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

Is this abusive?

17 replies

YoureTerribleMuriel07 · 12/09/2022 15:36

Not really sure where to begin. Have namechanged and a few details so not to be outing but here's the gist. Together with DP 6 years and have toddler DC. I came home from work last night and he was drinking whilst watching DC (didnt seem drunk). I took DC to bed and went to bed myself a while later as had an exhausting shift. Whilst I was sleeping DP went on a cleaning spree unbeknownst to me. He heard me wake around 3am to use the toilet. A few minutes later he came up to tell me (very drunkenly) that he had cleaned out various kitchen cupboards and dumped a lot of things including toiletries that belonged to me as they were taking up too much space. I asked him why he didn't just leave them to the side for me to sort in the morning. He said he had asked me to sort them before (I can't recall this) and had enough "of me not listening" so took it upon himself to dump it all. I was quite upset and told him I was going to sleep as I couldn't understand why he didn't put the items aside. He stormed off and then sent me a text telling me to sleep in the spare room. I replied saying I didn't think I had done anything wrong. He then said he'd sleep downstairs. A while later he sends a message to apologise for getting angry. He comes up to bed around 430 and is thrashing about/snoring. I come up to him at midday (exhausted as I've been awake since 3) and ask him again why he didn't put it aside for me to sort. He gets angry again saying "you don't want to get me started on that again etc" I asked him did he not think he overreacted a bit . He says no, not at all and that I'm to stop talking about it. He said it was my fault for being so messy and he's sick of me etc. To put into context, the toiletries were in the downstairs cupboard as that's where I get ready for work early in the morning so not to disturb him. He was getting really angry that I brought it up and refused to acknowledge that he done anything wrong at all. I told him that a sentimental perfume had been thrown out. He replied with "well if it was that sentimental you wouldn't have left it in that cupboard".
He then went into a huff about something else a short while later and stomped off downstairs slamming doors. I'm starting to doubt myself now thinking that maybe I shouldn't have put the toiletries in there but I genuinely can't remember him asking me to move them. I can be messy sometimes but he can be too and I'd never throw his belongings out without asking him first. I spoke with a close family member who advised its borderline abusive but I'm not sure.

OP posts:
Cruisebabe1 · 12/09/2022 15:38

Yes, leave. This is abuse

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 12/09/2022 15:38

As an isolated incident, I'd say no, but it's certainly a twattish thing to do.

Does he drink a lot?

Watchkeys · 12/09/2022 15:53

There isn't a conclusive list of what's abusive and what's not. It also doesn't matter what label you give it. If he's making you question yourself, huffing, throwing your stuff about, and shutting down conversations you want to have, how does that make you feel, and do you want to be in a relationship with a partner who makes you feel like that?

Is it an isolated incident, and usually he's deeply respectful of you, and your relationship is normally blissfully happy? I can't imagine that's the case.

AryaStarkWolf · 12/09/2022 15:54

Why can't you put your toiletries in the Cupboard, what's his issue with that? And yes he sounds abusive

RosetteNebula · 12/09/2022 15:56

I'd be absolutely furious if DH threw out my stuff without my permission.

BacktoSlack · 12/09/2022 16:01

Abusive or not he sounds like an arsehole.
If you were my friend I'd be advising you to leave, especially if this was indicative of his normal behaviour to you.
Life is too short to waste it with someone who is nasty to you. Start making plans for a happier life to begin asap.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 12/09/2022 16:03

This is abusive behaviour from him; there's nothing borderline about this. Abuse too is about power and control; this person wants absolute here over you.

What do you want to teach your children about relationships and just what are they learning here?. They would have heard this too; after all sound travels.

Your kids are putting up with a crap example of a father to them too. Do not keep on doing your bit here to show the DC here that this from their dad is acceptable to you on any level.

Aquamarine1029 · 12/09/2022 16:04

Fucking hell. Has he lost his mind? It would be over for me. This is absolutely abusive, not to mention unhinged.

