Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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 abuse or just a bad temper

91 replies

BeBrightViper · 12/05/2024 10:47

Partner of 11 years stopped his car on a country road and told my 16 year old ds to get the f**k out of his car as he had reacted badly to my ds joking with him about a previous drop off at his friends for a birthday party where my partner had refused to reverse on a private lane way and instead had made a few female drivers reverse the whole way down lane. This event was extremely embarrassing to be part of. Anyway he ordered ds out of car and I said if he has to get out I’m getting out too. He replied fine ! I got out and he drove off leaving me and ds on a country road with no footpath or lights. I’m struggling to get past this and to understand is it at a level that could be classed as abusive ?

OP posts:
MrsOvertonsWindow · 12/05/2024 11:52

How does he behave towards your DS generally OP? Do you have other children and how is he towards them?
He showed a stunning lack of adult responsibility towards your DS by dumping him on that road and nothing you've said since makes him sound anything other than an abusive man with anger issues.
You're evidently in his firing line. What about your child / children - are they as well?

BeBrightViper · 12/05/2024 12:10

MrsOvertonsWindow · 12/05/2024 11:52

How does he behave towards your DS generally OP? Do you have other children and how is he towards them?
He showed a stunning lack of adult responsibility towards your DS by dumping him on that road and nothing you've said since makes him sound anything other than an abusive man with anger issues.
You're evidently in his firing line. What about your child / children - are they as well?

I don’t think my ds has a great relationship with him in the 11 years we’ve been together I don’t feel they have bonded and I can’t blame my ds as he was just a kid when we met it was up to my partner to try to be a father figure rather than just an authoritarian. My kids are to my ex husband not my partner. My eldest dd moved out after uni as she hated the atmosphere after the arguments which could be over something silly like how the dishwasher was loaded but hadn’t been turned on. I find him very negative in his outlook on life he has told me he struggles to feel empathy which I find quite concerning.

OP posts:
morechaimama · 12/05/2024 12:15

My ex was exactly like this, I divorced him a year ago and life is so so much better for me and DS without him in it. It is abuse but it doesn’t need a label love, get shot of him.

FfsJaney · 12/05/2024 12:16

So after your daughter did that, you still stayed with him and subjected your son to the same? Come on op, time to do the right thing.

Snowpaw · 12/05/2024 12:22

The driving at speed thing alone would be the end of it for me. Intimidation and danger, with your child involved too. No thank you.

category12 · 12/05/2024 12:35

BeBrightViper · 12/05/2024 12:10

I don’t think my ds has a great relationship with him in the 11 years we’ve been together I don’t feel they have bonded and I can’t blame my ds as he was just a kid when we met it was up to my partner to try to be a father figure rather than just an authoritarian. My kids are to my ex husband not my partner. My eldest dd moved out after uni as she hated the atmosphere after the arguments which could be over something silly like how the dishwasher was loaded but hadn’t been turned on. I find him very negative in his outlook on life he has told me he struggles to feel empathy which I find quite concerning.

He's already driven one of your kids out, you going to let him do the same to the other?

Xenoi24 · 12/05/2024 12:42

You're letting him abuse your kids.

That's way worse than letting him abuse you, which he's also doing.

From what you've written on here, this man is not fit for a relationship with anyone.
(Anyone except a dish rag/door mat of a person)

TealSapphire · 12/05/2024 12:58

I think you and your kids would be a lot happier without him in your lives. He's not a nice person.

AllCatsAreAutistic · 12/05/2024 13:43

Well, I suppose he was not so obviously an ill-tempered selfish bully eleven years ago, but I still don't understand why you are with him now.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 12/05/2024 13:46

Maybe read your last post back to yourself OP and ask yourself whether you're prepared to lose both your children to this man's demands?
You've been together 11 years. 11 years with a man who says he has no empathy, has driven your DD out of her home, is openly abusive to your son and you. Do you get enough from this relationship that justifies losing your children? Given what's happened, do you feel safe?
I suspect you've got a lot to consider, especially in terms of the impact on your son.

liverpoolgal82 · 12/05/2024 13:50

You let you kids put up with this for the last 11 years? Speechless!!

Lucytheloose · 12/05/2024 13:54

Just so that you know: even if you leave this relationship, and I suspect you will eventually, your children might not forgive you for those eleven years.

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 12/05/2024 13:56

Your daughter moved out because of the atmosphere created by the abusive man you brought into her life?

He abuses you.
He abuses your children.
He is rude to your family.
He is dangerous on the roads.

This shit has been going on 11 years - it isn't going to improve.

Escapingafter50years · 12/05/2024 13:56

This is serious advice abuse.

