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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:
Allergictoironing · 20/06/2018 09:12

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.

But surely he has broken the marriage vows already - love, honour, care for, all that part of it. My DSis had the same view about marriage vows until someone suggested that she turned the view around & realised that her XH breaking his vows was the reason she wanted to end her marriage.

Gruffalina72 · 20/06/2018 09:13

I'm sorry you're going through this, I really hope you are able to find a way to safely leave, because this man is extremely abusive.

He's made it impossible for you to have friendships so you are isolated.
He turns everything back around onto you to make it your fault.
The endless put downs and insults to break you down so you'll believe you won't survive without him or can't expect better - so you end up grateful he "puts up with you" when it's actually you putting up with him.

I could go on. If you've posted before, it may have been suggested before, but it really sounds like you're struggling to understand the depth and extent of the abuse he has subjected you to. If you did, you would know why it doesn't matter how important your vows are to you - he will never change.

The freedomprogramme.co.uk can teach you that. It's emotionally challenging, but not difficult or heavy to follow. There is an online version of the course, and some short animated videos that explain some of the abusive tactics you've been coming up against.

Please take the advice on seeing a solicitor etc re the children and yourself, and be very careful not to warn him what you're doing. Men as abusive as he is do not react well to learning they're about to lose control. Men who have never previously been violent can and do become violent at that point.

Alternatively they may try head games to lure you back. Make sure you prepare yourself for how much more manipulative he is likely to become when he finds out, so that you can stand firm:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=d5NHBn5p9vY

legolimb · 20/06/2018 09:13

Some great advice on this thread OP. And local mnetters too!

I agree that you must get help with this. It's not going to get better.

Flowers
Trooperslane2 · 20/06/2018 09:14

Big hugs burpees

Pull in any network you can. You're brave - you know it's not right and you are stronger than you think. Cliché I know but if you read the threads on here from women who have got away from horrible situations you know it can be done.

It always seems impossible til it's done.

Think about how you would speak to one of your students about a relationship where they

  • weren't allowed any friends
  • isolated
  • controlled
  • spoken about in a different language

You'd have them in to see the pastoral care team immediately

Please think about doing that for yourself

x

Tambien · 20/06/2018 09:27

Please go and get some advice from a lawyer.
The things are done very differently in France compare to the U.K. so I think you need legal advice even more.
Please keep as much evidence as you can about his behaviour (date, time, photos, texts etc etc) He is mounting up a case against you, with people from outside the house being told of your ‘bad behaviour’ and he is likely to use that as evidence when it goes to court.

This man is abusive and controlling. Don’t out up with it!

SirVixofVixHall · 20/06/2018 09:30

Op this is so upsetting to read. He is treating you appallingly. He sounds like a giant man-baby. What sort of man refuses to talk to his pregnant wife for weeks ? Throw him out, your life will be so much better. No friends for TEN YEARS ? He is horrible.

Tambien · 20/06/2018 09:30

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.
FOM someone who has taken their vows very seriously and struggled for years to make things worse,
It takes two to make a marriage work. You could bring him the moon, if he doesn’t want to make the effort to make it work, it won’t.
And he is NOT going to make an effort for it to work. Because he is abusive and controlling. Making an effort isn’t part of his script.

Imchlibob · 20/06/2018 09:33

He has already broken the marriage vows with his behaviour. This is behaviour of hatred, misogyny and control, not love and partnership.

Get away from him, with the kids, before your new baby is born. Seek the protection of the courts to prevent them being kidnapped - it's not just about passports. I don't know anything about French law in this regard but if some kind of injunction is granted then he gets a criminal record if he goes against it.

hididdlyhoneighborino · 20/06/2018 09:37

I feel so sad for you, I really hope you can get away. I'm so sorry for the loss of your baby and how worried you must be about what he may do with your DCs. I wish you were in the UK so we knew more about how to help you.
The concern I have is that he will see this and you won't be able to get away because he'll act first Sad

Xmasbaby11 · 20/06/2018 09:40

You assumed he wanted another child and he assumed you didn't. Whatever happens you need to improve your communication between you.

Xmasbaby11 · 20/06/2018 09:42

Sorry, I hadn't seen the updates. He sounds awful - I hope you can find the strength to leave.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 20/06/2018 09:52

You are not alone anymore Lovely, keep on reaching out, free yourself.💐💐💐

Magicpaintbrush · 20/06/2018 10:18

This is the saddest post I have read for ages, I really feel for you OP.

