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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

Aaaarrrgggghhh Husband doesn’t want me to work

204 replies

user1499625336 · 30/07/2018 18:13

Hi All

I am so bloody depressed..I’m 35, married to husband for five years. When we met I was a student nurse. He had had a motorbike accident and I helped nurse him back to health. He still has some issues but leads a more or less normal life. After we’d been married a couple of years he got a compensation payout (we are talking millions) and he put it all in a protected trust for himself. He bought our house in the trusts name and when we have an argument he tells me to get out of ‘his house’. He moans like crazy/sulks if I go out to work (he says I’m worried I will meet someone else and leave him even though I reassure him etc). So I forfeited my nurse training because of his constant pressure to stop at home with him- I also started developing depression. Long story short I’ve wanted a job for a while now but he’s dead against it (in the past he’s sabotaged my efforts of working like altering my alarm clock, telling me that I should be happy staying at home etc). My confidence is at rock bottom but I thought a little part time job might help me. He gives me ‘housekeeping’ money each month but I pay for everything, including holidays so there’s hardly anything left over. Ironically I spent all last week decorating and I suddenly thought ‘I’m spending what little money I have on paint/materials and working to decorate my husbands house. Next I’ve got the garden/cleaning to do..am I a skivvy?’ So I’ve told him I’m going to get myself a part time job. His response? Ok but you need to start paying towards the bills. Problem is, we live in a huge house- the council tax alone is £300 a month so I’m going to be effectively working for nothing. There’s no financial incentive to go out to work and my husband is going to be moody/play mind games. Am I being unreasonable thinking that it’s unfair to make me pay towards the bills? It’s just he tells me it’s his house and he’s got over 7 million....I’m so confused!! Help!

OP posts:
Vampyress · 01/08/2018 12:47

A 50 year old spinster?! How bloody degrading of them to suggest you wouldn't be able to meet anyone else. The apple didn't fall far from the tree it seems. So glad you have an action plan and I hope it all works out for you xx

hellsbellsmelons · 01/08/2018 13:49

I’ve got to change myself to adapt to his needs
Yes well you do. Don't you!?
Because otherwise they will be lumbered with the abusive twat and they certainly don't want that!

You have the start of a plan OP. Well done.
Fake it 'til you make it then get the hell out of there.

hellsbellsmelons · 01/08/2018 13:49

Oh... and I'm nearly 50 and I love being single.

Lweji · 01/08/2018 14:17

Better to be single at 50 than with an abuser. Definitely

eggncress · 01/08/2018 15:11

They’re trying to shame you into not leaving him. In fact his parents’ attitude would just make me more determined to leave him. Let them care for him!

Ellie56 · 01/08/2018 15:22

Nobody needs to care for the abusive twat. He got millions in a payout to pay for care. Let the professionals do it.

pointythings · 01/08/2018 16:36

Well done you for seeing through his parents.The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?
FWIW I'm 50 and about to be divorced and my life is great. Yours will be too, and you're only 35 - the world is your oyster.

InionEile · 01/08/2018 21:42

Yes, as I thought in my last comment, his parents want you to stay put so he's your problem, not theirs. Very selfish of them but they are your in-laws of course so they will always naturally side with their biological son if it comes to a conflict of interest.

You sound like you have a good plan together to exit. Two months isn't a very long time to keep calm and carry on and then get the hell out of there. And 50 is not old at all these days. I know a couple of friends in their 50s who have ended marriages and they are having a wonderful time, living life on their own terms, writing memoirs, traveling etc. You can always get a dog or a cat!

ZorbaTheHoarder · 01/08/2018 21:56

Hello OP,
I am sorry you are in such a horribly abusive relationship, but I think you have seen that you really, really don't need to live like this anymore.

Perhaps you could use some of your savings to go and stay in a hotel or somewhere else until you can move back into your own home?

It really is essential to get away from your awful husband ASAP. As others have said, please ignore his parents' insults and wheedling - they have their own agenda, which does not give a shit about you!

You cannot imagine now how much happier you will be once you are away from this abusive sod.

I wish you the all the best!

Dragongirl10 · 01/08/2018 22:18

Op , please listen to all the posters here and continue with your plans to go, dismiss anything his parents say, as they are firmly on HIS side not yours.

You are so young and have a whole life to live free of this abuse and manipulation.......go and get it!

IceCreamFace · 01/08/2018 22:26

God you have a whole life ahead of you. Of course you can meet someone else and anyway being a single independent woman with a job and control over her home life would be infinitely better. His parents produced the abusive man child so quite frankly their advice is irrelevant.

user1499625336 · 02/08/2018 10:39

Hello everyone!!! I’m in shock...but I’ve got away from him!!! Yesterday once again he became really nasty and cruel to me. I’d seen a couple of jobs I really wanted to apply for so I excitedly told my husband. I made it clear that I didn’t mind giving all my wages to him as long as I was allowed to work. He became abusive. Said ‘I’m SO GLAD your life is good because mine is shit but that’s ok so long as YOURE happy’- he screamed this at me....and I’m sorry to say but I SNAPPED. COULDNT TAKE IT NO MORE. I quietly told him he can’t keep treating me like this and I am frightened of him. He admitted everything. Said he knows what hes doing. Kept repeating how sorry he is but that we are married and we need to move on from this. He said he will never let me go. I calmly went upstairs, got my passport, documents, few clothes. He rang his parents and they were on their way so I quickly said to him I need space for a while. I RAN OUT THE DOOR. Arrived at my elderly parents house and gave them a vague outline of what was going on. They’re insisting I stay with them until I am ready to move into my own home. I’m shell shocked and doubting myself but I feel so broken that I’m just enjoying feeling peaceful and not frightened. I don’t care about my husbands money- I just want to be left alone. Thank you all. You’ve changed my life xx

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 02/08/2018 10:42

This is AWESOME news! Well done!!!

