Search our site

divorce360.com provides help, advice and community for people
contemplating, going through or recovering from divorce and the issues around it,
including separation, divorce laws, spousal support and emotional issues.


space
ad by divorce360
ADVERTISING PARTNERS


Answers
You can search for Answers by tag here:


Invite Others
Invite friends and family to join you on d360! - Click here

where do I start
Our checklists are a great place to start. Or, get a quick review of your state's divorce laws with our Legal Cheat Sheet.

Question

  Posted to group - Should I Stay or Should I Go    <<Previous    Next>>

Help...

My husband and I have only been married for one year.  We are 30 weeks pregnant with our first baby.  My husband and I have had problems since the very beginning of our marriage.  I really don't know what exactly started it all.  Neither one of us can figure it out.  Since about a month before our wedding, I've noticed a huge change in my husband.  He's been irritable, short tempered, and at times violent.  At the time, I just thought it was stress; about the wedding, about his family not approving, and about a recent let down he had with his job.  So, we went on with the wedding.  He's in the military, and is stationed 4 hours away from our hometown.  The weekend after our wedding, my parents were helping me move down with him to our new home.  The night before we were to leave, he and I got into a huge fight, and he told me he didn't want to be married anymore.  Then, the next day, he wanted me back. So, after my parents told us they weren't going to move me into that kind of environment, I decided to move what I could down there.  Once I got down here, things seemed to go well.  At least for the first few weeks.  We faught nearly once every two weeks maybe even every week.  In the beginning, the fights weren't so bad, but they gradually became worse and worse.  He was very mentally and physically abusive.  Each time was worse than the one before.  Every fight ended the same way.  He and I both crying, me because of how hurt I was, he because of how sorry he was.  Each time I would forgive him, and we'd be ok for the next couple of weeks.  More than ok, we'd be a happy couple.  Until the next fight.  In December, we found out we were pregnant with our first child.  We were both so happy because it was something we had both wanted.  We were back in our hometown for Christmas at the time.  The day before we were supposed to go back home, we had gotten into another argument, this time in the truck. Things were said and before I knew it, he reached over and hit my head against the passenger side window.  Just two days after finding out we were pregnant.  I decided enough was enough.  I stayed home with my family and he went back home.  We were seperrated for about 6 months.  During this time, we acted as though we were still together, just not living together.  We still faught, not as often, but when we did, he was even more mentally abusive than before.  Saying things I wouldn't dare say to my worst enemy.  And then, he would cry and apologize, and I would forgive him.  We eventually decided to move back in together to see how things would go, because we both really want it to work.  However, with many promises to change, it's not happend.  We're still fighting, more often than before.  No physical abuse, and less mental abuse, but the mental abuse is still there.  I just don't know how long I can live through this.  I want to have a family, and I want to have the best environment for my little girl.  I just don't think, in this case, staying together can give that to her.  I need some advice on what to do....

by brandy    1 Post   
Posted on 6/23/2008 7:05 PM    
Sent to Friendsend to friend
0

Tags:

read more from user >>


Answers for "Help..."  (6) (You must be logged in to answer)




Everything has pretty much been said, but I just wanted you to know that you are not alone, and although it seems very overwhelming right now, your life and that of your child will be so much better. 

I would follow the advice of documenting the abuse.  I do not know the laws of where you reside, but what I did in my situation, was to record him verbally and emotionally abusing me (just in case the "amicable" divorce makes a bad turn). 

Make sure you protect yourself and your baby.  I've never been in a physically abusive relationship, but I would try my best to avoid your husband.  Mine was very apologetic after demeaning me, and I sincerely believed he felt guilty, however, when I suggested going to therapy and for him to see a doctor, he never agreed to it, showing me that he obviously didn't feel remorseful enough. 

My very best wishes to you and the little one you are carrying.
by hannahvxx   7 Posts
Posted on 6/25/2008 11:40 AM
Log in to Add Friends
0





The two most dangerous times for a woman in an abusive relationship are 1) when she leaves and 2) when she is pregnant.  A baby is EXTREMELY stressful.  Kids are wonderful, they're gifts from God, but they will magnify any problems that exist in a relationship.  It's like setting a big rock on a cracked pedestal. 

    My advice: get out.  Begin the process today; don't wait for the next fight.  He will hit you again, I can almost promise you.  Get copies of tax returns, educate yourself about finances, see an attorney and hit the road.  I'm not sure if the JAG office on base provides family law assistance, but it's worth a call.  If JAG can't help you out, see an attorney in town and ask what you need to do to get out of the house without endangering your alimony claim--if you care about that.  But call JAG today.  And make an appointment to see someone.  Every jurisdiction is different; I know what I'd tell someone in my home state (NC), but not so sure about you.

      Abuse is NEVER okay.  A real man does NOT hit his girlfriend/wife/whatever.  This man has serious anger management problems.  Maybe you love him and all, but do you want your daughter to grow up thinking this is the way a man should treat her?  You need to GIT.  Pending your self-removal from this situation--see an attorney first, remember--if at any time you are in fear for your safety, even if he hasn't hit you yet, leave immediately and do not return.  If he does hit you again or threatens you, take off and call the police.  Get a warrant on him.  Document his behavior.  If you end up in custody court, your claims of domestic violence will stand up better if you've reported incidents to the police.  When I represent the husband and the wife gets on the stand and starts talking about assaults, I always make it a point to highlight the fact that she didn't call police.  Your Honor, if she was so scared of him, if he beat her around like that, wouldn't she have called the police?  Document everything.

     Good luck.  Don't put up with abusive behavior. 

by UNCJD   21 Posts
Posted on 6/25/2008 10:39 AM
Log in to Add Friends
0





Trisha is right. Things only get worse and children are hurt mentally and emotionally for life. My husband is a child of abuse. His father beat their mother in front of them and then turned to them if they tried to help, and children will try to jump in to protect their mother. Don't scar her for life. She will grow up believing that its okay to be treated that way. Do you really want that for her?
by asim   743 Posts
Posted on 6/23/2008 10:46 PM
Log in to Add Friends
0





Whatever sets him off. A baby is not going to make him better. Only worse. Babies raise the stress level and they soak up everything they see. Do you want your child to learn that it is okay to be abused?
And when he gets tired of beating on you; he will eventually beat your child. Or mentally abuse her. He'll say bad things to your child she will carry around for the rest of her life. 
I have a grandson who is totally messed up because of the games his dad played on him. He can't work , terrible anger issues, he's back in jail because he beat up his girlfriend AGAIN. He will be in and out of jail for the rest of his life. He is only 19.
Get out while you can and never go back. If you stay you are going to get hurt.
by trisha9054   920 Posts
Posted on 6/23/2008 8:31 PM
Log in to Add Friends
0





Run -- don't walk -- back to your family.  You do not want to bring a child into an abusive household.  Search out resources in your area for women in abusive relationships.
by kimbirdy   4 Posts
Posted on 6/23/2008 8:04 PM
Log in to Add Friends