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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

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Abusive partner help!!!!!

31 replies

Annabel2110 · 13/07/2026 21:11

I don’t know why I’m writing this on here, I think I just need to hear an outside perspective as I fell out with all my friends to be with my partner. W snow have 2 kids are are struggling with money due to debt (even though we earn good money) but beneath the money struggles, we are best friends and love each other so much!!

we both have a little bit of debt each that we are trying to pay off separately and we have 2 kids that we had back recently so still trying to get out of 2 maternity leave debts. He also takes testosterone. I am not the most tidy/organised person (undiagnosed ADHD) and he is very anal and wants everything perfect all the time. Even with 2 toddlers I have had to pick up more work hours so I am doing 4 days now, so don’t have a lot of time to do housework and when I am at home, I am juggling a nearly 2 & nearly 3 year old by myself whilst he works from home and I have to keep them quiet or he comes storming downstairs shouting at me.

There are a few things I keep doing that he has told me multiple times not to do, like keeping the kitchen sides clean, not leaving long phone charges out looking messy, just general tidying up that sometimes I get delayed to tidying up due to the kids. He looses it and says I don’t listen and why am I not changing, I am a farmyard animal, a slob and disgusting. I am not one to back down and let someone speak to me like that so I argue back and he looses it even more and tells me to stop talking back, it escalates so bad that he usually either pushes me on the floor/bed/sofa or gets me by my neck against the door or over the kitchen sink. But he claims because he’s never punched me it’s not that bad and I’m playing a victim. He says he doesn’t want to hurt me, he just wants me to listen.

He loves his sons so much and would never hurt them and he is the only person I have now as I lost all of my friendship group to be with him (they thought he was bad news as they knew of him before).

when the physical abuse happens I am adamant I am leaving and I tell him that and he says good, then we make up and he says how sorry he is and how he feels awful for being just like his dad and he will try and stop. We are best friends and I try and hold onto the fact that we are just in a bad place because of money but once we are out of debt we won’t have this constant stress over us and can get our happy life back.

I don’t know what to do and need to hear it from someone else’s perspective instead of telling a family member and risking them all hating him if I don’t leave him. We really do have a great relationship underneath this money stress, but we will be out of it soon. But is it worth sticking around for it to get better?

OP posts:
Annabel2110 · 13/07/2026 21:12

Apologies for the typos, it wouldn’t let me change them before I posted!

OP posts:
Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 13/07/2026 21:15

He is absolutely being abusive and very dangerously so. Hands around your neck - a huge risk factor.

How would you feel about this man bringing up your children without you?

Because men who choke or strangle their partners - which he is doing to you - are I believe seven times more likely to kill.

He is dangerous and you need to make a plan to leave safely ASAP.

IronEverything · 13/07/2026 21:19

Don't stay long enough to get hurt. Leave now and take your impressionable children with you, before they take after him. Allowing them to be in that type of environment so young could cause problems that will last their whole lives.

CalmWriter · 13/07/2026 21:20

Ive been on Mumsnet many years and read lots of abusive relationship threads, seen plenty of women try to justify their partners behaviour whilst 400 people tell them to run, none of them compare to this.

OP you need to leave. How would you feel if he choked one of your children? And don’t say he would never do that, because he will, they always do. Trust the people who’ve been there and are telling you from experience.

thesandwich · 13/07/2026 21:24

Please contact women’s aid urgently.

SallyAnnDrivesACar · 13/07/2026 21:24

Yes, you should leave quickly. He is physically violent towards you.

AnonAnonmystery · 13/07/2026 21:27

Any partner who hurts the mother is more than capable of hurting the children.

I think you should contact women’s aid as your partner is violent, holding your neck is extremely dangerous and he could potentially kill you. Punching someone is not the only aggression that is classed as violence.

pilates · 13/07/2026 21:28

I can’t believe what I am reading.

Please leave - disgusting behaviour

Gemstar3 · 13/07/2026 21:29

OP he is absolutely not your best friend - he is a dangerous man who is abusive and, as PP said, putting his hands round your neck dramatically increases the chances he will go on to kill you. Please contact women’s aid and get yourself and your children safe.

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 13/07/2026 21:33

Also OP "we really do have a great relationship". No, you really, really don't. You're fooling yourself I'm afraid. I feel bad for you.

Good relationships NEVER involve 1. Physical abuse, 2. Verbal abuse, 3. An imbalance in sharing / taking on family responsibilities lke cleaning, childcare etc, 4. Losing all your friends because they think your partner is so awful. As a bare minimum.

youvemadeyourpoint · 13/07/2026 21:38

@Annabel2110 you are not best friends. You don’t treat a best friend how he is treating you.

You can hang onto the hope that one day things will be better when your money situation improves, however, they’ll always be something to stress about as you’re raising a young family. His behaviour towards you will never, ever, stop.

Leave before he really does hurt you and before your kids are old enough to understand their mum is being abused by their dad - otherwise it will devastate them and terrify them.

Annabel2110 · 13/07/2026 21:41

Thanks everyone. The final straw was him lifting up one of our high chairs over my head tonight as if he was going to throw it on my head but he just held it there. Don’t think I can come back from that now and am just exhausted from it all so going to get some help, as much as I hate asking for it!!!

OP posts:
youvemadeyourpoint · 13/07/2026 21:46

Annabel2110 · 13/07/2026 21:41

Thanks everyone. The final straw was him lifting up one of our high chairs over my head tonight as if he was going to throw it on my head but he just held it there. Don’t think I can come back from that now and am just exhausted from it all so going to get some help, as much as I hate asking for it!!!

This is the right thing to do.

And don’t worry about being alone. Once you leave him, your friends will gradually return in time, knowing you had just made a mistake in trusting this evil swine - which is easily done.

For know, concentrate on getting yourself and kids to safety.

Stay strong on your decision for a better life.

AnonAnonmystery · 13/07/2026 21:47

@Annabel2110 if he tries something like that again please call the police. You can still call now as you sound like you are in danger. Do the kids see him doing all this?

Annabel2110 · 13/07/2026 21:53

AnonAnonmystery · 13/07/2026 21:47

@Annabel2110 if he tries something like that again please call the police. You can still call now as you sound like you are in danger. Do the kids see him doing all this?

Yes it’s mostly always infront of them unless they are asleep or napping, but they are 1&2 so still very young. One time he pushed me to the floor and my 2 year old thought it was a game and starting pushing me whilst I was on the floor 😫

OP posts:
suburberphobe · 13/07/2026 22:16

I am juggling a nearly 2 & nearly 3 year old by myself whilst he works from home and I have to keep them quiet or he comes storming downstairs shouting at me.

it escalates so bad that he usually either pushes me on the floor/bed/sofa or gets me by my neck against the door or over the kitchen sink.

OP, this is an extremely dangerous man and likely to kill you. Maybe your kids too tripping them down the stairs, putting the boot into them on his way down.

Not in UK but can you phone a friend, family, police, right now, tomorrow morning at the latest?
The neighbours must be aware, unless you are in the middle of nowhere.... (can't imagine it).

Bet he doesn't treat people at work or in the supermarket or in the street like that.

Please please gather your strength and yourself and your children and get out, if need be to the police station.

I went through violence when pregnant. I'm sure it made me go into labour at 8 months.

Fucked him off and did it alone. You can do it too, many organisations can help you out.

Sending you every strength to get through this.

Please keep posting. MN is wonderful when you need help in a crisis.

AnonAnonmystery · 13/07/2026 22:16

@Annabel2110 this is a terrible read :( poor kids, that think it’s normal which is not good for them:( your partner is harming them already by exposing them to violence.

Have you decided who you are going to get help from? Do you have any relatives you can go to?

suburberphobe · 13/07/2026 22:18

One time he pushed me to the floor and my 2 year old thought it was a game and starting pushing me whilst I was on the floor 😫

He's teaching his and your children how to be violent to women.
They'll end up in jail if they take that on board.

GingerBeverage · 13/07/2026 22:22

Annabel2110 · 13/07/2026 21:53

Yes it’s mostly always infront of them unless they are asleep or napping, but they are 1&2 so still very young. One time he pushed me to the floor and my 2 year old thought it was a game and starting pushing me whilst I was on the floor 😫

What was your home like as a child? Did you witness violence?

Annabel2110 · 13/07/2026 22:25

GingerBeverage · 13/07/2026 22:22

What was your home like as a child? Did you witness violence?

No I didn’t at all but his Dad was abusive to his whole family and my partner took most of the abusive to save his family and they all keep silent about it still to this day, we walk on eggshells around his dad when he is drinking, they are very similar apart from he is like it sober! He always says he would hate to turn out like him, but it is happening.

OP posts:
midwalker · 13/07/2026 22:28

OP this is absolutely awful to read. Your sons are young enough that you can leave and turn their lives around. If you stay you are putting them at great risk of psychological, emotional and physical harm, and potentially turning them into yet another generation of abusive men.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 13/07/2026 22:34

then we make up and he says how sorry he is and how he feels awful

I knew someone who had an ex like that. He is an ex and she is still alive only because when she woke up in hospital a week after he fractured her skull the police had thankfully already charged him and ignored her when she tried to stop them going to trial.

He's going to kill you. Probably in front of your children.

IvysMum12 · 13/07/2026 22:42

Whatever you do, don't tell him you're planning to leave him. You and the children will be in even more danger.
Also, get back in touch with your friends. I expect they'll be massively relieved that you've seen the light.

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