Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Low level vigilance

31 replies

Feelingoood · 24/12/2021 13:10

Just a silly thing..Dp been very difficult after severe illness, depressed, self centred etc. It’s getting a lot better but I feel like I’m nagging him all the time.
He won’t make his bed, so sleeps on bare mattress, always has his bottom crack showing, I mean yuk. I have asked him because of teenage dd. And he does the big eyed wounded look. His friend mentioned it jokily and I agreed with friend equally jokily and Dp made a joke raised fist grumbly sort of motion. It was obv a joke, but Frind called him up on it, so Dp made the same jokey motion to friend who said something like, ‘oh it’s ok now you’ve established it’s a joke by doing the same to me’.

Talks over people and doesn’t realise, he will cut you off mid sentence or totally change the subject. I don’t think he’s thinking but it had a suprsisingly negative effect on my confidence - I began to feel nothing a I said was worth listening to. He does it to kids. Also when ds is actually joining in and being funny, Dp will cut him off by saying, time to get a shower, tidy room ‘ or just,‘don’t do that’
The latest was over breakfast when he asks dd why she’s only got x left in her bank ( she’s 16) it’s like being interrogated by Victorian dad. He just did the same re her broken bank card and told her to bring it, he’d sort it. I said shouldn’t she learn to do it it will give her confidence? And then of course hes all’ where’s the number, who do I phone?’ So not much help there then. Last night we were having a lovely chat with the kids and he said to me to shut up, just as part of a sentence but I said,’ ok, but I don’t like that I feel it’s disrespectful’ in front of the kids, but what do I do? Let it go and then what do the kids learn? And I hate being told to shut up by anyone.
I feel like I should defend the kids but I feel like I’m nagging and of course he gets cross and tells me I should support him. I say, I would but I don’t always agree with what you are saying. Maybe we could discuss it first.
Also wierd, I wasn’t to write names on the gifts or kids would think they were all from me whaa?

Sorry, I feel like I’m policing him which is exhausting. I don’t want to cause bad vibes which obviously he gets pissed off if I say anything. If I mention it later he will go full on attack and not listen and somehow I’m much worse at whatever. He is keen to have a nice Christmas and is very tired form new job after redundancy.
I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable or more importantly how to resolve.
I’m just a bit jealous I guess of people who have a really good laugh and fun. Feels like we never do.
Sorry! I know there is worse things to worry about!

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 24/12/2021 13:22

Why are you with such a person at all?. He is no partner to you. Not content with just grinding you down via abusing and otherwise mistreating you, he is now further starting on your children as well. Ill health is no excuse or justification for his behaviour towards you all

AttilaTheMeerkat · 24/12/2021 13:23

Did you grow up thinking you have to police other adults around you?.

Calamitydrayne · 24/12/2021 13:24

There is not a great deal you like about him really, is there? Perhaps that's where the focus needs to be rather on his clear and endless faults? This isn't really going anywhere is it?

CompetitiveMumming · 24/12/2021 22:54

Well it's going somewhere in the sense that she has kids & isn't married, so it's going to be the usual story of doing all the domestic work without any financial security, probably, so it might not be possible for oP to end this easily. I suspect.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 24/12/2021 22:57

@AttilaTheMeerkat

Did you grow up thinking you have to police other adults around you?.
This is my assumption to, that OP has for some reason internalised that women should tolerate men behaving badly and placate them.
Inthesameboatatmo · 24/12/2021 23:25

Mental health issues don't make someone an arsehole ,they were born an arsehole and use mh as a guise to treat people terribly.

Ltb.

Feelingoood · 25/12/2021 01:41

Thanks, I will think a bit and reply! It’s well late but thank you.

OP posts:
EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 25/12/2021 15:18

His friend is calling out his abusive behaviour for what it is. He's clearly concerned about you and the kids.

Raising his fist to you is not a "joke". It's a threat. His friend can see that.

How is today going?

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 25/12/2021 15:27

Do you need his money? If not, just end it.

Marineboy67 · 25/12/2021 16:06

What a complete slob twat...trade him in for a better model....shouldn't be to hard!

Orgasmagorical · 25/12/2021 16:29

I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable or more importantly how to resolve.

No, you're not being unreasonable. You can't resolve this. He could, by becoming a completely different person. Can you see that happening?

I’m just a bit jealous I guess of people who have a really good laugh and fun. Feels like we never do.

I hear you Flowers

Sorry! I know there is worse things to worry about!

Do not be sorry, it's good that you are being open about this, even if we're just randoms on the internet. Of course there are worse things going on in the world, but this is your life, it doesn't sound like a happy one. It's hard to hope for happy when you're being so controlled.

How would you like your life to be? How do you picture it in your day dreams?

