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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

Mother's Day from hell

384 replies

momentsofmadnesstoday · 10/03/2024 19:35

Our second child almost two weeks old. Today my husband went to his football and should have been gone for 1.5 hours including travel time but was gone for 3. I said nothing about it.

He hates my parents for no good reason other than my dad is a typical dad of his era and just like me talking and watching sport an doesn’t make much effort with grandchildren until they are about 5 and can play golf, chess etc. my mother is very involved will play games and imaginative play with her grandchildren but she is a worrier so she does make comments like ‘ oh no X banged their head, will they be ok, should we call the doctor’ which annoys my husband because he wants our children to be very rough and tumble but she does mean well. I said if he’s going to football I’ll ask my mum to come around he wasn’t happy but he said fine. I made sure they only stayed 1 hour to make sure she and my dad were gone before he came home. I washed the dishes, put away the washing put another wash on, wiped the kitchen sides down, tidied the toy room and took care of the two children.

Once he finally came home first thing he said was ‘ did your dad come’ I said yes because I won’t lie and he said ‘oh that fucking twat I’d love to smash him and your bother in The fucking face’. I burst into tears I simply said can you just not hold your tongue for one day as he says this to me pretty much every day. I went upstairs and he followed me and apologised and hugged me and when he hugged me I felt so angry but of course I just said ‘ it’s fine’ and he has gaslit me and said ‘ it’s ok it’s your hormones’ again this made my blood boil but I said nothing.

We watched the rugby which I can’t stand and he refused to talk to me and I kept trying to talk because I’m weak and just want to move on and try and salvage the day.

then my mum text and said would I like an electric clothes dryer and I said yes please he then kicked off about that saying wtf is wrong with mum mum why is she wasting money on shit like that and I explained it’s to make my life a little bit easier and he just kept on about how my mum is a Fucking idiot and just wants to add clutter to our home. Bear in mind our home is spotless as we have a toy room for the kids. He then called me a cunt and several other names and kept saying how he would love to beat up my brother and dad. wtf . Then I said my brother and dad don’t even give you a second thought why do you hate my brother and dad so much. That was then turned back on me by him as me apprently saying ‘my family are better than his’ …again another wtf moment as I never said that!

Anyway he then turns the football on after the rugby but continued to just be in his phone and I lost it… well lost it may my standards as I never kick off and said ‘it is Mother’s Day you have done all you wanted all day again and your not even watching the game your on your phone and I’m going to watch what I want’ I took the control and put the tv show friends on because it was lighthearted and to try and cheer myself up. Which he responded with ‘what fucking retard likes this show’.

This was further met with an onslaught of abuse… how ugly and lazy I am etc I went up to the bedroom and left him with the two children and within 5 minutes he brought he baby up saying he needs his nappy changed. Why he can’t do it I’m not sure! he has only changed the baby once and telling me my hormones are fucked and it’s just a normal day and to get a grip. He’s like this on Mother’s Day with our toddler he called me a cunt at half 8 in the morning ‘ for a laugh’ which made me cry as it was my first ever Mother’s Day. He does this sort of behaviour at my birthday and Christmas or any family gathering with my side of the family but Father’s Day and his birthday or events with his family are the absolute opposite

P.s he didn’t manage to get me a present and I had to call his mum to wish her a happy Mother’s Day and she thanked ‘US’ For the flowers which I obviously sent and paid for

I’m still held up in the bedroom and he’s now just come up and asked me what am I making for tea because him and our toddler are hungry. I told him he knows what a kitchen is and to use it. Now I can hear him in the kitchen saying things to our toddler like ‘ mummy is too tired to cook anything isn’t she’ and ‘ it’s boys night tonight by the looks of it’ he’s slamming doors and cupboards attempting to make something which is probably beans on toast. Will be interesting if he thinks to make me something

