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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:
blueangel1 · 10/01/2019 12:57

Agree with everyone else saying there is no point in trying to talk to him. He will twist into being your fault, and you've had enough of that shit. Make an escape plan and don't tell him anything.

frustratedwineaholic · 10/01/2019 14:41

i have had an eventful afternoon. Had a call from DS2 school to pick him up, suspected appendicitis, i took him to a&e and whilst there i got a call from DS1 school saying he had hurt himself! thankfully both DS are fine and I am feeling empowered that I have not contacted Dh to tell him. Usually everythime I try to leave him something like this happens and it all gets glossed over as more important things need our attention, its like a test, but I passed. :) im sure I will get his passive aggressive or just a mouthful later when DS2 tells Daddy he was at the hospital today for not telling him.

I have had a chat with another firm of solicitors and they have emailed me a letter to take into my GP for legal aid as apparently emotional abuse is included in the qualifying eligibility for it. I need to get the letter completed by GP then they will see me.

It's all moving way too fast.

OP posts:
hellsbellsmelons · 10/01/2019 15:09

It feels like it - but it's not!
It's just a form.
One step at a time.
1 - get the form
2 - visit doctor
3 - get form signed
4 - get form sent back.
etc.......
It will all take time!
Deep breath - you got this!

Dragongirl10 · 10/01/2019 15:12

congratulations on the good job interview op, and really well done!

As others have said one step at a time..

another20 · 10/01/2019 18:48

Wow you are on a roll now - well done. You should feel proud and empowered - he can’t trap you in this toxic soup any longer.

category12 · 10/01/2019 18:55

Well done OP. Keep going. Flowers

frustratedwineaholic · 10/01/2019 19:20

Thank you all for your words of encouragement, it’s helping lots!

He came back from work, DS2 told him straight away about his trip to a&e, he walked into the kitchen where I was cooking dinner and asked why it was the first time he was hearing about it. I explained that DS was fine, my battery was on 5% so didn’t want to waste it until I knew what was wrong and then there was no need to contact DH at work as DS was ok. He was surprisingly ok! Then DS2 had a club to get to so DH took him, he hasn’t returned though, guessing he is in the pub waiting for club to finish and bring DS2 home. I was so tempted to text him and ask if he was going to bother coming back to say goodnight to DD2, I typed the text but then didn’t give him the satisfaction of sending it.

Honesty, why do men act like the DC are only a mums responsibility unless it suits them?

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 10/01/2019 19:21

Well done, you!

Don't think of it as moving too fast, think of it as 'fate' (or whatever) taking a hand and moving you at the pace you're supposed to be going!

Mountainsoutofmolehills · 10/01/2019 19:38

he's awful. He would go out of his way to leave you in a worse position. He doesn't sound like a team mate. Stop doing errands for him and his washing etc. DO NOT HAVE SEX WITH HIM. Plan weekends away without him.

frustratedwineaholic · 10/01/2019 20:30

Need to post to get this down.
I made a mistake, DH came back with DS2 after club finished. He asked if the left over dinner on the side was for him, I said no it’s for the DC tomorrow, I’m not cooking for you, you weren’t even here at dinner time anyway. He asked what I meant, I was screaming inside to just stop talking but I couldn’t help myself, I vented at him, not shouting or anything but I said I wasn’t here to cook for him, asked him where he had been (I know I’m an idiot) and he refused to tell me so I said I thought he had been at the pub. He then began shouting at me, DS2 was running around acting crazy, taking me phone and calling people, I asked DH to help me catch him to take my phone back, he laughed at me and went on saying what else am I going to accuse him of? I took DS2 to calm down, cake back and calmly said he should just eat the dinner and forget it, he started kicking off. I recorded him, he was telling me I can fuck off and leave the house, I will get none of it. He accused me of having an affair, called me a bitch and then called me an alcoholic.

I’m shaking

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 10/01/2019 20:46

OK just take a few deep breaths, it is understandable you couldn't say nothing, and his response just shows you who he is...remember how awful he was/is.

It is crap but just carry on and get legal advice. Handhold from here.

AcrossthePond55 · 10/01/2019 20:47

Deep deep breaths. Relax your shoulders.

It is what it is. None of us is perfect and we all reach our limit. You reached yours. Just pick yourself up and start over. Ignore him and don't rise to his bait. You are DUMPING HIM, remember? What he does from now until you get your ducks in a row isn't important in the grand scheme, unless it's violence or stealing from you. Don't let it get to you. Focus on the future.

Ignore, ignore, ignore. He's going to continue to bait you and you are going to want to respond, you are going to want to 'win' the arguments he wants to start. But sometimes losing is winning! This is one of those time. When he baits you, whisper to yourself 'no ammo, no ammo, no ammo'. Because that's what he's looking for; ammo to use against you.

frustratedwineaholic · 10/01/2019 21:04

I’m so angry with myself, I should care where he has been, it just angers me that I’m at home, looking after DC, cooking, cleaning up after and he just swans in and out as he pleases.

