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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

DH advice needed

60 replies

helppleaseDH · 15/03/2019 15:33

I really need someone to talk to about the issues I am currently having with my DH. We have been married 3 years and have one DS who is 4 and our second DS is 2 weeks old.

For around the last year or so we have been having some relationship issues, my husband has become very quick to anger. If we have a row he will shout and swear at me and he regularly tells me I am stupid and difficult to get along with, people don't like me etc. I have just had our second child and really need some support and kindness and love and I am just not getting it, the arguments and the anger continue.
Today he went and got our DS birth certificate and I was going to ask him if he was going to use it to open a bank account for our son (as we have discussed doing this) and before I had even finished the question he told me that I couldn't question him and am argument just escalated from there and he shouted and swore at me several times and he tells me it's my fault, I make him angry and I am a unreasonable.
I haven't told anyone in real life how bad it has got. I am really close to my parents and I don't want to involve them as they really like him and truthfully if I tell them how bad it is and we stay together it will be hard for them to get on with him again.
I just don't know what to do, I have tried to talking to him. Part of me just wants to be away from him with our sons but where will i go and our son is happy at nursery etc. and then I would have to tell people what has been going on.
I love him and have known him forever I don't want to split up but I really don't know what to do and I feel that I have no one to talk to. Feel very lonely.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 15/03/2019 15:55

Its not you, its him. Such men do not change and its worth separating over. Its over anyway because of his abuse of you
(and in turn your children who are witness to all this from him too).

How long have you known him?. Did you meet him when you were very young, say late teens, yourself?. Do not get stuck on the sunken costs fallacy here; the damage is already done.

The only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is NONE.
Abuse like you describe and it is abuse thrives on secrecy. You've written about him on here and that is an important first step out, you deserve all credit for writing about him as you have done. Please start opening up further to others like a trusted, reliable girlfriend or your parents, they may well have their private based suspicions about him. They should support you. Abusers as well can be quite plausible to those in the outside world too but you know what he is really like behind closed doors.

He is merely projecting his own self hatred onto you; he is the one who people do not get along with etc. He is using you as a scapegoat for all his inherent ills, ills that you did not cause. He does not know what love is and his actions towards you are in no way loving ones. His actions are about power and control; he wants absolute over you (and in turn your sons) here.

You've being emotionally abused by him here and your children, particularly your eldest, will pick up on this if they have not already. They will react to this. They cannot and should not be raised within such a toxic and abusive environment because it will harm them too. Would you want your children to be in a relationship where they go onto swear at their spouses because she has asked a perfectly reasonable question, no you would not. Its not good enough for you either.

You are not at all responsible for his happiness or for he as a person; you are only responsible for your own self here. Abusive people say that its always the other person's fault, that the other person (in this case you here) drove him to behave like this. Its utter rubbish, you have done nothing wrong here. The man would have an argument with and in an empty room.

You are married to this person and thus have rights in law; exercise those and see a Solicitor re your legal rights here asap. Knowledge here too is power.

Its not your fault he is like this, you did not cause this to happen and such men do not change. Talking to him is a waste of time and do not ever entertain the idea of any joint counselling sessions with him.

Look at his parents too OP; I would imagine that his own dad behaves the same towards his mother.

Please contact Womens Aid on 0808 2000 247, they can and will help you also here. Keep posting here too and cover your tracks online; you need a safe outlet.

lifebegins50 · 15/03/2019 16:16

If he refuses to talk to you calmly about what is happening then he is unlikely to change.

It seems he wants to be in complete control, ensuring you walk on eggshells if you ask him a question. The reason they do this is because it works as I bet you are modifying your behaviour.

The fact that he acts like this when you have just given birth is even more despicable.

Don't be afraid to tell people, it is very common for abusive men to have an outside persona and a different side when with a partner.
Speak to wonens aid, keep a journal, tell family. When he is unreasonable and if you feel safe tell him you think his behaviour is unacceptable.

What was his childhood like?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 15/03/2019 16:35

I haven't told anyone in real life how bad it has got.

Please tell them. It will take some of his control away. And make it real.