Just needed a rant or be honest

OP posts:
5128gap · 11/03/2024 15:22

OP, what are you waiting for? You are one packed suitcase and a taxi ride away from the care and support of your mum and dad. Where you can relax without fear of being called names, shouted at and given instructions like a servant, while your lovely family are insulted. Your children could be playing with their grandma and you could be cuddling your baby surrounded by people who love you. Just do it, for goodness sake, go home. The rest you can sort out afterwards.

zeibesaffron · 11/03/2024 15:38

Please leave, get everything in order and leave, and do not look back. Make sure you and your children are safeguarded and go - this will get worse and worse. Take care xx

BensonStabler · 11/03/2024 15:47

NRFT.

Sorry you are being treated this way. He is 100% a narcissistic abuser. This will only ever get worse. Nothing you say or do is ever good enough, you are always wrong. He will wear you down over time with his controlling behaviour, regular emotional and possibly financial, sexual abuse, disgusting unfair insults and constant put downs. He constantly has mood swings, jekyll & hyde behaviour, treats you abusively at home and wears a nice guy mask in public, angry outbursts over the smallest slight wether real or perceived. While you constantly have to walk on eggshells, as you can never tell what is going to trigger him next. He uses his tactics of gaslighting and trying to get between you and your family to eventually isolate when you give in for a quiet life, he always gets his way. He has zero empathy and compassion, and will always put himself before you and your children. He makes you feel crazy. You make yourself smaller and smaller until you no longer recognise your self. You change in so many ways trying to appease and anticipate his behaviour and moods.

He deliberately spoils special occasions like birthdays, xmas, girls night out, days with family without him, where it’s your day and not about him, and he kicks off every time before hand in attempt to stop you going, or if you do that you are too miserable to enjoy yourself. After only so many of these traumatising showdowns you can take, so eventually you stop even trying to go out or see anyone.

He was s likely insanely jealous and accuses you of cheating, even if you have proof to the contrary he will never believe you, he will monitor your phone, emails, chat apps and social media and try to catch you out, possibly with phone, computer and camera spyware at home, and tracker in car if you have one.

He wore a mask and love bombed you in the beginning of the relationship to win you over, he did idolise you in the beginning but switches to devaluing you when he realises that you are not the perfect subservient sex goddess he thought you were in his fantasies in his twisted mind, and that you are human with flaws and and emotions that do not fit with his agenda. He frequently flips from a fun, nice guy to the beverly happy and always angry monster. You likely try your best to get back the nice guy you fell in love with, and after he trods you down for so long, you will do all in your power to try to please him and stop triggering him if you only behave as he says, you will start to feel like maybe it’s all your fault.

His behaviour likely worsened when you moved in together, and after marriage and especially having children. These narcissistic abusers finally drop the nice man mask that you fell in love with, when the feel they finally have you under their control and firmly in his grasp.

He will get a million times worse if he feels he is losing that at any time, there’s also a risk of violence down the line, which is why it’s especially dangerous to say to him that you are leaving him, rather than getting help to get you and your children safely away from him with help from the police, womens aid, and family support. His nasty behaviour cannot be fixed with therapy, counselling, anger management or similar promises he will change. This is because it is actually personality and he has no control long term to fix it. He changed his behaviour at times for the better only if it serves him. ie you are going saying you want to leave or that you will tell someone about it all, he will pull you back in with love bombing you, turning in tears and playing the victim, he makes you feel sorry for him when he blames it on how horrendously he was treated as a child and his upbringing, things he may blame on crazy exes that have left him scarred. He may threaten suicide if he really believes you are leaving him.

If you don’t leave him, he eventually can just discard you in a heartbeat because he has found someone new that can give him the ego boosts and narcissistic supply he needs from others to make his small fragile self esteem to be constantly validated and inflated. You will find yourself dropped and alone, and broken and a shadow of who you once were.

