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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

how can i get DH to treat DC and me with respect and love?

559 replies

frustratedwineaholic · 08/01/2019 13:10

Hi, I am felling really stuck in my relationship. I want to end out marriage but I can't. He will not leave our house and I have been advised by a solicitor not to leave as then I will be unlikely to ever get back into our home or receive any equity from it. This is why I am asking for advice on how to change my husband. I know you can't really change people, they themselves have to want to change but I'm so desperate.

we have 4 dc, only the younger 2 are dh's. they are 12, 10, 6 and 4. DH is usually grumpy and always finds a way to suck the fun out of everything involving the dc. when we have a rare night off he is different, but mostly only if we are with friends. He hates being wrong and can never apologise. he tells the dc not to shout but then shouts at them, he never listens to them, just jumps to conclusions and unfairly punishes them by sending them to bed early, when when i attempt to calmly explain why they did whatever it was and he knows he has over reacted he will not back down, he just becomes angry and starts shouting at me. a few recent examples,
DS2 is like Jeckyl and Hyde, one minute he is the ost loving, cuddly little 6 yr old and he next he just seems to get this look in his eye and he is horrible, he spits, throws things, kicks and hits me and dc, tries to run away all because of the slightest thing like time to close he pet cage. This morning he got up early, he shares a room with DS1, DS1 is in the top bunk and DS2 the bottom, he took his pull up off (diagnosed over active bladder) and threw it at DS1 face then spat at him for no reason. I had an operation yesterday so still under affects of general anaesthetic and was call DS2 to stop, DS1 was shouting Mummy help, I got out of bed, held onto the wall for dizzyness and held DS2 hand puling him away, DH came out o the kitchen and sent both DS to time out, I got cross as DH is always picking on DS1 in my eyes and told him DS1 is not going to time out and DH shouted at me that he was shouting so people down the road could hear, I said he was calling for help as DS2 was throwing a wet nappy at him and spitting at him and DH starting shouting at me for having a go at him and threatened to go to work and leave me to it, it was 6am and DH was going to work late to enable him to do the school run following my operation. I just backed down as I know him well enough to know he would go off and leave me. I had aa major operation 2 years ago and couldn't walk easily or lift anything, he stormed off the following day after an argument and left me unable to eve have a cup of tea. Anyway, he as then in an awful mood, storming about, telling everyone off for the slightest thing, made my DD1 cry as he refused to get her a toilet roll from the cupboard as she should have go it herself before sitting down. in the middle of all this chaos DS2 is still being a total nightmare, he poured salt into the last of the milk so my DS1 lost his temper with DS2 and picked him up from the breakfast bar stool and roughly put him on the floor, DH went mad and DS1 bravely told him he has had enough of being blamed for everything, he said he wont be here later, DH told him he is going to bed early for his mouth.

I can't take anymore, I called a local counselling service to enquire about family counselling but I can't afford it.

Any advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
frustratedwineaholic · 29/01/2019 11:39

I have a problem. I hadn’t though anything of it but DH has been parking his car over the entrance side of our driveway since I told him I’m leaving on Saturday. I have just had a penny drop moment, he doesn’t use his car in the week as he ride a motorcycle to work, he has been blocking the entrance to our house with his car so I can’t move anything large!! He has been pulling his car out in the morning to get his motorbike down the side (our front door is at the side of the house and he stores his bike on the pathway) then pulling it back up close to the house to obstruct access, you can just walk past but would not be able to carry furniture through the space.

I have just cleared all of mine and DC stuff from the loft as I don’t think he will notice that and I’m taking it to my parents but now I’m really starting to worry how I will get everything next week. He usually drives to work in a Friday as he has a half day, thing is I can’t just park my car there and leave it until Tuesday as I need it to take dc to school, go to uni etc.

Any ideas? I was thinking about finding someone who doesn’t use their car and leaving it there as soon as DH drives his but everyone I know uses their cars daily!

