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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

Abuse?

8 replies

Buttercreamissuper · 15/01/2019 21:28

DD has been with her fiancé for 5 years. They’re both mid twenties and have been living together for a couple of years.

The things I am concerned and scared about have been building up for a while but she cannot accept that some of his attitudes and actions are a worry. She says they’re happy most of the time and that’s what counts. I am worried about her future after seeing and hearing some of the things she’s told me.

1- on Facebook, he shared an article about a man who’d attacked his pregnant wife and ended up in prison.
He then wrote something along the lines of ‘I hate how it’s always the man in trouble. I think his wife was abusing him too but he’s not telling the police so he doesn’t get her in trouble’.
I was absolutely disgusted by this.

2- he and DD have agreed that he will work and she will stay at home when/if they have children which in itself is ok.
However, he has said to DD that should they marry and divorce one day, they will not be splitting assets equally if he can help it.
He says that looking after the home and children does not equate to deserving 50% of everything in a divorce. He is however still keen that she stays at home!

3- he messages women from work and does not hide this or the messages. DD has seen them and they’re work related so she has no worries about cheating.
However, whenever DD gets a message on her phone from me or anyone else, he apparently ‘jokingly’ says that he hopes it’s not a man because he wouldn’t like that as DD ‘would definitely cheat’. DD has no history of cheating as far as I’m aware though some of his own past actions have been questionable....

4- another Facebook one. He shared an article about a multi millionaire having to pay thousands in child maintenance per month.
He argued that this was unfair that the multi millionaire would have to hand over thousands of dollars to his ex for their child.
DD told me she criticised this view and said that the father was rich enough to fund a good lifestyle for his child and he has a responsibility. Her fiancé said that it was unfair and that the millionaire who makes millions every year shouldn’t have to pay more than any other average joe! He said that the mans ex was obviously grabbing money to fund her own lifestyle.

5- when they first started living together, she told me that they had an argument which resulted in him warning her to ‘keep her mouth shut or else’ while raising his arm to punch her.

Please help. I just don’t know how to get through to her that there’s more to life than this.

OP posts:
JarlBalgruuf · 15/01/2019 21:34

Red flags!!! Especially number 5. He sounds like a bell end. Unfortunately if you try and bring this up with her too much then she might start resenting you, and if he is abusive then he will very possibly use your 'interference' to turn her against you.

The best thing you can do is support her in what she decides and try to keep close to her because if he is abusive and she wants to get out then she will need you more than ever.

lilpeach · 15/01/2019 21:48

Personally, to me you are being a meddler mother in law. None of those things are saying "abuse" to me, maybe that her fella is a bit of an opinionated bigot. But that's no excuse for you to go storming in with a megaphone shouting "ABUSE".

I get you being worried about your DD but if she is happy and in love, surely she can decide for herself if she can stand this mans questionable personality.

It seems pretty commonplace for mothers of daughters to be far too picky and judgemental when it comes to spouses for their little princess. You saying to her "I don't like your man, you need to leave him" IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE HER MIND. I can vouch for this 100% because my mother did exactly this. And I moved away from her and stopped talking to her. So be warned.

You may end up being right, but as Jarl said, the best thing you can do is be there with a big hug and a cup of tea if it does go tits up. I imagine she will tire of his crap eventually, so just hang in there.

Maelstrop · 16/01/2019 08:36

@lilpeach raising his arm and telling her to shut up or else isn't abuse? Seriously?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 16/01/2019 10:25

when they first started living together, she told me that they had an argument which resulted in him warning her to ‘keep her mouth shut or else’ while raising his arm to punch her

MASSIVE RED FLAG.

The rest of it? He just sounds like a sexist twat.

But number 5 would have me seriously worried. At least she feels she can tell you about behaviour like this. So I think all you can do is be there for her.

You can't make decisions about her relationship for her, as much as you want to. And you risk alienating her if you start slagging him off. Tough one.

Fuktifano · 16/01/2019 10:36

He is misogynistic and he is abusive. He only values his own point if view and dictates gendered values within the relationship. He is jealous and controlling. When the kids come along things may get worse as he established his authority further within the family unit. Your daughter is not yet ready to acknowledge any if this and there will be many other red flags she has not disclosed to You, therefore you can only support her and wait for her to approach you. And be there when things are good between them again..if not he will isolate her from you. You're in a very difficult position.

Sicario · 16/01/2019 11:09

How awful. Sounds like a pile of shite to me. Still, you can't make your children's decisions for them. On the upside, at least they don't have any children yet.

Maybe, once wedding plans are underway, you could ask her if she has had The Conversation about what their mutual expectations are of each other. After all, lots of women seem not to mind being married to sexist pigs.

0ccamsRazor · 16/01/2019 11:17

lilpeach None of those things are saying "abuse" to me

^ wtf???

He is abusive op, but you know this Sad, your poor dd.

All that you can do is be there for her and let her know that what ever happens you will always be there for her, no matter what.

I am so sorry for your dd and you Flowers

mimibunz · 16/01/2019 11:26

lilpeach I hope theOP ignores you. With mums like you who needs misogynistic, abusive partners?

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