My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Relationships

Please help me see clearly

43 replies

AnneWentworth · 18/11/2013 12:50

This morning H went ment DS1 and 2 (5 and 7). It was over something silly and he hit them. He was furious and you could see it in his face and he swearing. He then proceeded to DS3 (2) and force him to lie down in bed and smacked him and was shouting. I intervened between the older ones and went back and took DS3 on the school run.

The issue is that this is not the first time. He is often like this over the silliest of things. He gets annoyed about taking any DC to an activity and would have them go to school, come home, go to no parties and play dates and watch TV. When we are all home together he never ever wants to do anything at all.

Today I said that I was not willing to tolerate it anymore and he told me to fuck off loudly continuously until we left. He told me I cannot have the flat and the DC.

DS3 and I stayed out to give done thinking space and we were texting. He said I have no control over the DC and if I instigate alone rules and they follow them then he won't lose histemper. I told him the only way I would work I. It is if he/we have counselling. He said he first need it the problem is I know what annoys him and don't do anything about it.

Since coming in an hour ago he has consistently told me how if I keep the house tidy etcthen and I quote "he won't be a cock to you and the kids".

I want out. I have had enough. I am not being unreasonable am i? The conversation just ended with him saying he will go then but nothing seems to be happening and he doesn't actually have anywhere to go.

I am so confused and upset.

OP posts:
Report
Leverette · 18/11/2013 12:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 18/11/2013 12:58

Definitely report this to the police. He is a violent, threatening man and his behaviour is criminal. They will get him out of the house while the DCs are out at school and then you can take it from there. Your poor kids experiencing this abuse.

Report
CogitoErgoSometimes · 18/11/2013 12:58

BTW... you realise this has gone much too far for counselling?

Report
Glenshee · 18/11/2013 12:59

That's terrible and unacceptable.

Put all your energy into getting him out. Involve police and social services. That's hard and terrifying - but remember that this will come to an end - the more energy you put into it now, the sooner you and the kids will be safe in your own home.

Report
onetiredmummy · 18/11/2013 13:00

Oh my goodness OP, basically he's saying that if you don't do exactly what he wants then he will get angry & its your fault. I'm not sure counselling is the way to go at the moment, his behaviour is liable to escalate quite rapidly.

Can you & the children stay somewhere else tonight? Family or friends?

Phone:

English National Domestic Violence Helpline
0808 2000 247
www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

Women's Aid

Or the police & report him

You know he is wrong & you don't have to tolerate this. Get your strength together & keep you & your children safe, ignore his threats about you 'not getting the DC's' etc, don't worry about that for the time being. Just get some outside help & don't let him know you are doing it.

Report
SkateLife · 18/11/2013 13:07

Op, I feel for you. This is past counselling, you need to get you and your children away from him. Call woman's aid, they will talk you through what you need to do. Do not think for a second that this violence is okay, if a stranger hit your kids, you'd be straight onto the police.

By saying he wants you to cook and clean or he'll loose his temper, or by not wanting to be involved in the kids lives or letting them out - he wants to control you all.

Get help, do it now.

Report
Snoozybird · 18/11/2013 13:08

OP my father used to smack us in temper, I left home as soon as I was able and didn't speak to him (or my mother for allowing it to happen) for 15 years. It left me hugely damaged and has affected my adult relationships. Please find the strength to leave, your children will not thank you for staying.

Report
cookiejam · 18/11/2013 13:14

It's the start of a new year in 6 weeks. Do you want go into 2014 still in a terrible relationship? With a man that beats your children? With a man who bullies and issues threats? Of course you don't.
It's not easy, but you can do it. There are people who will help you, seek out their help. You are not alone in this, your children need you to help them get out of this situation, you owe it to yourself too.

Report
FobblyWoof · 18/11/2013 13:38

You're not unreasonable. Don't let him convince you otherwise. There are so many things going on here, I'll try and address them separately.

Firstly, what he has done to your children this morning is abuse. Plain and simple, black and white. They could have all manner of behavioural problems, could have just been incredibly lippy, could have been lashing out at your H in a physical way- it's all irrelevant. It was abuse and it was unacceptable in every way. Please don't let him convince you otherwise.

What makes this worse (if that's even possible) is that he doesn't see what he's doing as wrong. As you say, this is not the first time. Nor will it be the last. He blames the kids (for their behaviour) and he blames you for not raising them properly. The only person he's not blaming is himself. This will continue. He is not only a man capable of doing what he did in the first place (which is not normal, or acceptable) he is a man who will not admit his mistake, who doesn't even see his mistake.

To be honest, even if he showed tremendous remorse at this stage I'd advise leaving. But he's not.

He's then exerting even more controlling behaviour by telling you that if the house was cleaner he wouldn't do what he's been doing. Gender equality issues aside, what the actual fuck? Again, he pushing things on to you. Things that aren't even related.

As others have said, this goes way beyond getting help for your relationship etc. it's time to get out.

You have a duty of care to your children. You've done nothing wrong to this point, it is all your husband, but if you decide to stay with him you are deciding to let this continue.

Who cares about the flat etc, etc. I'm sure your dc would far rather have nothing and have to live in sheltered accommodation for a while than live with an abuser. They'll thank you for it when they're older, but they'll never thank you for staying with the man who hits them but getting nice Christmas presents etc (not that I'm suggesting you would out that before your dc's, just an example).

I'm so sorry if any of my post has come across as harsh, but I don't believe in sugar coating things in situations like this and it seemed from your OP that you didn't want that either. Thanks

Report
AnneWentworth · 18/11/2013 13:46

Thank you. The last words we said to each other were that I am not willing to live this way any longer and him saying I can go. I already called the council this morning who told me to not leave the flat as I would be making us intentionally homeless and I told him that I gave rights and would not leave.

He has now gone out, he said he needs to think.

The DC love him to bits though which is just incredible.

All he keeps repeating to me is that he guarantees there would be no issues if I sorted things out. I keep saying that he is an adult and has to control it himself. He said that if us following the rules didn't work then he would go to counselling. I feel sick.

This morning when I left I felt such a weight off my shoulders thinking that this might be it but now I just feel really really sick.

I am terribly messy and he is very tidy so I do get that it agitated him, but me being messy = upsetting the DC before school I just cannot accept.

OP posts:
Report
rainbowfeet · 18/11/2013 13:50

Vile man who has no control over his emotions .... Please seek help from the agencies mentioned, do it for yourself & your children.

Report
onetiredmummy · 18/11/2013 13:56

Its not your being messy. If you were freakily tidy & clean it would be something else, he's just finding fault for no reason.

I particularly like the part where you have to follow all of his rules or else, that was a genius touch of control there by him! Of course if you stay & agree to follow his rules then the next time he was annoyed you wouldn't be following them properly. If you then made more an effort the next time it would be that you are stupid & don't understand his rules, then the next time there would be nothing he could do to make you understand so that's where a slap comes in, next time you didn't understand the slap so he has to punch you & this is all your fault of course.

Well done for calling the council, its normal to feel sick but it will pass. Carry on getting him out & then you won't have to deal with him any more xx

Report
Glenshee · 18/11/2013 14:08

Feeling sick is entirely understandable, but please don't delay any actions because you feel unwell - it will not last forever - but action needs to happen now!

Did you ring police and SS yet?

Report
AnneWentworth · 18/11/2013 14:16

Glenshee - the police and SS just seems so extreme. I can't gets head around it. I want him to go of his own accord. I am waiting for him to come back so we can talk but I want to do it in the least upheaval.