OP posts:
another20 · 29/01/2019 12:03

Here we go. Continuation of his obtuse behaviour......expect loads more of it.

Spare set of keys anywhere? Maybe on the day needed could you call a local garage to tow it? Don’t let him know that you have noticed. But at the end of the day he might have won his battle to punish you by preventing you taking a cabinet - but keep smiling to yourself that you have won the war because you are gone regardless. He just continues to be nasty and petty - don’t engage. He can cuddle up to his hard won cabinet whilst in less than a week you can cuddle up to your DCs in peace.

PositivelyPERF · 29/01/2019 13:29

Get someone to take away part of the fence or hedge. Any neighbours that can help? Any builders working nearby? Bung them a few pounds to get the furniture over the hedge. Just tell them you’ve no idea who the car belongs to.

rainbowstardrops · 29/01/2019 13:30

I'd scratch his car but I'm petty like that Wink

Sorry, that doesn't help.

PositivelyPERF · 29/01/2019 13:34

Get up at stupid o’clock and let all his tires down. The fucker can get a taxi to work.

ree348 · 29/01/2019 13:34

Apart from finding a spare set of keys can you ask your parents to help with the move or even hire a 'man with van' or a small van for yourself for the day?

He can block you in with his car but either way you're moving, stay resilient x

O4FS · 29/01/2019 13:51

I’d work around it/take out a fence panel.

Assess what you are going to take before worrying about it.

You can go back at any time (if he doesn’t change the locks). Catch him off guard.

It’s very petty of him. What does he think he will achieve? He’ll have a fully furnished house but his children can sleep on the floor? Says it all.

AcrossthePond55 · 29/01/2019 13:55

Let the air out of the motorcycle tyres during the night so he has to take the car? I'd say to stick a nail it afterwards so he doesn't blame you, but that's technically illegal. Your judgement call on that one.

Schedule a doctor's appt (or such) for moving day and tell him he'll need to move his car so you can take yours to the doctor? You can then cancel the appointment when he's not around.

Start asking him today to stop blocking your car in because you want to be able to use it if you need to run errands, then just be sure you move your car every so often so he sees that you're 'using it'? Where would he normally have parked it before this so you had access to your car? Can you park there?

Any way to be able to swipe his key that morning or get it beforehand to make a copy? (Won't help if it's a 'keyless' entry car).

Could you call a locksmith and tell them you've lost 'your' key and have them pop the lock for you? That way you could put it in neutral and (hopefully) push it out of the way.

If worse comes to worse and you just can't think of a way around this, speak to the police. Explain the situation and your fears and ask them if there are any suggestions they have. As it is, you won't be able to take your car when you move if he's got you blocked in on moving day.

Remember that you are entitled to some of the possessions in the house, even if you have to petition the courts to get them after you move.

rainbowstardrops · 29/01/2019 14:30

A nail in the. Motorbike tyre so it's flat on the Friday morning, forcing him to take his car.
Job done.
He could have ridden over a nail at any point.

angieloumc · 29/01/2019 15:05

Thinking of you OP, not too long to go now!

frustratedwineaholic · 29/01/2019 15:10

Great ideas, thank you! Sorry I wasn’t clear though, he is not blocking me car in, he is blocking the access to the front door.

I thought I may try to get his car keys the night before and just play stupid that I don’t know where they are, then I can move his car. Failing that I will take a fence panel out. Would love to do the nail in tyre idea but knowing my luck I would get caught!

OP posts:
PositivelyPERF · 29/01/2019 16:27

Can you get the stuff out through the back door?

AcrossthePond55 · 29/01/2019 16:51

I'd go for the fence panel as a first option, even if it's the hardest to do. That's something you can do without him being 'alerted' in any way. Get your shit moved as quickly as possible, then put the panel back (or not).

