A Question About Bullying (Maybe) with a Long Story (Definitely)

Updated on September 22, 2013
S.L. asks from Plano, TX
5 answers

Lurker posting first question hoping for some wisdom to steer me in the right direction.

Preface: I am Asian and married to an Asian (I'll call H), with a 5 yr old DD.
Place: H's co-worker's party with other people from his office before DD was born.
What happened: Some time during the party I was in a room with one of husband's co-worker (I'll call her RW), a woman who was half Caucasian and half Vietnamese with a Vietnamese name, and the host's wife (NP). When NP welcomed us and introduced herself we took turn to introduce ourselves. When NP asked why RW's name sounded Asian when she didn't look Aisan, RW explained and thanked NP profusely for saying that she didn't look Asian and that she felt sorry for people like her sister, who looked Asian. I didn't react because I knew enough about RW to know that the remark was not out of character for her. NP was mortified and dragged me out of the room and kept offering me food and drink.

As I've mentioned before, I didn't react to RW because it was pretty much what I expect her to say. What I didn't know at the time was just how mentally ill she was. What RW said in front of me was actually a way for her to tell if I could be manipulated and trained to be at her beckon call. Well, my silence was a mistake. After the party she started to ask me to hang out with her. She would call constantly and ask to come over, when she was already outside the door (living close by...sigh). I've always refused politely. Then she did what people who knew her said was her old trick, to cozy up to someone to spite another, she targeted my husband to bully me. Turned out H also felt very sorry about being an Asian and often belittle other Asians, and became more verbally and emotionally abusive to me (there is another long story behind this so I won't try to post here). I was sad for a while because I didn't know why he behaved the way he did but now I understand that it was also not out of character for him, thinking back to why MIL doubted everything he said to her and why she seemed to favor BIL, and why most of his relatives thought he wouldn't amount to anything.

Concerns: DD is 5 yrs old and looked to both parents on action and reaction, and right now she's seeing that the abnormality surrounding her as normal. H is spineless and a pathological liar. RW needs H to do her job because her husband, who was doing her job, left her (according to the contractors who worked at the company before, RW often cried in her cubicle because she couldn't figure out what to do). I have no doubt that H will hurt DD if RW tell him to or to prove that he is not a cheating liar (to RW...rolling eyes and yes, he's made a point to let me know that he couldn't care less about DD) and I don't know how to divorce H and cut off his ties to DD at the same time.

Sorry for the long post but this situation is such a mess in my head that I can't keep it short. Right now I feel I'm the one keeping RW from DD because I'm with her 24/7, unless she is in school (which I volunteer in so everyone there knows me by sight). I feel that DD will be in danger if I divorce H, because I consider H and RW as one big ugly package and I won't be able to protect DD during visitation with H, assuming I get custody and he gets visitation.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Get help.

I am in Plano and there is a place for you. We are regular donor's to Hopes's Door and Genesis Shelter.

Please get the help you need and it is available to you.

Best wishes

8 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Your husband is an abuser. Contact a domestic violence shelter or hotline and ask for advice. One thing you need to to do is document the behavior with dates and the who, what, where, why, and when of the situation. You also need to find a divorce attorney who will fight for you to have custody. Divorce and family laws are different in evey state, so I can only give you general information.

8 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B..

answers from Dallas on

RW may have Borderline Personality Disorder. BPDfamily.com
Find help at a shelter or a lawyer. Don't let him know any plans till you are GONE. Expect her to lie and manipulate. Do not answer any calls, texts, emails or anything else from her but save all paper trails. If she writes it, copy it, date it. Be the calmest, coolest person in the room. Get any emails she has sent to H. Know your financial acct numbers. Have copies of birth certificates and marriage liscense. Anything you have of a sentimental value for you or your daughter, put in a safe place away from their hands.

5 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.G.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with ruby, get help and get out.

4 moms found this helpful

S.L.

answers from New York on

Have other people besides your immediate family ever witnessed H being unkind to daughter? verbally abusing daughter? verbally abusing you in front of daughter? slandering Asians? If so ask them to write down what they have seen and heard. Or will this be strictly your word against his? Has H ever taken daughter to pediatrician, dentist, or attended school meetings and conferences to show the world he is a decent parent? If not, ask teachers and pediatrician to document that you are the primary caregiver. Before he does. This could easily look like you are just jealous of RW and fighting by slandering him. Maybe you could get H to go to marriage counseling and let the counselor get to know him. and show that you tried to save the marriage.

4 moms found this helpful
For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions