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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

Should I leave?

20 replies

ItsABlueDogJohnny · 23/09/2023 12:27

I keep feeling like I want to leave but don't know if I'm overreacting.

DP has two kids from a previous marriage who we have almost half the time. He pays their mum three times the amount of child support that he is legally obliged to pay, which I admire and have never disputed. They have 4 holidays a year with their mum, and he takes them camping a few times a year. They're happy, healthy.

Since having our little boy, we've had problems. His guilt about not being at home with them went into overdrive on the first year and in DS's first month, one week he spent 6 days out of the house seeing the kids.

One example. I came down with campola bacta and was desparately ill for days - during which he took his kids camping 300 miles away while I looked after DS who at 10 months had just started to walk. I had no help and had to just lie on the floor, cramping and trying not to vomit, while he toddled around me. I couldnt eat for 10 days. I called DP on day 2 crying and saying I couldnt look after DS safely and asked him please to come home. He said he couldn't because the kids would be disappointed.

Financially it seems unequal. After having DS, I got statutory maternity leave for 9 months and then looked for a part time job (I was freelance before and worked 65 hour weeks, so had to change career). There were 6 months when I had no money coming in. During the whole time I paid half of the mortgage and bills, as I always had done before. I also bought most food shops (he has bought 6 in last 2 years), as well as all the baby's clothes and a few classes for DS. Planning for birth of DS, I'd spent a long time personally saving a lot of money, all of which I've spent.

I chose to go back to work part time so DS wouldnt be going into FT nursery at 1, and so I could spend time with him as he's going to be my only one. This means I currently earn much less than DP. We are trying to set up a joint bank account to cover bills, but although I propose I contribute 30% to his 70% to reflect our salaries proportionately, he gets extremely annoyed about this and says contributions would ideally be 50/50 but he'll accept 40/60.

He's just texted me to ask if it's OK to go on a holiday in January with the kids and his sisters family. He's not asked me to go, and I guess it'll be at least a couple of grand, which I can't afford anyway. Given we argued last winter when the house was 15 degrees and we had covid but he didn't want to put the heating on, or that when I do a big shop he disputes what I've bought and tells me I spend too much if i ask him for half the money, I find this really hard to make peace with.

It's also on top of the fact that he's away on a boys weekend this weekend, taking the boys away for a weekend to see a football match 200 miles away next month (which means I can't go on a girls weekend with my besties who I havent seen in a year), then taking them camping the month after. This leaves me looking after DS alone a lot. I love my time with him but it's not what I'm in a relationship for - to be alone most of the time. And before our wee boy we spent all of our time together.

I feel like there's not much respect or love for me in all of this behaviour. We've had couples counselling but it's not helped and I wonder if his baseline attitude towards me is sort of... un-live-able with! And then all of the worry that entails regarding DS.

OP posts:
Pippylongstock · 23/09/2023 12:36

That sounds incredibly tough and borderline financial and emotional abuse. Are you sure some of this drive to never be at home isn’t to do with just avoiding childcare duties? Now his kids are bigger and more fun he gets to play Disney dad while you do all the grunt work. Awful that he left you in such a dire situation when you were ill. He doesn’t seem to give two hoots about your needs. You said DP not husband so I’m assuming you are unmarried. You need to be very, very careful that he doesn’t leave you high and dry if the relationship breaks down. There is zero equality in terms of finances.
Can you start getting your ducks in a row and figure out how you might leave and what that would look like? It seems like you are subsidising his life- can you ask yourself what he actually brings that is positive?
I would be looking for flexible full time work, to protect yourself financially. Good luck it sounds super super rough.

ItsABlueDogJohnny · 23/09/2023 21:08

Thank you so much for your reply, it's given me a lot to think about and it's good to know I'm not crazy!

OP posts:
Catoo · 23/09/2023 21:51

OP he sounds exhausting to me.
It sounds like you might be potentially better off financially and emotionally if you got a small place for just you and DS.

His actions when you had campylobacter are unforgivable TBH. He not only neglected you, but also your DS.

DuckyShincracker · 23/09/2023 21:57

He's awful I think you should leave. His base line of disrespect for you is horrible. That's no way to live the rest of your life. You deserve better.

MMadness · 23/09/2023 22:08

I'd leave him.

He's not treating you like a partner, nor is he treating your son the same as he's treating the other children.

Why aren't you invited on family trips?

Fuck that. You'll be better off financially and emotionally.

What a dick.

category12 · 23/09/2023 22:08

Your feeling that you should leave is correct. He's treating you and your child together as second thoughts and it does sound like financial abuse.

I never can understand these absurdly unfair situations where a couple has a baby together yet the woman ends up paying out of her savings alone for the costs of her maternity leave - the man should cover half her expenses.

Leave him, you'll be happier.

scoobydoo1971 · 23/09/2023 23:15

Leave him. You will be mentally happier and financially better off. He is very selfish. I guess you don't feel that safe if you know he won't come home when you are poorly. His priorities are all about him and what he wants to do. It must be so awful to live with a man who dictates what you buy, and tries to restrict your own needs to see your friends etc. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you deserve a better future...you already know the answer.

Starseeking · 24/09/2023 06:11

Your DP doesn't respect you, and doesn't seem bothered about either you or your DS. His previous DC are always number 1 priority, it seems. I was in a similar situation, and couldn't see any good reason for me to stay in the relationship, so I left.

My life is a thousand times better now I'm not bending myself out of shape coming up with excuses to myself for EXDP's horrible behaviour.

asleep · 24/09/2023 06:16

That's absolutely awful. Not coming home when you were sick is unforgivable. The financial abuse is astounding. You would be much better off without him.

Dery · 24/09/2023 07:24

It sounds like he doesn’t care much about you and your LO and he’s just interested in the fun bits of parenting. Perhaps that’s why his original marriage broke down.

determinedtomakethiswork · 24/09/2023 07:55

I'm sorry but he doesn't give a damn about you and your child. Definitely look into leaving him.

DustyLee123 · 24/09/2023 07:57

Yep, he’s awful, time to free yourself.

Bellsbeachwaves · 24/09/2023 07:58

Leave him you sound quite good with money re savings etc you will be fine

I predict you will feel less alone out of this relationship than in it

Purpleboat · 24/09/2023 08:04

This is such a tough position for you to be in. I suggest you try to talk to him and agree how things will and should work. This should include that anytime you are unwell he must be there for your DS.
He needs to reign back what he is giving his ex for DC and ensure it aligns the support for your DS. Any holidays his DC have, your DS should be entitled to go on too. If you can’t afford the holiday he wants, he should pay or pick somewhere you can afford too.
Decide what’s non-negotiable, discuss it with him and keep the door ajar incase he won’t or can’t provide you with what you deserve. Good luck!

Olika · 24/09/2023 08:04

You should not stay with a man who doesn't care about you and his baby as all he cares about is his older kids. It made my blood boil to read what you are going through.

Watchkeys · 24/09/2023 08:28

ItsABlueDogJohnny · 23/09/2023 21:08

Thank you so much for your reply, it's given me a lot to think about and it's good to know I'm not crazy!

A good rule of thumb is to remove yourself from situations where you feel you might be going crazy.

Staying in/returning to those situations is a very strong sign of not respecting yourself. Would you force anybody you respected to keep being in a situation where they thought they were losing it?

Zanatdy · 24/09/2023 09:14

He needs to realise you’re thinking of leaving and then he’s going to be in a position of trying to spend time with 3 kids and try and align that with 2 mothers. He’s clearly struggling with the guilt of having one child with him all the time, and over compensating. I get that’s tough, but hardly seeing his child at home isn’t the answer either. Does he not take your child too when he takes them camping?

ItsABlueDogJohnny · 24/09/2023 11:31

Wow, thank you for all the replies everybody, and thank you for all the advice. I think you're all confirming what I know in my heart has to happen. I don't want DS growing up thinking this is all OK! I very much miss the days when I didn't let anybody disrespect me! I think when you have a baby you can lose yourself a bit, sometimes.

Thank you everyone!

OP posts:
ItsABlueDogJohnny · 24/09/2023 11:35

No, it's always a camping trip for his other DC.

OP posts:
ItsABlueDogJohnny · 24/09/2023 11:50

Zanatdy · 24/09/2023 09:14

He needs to realise you’re thinking of leaving and then he’s going to be in a position of trying to spend time with 3 kids and try and align that with 2 mothers. He’s clearly struggling with the guilt of having one child with him all the time, and over compensating. I get that’s tough, but hardly seeing his child at home isn’t the answer either. Does he not take your child too when he takes them camping?

It's always his kids from previous marriage, without DC.

Sorry I'm really bad at figuring out how to reply to messages! Technophobe!

OP posts:
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