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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

Please, please can someone advise me.

50 replies

Coconutsandcobbles · 13/06/2019 18:15

I live on my own with my children (preschool age). Husband left before Christmas. He has contact every 2-3 weeks depending on his work pattern. He is really horrible towards me.. critical/ angry/ manipulative/ messes me around every contact (changes plans at last minute weekly), cancels night before, brings children back late. I have done everything to help him to have a good relationship with the children...regular skyping, keeping him updated on the children, photos, letting him decide exactly when he has them.
I left him because of his abusive behaviour towards me.
I can't bare to see him anymore. What are my options? I want to reduce contact until he sticks to what he has agreed. Can I do this? He can pretty much see them as frequently as he wants providing he turns up when he says he will, drops them back home when he says he will and isn't nasty to me. Am I being unreasonable,? What can I do? I feel like a 3rd party should be involved. I'm worried impact everything is starting to have on kids...e.g. They are looking forward to seeing him next day then he cancels suddenly..but also means I can't plan anything for myself. Can't plan anything with friends as always end up having to pull out. 2 weeks ago I was supposed to be going to see a show with friends. He changed plans- picked them up next day...I lost cost of ticket and going to see a show I was looking forward to.
He knows how to hurt me and will say stuff that just leaves me feeling dreadful. He lies all the time. What can I do? This can't go on. Somehow he gives impression he is perfect dad. I hate him. I've tried so, so hard to just focus on the children, not respond to his putdowns and insults but I cannot cope with him. Help!
He seems more interested in hurting me than being a good dad. Please help. What are my 'rights' ?

OP posts:
Sandrabennet · 13/06/2019 23:40

Sounds to me he’s trying to make your life hell. Sounds like a control freak. What you need to do is don’t let it show that’s it’s effecting you. Focus on you and be happy.

Coconutsandcobbles · 14/06/2019 00:22

Yes- He is trying to make my life hell. He's succeeding.
What information should/ do I need to be sharing with him about the children.? I was keeping him involved in their lives as much as possible but it's become too much. What do I need to tell him,? Is it ok not to update him daily? Am I supposed to tell him anything medical...sounds silly we were at dentist today. Should I have told him? I'm scared the fact I don't contact him that much now. He's going to say I'm stopping him being in their lives.
It was incredibly hard for me splitting with him/ getting him to leave..took many years for me to pluck up courage.
I

OP posts:
Sandrabennet · 14/06/2019 00:27

I wouldn’t contact him about everything only serious matters like if you go in hospital. Keep contact with him to a minimal. This is your life and don’t think you owe him anything. Your doing a good job letting him see the kids. If you keep updating him about everything that means he still have that control over you. Dentist you don’t need to contact him about not unless it’s something concerning. Just be happy within yourself and the rest will follow. Remember you haven’t got to contact him about everything with the kids only if it’s concerning.

Coconutsandcobbles · 14/06/2019 05:58

Thanks Sandra. I don't need to tell him if they are ill or have taken medication then? I don't mean anything serious- just normal childhood stuff...like a 24 hour tummy bug? Me giving Calpol when they are in pain?

I feel like if it goes to court that would go against me as I'm not keeping dad informed.

I've been told that one my children might be referred to physio due to a health condition they've got that's a bit worse at the moment. At the moment we are just watching n waiting. Do I need to tell him this? It was always a possibility..

OP posts:
prawnsword · 14/06/2019 06:19

You are clearly still emotionally under his controlling thumb. He sounds likely abusive, especially as you say he plays the part of perfect spring daddy to to outside world.

Please do some independent research on post separation communication strategies. No you don’t have to contact him daily & let him know everything. Write it in the contact book so When he picks the kids up he knows if one is sick or needs medication etc.

If they go to a docs appointment I would send a brief text outlining the outcome of their appointment.

You want to avoid daily communication or any communication that turns into a back & forth conversation.

You sound terrified of his anger. But you must be strong & let him be angry. Turn the phone off. Go out. Do not wait around for him until 2pm because he cancelled plans at 9am. He is clearly trying to control your life from afar. He will do anything to make your new life difficult. You should not be changing your plans to accomodate or prevent his angry abusive outburst.

