I have a friend who has a 3 year old DD. Friend split with DP when DD was 1 year old. Since the beginning of their relationship he was emotionally and physically abusive. Since they split he has continued to be emotionally abusive to her and has done little to financially support his DD while parading around in new clothes, car etc while friend has had to borrow and go without in order to buy nappies, pay child care fees. In November she met a nice man and they?ve be dating ever since. She wasn?t immediately attracted, but over the weeks developed feeling for him. Last month she told her ex she had met someone. Well he flipped, threatened to slap her, called her some horrid names and said he won?t have DD over night, just so she could sleep around with other men. Threatened to tell new man what a dirty money grabbing person she was and tell him she?d been sleeping around with him and others while seeing him. (this has never been the case, though he has had numerous partners since they split, new man is the first person she dated since splitting with ex)
After a few days, he obviously realised his bullying tactics we not working, so tried to emotional route. Texting and calling, declaring his love, begging her to give their relationship another go. She was quite strong at first, seeing through his smoke screen. As the weeks progressed, she came round to his advances and started sleeping with him and ended things with the new man. Yesterday, the ex told her that perhaps he was wrong; they shouldn?t try again and suggested she contact the other man and try and re start thing with him. Now, I know this was his plan all along, my friend knew this too. We talked about it, predicting his next move and were seldom wrong. Yet, she went back to him. She has always admitted she had feelings, but felt the new man was helping her over come them. She has also admitted what a total bastard he is and how better less complicated life is without him.
I?m cross with her for giving into him, I?m fuming at him for do this too her. How can I help my friend break this cycle and move on from her ex? How can I show her that she is worth more than what he can offer her?