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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

DH voicing his frustrations at me - is this right or wrong

365 replies

Tina6458 · 24/06/2024 00:00

We have had a really difficult year. Once again I feel like I am being gaslighted and manipulated and made to feel like a crazy person. I feel like we are at the end. He has spoken to his friends about this and feel that ‘ I have overreacted!’ . DH has been out of work for a year now. We are financially ok luckily because he had a big pay out and we are ok for a bit. I work 3 days a week as a doctor, work as a clinical lead and we’ve had major changes at work recently which I am leading on. I have also been studying and doing a course on one of my days off and Mondays I usually spend with my 3 year old DS - take him swimming etc.

He has been doing drop offs for school for both DS , 3 and 5, about half of the time and only recently most of the due to my hectic schedule. We have a nanny Tuesday - Friday who does after school, who picks up the little one and has been quite good at preparing food recently.

I cook most dinners.

so , on the Thursday , I had physiotherapy appnt early morning bc I had painful knees, rushed to work , worked non stop til 2ish , left work and then rushed home to get the shopping in from Ocado, I took it all in and put all fridge items away, I wanted to make some eggs quickly bc I was starving and then had a laser appnt at 3, so really tight for time. Maybe in hindsight I shouldn’t have had lunch. I usually feel faint if I don’t eat on time.

Meanwhile he had dropped kids that morning , gone to meet a friend for lunch in Covent Garden and then gone shopping and bought some sunglasses. He walked through the door about 9 mins after me and I asked him if he would drop me to the station because I was running late ( he puts his hands on his hips and looks at the ceiling and sighs ) . I then say’ please please please’ to which he says ok.

Next thing he says is ‘ could you not have put the shopping away for once !!’ I then said , but I have put loads away , I think half , I’ve put all the fridge stuff away’ . He goes into the hallway to pick up bags and says to me ‘ no you didn’t !’ ‘I’m always putting the shopping away!!!’

He looks so pissed off , so I said ‘ forget it don’t drop me to the station !’ To which he says - stop being ridiculous .

I got in the car to drive us, whilst in the car I said ‘ what shall I do , should I change the delivery time to another day where you never have to see it ?! ‘ I said ‘ why don’t you do the shop and then you can decide when it comes?! ‘ Anyway he got so angry that he started to repeatedly bang on the dashboard as if he wanted to break it and it looked like his face was going to explode. I got out of the car and I ran to the bus.

I got home that evening , he stayed in the loft and then got Deliveroo and ignored me. Next day same silent treatment. When I asked him if he was ignoring me he said ‘ when you apologise to me ?!’

Next day he only said he was sorry for his reaction in the car BUT he should be able to voice his frustrations without me turning it into a massive argument!

What is your view? Apparently he has spoken to his friends and I am in the wrong?! I feel like I’m going crazy 😭

OP posts:
Sonener · 24/06/2024 13:39

Tina6458 · 24/06/2024 00:18

@ShouldIEvenBother I want to leave this marriage , I can’t take it anymore. I’ve always just thought it was my fault, no matter how many ways I say it to him he doesn’t not give a shit that he hurts me and he won’t admit , he feels he should be able to voice his frustrations at me.

Do it then. You are a Doctor, you will be fine. You deserve so much better than him and you will flourish without him.

askmenow · 24/06/2024 14:09

When the caring is gone, the relationship is over.

Your support structure is already in place and you have the finances. Get your ducks in a row, get a good solicitor asap and ditch the bugger!

Disengage emotionally in the meantime and leave him a list of jobs to do whilst you're out at work. Things that the nanny and cleaner wouldn't normally do.
Who does the life admin?
Be factual and say that's his share of the household workload and if he doesn't like it then he's to find a job asap.

He likely thinks that given he's had a large payout he can cruise for a while but that doesn't absolve him of his share of the responsibilities at home.

WHO are the women who raise these useless twats???

TheCultureHusks · 24/06/2024 14:43

I would leave him now, before you end up owing him any more of your pension/assets when you do eventually split.

This is really unlikely to get better.

FinallyHere · 24/06/2024 15:18

Tina6458 · 24/06/2024 01:13

@Opentooffers can he claim primary career because he is not working though? Although I think he knows he can’t do it . I did go and see a lawyer and she said that it would be better for all for him to have a job

Given you have a nanny, and he never does anything with them, I can't see that one flying.

Don't let fear of what he might do stop you for looking for a better life for you and your DC

FinallyHere · 24/06/2024 15:19

Your DF felt that his message of 'look after my daughter' needed to be said. That means something, hang on to that

BobbyBiscuits · 24/06/2024 15:25

What an arsehole. He's the one causing all the stress. And him swanning about in covent garden buying sunglasses and drinking with his pals? The last time I had the time to do that I think I was about 16!?
He's an arse, and he should apologise to you. Not the other way round.
I don't like the sound of how he reacts and treats you at all. I hope you've got family support. You're clearly a successful professional and great parent. do you need him dragging you down? I don't think so.

SheilaFentiman · 24/06/2024 16:06

“WHO are the women who raise these useless twats???”

Parents, please.

CatamaranViper · 24/06/2024 16:12

WHO are the women who raise these useless twats??

Ah so it's women's fault then?

EarthSight · 24/06/2024 16:21

Anyway he got so angry that he started to repeatedly bang on the dashboard as if he wanted to break it and it looked like his face was going to explode

This is not acceptable OP, and I wonder if you would find life easier without him in the same house. You should be able to co-parents with him through disagreements and stressful times without him losing it like that. Ffs - it's day-to-day life, not a war situation.