I am really close to my parents and I don't want to involve them as they really like him and truthfully if I tell them how bad it is and we stay together it will be hard for them to get on with him again.

Why on earth would you want to stay with someone who treats you like this? And for God's sake don't say "For the sake of the children, he's a good Dad...' He's not. He's a shit Dad who treats their Mum awfully.

He will not change. So unless you want to live like this for the rest of your life, you need to leave. Do NOT tell him until you've made plans and are gone.

Part of me just wants to be away from him with our sons but where will i go and our son is happy at nursery etc. and then I would have to tell people what has been going on.

Stay with your parents initially? Your son will be happy at a different nursery if you need to change. He will be happy if his Mummy is happy.

helppleaseDH · 15/03/2019 19:17

Thank you so much for all your advice it means a lot and it's really helpful to talk to someone about this. I think my emotions are all over the place at the moment given that I've just had the baby. I want him to try and change and get some help with his anger but he won't agree that he has a problem. Hearing it described as abuse is really hard. I am difficult in some ways I know but I am just desperate at this stage for some love and affection and I don't get any. Sorry this is a bit stream of consciousness I'm typing with one hand whilst feeding the baby!

OP posts:
helppleaseDH · 31/03/2019 10:42

I hope you don't mind but I need somewhere and someone to talk to about what is going on with my husband, I haven't been able to tell anyone in real life yet.

The arguing and the nastiness from him is so bad now, I really don't know how to move forward and I think it is making me depressed. Our second DS is now almost 5 weeks.

Last night we somehow ended up having a row and he repeatedly told me to fuck off and kept saying how I have no humility and that my ego is what is causing us problems. This is not true, I have no ego, I don't really even have any self confidence anymore. He told me that I am not even on the same level as him intellectually, he regularly says this.

I was just taking our baby upstairs to bed and he kept saying fuck off, so I told him not to speak to me like that and looked at him sternly.

He then got up from the sofa in a very confrontational way, in the way that men do when they are going to start a fight and came towards me saying what am I going to do about it, why am I standing there. He didn't do anything physical and I don't think he ever would but I am worried this is an escalation in his behaviour.

I went up to bed and did all the wake ups and after I begged him he gave our son one half a bit bottle and then went back to sleep and refused to do anything else. He hasn't done any night feeds since our son was born. He has been brilliant with looking after our toddler and does loads for him ( doing his bath and taking him to nursery a couple of days a week) so I am not sure if I am being unreasonable to ask him to help with the baby too. I find the newborn stages really hard and don't enjoy it. I love my son of course, but I find the first 6 months terrible, it was the same with our first son.

This morning I got us all ready for church and then he asked where I was going to sit in the church with the baby and said he was going to sit with our toddler, but not with me and the baby because he didn't want to "play happy families".
That was very hurtful and so I stayed at home with the baby.

He hasn't said happy Mother's Day or even really spoken to me at all this morning.

I am really struggling and I have no one in RL to talk to, so could really do with some advice and support. I don't know how to make it better.

OP posts:
myotherbagisgucci · 31/03/2019 11:28

Oh OP, your H sounds awful and YOU shouldn't have to live like this!

If you've no one to speak too in RL, maybe try giving Women's aid a call.

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/about-us/contact/

But as other PP have said, don't be afraid to talk to your parents. I'm sure they'll be understanding and offer you the support you need. Thanks

nakedscientist · 31/03/2019 11:39

You need to get away from him.

Tell your parents and talk to women's aid.

Good luck

HollowTalk · 31/03/2019 11:44

He sounds absolutely awful. You really need to get away from him. I know your parents like him but would they help you? Could you stay with them? Is your vicar/priest approachable?

helppleaseDH · 31/03/2019 11:46

My parents would help me in a heart beat, I just can't bring myself to tell them because once I do that's it, it's over and we have to split up and then everything changes. My parents paid for a massive wedding for us a few years ago and we have all known him for 12 years, they would be so shocked to hear what he does and so upset and I don't want to do that to them.

OP posts:
helppleaseDH · 31/03/2019 11:47

Would women's aid to talk me even though he isn't physical?

