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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

Partner makes me feel worthless/frustrated/fed up/unhappy/lonely/stressed

41 replies

WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:26

Firstly I apologise as this will probably be jumbled up. I just feel at the end of my tether with him. We have two toddlers, one attends nursery now.

  • he is always late from work, supposed to finish at 3, but will be there till at least 5.30pm every night with giving no notice as to when he will be home even though he knows the children will need to eat before 6pm as they have bed at 7pm. He says he 'needs' to be there that he's in charge, he's not the manager, nor the lower level workers so he doesn't 'need' to be.
  • as a result he rarely sees the children during the week as it always seems he has timed it so that he finishes when they are in bed.
  • he gets annoyed if myself and the children eat dinner without him, even when he doesn't let me know that he will be late and that I don't like to eat late as it bloats me.
  • when he is home he is moody, shouts so easily at something the children have done and launches into over the top punishment which then causes them to get so upset. He is also either on his phone or staring at the TV, even when I try and talk to him he says 'what were you saying' it's not that he's engrossed in the programme I think it's no respect nor care for what I say. If the children call him or want his attention to look at something he just ignores it and they have to repeat themselves 3 or 4 times just for a base response.
  • he is supposed to have weekends off but has now started working Saturdays too. And even when he is home on a Saturday he has his friends over as he complains he hasn't seen them all week (nor myself/children I might add), then will go out and leave us home.
  • he has never done anything with the children as just him and them, besides one food shop that resulted in him shouting and them being upset (they are only toddler ffs) as a result I have never had even a few hours on my own since having children (I was meant to be having therapy for ptsd but can't as he won't have the children while I do it)
  • doesn't care/notice when I'm tired/sick/in pain, even though I have medical conditions which flare up through being run down etc. Yet if he has a sniffle or a headache anyone would think he was on the verge of dying.
  • have tried speaking to him about how I am feeling, but get nothing in response or get told I'm being silly/selfish. This then turns into him gaslighting me (pointed out by a nurse in hospital when I was pregnant).
  • he comments on everything I do, eg what the children eat (though he gives in when they don't want main meals and let's them have whatever they like), when I have rules about playing ball in the house, playing with doors, fighting each other in a tantrum because the other won't share, etc.
He makes me feel like I'm a terrible mother, although I know I'm the only one who is there 24/7 for them, knows what they need by paying attention, school teachers names, vital appointments at drs, what toys they like, what they find funny/sad, etc. I don't really know what I want/need people to say, I think I needed to vent and see maybe if someone else is going through similar or has been or knows someone or has advice or something. I've tried speaking with him but it just doesn't work and I'm so frustrated and tired with feeling like I have another child who really should be more, I don't know, there, I suppose.
OP posts:
Vapeyvapevape · 15/10/2022 15:29

I'd leave him, there really is no other advice that anyone can give you.

Tsort · 15/10/2022 15:32

He’s an abusive garbage heap of a man and you need to end it. You know this.

WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:34

He makes me doubt myself. Like am I being unreasonable or selfish, sometimes it's so clear in my head, but then he makes me feel like I'm failing.
Other things that I have spoken to him about are leaving his dirty clothes on the floor wherever, then to complain that he hasn't got a certain thing to wear (my response is if it's not in the basket on Sunday then it won't be washed until next week - even the children pick up his clothes and put them in the basket because they understand its dirty).
There's lots more of little things but my head has gone fuzzy now trying to get my thoughts straight enough to write down.

OP posts:
WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:35

One positive is that he does look after us financially, but I'd rather have physical presence and emotional support, I've told him this but again gets dismissed.

OP posts:
America12 · 15/10/2022 15:35

What do you think anyone is going to say except leave him ?

InternetRandom · 15/10/2022 15:39

He sounds totally selfish and a real drain on you. He can support you financially from somewhere else, as he should do anyway as the children's father. Time to split up.

WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:39

@America12 I honestly don't know. I feel like I'm losing myself at times and like I said I cant get it straight in head as he makes me feel guilty or something.

OP posts:
Tsort · 15/10/2022 15:41

WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:34

He makes me doubt myself. Like am I being unreasonable or selfish, sometimes it's so clear in my head, but then he makes me feel like I'm failing.
Other things that I have spoken to him about are leaving his dirty clothes on the floor wherever, then to complain that he hasn't got a certain thing to wear (my response is if it's not in the basket on Sunday then it won't be washed until next week - even the children pick up his clothes and put them in the basket because they understand its dirty).
There's lots more of little things but my head has gone fuzzy now trying to get my thoughts straight enough to write down.

You know you’re not being selfish. Stop attempting to justify yourself to your abuser. He’s not exactly going to agree that he’s unreasonable, is he? Abusers don’t go ‘yes, I’m abusive, you’re right.’

Leave him. You’ll be happier without him, and that’s really all that matters.

meatballsoup · 15/10/2022 15:43

Do you think he's open & able to change?. If not you have 2 choices. Leave or put up with it. To quote Wilson Phillips No one can change your life except for you.

WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:45

It's like, I know I'm basically doing it on my own as a single parent with a father that sometimes pops his feet in the door for a bit, I still feel like how would I cope to be fully on my own day in day out (although I do know, when my head is clear) that I do this anyway.
I'm making a right pigs ear of trying to say everything, I'm getting so jumbled when it comes to actually writing it down, I somehow manage to twist my own logical thoughts and then get confused with what actually is right in the first place.

OP posts:
Tsort · 15/10/2022 15:49

WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:45

It's like, I know I'm basically doing it on my own as a single parent with a father that sometimes pops his feet in the door for a bit, I still feel like how would I cope to be fully on my own day in day out (although I do know, when my head is clear) that I do this anyway.
I'm making a right pigs ear of trying to say everything, I'm getting so jumbled when it comes to actually writing it down, I somehow manage to twist my own logical thoughts and then get confused with what actually is right in the first place.

You’re expressing yourself clearly and articulately. He may try to make you think you’re a mess, but that’s certainly not how you me across.

He brings nothing positive into your life. So, you LTB.

FennelAndOnions · 15/10/2022 16:09

The making you doubt yourself is gaslighting. It’s designed so you question events and what you actually said. It’s a form of abuse.

Fromthedarkside · 15/10/2022 16:11

Why are you still with this man??

elephantseal · 15/10/2022 16:12

He's a complete dick. Abusive, nasty, selfish. Get rid. You and your dc will be happier.

marmaladepop · 15/10/2022 17:18

The only thing you have mentioned that is remotely positive about him is that he keeps the family financially. He has no emotional intelligence, in fact he's borderline abusive. You can choose to put up this, but your children can't. You are entitled to 50% of everything in a divorce if you are married. I've been through this and out the other end over 20 years now. Most men like this do not change. Good luck on whatever you decide in the future. Personally I couldn't put up with this level of disrespect.

KettrickenSmiled · 15/10/2022 17:27

WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:45

It's like, I know I'm basically doing it on my own as a single parent with a father that sometimes pops his feet in the door for a bit, I still feel like how would I cope to be fully on my own day in day out (although I do know, when my head is clear) that I do this anyway.
I'm making a right pigs ear of trying to say everything, I'm getting so jumbled when it comes to actually writing it down, I somehow manage to twist my own logical thoughts and then get confused with what actually is right in the first place.

Your thoughts would be a hell of a lot clearer without a nasty man undermining you every minute he deigns to be in the house with you.

when he is home he is moody, shouts so easily at something the children have done and launches into over the top punishment which then causes them to get so upset.
No. Fuck him, & fuck the lame donkey he rode in on.
Don't let him do this to your kids.

Your whole catalogue of complaints is exhausting & depressing to read, it must be almost impossible to live with. But how he treats the kids? - No. He doesn't get to bully them too.
What do you need - practically - to leave him?
What would you need to do to secure accommodation & an income, so you can remove this twat from your day to day lives?

KettrickenSmiled · 15/10/2022 17:30

You’re expressing yourself clearly and articulately. He may try to make you think you’re a mess, but that’s certainly not how you come across.

@Tsort is right.
I wonder how long he has been undermining you, that you constantly apologise for yourself & feel that you are not good enough?

Gaslighting - aka mindfuckery - is designed to control & alienate you.
You will find your sense of self again by disentangling from this bastard.
He doesn't do any decent parenting anyway, what loss is he?

pog100 · 15/10/2022 17:34

You have expressed yourself very clearly and articulately here. Everyone understands exactly what the position is and what the problem is. You actually don't have to explain to him, you just need to take action. Do you have any external support at all? Family or friends. If you do lean on them, if not, lean on us but you need to act. Good luck.

America12 · 15/10/2022 20:14

WhoopsEee · 15/10/2022 15:39

@America12 I honestly don't know. I feel like I'm losing myself at times and like I said I cant get it straight in head as he makes me feel guilty or something.

Sorry if I sounded harsh. Please leave him. He's a useless twat. My ExH was similar the best thing I ever did was divorce him.

Toomanysleepycats · 15/10/2022 20:22

I have gone through something similar this year. I am much older but have been very unhappy for the last five years. I have been seeing a private therapist.

I guess the thing that is so obvious, but I just didn’t see it was just because my husband said a thing, didn’t actually mean that he believed it himself.

So he might say, ‘Oh I got home late and didn’t ring you, why are you making a big thing over it. Do you like nagging me’ really means ‘although I’m a married man with kids, I want to come and go as I please and I will not let you tell me that I should care, because I don’t”.

Im really re-evaluating most of my marriage as this is the game he’s always played. His mantra is “Say anything and always make it her fault, so that you can live your life exactly how you want” It makes you lose confidence and self esteem, you know you aren’t being unreasonable, but he keeps telling you that you are.

Toomanysleepycats · 15/10/2022 20:24

Forgot to say I’m leaving him now. He’s really pissed off because I’ve ruined all his retirement plans.

Goingforplatinum · 19/10/2022 19:33

Just became tearful at this post OP as I could or written it myself word for word.

Unfortunately although I know I need to leave, I'll never find the courage.

ViolinPin · 21/10/2022 01:47

I don't see what positives this man actually brings to your marriage, I believe you and think things are actually worse than you have had chance to relay.

You need space from this bully, and I'll quantify how much, exactly the same height, depth and breadth of this man.

Watchkeys · 21/10/2022 10:19

He makes me doubt myself

But you are allowing him to. You are allowing him to stay in your life. You are allowing him to make you feel shit. You are allowing him to make your life more difficult. You are allowing him to dismiss you and your needs.

Why do you not allow yourself to dismiss him?

I think you need to have a think about who is responsible for making sure that you get what you want and need in your life. Have a think about what your idea of an adult relationship is meant to look like. Have a think about what sort of behaviour you are/are not willing to accept.

This man does not meet your needs. Who is responsible for changing this situation so that your needs are better met?

Aikko · 21/10/2022 12:32

Get out whilst you still can.

This is not a good relationship model to demonstrate to you children.
You are basically doing everything alone anyway, and without him you won't have the mental drain and constant worry wearing you down. In time you may even meet someone much better for you.

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