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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

Relationship Crisis Point (sorry so long)

19 replies

Ginger2018 · 03/07/2018 12:02

I'm 9w pregnant. BF wanted children, I wasn't sure. I think he was deliberately careless to be honest. For most of my pregnancy I've been really ill with a virus, on top of a rare auto immune disorder I have, so I've been very unwell. He has been great, picking up the housework and being very caring. We've been together a year and were friends before that. He's a very prominent volunteer in the circles that I work in, and we have set up a lot of things together.

However, when he doesn't get his own way, he's throwing massive tantrums. When I said I wanted the baby to have both of our names, he said I should abort it, and he would have nothing to do with it unless it had his name only. I haven't mentioned it since. He has also been very critical of me at times. I work much longer hours than he does. He wakes up when I leave for work in the morning and usually works from bed til about 4pm. I get home between 6 and 7pm and then walk the dog and make the dinner. He complains that the house is a mess and I never do any housework. It's my house but its really small-not much more than a bedsit really, so he pretty much lives out of a bag and a few drawers and gives me £200 a month towards rent and bills, which is just under a quarter, and we split the big grocery shop. My electricity has gone up by £50 a month since he moved in. I earn slightly more than he does, mainly because my contract is for more than usual working hours, but he always comments about how I'm the main earner.

Recently he borrowed a new dyson off his mum as my vacuum is a bit broken. I had continued to use my old one til we got rid of it when we went away. When we came back, I asked him how to detach it as it's really weird and not like normal hoovers, and he laughed in my face for ages saying I must be the stupidest person in the world if I didn't know how to use a hoover, and it shows I never do any housework because we had had it for weeks (I had been using my old one). He brings this up to his family and our friends too and laughs at me, telling them I never clean and he has to do it all, and I didn't know how to use a hoover. Because I have only cooked a couple of times in the past few weeks whilst I've been ill, he's now saying I never cook, in front of people again. (for 9 months previous I had cooked every single day. Even if got back from work at 10pm he'd ask me what's for dinner as soon as I walk in). The other morning I was really struggling trying not to be sick and made some toast quickly for myself (had to sit down a few times during as faint) and he woke up and called me selfish for not making him some. He still keeps bringing that up now. After his mum found out I was pregnant and has been making a fuss over me and saying I need to take it easy, he has been a lot better. Even though he doesn't actually see his mum that often, and when we do go round he gets bored and goes off and does something in his old room leaving me to talk to his family. But he won't let us move closer to all my family because he 'won't leave his elderly, lonely and isolated mother'. His mum is younger than my parents and travels about all over the place, going on holidays almost every month. She's far from lonely, elderly or isolated, whereas my parents never leave their home town as they have animals and a few health problems. They're in their 70s now.

Yesterday I had a message to make a GP appointment about my blood test results. I was worried, and ill and tired and had to stay at work because he wanted to have a meeting I had to go to. He told me the wrong time for the meeting meaning I would have had to stay at work til 7pm, and I was already crying and had enough. I told him this and said I would walk home (ten mins away) , whereupon he screamed at me down the phone for ten minutes, snatched things I'd printed off for him and stormed off saying I had fucked him over and I had to stay in the house and think about what I'd done. I said I would go back into town to my office which had been the original venue. So having rearranged without discussing it with me, he then made everyone go back to the original meeting place. He then told me he didn't want me in the meeting (he's the chair and I'm the secretary) and that I had to stay downstairs. As I was in a state I just stayed downstairs whilst he used my office for the meeting and I could hear him laughing upstairs. Later on he told me that he was right to speak to me the way he did because I had fcked him over. Insisted he had never told me the wrong time, that I had embarrassed and humiliated myself and him in front of the others, that he had had to smooth it over and repair the damage I had done and make it okay for me. He said he thought he could rely on me and I had fked up and dropped the ball he had had to pick up my slack, but that if I would type up his minutes it would go some way to making it up to him. He said he was prepared to write off my behaviour as hormones, accused me of making things up and being crazy, and said he had to check what I had said to the others as he could trust me not to say or do anything crazy. He also told me to go to bed because he wanted some space and he was very busy cleaning up my mess. We had planned to go to a show at the weekend, but now he's going helping some random girl he was at school with and hasn't seen for years, being a steward at a charity event she's organised, and he's said I can get the bus to the show on my own and he'll join me later in the afternoon when he's finished. He says I'm a bad person because I'm trying to stop him doing something for charity.

