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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

So toxic

25 replies

again2020 · 08/12/2020 14:03

I don't even know where to begin with describing the problems in my relationship. I'll try.
Together nearly 9 years, one DD who is 3. Problems when she was born with my mental health (post partum psychosis) which he did not understand. Really horrible, nearly got placed into a mother and baby unit but I reacted well to medication and avoided that.
Unfortunately I got pregnant again through a slip up when I was still on medication for this (DD was 18 months then) which I terminated. He was onboard at the time but is very bitter with me about it, as I said I don't want a second child. He says I've ruined his life.
He sits on the sofa drinking watching football with me running ragged after DD, criticising everything I do. I'm shit at housework, crap mother, mentally ill (I'm still on anti depressants).
I'll be the first to say I'm not particularly maternal, but I love DD and we are very close, I tried to keep her active and stimulated during lockdown by going for walks, baking and playing outside. In lockdown partner went mad when me and DD were around disturbing his work meetings, but then everything else I did was a problem. If I bake it's making a mess, if we go outside it's too cold.
We had some filthy rows in lockdown which involved us both shouting a lot, once DD spilt some water on the new garden furniture and he F'ed and blinded so much that my neighbour who I am friends with asked if I needed a place to stay. Other neighbours have discreetly asked if I'm ok, they must hear things as we row a lot.

Our families don't get on due to an unfortunate row between our mothers about my daughter and my mental health. I made a few mistakes with DD when she was young, it was nothing major i don't think, once her bath was a little too hot, once I went for a walk without taking a drink for her. My mother in law who was there both times ended up ringing social services about me.

He hates my brother who is an ex addict and any arguments usually end with 'why don't you go and stay with your smackhead brother'.

I have fallen out of love and have told him so, we have been in separate rooms for almost a year. He wants me to move back in but I've gotten used to sleeping alone (we still have sex, but not regularly). We argue about this issue pretty much every week and he always says get out of my house if you aren't happy.
I can't and won't leave, my parents gave us a lot of money for the deposit and don't want him running off with it. Unfortunately it was a gift and not legally binding. He will never leave either.

I've mentioned counselling but he says it won't work.
We go through a constant circle of a terrible couple of days, rows, then saying we will try, neither of us trying, rinse and repeat.
I don't know what to do anymore, I feel sorry for DD.
I wish I could up and leave and rent somewhere but my parents would never speak to me again if their money was lost. Partner also said he would never pay child support if we split, and he'd get sole custody of DD as I'm 'addicted to prescription drugs' Hmm the anti depressants, which I'm not addicted too, I've been on them for 6 months and have just had a medical review with a doctor who has extended that for another 6.
We aren't married by the way.

Partner's sides of the coin would be that he didn't understand my mental health issues, I ruined the early baby days for him. He works very hard to provide for us and I should be better at looking after DD and keeping the house in order.

Is there any way I can mend any of this? Sad
If you made it through that post, thank you for reading.

OP posts:
Anordinarymum · 08/12/2020 14:05

Oh God. This is not a mendable thing. This is a cut and run thing while you still have a life

JurassicParkAha · 08/12/2020 14:14

If your parents gave you the deposit on the house, why does he think it's 'his' house? Who's name is on the title deed, and do you have a mortgage - who pays for it?

Talk to a solicitor and see how you can recoup your parents deposit. You can sell up, and get it back that way maybe. Depends how your contracts are drawn up.

Also, I'm sure you parents care more about you not being driven to a breakdown with the stress and unpleasantness this bully of a man is placing you under. Do they know the full story? Could you try telling them, as you'll need all the support you can get to leave him.

The honest truth it, it can't be saved. It's not just that he doesn't understand your mental health. But that he's mean and nasty, and lacking in empathy and doing this in front of your DD. Him getting custody is just a threat, especially if you can show you have a family who support you too. Start making a note of all the incidents where he's been a bad father or caused enough commotion that neighbours get involved.

Am sure other posters will have more practical advice on how to get out and get what's yours. But well done for seeing him for the shithead he is. Wishing you luck!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/12/2020 14:16

"I can't and won't leave, my parents gave us a lot of money for the deposit and don't want him running off with it."

NO obstacle is ulimately insurmountable. You cannot and should not condemn yourself nor your child to a further life of misery because of some deposit!!. Its absolutely no reason to stay with him either. There is nothing to rescue and or save here let alone mend.

You and he should no longer be together. He is abusive towards you and uses the usual sorts of empty threats such men employ to keep their downtrodden and otherwise mistreated woman in line. Your parents sadly do not sound all that supportive of you either considering that you feel they would no longer speak to you if you lost their deposit.

At the very least contact both the Rights of Women and Womens Aid here and dig your way out of this hole you've partially dug for yourself. Your DD cannot afford to grow up seeing this as her relationship blueprint or role model because this will become her reference.

IndieTara · 08/12/2020 14:16

You don't sound like a shit mum at all, not at all. Anti depressants are very normal and not to be worried about. You were a first time mum and made a couple of minor mistakes. So what! We've all done it but for some reason your MIL was out to get you and it's eroded your confidence. FYI when I was a first time mum I made the mistake of leaving DD in my bed when J went to fetch a nappy and she fell off! Horrific. But she was fine, I felt guilty for a while and nobody called Social Services.
Your parents gave you a deposit. Was that to buy or rent somewhere?

Bunnymumy · 08/12/2020 14:23

He's right, couples counciling wont help. Because he is a shit. And no amount of counciling can change that.

I recommend individual counciling to help with your self esteem. I'd bet my ass that if you got away from him, within a year you wouldn't need meds.

Speak to a lawyer about what you are entitled to with regards to the house ect...

And stop sleeping with him.
He hs a vile person.

And abusive men like to claim they will get sole custody the kids when you split. It doesn't happen though, mothers are always favoured. Plus, do you really think he would want to do all the child rearing? No chance

Bunnymumy · 08/12/2020 14:26

Oh and really op if push comes to shove and there is no legal right to what you put in to the property and you cant get him to leave, then just go. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. I know it's a bitter pill to swallow but however much it was they invested - freedom is priceless. You only get one life. Dont spend it with this asshole.

user182639104 · 08/12/2020 14:26

He's abusing you. That's not something you can mend. It is a choice he makes every day.

Why would you keep your daughter living like this?

If you wanted to leave, there are ways.

again2020 · 08/12/2020 15:17

@bunnymummy I totally agree with you about freedom and one life! But they don't see it that way. They said at the very least I should wait until my DD is an adult. However they do have their own toxic relationship, which I won't go into here.

OP posts:
again2020 · 08/12/2020 15:18

@IndieTara Thank you. The deposit was for this house we live in now.

OP posts:
again2020 · 08/12/2020 15:20

@JurassicParkAha Unfortunately he pays the mortgage at the moment ( I work 3 days a week and it's not particularly well paid, plus I was paying off my car/nursery fees. But now DD is getting free hours as of Januart I'll be able to pay some of the mortgage myself. Both names are on the deeds.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/12/2020 15:31

They said at the very least I should wait until my DD is an adult. However they do have their own toxic relationship, which I won't go into here.

Not surprised at that second sentence really. They taught you a lot of shit about relationships when you were growing up and this counsel of theirs is but their latest example of shit advice too. Do not listen to them!. All they seem to care about too is money, not you and certainly not their granddaughter if they utter such nonsense.

You have a choice re this man, your DD does not. Do you really think it would be a good idea for you to stay with this man until your DD is an adult, of course it is not.

again2020 · 08/12/2020 16:25

@AttilaTheMeerkat I totally agree! It's hard to take the step as apart from my parents I don't really have anyone's support with this IRL. Also with him saying he'd get full custody as I am mentally unwell scares me. Him and my MIL can be very manipulative.

OP posts:
PamDemic · 08/12/2020 16:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

again2020 · 08/12/2020 16:33

@PamDemic Thank you (amazing username by the way!)..no I haven't yet, I'm just thinking about it and how I will cover the cost of legal advice. I do agree about it being worth sacrificing deposit for ( wish it was a shared view).

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/12/2020 16:38

His mother is just like him; an abuser too as well as manipulative to the nth degree. They are two of a kind and she is certainly not your friend here. She called Social Services on you twice!. I would think and indeed hope they gave her short shrift here for wasting their time.

He can barely move from the sofa for drinking and watching football; what makes him think he will have his DD for full custody?. He is only saying that to keep you in line; its a threat often trotted out by abusive men (I have seen such uttered on here so many times). He has no real interest in his child and he is a scumbag also to use your prescribed proper use of anti depressants (prescribed for PND) against you. As IndieTara indeed writes anti depressants are very normal and not to be worried about.

You can get further help from the organisations I have advised you of; please consider contacting them as a matter of priority. You can escape this life with your child and if he did want to see her, then he can use a contact centre. All arrangements with him should be formalised legally (NO informal arrangement).

again2020 · 08/12/2020 16:42

@AttilaTheMeerkat You are so right! Him and MIL are probably the two people I see most in my life and it's only when you tell someone else about it that you can see it for what it is.
I have been totally floored by the lack of support for my mental health from partner.

I will try and contact Womens aid. I'm also scared that if I do put anything in place or make plans to leave he'll turn DD against me (she adores her Dad).

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/12/2020 16:49

This is NOT the relationship model you DD needs to be learning from here.

She will end up fearing her dad as much as you do and thinking that her dad's behaviour towards you as her mother (and in turn women) is normal. She cannot afford to learn such damaging lessons about relationships. You would never want her own adult relationship to be like this.

You got this and you can make a nice life for you and your DD without him and his abusve mother in it day to day.

If you can go to Boots in town, their consulting rooms have been set up so that Womens Aid can be contacted. Victims of domestic abuse will be able to access safe spaces at Boots pharmacy consultation rooms across the country, where they can contact specialist domestic abuse services for support and advice. The scheme is in response to the desperate situation facing many victims who are isolating with perpetrators during lockdown.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 08/12/2020 17:05

If you can go to Boots in town, their consulting rooms have been set up so that Womens Aid can be contacted. Victims of domestic abuse will be able to access safe spaces at Boots pharmacy consultation rooms across the country, where they can contact specialist domestic abuse services for support and advice. The scheme is in response to the desperate situation facing many victims who are isolating with perpetrators during lockdown.

Please please do this OP, it's such a brilliant initiative and you deserve access to some help Thanks

copperoliver · 08/12/2020 17:20

Get rid of him and change the locks.
Get an injunction. X

nitsandwormsdodger · 08/12/2020 17:24

Your mental health will vastly improve when he goes

amber763 · 08/12/2020 17:32

I hope you follow some of the great advice above. You and your daughter deserve so much more. Flowers

leaveassoonasyoucan · 08/12/2020 18:00

My mum wouldn't leave because of the house. Stepfather got another 18 months to torture us until we ran away leaving mum behind. Please don't be that mother. Bricks and mortar are just that and it sound like you are being bullied by your OH, your MIL and your parents. Try and access counselling, build up your resilience and ditch the lot of them. Your baby is depending on you and you sound so lovely. Good luck.

JurassicParkAha · 08/12/2020 20:11

Ah excellent that your name is on the deed. He will have to buy out your share of the equity to get your name off. You'll be able to recoup money that way.

But check this with a solicitor!

Needsadvice197 · 11/12/2020 15:50

He’s abusing you and his mother is enabling this.

My ex was exactly the same and so was his mother. A couple of examples;
-My ex would often take drugs and drink, every time I’d challenge this his mother would be in his ear telling him it’s ok to take drugs as he’s a youngster (at 25 🙄). He’d then use this to his advantage and say things like ‘my mom isn’t boring like you’ etc
-he’d regularly smash things up to in the house but I dare say anything or I’d be causing arguments in front of our DC (his mother’s words) and that he needs to be left alone when he’s angry and not to wind him up 🙄. I challenged this and asked her why she didn’t allow her ex to do these
Things and why she left the relationship . She said he was disrespectful, but her son could do no wrong. Leave now, there are a lot of support aids. Do it for your DD

napody · 11/12/2020 15:55

Doesn't sound as if you are married? Agree to chat to a solicitor asap, I'm no expert but would have thought that the equity you put in should remain yours if unmarried?

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