OP posts:
frustratedwineaholic · 10/01/2019 21:05

*shouldn’t care

OP posts:
Desmondo2016 · 10/01/2019 22:20

You're human. Don't beat yourself up. It's inevitable you're gonna lose your shit with the dickhead occasionally. Dust yourself off and carry on. You'll probably find this incident actually helps you find some clarity in how you want to act going forwards. Baby steps.

Lozzerbmc · 10/01/2019 22:57

Keep it going - having read all your posts you are so doing the right thing for yourself and children. Keep strong!

Weenurse · 10/01/2019 23:13

Good luck.
I think you will find the DC behaviour improves once they are away from this situation.

Ariesgirl1988 · 11/01/2019 02:39

You need to see another solicitor quick smart OP! what idiot tells a woman clearly living with an abusive prick not to leave because you will lose your house?!?! second of all you won't change this man he's an abusive wanker who clearly thinks his word is law and everyone has to abide by him. You talk about your DS2 behaviour to be honest I am not surprised he behaves this way he's basically modelling his behaviour off of how his dad behaves he sees that dad gets his own way when behaving like this so he does you should change the bloody locks when he goes to work and have an injunction put in place to stop him coming near you and in the house, then put it on the market sell it and take your kids and go if you do that you may be able to undo the damage he is clearly doing to your kids. He can't make it hard to sell the house if there's an injunction preventing him from entering it. I may sound harsh but you need a wake up call you can't change a person especially an abusive prick! I also worked with DV victims and grew up in a DV environment for years before my mum left and unfortunately my mum left too late that the damage was already done your son is young enough that you can stop his behaviour and change but if you stay you are basically raising a mini me of your husband

frustratedwineaholic · 11/01/2019 09:37

He told me last night he is seeing a solicitor this afternoon, I hope he is. Surely his solicitor will tell him the same thing mine has, that the children need to stay in the house? He has told me if I leave I won’t get anything. He is being nice to all DC, saying good morning (wow, I can’t believe I just said that was nice, it should be blooody normal) and not ordering them about. He is totally ignoring me, I need to keep momentum, wish I could see a solicitor today. I might call a few and just see if the have had a cancellation. He was purposefully taking up most of the bed last night, he went to watch TV in our room after he said his piece as apparently he doesn’t want to be anywhere near me. It’s usually me that goes and sleeps somewhere else but we have no spare beds. A month ago when this happened I went out and bought a little bed for my 4 yr old DD and I slept in her bottom bunk, I stupidly sold it to my friend 2 weeks ago as DH seemed to have changed.
I can’t keep putting the kids through this, it’s like a monthly occurrence now, maybe he has a man period Grin

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 11/01/2019 09:58

Stay strong OP and don't listen to his crap.

He'll probably come back and tell you you won't get anything, he'll get his two kids, blah blah blah. It's all just words designed to stop you upsetting the cart.

Just let it wash over you and keep going.

You can do this, for all 5 of you

Seaweed42 · 11/01/2019 10:01

You need to stop playing emotional games with him. This text for example "I was so tempted to text him and ask if he was going to bother coming back to say goodnight to DD2, I typed the text but then didn’t give him the satisfaction of sending it."
The first bit in bold is goading him, the second bit is weird. You are trying to score points off him left right and centre. You deliberately withheld the info about A&E in order to hurt him and show him you could prevent him having info about the kids.
Just stop doing that now. Stop trying to make him pay. Both of you are guilty of that. You can be polite without deliberately trying to get paypack.
Your DS2 senses the two of you kicking off and starts acting up by the sounds of it. He's acting because he needs to kick off to compete for attention with your DH who seems to take up ALL your thoughts and your attention.
As soon as you feel yourself getting angry you need to disengage and NOT engage with it for the sake of your children.

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 11/01/2019 10:01

You all deserve better than this OP, keep going and good luck Cake

Seaweed42 · 11/01/2019 10:12

He is only being nice to the kids because his anger has switched to you now. So the kids are in the clear....for now.

frustratedwineaholic · 11/01/2019 10:14

Seaweed42 your post really hit home for me. I am just as bad as him. Maybe I should apologise to him and suggest we do this amicably. I’m so tired of it all, feel like it’s really getting me down. I don’t want to be a single parent, I don’t want DC having a broken home, I just want to run away.

OP posts:
another20 · 11/01/2019 10:17

Don’t feel threatened or panicked that he is seeing a solicitor today. He is not above the law. Anything he says to you from now on will (as before) be to destabilise you. Don’t listen, engage or take it on board. Get the best professional advice - see 3 solicitors and go with the one who you feel is the strongest (not the most sympathetic) and can demonstrate experience of handling difficult, abusive men. It’s a long journey and abusive men will seek to use the process to punish and wound you at every step - you need a solicitor who can anticipate and block his every move.

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