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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

Is this the end?

114 replies

Rageagainstmanchild · 21/03/2021 11:15

I have NC as I don't want this linked to my other threads.

My DP is a hothead, always has been and he shouts a lot and can be aggressive. Never physically to me, although when throwing things he has caught my leg/arm but would never hit me I don't think. He is in the process of quitting smoking, which I think has added to the stress this week but it's part of a long line of behaviour that I can't cope with.

About 2 years ago he punched a hole in wall and told me he'd cave my fucking head in, in front of the children (very young) and we nearly split up over it but he promised to go to anger management, which never materialised but he hasn't done anything like that since.

He gets angry all the time, when he's tired, when he's stressed about his hobby and I always try to placate him as I don't want him to shout at the children or me. He smacked our child once and I tried to leave but we worked through it, I don't know why I didn't leave then as it goes against everything I believe in and we agreed before children that we would never smack them. DC1 is quite aggressive and vocal, learned behaviour but he can't cope with it.

I have been having counselling and I'm trying to stick up for myself and vocalise how I'm feeling to try and communicate better, which had been working but the past few weeks he's showed that he doesn't like this.

His hobby is taking up so much time, it's consuming him and I've asked him to do a couple of things as I don't have a key to the shed or garage so couldn't do myself. Bear in mind that I do everything else and I asked politely to put something away as we had workmen coming to the house. He exploded and called me a cunt. I'm not proud but I exploded at him and chucked all his stuff that I wanted him to move, in the garden, the children weren't here.

The second time this week he called me a cunt was over me asking if he'd looked inside our child's school bag as there had been dirty clothing in there, he shouted, called me a cunt and said I hadn't told him to and that I need to prioritise the children and call the doctor (the reason there were dirty clothes was because of a medical condition) - I again said that the children are not solely my responsibility, I work full time, do everything round the house etc.

Third time this week, I came into our kitchen and asked if he wanted to watch a film on Saturday evening - his friend was there and he went mental saying I was interrupting him, I was a bit put out as he was using my laptop to do something so I said he couldn't use it, I know this was childish. He basically threw my laptop across the room and it hit my leg.

We talked about it the next day, and it ended in an arguement - he claims I came into the kitchen as an aggressive act to distract him and I didn't need to do it. Called me a massive cunt again and I explained that I'm scared and intimidated by him when he shouts. He told me that was the intention and if I was a bloke he would have beat me up and that his hobby comes before me and the children. I'm not proud of it but I screamed at him that he was a bully, I wasn't going to take it anymore and called him an arse hole, the children were in the other room so heard it all. I have protected them from him so many times and have always kept my head and not argued in front of them but I couldn't control my emotions - years of verbal abuse have worn me down.

Today, I apologised for losing my temper (I apologised to the children immediately after) but that I wanted to talk to him as I can't continue to do this and want to seperate. He's basically ignoring me, kept saying he doesn't want to talk to me and I'm not accepting his boundaries - maybe I'm not but I don't particularly want him here and I want him to leave.

I'm so scared that I'm breaking up my family, that the children are going to be upset, that I can't cope on my own, that I'll forgive him and this perpetual cycle will continue. I'm a talker and want to talk things through and he likes to punch things, I'm so sad. He's gone out and left me with the children without a second thought. I hate him right now.

OP posts:
Rageagainstmanchild · 21/03/2021 12:19

Shodan, I know im the worst for that, it's what I've done our whole relationship. Please keep telling me when I am, because I don't even know what's acceptable anymore. I feel strong at the moment but I know this is because I'm angry, I will start trying to justify and excuse behaviour over the next few days. It's what I do, I always do it.

OP posts:
noirchatsdeux · 21/03/2021 12:20

Yeah, he's talking shit. More importantly, why are you believing his crap?

FFS, put your damn children first and stop bleating about this scumfucker. He needs to be out today.

honeylulu · 21/03/2021 12:20

I will absolutely call the police if he is violent but I do not want the children to witness what would happen if I did

Trust me, what your children are living through with a man like that is a million times worse.

I'm a solicitor and if you AS my user name you will see advice I've put on other threads about how to seek an occupation order even if there hasn't been any violence. you don't need him to agree or discuss it with you. This is what you need to do. What is the alternative? The only one I can see its that you and your children put up with this abusive man forever.

Rageagainstmanchild · 21/03/2021 12:23

Noir, I like your straight talking, it's exactly what I need. I do need to put my children first.

OP posts:
Woodlandbelle · 21/03/2021 12:25

Flowers this is so sad. So glad you have the finances to be independent and now you need practical support. Thinking of you

BigButtons · 21/03/2021 12:26

The children are already upset and witnesses to domestic violence. I have been in the same position as you and didn’t have a penny to my name when I finally ended it.
I have 6 dc by the way. My children are still suffering today and they are teens / young adults.

BigButtons · 21/03/2021 12:28

And with each passing day that you do not put an end to this this more fucked up your kids will become.

Mabelene · 21/03/2021 12:30

Who does he think he is? Superman?

Don’t believe his bullshit, he’s a bully and probably a coward faced with police turning up. I’d report him now before you get a chance to swallow his crap once again

noirchatsdeux · 21/03/2021 12:31

He has already been violent - throwing an object (the laptop) at you, with the intent to hurt you. Even the lightest laptop could cause serious harm if it had hit you in the wrong place. Doesn't matter that your children didn't witness it - I take it his 'friend' did, so you could always name him as a witness.

I am the 52 year old daughter of a woman who put a man - my father - ahead of myself and my two brothers all her marriage..our childhood was shit because of it. There was no physical violence, but knowing what he wanted was more important to her than our happiness is something that I will NEVER forgive her for.

sjfjsnfkdhsbd · 21/03/2021 12:32

Every day that you stay damages your children more. There is no version of reality in which their home is not already broken.

I don't think you really believe that shite about the ten police, but holding it up as plausible is self-serving in that it gives you an excuse not to leave.

You need to make a choice to stop doing that and put your children first instead of using them as your excuse not to face your fears.

It will be difficult but you are capable of coming through it.

Lordamighty · 21/03/2021 12:36

I just don’t know how anyone can live like this. It makes me really upset to think of your children having to share a home with this outrageous bully, it’s no surprise that you are the main breadwinner, he sounds like an inadequate tosser.
Please take the necessary steps to divorce him and call the police if you feel threatened.

MonochromeMinnie · 21/03/2021 12:38

You are in a fortunate position, being the breadwinner. I don't know what you're waiting for. Put your children first and get him out today.

Igmum · 21/03/2021 12:40

I'm a single mum, no longer with a violent and abusive man. It's bloody wonderful. I haven't regretted it for a second. So, so, so much better than living with violence and abuse. If you want to stay in the house OP can you wait until he goes out, pack his stuff up and change the locks? I don't know if that's legal but it might get him to move out.

customwatkins · 21/03/2021 12:43

This is such a toxic and damaging environment for your children please end this now - you need to do better.

sjfjsnfkdhsbd · 21/03/2021 12:43

I have protected them from him so many times

Oh, and no, you haven't protected them. You have made them live in an abusive home with the constant threat of violence.

Have you ever paused to consider how terrifying it is to be a small, powerless child watching or listening to violence from a person big enough to easily kill you, and wondering if dad is going to kill your mum in the next room?

You have not protected them and telling yourself the comforting lie that you have will not help you leave so you finally can actually protect them.

SunIsComing · 21/03/2021 12:49

You’re not thinking of your kids at all... they need to be protected from this. Kick him out, call the police next time he is physical with you... and that DOES include throwing things at you. LEAVE

Time40 · 21/03/2021 12:54

I will absolutely call the police if he is violent

OP, he has already been violent. You need to get him out, now.

RandomMess · 21/03/2021 12:56

He threw your laptop and hurt you. Report that to the police, he has threatened you. Report that as well.

Speak to the domestic violence helpline and find out about getting an occupation order.

Thanks
MadeForThis · 21/03/2021 13:00

You don't need to talk to him to ask him to leave.

Go somewhere safe with your kids and text him. It's over. It should have been over years ago.

Do it for your kids but most importantly do it for yourself. You deserve so much better.

timeisnotaline · 21/03/2021 13:03

@honeylulu

I will absolutely call the police if he is violent but I do not want the children to witness what would happen if I did

Trust me, what your children are living through with a man like that is a million times worse.

I'm a solicitor and if you AS my user name you will see advice I've put on other threads about how to seek an occupation order even if there hasn't been any violence. you don't need him to agree or discuss it with you. This is what you need to do. What is the alternative? The only one I can see its that you and your children put up with this abusive man forever.

He is violent, throwing things at you is violent, punching holes in the wall is violent, threatening you is violent. Your children live with a violent man. Please follow the advice on seeking an occupation order. Please stop trying to talk things out with him, you’d be safer and more chance of getting a positive response talking to a brick wall. call the police if he shouts aggressively, throws anything or threatens you. Every time. If it takes 10 police to taser him they’ll be charging him with assault but he’s also full of shit and hot air, it won’t take 10 police to taser him. I hope the occupation order is speedy and your children can live in a house free of a violent abusive man.
redastherose · 21/03/2021 13:04

@Rageagainstmanchild it is easy to end up in this situation because someone doesn't become abusive in one go it builds up and you become acclimatised to the anger and shouting. Look up the boiled frog analogy. The thing is, you have now reached the point that you can't pretend this is an occasional thing anymore and probably through your own counselling you are having your eyes opened to the reality of his behaviour. You should speak to your family and friends, tell them really what is going on and if he won't listen to you asking him to leave get someone else there while you tell him you want him to leave. It sounds like his behaviour is escalating and you have to think of how you would feel if he actually hit one of your children when he lashes out. You can speak to Women's Aid for practical advise. Please make the decision to get this man out of your life. It may be worth telling the police about his behaviour if you think he could actually be violent when you ask him to leave properly.

Rangoon · 21/03/2021 13:07

Do you really believe that your children will benefit from growing up with a father who punches holes in the walls and regularly threatens and abuses their mother? Even if you don't believe you deserve a good life away from this monster, please think about your children. The idea of two parents being better is based on them being reasonable human beings rather than one of them being a vicious bully.

With him as an example, what are your children going to grow up like? What are they going to be like at sixteen if you stay with this man? They will probably have already come to the attention of the authorities and you'll be worrying about their first court hearing and what is worse you'll know perfectly well that they did the violent thing they are accused of.

He has sucked you into his reality that this is a normal relationship and it really isn't and it never will be and talking with him about it isn't going to change that. Normal men don't behave like this. Please leave him as safely as you can because leaving someone can be a trigger for increased violence.

Wanderlusto · 21/03/2021 13:08

He isn't angry, he is abusive.

Get shitty partner gone. He as already been violent. And your little one needs to see a gp fast to see about therapy just incase they end up going the same way. Personality disorders of your partners nature form very young - and can only be stopped from forming if dealt with in childhood.

Not to say your wee one is going the same way (it might just be the home stress of living with their abusive dad making them lash out) but counciling should be a priority either way. Probably for both of them, considering what they have seen.

You can put things right. But you'll have to start making moves.

RantyAnty · 21/03/2021 13:23

He's a very abusive violent man.

He's smacked your DC.
He's destroyed property and you being injured in the process.
He's threatened you more than once to beat you and kill you.
Your DC have heard this many times.

Please call Womens Aid and your family and ask for help.

Does he work at all?
Do you own the house together?

WisnaeMe · 21/03/2021 13:28

what an awful situation OP, I'd sell the house and buy elsewhere alone. Fresh start. 🌺