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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

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:
Aussiebean · 24/11/2019 20:48

Do you think they are in a stable home now?

Better to be from a broken home then in one.

TheNextMrsElba · 28/11/2019 19:27

No, it’s not a stable home now. Things are not good. Money is really tight and causing lots of arguments. I’m so unhappy. DH was working abroad earlier in the week, he cane back last night and straight away he was having a go at me because I paid the deposit for DD1 school trip, he thinks I should have discussed this with him first, he is not even paying for it! I feel like I’m not allowed to take any decisions myself. I wish we would just leave.

lazylinguist · 28/11/2019 20:00

Just read the whole thread. OP - how can you love a man who treats you and your children abusively? And, even if you do love him, how can you put your feelings for him above the safety and wellbeing of your own children? Your children won't be worried about 'coming from a broken home' - what they need is to be in a safe home, away from their abusive father.

TheNextMrsElba · 28/11/2019 21:00

I left. I believed he had changed. He has not.
I want to divorce him. I’m scared to tell him. There is never a good time. I can’t move out, I don’t have a deposit to rent anywhere. Our house is not big enough for us to live separately.
I’m stuck

ToBreatheAgain · 28/11/2019 23:16

Could you get a single bed or even just a mattress and sleep in with one of the younger kids? Then separate under one roof while you sort out divorce and financial separation or save enough to move out.

Therebythedoor · 29/11/2019 17:05

Re the deposit, the council I work for does deposit loans. You do have to repay them but it might be worth asking at your local council.

I would also add, please don't best yourself up about going back. Plenty on this forum have done the same, so no-one should judge you for that, so don't beat yourself up about it either. It just proves how some husbands and partners will lie to draw us back in.

Mermaidtissues · 01/12/2019 21:11

I’m confused, have you moved back in?

Howyiz · 02/12/2019 15:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

pog100 · 02/12/2019 18:27

Shame on you @Howyiz

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