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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

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AIBU to just want to give up on my marriage? I'm just burnt out on his crap.

134 replies

TriJo · 31/08/2019 13:24

Mid-30s, 8 years with DH, 4 years married and two DCs (3.5 and 19 months).

I'm exhausted.

We both work full time in office based STEM jobs, but after that he does almost nothing at home. I do all the cooking, most of the cleaning, all the laundry, most of the childcare for two very active little boys, take on all the mental load around the house and end up having to facilitate his time consuming hobby. He literally would sit around doing nothing while I'm working my arse off and it's unbelievably annoying.

I've suffered from postnatal depression since the birth of my second child, he literally won't listen when I tell him something is wrong. I've been told "you're ruining my holiday" and had the car radio turned up at me when I told him I was at a low point and he's trying to convince me to come off my meds ever since I commented on side effects. They're actually working, fatigue is a side effect.

He deliberately does things that provoke my anxiety too and tries to blame me afterwards, it's very frustrating. A couple of weeks ago he said we were going for a drive and absolutely refused to tell me where we were going, then started having a go at me for not being prepared for a longer day out than anticipated when we ran out of nappies.

He has also been sexually coercive - there have been quite a few times where he makes me feel like I can't say no. After the birth of our first child he pushed and pushed until I gave in to sex 24 days after the birth, it hurt but he didn't seem to care. He also won't wear condoms or get the snip, I can't do hormonal contraception as it has serious mental health implications for me so I have a copper IUD despite the fact that I bleed to a ridiculous degree with it (I'm veggie and prone to low iron so this causes me issues every month!). When I was breastfeeding our second baby he got a massive breastfeeding fetish and would not stop grabbing my boobs and trying to suck on them and squirt milk on himself even when I clearly said no and asked him to stop. I gave up after 5 months as it was becoming incredibly triggering every time my son latched on.

It just feels like everything in my life is about him and his needs, he's even called me out for "giving the kids too much attention"! He makes financial decisions without asking me and seems to think that "better to beg forgiveness than ask permission" is a life motto. He even threw a shoe at me a couple of weeks ago after I asked him to do a simple thing he didn't want to do, then got into the car and drove off with one of the children and a backpack which had my phone and house keys in it.

I went to visit family with the children last weekend and he was on his best behaviour all week, even talking about house buying at the end of the week. I'm not signing for anything with him but I think he wants to lock me in.

I think I want out but I have no idea where to go from here. None of my family live in the UK and I'm only a year in this city.

OP posts:
DungeonDweller · 31/08/2019 21:09

Op, call women's aid. They will help you work out how to make leaving him doable if you aren't sure what that looks like on your own.

womaninthedark · 31/08/2019 21:12

Get out.
Being a single parent won't be more work than you have already.
And being free of the lazy sex pest will make everything worthwhile.

CoolLikeOvie · 31/08/2019 21:45

Christ, OP. He sounds horrific. FWIW, I was in a terribly abusive relationship, and my DCs dad wasn't happy when I left either. Was horrible for a few months, but I absolutely couldn't be happier now. And you're in a good position financially to manage. I reckon your depression will swiftly and significantly improve upon leaving the bastard. Thanks

Cryalot2 · 31/08/2019 21:59

Poor you op , you and your kids deserve much better. Your partner is abusive and you and the kids need out fast.
Womans aid/ refuge will know how to help best. They are good kind friendly places who really know how to help and support women .
I could have cried when I read your post.
Flowers good wishes

WhoKnew19 · 31/08/2019 22:01

FFS OP, you poor, poor woman. No other advice from me but LTB Flowers

TooManyPaws · 31/08/2019 22:12

Leave ASAP.

Being a single parent will be better. You are already a single parent, doing all the work of running a household and parenting, only with the presence of a rapist who assaults, mentally and emotionally abused you, and gaslights. Imagine how much easier life will be without him hanging around your neck like a heavy chain. He will also have to pay child maintenance so it won't be just your salary to live on; his space and the council tax reduction are far more valuable than him.

