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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

Social services called to my home

435 replies

ea4843 · 06/01/2024 21:31

Looking for a little reassurance, please be kind.

I have a 2yr old daughter, my own business, a beautiful home, I'm educated and we have a lovely life. My 2yr old is the happiest, brightest child. We are so blessed.
I've been in a relationship for just over a year now with a chap I was friends with for a long time (we belong to the same friendship group) However, he isn't my daughters biological father.
In the middle of December it was a friend of mines birthday and we'd had a lot to drink - I mean, a lot! I was having a once in a blue moon night off from parenting and letting my hair down and having a ruddy good time! It was great. When I eventually made it back to our home I'd decided after being in the house for a short time, that I wanted to go back out again. My partner didn't agree. I think he'd probably thought I was too drunk and being silly and needed my bed.
To cut a long story short, the night ended with him dragging me up the stairs and for some reason (probably frustratrafion for the situation) pinned me on my bed and shouted in my face. It was in this moment that I scratched his chest. I remember feeling terrified and to be honest, quite triggered.
To my shame and embarrassment, my daughter was home when this had happened. He was babysitting while I was out. She had been sleeping and was, up until that point, undisturbed.
My next door neighbour had called the police and when they arrived I was absolutely intoxicated, triggered, obviously couldn't regulate my own emotions and was arrested - and rightly so! How ridiculous of me. I am mortified and ashamed, let that be known.
I was arrested on a domestic abuse charge. So my partner had, a few days later, filed a report to state what his actions had been and what it was that had lead to me scratch him in the first place. So he too, has now been charged with domestic assault.
I've never been arrested or in trouble with anyone before and I've certainly never been involved in a situation like this before.
Although my partner and I haven't really had any contact since this situation, we've both agreed not to press charges, but the police are pushing for them anyway.
I've received a letter today with a social services appointment to visit my home with my daughter in a few days and I'm absolutely terrified!
The police had advised me that due to the nature of the incident and the fact that my daughter was in our home when it had happened, that they would have to inform them.
As I've said, I've never been involved in anything like this before and I just don't know what to expect. We are not this type of family, we don't live this way. This is not a reflection of me as a parent or an adult. I'd had too much wine with my dinner and had reacted based on my partners inappropriate behaviour towards me.
And to be clear, this has never happened before. My partner does have BPD and that shouldn't be held against him. His reaction towards me was wildly inappropriate and he is now seeking help for this. Although that isn't my main concern for now and I'm not even sure I can go forward with the relationship after this, I'm just filling in some gaps.
I'm just unsure of what to expect with a social worker visit. It's worrying and I'm so embarrassed and utterly ashamed of myself by the whole escapade.

Any kind advice is welcome,
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Venturini · 07/01/2024 13:08

It must have been quite the incident for the neighbours to be concerned enough to phone the police.

Knowing someone for years prior to getting into a relationship isn’t some fast track process - they clearly moved in too soon, especially considering you have a young child. And even if you were horribly drunk and obstructive, his behaviour that night would spell the end of any involvement for me whatsoever. He assaulted you. And you left your child alone with him.

be honest with social services and wise the fuck up.

Workingtomorrow · 07/01/2024 13:13

Menopausalaffectedmum · 07/01/2024 12:58

That is an excellent point. OP getting slated on here for being so drunk but people also taking her words as gospel, how does that work ? She was intoxicated and could easily have misconstrued what was happening. Maybe just maybe nobody was abusing anyone, is it impossible that he was actually trying to keep her from harm, was he possibly trying to get her out of sight of the child? Could her recollection of being dragged up the stairs possibly be him trying to stop her falling down them 🤷‍♀️ none of us can possibly know but can’t slate her for being so drunk and believe her recollection completely at the same time! As for the police, if you think this doesn’t happen regularly then you’re wrong, they err on the side of caution and in a large amount of cases once investigated charges are dropped.

I agree to a point. Op doesn’t actually remember alot of it.

But since he went to the police station to state what he actions were which led to a charge. They didn’t charge because he went in and said ‘this is my fault really I tried to help her upstairs and out her in bed’

and op has clearly spoken to him and he has moved out to seek help as he now knows his actions were ‘wildly inappropriate’

But, often in these situations one partner will try and take the blame to stop the legally action against the other.

So who knows. If he was assaulting her and so attacked him back it’s not good. If she believed that’s what was happening but it wasn’t it’s not good, but for some reason he believes it. That’s not good. If they both actually know that he was trying to help her to bed and she attacked him and he is trying to take the blame to protect her, that’s also really not good.

But op admits feeling scared and causing him a scratch to the chest. That could be a light scratch or really bad. But op says she did that.

So there was some sort of physical altercation. Which would result in a DV charge.

Healthyhappymama · 07/01/2024 13:22

Try not to worry!! Just be completely honest , that this was a one off situation and won't happen again. They will probably want to check with the school though how your daughter is getting on and if there have been any other issues. Hopefully they will just drop it. I was in a similar situation , one off , silly drunken argument. They visited and then closed the case. I hope it's the sane for you!!

Menopausalaffectedmum · 07/01/2024 13:23

Yes I agree with a lot of what you say and yes there was an injury but it could have been accidental if she thought she was being attacked. Like you say though it’s not good but people make mistakes, you live you learn. Hopefully all get sorted out

ilovebreadsauce · 07/01/2024 13:36

To be fair her child us ger responsibility not her partners.No wonder he was passed off at her glibly announcing she was going out again without asking if he would be willing to babysit.Quite apart from being concerned about her coming to harm in such a state- stumbling into the road, falling, getting assaulted....

momonpurpose · 07/01/2024 14:17

Oneofthesurvivors · 07/01/2024 09:41

Had you got home, made a racket, thrown up, pissed the bed and got up massively hungover then this would have been absolute normality

How is this normality? Especially with a child in the house.

