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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

H says it's all my fault...

44 replies

CatLadyToddlerMother · 01/03/2018 15:22

...that our marriage is ending because I don't do enough housework, live the life of riley at his expense and I put too much pressure on him.

I accept I'm not totally blameless, I had bad PND after our child was born and didn't recover quickly. But I've had help, antidepressants, counselling, and I had someone from a local charity come in for awhile to help me with housework, routines and to keep on top of everything.

H says it's not enough. I don't do enough housework (I clean the bathroom once a week, clean the toilet every night before bed, I wipe the kitchen surfaces every day, wash up etc). I am a SAHP even though DD is at Nursery a couple of days as she has some extra needs and gets funding to go. I take her to all appointments, do all groups/playdates with her, do all the Nursery runs apart from in very bad weather because I drive but don't own a car so the manager of the Nursery who lives on the next street will pick DD up and take her in for me or drop her with me at the end of the day (she does this with all the children that live nearby whose parents don't drive/own a car). I know I'm not blameless though, I should of pulled myself together after my PND sooner.

We have Social Services involvement because of a number of issues. Mostly because when DD was 16 months old, H was admitted to hospital with an ongoing medical condition, the condition could be fixed but H refuses to have the operation to sort it.

The Social Worker has now said that as it's been nearly 18 months since his admission to hospital, H has had more than enough chance to sort his problem but he has allowed the doctors/nurses to forget him by not attending appointments which means he'll have to have all the tests/pre-op again which could take 12-18m. The condition itself poses an infection risk and DDs Nursery have expressed concern that the situation is ongoing and are asking questions of what risk of infection DD and her friends at Nursery are.

Also during an assessment the SW noted that H doesn't prevent unnecessary accidents for DD. For example he will leave plates/bowls on his desk in the living room which is the main room that I/DD spend the day in. These will have forks and sometimes knives on which could pose a risk to DD. SW has said it is not my fault, and it is ok for me to say "it's his space so his responsibility". But H doesn't see it, says it's my problem or it's not a risk as DD can't climb. He also refuses to accept medical advice for DD, which included him speaking to his workplace and changing his hours - not cutting down, just changing them so she has a day a week with her as she hardly sees him due to his hours - SW said there was no good reason to ignore the advice, and she was happy to attend a meeting with his line manager to discuss it, H refused to even ask his line manager.

So the SW has said I have 3 choices. 1) I can kick H out, 2) I can be rehoused with DD or 3) I can stay with him but DD be placed in temporary foster care which could be up to 30 miles away which as I don't own a car would be hard to get to.

I've chosen option 2. We need to move due to DDs physical difficulties anyway.

H is blaming me, saying it's my fault as I'm lazy, he claims I never clean the bathroom (I do as said above!), says I never take our DD to Nursery because she's been picked up twice in the last week and dropped off twice as well (SW has said this is fine as the Nursery is known to SS, rated outstanding and there cars are insured for transporting children to and from various locations around the town we live in) and he says I can forget "living off him" when I leave, he says I'll have to "get a job and stop living like a princess" - I spend my days that DD is in Nursery sending emails and making phonecalls about her to various people, and spend my days with her at groups, playdates, soft play or just out at appointments. He says he's going to go for at least 50/50 contact even though the SW has explained to him multiple times that he will only be allowed fortnightly supervised visits until he can prove that he's not a risk to DD anymore. H claims he's going to divorce me and get 50% of an inheritance I'm due to get (my great aunt died last year) and that will mean he can get more contact with DD, does anybody know if he can take the money? It's not enough to buy a house so was going to buy myself a car with it as the money is enough to buy a cheap run around, pay tax for a few years and MOT it but if he takes half I can't do that.

And I'm terrified of moving, have no idea what to tell DD about why daddy isn't with us.

I know I'm not blameless in all this, I let strangers into our house to help us (although said volunteer from the charity is now a close friend and continues to offer us support from afar i.e. I can message her on Facebook and we can talk if it helps me feel better). I'm worried I won't cope, SW is sure I will.

OP posts:
Lillygolightly · 01/03/2018 15:31

Forget him and his threats, they are empty threats. If he can’t even be bother to move knives and plates for his own DD’s safety what makes you think he would bother to to court for 50/50 custody or indeed your inheritance? He won’t, he makes these threats to keep you in fear and under his control.

Put yourself and your DD first and do exactly as SS request and move yourself and your DD. Take all the help SS offer and let him see his DD fortnightly in a contact centre, get yourself some distance so that the fog of his emotional abuse of you can finally lift.

Lillygolightly · 01/03/2018 15:36

Also there is no court in the land that would grant him 50% shared care based on what you say SS have already documented about him and the fact that he has an ongoing medical condition he refused treatment for that poses an infection risk to your DD.

Hissy · 01/03/2018 15:38

Get legal advice, tell the ss what he’s threatening re the inheritance and the contact

HE is the factor that ss want to protect you and your child from, all 3 options involved getting dd away from him, or they would do it for you.

So it’s not your fault at all.

Take all the help you can get. RUN, don’t walk, get him out of your lives and make sure the inheritance is tied up safe for your dd so he can’t get it.

TellsEveryoneRealFacts · 01/03/2018 15:42

Who cares what he says - he sounds like an entitled prick.

AthenasOwl · 01/03/2018 15:50

He sound utterly horrible ..he can't even put away his own dishes including knives? I mean that's just bloody common sense to move dangerous things away from children! Kick him out ..put your child first

SandyY2K · 01/03/2018 15:51

This sounds like it's pretty much all his fault tbh.

