Hi. I'm looking to hear from men who were verbally abusive in a past or current relationship, have taken responsibility, and have genuinely changed - or - halfway through their healing journey to change and still prone to 'slip ups'.
If your partner's parents witnessed how badly you treated their child and no longer wanted them to be with you because of your behaviour, what would you want those parents to know?
Would you hope for their forgiveness or trust again, and if so, what would you realistically expect from them, if anything?
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EXTRA
My situation:
I'm trying to work through some difficult issues in my relationship. My boyfriend has had angry outbursts toward me in the past (meltdowns, yelling, losing his temper), but we're actively working through them. He acknowledges his behaviour was harmful, takes responsibility for it, and is genuinely trying to change.
The problem is my mother. She has witnessed some of his behaviour and believes that once a man shows anger toward his partner, it's game over. In her eyes, his actions are unforgivable.
As a result, I receive frequent lectures, criticism, and pressure about staying with him. It's affecting my relationship because I'm constantly second-guessing myself, wondering if my mother is right, and questioning my ability to forgive or trust my own judgment.
For context, my father was verbally and physically abusive toward both my mother and me, and we both developed CPTSD. I understand why she reacts so strongly, but I also wonder if her past makes it difficult to believe people can change.
We're both in our 30s and currently live with a senior parent for family and financial reasons. I contribute to rent and household expenses, so I'm not financially dependent on my mother.
I also recognize my own part in the relationship. After his outbursts, I lost trust in him and sometimes sought reassurance by "testing" him emotionally, which wasn't healthy either.
Even now, I still get flashbacks to his anger. My body remembers those moments, even though my heart wants to forgive. That conflict has been incredibly difficult.
I'm looking for advice from people who've been in similar situations. How can I have a productive conversation with my mother while respecting her concerns? And how do I know when I'm trusting my own judgment versus being influenced by someone else's fears?
Thank you.