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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

Eggshells

42 replies

makemineabrew · 04/04/2021 10:39

Does anyone else have to tread on eggshells.

I’ve been married a long time with small kids and my mental health is now poor and my self confidence poor. I’ve been working with a therapist for a long time to work out why. It’s my husband. He’s a great guy. He’s currently doing housework. He works really hard. Hands on dad. Buys gifts, makes effort, does it all
But..
He’s combative, aggressive, defensive.
Everything is brilliant as long as he’s getting his entire own way. The minute I challenge anything then the hackles rise. We can be having a laugh and a joke and he suddenly turns. Cutting. It’s actually really hard to describe and it’s taken me a long time to work out what this is. It’s turned me into a constant smiling monkey with fake life and surface politeness and constant thank yous because he needs placating in case. and it’s not all the time. It’s unpredictable. I never know what is going to set it off or cause the grumpy/snarl. Yesterday I made a comment about there being enough chocolate in the house in a light hearted way and he took it as an offensive comment. Boom. Hacklesup with me then needing to apologise as no offense intended. This is the issue. I never know if what I say is going to be taken as an offence. It seems to be getting to the point where I can assume that anything I say (other than praising him or the weather or the news) that it will be taken as an offence.
I’m struggling to understand. I’m struggling with this behaviour and if I try and tackle it then I’m accused of it being my behaviour.
I just wondered if anyone else has this and what you do to deal with it. I’ve spent many years ignoring it and glossing over. I’m sick of not being who I am or dampening down my personality for him.

OP posts:
Treetops73 · 04/04/2021 13:38

@makemineabrew your story breaks my heart. Your willingness to accept that YOU are the problem breaks my heart. The behaviours your children are observing, and may in future copy in their own relationships, break my heart.

You deserve so much more than this. And so do your children. I understand your reasons for wanting to keep the family together, but - and I mean this kindly - it’s selfish. You have judged that you having 24/7 access to your children is more important than them being raised them in a home filled with love and where their mother is free to be herself. I agree with PPs in that it’s better for them to live happily 50% of the time than seeing their mother being abused 100%. My friend left her husband for this exact reason, and she and her son are flourishing.

I know it seems tough but there are many organisations out there to support women in your position. Women can, and do, leave with nothing but build a life for themselves free from walking on eggshells. Start with Women’s Aid and go from there. You have options. You do.

I love this quote from Glennon Doyle:

“A responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live.”

Keep posting OP, there is a lot of wisdom and support on MN, including from women who have been where you are and made a better life for themselves x

TroysMammy · 04/04/2021 13:50

I'm mostly in the same position. I can't say anything as he takes it as personal criticism.

When he says he is going to leave I tell him "don't let me stop you and I won't be crying either".

I dared mention something the other day which was so insignificant I can't even remember, which he took as a personal slight and stormed off not speaking and I told him I was sick of him being an abusive narcissist and what he is doing is stonewalling (thanks MN). I get lots of for fucks sake and I've told him it's exhausting living with him.

It's my house, his home, and I'll readily admit I'm not cut out to live with anyone, my mother and sister agree with me on this. It's not that I'm hard to live with but it pisses me off when someone can't be bothered to put the milk away after making a cup of tea and I can't even mention it because of the above behaviours.

updownroundandround · 04/04/2021 15:14

Your worry about having to 'share the children' is groundless.

He is not interested in the DC at all, and only does what he thinks he has to, so that he can continue to present the world with the evidence that he is a 'family' man Hmm

I'm sure he'd only have them at all just because it'd 'upset' you, but if you gave him the idea that all you wanted was 'free time' to go out and 'enjoy life', then you can be damn sure he'd refuse to have the DC at all !!

Keep up with your therapy, and in your own time, you'll be ready to kick him out and start to actually have a life worth living ( and so will your DC !)

AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/04/2021 15:33

If one of your own children as an adult came to you with this problem what would be your advice?. Would you tell them to stay?.

All your words here are words that an abused person would write. You only need to give yourself permission to leave.

Its not you, its him. This abuse of you and in turn your children who are and will pick up on all the vibes here, this is all on HIM. You did not drive him to abuse you; he chose you to abuse and deliberately picked you out. You were vulnerable from being abused yourself and he has further exploited that vulnerability. He has abused your trust in him totally.

Your own troubled background played a huge part here in leading you to this man because its an extension of what you already know. Your own boundaries, skewed by seeing abuse as a child, are being further eroded by this man now. No-one ever bothered to show you what a mutually respectful relationship is like and this is certainly not a respectful relationship you are describing. You've been with him 20 or so years now and my guess too is that he has ramped up the power and control against you over that period of time. He likely ramped this up too against you after you were married and again when you became pregnant.

Look at what you learnt about relationships when you were growing up?. Now come to present day where your children are learning similar sorts of lessons. They are seeing him bully you and you appeasing him and being acquiescent in return. That is no legacy to be showing them. You have a choice here re this man, they do not.

Has your counsellor called your H an abuser?. How honest have you been with this person re your life at home now?. I ask only as abuse like you describe thrives on secrecy and such victims of this crime do try and cover it up and or otherwise put a brave face on as you have done. You need to stop with ignoring and otherwise glossing over his abuses of you. Doing that whilst you are all under the same roof is impossible.

As for your supposition that he may want 50/50 he likely would not. Such a man is not bothered at all with his children if he abuses you as their mother. Its often only stated by such men as a further threat and attempt at maintaining power and control over their chosen target i.e. you in this instance to keep you in line. No matter how you act he will and indeed is moving the goalposts around.

I would certainly recommend you contact Womens Aid in your circumstances. They can and will help you here escape your abuser because leaving him is your only real option open to you going forward. He won't change and you've never driven him to abusing you. He has done that because he can and he felt entitled to do so (as did your family of origin as well). You've never triggered him same as you never triggered your family of origin.

crystalize · 04/04/2021 15:51

Please listen to Attila and all the other wise posters on here.

"I'm sure he'd only have them at all just because it'd 'upset' you, but if you gave him the idea that all you wanted was 'free time' to go out and 'enjoy life', then you can be damn sure he'd refuse to have the DC at all !!"

100% this! Many years ago for me but if you act like he's doing you a favour, or he thinks you are going out and about he will most likely refuse to have the DC as much.

TurquoiseDragon · 05/04/2021 09:55

[quote makemineabrew]@TurquoiseDragon well done for getting out. How did you cope with sharing the children?[/quote]
We didn't. DC were teens by the time I left, and they refused to see him.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 05/04/2021 10:10

He’s a great guy

No. He's not. He's an abuser and you're very unhappy. Imagine how happy you'll be not walking on eggshells OP.

Molly1989 · 05/04/2021 10:23

@makemineabrew just wanted to say that your post has resonated with me so much. Am in a virtually identical position (been with husband 16 years, emotional abuse/treading on eggshells, scared of leaving due to losing time with DC, I have hardly any friends) but I am edging closer to leaving. I have applied for housing in my own name which unfortunately is taking a while but as soon as that's sorted I'm hoping I will have the strength to go. I am selling whatever I can on Facebook to save money to squirrel away, and have a bag packed under the stairs with clothes and bits in.

You do deserve so much more though and you are not the problem. I hope you find the courage to leave. Please message me if you ever want a chat and some solidarity.

LemmysAceCard · 05/04/2021 10:24

Have you ever stood up to him OP or have you always backed down? What is he like if you said "Well no i dont agree" and didnt back down, what does he do?

Veryhungrycaterpillar84 · 05/04/2021 12:02

My ex dh would do something similar but he would go cold, withdrawn and moody for the most minor things. It could last many months at a time. I thought it was my fault and If only I did things better or was a better person he would not behave like that. He would tell me it was because of me that he reacted this way. I knew it was wrong of him to behave like this but because of my abusive childhood and consequent low self esteem I blamed myself. It was like walking about in a fog.

I am slowly coming to realise it was not my fault and he was trying to control me. I feel better without him, I have my own mind and I’m free.

No matter what you do he will react like that. It’s not your fault, you don’t need to change, he does.

Colourmeclear · 05/04/2021 13:53

I had something similar with an ex, I started only speaking if I was spoken to and when I did speak, if it was for more than a few seconds, I would get unbearable anxiety because if he thought I was going on too much he would just walk off.

I understood it sadly and I stayed too long. He had two huge problems 1) shame and 2) entitlement. If he felt shame he had to attack someone i.e me because everyone else would think him an irrational dickhead. That's not love. Not even close.

He had no remorse or compassion because he felt entitled to hurt me to make himself feel better and it was slowly escalating. Words weren't enough anymore. He was a bully. It's been a decade since I left and he's still exactly the same. I can speak freely now knowing that I will be heard and understood. It's the best gift I have ever given myself.

something2say · 05/04/2021 14:03

This is a form of DV, emotional abuse and control, with a lot of bullying and childishness thrown in.

My advice would be to get support, get ready and then leave him. Getting support is the first step, to really understand what's going on and then because the cumulative effect of it having gone on for so long will mean you need help. Start with your local DV service and get a risk assessment completed and a plan tailored to your circumstances xxx

It's not you.
Its him.
Your confusion it utterly appropriate because it's all wrong, what he does.
He is wrong.
No he may not ever change. Ever.
That means you're wasting your life.
You have a hump to get over, but it can be made a lot easier with a DV advisor, friends and the police.
When it's gone, over and done with, your life, comfort, peace of mind and happiness level are going to be unrecognisable.

X

KurtWilde · 05/04/2021 14:18

It sounds like you're married to my exh. Of course you're not, but this was - and still is - him to a T. Constantly placating, apologising for nothing, walking on eggshells never knowing if what I was going to say would rile him. It got to the point where I would second guess myself every time I opened my mouth. I couldn't say anything off bat, I had to plan it in my head first, make sure I was confident it wouldn't bother him.

It's no way to live, OP, and he's my exh now. However, he's still like this with me and co-parenting is an absolute minefield.

whatisforteamum · 05/04/2021 14:44

I once dated someone who would be really nice then pick me up on something I said when no offence was meant it was awful.
My now dh used to be a mild mannered kind man fast forward a few decades and a H A he can be v angry or childish.
He ranges from running away to sulk or the other day I needed the loo before we went shopping he was ranting I would be 10 more minutes!!
Slammed the door ran off to the car.came back after a couple of minutes no apology.
It is not a way to live.
What a shame he was so nice until he had you where he wanted to.

yetmorecrap · 05/04/2021 17:09

Me too OP- and as you said it’s all quite subtle. If I say anything that’s he doesn’t agree with he goes into a semi aggressive strop. Here’s an example— we need to move back to uk for various reasons — we are flexible to a large extent in the southern half of England apart from the fact I don’t drive so villagey and miles from anywhere is a no no. He does need good internet though— so I find a few suitablishbthings on Right move and unless it’s got virgin media level of upload/download he just says nope- internet not good enough, so I say ‘ well it’s going to be a bit limiting if it can only be a virgin media area And you don’t like xyz place etc— and the response is (In a fed up Aggressivecway) — ‘I’m not going to tell you again— we aren’t going to be flexible’ . It’s not so
Much the point he is making- it’s the The manner— so I’ve stopped looking and am leaving him to it—

TitaniumTess · 05/04/2021 20:24

I've lived this for the last 4 years. I called time on it and he is about to move out.

Jot down what is happening. I did. I had forgotten most of it.

And Google 'emotional abuse....' I ticked off most boxes when I didnt even know what was happening. Xxx

Stay safe. He won't change. You just get more tired with time. It's the hardest thing that I've ever done......being picked at after family parties because I said something wrong...being accused of having affairs I wasn't having.....being sulked at...criticised....I nearly lost myself.

I am scared. But I've got to keep going. I deserve to be happy and my son deserves me happy too. Xxxx

harknesswitch · 05/04/2021 21:06

This is no way to live op. You're setting a very poor example of what relationships should be like to your dc

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