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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

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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:
SanFranBear · 14/11/2019 16:21

It probably seems an age ago, but the post you made on the morning you left when your DS told you that you were making his dreams come true... so very powerful!

You are so strong, so so strong Flowers

SanFranBear · 14/11/2019 16:22

Haha MxHz - cross post! But see, such a powerful statement..

AFairlyHardAvocado · 14/11/2019 16:23

I can only hear “you’ve made my dreams come true” as said by your ds when you said you were leaving.

Between this and John Lewis Christmas advert I am officially a MESS today Thanks

Fedupofitnow123 · 14/11/2019 16:25

I'm also crying because even now he is saying how happy he is! He is such a wonderful boy! I love him dearly! I love mumsnet too, an amazing place!

OP posts:
AlphaJura · 14/11/2019 16:33

I had an ex like that that I was with for a few years. He literally ruined every single birthday and Christmas even though he'd make a massive deal about what to get every year. I got to dreading it as knew I would have a shit time. He also did things like bought presents for me and the dcs and would get in a mood and take them back. He also would destroy my stuff. It made me so miserable. I ditched him in the end, around my birthday, he carried on sending me threatening messages trying to ruin my day. Your partner sounds controlling, selfish and as if he is gas lighting. This isn't good for your ds as it's ruining it for him and he can probably pick up on the fact you're upset.

AlphaJura · 14/11/2019 16:37

I just read your updates and can see you've moved on. Blocking him is the best thing as he will try every trick in the book to worm his way back in. My ex tried frightening me, pleading with me, promising to change but I'd heard it all before! Best thing I ever did. I'm with someone nice now. I'm so glad I got away from that abusive man.

NettleTea · 14/11/2019 16:41

well done for blocking. You will feel so much better without him drip dripping in your ear

XJerseyGirlX · 14/11/2019 16:48

Nettle tea is absolutely correct with the bingo cards. He will pull every trick op , there is indeed a script so keep a look out for them and indeed tick them off. It will turn to anger soon and he will call you names that's so right. FWIW , If you went back now , he would punish you more for " having the cheek to leave ". Stay strong we really are all rooting for you and a free life where your not controlled xxx

MzHz · 14/11/2019 16:54

((((((( @AFairlyHardAvocado ))))))))

Aww :)

@Fedupofitnow123, hold onto that boy, he’s the mast you can cling to in the storm.

That was my visualisation when I was scared of the whole end of the world/abusive relationship thing.

For me it was the truth. The truth literally set me free. My ex told ridiculous lies about me to try to rob me of the only friend I had. I told him that to make me look bad he had to lie, for me to make him look bad all I had to do was to tell the truth.

You’re doing so well. Might not feel like it, but seriously you are! And your boy is happy! What more proof do you need? :)

Letstalkabout6 · 14/11/2019 17:13

@Fedupofitnow123 why don't you block him so he can't play with your head? He had his chance and treated you and your son appallingly. You owe him nothing. Let solicitors do the talking between themselves but stress to yours they must never even give a hint as to where you are. Good luck.

Letstalkabout6 · 14/11/2019 17:15

@Fedupofitnow123 sorry just reread your update and now you have blocked him for good. Well done.

AnnaNimmity · 14/11/2019 17:26

well done @Fedupofitnow123 you've done the right thing.

He was completely following the abusers script. Well done for blocking. I know it's hard - they know how to pull strings definitely.

And what a lovely boy! Lucky him too - you've done the right thing by him.

BoomyBooms · 14/11/2019 17:34

@Fedupofitnow123 I have just read this entire thread and am absolutely blown away by how brave and how resourceful and motivated you are! And your son sounds like a wonderful little boy!

All of the feelings you have described are very very normal for people.leaving abusive situations- it's ok to be up and down and angry and happy and whatever! It's still such early days for you.

Well done for blocking him. By keeping in contact he was able to carry on abusing you- he was doing it differently (ie playing on your nice side and pretending to be sorry etc) but it was all just lies and abuse. Abusive men do NOT like their partners leaving them and will do everything in their power to get them back. Manipulating you over the phone and email was his only way of getting to you, so he did it.

Something else that might help you when you next feel bad or have a wobble, is to think about what treatment you DO want from a relationship (partner, best friend, whatever). You might find that what you do want is basic requirements like:

*To be treated with respect, all of the time
*For the person to be kind to you, all of the time
*For the person to make you feel safe, all of the time
*For the person to make you feel happy
*For the person to care for you

  • For the person to be trustworthy
  • For the person to be fun

Whatever your list looks like... I bet your ex partner wasn't any of those things! They are all just very basic elements that a person can expect from a close relationship.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 14/11/2019 18:05

Fed up

I am glad you’ve blocked him. As you say you have enough proof of what he is like so now you can move on. The more you see his messages the more he is in your head.

Focus on how happy and relaxed your DS is if you ever doubt your decision. Your little boy asked you to get him out of the situation and you did it. That is an amazing thing you have done.

hevs03 · 14/11/2019 19:43

Fedup123, my heart has been racing reading your posts today, I was willing you to take that step and leave and you did, I was nearly crying , God you've been so strong and brave, please please keep going, just think this time next year you could be sitting relaxing (and not being watched on CCTV) in your own home with your 2 children, making wonderful plans for Christmas, without that horrible dread that you've no doubt experienced all these years, all the present ups and downs will be so worth it, you'll be free, happy, relaxed and giving your children the very best start in life, stay strong xx

StartupRepair · 14/11/2019 19:48

Is he able to work out where you are? Really take some time to think about your safety. You have been so brave and your DS is obviously a lovely compassionate and thoughtful boy.

Fedupofitnow123 · 14/11/2019 22:09

A friend tried to work out where we were and did it in 2 hours. I know full well he can work it out. But, I'm not on my own here, there is CCTV everywhere, it's in the mode of nowhere, I dont have much else I can do.

OP posts:
MzHz · 14/11/2019 23:25

You’re safe love, you’re not alone and the police have told you to call 999 if he gets there.

Breathe. It’ll be ok.

Weenurse · 15/11/2019 07:12

💐

Fedupofitnow123 · 15/11/2019 08:02

I have social services ringing today and now I'm panicking they will take my ds, I am so fearful of it, he'll be ok right?

OP posts:
MzHz · 15/11/2019 08:08

Sweetheart, they are there to support you and to make sure you and ds are ok, they will ONLY be concerned if you are still in a dangerous situation for him and not doing the right things to get him out of there.

You’re out, he’s happier than he’s been in YEARS! They will back you all the way and you can ask them what they are able to offer to help keep him safe.

Will you be enrolling him in a local school?

pog100 · 15/11/2019 08:09

You shouldn't be fearful of SS, they are there to help. I think it's automatic that they are informed after police involvement. You have done everything you can to shelter your child, a great mother. From what you have said there is no way on earth they will want to take your child away!

Damntheman · 15/11/2019 08:09

They're not going to take your child, OP :) Social Services are there to support and help you, particularly given your circumstances they are going to reassure you and put you in contact with people who can help you and make sure that you and DS do okay. They're not devils, breathe. You're handling all of this incredibly well, you are so strong!

Fedupofitnow123 · 15/11/2019 08:10

Thank you, I am so terrified of losing him, he is my little angel, I love him more than anything!

I haven't decided about schools yet, i would love to continue homeschooling, he is doing fantastically well, is playing an instrument and his social skills are amazing!

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 15/11/2019 08:12

They are there to help support and advise you and get him the help and support he needs