OP posts:
Report
SleepyFish · 18/11/2013 14:23

Your first priority is to protect your children. Please report this assault. It will help protect your children in the long run when he goes for access. NOTHING YOU do will make any difference to his behaviour. He's displaying typical abuser behaviour trying to blame you for HIS behaviour. I really hope you can see that.
In your situation I'd have the locks changed before he got home. I hope you've told your children that their father's behaviour was unacceptable. You may think they love him but they'll grow up knowing you allowed their father to abuse them if you don't stop this now.
Hopefully someone will be along soon with some practical advice for you. You and your children deserve to be happy and live a life without fear.

Report
MadBusLady · 18/11/2013 14:25

If a stranger did to your DC what you have described, you would report them unhesitatingly. And this isn't even the first time.

You must act to protect your DC from a man who is violent towards them. That is the only thing that matters - not this to and fro about tidiness, or counselling. All that is irrelevant.

The DC "love him to bits" because they are fucking terrified of him, most likely. Can you imagine how scary a full-grown furious, violent man must be to a 7yo? Never mind a 2yo.

Report
MinesAPintOfTea · 18/11/2013 14:29

If your DC tell their teacher today what happened this morning then not only will your husband come under suspicion for assaulting them but also you for allowing them to live in a violent household. So your responsibility is to tell the police and get things moving before that happens.

Report
Flibbertyjibbet · 18/11/2013 14:39

He forced a 2 year old to lie on the bed and smacked him while shouting at him.

The children don't adore daddy they are scared of him. They will be all nice to daddy when he is around because they are frightened of upsetting him.

What on earth are 'the rules'?? Would this mean the kids all being seen and not heard, not making any demands on his time or energy? House being perfect?

All of it completely unattainable in a family with young children imo.

My ex was like this 'if you will change I will change' as he could not believe there was anything wrong with his own behaviour. If you speak to womens aid they can talk to you abou tfinding alternative housing. It makes my blood boil that the council say you will have made yourself intentionally homeless, because staying is all kinds of wrong for you and the children.

Report
LondonNinja · 18/11/2013 14:40

You need to heed the advice here.

Also - if that is your real name, you may want to change it pronto, OP.

Report
Monetbyhimself · 18/11/2013 14:49

Children are often desperate to please and placate abusive parents. It looks like love but it isn't.

Report
CogitoErgoSometimes · 18/11/2013 14:55

Police and SS is extreme but you're describing an extreme situation. This isn't just some strict parent with a slightly old-fashioned idea about discipline. This is a man that hits and terrifies very young children... his own children.

Report
stickysausages · 18/11/2013 14:56

:( please get help today.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

LumpySpacePrincessOhMyGlob · 18/11/2013 15:01

Being messy isn't going to ruin your children's lives but an abusive father will. He is the only father they know so of course they love him. Children give their love easily and without limit. You are responsible for their safety so you have to take control of the situation and call the police.

I am so sorry you are in this situation but you need to be strong for your children's sake and get this abuser out of the family home today.

Report
SkateLife · 18/11/2013 15:16

Polices and SS seem extreme because he's normalised the behaviour. It's NOT normal, he hit your kids. Maybe you can remember him doing it, maybe that will make you see he's controlling you. It's not normal to make a 2 year old lie on the bed and smack him. There are parents that lash out in anger ( not that it's okay), but he took the time to lift your child up onto the bed and hit him. He had time to stop himself.

On top of that he's telling you to behave yourself or he'll do it again.

Sorry to be harsh, but I'm honestly worried about you.

Report
TeenyW123 · 18/11/2013 16:03

Anne

If you report your husband's violence to the police and SS you will be demonstrating that you are trying to protect your children from this awful, out of control bully. They will ensure he doesn't have contact with you and the children.

While SS prefer families to stay together, it isn't at any cost. Your husband is physically abusing his own children! Tell someone in real life; get the ball rolling and get this horrible, horrible man out of your children's lives.

Jesus, I'm not often moved to respond but I went all sweaty and sick reading your post. He's a bastard.

Teeny

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.