Be prepared for a barrage of 'nice' messages/calls. He's sorry... he can't live without you... he'll change...

DO NOT FALL FOR ANY OF IT.

DO NOT GO BACK.

Go forwards. You've done the hard bit. Be free and enjoy your life.

GinUnicorn · 02/08/2018 10:44

OP this is wonderful! Don’t take him back apply for the jobs and have a wonderful life with someone who treats you kindly.

ItsNachoCheese · 02/08/2018 10:44

op im absolutely thrilled to read your update. I wish you all the best now your free of the abuse from your husband

MyOtherProfile · 02/08/2018 10:45

You superstar! Well done!

Whatever he or his parents say, always remember that he is the one that caused the marriage to fall with his terrible behaviour, and not you.

eggncress · 02/08/2018 10:50

Ooh... well done OP ! Good for you !
And good on your parents for helping you !
He is so typical of an abuser with his changing tactics, the latest being the apparent( false)) remorse and saying he’ll change/ “ we’re married were a team” bullshit. It’s just the cycle of abuse.
I hope you can have a peaceful life from now on and he doesn’t harass you. If he does report him to the police.

Don’t doubt yourself... what happened is real !Flowers

hellsbellsmelons · 02/08/2018 10:55

I made it clear that I didn’t mind giving all my wages to him as long as I was allowed to work
That sentence right there, makes me go cold.
He's got millions. Gives you fuck all and you are so frightened of him that you were willing to give him your wages.

Well done on getting away OP.
Please don't ever ever EVER EVER go back.
He's absolutely vile.
Keep strong. Lean on your family for support.
And get out there and get that job!!!
You go girl!

hellsbellsmelons · 02/08/2018 10:56

And block him on everything for now.
You don't need him in your headspace right now.

RandomMess · 02/08/2018 11:02

Thanksone day at a time for now but this is the first step of your new happier life!

justdoit87 · 02/08/2018 11:26

God bless you OP.
Someone once told me 'if you spend your life pleasing someone else, in the end you will be the one left feeling miserable'
Especially A). because quite frankly you can't please them all the time, so after everything you do that one criticism or cynical response will make you feel devalued,
B) the other person you are living to please will still be living their lives the way they want to while your busy living for them
C) when they throw things back in your face the level of resentment will be even more painful.

He is quite obviously from what you have said a narcissist. He doesn't trust you hence the 'Trust' to begin with. He builds his own confidence by feeding off yours. This is a marriage yet he treats it like a business transaction. You have done your best by him and quite frankly when your best isn't good enough it's best to part ways. He may have had a brain injury but by God he is really playing that part well, seems like using it as a scapegoat for his unreasonable behaviour. There is only so much leeway you can give by giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Get YOUR life back on track. ThanksThanks

HelenUrth · 02/08/2018 11:34

Well done, so pleased for you.
I hope you get legal advice though, you do not deserve to walk away from this empty handed.

BossWitch · 02/08/2018 12:02

Been lurking so far but agree with everything said. You have taken the toughest step now - well done!! Keep comimg back to this thread, even if you dont post, to remind yourself that you ARE doing the right thing once the adrenaline wears off and he (and his parents) try to make you feel guilty and wear you down.

Also, please please please see a lawyer. You are entitled to some portion of the marital assets - don't value yourself so low as to walk away with no financial settlement. You have given this man years of your life and labour for free. Now it's time to get some renumeration for that.

Daftapath · 02/08/2018 12:35

Well done for getting away. Please stay strong now and keep away, no matter what he says. He will now, no doubt, go on a charm offensive and say all the things that you will want to hear about how he can change and how you can work if you want but that will not change how abusive he is. The next few months could be really tough but hold strong!

I absolutely agree that you now need to find yourself a shit hot lawyer (SHL). If you are in London, I can recommend mine!

Do you have your own bank account that he has no access to? If not, open one asap. Do you have any joint accounts that you have access to? If so, remove some of the money to your own account. My H emptied our joint account and locked me out of it.

Good luck OP 💪🏻

Daftapath · 02/08/2018 12:42

Some other thoughts, write a diary of your recent interactions with him, including who said what. If he does send any abusive messages, keep them and put them in your diary. I used a word document to keep all my evidence of H's unreasonable behaviour - including transcripts of conversations, copies of emails and texts sent at all hours where he either railed at me or declared his undying love Hmm

I ended up having to go for an occupation and non molestation order because of H's behaviour and my diary was key.