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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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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:
Lifeisabeach09 · 28/10/2019 13:16

This man-child will make you miserable (if not already.)
I don't know how you can live with such a sulky, gaslighting prick!
Don't waste any more of your life with him.
I, often, tell women to LTB because being a single (and a single parent) is a zillion times better than this. It's great, in fact.
Pursue your happiness and get rid of the fucker.

AdobeWanKenobi · 28/10/2019 13:17

For the sake of your child and the one you're carrying, get out.

No child should remember birthdays like this.

Purpleartichoke · 28/10/2019 13:20

Abuse often ramps up during pregnancy.

He doesn’t have to hit you for it to be abuse.

Please reach out to your local domestic violence support and consider all your options for moving forward.

SantaIsReal · 28/10/2019 13:22

This man is abusive!
The way I look at things is if your son had to treat someone like this what would you do? Or if you have a daughter and she is being treated like this?
I grew up on false promises and it broke my heart every time!
It would in the long run be better not to be around this man however I can understand that may be difficult. As others have suggested, speak to womens aid Flowers

Apileofballyhoo · 28/10/2019 13:24

Do you have friends or family you can go and stay with? Is your house rented or do you own it?

Jollitwiglet · 28/10/2019 13:26

Certainly sounds as though he is a bad dad, and a bad husband, and just a pig in general really

Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 13:28

I'm on the computer and can't work out how to quote, that first paragraph is him. He will argue with me until I accept what he is saying as the truth. If I don't he will get really intimidating and then give the silent treatment.

OP posts:
Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 13:33

"As gaslighting progresses, the target often second-guesses their own memories and thoughts. Their self-doubt may put them on the defensive," He said last night I'm always in defence mode. It's hard not to be when I am painted as a horrible person, someone I wouldn't like and then told "You don't even like yourself"

OP posts:
Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 13:35

"Gaslighting can also affect a person’s social life. They abuser may manipulate them into cutting ties with friends and family. The person might also isolate themself, believing they are unstable or unlovable."

It's the fact I saw friends yesterday, more than anything I think.

OP posts:
LucileDuplessis · 28/10/2019 13:38

OP he is abusing you. The bit about tapping you on the face stands out for me. Get out when you can.

Shoxfordian · 28/10/2019 13:47

He's abusive and your son is growing up watching him as an example. Can you call women's aid? Please leave him

Lllot5 · 28/10/2019 13:48

Oh tapping you on the face is fucking creepy. So damaging.
Seriously you need to consider you options. Think about your son.
Nasty bastard.

Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 14:05

He says as he isn't hurting me with the tapping that "I'm a moaner" and looking for a fight, he won't stop then and does it over and over.

OP posts:
Areyoufree · 28/10/2019 14:08

Fuck. That.

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"

Agree with PPs. Gaslighting. Making you doubt your own reality. Making you feel like you are the problem. There is so much wrong here, OP. I'm so sorry.

BumbleBeee69 · 28/10/2019 14:10

Get rid of him OP.

You and your kids will be fine.

LucileDuplessis · 28/10/2019 14:11

OP this is genuinely awful to read. Honestly, spoiling your DS's birthday is the least of your worries here.

Beautiful3 · 28/10/2019 14:12

He sounds lazy and horrible. You can do better without him.

theWarOnPeace · 28/10/2019 14:19

What an awful man he is. The fact that you’re even asking if it’s you that’s being unreasonable is terrifying OP. Is he DS’s bio dad? You need to get out, you’re in an abusive relationship. If you have no money and a man like this in your life, then I would be seriously considering your options with your pregnancy.

Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 14:24

@theWarOnPeace Trying a quote, not sure if it'll work. He is DS's biological dad, I haven't even mentioned that I homeschool and don't get a break and haven't in 8 years, DP wont have him. Ever. I won't end the pregnancy. I can't do that, it's not this babies fault. I just have to leave.

I got with DP when I was 19, he told me he was 30... at the time I wondered if the age gap was too much but quickly fell with DS. Two years later I found out he was 36 when we met! By finding his ID stuffed away in the wardrobe. He told me it was other people who had told me his age.

I just feel so sick. I'm 27 now, almost 28, and I've grown a lot, I hate this man, I'm expanding my vocabulary and he has said to me iI'm showing off! He likes to be the smart one.

OP posts:
NearlyGranny · 28/10/2019 14:25

Abusers typically sabotaged any special celebration that isn't totally centred on them.

And can I ask whose word 'tapping' is? Is he hitting you with fingertips or poking your face? Is it just the level of force that stops you calling it hitting? What happens if you tell him to stop or try to move away from him when he's doing this 'tapping'? Does he back you up against a wall or closed door? Is it tapping because he minimises and tells you it was 'just a tap' and didn't hurt you? (As if he'd know.)

You're in quite a bit of trouble here I think, OP. More than you're telling yourself, possibly. Do please seek help.

These things escalate with time anyway and the victim's pregnancy is a particularly common time for abuse to intensify. I'm using the term victim because that is indeed where you are situated right now.

You need some help here and the Women's Aid helpline might be a good place to start.

Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 14:28

@NearlyGranny It is his word, because as you say it's with fingertips, he does it so fast there isn't any moving, because I don't want to leave an eye, I'll brush him off and say to "stop" and he just keeps doing it, very fast, hand after hand "I'm a military man" "Girls fight in the UFC you can't even take a tap to the face without crying"

OP posts:
Footiefan2019 · 28/10/2019 14:28

He sounds like an absolute grade A cunt sorry. What the hell ? Does he get any enjoyment out of anything ? Importantly do other people see him behaving like this ? What is he like with friends ?

Footiefan2019 · 28/10/2019 14:29

Do you homeschool for a specific reason or just because it’s suited you? You’re really stuck if you can’t work due to that which means you are going to be struggling financially ?

Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 14:30

@Footiefan2019 He doesn't go out! Ever! Like, really never! He'll play fight with DS, they enjoy that together, we play a game together, but he wins 99% of the time...

OP posts:
Fedupofitnow123 · 28/10/2019 14:30

I work and homeschool so have some income thankfully! We do it for many reasons, but it's meant I am NEVER ALONE. NEVER

OP posts: