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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

Picking a fight with me in front of children - marriage done?

57 replies

Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 14:17

This is long. DH roared at the children yesterday when one of them hurt the other. Was really angry and agressive, pointing his finger at them and shouting at one of them to do a time out. I managed it and spoke to them both after about why it wasn’t appropriate to shout and about their feelings and why we had to do a time out and what to do instead of hurting each other. Today i was hanging laundry upstairs and they were fighting again, the same one hurt the other one, I came downstairs and said time out right now, you can’t keep hurting your brother and she didn’t listen so I shouted at her very loudly and said X, time OUT. Then went to go say it was ok to her younger sibling. DH came upstairs shouting at me for screaming at a little girl in her face. I didn’t do that, I did not scream in her face. I shouted from down the hall just as he did the day before but he turned it into you always take her side, look at you going to comfort him straight away going ohhhhh it’s ok don’t worry petal ( I didn’t say that by the way I just said it’s ok) and I didn’t get any further because he came tearing up the stairs. Then he said I caused this and was causing future problems by my behaviour. I don’t think this is true I was trying to separate them and then talk to both of them when they were calm to explain again what was needed and why hurting was wrong. But he keep on having a go at me saying enough of your bullshit, it’s such nonsense, you caused this, it’s your fault you’re impossible, why are you like this. I tried to defend myself saying he came up before I did anything to try to resolve this and that it wasn’t fair to put that all on me and also my behaviiiur want half as bad as his the day before. I was shaking but defended myself and managed to state why I disagreed with what he was saying and why i didn’t think it was fair or justified. He made a number of other comments about me as a person not about what had happened. He also said I can’t control my emotions.

this happens every 3-4 months, after he doesn’t apologise and doesn’t make any attempt to repair apart from one occasion where I said if he doesn’t do anything about this and listen to mw and try to fix this, it will be finished. On every other occasion either I reach out after a week or two of silent treatment from him and say we need to talk about this and try to or offer a hug or hold his hand and he just takes it and we go again as if nothing has happened. He is textbook dismissive avoidant, my feelings and my needs don’t matter and repair doesn’t happen unless I take the first step.

my children are three and five. In my head I am done and instead of crying and breaking down I am repairing for them and with them. Does anyone have any advice or thoughts from an impartial point of view? I am so lost

OP posts:
TalulahJP · 03/01/2026 14:21

sounds like he has no respect for you and his silent treatment is about controlling you and teaching you a lesson.

not a happy household for dc.

maybe it is time to get your ducks in a row.

Wonderwhyhuh · 03/01/2026 14:23

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ItsDarkNow · 03/01/2026 14:23

Your children are living in a home where their parents shout and scream at each other. That is an abusive home.

Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 14:26

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Yes, that is what happened. It is appalling and so wrong. I tried to deescalate and back away from it and speak calmly and quietly in response to what he was saying to me but yes, that was what happened.

OP posts:
Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 14:27

TalulahJP · 03/01/2026 14:21

sounds like he has no respect for you and his silent treatment is about controlling you and teaching you a lesson.

not a happy household for dc.

maybe it is time to get your ducks in a row.

It is. I grew up in a house like this where arguments happened daily and I don’t want my children to.

OP posts:
Clutterbug2026 · 03/01/2026 14:29

Neither of you should be shouting at your children and it’s worrying that neither of you seem to think that this a problem.

Wonderwhyhuh · 03/01/2026 14:29

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ItsDarkNow · 03/01/2026 14:29

Your children have one childhood and it’s being trashed. You need to separate.
Are you financially enmeshed with him?

aWeeCornishPastie · 03/01/2026 14:31

He sounds awful OP I would leave him

HavingABlether · 03/01/2026 14:39

Impartially, you both need to stop shouting, screaming and roaring at your kids. Also, he needs to stop shouting at you in front of them. They'll quickly learn what's acceptable in a relationship from what they see at home.

TheignT · 03/01/2026 14:45

I suppose it was confusing for the kids, yesterday you're telling them it's wrong to shout and today you're shouting at them. Maybe he thought you were being a hypocrite, wrong for him to shout at them but ok for you to do it,? Hard to say if you weren't there.

Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 15:04

TheignT · 03/01/2026 14:45

I suppose it was confusing for the kids, yesterday you're telling them it's wrong to shout and today you're shouting at them. Maybe he thought you were being a hypocrite, wrong for him to shout at them but ok for you to do it,? Hard to say if you weren't there.

yes, this is true and maybe he did think that. I didn’t give out to him in front of the children like he did or decide then to address it though. I said please stop, picked them both up and got them away from it. But then I guess I did shout at them today so I am at fault also. I feel like I am trying a hard to keep all emotions steady and stay regulated for them but it is so difficult in a toxic atmosphere like this and where one parent gets angry and doesn’t apologise/address/ tell the children that they are sorry and it is wrong

OP posts:
Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 15:10

HavingABlether · 03/01/2026 14:39

Impartially, you both need to stop shouting, screaming and roaring at your kids. Also, he needs to stop shouting at you in front of them. They'll quickly learn what's acceptable in a relationship from what they see at home.

I know, you are right. It is the last thing I ever wanted for them. They are so little and so good

OP posts:
Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 15:14

ItsDarkNow · 03/01/2026 14:29

Your children have one childhood and it’s being trashed. You need to separate.
Are you financially enmeshed with him?

Yes, in that we own our home together but have separate everything else. If we sold it, we will have equity built up but nowhere in our area would we be able to afford the same standard of house if we did separate and I would be worried about taking the children away from their school and creche if i moved away further to give them the same standard: what’s really making me pause is I don’t have my full driving licence so I am really stuck. I can drive with someone with me of course. I will book some lessons while I await my test date and hopefully will get that soon. I also earn significantly more than him and am in a very well paid profession so I think I could manage if I got the driving problem sorted and spent this year maybe saving every penny to build up a deposit to move and get away. I feel so broken as I’ve spent so long yearning for nay little crumb of affection or understanding from him - his line is yes life is hard kids are hard just suck it up stop whinging and get over it

OP posts:
Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 15:15

aWeeCornishPastie · 03/01/2026 14:31

He sounds awful OP I would leave him

Thank you ❤️

OP posts:
Wonderwhyhuh · 03/01/2026 15:19

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/01/2026 15:20

You do not want this for your kids but they are already growing up in an abusive home like you did. That is what your parents taught you about relationships when you were growing up. Now your kids are seeing it at first hand.

The only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is none.

You have a choice re this man and they do not. I urge you most strongly to seek and act on legal advice also re divorcing your, and in turn your kids, abuser. Contact Womens aid also.

Ritaskitchen · 03/01/2026 15:20

This argument isn’t about the children. It’s how you communicate with each other. How you handle conflict together and also that you don’t seem to have a united front on discipline in a your home.
It sounds really difficult. Maybe some marriage therapy where you learn how to communicate and deal with each others vulnerabilities would be useful

AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/01/2026 15:22

Saving money takes time and another year with this man will further destroy you and the kids from the inside out. Do not waste any more time here. Your energies need to be focussed on your kids and planning your exit safely.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/01/2026 15:23

Ritas

No to marriage therapy . Abuse is not about communication or a perceived lack of, it’s about power and control.

user2848502016 · 03/01/2026 15:24

Would he do a parenting course? There are free ones you can do and it sounds like it would be a good idea for both of you to do one together.
Also couples counselling.

If he continues with his behaviour towards you then you need to think about separating because this isn’t healthy at all.

curious79 · 03/01/2026 15:33

aWeeCornishPastie · 03/01/2026 14:31

He sounds awful OP I would leave him

You read two paragraphs and this is the conclusion you reach?! Bloody hell

BuckChuckets · 03/01/2026 15:38

If you're not financially dependent on him, you're already in a much better position than many women needing to leave their relationships are. Your children will be much happier and much better off in a smaller house than being around abuse and aggressive behaviour.

Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 16:33

user2848502016 · 03/01/2026 15:24

Would he do a parenting course? There are free ones you can do and it sounds like it would be a good idea for both of you to do one together.
Also couples counselling.

If he continues with his behaviour towards you then you need to think about separating because this isn’t healthy at all.

I have said that we should do counselling together in the past and he has refused on the grounds that he is not going to pay someone to tell him what to do. I think this is a really good idea though. Thank you

OP posts:
Farrah2025 · 03/01/2026 16:35

BuckChuckets · 03/01/2026 15:38

If you're not financially dependent on him, you're already in a much better position than many women needing to leave their relationships are. Your children will be much happier and much better off in a smaller house than being around abuse and aggressive behaviour.

i think about this a lot and if I would regret it when I am older. For context, I am 39, he’s 45, together for 13 years, married for 7. I was so in love with him when we got married and really thought he was the man of my dreams 😢Since children arrived though it’s like we have both changed and just not managed well at all.

OP posts:
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