I swear I could not even believe what I was reading. I fear for children if there are people thinking coming home drunk peeing the bed making a racket and throwing up is "normal"

GrazingSheep · 07/01/2024 14:43

@momonpurpose
There are posts on MN (with depressing regularity) describing this exact scenario. Usually it’s a man. Pissing in wardrobes, toy boxes, bathroom sinks. Vomiting everywhere. Occasionally defecating.
🤮

TheAverageJoanne · 07/01/2024 14:47

What's your ex husband's take on this? Is he aware?

BlackPanther75 · 07/01/2024 14:51

Zone2NorthLondon · 07/01/2024 01:26

With all due respect I’m not here to do your work, I’m citing credible evidence based good practice in CP used in practice and CPD . Out of interest Is this a diversion tactic you cannot find references so I have to tell you the sources . I’m not going to retract or change my mind because you cannot google effectively

With due respect I don’t think you’ve quoted or cited any sources. It could be that I haven’t seen your post where you do. It’s not a diversion tactic at all. It’s my response to a shocking claim made that’s apparently totally accepted in this discussion. I am interested to see if the research backs up this assumption so that I can inform myself. I’ve not asked you to Google for me :)

Firefly2009 · 07/01/2024 14:52

OP is unlikely to return and answer questions to a mob of people doing a pile on. I can only hope she reads the supportive comments before requesting this thread is taken down.

momonpurpose · 07/01/2024 14:54

GrazingSheep · 07/01/2024 14:43

@momonpurpose
There are posts on MN (with depressing regularity) describing this exact scenario. Usually it’s a man. Pissing in wardrobes, toy boxes, bathroom sinks. Vomiting everywhere. Occasionally defecating.
🤮

I saw one where the dh did poop the bed when drunk lol. If there are people out there that think this is normal that is scary!

Firefly2009 · 07/01/2024 14:54

@GrazingSheep your observation might be valid but this isn’t the thread to be stating this.

GrazingSheep · 07/01/2024 14:56

@Firefly2009
Says who??

Menopausalaffectedmum · 07/01/2024 14:58

Well said

Damnloginpopup · 07/01/2024 16:18

momonpurpose · 07/01/2024 14:17

I swear I could not even believe what I was reading. I fear for children if there are people thinking coming home drunk peeing the bed making a racket and throwing up is "normal"

Did you also read where I addressed the first person who quoted my post?

I spent eleven years working with people whose behaviour actually was that normality, and worse. Isn't my normality. Isn't OP's normality. IS the normality of being absolutely hammered.

Social services called to my home
momonpurpose · 07/01/2024 16:50

Damnloginpopup · 07/01/2024 16:18

Did you also read where I addressed the first person who quoted my post?

I spent eleven years working with people whose behaviour actually was that normality, and worse. Isn't my normality. Isn't OP's normality. IS the normality of being absolutely hammered.

I respect your opinion but I disagree

Zone2NorthLondon · 07/01/2024 16:51

BlackPanther75 · 07/01/2024 14:51

With due respect I don’t think you’ve quoted or cited any sources. It could be that I haven’t seen your post where you do. It’s not a diversion tactic at all. It’s my response to a shocking claim made that’s apparently totally accepted in this discussion. I am interested to see if the research backs up this assumption so that I can inform myself. I’ve not asked you to Google for me :)

Shocking claim? Lol.For the millionth time don’t exaggerate
and it’s a tired trope to try derail threads by demanding evidence.
if you don’t believe the assertion that introduction of a non bio partner is a risk factor in CP, well you’re in a minority. If you want to see the research you need to do your own homework

BintuBombatu · 07/01/2024 17:29

@BlackPanther75 , as you’re a man, you clearly have an ulterior motive here.

Chichimcgee · 07/01/2024 17:35

momonpurpose · 07/01/2024 16:50

I respect your opinion but I disagree

I think @Damnloginpopup means most people’s mistakes are in general vomiting, acting really loud, drunk etc it’s not acceptable but it’s a ‘normal’ mistake. What’s not normal is it ending up in being arrested.

Damnloginpopup · 07/01/2024 17:50

Thanks @Chichimcgee yes. The normal physical behavioural effects of being incredibly drunk. I thought it was obvious to be honest but apparently not.

AnneValentine · 07/01/2024 19:15

BlackPanther75 · 07/01/2024 14:51

With due respect I don’t think you’ve quoted or cited any sources. It could be that I haven’t seen your post where you do. It’s not a diversion tactic at all. It’s my response to a shocking claim made that’s apparently totally accepted in this discussion. I am interested to see if the research backs up this assumption so that I can inform myself. I’ve not asked you to Google for me :)

Do you honestly think a child is more likely to be sexually abused in home with bio dad or no partner at all?

FrancisSeaton · 07/01/2024 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Firefly2009 · 07/01/2024 20:15

@FrancisSeaton We have no idea where OP is at right now in terms of how she feels, how accountable she is/feels or how much insight she has. You don't know her, and you don't know me either.

Universalsnail · 07/01/2024 20:21

Just be completely honest with social services about what happened and how you have dealt with it responsibly since (so that he's moved out and your not drinking). Engage with any of their suggestions. Honestly it'll be ok.

As for all the judgement. I think it's uncalled for. I don't think you were a terrible person for leaving your child in the care of a man you have known for 10 years who you were in a relationship with to let your hair down one night. He was your partner you should be able to leave your child in his care.

As for being in a relationship with him still. It sounds like his behaviour was over the top but I am not going to declare him a terrible person on the basis I have absolutely no idea how you were behaving. This very much sounds like you were both in the wrong.

Tbh I think the police are being ott to push for charges when neither of you want to press charges.

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