Dear MIMsters: How Long Do I Have to Endure Being Treated this Way by My Husband

Three months to our wedding, I found out that my husband-to-be already had 2 kids. I was 2 month pregnant for him then, so I could not call off the wedding because of the shame and disgrace I would have had to endure.

He told me that he did not marry the mother of his children and does not know her family. So, I suggested to him to bring his kids to come live with us. So here they are, living with us. The problem is whenever these kids step out of line and need to be corrected or disciplined, he wouldn’t want me to.

There was this day that he beat me up because of them, especially because of his daughter who always calls her mother to tell her lies about me. I now have a black eye which has affected my sight as a result of the beatings I got from my husband because of them.

I have 3 kids of my own for him now. Before we got married, I have been begging my husband to open an investment for me. This is because when I received my admission to study accounting at the Poly Technic, he told me not to show my parents that if he marries, he will take good care of me and he promised to send me to school.

I managed to study Accountancy and 2 years ago, I got an OND but I do not have a job yet. I asked him to open an investment for me but he is not ready at all. He works as a Naval Officer with the country and is well paid. I have not been able to save up any money because the money he gives me for the family is not even enough. We’ve been are married for 12 years now. I need your advice on how to proceed from here or do I keep enduring?