don’t I leave? I’m terrified. He will try and ruin my life. The flat is in my name only so could kick him out but he will take everything his mum has bought, which is more or less everything. He’d leave me without a sofa or bed, even said he’d rip up the carpets. He’d make going to Work a nightmare. I rely on him to take the kids to school and pick them up. I had 6 months off sick last year so don’t want to take the piss at work.
I’m scared as I’ve no real evidence of the abuse. It’s all emotional although there will be past reports about it as SS banned him from seeing our children for 3 months back in 2012. He convinced me and SS that he’d changed, I really believed he had. I think I’m ashamed to ask for help this time as I chose to go back to him. I’m just so afraid of the alternative.
I’m sorry this is so long, I really could go on forever about how he treats me but you get the gist.
Please can anybody advise on what to do. I’m scared he will get full custody as he is technically their main carer as I work. I can’t have my children brought up by him and my son would hate to be away from me. I feel so trapped.

OP posts:
Meandmy4 · 12/02/2018 22:51

Sorry its late but hope you are all ok LINZ xx

linziluv123 · 13/02/2018 06:27

Hey we are ok, a few wobbles from all of us but we will get there!
Social worker has said his mum can collect the kids, take them to hers for contact with Dad, she's happy for her of my Mum to supervise contact a couple of times a week. They went last night and all was fine, they came back much more settled. Social worker will be ringing him today so will see if he can remain as amicable!

OP posts:
StillMissV · 13/02/2018 06:36

Glad things are going ok, and well done you for leaving!
Just to say that in my line of work I've seen this pattern before. Be wary of how "perfect" he's being, often this is a way of keeping social services and you sweet so that when they pull out you are in a false sense of security. Keep your armour on.

You are doing AMAZINGLY.

Dragongirl10 · 13/02/2018 08:05

So very glad to hear you nand Dcs are fine LINZI, but as STILLMISSV said keep your guard up!

Enjoy the peace and quiet in your home!

GiveMePrivacy · 13/02/2018 08:38

Well done Linzi. As @StillMissV said so well, keep your armour on. You will have love again, if you want it, but it can't be from him. So brilliant that your kids have seen their mum take this step to build a better life.
Have you got things sorted for after school childcare etc? Presumably you'll be back to work soon, if not already, and I guess there are going to be various practicalities to take care of. Bit boring, but even heroes have to work Grin

Well done, you star.

GiveMePrivacy · 13/02/2018 08:42

Ps if you haven't already, read Right, listen up everybody!

linziluv123 · 13/02/2018 15:52

Nope I've no desire to be in a relationship with him or anybody else for that matter! I'm just glad things are going smoothly for now. Kids grandad collected kids from school today so they're seeing their dad today, home at 6:30 in time for cubs. I just don't know what to do with myself 😩. I'm more tearful today....I feel like it's all hitting me. Went for coffee with friend this morning which was nice.
Gonna go back to work for a bit tomoz....Work will let me reduce my hours as and when I need it, they know I don't take the piss and will stay longer on days the kids are with Dad or my mum etc. Once I know better what's happening with ex and contact I can work my hours around that.

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 13/02/2018 15:59

Again, well done, and again please don't worry about all the feelings coming bubbling to the surface, you have been in survival mode for years and there is a fall out from that...

Can you get on a counselling list through your Dr? It would be good to work through your feelings with someone trained.

In the meantime the best you can do is to be extremely kind to yourself, when sad or tearful take a long bath/snuggle under the duvet with a good book, listen to meditation Cds to relax you, or do yoga at home in front of the TV.
Only try and deal with whats happening that day, don't try and take on too much else just yet. Plenty of time to do some forward planning later.

It will only keep getting better now.....

