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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

Talk sense to me. This is not ok, is it? How bad is it?

68 replies

Jonsey79 · 07/07/2018 14:15

I almost wish I had a referee overseoverseeing my relationship because once again dh and I have had a blazing row and now he's acting like nothing happened.

This sort of thing happens often but today was especially bad. I'm doubting myself now though. Please tell me, do I sound as unreasonable as he tells me I am? I'm starting to wonder if it's me.

I went into the garage to put a wash on (I do all the laundry and most of the housework). I couldn't get to the washing machine though because he'd dumped the spare car seat in front of it. It's normally in his car but is out at the moment and had been in front of his work bench which no one is allowed to put anything on or obstruct. It's the 4th time this week he's blocked the washing machine by piling stuff against the door because it's been left in the way of his workbench (which he never uses).

After moving it I went inside and said could he please not block the washing machine. I use it daily and it's really annoying. I was visibly irritated but not shouting and I was speaking politely and normally. He shouted. He said I was rude and aggressive and shouldn't have dumped the seat in front of his work bench. I said that the seat belonged in his car anyway and he said that I had no right to say what he should keep in his car, how dare I, etc. I walked away. He texted me some more insults (I was rude, aggressive and unbearable).

Half an hour later our 4yo fell over and cut her knee. She was very upset. As I was sorting her out our 2yo tried to cuddle her but she kicked hee leg out and he wobbled and fell. He wasn't hurt but crying from the shock. Dh was in the next room working out. Both dc sobbing on me at this point, one with a cut knee in need of a plaster. I called out that I needed some help. He didn't come (he was 6m away and could see us).

When the dc were calm and sorted I popped my head around the door and said "thanks for your help there". Yes i was a bit sarcastic. He went mental.

He shouted that he'd called out to ask if I needed help but I didn't answer (couldn't hear him I suppose over 2 crying dc on my lap). He said I'm unbearable, a sanctimonious , he threw a weight on the floor, he went on and on. I didn't reply. The dc were right there. All I kept saying as calmly as I could was "not in front of them, please, not in front of them". He didn't stop. I went to lead them both away just as he stormed out of the room. 4 yo tried to ask him a question and he slammed the door in her face. She burst into tears and ran to me for cuddles.

After a few mins I went in (kids busily occupied in a different room) and calmly told him that we weren't working, we were unhappy and I wanted a divorce. He didn't respond to that part - just began ranting again about how he does everything I want and I'm never happy, I'm unbearable, I'm impossible, etc. I walked away again.

Later on I was having lunch with the dc and he came in. He acted totally normally to them, chatting away as if nothing had happened. He blanked me.

After lunch our 2yo was unsettled. Dh decided he wanted to play outside but I knew he needed a nap. I said "come on, it's nap time" as dh put his shoes on. Dh said to himself "he's going in the garden you stupid fucking idiot" as he put shoes on dc.

I picked up dc and took him off for his nap. I'm in his room with him now and he's fast asleep.

I've already been to see a solicitor. I know what I need to do. But please tell me honestly whether I'm in any way overreacting. I am so upset and angry.

He's behaved like this towards me many times, but not in front of the children.

OP posts:
petrolpump28 · 07/07/2018 16:26

Talk to him in front of your parents.

Why would you do this?

Get a baby sitter and tell him whats what. See a counsellor.

Jonsey79 · 07/07/2018 16:35

Sorry, I should've said - I did tell him that I thought dc needed a nap, but ge blanked me. That's why I then asked dc directly if he was feeling tired and wanted to have a sleep.

OP posts:
GirlInTheDirtyShirt · 07/07/2018 16:43

I agree with PP. He’s vile. Tell your parents so they can support you, it’ll also make it all a bit more “real”. Then divorce the twat. No child should grow up around this sort of bullshit. What is your son going to learn about how men should treat women with the behaviour his father is modelling at home?

IwantedtobeEmmaPeel · 07/07/2018 17:34

Perhaps he could move out into the garage and sleep on his previous workbench.

IwantedtobeEmmaPeel · 07/07/2018 17:35

precious, that should have read

Gruffalina72 · 07/07/2018 17:46

Everything trackrBird said.

The more you post about this the more undeniable it becomes that this is abuse. Abuse commonly escalates during pregnancy, because they view you as completely trapped.

And yes, suggesting he's only abusing her because she was less than perfect and "made" him "lose" his temper is being an abuse apologist. He would do this however perfectly she tried to handle things, as demonstrated by OP's updates and clarifications on how this played out.

The whole point of abuse is that you cannot win. Ever. No matter how hard you try. Your need to continually try and persuade us that you share the blame and are difficult to live with etc shows how bad this has been for how long. You only irritate him because you are not acting as his silent and obedient slave.