This is the worst he has ever been and these instances have been few and far between, but I'm heart broken because I've been in abusive relationships in the past, and he knows my last relationship was awful and I won't put up with this. He refuses to see that his behaviour is wrong, and blames it all on me. The rest of the time we have a genuinely great relationship, but I no longer feel completely safe with him like I used to. I really don't think he'd be violent, but the verbal abuse when he gets in a bad mood I'm not prepared to tolerate. He speaks to me and treats me like a dog, and thinks he's entitled to do so. On the other hand I can't bear going through this pregnancy alone. I can't talk to anyone as nobody knows I'm pregnant or they are our mutual friends and I don't want to make things awkward.

I hate the way he speaks to me sometimes, and feel like he treats me like his mother. The way yesterday made me feel, frightens me, as I haven't felt this low in a long time. I suppose my options are to work through it (he said that he wants to stay in the relationship and make it work, but he wont change, I have to just learn not to make him angry). To have an abortion or to go through the pregnancy alone which makes me feel completely miserable. I could move back to be near my family, but I need to stay in my job if I want good maternity pay. I can't believe I'm in this situation, it just feels like a nightmare, but then again I could be over reacting. He hasn't spoken to me or looked at me since last night. I don't know what to say.

OP posts:
Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname · 03/07/2018 12:06

In your situation I would tell him I was having an abortion but instead move with family and keep the baby.
Block him and move on.
Imo all the' he has a right to know he has a dc-the dc has a right to know its df ' is bolllcks in your situation.

CassandraLamontaigne · 03/07/2018 12:10

I only read as far as the hoover though I was tempted to stop after the unfairly split bills and the tantrum about baby having both your names.

Dump him now. He's an abusive man. Get rid ASAP. This is the third thread I've read since yesterday about abusive men and pregnant women. I'm horrified and feel so sorry for you that you're in this situation.

Ltb

mydietstartsmonday · 03/07/2018 12:11

You know the answer, leave him or chuck him out.
Move to be nearer your parents.
If you want to keep the baby tell your family & friends.
He is not contributing to you or your life cut the tie.
Good luck

Snowysky20009 · 03/07/2018 12:21

OMG this was my second hard read of the day. The way he is treating you is so abusive. I believe things will only get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Get out now, for both your physical and mental health please!

I can't see a single thing that's positive about him in your post. You and your baby will be so much better off without him. You are going to end up spending your life walking on eggshells. Afraid if the baby cries it will make him in a bad mood. If the baby wants attention from him, he'll be too tired and it will be your fault. I can see already how it will pan out.

Please please please leave him before things get worse Flowers

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 03/07/2018 12:23

Whatever you decide to do, you need to tell your parents about his awful behaviour, because at the moment it is all a big secret which means you are vulnerable and at risk.

He is a classic abuser. Please DO NOT try to 'work through it', he will continue to manipulate you.

Please talk to your family. And leave. Whether you continue with the pregnancy or not is entirely up to you.

hellsbellsmelons · 03/07/2018 12:49

What a vile, abusive creature he is.
Did you get any support from a DV organisation after your last abusive relationship?
If not then please do contact Womens Aid.
And ensure you do their Freedom Programme fast!
In the mean-time, pack up his shit and leave it outside and tell him to go back to mummy.
You need some head space here to really consider your future.
If he kicks off then please call the police immediately.

Once he's gone, which should be the very 1st thing you do, you need to make a decision about your pregnancy.
Once you've decided on that, then you can plan accordingly.

But get him gone.
He is making this an awful time for you.
You would be far far far better without him there.

Please just re-read your original post.
Imagine this is a good friend telling you this.
You know what to do.
And you need to do it very very soon.

Talk to your parents and get them on board.
They will hopefully see this for what it is and help and support you in getting him gone from your life.

Ginger2018 · 03/07/2018 12:51

Thanks, I think I want to keep it regardless of what happens between us. I vented all the things that have upset me recently, but the flip side of that is that it is the best relationship I've ever had. That he is very loving, caring and attentive, but these occasional moments and yesterday are just red flags to me. I'm not going to be spoken to like a dog. He's quite a bit younger than me and he's only had one long term relationship before me and they never lived together so I thought he just needed a lot of growing up fast. But now I'm pregnant and hormonal I can't let the 'jokes' about him knowing more than me about everything go by. I've lived on my own for 12 years and he's only just moved from his mum's house and thinks he can tell me how to run a household. I'm not easy to be with because I know I have big moods and struggle to let things go, but I don't belittle him he crossed a line. I don't want it to get worse.

OP posts:
Mix56 · 03/07/2018 13:01

You know about the cycle of abuse. this is appalling to read.
He is humiliating you in your professional work place, then punishing (minutes)
He is not paying his share
He is enjoying ridiculing you to his family & friends
He is Gas lighting (meeting time)
He is an emotionally abusive Prick
Stop this now, have a termination if not too late, if not you will be tired to him for life.
Tell him to fuck off back to Mummy.

