Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Dp and Ds 8th birthday yesterday.

941 replies

Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 12:30

It was ds's birthday yesterday, on Friday I went and got his gifts while doing the weekly shop, Saturday went into town to get his cake twice! as Ds was with me and decided on one that needed to be made so we collected later in the evening.

DP had promised DS to go to softplay on Sunday (his birthday), Sunday comes around and I'm finding DS something to wear and say about "when we come back...." and DP shouts through, "We're not going" I ignored it...

Next I'm in the kitchen and DP comes in "We don't really have to go do we?" I said yes as DS has been looking forward to it and he promised DS.

The DP comes up with a genius plan wherby we invite some of DS friends (a family 5 minutes walk away) and then DP can stay at home, so I agree, I know if he comes now he'll be extremely moody and ruin it. This has happened before with a planned bike ride, DP promised it, didn't want to go on the actual day (as always) and then had a MASSIVE tantrum, he refused to talk to me for the entire bike ride.

So I agreed, I phoned my friend and she said they'd love to go. The plan was to go to her house, then to lidl and catch the bus together.
When I got to her house she wasn't ready, ended up making all the kids lunch and we left after 2 hours. Got to softplay, left softplay and then my oyster wasn't working so we all walked home.

It took a bit longer than expected and we reached home at 5pm. I asked DP if he had started the roast dinner (DS requested birthday meal) and he said no, later adding "Why should I slave around in the kitchen while you and DS have a day out" (I'd already prepared it all in the morning, he just needed to turn it on) Before we left for softplay, he had told DS that he wasn't going as he was going to the shop to buy DS his gifts (Lie as I'd already got and wrapped them). When we came back DP had got the gifts and the cake and set them up nicely. It was lovely. DS was excited as only asked for 1 toy but got 3. All the way through DS was saying "Thanks dad, thanks dad for the gifts" DP said nothing.

I was cooking the meal and asked DP to make fresh gravy (I am rubbish at it) He did and said you can make gravy from water or milk, I made a comment that from milk sounds disgusting, he gave me an absolutely filthy look and started having a go saying I never try new foods, (not true). The led on to I always finish what he is saying and I'm obviously not interested onto how I am not "here" in my head, and always floating away somewhere. (Because he'd made me cry and I wasn't completely over everything instantly) At one point he even said "That's what happened, accept it", he told me how I behave and then when I disagreed he later said that "we had agreed that I was behaving in such a way" I asked him to stop numerous times as it was DS's birthday.

He wouldn't. He then had a go at me for taking DS out with another family on his birthday, and when I said "Maybe you should have come then!" He flew off the handle saying I had said he was a bad dad! He would not stop shouting, I tried to DS's cake, asked him if he wanted to sing "happy birthday" with us, he accused me of asking him if he wants to have cake with us, thus calling him a bad dad again. No amount of "I never said that" mattered. I relented, cut DS his cake, apologised to him and we tried to play xbox while DP was still going on.

He eventually stopped, and then never spoke to me at all for the rest of the evening (so from 8pm onwards) Went to bed alone (unusual for us) Refused to touch me in the night.

Then today, he sends me a message saying "we had to buy ds presents on credit" as if that's an excuse.

I am utterly fed up of this now. I did so much yet it still wasn't enough. He tried to hug me this morning (after he came back from work because it was cold) and I'm just sick of it. AIBU in any of this?

OP posts:
mamandematribu · 05/11/2019 11:24

Why are you with this man? He sounds awfully

Blippolbblopp · 05/11/2019 11:26

mamandematribu i suggest you read the full thread.

Whiskers14 · 05/11/2019 11:26

mamandematribu That's not a very helpful comment. Have you not bothered to read the past few pages? She knows he's awful, that's why she's left him now.

riotlady · 05/11/2019 11:26

Well done, OP! You’re doing a hard thing but it’s definitely the right thing. My dad was very similar and I am so grateful that my mum left and I didn’t have to live with it for 18 years.

Will he thinking of you, we’re all behind you Flowers

TimeIhadaNameChange · 05/11/2019 11:29

Not sure if this has already been suggested, but turn off anything on your phone that locates you. You don't want him using it to find out where you are.

dizzycatdance2 · 05/11/2019 11:33

Oh I am tearing up in the middle of a busy cafe reading your update.
What a wonderful, insightful ds you have, you have raised, and are ,so,so totally , continuing to raise him well. Well done!

yellowallpaper · 05/11/2019 11:39

This is my exH. Don't hang on like I did hoping he will change. Every holiday, Christmas, birthday event. Even his own fathers funeral. Ditch

UpTheLaganInABubble · 05/11/2019 11:40

You are amazing Op. your son's response to you leaving has made me teary, he just seems so relieved. You have 100% done the right thing for you both Thanks

VimFuego101 · 05/11/2019 11:43

Well done, OP. Please stay safe. Your son's reaction tells you all you need to know about whether you made the right decision or not.

justthecat · 05/11/2019 11:47

Your sons reaction to you both leaving confirms you’ve 100% done the right thing, well done

Toddlerteaplease · 05/11/2019 11:49

Well done OP. You sound amazing. Stay strong and good luck for the future!