Feelingoood · 26/12/2021 09:06

Thanks. Am in being controlled? I feel like I’m always nagging.
I think he feels like I’m always nagging him.
I don’t hink he’s nasty, just got odd ideas.
In my dreams I’d be having adventures and sunshine.
How do I get my thoughts off him and onto me? It’s like I have a continuous voice that is negative and draining.
Don’t know what I’m saying really. I’ve had a good counsellor, so I think I’m finding me again.
Too much running round in my head to know what to type!

OP posts:
Orgasmagorical · 26/12/2021 11:47

Am in being controlled?

Yes.

I think he feels like I’m always nagging him.

He's trying to play the victim.

I don’t hink he’s nasty, just got odd ideas.

I thought similar of my abusive ex, couldn't believe that he actually meant some of what he did, thought he couldn't help it. He could, it was deliberate. It's always deliberate.

They are all the same, it's like they've all got the same handbook.

I feel it’s disrespectful’ in front of the kids, but what do I do? Let it go and then what do the kids learn?

They learn that a relationship like yours is the norm and they may well end up in exactly the same situation Sad

In my dreams I’d be having adventures and sunshine.

Where is he in your dreams?

How do I get my thoughts off him and onto me? It’s like I have a continuous voice that is negative and draining.

They keep your head so filled with all this crap intentionally. It's not until you are out of the situation that you can see things clearly and see how bad things actually were.

Don’t know what I’m saying really. I’ve had a good counsellor, so I think I’m finding me again.

That's good, are you still seeing your counsellor? Keep talking about it, keeping it secret is only strengthening it for him. Do not tell him that you know he's abusing you, it never bodes well. Keep building up your strength for yourself and your children, speak to your counsellor and please consider contacting Women's Aid, they are such a great support Flowers

Feelingoood · 27/12/2021 01:43

Thanks everyone and orgasmorgorical.
Am I being abused? It seems such a strong word.

OP posts:
Holothane · 27/12/2021 05:12

Oh OP you get the talking over as well? I’ve given talking I’m sick of being talked over the third degree questions about everything.

Orgasmagorical · 27/12/2021 11:52

@Feelingoood

Thanks everyone and orgasmorgorical. Am I being abused? It seems such a strong word.
I don’t want to cause bad vibes which obviously he gets pissed off if I say anything. If I mention it later he will go full on attack and not listen and somehow I’m much worse at whatever.

What do you think? You should be able to discuss things, even if either or both of you feel anger, you should be able to discuss them. If someone goes 'full on attack' and turns it round to being your fault then, yes, it is abuse. That's just one example.

Flowers
Feelingoood · 28/12/2021 01:29

Oh. Crumbs

OP posts:
Orgasmagorical · 28/12/2021 09:55

It's shocking when you first realise that what has been your norm is abuse, it takes some sinking in. You might have times when his behaviour calms down and you think it's okay but they can't keep that up for long.

Do keep posting as you work through your thoughts or considering talking to your counsellor and Women's Aid. I'm sorry you're going through this Flowers

monicacat · 28/12/2021 10:18

Don't be fooled. He is not stupid or thoughtless. he knows exactly what he is doing. He is taking all your attention and feeding of you,
Your child is watching you take all this shit and will learn from it.
You could make the New Year a fresh start for yourself without the dead weight. If you can not make the move now you could start to make plans.
I am not saying this to be nasty, I made the same mistake myself but managed to get away while I still had some self respect left.
It's not easy but good luck x

Feelingoood · 28/12/2021 10:56

Thanks. Can I get back to you. Don’t know what to think!

OP posts:
Itonlytakesonetree · 28/12/2021 11:05

I don't know that I would call his behaviour abusive, but I would call it repellent. He just doesn't come across as a nice person at all.

LiterallyKnowsBest · 28/12/2021 11:20

I don’t quite understand. You say he doesn’t make his bed - so do you co-habit but with separate rooms? Or do you live apart, with him spending a lot of time with you and your children?

Presumably the first, as there’s little reason for you to have to see his unmade bed otherwise?

Mamamamasaurus · 28/12/2021 11:34

He sounds like a shitty person, leave alone a decent partner. Raise your bar OP.

billy1966 · 28/12/2021 12:10

He sounds like an absolute pig of a man.

He is abusive.

He is a shit father.

He is not a good man to have around your children.

Call Womens aid for advice.
Flowers

Feelingoood · 29/12/2021 09:40

We have different rooms - we wake each other up as neither of us sleep well.
It’s a funny one, he works hard, thinks he’s being kind and will then ruin it by being bonkers. I think I’m in a pickle as a pp said.
I wouldn’t like to begin to think about leaving, that’s so enormous. But I am wondering if he has some funny ideas.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread