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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

My 20 year old 'Marriage'...grateful for any advice tia .....

58 replies

sussanna · 24/12/2024 16:59

Just that really. Ive been in circles in my head as I dont know if I am the 'bad guy' in this as he says ? or neither of us are the 'good guy'?. For context , we both are professionals who earn well , have one 13 (soon to be 14) YO DC who goes to a nice private school and we have paid off

Part 1 2002 -2012
> was HEAD OVER HEELS at first sight when met him at age 22 - first real boyfriend apart from crushes etc. Turned down some very popular guys at my uni to focus on studies and graduate with honors from Ivy league etc. 'D'H was the only guy I fell for as soon as I met, whirwind courtship that i barely remember, think a lot of the heat was only in my head rather than actually between us looking back. Married in 2005.
> My mother passed on soon after we got married and quite suddenly, I was broken. I think he was there for me as much as he knew how (not much as it turned out). We lived close by his parents and he started going to theirs in the evenings rather than home . By 2006/07 he was hanging out with his new work friends including one or two women colleagues in the evenings and coming home quite late many nights.
> One day when he said he was going to lunch with a female colleague (but along with two other friends) I said why not take me too, if there is nothing going on between them (he had been name dropping her , and they took a class together after work along with few other work ppl). He slapped me aside and I actually almost fell to the Ground but he left for his lunch date without a backward glance. Reader, I stayed. I was too low after my mum passing and my health was fragile with all the crying.
> He said at one point say 2007 that I was 'depressing' at times and me complaining about him spending evenings at his parents some evenings a week was offensive and shocking and mean. I had a few tiffs with him and he said it was very hurtful to him that I was not getting along with two people he respected the most.
> We moved towns for work (much higher pay for me) in 2007 , he saw this as me getting my way but came along as the pay was doubled and he was happy about that, plus I did all the housework and cooking. He said to wait to have a kid.
> 2008 I found a text to his best friend on his phone where he said he missed the same female colleague ever since moving and that only some women can be 'banged' and forgotten and she wasnt one of them. I confronted him, he said the text was badly worded, he missed her as a friend, and if I really belived he was 'low enough to have an affair' I should leave. I called her up to ask her if they had had an affair (I was even dumber back then !!!) , and told him I called her later that evening, he was so upset that I had 'embarrassed' him with his ex work colleagues , he slapped me, the slap fell at an angle as I flinched away and it ended up tearing my lip and gave me a black eye and broken nose. Surely these things happened only in bad movies , I was in disbelief. He took me to get the wounds tended to at A&E and I told them I fell down the stairs, they didnt buy it but were too polite to cross question or insist.
> I felt I was to blame for calling her instead of leaving , at least half to blame. We moved cities further down south , and 'started afresh'. I thought no babies for 5 years of just making money was making the marriage boring for him so I said I couldnt wait anymore , conceived in the first month of trying and our DC born . Yes reader, I brought a child into this.
Part two - typing now.

OP posts:
username299 · 24/12/2024 17:04

Are you in the UK?

Lightswitchup · 24/12/2024 17:07

I don’t need part two to give you advice op and that is to speak to Women’s Aid or whatever equivalent organisation if not in the UK for advice on leaving him. He broke your nose.

Pallisers · 24/12/2024 17:07

You don't need to type the rest. He beat you up. You need to end this relationship.

Shakeyourbaublesandsmile · 24/12/2024 17:07

Gosh don’t suppose this is going to end well

early physical abuse
infidelity
….

hepsitemiz · 24/12/2024 17:09

Yeah, leave.

sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:11

Part 2 - 2012 to 2024

> He was an okay dad to the baby, tight with money as that was the only 18 month period we were on single income while I stayed home till DC was 1 year old then found a job again. Just around then, there was one more incident of a hit/ hard slap that had me stumbling down on the floor and I was in total shock and denial it even happened. He wanted to call a bachelor colleague over for dinner to hang out with him and I said I am too tired to host - in his defence he said ever since we had left his hometown and he couldnt see his old friends and family throughout the week, I had increasingly isolated him from 'everyone he cared about'. And that his life was so depressing.
> in 2013, everything changed reader. for a year I had been feeling detached and aloof. doing my wifely duties so to speak but the hope had died and there was relief when the hope died, of normalcy. A few months in a new team at work, and I realised I was attracted to a colleague (yes still dumb in my 30s no signs of the maturity one would hope for yet to deal with my life in a grown up way). The colleague seemed very attracted too. we became friends. not lovers.
> Within a few weeks (!!) of realising I was attracted, I came home and told H that I wanted a divorce, we had never been happy , I liked someone and wanted to be free to see where that went, I was sure he would be ecstatic too , he had hated me low key for soooo long.
> shockingly, H cried and said he had always loved me, he was sorry would make amends or try to, and not to leave. For months we went back and forth, for a few years actually , I changed my mind so many times. He called my colleague and said he would report him to HR if 'you dont stay the hell away from my wife' , eventually I was so embarrased about not being able to decide, and two people not just one being furious with me at that point that I left the job. H said if I still insisted on leaving , he would tell the court I had had an affair and that he would make sure I had no custody, I know thats not even legal, but he kept making such ugly threats about expensive high powered lawyers, producing intimate texts in court (there was no affair, but there were compromising texts saying stuff like I love you, so ashamed to admit this, I am not proud of these years at all) - I could not really even bear the thought of 50/50 custody not seeing my (then) 4 yo.
Part three/final part - typing now

OP posts:
sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:19

Last part - that was all 8 years ago . I completely backed down from leaving after he took my 4 year old away for ten days and told both his parents and my parents how I was wanting to leave to explore life with other guys rather than being a good mum. Everyone was horrified at me and said if hes trying to work on it, how can you be so selfish

Fast forward 8 years to now.