What would somebody have to do to you to make you behave the way he does? What could your 4 year old do that would make you feel justified to slam the door in their face and ignore their distress afterwards? Or does the thought of behaving like that yourself horrify you?

loveyoutothemoon · 07/07/2018 18:33

He does sound like a knob but am I the only one thinking this...if my DH was in the middle of workout I think I'd just deal with the kids myself, as it sounded quite minor.

The way he reacted was wrong and way over the top. Sounds like the way you both communicate has ruined things, totally.

IwantedtobeEmmaPeel · 07/07/2018 19:55

If my DH heard both our kids crying at the same time & only feet away from him knowing I was on my own he would/has come to see what was wrong & would deal with one of them while I dealt with the other. If either of us was on our own then yes we dealt with them on our own, but neither of us would ignore our crying children when they were a matter of feet away.

stressedoutpa · 07/07/2018 20:08

What a horrible way to live. It's unsustainable. Agree with everyone else in saying you need to leave him.

See your solicitor this week then tell him. Don't discuss it. Just tell him you have had enough and need to move on.

ChristmasFluff · 07/07/2018 20:14

Lovely, really think twice about the email. What are you hoping to achieve? He will be just as angry, he won't change as a result of it, but he will know what you are planning, and he will hide his assets. I speak as someone who let my husband hide his assets because I felt bad for asking for a divorce as he was a good bloke.

Let the solicitor deal and end this ASAP

ChristmasFluff · 07/07/2018 20:17

As an aside, does anyone know of a decent parent who wouldn't come to see why both their small children were crying, even if the other parent was with them????

LaMainDeFatima · 07/07/2018 20:20

Now that a few hours have passed, has he apologised to you or tried to male amends?

He sounds nasty and stressed especially towards the kids .

Would he consider counselling as a last ditch ?

gingergenius · 07/07/2018 20:27

You could be me. Something similar happened yesterday and I have struggled to understand what happened. Even if you were a. It snappy, his response was disproportionate and unreasonable. LTB

Flisspaps · 07/07/2018 20:28

@LaMainDeFatima counselling isn't recommended for couples where one is abusive.

OP's partner knows exactly what he is doing. Abusive men are frighteningly similar in how they operate.

Oddcat · 07/07/2018 20:37

He slammed a door in your child's face Angry ? I wouldn't bother trying to work out whether you've been unreasonable or not it's not worth the effort. The marriage is over .

PoppyField · 07/07/2018 21:21

He is vile. He is abusive and starting to be blatant in front of your children. You’ve already been to a solicitor, hire one that tells you they are tough in the face extreme, controlling and/or obstructive behaviour, because he will be a total shit to divorce as he thinks that he is right. All. The. Time. Be prepare for this, he probably won’t even listen to good advice from his own lawyer.

You do not need any more reason to divorce him. I think he should move out. I am sure he thinks you would not ultimately call a halt to the relationship. He doesn’t believe you will divorce him. Educate him on that. He will be utterly affronted by your outrageous behaviour, obviously.

The best thing to do would be to get him to move out. You never know - he might. He is so righteous, he might do that in a fit of pique. Tell him you both need some space, or some such. Take advantage of the fact that he obviously thinks you are stupid. Make him think he’s thought of it.

Good luck. You know he is getting worse and will only get worse. Don’t waste time looking for the man you married, I’m afraid it’s likely this is the real him.

5LeafClover · 07/07/2018 21:59

^^
Great advice from Poppy Field.

gingergenius · 08/07/2018 08:42

@charlestonchaplin what about what op's husband 'should' have done.

You're very very Critical of the mistakes op has made. You seem to think that she is responsible for the escalation. That if she's done this, that or the other better that this situation wouldn't have happened. That's bollocks

People get tired, irritable and occasionally don't have picture perfect responses to things. This is normal and human. However his response to her normal human reaction was absolutely OTT. It was abusive. And your comments clearly put the blame on her.

@Jonsey79 someone earlier said that no matter how perfect you try to be, you wont be good enough. Unless you are quiet, compliant and subservient you will get this treatment. My now ex is the same. I had to give him a lift on Friday from a funeral we both attended) I raised a question about something work related and because I suggested an alternative answer, he exploded. Told me I was responsible for x y and z and shouting and pointing fingers in my face. All this while driving him home. I went silent because that's how to get him to stop. It happened while we were together and he's still doing it even though we've separated.

It's abusive. It won't get better. Yes we could all do with working in communication but that doesn't mean it's ok for a partner to unleash vitriol and venom if we don't live up to their impossible standards.

Thanks
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