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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

There has been a terrible misunderstanding with DH, but do I really deserve to be treated like this?

164 replies

NotBurpeesAgain · 20/06/2018 07:32

In September last year I unexpectedly fell pregnant. I dreaded telling DH (he had always been adamant that 3 DCs were more than enough), but he was positive about it, saying that it would "at last bring some joy in this family".
I lost the baby in January, at 18 weeks. At the time, DH said a few horrible things that I try to forget (such as "how long do you think it is going to take for you to move on to something else?")

A couple of weeks later I told DH that I wanted to try for another baby, because I did not want our family story to end with a tiny coffin.
When we started having sex again, he did not use condoms a single time, so I though we were letting nature take its course and he wanted another child too. I got pregnant in late March.
In May, DH called me at work. He was incensed because he had been through my Amazon buying history and discovered I had bought pregnancy tests in February. He told me he never wanted another child, that I had tricked him.
He has not spoken to me since.
He refused to come to the scans.
I am not allowed to tell anyone, even my family, about the pregnancy.

I have been thinking a lot and I have recently realised that I cannot remember the last time he said something nice to me, smiled at me, or kissed me or even touched me except when he wanted sex.

I admit I should have talked to him more about having a fourth child, but can he really absolve himself from all responsibility in this pregnancy when he had sex without any form of birth control for several months?

OP posts:
ReanimatedSGB · 20/06/2018 08:02

Seek out your local domestic violence support organisation and get advice from them on how to throw this man out of your lives as far as possible. He's an abusive prick: don't waste time looking for the magic button that will turn him into a nice man.

DamsonGin · 20/06/2018 08:03

You need to do something pronto about your passwords and internet security then. And delete your browsing history and log out of MN each time you use it too. I'm sorry you have an arsehole husband, I tend to think the marriage vows have run their course if things are like this.

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 20/06/2018 08:04

He is breaking his marriage vows - no, smashing them into a thousand pieces - every day with his treatment of you. He is using your integrity as a further opportunity to treat you badly.

Where (roughly if you like) are you? Can you get some legal advice?

Theleftparing · 20/06/2018 08:05

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fontofnoknowledge · 20/06/2018 08:06

Are you in a country where women's rights for divorce/custody of children are swayed in favour of the father ? (ie Middle East) . Is there financial assistance for single mothers who cannot Work ? Refuges ?

It's all very well telling you to leave - which in UK is not as difficult as many other places , but you still need some practical assistance.

Are your parents around ? Helpful ? Do you have access to money. ?

If any of the above then go. No one gets to tell another adult to 'go upstairs!' .. or brings up a dirty bath TEN YEARS later. This is a big big sign of coercive control. It's not just abusive it's a crime here in the UK and many other countries around the world, for good reason.. it's wrong. Whatever part of the planet you live on, it's wrong. However how you deal with it is going to be different depending where you live.

It would help if you could give us an indication of where that is. Then others who know the system there can offer more tailored advice. Thanks

BarryTheKestrel · 20/06/2018 08:07

You need to get rid of him. This is no environment to be raising children in. He clearly doesn't think much of your marriage vows if he treats you like this, trying to fix this will get you nowhere. He is abusive and you need to get out before this escalates further.

FullMetalRabbit · 20/06/2018 08:08

Ending the marriage has been on the back of my mind for a very long time, but I take my marriage vows very seriously and I would like to make things work

Unfortunately he doesn't feel the same so you will never make it work - you need support. Start by telling people you are pregnant. Try and take your power back OP.

FullMetalRabbit · 20/06/2018 08:08

Theleftparing how is that helpful when the OP is asking for help?

NotBurpeesAgain · 20/06/2018 08:09

Sometimeitrains to be honest the relationship was not very good, but it had improved last year. I have posted on MN under different names for many years, and the advice has always been the same, but everytime I am stupid enough to believe things can change.

I think he might be getting his ducks in a row to end the relationship, but trying to get me to be the one who ends it, IYSWIM? For example, I have not been allowed to speak to his family on the phone for months and I know he is telling them lies about me (he speaks in his native language, but I have picked enough words to understand the gist). He is telling them I don't do anything around the house - he has to make his own food when he comes back from work after a long day at work to earn money for me to spend on useless tat for myself. I think he might have been badmouthing me to the neighbours too because they have been looking at me strangely for a couple of weeks.