Fedupofitnow123 · 05/11/2019 12:01

When exdp starts phoning and texting later, do I have to answer, do I have to explain why I've left?

OP posts:
user1492809438 · 05/11/2019 12:05

Read the updates with bated breath, so very glad you are both out. Amazing woman and amazing child.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 05/11/2019 12:07

Firstly, I would follow someone else's advice on here about making sure you switch off any 'Find my' apps on your phone.

No, you don't have to answer.

You could just text with something like 'We are safe but we are not coming back. Will contact you in the future regarding access to DS, if he wants to see you."

Then switch your phone off and breathe... maybe make an appointment with a solicitor if you're up to it?

But for now just cuddle your son and allow yourself to be supported by your family.

SevenStones · 05/11/2019 12:10

Op, well done!

You need to find out if he has any tracking software installed on the phone. Then switch it off for a while. You don't need to interact with him right now.

DowntonCrabby · 05/11/2019 12:12

Well done OP.

Don’t answer. If you’re somewhere safe now, call the police and report his physical, financial and coercive control and abuse. Let them go to the house later, they’ll be able to get evidence of the cameras etc.

He’s an abuser, he won’t be reasonable to talk to. Block him on everything now and let him go down the legal route for contact.

Write an account of everything that’s happened over the years and in the last few days while it’s sfkll fresh.

Do you have access to money? Are you with family who will support you and SA meantime?

You are amazing, strong and you and your boy will have a fantastic future. Please promise us you will NEVER go back, no matter how much he begs and twist things. He will twist tbongs, remember how strong you are.

Press all the charges you possibly can. Also contact your Mw ASAP and report it all to her too.

You’ve got this. You are free. Flowers

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 05/11/2019 12:13

I would send him an email saying you are safe and you have left due to his violent and controlling behaviour.
Change your sim so he doesn’t have your number. Get a cheap payg phone and give him that number. You can then switch it off when you don’t want to hear from him.

Note - if he sends any abusive or threatening messages - save them. It is proof of his behaviour towards you.

3rdNamechange · 05/11/2019 12:15

This is not PC , he sounds fucking mad. Get him out or get yourself out. It's a dangerous time when you're pregnant , please. 💐 I know it's not easy but you will feel instantly better.

bloodypassword · 05/11/2019 12:15

No, don't answer. You may well feel (wrongly) guilty but don't answer. Your duty is to yourself and your lovely DS. Stay strong. Don't let him bully you into responding. He may well give you a sob story. Or get angry or threatening. Keep his messages. But don't respond. Good luck. We're all behind you. X

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 05/11/2019 12:18

3rdNamechange
She got out this morning.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 05/11/2019 12:21

OP

You are in control now. I know he is still in your head but you owe him no consideration. It doesn’t matter if he wants to speak to you; you don’t want to speak to him.

Lillygolightly · 05/11/2019 12:23

Most Important - do NOT answer any phone calls or texts from him, do NOT answer any calls from withheld numbers of numbers you do not recognise. Consider putting your phone in Aeroplane mode and blocking his number for a good while. I say this because having been through it, the first thing he is going to do is be angry, shout and abuse you and stress you out. Then once the anger doesn’t work the guilt tripping and crocodile tears start and he may even beg. You absolutely and utterly do not need to hear any of this, you do not need him making you feel guilty or doubting yourself or you abilities. You have 100% done the right thing in leaving for you and your DS and unborn baby. If you would like to give him the courtesy of letting him know you and DS are safe and that you’ve left and not coming back get a family member to text/tell him, but tell that family member that you do not under any circumstances want see or hear about any replies from your ex.

At this early point of leaving you need to just concentrate on yourself and your DS. You will feel upset, you will miss your ex just as DS will miss his dad. However, these things get easier and heal in time, you will never get that chance to heal should you go back.

This is a scary time for you, and you going to feel like a fish out of water for a while. For so long you’ve been imagining and dreaming of having this freedom and the suddenly when you do FINALLY have it, it can’t be very overwhelming and daunting to know what to do with it.

I can absolutely promise that even though this is going to be a shit time, it absolutely will get easier and so so much better, you just have to hang on in there.

You’ve been so brave, keep strong and remember that even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you’ve got the most wonderful life ahead of you.

Techway · 05/11/2019 12:25

I know it feels scary but it would be worth logging your Exs behaviour with police. Either at a station or call.

It's worth highlighting that he prods your face, has cameras etc. as this will help should you need to get any orders against him

BarbedBloom · 05/11/2019 12:26

I am so relieved to read this. I agree with texts above, just say you have left due to his violent and controlling behaviour and will not be back. Give yourself time to breathe but you must report this to the police. He is a very dangerous man and it is important for you and your DS that this be recognised and recorded.

tearsofaunicorn · 05/11/2019 12:31

Wow op, your brilliant. Welcome to the rest of your life xxx

Swipe left for the next trending thread