We had another 8 low key unhappy years.

He was hanging out with a neighbourhood lady 'as friends' in the old neighbourhood and tried to when we moved as well. They are always 'just friends' though - just that it is so depressing and boring just being with me you know. I think a goddamn affair would be so much better if he would just go ahead an have one, and I could leave ??

There are some good times, but offset by so many bad times. Sometimes faking it for my DC sake, it feels real. I still remember all the years I was crazy about H. I am mid 40s now and so tired.

Do I leave or stay low key unhappy - he still totally controls, dominates, especially money, charms my girlfriends when he can for his entertainment, and well, I DO NOT ENJOY SEX with him AT ALL, I am forced to every few times a week.

My child who is in mid teens now , loves his dad so much and says he wants us to both stay together till 18 at least. END OF this horrible tale

OP posts:
sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:20

username299 · 24/12/2024 17:04

Are you in the UK?

Yes we are in the UK

OP posts:
Pumpkincozynights · 24/12/2024 17:34

Short answer: leave.
Tell you parent your dh is a violent bully. Tell them that you have been unhappy for many, many years.
LTB.
I am quite sure if your child knew the truth, he would be horrified at the thought of you saying with his father.

sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:35

Originally from East Eur though and Catholic

OP posts:
sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:38

Pumpkincozynights · 24/12/2024 17:34

Short answer: leave.
Tell you parent your dh is a violent bully. Tell them that you have been unhappy for many, many years.
LTB.
I am quite sure if your child knew the truth, he would be horrified at the thought of you saying with his father.

Left it too long though as I felt my 'affair' justified a lot of his reactions and I had 'let the marriage down' too in my own way (childishly justifying my own self as , he broke it first !) - so my DC now are convinced, not knowing what normal families look like, that an affair by the mum justifies the depression and anger of the dad. DC are A+ plus student and aiming for a IVY league law degree appln in 3 years, I want that to stay the main focus for DC....

OP posts:
Arewethebadguys · 24/12/2024 17:39

How are you in the UK if you went to an Ivy league uni?

sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:41

He earns well, works very hard at job, never smokes, no drinking, no 'actual' affairs only 'friends' he respects more than me with many females locally, controlling and dominating but I can get my way sometimes.

Sometimes, I feel like I might go crazy, time being now waiting till DC is 18 - is it 16 or 18 re DC are legal adults and no custody battle required with embarrassing mud slinging in court that might upset DC.

OP posts:
username299 · 24/12/2024 17:42

OP, he's physically and emotionally abusive and you need to start making plans to leave.

Do not tell him that you plan to leave as he could escalate the abuse.

Your first step is to contact a domestic abuse organisation and tell them about the abuse. They will assess you and help you form a safety plan so you can leave as safely as possible.You are most at risk when leaving and in the first year after leaving.

It sounds like he's raping you as well. If you have any injuries please see your GP. It's good to let as many professionals know about the abuse as possible for evidence in the future eg child contact, non molestation order etc

Chat about the abuse with the domestic abuse organisation and ask about your legal options.

See a family law solicitor discreetly. You'll need as much financial information as possible. Phone around and get a lawyer with experience in dealing with abusers. He'll use the law to abuse you. Protect your assets asap.

You can start by calling the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which is 24/7. You could also phone your local domestic abuse organisation.

Your child doesn't understand abuse and you need to get both of you away from this man. He's not going to change and he's dangerous.

If he hits you again dial 999.

sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:43

Arewethebadguys · 24/12/2024 17:39

How are you in the UK if you went to an Ivy league uni?

Hi born in the east , went to US for uni - moved to UK in 2007, UK citizen since 2017 - DC born British.

OP posts:
sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:50

username299 · 24/12/2024 17:42

OP, he's physically and emotionally abusive and you need to start making plans to leave.

Do not tell him that you plan to leave as he could escalate the abuse.

Your first step is to contact a domestic abuse organisation and tell them about the abuse. They will assess you and help you form a safety plan so you can leave as safely as possible.You are most at risk when leaving and in the first year after leaving.

It sounds like he's raping you as well. If you have any injuries please see your GP. It's good to let as many professionals know about the abuse as possible for evidence in the future eg child contact, non molestation order etc

Chat about the abuse with the domestic abuse organisation and ask about your legal options.

See a family law solicitor discreetly. You'll need as much financial information as possible. Phone around and get a lawyer with experience in dealing with abusers. He'll use the law to abuse you. Protect your assets asap.