My advice is get your ducks in a row, and run. Only do it safely without his knowledge in advance, and as i say with the help and professional help from womens aid, the police, and the support of family and friends. He is likely to not make leaving easy but it’s so worth it to escape his torture before it gets much much worse. Please read up everything you can on narcissistic personality disorder, and look on youtube for the amazing professional advice from Dr Ramani, she is astounding and will make you make sense of the madness that has become your life, and why he does what he does, and tips on how to act, the do’s and don’ts of engaging with him. Also read all the comments under her videos, there’s hundreds of other people who are living your exact scenario. They are predictable creatures once you get to know the depth of knowledge and advise needed to arm yourself against them. There’s also videos about how to cot with a narcissist. I wish you strength and luck going forward, give yourself time before doing anything to make sure you are safe and ready. No one deserves to be treated this way. 💐

momentsofmadnesstoday · 11/03/2024 17:01

Last night I was not able to reply as he spent several hours ‘explaining’ to me that if I simply listened to him then things would be okay. That I need to ‘understand’ that what he says isn’t to hurt me it’s just the facts. He talked at me for a few hours while trying to hug me and just patronising me. He told me things like ‘being sensitive isn’t a always a bad thing but you need to realise that it’s just Mother’s Day and obviously we need to have tea so getting upset about me letting you know your toddler was hungry wasn’t a dig at you and you need to understand that’ and things like ‘just because your upset because of your hormones doesn’t mean the world stops and you think it’s acceptable to swan off to the bedroom and not bother with the children, they need you, I need you’. I nodded along and agreed as usual. It ended up with me apologising for getting upset and reassuring him that I know Mother’s Day is ridiculous and it’s just a normal day and that I now realise the world doesn’t revolve around me and I’ve promised to get help if my behaviour doesn’t change because as he said it may be more than hormones.

However, this morning he said he was off to play golf with his friend to give us some space and so I can have some quality time with the children because I missed time with them last night. He said why don’t I ask his mother to come over as she wasn’t invited yesterday but luckily I know his mum has plans today as I spoke to her yesterday.

He left. I waited 30 minutes and called my mum. My dad was shouting hallelujah in the background and they started making thier way to my house with suitcases while I started filling a suitcase I have and DH walked in through the door. He wasn’t actually going to golf and He had flowers, chocolates, sweets and a new vase for me and said the usual drool of how he loves me so much and how great we are together. He has then seen the suitcase and asked what was going on so I told him. I thought he would go mental but he didn’t he tipped the children’s stuff out of the suitcase and put his stuff in and told me ‘you don’t get to be the victim here and I’ll be the one leaving’ and other comments like ‘ can’t believe you would be so selfish to uproot the children from their own home’.

I just told him that’s fine and walked off and didn’t ask where he was going. He left and his mum called me she asked me if I have ‘kicked him out’ and I told her exactly what happened. She said she thought there was more to the story while crying and she is disgusted with him and she will be telling him how disgusted she is with him when he gets there and that he wasn’t raised like this. She said I must be very upset at the moment but she hopes that it won’t effect our relationship and that she would still be welcome to spend time with her grand children which I told her that she will always be welcome to have a relationship with olher grand children.

The house has locks on the inside so he can’t get in if I’m in the house so I am not worried about that. He has sent texts along the lines of ‘I think we need space’ and ‘you need to think about what you want and how your actions effect other people not just you’ and called me several times but I have answered or replied.

OP posts:
Nicole1111 · 11/03/2024 17:09

This update made me incredibly happy (that you’d made the decision to go), then scared (when he came back) and then happy again (that he chose to leave and you have the support of his family and your family). Have you done the freedom programme? You can do it online or at a children’s centre if you want to do it in person. Now would be the perfect time to do it. Also, if you’re feeling nervous about your safety you can call the police and ask them to put a flag on your address so if you call they’ll come out straight away.

Merryoldgoat · 11/03/2024 17:11

Jesus - I rarely find an update so satisfying OP - well done - what strength you found.