RandomMess · 13/02/2018 16:15

Just take it one day at a time Thanks

Spookle · 14/02/2018 08:01

Well done Linzi. I'm glad you are all back at home and that DC seem more settled. As others have said be wary and keep your guard up Flowers

Dragongirl10 · 14/02/2018 10:56

Hi LINZI, hope you are doing well and Dcs are happy

linziluv123 · 14/02/2018 18:40

Hey I've felt horrendous today, so up and down. About 30 mins after I last post the social worker text me saying not to allow contact until she'd spoke to her supervisor! Bloody 36 hours after telling me I could allow it. Today she decided she wanted to talk to his mum as she'd be supervising contact. I get the impression she was not seeing what he did wrong at all. Social worker then rings me saying she didn't think she was an appropriate person to supervise 😩 changed her mind again and said when she dropped the kids at mine his mum should ring her just so she could guarantee he wasn't in the same room. All is now ok, kids can happily go off with Dad as long as nanna is present for now.
She still hasn't spoke to Dad yet and I hear he's getting rather impatient!
Had a good chat with his mum, she definitely gets it now and does agree something had to happen.
This is all so exhausting 😩

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 14/02/2018 21:27

Well at least thats sorted, and you must be so glad that you have spoken to his mum and she is still there for you and Dcs......

All these things will soon become settled one by one and you will find it easier..

All the SW wants is to ensure your Dcs are safe even if they are faffing a bit, they are there to help so keep her on side.

Do you feel a sense of relief it is over and you are safe at home?

TheMamaYo · 15/02/2018 14:37

How are you coping Linzi? Are the kids and MIL ok? How did she take it?

linziluv123 · 16/02/2018 09:11

Hi, sorry for late reply I'm struggling to fit mnetting in at the moment 😩 slowly but surely getting a routine going!
His mum is well and truly on board now she knows the actual situation and not his made up one!
SW has arranged to meet Dad on Wednesday to start the assessment so will see how he gets on from that.
I'm a lot less anxious, yesterday was a good day all in all. My daughter is struggling a lot. Says she hates me all the time. I know she doesn't mean it but it still hurts! My son seems to be getting in ok though.

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 16/02/2018 16:16

Hey LINZI...please don't apologies we all just want to know you are safe that's all.. of course you have a lot going!

My heart lifts to hear your anxiety has lessened that is wonderful news!

Your DD will take a long time to adjust, don't forget she has had years of taking on her Fathers twisted messages and now has to re adjust, not least to accepting who he really is...it's bound to be rocky for some time...BUT you have stopped the cycle of abuse, that is HUGE

With time, love and counselling she will learn to be happy going forward, and most importantly understand that no one ever has the right to abuse her in any way. You have been a fantastic role model even if she cannot see it just yet.

I an relieved he has gone quietly but you must never trust him.

Cheers for you Op!

linziluv123 · 16/02/2018 16:37

Oh no I'll never trust him but I would like to be able to get to a point where we can be in a room together and be civil!
It's so nice to walk back into my flat and it's as clean as when I left it! Love my bedroom not smelling like men too 😂

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 16/02/2018 21:59

No wonder your MH is improving op, nothing nicer than a bedroom to oneself!

FinallyFree123456789 · 17/02/2018 00:09

So glad you’re feeling better :-)

I’m happy things went as well as they could have for you and the children ... in time everything will come together for all of you. Maybe you could organise some counselling for your DD - some schools have a councillor on site - obviously not rushing you; one thing at a time :-) xx

Beelzebop · 19/02/2018 12:23
Flowers
Tattybogle89 · 24/02/2018 05:45

Hi op how’s things going?

linziluv123 · 24/02/2018 07:29

Hey things are ok, calm as can be! He's still being on his best behaviour although he met with the SW who doesn't think he gets exactly why we are here....he has some understanding and accepts responsibility for that but in other areas he just does not see how or why it's wrong. She wants him to do a perpetrator course which he's agreed to.
He's unblocked now under strict conditions that he's so far followed. We have no intention, or need to see each other while things are all so raw.
Kids seem pretty happy with things, I've so far took them to Chester zoo and doing a theme park today....all random trips out that wouldn't have happened before.
I'd envisaged so many different scenarios but him being reasonable absolutely was not one of them it's really thrown me. Not that I want to go back to him, I really don't it just makes me feel a little more sad 😩

OP posts:
Meandmy4 · 24/02/2018 08:18

Hi linz x so proud of you 😍What a trojan ! You are doing so well ! Your dd will be fine it stings like mad when they say these things but she doesnt mean it i !xx Flowers

TheMamaYo · 24/02/2018 08:32

So glad to hear all is calm! The children will soon realise how beneficial it is for all of you to do it in this way. You've done it Linzi. Be so proud of yourself!

Beelzebop · 24/02/2018 08:46

Brilliant news Linzi, don't let him fool you with his reasonableness!

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