YoureTerribleMuriel07 · 12/09/2022 16:26

Yes he would drink quite heavily and no it's not an isolated incident. He's never thrown out my stuff before but can often say nasty things then refusing to accept it was wrong. I often doubt if I'm in the wrong and when I question it, he gets very defensive. I asked him why he apologised last night if he doesn't feel he done anything wrong and he replied "because you like apologies." Although I'm upset about the toiletries, I'm more upset at his inability to understand/care my point of view. He thinks my stuff was fair game as he had asked me before to sort through them. I can't recall him asking at all, and he certainly hasn't asked recently.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 12/09/2022 16:32

Everything else aside op, doesn't he sound like a wanker to you? Don't you think life is too precious to waste with a prick like him?

TheLadyofShalott1 · 12/09/2022 16:38

He sounds absolutely horrible OP.
Can you tell us his good points?

Watchkeys · 12/09/2022 17:24

Why are you with him, @YoureTerribleMuriel07 ? What does he bring to your life?

Cyberworrier · 12/09/2022 17:31

OP, having just got out of a relationship with an alcoholic who would do similar, I sympathise so much.
It is exhausting and it is frightening. I can't imagine how much more awful it must be with a toddler. This is not ok or safe for you and your child. Please take this seriously.
Here is a thread for people with alcoholic loved ones, people there may be able to support and offer more advice.

Support group for those affected by someone else's drinking www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/4581221-support-group-for-those-affected-by-someone-elses-drinking

YoureTerribleMuriel07 · 12/09/2022 17:54

Finances and DC are the main reason we're together to be honest. If I didn't have children to him, I would leave. He works full time and I'm currently part time. If I left, I wouldn't have any childcare. I've no family support and my shifts are usually between 12-14 hours. If I left and he had contact, I couldn't leave him for long periods unsupervised with DD. He's absolutely a functioning alcoholic, he would drink anything between 2-3 litres of vodka a week. A few PP have asked what his good points are. Despite the drinking he's a good father, DD adores him. He works hard and can be extremely kind. He's changed a lot since we got together, he used to be a lot nicer. Obviously his former personality isn't reason enough to stay. I'm currently doing as much overtime as possible as work to save a little nest egg but it's hard. It frightens me how quickly he can go from being nice to awful. He was absolutely fine last night until I got upset about him dumping the stuff. I thought he might be contrite today but nope, he's still adamant I'm completely in the wrong. I'm wavering between thinking he's an abusive arsehole and thinking that I am messy/inconsiderate who needs to learn to be more tidy.

OP posts:
Cyberworrier · 12/09/2022 18:02

I know it's complicated. It's difficult. Please seek support from AlAnon or somewhere.

He heard me wake around 3am to use the toilet. A few minutes later he came up to tell me (very drunkenly) that he had cleaned out various kitchen cupboards and dumped a lot of things including toiletries that belonged to me as they were taking up too much space. I asked him why he didn't just leave them to the side for me to sort in the morning. He said he had asked me to sort them before (I can't recall this) and had enough "of me not listening" so took it upon himself to dump it all. I was quite upset and told him I was going to sleep as I couldn't understand why he didn't put the items aside. He stormed off and then sent me a text telling me to sleep in the spare room

Just copied part of your post, I really want you to understand that his behaviour is not ok, it's not normal for someone to behave like this in the middle of the night. It IS normal for people to be messy and for there to be disagreements about tidying. But this is far from normal. Please stop questioning yourself, he's gaslighting you if you think it's in anyway your fault

YoureTerribleMuriel07 · 12/09/2022 19:09

@Cyberworrier thank you for the advice and for understanding that things are complicated. You say you've been in a similar situation, did your DH/P ever show contrition the next day for his behaviours or was he defensive?

OP posts:
Cyberworrier · 12/09/2022 19:44

At first he used to show contrition, but in a very embarrassed not wholehearted way. This happened less and less, the incidents continued but he blamed them even more openly on me, eg I got drunk last night because you shouted at me two weeks ago, or I threw up everywhere because you make me feel stressed.

I'm facing the chaos of moving, completely changed finances etc, but the peace of not living with him is amazing. Now I notice that horrible feeling in my chest when I have to deal with separation stuff or anything to do with him and am amazed and aghast that I lived with that awful feeling for so long.

Please do come to the thread I posted, I've found it really supportive there. Hearing from people who've had similar experiences is so reassuring and helpful. Take care

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread