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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

Struggling with ex

52 replies

TheChip · 20/06/2021 12:36

My child's father, who I left 8 years ago. Contact is steady, co-parenting is a case of him doing his thing and me doing mine. No issues there.

The issue is his constant assumption that i should engage with him. There is a lot to this but I'll try to keep it brief.

Our relationship ended after 5 years because he was extremely emotionally abusive and manipulative.

He cycles throughout this whole time trying to be nice, then turning nasty, trying sob stories and then turning nasty.

His girlfriend recently left him after a couple of months and he is escalating his nastiness with me. Its as though he can't take it out on her, for whatever reason, and so I am getting it.

Its all triggering me back to when we did break up and he took our son from nursery, claiming I'd never see him again. I was bombarded with abusive calls and texts from him and his family. I contacted children services who helped me get my child back, got a non molestation order and things settled down. But that time period of my life was the worst. He only had our son for 3 days, but it felt like a long time! I suffered nightmares of my son being taken from me for about a year afterwards. I was scared to send him to nursery for about 3 months and when I finally did I had the nursery make a plan with me so that I'd have time to get there if he showed up.

My whole point is, I feel how I did back then. It does not feel like his usual manageable outbursts with me. It feels like he is in an incredible unpredictable phase right now and it's worrying me. At the same time though, I can see how mentally I could be triggered back to that time and feeling how I am due to that.

Since his increase, and my anxiety spiking because of it, I am starting to feel that I need the police to speak to him if he keeps going. Which is another thing that's making me feel like I did back then.

He sounds completely unhinged sometimes. I dont respond unless it's about contact and so he just repeatedly texts when he starts. One text claimed "only I exist"
He pretended he wasn't seeing my messages arranging drop off, and was saying I was playing games and controlling by not responding. Then I called him out and told him my phone let's me know when a message has been received and he just said "and? Fuck off" so he was the one playing games!

I just needed to rant really. I'm usually able to just brush him off, but this time not so much and it's getting to me. He has even tried accessing my Instagram. It really is as though she has broke up with him and he's playing the whole thing out with me. He tried getting into my accounts when we broke up originally. Its never happened since until now.

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 20/06/2021 13:12

I think you need to get another non molestation order OP. Have you kept all these messages?

FortunesFave · 20/06/2021 13:14

This link explains the difference between harassment and stalking.

If you can prove he's tried to access your accounts, that's stalking.

www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q151.htm

FortunesFave · 20/06/2021 13:16

If you feel that you are being harassed or stalked then you can contact your local police. If there are any threats of violence towards you, you should always inform the police and they will treat the matter with greater urgency.

In addition to any criminal proceedings, the police are able to apply for a Stalking Protection Order. This is a civil order similar to an injunction, which can impose restrictions on the person engaging in stalking behaviour. The order may prohibit the person entering certain locations or contacting the victim by any means.

This could mean that he has to collect your son from a Contact Centre...so that you never have to deal with him again.

He won't be allowed to text or call or he will be breaking the law.

TheChip · 20/06/2021 13:39

Thank you. Yes I have kept all of the messages incase it did get to the point I'd need them. After reading what you have shared, I could have called them ages ago! I just didn't because I could manage it.

Today has been a calm day and I havent heard anything as of yet. If he sparks up again with bombardment of text messages, I will definitely contact them.
I'm hoping his silence means that he is quitting for a bit.

Thankfully there have been no threats of violence or anything. And as for proving he tried getting into my account, I cant. I just had an email asking for a password change, and it wasn't me. I just put 2 and 2 together, which I could be wrong about but chances are it was him.

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 20/06/2021 14:32

When did he last text you? It doesn't matter that he doesn't threaten violence either.

What did the email say exactly?

Umberellatheweatha · 20/06/2021 14:39

Absolutely go to the police, its harassment.

And if he isnt replying about the kid arrangements then great because the less they are exposed to a manipulative lunatic, the better.

TheChip · 20/06/2021 14:46

It was yesterday.
Yesterday it was him saying "funny how dates were off at the hospital" and then "won't tell me will you"

Dates weren't off at the hospital, he just came 4 weeks early. But its a common thing he holds over me when he gets like this. He apparently did a dna test, but clearly not otherwise he would know.

Before that he was saying stuff like "I wonder who the truth would hurt more?" And just calling me a parasite and shit.

I've got no idea what he is talking about when he says stuff about the truth. He says that quite often too but never elaborates on what he actually means, so I think its just cryptic to try and suck me in.

OP posts:
TheChip · 20/06/2021 14:48

Like I'd keep going through all of this with him if he wasn't the dad. He doesn't even pay maintenence so it's not like he can think I'm holding on for money.

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 20/06/2021 14:48

Go straight to the police OP. You HAVE to protect you and your child.

He doesn't mean anything when he says stuff about the truth...he's clawing and desperate to control SOMEONE, and since his girlfriend's gone...as you say, now it's you.

Police. Tell them it's constant...tell them about him calling you names.

Also you could call Women's Aid. This is a suitable situation to get their expert advice.

Umberellatheweatha · 20/06/2021 14:55

Why doesn't he pay maintenance?

How old are your kids? Surely they can arrange their own contact with him if they were in nursery 8 years ago? I don't see why he needs to have any contact with you anymore.

If they could find the will power to tell him to fuck off of their own accord that would be brilliant. Probably be a few more years before they are able though.

TheChip · 20/06/2021 15:07

I will definitely go to the police next time he starts up. No matter how small it is.

As for maintenence, I quit years ago when I was hassled by him and his mother about it. Future times when he has offered to pay and I've accepted, he has then used this against me to further have a go at me and put me down. In the end, I told him to shove the money up his arse. We don't need it, and it's not worth it.

Our son is old enough to arrange contact directly now, and I had told his dad to deal directly with our son. Because with me, he was setting times and then turning up an hour or so earlier, then having a go that he wasn't ready. He would be eating his dinner.

But since then, our son conveniently forgets his phone some weekends. Which I suspect his dad puts it out of sight and rushes him out so he can't look for it, because before i told him to message our son directly, he would never forget it. When he has it, before he leaves here, its the first thing he thinks of to take with him.

He has no reason or need to be in contact with me anymore. I'm just an easy verbal punching bag, I think.

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 20/06/2021 15:16

You should not wait till' next time OP. Why would you? You're already stressed and you know he will do it again. Get the action happening now so that there IS no next time.

Get your son a second, spare phone to keep only at home. A cheapo one. Only for messaging his Dad.

Is your son happy to keep going there? How old is your son?

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 20/06/2021 15:23

Go to the police about the threats and a PP had a good idea about getting your son a cheap phone for messaging his dad.

Umberellatheweatha · 20/06/2021 15:25

I think pps idea of a second cheapo phone he never takes to his dad is a good idea.

I think I'd also report the harassment now, sod waiting about. Why should he get away with harassing you up till now?

And I'd file for back child support too. I mean, it's not like stopping stopped him being a waker to you right? So you may as well get what you are owed.

TheChip · 20/06/2021 15:27

Honestly, escalating this scares me incase he gets worse and takes our son again, or worse. He is unpredictable at the best of times. But you are right, I do know it will happen again and I'm just sitting on edge waiting for it. I'll see if I can just log it, and for them to act when it happens again or something. I'll see what they say.

During his barrage of abuse of calling me names, there is also a message in there telling me to pop round whenever I want, and that he sees me as an annoying little sister.

That is a brilliant idea about a cheap phone for messaging his dad. I'll order one now ready for next weekend.

My son is happy about going there and usually has an okay time there. I think he spends most time in his room, but never reports any major issues. He says his dad is sometimes angry but nothing that he isn't able to just ignore. He is 11 and has no idea about how his dad is with me.

OP posts:
Umberellatheweatha · 20/06/2021 15:28

Oh and, his sort take compromise and niceness as weakness. And they attack weakness.

FortunesFave · 20/06/2021 15:32

@TheChip

Honestly, escalating this scares me incase he gets worse and takes our son again, or worse. He is unpredictable at the best of times. But you are right, I do know it will happen again and I'm just sitting on edge waiting for it. I'll see if I can just log it, and for them to act when it happens again or something. I'll see what they say.

During his barrage of abuse of calling me names, there is also a message in there telling me to pop round whenever I want, and that he sees me as an annoying little sister.

That is a brilliant idea about a cheap phone for messaging his dad. I'll order one now ready for next weekend.

My son is happy about going there and usually has an okay time there. I think he spends most time in his room, but never reports any major issues. He says his dad is sometimes angry but nothing that he isn't able to just ignore. He is 11 and has no idea about how his dad is with me.

That fear won't go unless you get help. He won't be able to escalate without getting arrested then.
GrandmasCat · 20/06/2021 15:40

The fear never goes, but you need to do what’s best for your kids as if things are escalating with you, it is more than likely that things will start going bad with his kids too.

I often hold back from reporting mine as I knew I would pay for it, big time, but… it comes a time that the best thing for your child is not to contact him directly but to be pulled out of the toxic environment his dad is providing him with. You don’t want him growing up thinking that is normal to threaten and intimidate people around him.

GrandmasCat · 20/06/2021 15:47

How old is your kid? I can’t imagine it is good for a kid to negotiate his own contact in the middle of conflict unless he is almost an adult.

In fact, SS would expect you to negotiate contact between yourselves as it is extremely damaging for the kid to be caught in the middle.

Umberellatheweatha · 20/06/2021 16:00

OP already said he has been fine at his dads. How would her arranging stuff (and being dicked about) make things easier for her son? Or mean he was any less 'caught in the middle' ?

The child is in the middle either way.

TheChip · 20/06/2021 16:16

Our son is 11 and when he texts him he just texts him a time. Our son isn't aware of any conflict between us.

I have reported it to the police. I wanted to just log it, but they suggested that I should do more than that as he shouldn't be doing what he is doing. An officer is coming out tomorrow to get more info. I feel like a nervous wreck, but its no different to how I feel when he texts me.

OP posts:
Umberellatheweatha · 20/06/2021 16:22

Good on you op. A consistent show of strength and legal backing is often the only thing that keeps his kind in line.

Umberellatheweatha · 20/06/2021 16:27

Might also be time to sit your boy down and talk to him about how to treat partners. And just respect in general. He doesn't have a good role model in his dad so could probably do with some good guidance. Hopefully he will grow up to be a lovely lad. But this might be the perfect time to talk to him about respect in relationships and about just being a decent human being.

TheChip · 20/06/2021 16:36

I'm starting to panic now. Thinking that his texts haven't been too bad. I've had worse. That I'm blowing this out of proportion.

I know he shouldn't be doing it either way.

I already do try and speak with my son about things like that. In passing, if something crops up and stuff I'll point out how something is wrong, or how something is right etc. I can only hope I counteract things enough to help a healthy mind develop.

OP posts:
Umberellatheweatha · 20/06/2021 16:45

Dont panic op. You are doing the right thing. You've got used to his abuse and bulldozing but it's time to stop rolling over and hoping that'll make him into a nice person. He has shown you clearly it doesn't.

Fuck him, he doesn't get to treat you this way anymore.

Be brave like you were when you walked away. You've got this.

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