Abuse includes
Abandoning someone in dangerous places

Subjecting someone to reckless driving

Have a look at the full list here, I'm sure more will be familiar to you:
www.hopehaven.ca/resources-and-links/indicators-abuse/

WaltzingWaters · 12/05/2024 14:07

He sounds like a complete dick. The chucking you both out, the driving too fast (absolutely selfish prick), and the silent treatment. The way he treated you and your family whilst your dad was seriously ill is just disgusting. Definitely a LTB vote here.

dizzydizzydizzy · 12/05/2024 14:38

Contact Women's Aid, OP. They are experts in domestic abuse.

WiseKhakiGoose · 12/05/2024 17:00

This reply has been deleted

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

unsync · 12/05/2024 17:05

You need to leave. Do you have support in real life to help you do this? It can be dangerous and difficult to leave an abusive relationship and you should get help if possible. There is no shame in asking and you are not responsible for how your partner has behaved.

Wooloohooloo · 12/05/2024 17:12

Definite unequivocal LTB!

HerORMe · 12/05/2024 17:15

This is abusive. He used his power to control and frighten, and potentially endanger you both.

I really really wouldn’t be looking to get past this.

HayFeverFun · 12/05/2024 17:23

It doesn't matter what you label his behaviour as. He sounds nasty.

You can't put your child in a position where he has to deal with that. I'd leave.

How do you see this playing out in 5,10 or 20 years. What happens when you are retired and what happens if one of you becomes infirm? Can you trust him to be kind to you then? Do you think your kids will avoid him once they've left home?

(As an aside but mentioning that the people who had to reverse were women was a little odd. Women can reverse too)

susiedaisy1912 · 12/05/2024 17:24

Op this is abuse. Would you do this to your parents, your boss or your best friend?? This is a man who is supposed to love and value you and your children. Your children are learning how to be in a relationship from you and your partner, they will take this forward into their adult life. You are showing them what is acceptable. Please end this relationship and take back control of your own life.

DeadbeatYoda · 12/05/2024 18:07

As the rest of the background arrives from your updates, I think you know the answer to your question. Maybe you just need some validation to make the big decision you know is right. All the best

Cornflakes44 · 12/05/2024 18:25

I don't get women who move these men in with their kids and just put up with them being treated badly. You clearly need to leave him but it sounds like it's been a long time of living with a dickhead for your kids. So that's pretty shit.

ThisDreamyTurtle · 13/05/2024 01:29

im thinking too :/

my husband can be really loving at times, but usually he has a short fuse and puts me down.

if I bring up my feelings he immediately takes it as a personal attack and blames me. For example I told him I’m unhappy with him making comments towards me all the time etc and he denied any wrong doing and said it’s my fault for being too sensitive.

it’s been going on for years. It was the most recent that made me really think though, and think back and realise it’s emotional abuse.

id brought up something that was upsetting me and he got really mad. He followed me around the house basically saying how it’s all my fault, I’m always trying to make out he’s the bad guy when I’m the problem and he’s the victim etc. anyway I’d tried and tried to walk away but he followed me continuing. So I burst into tears (first time I’d ever done so) , and he looked at me with a serious expression and said “maybe I should call an ambulance… you’re clearly unstable. You shouldn’t be going near the kids! You’re unfit” , I locked myself in the bathroom sobbing and he kicked the door in. Saying I’m mentally ill etc. eventually I calmed down , realising he isn’t going to stop. And had to pretend everything was fine so he’d leave me alone. He then talked about the garden like nothing happened.

he’s just like the post described. Spiteful. Purposely awkward etc.

trust me it only gets worse.

it’s been over a year since the above happened. I can’t stop thinking about it. I tried to leave him before Christmas and he threatened to unalive himself.
I stuck to it at first. He said he was getting his things, and removed some slats from the bed hoping I’d fall through when I went to bed. He hid the remote so I couldn’t watch tv, he took my phone charger etc. just being as inconvenient as possible.
told my family that I’m obviously just hormonal or it’s obviously my thyroid condition because I’m so irrational.
he purposely left things at the house so he’d have to keep returning.

he then turned up crying saying he’ll change. I felt sorry for him and let him come back.

hes Really loving and nice, so hel get me chocolate from the shop etc , cuddle me and tell me he loves me, plan family holidays etc.

and then just like a switch being flipped, he’s the man above.

I made the mistake of only thinking of the good times. Saying to myself he’s changing! I should be patient. I should be supporting him more so he can change without me nagging.

now I keep thinking of the above. Knowing I have to leave him.
even though I love him.

because men like that don’t change.

so I’m now saving money secretly, once I have enough I’ll leave while he’s at work.

every single time you forgive or make excuses , you’re enabling it.

break the cycle!

Swipe left for the next trending thread