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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:
Shoxfordian · 20/06/2018 08:36

Yeah you need to think practically how you can leave him

NotBurpeesAgain · 20/06/2018 08:36

Quartz2208 yes, that was me. I have not been back to the swimming pool on my own since. Sad

OP posts:
Cawfee · 20/06/2018 08:36

You are in France so that’s good. It’s a normal country that doesn’t hate women. I would suggest you book and go see a solicitor ASAP to protect the children from being taken out of the country. Get that sorted as a priority and then you can sort out the relationship problems. You need to protect yourself and the kids. He’s obviously winding up his family so they help him flee back to them. Hide the passports and birth certificates in a safety deposit box. Get yourself to a solicitor ASAP. In the uk they have residency orders. You need similar. Repost this in the legal section of mumsnet. Start getting yourself sorted. Forget about trying to make it work and living in la la la land. When somebody refuses to eat the food you serve then it’s gone into bizarre territory. He’s trying to build up a picture of your unreasonable behaviour. You need to start writing everything down. Time to pull up your big girl pants. Print off all the previous mumsnet threads as a starting point to list his abusive/unreasonable behaviour. Tell your close family and any friends what is happening after your children are secure. You need to let authorities know he is a flight risk andnot to take kids (eg their schools only to release to you)

Cawfee · 20/06/2018 08:36

You really need out of this horrid marriage. Why are you even still with him?

LuMarie · 20/06/2018 08:37

If you are worried he will take the DCs out of the country to spite you, definitely definitely get some country specific legal advice on this one.

It's possible to block one parent from taking children out of the country without other parent's permission in many places. Custody agreements also have things like this written in.

If he's been abusive and controlling, which he clearly had for a long time, he will have instilled fear of what he might do into you. That's what abusers do to control you.

You do need specific advice with the rules of all countries involved taken into account.

Are there women aid style organisations where you live?

Possibly you have few friends and no support network because he has been controlling you for so long. If you free yourself from this, you can find a new support network, friends from work, other parents from school, other women in similar situations.

I'd rarely I'd ever say "leave him" without knowing the people, but from what you say any even the way you say it, it really does sound like it is abusing, controlling and has affected you. Plus the horrible behaviour re baby on the way. It also sounds like you would be quite happy to end the relationship, so long as you were confident your kids were safe.

I agree, talk to your midwife. She'll have knowledge of all sorts of support organisations, plus you need to be able to talk to someone in person who can support you. She also needs to know what you are going through to take care of you. It's safe to talk to her, please start there.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 20/06/2018 08:38

For the sake of your children you need to get out of this abusive marriage.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/06/2018 08:39

You have basically been controlled by him from the early days of your marriage. He targeted you really, I have no doubt about that whatsoever.

Are you in a union Burpees; you could possibly seek legal advice that way too.

CaMePlaitPas · 20/06/2018 08:39

Where in France do you live OP? I'm in Paris - you are not alone, you can get out of this situation. You can make an appointment with an "assistant sociale" (social worker) at your local mairie (town hall) to help you understand the legal aspect of separating from your partner in France. Do your kids have your surname too? If so France would not allow him to leave without a "sortie du territoire" which is a consent form signed by the parent who isn't travelling. I know that countries like Algeria are making it harder for fathers to take their kids away from their mothers in Europe. I wonder what nationality your OH is as I'm sure there are other countries who have a similar stances. You can get out of this situation - you are pregnant with three children, it's time to put yourself and them first.

DamsonGin · 20/06/2018 08:40

The second half of your thread title 'do I really deserve to be treated like this?' No, not any of this. This is not normal or a good marriage, but I think you know that.

BitOutOfPractice · 20/06/2018 08:41

I take my marriage vows very seriously

He doesn't though does he? He certainly doesn't love and honour you does he?

NotBurpeesAgain · 20/06/2018 08:42

I think I can stop him from taking the DCs out on the country on their French passports, but not if he gets them passports from his home country.

OP posts:
user1467719385 · 20/06/2018 08:45

Where in France are you? Do you know Message? It is a support group for anglophone parents. It is mostly based in Ile de France, but there are members elsewhere. There is a message boatd which could help you link up with women who've been through similar situations, and if you are in Ile de France some real-life support.

LuMarie · 20/06/2018 08:46

Oh France, me too. Send me a message if you like. Possibly we are close.

I am a real life english speaking human female friend.

I get the issue with cultures in home countries. My cousin (european) married a guy with issues as well as a different cultural background (north african country), he was increasingly controlling and kept her away from family, it did not end well.

