Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

P cheating, please could somebody help, I don't know what to do (long, sorry!)

870 replies

dismantlethesun · 28/06/2010 07:27

Argh

Background- I was OW briefly. DP told me he and wifey had been separated for 7 years, they had not

We moved in together after 6 months, it became a fiery relationship because he hacked into my emails and read that I had said he was controlling

He banned all friends. He banned relatives. He banned staying 5 mins late at work. Banned certain clothes and shoes. Stopped me progressing in my career.

Began to falsely accuse me of things. Always false. Began to be very violent.

Reverted to old drinking habits. Drinks A LOT.

I got pregnant (one year in) and he got even more violent.

I suspected him of an affair because I found a message on his phone but he denied it then beat me up badly.

I really loved him. He was so good at controlling me, being ver 30 years my senior.

Had DD, he was awful. I told him I was leaving and he said if I left he would lie to social services and say I was a bad mother. I said, but I'm not I'm a great mother, he said 'I have police connections/etc etc they won't believe you'

So I stayed. During that year he nearly killed me with a wine bottle and with other acts of violence. He grabbed DD once when she was crying but I jumped in and fought him off her. He punched me hard in the head and strangled me while I was holding her. When DD was almost 1 she became acutely unwell and was admitted to hospital. She was there for 3 months and then she died.

He was never in the hospital, he was in the pub on his laptop, or somewhere else. He would tell me he was fcking a barmaid, then say he only said it to wind me up, he told me he was fcking a colleague, then said he only said it to wind me up. He would not let me stay in the hospital with DD overnight, because he said if I did he would leave and not pay rent so I'd be homeless (I was on extended maternity leave) and I got scared and thought DD wouldn't be able to be discharged if he did that as we'd have no home to go to. So I stayed.

She died, he turned up briefly to shed a false tear. I got pregnant immediately- I reget this now, but it was a one-off and I was extremely upset.

I went back to work, he became violent again, kicking me in the stomach hard. I bit him (one time) in self defence to get his arms off me as he was holding me down to kick me. The police were called and they let him go because he has 'connections' and he reported my act of defence. The only time I've ever fought back.

Baby was born. Blabla. He's now been made redundant. WE have no s*x life at all because he is so much older and is diabetic so it's pretty useless. But he has always said 'it works fine when I want it to' My grandma died, my best friend died the other week, and DP has destroyed all my other friendships except for a few in Canada.

I have just found a memory stick with his emails on it from work. I looked at it because he indicated he was emailing his wifelet (he wasn't) and he had hidden the stick. I read lots of it, including his sent emails which mentioned a new secret account. I logged in (same password for everything) and he has been having an affair since before DD was born.

WHat do I do?? I am scared. I am in rented accomodation that is more than my full time salary. DC2 is 5mths old. I have no income other than statutory maternity pay. I have no family now really and all my friends gave up 4 years ago. I am 24. I have ruined my career by having babies and being so unprofessional. Hell, I don't even know if I want to be in my career. I want to go back to uni. Or leave the country. Or right now I jjust want to curl up and die, quite frankly.

I honestly do not know how to handle this- he is still married to the ex as well, so I'm not entitled to anything if we split. I have a low income even when working full time. No childcare.

Thanks anyone, he's going to wake up in a minute and I'm going to have to pretend I don't know I really believed him when he said I was his soul mate etc. He said he loved me. I hoped he would change. I am mortified that I have been so stupid and didn't leave when DD was small.

OP posts:
cluelessnchaos · 30/06/2010 06:14

I know you are not used to it, but the world is generally nice, you replicated the relationships you had in the past because in some strange way our brain seeks out the familiar, you look for someone to fix and subconciously if you are able to change them then you are worthy, but in reality you are already worthy. I really honestly was in exactly your position when I was 22 and thank god I got out of it. I can't do it for you I can just tell you life can be wonderful if you leave, if you don't then I won't leave or judge you, your old friends are still waiting for you as well, they haven't stopped liking you, they just haven't known how to deal with this these last few years.

dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:15

hmm, no he's nearly awake, lots of tossing and turning and sucking his hand !

OP posts:
dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:17

I honestly don't mean to seek out bad people- how weird. I can see how it is very familiar though, even the alcoholism and control and everything. I had an inappropriate relationship when I was at school with someone older than me too, P knows about it and he is threatening to tell everyone.

OP posts:
instructionstothedouble · 30/06/2010 06:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:18
Blush
OP posts:
dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:19

He's 5 months I think, maybe 6 [can't count!]

OP posts:
tortoiseonthehalfshell · 30/06/2010 06:21

I had an inappropriate relationship when I was at school with someone older than me too, P knows about it and he is threatening to tell everyone

  • This won't reflect badly on you, by the way. If it was a teacher, it will reflect badly on them. Not your fault.

In fact, none of the things he keeps threatening to tell people about were your fault.

