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To divorce or not to?

Gud2bqueen's picture

Ok- only been married for 2 years- am I really ready to call it quits? Possibly. If any relevance, I'm 51, he is 42. Dad doesn't know boundaries with my 2 SDs. One is 9 and the other 22 this week. Little one is a daddy's girl, nothing I say matters, she will go behind my back (or even whisper to daddy) if Ive told her no. Daddy's says I'm mean to her, always telling her no. I witness more than he does. Her momma, (they were never married) basically stalked me when she heard daddy was dating. Messaging me, telling me what a loser he was, etc. I was scared to leave my apartment sometimes because she had driven by my place many times. Anyways- I often had to tell husband to set boundaries with that woman. She laughed them off. She's also threatened to "beat my ass"  He was afraid to say much in the case she would keep his daughter from him. In the long run, I helped him with custody and clear the air. To this day I'm not a big fan of momma but will tolerate when we are at soccer games, etc. It took her getting a man for her to finally show some respect. (Although he has left her twice and now they are still together) not my issue really. I try my beat to raise a young lady, but, she's a brat. Can't stand her saying "da da da da da da da" constantly. Has had a cellphone form the time she was 6 (momma bought), goes to bed but dad allows her to watch tv till she falls asleep even on school nights. I remind her to shower and brush teeth, clean room, pick up after herself, help feed dogs...etc. it's such a chore to listen to me. Speaking of chores, I can't make a chore chart, he has taken it down. Claims just tell her (well he can't pick up after his own self) my own granddaughter helps when she visits. And she treats my grandughter like shit. Husband claims the granddaughter is a brat (even called her a little ni**er before) she's mixed. He likes to call people ugly names. 
he calls most people names, curses and yells claims I make him so that because he never has before been like that. Daughter will sleep with him if I'm out of town, I said that's a little old to be sleeping with daddy. He yells at her a lot too, claims it's the only way for her to listen. Has told her to shut the fuck up when she said "I love you daddy"!! But he and I were arguing about something so he took it out on her. I got Covid earlier in the year, his mother is a drunk, smokes cigarettes, pops pills, was in a coma many years ago for almost committing suicide and is on an oxygen tank, yet tells me "if my mom dies of Covid, it's on you" that broke me. He has kicked me out before, calls my family names and dislikes our closeness I'm sure. 
he complains about his dumbass workers that work doe him, nobody can do like he does!!! Yet the same people get invited to come back to work. 
The oldest, well she is a druggy. Mom is a druggy. We are not a rehab, although he has put her in several times with no real changes. Relapses and wants to come back. He always lets her. He even gave up his awesome contracting company a couple of years before we met to qualify for Medicaid to get her help. Did that work? Obviously not. I've had my oldest addicted to heroine, I tried rehab, twice...but there comes a time when you stop trying when they just aren't ready. I'm at my wits end. I don't want another divorce, but when will he see that I stand my ground because I know what he is allowing and it HURTS EVERYONE!! My kids have had it out with him, they don't care to come around. He compares my love that I have for my grandbaby to the lack of love I show for his little one. I don't like her. She's a brat and whines, pouts and cries if I get on to her. He makes excuses for both his daughters. Just this morning we talked a little and his response was "I know that once this passes (and points at me and my body, Im going through pre- menopause) that this will all be better. ONCE AGAIN- no responsibility, no fault of his or his actions always someone else's fault. 
Marriage Counseling went well when the counselor said what he needed to hear, which was that I should be sympathetic to his needs and his children. (We went maybe three times)  My own counselor (that I see regular for a year now) says "he is narcissistic, co-dependant and is not honoring thy wife"

 

what do y'all say? Please help/ advise the stepmom from hell! I will add, I am not. I grew up with one myself who was mentally, verbally, physically abusive- NONE OF WHICH I AM. 

Comments

JRI's picture

Your DH isn't treating you respectfully.  He's a poor parent, too.  I am not hearing one positive thing about him.  Please listen to your counselor who says he's "narcissistic, co-dependent and not honoring his wife".  You know these things already but what you don't know is why you continue to put up with it. Work with your counselor on this question.

At 42, I doubt he is going to change.  Your SD issues are just a result of his actions (or lack of), not the base problem.  Nobody likes to go thru another divorce but I frankly don't see this situation getting better and you need a better life than with this man who has also alienated your kids.

Please start on an exit plan and get back to us and let us know how it goes.  Good luck.