You’re brilliant.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 11/03/2024 17:18

he'll be back !

personally I would still consider going to your parents, you will be safer.

Tryingmybestadhd · 11/03/2024 17:21

momentsofmadnesstoday · 11/03/2024 17:01

Last night I was not able to reply as he spent several hours ‘explaining’ to me that if I simply listened to him then things would be okay. That I need to ‘understand’ that what he says isn’t to hurt me it’s just the facts. He talked at me for a few hours while trying to hug me and just patronising me. He told me things like ‘being sensitive isn’t a always a bad thing but you need to realise that it’s just Mother’s Day and obviously we need to have tea so getting upset about me letting you know your toddler was hungry wasn’t a dig at you and you need to understand that’ and things like ‘just because your upset because of your hormones doesn’t mean the world stops and you think it’s acceptable to swan off to the bedroom and not bother with the children, they need you, I need you’. I nodded along and agreed as usual. It ended up with me apologising for getting upset and reassuring him that I know Mother’s Day is ridiculous and it’s just a normal day and that I now realise the world doesn’t revolve around me and I’ve promised to get help if my behaviour doesn’t change because as he said it may be more than hormones.

However, this morning he said he was off to play golf with his friend to give us some space and so I can have some quality time with the children because I missed time with them last night. He said why don’t I ask his mother to come over as she wasn’t invited yesterday but luckily I know his mum has plans today as I spoke to her yesterday.

He left. I waited 30 minutes and called my mum. My dad was shouting hallelujah in the background and they started making thier way to my house with suitcases while I started filling a suitcase I have and DH walked in through the door. He wasn’t actually going to golf and He had flowers, chocolates, sweets and a new vase for me and said the usual drool of how he loves me so much and how great we are together. He has then seen the suitcase and asked what was going on so I told him. I thought he would go mental but he didn’t he tipped the children’s stuff out of the suitcase and put his stuff in and told me ‘you don’t get to be the victim here and I’ll be the one leaving’ and other comments like ‘ can’t believe you would be so selfish to uproot the children from their own home’.

I just told him that’s fine and walked off and didn’t ask where he was going. He left and his mum called me she asked me if I have ‘kicked him out’ and I told her exactly what happened. She said she thought there was more to the story while crying and she is disgusted with him and she will be telling him how disgusted she is with him when he gets there and that he wasn’t raised like this. She said I must be very upset at the moment but she hopes that it won’t effect our relationship and that she would still be welcome to spend time with her grand children which I told her that she will always be welcome to have a relationship with olher grand children.

The house has locks on the inside so he can’t get in if I’m in the house so I am not worried about that. He has sent texts along the lines of ‘I think we need space’ and ‘you need to think about what you want and how your actions effect other people not just you’ and called me several times but I have answered or replied.

I think you should be very proud of yourself ! Everyone around you sees and know she is abusive . Please don’t go back to him , you and your children deserve better . He is a narcissistic abusive person who constantly gaslights you into believing all the issues are yours . He will never change

SuffolkUnicorn · 11/03/2024 17:22

Headcase

stay with your parents for a few days OP and don’t let him blackmail you into taking him
back or promises To change his ways he won’t do any of that

Raccaccoonie · 11/03/2024 17:22

Please stay strong OP, get your parents around you.
"You need to understand" that he's a complete arsehole... oh, looks like you've grasped that Smile

He'll be trying on all sorts to not look like the bad guy so brace yourself.

Newbestmate · 11/03/2024 17:23

I agree with your dad. Well done!

Everythinggreen · 11/03/2024 17:25

You absolutely fabulous woman!!!! 👏👏 You have the reassurance you need from not just your family but his mum that YOU are in the right here and he isn't the victim as he's making out to his mum or the one in the driving seat as he's trying to gaslight you to think.