You can start by calling the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which is 24/7. You could also phone your local domestic abuse organisation.

Your child doesn't understand abuse and you need to get both of you away from this man. He's not going to change and he's dangerous.

If he hits you again dial 999.

thanks - yes some years back already informed GP/NHS , they called domestic abuse and child protection as well, who all came by - and spoke to the school too. I was terrified my DC was going to be taken away from me and H was also terrified. No more violence after that. Except for insisting on sex where I just lie back for a few minutes and it is over. I dont do anything more.

I moved to the guest room for the nth time last week and determined to stay here till DC 18 and leaves for uni - he was GCSE and A levels all upcoming and I dont want their life disrupted right now , waiting till 18.

Is there anyone else who did this /similar for similar reasons

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 24/12/2024 17:52

You made the decision to stay. You can make the decision to leave. No one can do it for you though.

username299 · 24/12/2024 17:55

sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:50

thanks - yes some years back already informed GP/NHS , they called domestic abuse and child protection as well, who all came by - and spoke to the school too. I was terrified my DC was going to be taken away from me and H was also terrified. No more violence after that. Except for insisting on sex where I just lie back for a few minutes and it is over. I dont do anything more.

I moved to the guest room for the nth time last week and determined to stay here till DC 18 and leaves for uni - he was GCSE and A levels all upcoming and I dont want their life disrupted right now , waiting till 18.

Is there anyone else who did this /similar for similar reasons

Bringing a child up in an abusive household is considered child abuse.

I've given you the information you need to leave. I hope you can enjoy Christmas.

sussanna · 24/12/2024 17:58

I think it was my own emotional unhealthy state after my parent passing suddenly (we were so very close) in my mid twenties , that made me stay when the first incident of abuse happened - rather than cultural conditioning re where I am or my catholic religion - no one I know would have made these silly unwise decisions

Is there anyone in similar , who still feels reluctant familial affection though still with the person youre living with for 20 years ? like hate and family feeling all at the same time ? I want to leave but I need to make sure he will be okay and last time he cried so much (in 2013) when i wanted to leave.
My whole life is one big gaslight. I am at a senior management level at work (thought I would throw in this hilarious bit in with the rest). I fake my own life so it looks successful and good on the outside , but not even the most 'unsuccessful' person would stay in this back then and ...I stupidly did

OP posts:
sussanna · 24/12/2024 18:03

username299 · 24/12/2024 17:55

Bringing a child up in an abusive household is considered child abuse.

I've given you the information you need to leave. I hope you can enjoy Christmas.

OK thank you - I have spoken to DC last week about leaving - says wants us to stay together till he is 18 and off to uni. Says to just keep rooms separate to avoid 'the two of you getting into one of your silly arguments' again - hes a socuially outgoing well adjusted mid teen. He will be 16 in 2026. He said I should not have liked someone else outside the marriage in 2013 , and could I wait till he is 18 now - he likes both of us (or dislikes parts of both of us) but says the violence in the past that i told him about (it wasnt in front of him, and he was too young/before he was born) was wrong but wait till he is 18 - maybe he fears private school and Oxbridge entrance will be impacted in 2028 , he wants to do medicine.

I realised lots of typos and dont know how to edit, hes almost 15 now not 13

OP posts:
sussanna · 24/12/2024 18:08

Aargh, I tried to change personal details because a number of my friends are on here but Eff it, I am not good at keeping changed details straight - hes almost 15 and its medicine he wants to do , its law

And I am not EE , I am East Asian - not catholic, but HIndu.

OP posts:
Mustreadabook · 24/12/2024 18:17

sussanna · 24/12/2024 18:03

OK thank you - I have spoken to DC last week about leaving - says wants us to stay together till he is 18 and off to uni. Says to just keep rooms separate to avoid 'the two of you getting into one of your silly arguments' again - hes a socuially outgoing well adjusted mid teen. He will be 16 in 2026. He said I should not have liked someone else outside the marriage in 2013 , and could I wait till he is 18 now - he likes both of us (or dislikes parts of both of us) but says the violence in the past that i told him about (it wasnt in front of him, and he was too young/before he was born) was wrong but wait till he is 18 - maybe he fears private school and Oxbridge entrance will be impacted in 2028 , he wants to do medicine.

I realised lots of typos and dont know how to edit, hes almost 15 now not 13

Every child wants their parents to be happy together. Whatever the relationship they have no other reference. Don’t let him think that he has any influence in your decision to leave or else he will also feel like he has responsibility for you relationship or you leaving and that he could keep you together. This is not something he should feel responsible for. Do you have a friend you can discuss this with instead?

CreationNat1on · 24/12/2024 18:17

Leave, your son is conditioned by a patriarchal society. You are not a slave to either the husband or the son.

CreationNat1on · 24/12/2024 18:20

He knows you don't want to have sex and he is forcing himself on you. I m sorry this is happening. Your body is yours, you can say no.

WinterCrow · 24/12/2024 18:23

I DO NOT ENJOY SEX with him AT ALL, I am forced to every few times a week.

Oh dear god so he's forcing himself on you? That's rape.

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