 

Gud2bqueen's picture

Why did I expect some backlash on my post? Perhaps because I'm often led to believe I should be guilty I suppose. So many mixed emotions, but bottom line is my emotions. They are justified and real. My spirit is broken and things will most likely not get better. 
Anger management is needed, but will that help. Honestly, would he even go? If he doesn't see the issues at hand, how does accepting he has anger issues? 
 

JRI's picture

Backlash? No, you are aware that you are correct.

Guilty? Of what?

"My spirit is broken".  Yes, but you can heal

Anger management?  You should be angry

Him going to anger management?  Skip right past that and make your exit plan.

I worry that he has convinced you of those untrue sentiments.

Gud2bqueen's picture

Let me elaborate; I should have said "made to feel guilty about my feelings, because I'm often being gaslighted" 

 

yes- I COULD be angry, but I'm not angry, IM AT AWE AND CANT UNDERSTAND HIS DELUSUON.

I've spoke to an attorney to understand what to do to start the process. They are waiting on my call back.  
I can and will heal! 
thank you for your kind, blunt words. 

notsurehowtodeal's picture

Get a divorce. You should have started the proceedings the day he called your Grandaughter the "N" word.

Gud2bqueen's picture

Yeah- how hurtful is that? 
claims it's a word he can say because he grew up with a couple of African American stepdads. 
pfffft

 

 

Winterglow's picture

" I don't want another divorce"

So you'd rather stay until he breaks you completely? It's not worth it. Bullies don't change.

Your marriage counsellor clearly had no idea about steplife. Sorry you got such a dud.

Gud2bqueen's picture

Fees paid to counselor have helped me cope and my feelings and wants in this marriage were understood by counselor. She was more of an ear than guidance though. No more is needed from her really. 
This forum makes more sense. People who have experienced some of the same issues. 
thank you! 

ndc's picture

I could not be with a man such as you've described. The name calling, the cruelty - that's worse than his crap parenting. Divorce him; he's a low quality individual not worth wasting time on.

Gud2bqueen's picture

He has issues himself, which I'm sure though some deep soul searching and patience, along with self love he could work that out. But am I willing to be his punching bag anymore? No. 

notsurehowtodeal's picture

Please change your avatar, so it is not your picture. If someone did a reverse image search, they might find you here. You need to stay anonymous so it can remain a safe space to vent and get advice.

JRI's picture

There's a contributor on here, Halo, who wrote a very explicit exit plan a few months ago.  You might want to search around for it.  I wish I'd had it back in the day.

superlado's picture

Where you stated he calls your grandchild the n word.  Leave. This man is horrid. At the very least spare your innocent grandchild from ever being around this vile man.  

Kes's picture

You did not say one positive thing about your DH or your life together - it all sounds unremittingly awful.  I think you know this relationship has no future. 

tog redux's picture

I mean this supportively - has your therapist helped you see that you are trying to save and fix this man? It's not your job to put up with his abuse or parent his kid.  People who find it hard not to fix others can benefit from turning that attention to themselves, and figuring out what is broken in them. The pop psychology term for this saving and rescuing is "codependency".  
 

Take some time to figure out why you haven't run like the wind from this guy, and how you fix the broken part of you that is drawn a man like this. 

ESMOD's picture

Bottom line is that this guy is abusive in many ways to you and others around him.  He has some massive issues... but clearly has no interest in being a better person.. better to blame everyone else.

You haven't given us any redeeming qualities in him.. you have painted a bleak picture of your life with him and his family.  

I know you don't want another divorce, but honestly, there doesn't appear to be anything worth salvaging here.  I do think that you should be pursuing therapy on your own to disect your past relationships.. and help yourself figure out that you are worthy of good treatment.  

Therapy with this guy isn't going to resolve anything... he isn't inclined to want to BE different... you do deserve better.

ImFreeAtLast's picture

You want to stay with a piece of crap that verbally abuses your family members and is a crappy father himself? 

AgedOut's picture

I made it to the part where he called your granddaughter a hateful, racist name. 

Rather than tell you what my first reaction is, I'm just going to ask you this: why do you stay? what do you get out of this relationship that is positive? 

CLove's picture

He sounds horrible and trashy, and you deserve better (and your children have told you this apparently). Your grandchild deserves better. My SD15 is mixed race. Here in our area this is celebrated. Its called cultural diversity, and it should not be denigrated.

But if you arent ready to leave, you arent ready. 

But get you financial ducks in a row. See what your options are legally if you do find yourself ready to leave.

There is no shame in wanting a partner that treats you wonderfully and is a good person.

For now - stop any and all parenting of his brat. He doesnt support you in it - therefore he needs to take it all on himself.

Kloewent's picture

He is a racist asshole who sleeps with his grown daughters. What more could you possibly need to leave?