Are you originally a UK National, would you consider coming back to the UK if so? I'm certain the father of your children cannot just hand them over to a relative in another country without your consent, that would be kidnap surely?

It sounds like you are a prisoner - in your life, marriage, everything. Your husband sounds like the worst kind of man imaginable - he treats you like you are something he owns, not somebody he loves. He is abusive, controlling and cold. I feel from reading your words that he has ground you down so much and made you so subservient to him that you have forgotten the person you really are, who you were before you met him. This man will only bring unhappiness and misery to your life. I cannot imagine spending my life with somebody so callous and disrespectful. That is not love. And the idea that he is bad mouthing you to anyone who will listen - appalling.

I realise you don't have a support network of family or friends, and I don't know what is available in France, but do they have anything similar to Women's Aid who could help you? As for friends, maybe without your DH domineering your every move that will change - you will find it easier to make friends at work etc It is definitely in your power to make friends if you can be rid of his controlling influence. There are lots of nice people out there who would love to be your friend I'm sure.

hididdlyhoneighborino · 20/06/2018 10:23

Are you originally a UK National, would you consider coming back to the UK if so? I'm certain the father of your children cannot just hand them over to a relative in another country without your consent, that would be kidnap surely?

There are lots of cases of UK children being taken overseas (often by the father but obviously not always) and parents being unable to get them back. I imagine it's similar in other countries. Some countries are almost impossible to get them back from.

Iflyaway · 20/06/2018 10:23

OP, I am glad you have posters living in France responding to you.

I am horrified of his treatment of you. You have basically been his prisoner - not left the house on my own - for 10 years.

This will also be incredibly damaging for your children, growing up thinking this is the norm.

Have a look at this website, it's about international child abduction. You may find some info about your husband's country pertaining to this. There's specialised lawyers on there and a forum.

www.reunite.org/

Wishing you every strength for the future.

Oh, and clear your internet history every time you log out.

DarlingNikita · 20/06/2018 10:24

This situation is insupportable.

Get on to whatever advice/support organisations you can find –French equivalent of Womens Aid, as suggested above, any kind of legal advice place.

Approach a colleague or colleagues who are kind. Ask for support. Keep it to asking for practical help if you find that easier than talking emotionally.

You cannot continue being treated like this. It's that simple.

Iflyaway · 20/06/2018 10:28

Oh, and check if his country is a signatory to The Hague Convention.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Convention_on_the_Civil_Aspects_of_International_Child_Abduction

holrosea · 20/06/2018 10:29

NotBurpeesAgain - I am also in Ile de France. As PP have said, you'd be surprised how much other women will want to help you.

Please don't hesitate to message should you need help/support/venting or even if there are things that we can find out for you (if he is monitoring your internet usage). Also, as a PP said, you need an appointment with your local Mairie in order to figure out your legal married/union situation and his ability (or not) to take the kids to his home country. Courage, we are all here to help.

Slightlyjaded · 20/06/2018 10:54

He is very very abusive.

Please take the advice of some of the MNers on here - especially the ones based in France. This is NO WAY TO LIVE and even though the very thought of it will be exhausting, you have to make a solid plan to leave, and leave safely, with your children.

LuluJakey1 · 20/06/2018 11:18

He sounds like a complete bastard- controlling, humiliating, belittling, destroying your self-esteem.
Leave and take your children. He is a terrible example to set them.
Do not have sex with this man. He is utterly disgusting in the way he treats you and it sounds as if you are still having sex with him.
Move as far away from him as you can- go home.

Out of interest- in his culture, wherever he is from- are women often controlled both by husbands and by their society?

Snowysky20009 · 20/06/2018 11:23

Lovely the only advice I can give is please pleases please take up o
Ff

StaplesCorner · 20/06/2018 11:24

So two things - (a) what should the OP do and (b) what CAN she do? What protection will French law give her?

Assuming you are a UK citizen originally, is there any chance you can bring the kids back to the UK for a "holiday" OP?

Snowysky20009 · 20/06/2018 11:25

Offers of help from MN's Flowersin France

Miladamermalada · 20/06/2018 11:34

This reply has been deleted

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KatharinaRosalie · 20/06/2018 11:45

There was no misunderstanding. Your husband is abusive and gaslighting you.
I know it's hard to see when you're currently in that relationship, but how your husband treats you is very, very far from normal.