That said he did not try to take the children out of the country, he actually showed no interest in them after it was over.

She is doing very well, children grown up, successful career, remarried now. She just needed to get away from him.

fontofnoknowledge · 20/06/2018 08:47

Fuck me OP he has done a real number on you. Are you scared of him. Is he violent. What happens if you don't do what you are told ?

I have a strong feeling your H is from a hugely misogynistic culture and believes he 'owns' you. He doesn't.
Is there anyone in school you could confide in ? Explain you are not really a 'stand offish person' (as they probably believe from you not sitting in the staff room) but a victim of horrible, sustained and oppressive domestic abuse.. you will be surprised how much other women will want to help.

LuMarie · 20/06/2018 08:48

I'm also in Paris and I agree completely with @CaMePlaitPas

AdaArdor · 20/06/2018 08:48

Oh my gosh OP this is so sad. From what you have said, he is extremely controlling and very contemptuous of you. This is no way to live, for you or your children. Forget your marriage vows, please; you have tried long enough. He certainly isn't thinking about them.

I don't know about anyone else, and I don't know about the rules, but I wonder if you should just get yourself and the kids to a refuge and take it from there. Pack a bag, leave when he's at work, get rid of your phone and SIM card so he can't trace you. You are pregnant, the stress of living like this will not be healthy for your little baby.

Please, he treats you horribly. You have done nothing wrong. He was like this before the pregnancy. Please just get yourself safe. He is an abuser and will not change.

Be safe, if you think he is key logging then don't write anything about leaving, just get out. Use safe browsers, call shelters from a pay phone and start a new life without him.

This is NOT love.

Bekabeech · 20/06/2018 08:54

Get legal advice - find a French family lawyer who is familiar with possible international abduction. There are things you can do, and I'm sure France is just as anxious as the UK not to see children transported overseas.
The British advice might help a bit and is in this leaflet might help.

MimpiDreams · 20/06/2018 08:55

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.

DO NOT DO THIS ^^ Or you risk losing your children. Running away to another country without consent of the other parent is international child abduction and it is taken very seriously. Don't do it.

Trooperslane2 · 20/06/2018 08:58

He's an absolute wanker.

Maybe he should have BEEN wanking instead of having sex with you and knowing full well how babies are made, having made 3 and lost 1 - I'm very sorry for your loss BTW, been there and got several t-shirts.

You are pregnant. He got you pregnant. 50/50 responsibility here.

Tell someone - family/friend and DEFINITELY tell your midwife how abusive and controlling he is being - they will get you extra support.

NotBurpeesAgain · 20/06/2018 08:59

I have to go to work soon (it is Baccalauréat at the moment). My DM will be looking after the DCs, so I will tell her about the pregnancy, and call my DF tonight. Even if it involves telling them about this poor baby's conception.
I will come back as soon as I can.
Thank you for your help and advice.

OP posts:
Deathraystare · 20/06/2018 09:02

He says I should have refused sex during my fertile window.

He sounds lovely (NOT!). And if you had refused him?? I see the onus is on you. He is obviously not mature enough to be responsible for his own actions.

Forumqueen · 20/06/2018 09:03

I’m sorry to have to say this I know your going through a lot and what’s done is done but why have another child with a man that treats you this way? He sounds awful!! You can’t hve been that surprised at how’s hes behaving now given he’s track record.

lifebegins50 · 20/06/2018 09:04

Please please get out of the situation, it will only get worse.i know how it feels to be afraid to act and you keep convincing yourself it is not so bad.

Stonewalling you for 6 weeks is awful, it impacts you more than you realise which is why you need to get out.
My dc are honestly much happier out of the abusive relationship, they see me more relaxed.If you have sons it is even more important to show them a different way of behaving.

AuldAlliance · 20/06/2018 09:04

OP you can go to a free permanence juridique where a lawyer will give you initial advice.
If you look here and put in your arrondissement, you can find your nearest one and go there asap.
I'm in France, although v far away from Paris, but if you want to chat you can message me. I'm currently going through a divorce, too, and have two kids born in France with dual nationality.

Frustratedfrenchie · 20/06/2018 09:06

I am also in France. If you need any help I will assist all I can. There is a fabulous facebook group called Mums Space France and there are 1000's of women on there who can offer help and advice. It is a brilliant support network, they will be best to advise what to do. They include lawyers, financial advisors and shoulders to cry on. Hugs xx