Keep a diary & supportive texts to show he has failed to turn up at agreed times. I also agree to meet in a public place.

Also agree do not reschedule visitation - if he isn’t there he misses out.

Next he will likely try to regain control over you by keeping the kids longer to scare you - what you must do when this happens is appear to be relieved & elated that he wants to spend more time with them, so you can go out / do weekly hobby etc. Once he knows you like the free time he will drop them back sooner.

Basically you need to be smart, cunning & practice reverse psychology on him.

You can get a burner phone just for him, leave it in a drawer & check it mid-week. Don’t be messaging him back daily.

You were very strong to leave him - but controlling & abusive men only escalate or change tactics, which is what he is doing here. Using visitation to control you.

disneyspendingmoney · 14/06/2019 08:52

prawnsword wrote if for me. There is no definition or requirement what information is reasonable and when it occurs or even how you pass that information on. You could send him a postcard every six months.

I feel that you are suffering from the aftermath of excessive control and you brain and body have been condition to respond to that. It will take some time to move on and you will continue to suffer control hangovers, especially from hollow threats.

disneyspendingmoney · 14/06/2019 09:14

oh and watch out for being goaded, this is done to make you react in a negative way and to be subsequently used against you

mumto2babyboys · 14/06/2019 11:47

I've been through family court with my horrible ex. The court will suggest you keep a communication book

and write and medications or sickness or upcoming hospital appointments in there

Cut off all contact with him apart from replying to whatever he writes in the communication book

and you will start to feel so much better

Whosorrynow · 14/06/2019 12:37

Yes goading is a technique used to draw you out, to make you show your hand, to make you break cover
This is why he prefers to speak on the phone or in person, because he can make you react

Coconutsandcobbles · 14/06/2019 13:37

I'm reading everything and taking it all in.

I've always believed that he couldn't help behaving the way he does...I blamed his childhood (which I'm not aware was actually particularly bad?!), thought maybe he had depression or a mental health condition. So I felt I had to stay coz it's not his fault. I'm not sure anymore but I still feel really bad for him.

I've set up communication book- I'll give it him when he collects them later.

I am scared of him going mad. I understand why he's doing this. Both are lives - not just mine- would be much better if he was reasonable. I don't see what he is gaining. He does love the children. What does he gain by hurting their mummy?! I'd love to involve him more in their lives but he's just so nasty I can't so he misses out.

What's the point in having a separate phone for communication with him? He knows my mobile number so I can't stop him messaging me on that...

Thank you.

OP posts:
category12 · 14/06/2019 13:42

You move your main contacts to your new phone/sim and use the new one day to day, so that the only person who uses your present number is him. Then you switch off that phone, put it in a drawer and only look at it every couple of days when you're ready. That way you have control and choice over when you pick up his messages, rather than him being able to get at you whenever he feels like it.

disneyspendingmoney · 14/06/2019 13:45

you can go into the contact settings, set no rigerir vibration, and there is a block or call screen feature in both android and iPhone. There is also a feature to divert to voice mail. you can do this with most emails text and messenger apps, it's very useful

Whosorrynow · 14/06/2019 13:48

he won't be reasonable because that implies treating you as an equal and he wants to treat you as a subordinate, that's why he won't cooperate
He is also motivated by a desire to punish you for your insubordination

mumto2babyboys · 14/06/2019 13:51

Op you just aren't in the head space yet

Plan not to speak to him at all outside of the communication book for the next 2 months and you will get there

You are still emotionally involved and of course you; are you have children with him but you need to separate yourself from it now because he sure as hell does not care about you

Also him not sticking to the times you can write in the communication book and then you will have actual evidence to show the family court judge

Also take photos of every page in the book in case he steals it or accidentally loses it then you have photos of it all as a back up that you can print out

mumto2babyboys · 14/06/2019 13:52

You can also change your number for free with your phone provider and never give him the number

RandomMess · 14/06/2019 14:33

This is why you need WA to help you deflect his bad behaviour to him and emotionally detach.