OP posts:
kingseven · 31/03/2019 11:48

Happy Mother's Day to you. The newborn stage is hard so huge respect for you carrying that alone. I'm sure you're doing a much better job than you can imagine. I'm sorry it clearly isn't appreciated.

I hope Mother's Day next year finds you in a happier place.

helppleaseDH · 31/03/2019 11:49

Thank you kingseven that's lovely

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 31/03/2019 11:51

You simply cannot stay with him simply because you want to protect your parents. Would you want your daughter to do that? Trust your parents, let them in to this awful part of your life and let them help you.

Yes, it would be over, then. But you know this sounds as though it could escalate to physical violence in which case your life could end and your children could be motherless with a father in prison.

Act now, OP. Go to see them and tell them, "I want you to help me not to go back." Trust them. If they are good parents they will do whatever they can now, if only you trust them enough to tell them.

Treaclesweet · 31/03/2019 11:53

What you're describing, threatening you demeaning you, bullying you, ostracising you, is emotional abuse. What he is doing is illegal. Women's aid will be able to help you. It isn't your fault and I'm sure your parents would not want you to suffer alone.

Quartz2208 · 31/03/2019 11:53

You have to tell themOP because he is escalating and his abuse is getting worse there is no saving this
Because he is already setting the siblings against each other as one bring better

Beebumble2 · 31/03/2019 11:55

His behaviour is shocking. Does he go to church because he is a Christian or because it makes him look good?
Please tell your parents, this can’t go on and you need support, otherwise your mental and physical health is seriously at risk.
For your sake and that of your children do not put up with this.

helppleaseDH · 31/03/2019 12:03

He is catholic we all are. He is from a very traditional African background so they always go to church. I know I need to tell them I just can't bring myself to do it

OP posts:
supadupapupascupa · 31/03/2019 12:05

Is there anyway you can record on your phone one of his outbursts? Maybe it would make it easier to tell your parents by showing them?

AnyFucker · 31/03/2019 12:11

If I was your parent I would be very upset if you didn't tell me the situation you are living in

This man is abusive and the way he treats you is a terrible lesson for your sons to be witnessing

timeisnotaline · 31/03/2019 12:15

Please please call your parents. Even better could you drive yourself and the children over to theirs? Xx

helppleaseDH · 31/03/2019 12:19

That just what they would say AnyFucker. They live 2 hours away from us.
He just came home from church with a massive bunch of flowers and cards from our sons. I just don't know why he can't control his anger towards me.
I am sorry but I am not strong enough to leave him yet I don't think. I know I can't carry on like this but I also can't bring myself to walk away.

OP posts:
Hidingtonothing · 31/03/2019 12:31

Yes, Women's Aid can help with all types of abuse OP, it can be hard to get through on the main number but do keep trying. You can also look for your local service, if you click on this link and scroll down until you get to 'Search by region or local authority' and then enter your area it should give you details www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-abuse-directory/ The local services don't tend to be 24 hour but it's usually easier to get through during opening hours.

I'm really quite concerned by the way he's escalating, I know it's hard and scary but please talk to someone. I can understand how you feel about telling your parents but I think it's getting to the stage where you getting some support and someone knowing what's happening is more important than protecting his future relationship with his in laws.

I do think from what you've written that you need to have your safety at the forefront of your mind though, the getting up from the sofa thing is worrying because it's a sign he's moving from purely verbal abuse to physical intimidation and it's really not such a huge step from there to actual violence so your safety is paramount.

This must feel like it's happening to someone else, it's so difficult when it's someone you love and you've never known them to be abusive. I think it's safe to say that you can no longer trust anything you thought you knew about this man though and that means you need to start thinking about what's best for you and your boys. I'm so sorry this is happening to you OP, please get some help Flowers

October60 · 31/03/2019 14:04

Does he do drugs?

PoshPenny · 31/03/2019 14:10

If you were my daughter I really really really would want to know if you were unhappy in your marriage because your husband was being horrible to you Thanks you really must tell them what is really going on

helppleaseDH · 31/03/2019 18:15

I know that he smokes weed some evenings, could that be causing the anger?

OP posts:
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