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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

Today I have mainly tried not to cry infront of DC

8 replies

Questa · 29/05/2010 21:14

Hi,

Just posting for a bit of a rant and hope for a little support I guess. I've previously posted regarding my problems with DP (suffering from stress/depression/general resentment of daily grind with 2 x DC under 4).

All we seem to do is bicker and I feel powerless to prevent it. He is normally a shy and retiring man yet when we are at home together he seems to find fault with everything I do. Today I have tried hard to stay cheerful and tolerant (breakfast in bed, had DC whilst he had a shower, kept them occupied so he could have a little time on his own, prepared and cleaned up after lunch etc) yet nothing I do seems to make any difference to his foul moods and I end up feeling angry and resentful re having to spend my weekend looking at his miserable face. When he picks at me for nothing it makes me feel so desperately sad I have had to leave the room twice so DC don't see me cry.

The thing that is most frustrating is that he knows the relationship is on the line, he is starting to address his problems (on medication, started counselling last week) and yet when the DC are up he forgets all the agreement to stay civil and lapses into this angry resentful man.

It's not even a physical expression of anger - for example I watched him in the garden mid-morning, as I was clearing up the kitchen, and he was just standing there, staring, fists clenched, with the most depressed face I've ever seen. As DC are running round the garden like something from an M&S advert.

It's all so raw I know attempts by me to be cheerful and breezy are too quickly damaged by a harsh comment or tone. There's no middle ground - it's either false smiles or end of the world tears.

On my positive days I feel I really want to rebuild this, support him through counselling and feel we can rediscover our love for eachother. But on my black days I cry in despair and end up begging him to leave, or suggesting I do.

Nothing changes.

Thanks for listening.. just needed to vent

OP posts:
TheButterflyParty · 29/05/2010 21:16

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Questa · 29/05/2010 21:49

Thank you,

I would love to hear that you are still together?

I just don't know at what point you say 'enough is enough'.

OP posts:
TheButterflyParty · 29/05/2010 22:06

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LittleMissHissyFit · 30/05/2010 08:59

God it's so tiring to live with a person as enraged and miserable as that.

Is there anyway he can have a break somewhere to calm down and give you a bit of respite too?

Does he have any mates you can call upon to do that pulling themselves together, manly pat kind of thin... sometimes it works...

Failing that, if he promises to keep civil, and doesn't, then tbh I think you can ask him to 'go for a walk around the block' till he cools down... It's not good for you or for the DC to have such an enraged creature glaring at you like that.

Thinking of you, what you are going through is hell on earth.

Be strong, it can't last forever.

dignified · 30/05/2010 12:39

Does he work ?

Earlybird · 30/05/2010 13:05

I agree that it is miserable to live with an angry/stressed person.

Might be very simplistic, but some of my roughest times with dd (when she was younger) were when we were cooped up inside on long days. I was bored/stir crazy/grumpy, and she was crabby/demanding. Everything irritated me. Simply going to the playground or for a walk or a museum - anything really, as long as it was outside the house - helped tremendously.

I found it really helped to have a general plan so that the day had a rhythm.

I also made sure I had an evening a week out with friends doing something fun, and unrelated to being a parent.

Could something as basic as that be helpful in your situation?

Questa · 31/05/2010 18:02

Thank you for your replies. dignified yes, he does work, but part time and so cares for DC two full days per week, as do I.

Earlybird, thank you for that suggestion. I've just realised I don't usually have any plan (I operate like that!) but just connected it to making DP stressed. LIke this morning, for example, I suggested he took DD swimming, and within half an hour had a bag packed for him. I mused to myself this afternoon that his reaction to that episode was nothing short of resentment and pure sulks, but when I commented on it he responded "Well I'm taking her, aren't I?"

Is there anywhere he could go like a retreat? He's quite open minded so I think he would consider it. I told him last night I could not cope with his moods anymore but was fully prepared to do anything to save this relationship. I just wish he would realise what's happening.

Sorry, rambling..

OP posts:
TheButterflyParty · 01/06/2010 12:38

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