Has he started getting worse like this since he stopped working?

Purpleday1 · 24/06/2024 16:45

Please contact Women's aid.
This is domestic abuse and violence.
It sounds terrifying.
Can work help you, your GP?
You need legal advice.
Do not doubt yourself.
This is a violent man that despises you.
Start reaching out and making plans.
Do NOT share a bedroom again.
Tell those who love you the truth, you are being abused.

You have a nanny, he is not primary carer.
He is an abusive violent loser.

You need Women's aid and good legal advice.
Don't doubt yourself.

WeeOrcadian · 24/06/2024 17:07

NRTFT

Why TF are you paying for a nanny when he's at home all the time?

Why are you putting up with this level of batshittery!!??

He's a lazy, selfish, self-centred arsehole

letthegamesbeginagain · 24/06/2024 19:39

Op, are you ok?

Nanaof1 · 24/06/2024 23:00

@Tina6458 You are right. Life is too short to spend it with someone who treats you like crap. He'll have no choice but to get a job when you kick him to the curb. I think you would manage without him quite fine, and he needs to GTFU.

Tina6458 · 24/06/2024 23:19

Gosh so much support and advice. I am honestly overwhelmed but I really needed to hear it . He doesn’t bring me any joy and he really is a glass half empty person and it appears pretty miserable and self absorbed most of the time.

Thank you so much , this is what I needed because all my friends are in couples and no one is divorcing, so it feel so difficult.

OP posts:
pikkumyy77 · 25/06/2024 00:23

You can do it! Pour out the cold tea and start life with a clean, fresh cup.

Newnamehiwhodis · 25/06/2024 00:26

If he tries to gaslight you again with “only expressing frustrations,” tell him he isn’t using proper nonviolent communication, and it’s not ok to abuse. Period.

I’m glad you’re gathering yourself to finally leave him. Be prepared for all the manipulative, character-assassinating tricks from him about how he walked on eggshells and couldn’t express himself.

willWillSmithsmith · 25/06/2024 11:47

askmenow · 24/06/2024 14:09

When the caring is gone, the relationship is over.

Your support structure is already in place and you have the finances. Get your ducks in a row, get a good solicitor asap and ditch the bugger!

Disengage emotionally in the meantime and leave him a list of jobs to do whilst you're out at work. Things that the nanny and cleaner wouldn't normally do.
Who does the life admin?
Be factual and say that's his share of the household workload and if he doesn't like it then he's to find a job asap.

He likely thinks that given he's had a large payout he can cruise for a while but that doesn't absolve him of his share of the responsibilities at home.

WHO are the women who raise these useless twats???

Come on now, what about the fathers?

SuffolkUnicorn · 25/06/2024 11:48

Wanker award

Purpleday1 · 25/06/2024 12:20

Remember OP, violent abusive men always defend their behaviour.

They shut down their partners with accusations of them being "too sensitive".

They are "just venting".
They are "just expressing their frustration"

Never that they are abusive violent twats behaving like house terrorists.

You can do this, and we are here for you.

pikkumyy77 · 25/06/2024 12:46

OP you may know this term from work or from talking to others but you don’t seem to realize it applies to all your interactions with your husband. It comes from work with people in abusive relationships. You see it all the time. One person makes a request, or a criticism, or an observation and the abuser Denies, Attacks, and Reverses Victim and Offender (DARVO). That is all “you are not letting me express my frustrations “ is. Its not a real statement that demands action from you. Its just the “reverse victim and offender” part of the DARVO cycle.

Gcsunnyside23 · 25/06/2024 12:49

Op you're married to him not his mates, remind him of this. I wouldn't care one bit an opinion if his friends as they don't live in your house. What does he say when you ask him about returning to work? His payout won't last forever and then he's figured you will keep up his lifestyle. Get out now while you can! If he was a kind and supportive partner and just taking a bit of time to himself but intends to go back then yeah that's ok but he sounds like a complete drain on life

datcherygrateful · 25/06/2024 14:19

OP, please don't take this the wrong way when I ask, but I am asking as I had divorced a man that sounds v similar to your partner and I think this context may help me understand and then contribute positively to this thread

By any chance, is your partner from a different culture or background?

datcherygrateful · 25/06/2024 14:25

Fwiw my ex is Middle Eastern, with an ego that would stretch beyond the Sahara and when he was unemployed he was petulant and made life unbearable for me. I'm middle eastern myself, but his emotional immaturity was beyond anything I had seen. Bull in a China shop and very very short fuse.

He was never taught to regulate his emotions, or process like a bloody grown up and instead took everything out on me.

So I am curious

DutifulDaughterWifeMother · 25/06/2024 18:22

@Tina6458 Hey OP, how are you doing?

Don't worry about the world outside of your front door. Remember no-one really knows what goes on behind closed doors. Friends/acquaintances who you might think are blissfully happy could be the opposite.

For now focus on what you need to do. You have had some great advice on here to help you move forward.

Dont let him get under your skin anymore.

You’ve got this 💪🏼

Elizo · 27/06/2024 09:09

I’m a single parent and I can!’t lie it is tough. But it is so much better than being with someone who does nothing and makes you feel awful. You can financially support yourself and make a great life for yourself and your children. Be brave and hold your head up!