  • He won't ensure DDs safety.
  • He didn't keep up with his hospital appointments
  • He was observed by an independent person and deemed unfit to look after her unsupervised
  • He refuses to speak to his line manager regarding changing his hours...so he can see DD...do you really think this is a man to attempt 50/50?

He's trying to threaten and make you stay.

Option 2 sounds great to me.

gettingthereshopefully · 01/03/2018 15:55

Any person who puts all the blame on the other person for a failed relationship is not to be taken seriously. It takes two people to make a mariage work; sadly it takes one to mess it up completely. By blaming you for everything he is giving himself an excuse to walk away without questioning his responsibility whatsoever.

It's shameful and sadly very common. My husband did exactly the same thing.

Zaphodsotherhead · 01/03/2018 16:00

The SW is telling you, very clearly, that it is ALL HIM. All of it. What did he say to being told that the SW said he should be able to put away his own plates/knives etc? Somehow it's your 'job'?

He can blame you all he likes. You don't have to accept that blame.

AuntFidgetWonkhamStrongNajork · 01/03/2018 16:07

He can blame you. However the SW blames him. And is so appalled by him that she's willing to spend her limited budget in moving you and DD away from him. Which opinion is going to carry more weight in court?

CatLadyToddlerMother · 01/03/2018 16:09

SS aren't rehousing us so budget isn't being spent. I'm in a Housing Association flat so the SW is working with the housing officer to find us somewhere suitable near where we are now as my family live in this town and most of my friends are also here.

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 01/03/2018 16:12

If he won't even speak to his supervisor about seeing his DD more on one day per week how the Hell is he going to manage 50/50 contact.

CatLadyToddlerMother · 01/03/2018 16:13

Olivers I assume what he means is he'll technically have contact with DD, but she'll spend the day with his mum/aunt/elderly grandparents while he works.

OP posts:
OnlyAbigail · 01/03/2018 16:29

He sounds extremely abusive. It's not surprising that you found it hard to recover from PND....

It's common for an emotionally abusive/narcisistic person to blame everyone else for things. Just take no notice and feel confident that you are not to blame!

Oliversmumsarmy · 01/03/2018 16:30

So palmed off on someone else

WorkingBling · 01/03/2018 16:41

Oh CatLady, he's really trying to do a number on you. As PP have said, SS clearly consider him to be the problem and are doing everything they can to get you, and DD, away from him. The fact that they're talking about taking DD into care if you don't leave him is a very very clear indicator that they consider him dangerous and they are not willing to let DD remain with him.

What this means is that he can bluster all he likes about 50/50 care but at the end of the day, he doesn't stand a chance. He's a health risk, a safety risk and has demonstrated zero willingness to actually spend time with him. I have posted this before but a friend had a situation where her ex used 50/50 care to threaten her, told her he was taking the kids away blah blah blah and the court basically laughed at him when he tried telling him that he might want to actually DO the fortnightly visitation previously agreed before they'd consider more.

The money is more complicated and I have no idea how that would work. As the primary carer for DD I would expect you would be given additional financial support and he would have to pay you CSA but I don't know if inheritances are considered family assets. I would discuss that with a solicitor if you can. Possibly the CAB could offer advice too?

Doublemint · 01/03/2018 16:44

He is blaming you for really stuff that is above and beyond if you have PND.

It sounds like you've done everything you can to get yourself sorted and provide for DD and he is seriously lacking.

Tell your SW about his threats and share any evidence you have of them (if any).

I doubt he would get 50/50 access.

He sounds like an emotionally abusive prick. You and DD will be just fine without him.

I'm sorry to pry and you don't have to answer but what medical condition does he have that may pose an infection risk to DD and her nursery friends?!

The fact he won't seek medical help here would be a total deal breaker for me. It's abuse by lack of action. He's putting her health at risk knowingly and that's unforgivable in my books.

SnowCats · 01/03/2018 16:49

He sounds a useless twat. No way will he get 50/50 if SW has safeguarding cncerns. You are better off without him.

Lemonyknickers · 01/03/2018 16:53

What Hissy said. All options offered to you by SW involve getting HIM away from your DC. He won't get 50/50, possible fortnightly supervised at most.

expatinscotland · 01/03/2018 16:58

He's abusive. Option 2 all the way. He will not get 50%. It's a script abusers use.

category12 · 01/03/2018 17:01

He hasn't a hope of 50/50 if he's a safeguarding risk. And he wouldn't be able to have his relatives take her instead. He'll say anything. Just listen to the social worker.

TempusEejit · 01/03/2018 17:05

If you get your inheritance before you divorce then he wouldn't necessarily get 50% of it to spend on whatever but it would be taken into account when all your financials are worked out. Inheritances only tend to get ringfenced when there are enough other assets in the marital pot to cover both your needs. Obviously your need as primary carer will be higher though.

CatLadyToddlerMother · 01/03/2018 17:20

Tempus We have no assets, no house as it's HA rented, no car. I'm happy to leave his pension alone (he's only been paying into it a few years so not worth much anyway), and I'm happy to work maintenance out privately so he can still live/rent somewhere, but I need that inheritance to help improve DDs life.

OP posts:
ChickenMom · 01/03/2018 18:23

If SS are involved and they are rehousing you due to concerns then there is zero chance of him getting any custody.

OnTheRise · 01/03/2018 18:49

He sounds like a nightmare, OP. You'd be far better off without him and his bowls of cutlery.

TempusEejit · 01/03/2018 19:52

@CatLadyToddlerMother how soon are you likely to receive the inheritance and is it a definite thing?