Snowysky20009 · 03/07/2018 13:09

OP these aren't 'jokes'. He's ridiculing you infront of people. He's making fun of you, belittling you. This isn't how a relationship is supposed to be.

A partner is there to support you, and stick up for you against others. A partner is by your side when it's you against the world.

Your partner is the one doing the above. This isn't right.

Gottokondo · 03/07/2018 13:29

He clearly doesn't respect you. Please leave him, it won't get better in the long run

Flightywoman · 03/07/2018 16:05

OP, i understand that in the context of a bad abusive previous relationship it might seem that because he's sometimes caring it's a good relationship, but it really really isn't.

I've had some shockers along the way, but none of them treated me as badly as your boyfriend treats you.

And while you say he knows it's not acceptable and you won't put up with it, in the kindest way possible, you are putting up with it.

Call your friends or family, go to B&Q and buy a new door lock, fit the new lock, bag his stuff and sling it out.

He's a cocklodging abusive cunt. You don't need that.

Teabay · 03/07/2018 20:18

Please leave him. You and your child will be miserable.

Alaaya · 03/07/2018 20:43

Oh god, honey, he sounds terrible. This is seriously abusive behaviour - gaslighting, verbal abuse, manipulation, isolating you from people. Get rid. If it's your flat, tell him to leave. If you don't feel safe doing that, just pack up and go home. Focus on you and your baby, and get rid of him. He won't get better. He will get worse. You deserve better.

JennyHolzersGhost · 03/07/2018 20:50

Jesus Christ get rid of him ASAP. And be firm about it - he will mess you around if you give him the slightest inch of room to do so.

I would seriously reconsider the pregnancy I’m afraid but if you really do want the baby then I think you would be mad to give him parental responsibility. It will tie you to him forever.

Gruffalina72 · 03/07/2018 20:54

Seeing you describe this deeply abusive relationship as the best relationship you've ever had is heartbreaking. Truly, truly heartbreaking.

he said that he wants to stay in the relationship and make it work, but he wont change, I have to just learn not to make him angry

This is the hallmark of abuse. You will never, ever be able to "not make him angry" because he will never stop changing the rules. He gets "angry" as a way to degrade you and keep you in line. He sees you as nothing. The anger is manufactured to frighten you into compliance.

In the nicest way possible, you've fallen into the common trap of women who've come out of abusive relationships: looking at the next man, comparing his most charming moments to the most vile abuse of the previous man, and concluding that because he's different he's not abusive.

Different abusive men use different tactics. The fact that this one hasn't yet used physical violence doesn't mean he's less abusive, it just means he's differently abusive and his current tactics are working.

You've noted his verbal abuse, but I'm wondering if you recognise that all his other actions that control you, isolate you, degrade you, humiliate you, gaslight you, confuse you, weaken you, etc are acts of abuse too?

The abuse isn't just the "anger" and outright nastiness, it's all the subtle and gradual acts in between.

Have you done the Freedom Programme? I really think you'd benefit from either doing it, or revisiting it. Especially the end part about future relationships.

Immediately though, please get yourself the hell away from this man. Being abused is not and never will be a good relationship.

lifebegins50 · 03/07/2018 20:55

This is NOT going to get better, get out now.

How far away are your parents?

HelenUrth · 03/07/2018 21:27

Oh my, I've read a lot of horror stories here but this is one of the worst I think. Run, run, run. He is horrendous and has told you he won't change. Believe him.

BunsOfAnarchy · 04/07/2018 00:01

Im so sorry OP but your post screams DV to me. Ive seen a friend go through something similar and it was horrific. The constant shaming you and gaslighting is scary...whilst your pregnant and vulnerable!
As another poster has said, you'll be tied to him for life....if you are already considering termination as a possible choice then id go for it. There are so many red flags that i feel like calling a helpline for you!
Imagine the battles this kind of disgusting being would put you through to get access to your child. Trust me he is the kind of awful human who would only make your life hellish if you broke up with him and carried still carried his child.
Please please at the least leave this imbecile and kick him out of your place.

Hidingtonothing · 04/07/2018 02:00

OP you really need to read the first post on this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/698029-Right-listen-up-everybody some really good stuff there about what good and bad relationships look and feel like. This paragraph is particularly relevant:

Just because you've escaped a level 10 bastard, doesn't mean you should settle for the level 8 one that comes along. The only acceptable level of abuse is none.

I hope you can find the strength to see this man for what he is and leave Flowers

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