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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.

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CatLadyToddlerMother · 01/03/2018 21:14

Not sure when I'll get the inheritance. It is guaranteed but I'm not sure if I've been named in the actual will or my granddads just giving each of his grandchildren a gift from his inheritance.

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TempusEejit · 01/03/2018 22:23

Do you actually want to get divorced? If so then I'd petition against him as soon as possible then you can be the one to control all the timings (unless he disappears). Otherwise if he's the one who files for divorce then he can stall things until you get your inheritance or just to punish you etc. By the way don't underestimate the value of his pension - I only had mine for two years and paid into it minimally but its CETV value for the divorce was £7k. Obviously depends on the kind of pension but don't dismiss it as it's usually the second biggest asset after the family home (or likely the biggest asset in your case). Oh and btw I've just realised I've assumed you're in England or Wales, Scotland is different.

CatLadyToddlerMother · 01/03/2018 22:34

I'm in England don't worry TempusEejit. I'm undecided what I want to do about the marriage yet, I might be able to get it annulled anyway as we haven't been married long, not sure whether we might be past that point in terms of time together though.

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category12 · 01/03/2018 22:36

Oh if it hasn't been long, you might be in a better position to keep your inheritance. You need to get proper legal advice tho.

CatLadyToddlerMother · 02/03/2018 11:14

Ugh, so glad I haven't got the attitude H has. He smokes and I won't allow him to do it in the house, so he disappears for half an hour up to 4 times a day to go out to smoke - no thought to DD (if she's here that is), no mention of it to me, just goes Angry

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TempusEejit · 02/03/2018 11:34

I doubt you'd be able to get an annulment unless you haven't slept together at all since being married. You can get a divorce as long as you've been married for at least a year. In short marriages ("short" generally being less than 5 years) you usually get back what you put in when it comes to assets unless you're the child's primary carer in which case the child's welfare is paramount and you might get more. However, seamless cohabitation counts towards the "marriage" time, basically so that if after e.g 20 years living together a husband (or wife) can't just up and leave their spouse in the sh*t if they've only been actually married for two of those 20 years .

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 02/03/2018 11:45

One of the things you'll really enjoy about your new place is not having to think about him, what he thinks of you and his many unpleasant behaviours.

KOKO. There's a light at the end of the tunnel!

hellsbellsmelons · 02/03/2018 11:46

Well you know it's not you!
It's totally him.
SS are helping you and option 2 seems like absolutely the right choice for you and DD.
No way will he get 50:50.
He wouldn't want it anyway so ignore that threat.
All abusive assholes use this one.
Very very few follow through with it.
Get moved and get away from the abuse and you will find your life improves massively. For you and your DD.
Well done to taking the decision.

Jon66 · 02/03/2018 11:56

An inheritance would be considered family assets but take each day at a time and I think you'll find you end up with everything. Just don't be in too much of a hurry to file for divorce. Good luck

PeaPodPopper · 02/03/2018 12:04

if he goes after your inheritance, then you go after half his pension, Yes?

Just the threat of that might be enough to make him back off - if not, then do it.

I'm sorry he's put you in this position (he sounds awful), but you are doing the right thing for you and your little one. Stay strong and safe my lovely. Flowers

CatLadyToddlerMother · 02/03/2018 12:14

Been married under 2 years, lived together since 2015, so 3 years living together.

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Addy2 · 02/03/2018 12:44

If it's a gift from your living grandfather or of what he has inherited, rather than you being named in the will, could you ask him to not give you the gift until you are divorced? Sorry if I am misunderstanding the situation.

CatLadyToddlerMother · 02/03/2018 13:01

Addy no your not misunderstanding, I will have to talk to him about it, awkward as that is, I don't like discussing money with my granddad.

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PineappleExpress · 02/03/2018 13:47

In your situation, I think your inheritance is most likely safe.

cartwrightking.co.uk/news/entitled-to-half-my-wife-husband-inheritance/
(Not sure how to make it a clickable link, if this doesn't work automatically)

If your grandad wants to give you something, you don't have to mention it before he offers. If he knows you are separating/divorcing, he should realise not to mention it in front of your H, and if/when he offers, just ask then if he can keep hold of it for a bit longer.

It also sounds like you don't have much to worry about in terms of custody. I hope you and your DD get somewhere safe to go soon

MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 14:00

It's not you, in any way. It's him and we'll done for getting social services involved to help you get away from this awful man.

S0ph1a · 02/03/2018 14:43

Well done for listening to SS and applying for a transfer.

Please make sure you know exactly what kind of access your H should be having to your DD. It seems to me that you are being moved so that he WONT have unsupervised access. If this is the case then you CANNOT allow him to come into your new home to see DD.

I know many women who have lost their children ( taken into care permanently ) because they were not able to keep their child safe from their ex. When he turned up at their door , crying and apologising, they let him in because they felt sorry for him. They were sure that he really meant it.

Or he was drunk and they didn’t want him to wake the neighbours.

Or they though he would calm down if he got his own way.

Or they just KNEW that he was a reformed character and he promised to go into rehab / get clean / get medical treatment .

Or he threatened to kill himself.

Or they were lonely and really missed him because lurve.

Or because he had flower / wine and that PROVED he had changed.

Or because he was returning something of hers that she really really wanted.

Or he had a gift for the child and how could she be so heartless as to stop him giving his child a toy.

Etc etc etc

Within a few hours / days / weeks he was assaulting them / the child / their neighbours . And SS realised that the mother could not prioritise their child’s welfare over their man’s wishes and they lost their kids.

Please PLEASE don’t let this be you.

Find out what is allowed and do EXACTLY what SS tell you. Doesn’t matter how stupid and unreasonable you think they are. They hold all the cards here.

CatLadyToddlerMother · 02/03/2018 15:41

S0ph1a Don't worry my mum stayed with my dad and almost lost my brother and I, my relationship with my mum is recovering slowly now I no longer live with her and she finally left him when I told her she couldn't see her granddaughter if she stayed with him. I've not seen my dad in over 3 years since I moved out, DD will be 3 in June and has never met him.

OP posts:
CatLadyToddlerMother · 02/03/2018 15:41

Meant to say I don't want that for DD

OP posts:
CatLadyToddlerMother · 02/03/2018 15:42

*Don't want that life for my DD, being in fear of their next argument.

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