We might not know you, but everyone here is so proud of you xxx

BirthdayRainbow · 11/03/2024 17:25

Please have your dad stay with you. This is the calm before the storm. He isn't going to just walk away that easily. You are still in danger.

Terrribletwos · 11/03/2024 17:26

So have you actually left a nd gone to your parents OP?

jeaux90 · 11/03/2024 17:27

Please don't let him back in.
Get on the front foot.
See a solicitor and start proceedings.

There is no way that selfish, abusive asshole will go for 50/50

ohfourfoxache · 11/03/2024 17:30

Bloody hell, can you stay with your parents for a while just in case?

Teacup19 · 11/03/2024 17:37

He expects you to go crawling back. And when you don't, be prepared. This whole situation is actually triggering for me, but I'm so proud of you. In a year's time, you'll marvel at why you didn't leave sooner. 🤗

Asurvivor · 11/03/2024 17:44

Good for you OP, I am very relieved that he has gone. The suitcase must have taken him by surprise and that is why he left. But please be careful, this is an abusive angry man and I wouldn’t be suprised at all if he turns his anger on you again. He will start to turn it round in his head as you will have negatively impacted his view of himself (and others) and he won’t like that. Look after yourself particularly in the next few days.

Dearover · 11/03/2024 17:52

So pleased to read your update, but stand firm & don't let him charm you.

Fundays12 · 11/03/2024 17:56

OP thank you for the update. I am glad he has left but he needs to stay away. You have your parents support and your MIL to by the sounds of it. His behaviour towards you has been vile. You and your babies deserve better.

Pipsquiggle · 11/03/2024 17:56

So happy with your update. Well done. This is the start of your process of getting out of this toxic relationship. Stay strong. Don't fall for the bullshit that will absolutely come next

Scaffoldingisugly · 11/03/2024 18:01

I hope you are prepared to ring the police if necessary op. Things may get rougher before they get better. But you got this. . Honestly you can do this. Your dps sound amazing.

user1471538283 · 11/03/2024 18:06

This is brilliant news!

He will probably try every trick in the book to get back with you. I doubt he will go for 50 50 but he will threaten it.

Your parents are great!

You are going to thrive without him.

SchoolQuestionnaire · 11/03/2024 18:09

momentsofmadnesstoday · 11/03/2024 17:01

Last night I was not able to reply as he spent several hours ‘explaining’ to me that if I simply listened to him then things would be okay. That I need to ‘understand’ that what he says isn’t to hurt me it’s just the facts. He talked at me for a few hours while trying to hug me and just patronising me. He told me things like ‘being sensitive isn’t a always a bad thing but you need to realise that it’s just Mother’s Day and obviously we need to have tea so getting upset about me letting you know your toddler was hungry wasn’t a dig at you and you need to understand that’ and things like ‘just because your upset because of your hormones doesn’t mean the world stops and you think it’s acceptable to swan off to the bedroom and not bother with the children, they need you, I need you’. I nodded along and agreed as usual. It ended up with me apologising for getting upset and reassuring him that I know Mother’s Day is ridiculous and it’s just a normal day and that I now realise the world doesn’t revolve around me and I’ve promised to get help if my behaviour doesn’t change because as he said it may be more than hormones.

However, this morning he said he was off to play golf with his friend to give us some space and so I can have some quality time with the children because I missed time with them last night. He said why don’t I ask his mother to come over as she wasn’t invited yesterday but luckily I know his mum has plans today as I spoke to her yesterday.

He left. I waited 30 minutes and called my mum. My dad was shouting hallelujah in the background and they started making thier way to my house with suitcases while I started filling a suitcase I have and DH walked in through the door. He wasn’t actually going to golf and He had flowers, chocolates, sweets and a new vase for me and said the usual drool of how he loves me so much and how great we are together. He has then seen the suitcase and asked what was going on so I told him. I thought he would go mental but he didn’t he tipped the children’s stuff out of the suitcase and put his stuff in and told me ‘you don’t get to be the victim here and I’ll be the one leaving’ and other comments like ‘ can’t believe you would be so selfish to uproot the children from their own home’.