How tight a control does he keep on his keys? If he's like my DH he leaves them all over the house and never knows where they are, so him 'losing' them wouldn't raise suspicions in the least! But if he normally (or is now) keeping a tight control on them, for them to 'suddenly disappear' might raise suspicions. Or worse, to delay leaving for work until he finds them.

frustratedwineaholic · 29/01/2019 16:53

It’s a semi detached house so the back door leads to the same pathway that his car is blocking the end of.

I think I’m going to go with the fence panel plan. If I try anything else it may give him a heads up that something is going on.

I can’t believe it has come to this.

OP posts:
frustratedwineaholic · 29/01/2019 16:54

Thanks acrossthepond, think we had crossed post then! Great minds think alike Grin

OP posts:
category12 · 29/01/2019 17:12

You could probably just get a car mechanic/car rescue service out. They'd be able to open the car up in no time (frighteningly fast), then it's just release the handbrake, roll it back.

O4FS · 29/01/2019 17:20

Just be as discreet and as low key as you can.

Good luck.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 29/01/2019 17:44

Fence panel sounds like the best idea

AcrossthePond55 · 29/01/2019 18:09

We certainly do!!!

Don't know your logistics (DIY, friends helping, man with a van) but when we moved BFF (it was a group of friends & a couple of pick up trucks) we set it up as BFF & 2 'teams', BFF pointed out the large items she was taking & packed boxes of the smaller things, the 'stagers' put the larger items by the front door and loaded smaller boxes in our cars, and then the 'carriers' actually did the loading and driving of the big items (furniture) to her new flat, unloaded, and just put them in the living room to be sorted out later then returned for more loads. Our point was to get her stuff OUT of the house as soon as possible even if it left a holy mess in her new flat. It also made sure that she was never alone in the house 'just in case'. It worked pretty well.

One thing we learned...if you're taken chest of drawers don't empty them. Put the drawers (with what's in them) in a car and load the chest in the van/truck. Saves time and weight in carrying.

Sunnydays78 · 29/01/2019 18:18

I left my abusive husband two years ago. All of the things you are saying he did too. If you go to the council they will help you get a home. Get out of there, I stayed until he almost knocked me off my head!

PositivelyPERF · 29/01/2019 19:04

He isn’t friendly with anyone in the area, is he OP? You need to make sure that everything is ready to go straight out, as quickly as possible. Bed stripped and mattress chucked downstairs. Curtains closed so nothing is seen piled up in your living room. If anyone unexpectedly calls, tell them you’re ill with a stomach bug and close the door in their face. You need to make sure no pals/family of his gets the slickest whisper that you’re going.

Keep your phone on you at all times.

tubspreciousthings · 29/01/2019 19:14

You're doing the right thing starting with stuff in the loft. Is there anything else you can thin out, clothes etc? Especially anything sentimental/legal documents (including info about his wages etc). Change any passwords he might know and get a mail redirection order ASAP.

Jux · 29/01/2019 23:12

Fence panel, seems to be the simplest solution, pita though it is.

I once knew a guy who helped women move - WA provided his services. He was big and scarey looking but nice as pie and a great big softie! I have no idea if they can still afford to do this, but maybe you could ask them? Also, maybe they could help you tighten up your exit plan if you run it past them?

Good luck! How many sleeps left now?

frustratedwineaholic · 30/01/2019 09:51

I have hired 2 men and a van for the day. I also have 3 friends with cars helping.

DH came home from work a little late yesterday, he sat on the sofa on his phone then walked off really quickly, DS2 went to see what he was doing and came back saying he was crying in the bedroom. I went to see if he was ok and he was crying, I ad forgotten but it would have been his late DF's birthday yesterday, I think it's all becoming a bit real and he is feeling a bit lost. I feel really sad today, I know i'm doing this for my DC but I miss DH already and we have't even left yet. I just wanted to cuddle him last night. I wish this wasn't the only way.

OP posts:
IdblowJonSnow · 30/01/2019 10:01

Stay strong op. This is his doing not yours. Please remember that. I am so happy you're doing this for yourself and your children. Flowers