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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

Need to leave but I can't

11 replies

Pinkponyclub123 · 13/07/2025 15:23

Been with 'd'p 9 years, I have 2 early-mid teens from a previous relationship, and we have a 5 year old together.
Pretty much since we've had the 5 year old, he's been unbearable. He will sulk if he thinks I'm in a bad mood (when I'm not I'm just sitting quietly of an evening after running the kids around and working all day). He's stingy with money towards me, he works full time, I work part time and we have a bit of universal credit too because our jobs aren't particularly high paying. He pays the rent, I pay for absolutely everything else and he will extremely rarely help me, but he always has plenty of money for beer, tobacco, lunch at work as he never takes anything from home, and random mcdonalds/toys ect when he takes our younger child out (the older 2 are usually off doing their own thing). Often he will disappear out all night, the other night I was up at 4am with one of my kids who had been sick and he walked in from a dog walk that he started at 8 that evening.
We have a HA house which we are both on the tenancy for, so that's my first issue with leaving. Neither of us are willing to leave, I couldn't even afford to private rent. The second issue is, he would cause so much damage for the kids because of how horrible he gets when he's hurt. Last time I tried to end things, a couple of days later he went barging into my older children's room at 9.30pm to tell them that I'd finished with him because 'they had a right to know'. He also loves to be the fun dad for the younger one, so I just know that he'd be taking them off all the time to do fun stuff and I'd barely get a chance to see them (obviously I would never want to stop them doing fun stuff together! But I don't think I'd even get a chance to do anything of my own with them).
I just don't know how I would even begin to do this but he's making me so unhappy. For context, in general he is a fantastic dad and step dad, and actually he is a good person but he's either not a very good partner or we just aren't right for eachother.

OP posts:
Lactofull · 13/07/2025 15:26

poor kids
do the older ones at least get a break when they go to their dad’s?

Lactofull · 13/07/2025 15:27

For context, in general he is a fantastic dad and step dad, and actually he is a good person

your benchmark for what is a “fantastic” father and a “good person” is in the gutter OP

Lactofull · 13/07/2025 15:28

I’d be going full time in your shoes op

Lactofull · 13/07/2025 15:29

Come again

he was walking the dog from 8pm-4am?? 😆

FancyCatSlave · 13/07/2025 15:39

Don’t be ridiculous @Pinkponyclub123 he wouldn’t get your shared child more than 50/50 so you’d have plenty of time to do stuff with them.

Increase your hours, and speak to the housing association. There’s always a way to leave, even if it’s not instant.

Branwells77 · 13/07/2025 18:31

Seriously OP you can’t seriously believe that he was walking the dog from 8pm until 4am.

Speak to the housing association you could also contact a domestic abuse service in your area
You have options and there’s not a chance he would get 50/50 of your DC and to be honest once you got him out the house or you moved you will probably struggle to get him to have contact with DC.
Good luck OP

NeptuneOrion · 03/09/2025 22:18

Next time he is out, call Shelter or Women's Aid and get some advice re HA tenancy.

incognitomummy · 03/09/2025 22:31

Walking the dog 8pm until 4am?
not a chance.

What was he doing??! Another woman? Drugs?

he isn’t safe to have around.

speak to the HA and women’s aid. ASAP.

incognitomummy · 27/09/2025 23:29

How are you OP?

Dearodearo · 28/09/2025 01:46

Pinkponyclub123 · 13/07/2025 15:23

Been with 'd'p 9 years, I have 2 early-mid teens from a previous relationship, and we have a 5 year old together.
Pretty much since we've had the 5 year old, he's been unbearable. He will sulk if he thinks I'm in a bad mood (when I'm not I'm just sitting quietly of an evening after running the kids around and working all day). He's stingy with money towards me, he works full time, I work part time and we have a bit of universal credit too because our jobs aren't particularly high paying. He pays the rent, I pay for absolutely everything else and he will extremely rarely help me, but he always has plenty of money for beer, tobacco, lunch at work as he never takes anything from home, and random mcdonalds/toys ect when he takes our younger child out (the older 2 are usually off doing their own thing). Often he will disappear out all night, the other night I was up at 4am with one of my kids who had been sick and he walked in from a dog walk that he started at 8 that evening.
We have a HA house which we are both on the tenancy for, so that's my first issue with leaving. Neither of us are willing to leave, I couldn't even afford to private rent. The second issue is, he would cause so much damage for the kids because of how horrible he gets when he's hurt. Last time I tried to end things, a couple of days later he went barging into my older children's room at 9.30pm to tell them that I'd finished with him because 'they had a right to know'. He also loves to be the fun dad for the younger one, so I just know that he'd be taking them off all the time to do fun stuff and I'd barely get a chance to see them (obviously I would never want to stop them doing fun stuff together! But I don't think I'd even get a chance to do anything of my own with them).
I just don't know how I would even begin to do this but he's making me so unhappy. For context, in general he is a fantastic dad and step dad, and actually he is a good person but he's either not a very good partner or we just aren't right for eachother.

Oh wow. Him barging into my kids rooms to tell then I'd dumped him would make it 100% final for me

I'm sure the HA can help in situations like this. And the council. I would speak to both

Tuesdayschild50 · 26/11/2025 12:00

He obviously isn't a fantastic dad though is he ....
Barges in stepkids room involving them in a fall out .
Staying out all night from a dog walk.Where has he really been ?
Mean with money.
Smoking and drinking.
You need the house for the kids so he can find a place to rent.. Lay the pressure on to go make it unbearable for him as he is for you .

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