Thanks
Coconutsandcobbles · 14/06/2019 15:44

To be honest, I wouldn't dare write in the book that he's cancelled contact/ changed contact- he would go mad. But I am going to keep my own log.

I don't think he does care about me though he confuses me- he got me a lovely Mother's Day present and now and again says what a good job I'm doing as a mum. I'd rather no gift- just be civil with me.

OP posts:
mumto2babyboys · 14/06/2019 16:16

@Coconutsandcobbles
If you are afraid to write his actions honestly in a communication book you are under his spell

Why do you have to see him face to face at all ever again? You don't

Use a contact centre for handover

Collect the children from his car while he stays in the car. You seriously do not have to ever speak to the waste of space again

It just takes time

Could you try giving yourself 2months if no contact at all with him???

Coconutsandcobbles · 17/06/2019 09:07

He hasn't returned the communication book. Said it's at home somewhere. Gave me no information about how children have been/ what they've eaten at all. Sad
Now what?!

OP posts:
PickAChew · 17/06/2019 09:23

I wouldn't expect a truthful detailed account from him, even if he did use the book.

Stick with the suggestion of number for him, only, all communication by text. You don't need to exchange blow by blow accounts of their days. Keep the communication basic. No pleading. You call the shots and tell him how it will be and you don't dance around facilitating his desire to be an arse. So, as suggested, meet you at 9am in the library, to collect the kids. Be gone and busy by 9:30, if he doesn't show.

Use the calendar on your phone to log all arrangements and note the outcome.

IsThisSeeSawTaken · 17/06/2019 09:41

Assuming that he does love the children as you believe (this is a big assumption for me to make, but to consider otherwise would be a whole other issue), he would have done nice things with them and fed them. You have the children most of the time. You can nourish them with good meals when they’re back with you.

Is it a surprise that he’s forgotten the book? Is it a surprise that you’re feeling stumped by this and you don’t know what the next step is, especially since you are now trying to take steps to minimise his controlling abusive behaviour towards you?

Easy way around this - buy a spiral bound type notebook and tie a ribbon between the spiral binding and the handles of the children’s bag so that the bag always goes with the book.

Don’t let yourself appear too distressed - I know it’s difficult to hide it when you meet in person, so learn and practise a few generic multipurpose phrases to say regardless of the distress in your own head. That way you can still come across a little frustrated / upset but not to the extent where he would feel that he’s scored another petty controlling point against you. Have them on rotation, eg:

  1. Oh that old nugget... getting forgetful are we?
  2. Never mind, it happens. Send it back the next time or I can get a new one for us to use.
  3. It’s fine, I know the kids are absolutely in safe hands, but it’s nice to have a diary so I can pass you the most important messages when you’re not with them.

Say it convincingly and try to stay detached. I think you are fantastically courageous to have left in the first place. You will keep getting tougher.

Reluctantbettlynch · 17/06/2019 10:25

He's messing himself up. He hasn't returned the communication book, then you can't complete for him either. His problem.
Detach, and ignore him. Keep records of everything.

Coconutsandcobbles · 08/07/2019 21:32

Hello. Sorry I disappeared. Things difficult.
He keeps sending awful, awful messages putting me down, so nasty. I am in such a state after getting a message.
He is still messing me about every time he has the children. And walking round our house criticising the house.
Little one had an accident last time he had them. Had few stitches in hospital. Never told me just let me see stitches/ scar on my child.

I have changed my number but still check both phones all the time. Stupid, I know. Thanks.

OP posts:
Robin2323 · 08/07/2019 22:00

My ex would never let me know if he was taking our daughter fir the week end until Friday.
I never knew where I was.

In the end, after a friend suggested it, I said every other weekend.

If he missed his weekend too bad.

Anyway he didn't take me seriously and still kept messing about.
I try to accommodate him so as not ti rock the boat.

In the end he wanted her for a very important family do.

It was not his weekend so I say
Sunday only. He Moan about how busy he would be on Sunday setting up and wanted to pick her up Saturday but I stuck to my guns and said no.

It was the first time I'd stood up to him.

He never messed about again.

SusieOwl4 · 09/07/2019 00:05

Sounds like you have evidence of emotional abuse . Keep it all .

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