I just told him that’s fine and walked off and didn’t ask where he was going. He left and his mum called me she asked me if I have ‘kicked him out’ and I told her exactly what happened. She said she thought there was more to the story while crying and she is disgusted with him and she will be telling him how disgusted she is with him when he gets there and that he wasn’t raised like this. She said I must be very upset at the moment but she hopes that it won’t effect our relationship and that she would still be welcome to spend time with her grand children which I told her that she will always be welcome to have a relationship with olher grand children.

The house has locks on the inside so he can’t get in if I’m in the house so I am not worried about that. He has sent texts along the lines of ‘I think we need space’ and ‘you need to think about what you want and how your actions effect other people not just you’ and called me several times but I have answered or replied.

I’m so pleased to read this and so glad that your parents have seen through him. As a pp said, when this doesn’t work he will be back. Try and think of a plan but most importantly remember why you took this huge step in the first place. You deserve more and by getting rid of this knobber you will make space in your life for the things you deserve.

FirstBaba · 11/03/2024 18:23

momentsofmadnesstoday · 11/03/2024 17:01

Last night I was not able to reply as he spent several hours ‘explaining’ to me that if I simply listened to him then things would be okay. That I need to ‘understand’ that what he says isn’t to hurt me it’s just the facts. He talked at me for a few hours while trying to hug me and just patronising me. He told me things like ‘being sensitive isn’t a always a bad thing but you need to realise that it’s just Mother’s Day and obviously we need to have tea so getting upset about me letting you know your toddler was hungry wasn’t a dig at you and you need to understand that’ and things like ‘just because your upset because of your hormones doesn’t mean the world stops and you think it’s acceptable to swan off to the bedroom and not bother with the children, they need you, I need you’. I nodded along and agreed as usual. It ended up with me apologising for getting upset and reassuring him that I know Mother’s Day is ridiculous and it’s just a normal day and that I now realise the world doesn’t revolve around me and I’ve promised to get help if my behaviour doesn’t change because as he said it may be more than hormones.

However, this morning he said he was off to play golf with his friend to give us some space and so I can have some quality time with the children because I missed time with them last night. He said why don’t I ask his mother to come over as she wasn’t invited yesterday but luckily I know his mum has plans today as I spoke to her yesterday.

He left. I waited 30 minutes and called my mum. My dad was shouting hallelujah in the background and they started making thier way to my house with suitcases while I started filling a suitcase I have and DH walked in through the door. He wasn’t actually going to golf and He had flowers, chocolates, sweets and a new vase for me and said the usual drool of how he loves me so much and how great we are together. He has then seen the suitcase and asked what was going on so I told him. I thought he would go mental but he didn’t he tipped the children’s stuff out of the suitcase and put his stuff in and told me ‘you don’t get to be the victim here and I’ll be the one leaving’ and other comments like ‘ can’t believe you would be so selfish to uproot the children from their own home’.

I just told him that’s fine and walked off and didn’t ask where he was going. He left and his mum called me she asked me if I have ‘kicked him out’ and I told her exactly what happened. She said she thought there was more to the story while crying and she is disgusted with him and she will be telling him how disgusted she is with him when he gets there and that he wasn’t raised like this. She said I must be very upset at the moment but she hopes that it won’t effect our relationship and that she would still be welcome to spend time with her grand children which I told her that she will always be welcome to have a relationship with olher grand children.

The house has locks on the inside so he can’t get in if I’m in the house so I am not worried about that. He has sent texts along the lines of ‘I think we need space’ and ‘you need to think about what you want and how your actions effect other people not just you’ and called me several times but I have answered or replied.

I am SO proud of you well done. I wish you all of the strength and happiness for the future. I think it won't take you long to realise it's a much brighter picture without him in it.