Techway · 31/08/2019 23:26

These covert abusers are the worst types. Charming outside so you are left wondering if it's you. It takes a heartless bastard to watch someone they are supposed to love run themselves into the ground and hd sounds devoid of empathy. You are wise to be cautious on house buying as that seemed to escalate abuse in my situation.
I was on ADs whilst married but felt much better once I was divorced so I am sure your mental health will improve.

Seek support as that will validate your feelings.

Does he model similar behaviour from his parents?

TriJo · 01/09/2019 08:57

Techway His dad was violent towards his mum and all the kids. My dad is an alcoholic and emotionally and financially abusive.

OP posts:
Whosorrynow · 01/09/2019 10:13

To me he sounds narcissistic sociopathic and malign

TriJo · 19/09/2019 13:28

(If this could be moved to relationships that would be great...)

My counsellor told me to get out ASAP. I feel absolutely sick with anxiety. There has been more verbal abuse and that was in front of the children because I was getting stressed out at packing in a hotel room with a child wrapped around each leg while he was lying on the bed on his phone.

OP posts:
ethelfleda · 19/09/2019 13:34

Your post made me feel very angry on your behalf OP and I don’t even know you.
I’m speechless. This is really about as bad s it gets.

NigesFakeWalkingStick · 19/09/2019 14:04

Get out.

I had something similar after the birth of my (now 3) y/o. Verbal abuse, emotional abuse, some physical. He also cultivated this image of the perfect person, undermined my parenting, refused to acknowledge my PND and spent hours on a hobby blissfully ignorant to the mental load that was crushing me.

I called woman's aid and I got out. We now have a civil relationship that has improved with time as he's had a lot of therapy to unpick his various issues that stem from childhood. He acknowledges he was the problem but I can't promise your DH will do the same thing, it has helped though. In all honesty, this man sounds 10x worse than my ex.

itbemay1 · 04/01/2020 22:58

Hey OP just wondered how you are doing?

TriJo · 25/01/2020 12:11

I'm out. I moved into a 2 bed apartment 2 weeks ago with my children about 3 miles from where I was living.

He was arrested for rape in December and is currently still under investigation after a month of bail conditions.

OP posts:
Antihop · 25/01/2020 12:15

Well done op. I'm so happy that you're free.Flowers

drum123 · 25/01/2020 12:26

That is great news, OP. Here's to your future free of coercion, abuse and fear. All the very best wishes to you and your children.
It might be worth starting a new thread about getting out, referencing this thread, as a lot of people will start reading this and give you advice which is no longer needed.

strawberry2017 · 25/01/2020 12:27

You have done amazing! Well done for getting out.
I'm so sorry you had to go through everything you did but I'm so happy that you can start a new life with your gorgeous children x

Frenchw1fe · 25/01/2020 12:34

Well done. Take good care of yourself.Flowers

Mummyzzz044 · 25/01/2020 13:17

I honestly feel so so sorry for you, you deserve so much better than that.
After having a baby not so long ago I couldn't imagine my DP nagging for sex. He would just never, you were abused.
You only get one life. Be happy!!! You will adapt and make it work. Find someone who values you.
By the way. The breast feeding fetish would make me sick. That's so disturbing to me. WTF.

GrimDamnFanjo · 25/01/2020 13:18

So relieved you and the kids are safe. I wish you well xxx

SkySmiler · 25/01/2020 13:33

Fantastic news, wishing you and your little lads a wonderful life x

chilling19 · 25/01/2020 13:40

Well done 💐

Morgan12 · 25/01/2020 13:46

@trijo you are amazing Flowers

Well done! I wish you and the boys all the best.

ImADadButThatsOKIsntIt · 25/01/2020 13:53

That’s great news OP. You’ve been really brave and thank you for coming back to update us. A family friend was in a very similar position to you a while back, and leaving has been the making of her

Frazzled2207 · 25/01/2020 14:11

Just rtft. Well done you, definitely the right call.
Hopefully all is well so far. Great if your mum could come and stay for a bit if possible.

From what you said before it sounds like you are I a fairly ok financial position so onwards and upwards. Hopefully you can sort a divorce soon.

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