Also, do I gather that your P was your lecturer or teacher once upon a time?

instructionstothedouble · 30/06/2010 06:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

instructionstothedouble · 30/06/2010 06:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:24

GOsh I've put all my info on MN [mortified] I hope nobody I know will see this

Yes he was a teacher and yes P was my lecturer.

It must be my fault, what normal person would do that

OP posts:
cluelessnchaos · 30/06/2010 06:25

You have done nothing wrong any relationships you have had in the past are your business, it's not a concious thing who we choose to have a relationship with, my mum was also an alcoholic and abusive, I was so desperate to get away from her that I ran into the arms of a monster, you can break the cycle though, love doesn't mean control, it means trust and acceptance.

dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:26

breastfeeding indeed with the occasional experimental solids. He makes such a mess I am only going to dress him in orange from now on to tone with his lunch

OP posts:
cluelessnchaos · 30/06/2010 06:28

The teacher was the one in a position of authority who abused his position.

Longtalljosie · 30/06/2010 06:31

It's not your fault sweetheart, but he's spent years conditioning you into thinking it is. It's like being in a cult. You need de-programming!

The one thing I'd like you to remember (have abusive ex too) is that these people use words as weapons. They are not constrained (as you and I would be) by having the thing that they say being true. They just say anything to get a reaction. So expect him to swerve over the next few days and weeks from charm, to pleading, to viciousness, to threats, and back again. Anything, anything to get any sort of a reaction from you.

The only thing you can do is ignore him. He'll say anything to get a rise out of you. And if you don't respond, he'll raise the stakes. So let him rant. You don't have to play this game.

I would get in touch with social services yourself and explain what is going on.

I think you said earlier you had a hard letter from SS before? I think that may have been prompted by you being in this relationship. Now you've left it, you are in a much stronger position.

dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:31

Maybe I like people who hurt me I dumped a couple boyfriends (before P) because they were not only quite young but too nice!! I wanted to dump them before they dumped me. I have an exceptional fear of failure which has stopped me doing loads of things. Maybe I just wanted a failed relationship from the start. I liked the attention because he was very charming and wise and witty and wonderful and he made me feel like he's been waiting his whole life for me and he loved me so much, there was a real spark there, for a brief moment.And he was married so therefore impossible to get involved with so I wouldn't be rejected because it was never meant to be a real relationship

OP posts:
instructionstothedouble · 30/06/2010 06:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mistletoekisses · 30/06/2010 06:36

Morning!

Dis - keep posting and talking, we are all here for you. Stay strong my love. You have finally taken that first step and we are soo proud of you and right behind you. Lots of us are here for you if you need it.

my lovely.
Oh and no one can take your little boy away just like that, dont let him bully you!

dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:37

Sorry-ranting. I do feel like I have been brainwashed. Every day for years he tells me I am nothing, I am worthless, I am a 'stupid c*nt' and I always 'contradict' him, says I hvae nothing without him, says he has achieved so much, and he is so superb professionally, sexually, in every way.He has belittled me so much that I believe it all now.

OP posts:
instructionstothedouble · 30/06/2010 06:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

dismantlethesun · 30/06/2010 06:42

OH, DS is awake-

I feel safe but he keeps contacting me and I wish he would disappear permanently, he's trying to reel me in and make me forgive the affair

Argh-I will be fine, I'm gong to sort out DS then be calm about it, I hate this saying, but here there is no point crying over spilt milk, I guess. I just need to look forward.

OP posts:
cluelessnchaos · 30/06/2010 06:42

If he believed all the shite he has been ranting he wouldn't need to go on about it all the time.

cluelessnchaos · 30/06/2010 06:45

Dis could you do something for me, could you make a list of the things you would like for you and ds in the future?

instructionstothedouble · 30/06/2010 06:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

DutchGirly · 30/06/2010 06:47

Dismantle,

Simply do not believe him, it is just not true.

You come across as a very articulated, intelligent, compassionate woman who has just had bad luck in life.

I bet you're gorgeous, funny and a lovely person! You just had your confidence taken away but you can get it back.

CantThinkofFunnyName · 30/06/2010 07:23

Morning Dis. Right, I will call you again later. But listen to this. You MUST call WA and get immediate help. Just being in a hotel is not good enough. They will guide you through everything. Also - the fact that you go to them and tell them everything gives you the security to absolutely know that J will NEVER be taken from you!! Everyone else is right about the words and reeling you in.

Please please please call WA. Or National Domestic Violence Hotline (0808 2000 247) - they will place you in a proper SAFE house immediately or at most 2-3 days plus put you on the right track to get financial help, solicitors, permanent housing going forward, police security etc. It can be done from anywhere. Doesn't have to be in the area you are living now.

I told you yesterday by text that I have a number for DutchyGirly who lives near you and is prepared to pick you up and take you wherever you need to go.
xxx

Swipe left for the next trending thread