OP posts:
Sometimeitrains · 20/06/2018 08:09

Sorry cross posts. What others have said he sounds abusive. Abuse is not always just the physical emotional abuse and control is equally damaging and it can sneak up on you so you dont even realise that is what happened. Seek help in the country you live in. Where are you?
Fyi I understand taking vows seriously but even the bible says a woman can leave a man under unatainable conditions and vows do not explicitly define better or worse as an ongoing abusive personality thpe as that isnt what you signed up for.

DevilsDoorbell · 20/06/2018 08:09

Trying to make your marriage work is only doable if the other person has the same view

Which country are you in, there may be someone who can advise where to get help.

DevilsDoorbell · 20/06/2018 08:12

You need to start talking to people. Sod his family, they will always take his side but why aren’t you talking to neighbours? Where’s your family? Do you have friends that you can talk to? How old are your other children.

If you’ve asked for advice before and it’s always been the same maybe you need to start taking notice.

DamsonGin · 20/06/2018 08:15

If you suspect he's getting his ducks in a row already then what are the primary risks to you and the children? Could he leave you high and dry? Could he take the children to his home country? What are your options?

NotBurpeesAgain · 20/06/2018 08:18

Materially ending the marriage is possible. I work part-time but I could easily go back full time and support 4 DCs. There is a little equity in the house.
I have no support network. My DM is flaky. My DF is 600 miles away, my siblings are on another continent.
I have no friends.

OP posts:
fontofnoknowledge · 20/06/2018 08:21

Where are YOUR family OP ? What do YOUR family think about him / the situation?

CaledonianQueen · 20/06/2018 08:21

You need to act fast! Do you live in your home country? Are you from the UK originally? It would help to know roughly where you are to know what support you are entitled to. If you are British can you contact your local embassy and tell them you fear your dh is about to kidnap your children and take them to his home country. Alternatively, can you contact a domestic violence charity to get you and your children out before he can take your children and run? Is he violent? Is it possible he might attack you and then leave with your children? If this is even a possibility then you need to start finding support today!

NotBurpeesAgain · 20/06/2018 08:25

We live in a "civilised" country (France), where my rights would be respected.
But if he takes the DCs to his home country to be left in the care of an aunt (or a new wife...), then I am screwed.
I am also worried he could poison the DC's minds against me (his father successfully did it to his half-brother)

OP posts:
fontofnoknowledge · 20/06/2018 08:25

Do you have no friends because he doesn't allow it ? Will you get the house if you divorce? Do you know ANYTHING about your legal rights where you are ?

What about your work. Do you have anyone there you can speak to in confidence?

You need legal advice for your particular circumstances. We don't know where you live so the only person who can find this out is you.

Google is your friend here. Have a quick look for free 'family law' advice in your country.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/06/2018 08:26

He is not interested in making this marriage work and trying to fix this at all is a waste of time and effort. Your energies would be better employed in planning a safe exit from this marriage.

What country are you in; even if you narrow it down to a continent that would be something.

What are the legal and women's support services like there in this country?. You need such practical assistance urgently because of the abuse you and in turn your children are seeing from your husband.

fontofnoknowledge · 20/06/2018 08:27

Do you or the children hold EU or UK passports ?

sandgrown · 20/06/2018 08:28

He sounds horrible.It does not sound like he will change. Can you start getting together copies of all relevant documents and financial information. I think you need some legal advice and to speak to a domestic violence helpline as this sounds like emotional abuseFlowers

Quartz2208 · 20/06/2018 08:30

OP are you the poster who was banned from swimming?

Anyway he does sound awful - first thing get hold of the birth certficates and passports

UpstartCrow · 20/06/2018 08:34

I think you need to get advice from Womens Aid.

Namethecat · 20/06/2018 08:35

You need to pick up the passports ,pack a bag with essentials and leave. If your not in your home country, go back to it. I do not know about other countries but if it is the UK then I'd like to think if you turned up here and went to a crisis centre ( woman's refuge, woman's aid, housing, or even social services ) they'd at least put you up in some emergency housing. If I were you I'd think that heaven after putting up with what you have.

NotBurpeesAgain · 20/06/2018 08:35

I have no friends because I have not been able to get out of the house on my own for 10 years. He works long hours, refuses to use a babysitter. A couple of years ago he stayed at home to look after the DCs on the days I went to work. He timed how long it took me to come back home.
When he calls me at work and he can hear I am in the staff room (I am a teacher), he makes a snarky comment and hangs up (and sulks for days), so I usually find an empty classroom and stay there. It is hard to make friends in those conditions.
What irks me is I am never allowed to know where he is working, on what days he will be working (so I cannot make any plans for weekends for example) or what time he will come home in the evening.

OP posts:
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