Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel that dp is a coward?

404 replies

Notacoward · 06/11/2024 11:55

I'll start by saying there's context but I'll give the event first, then context for ease.

DP and I were involved in an incident yesterday with a group of people that was potentially life threatening. There was an accident where a few of the group were in danger - two of us stayed and did our best in the situation, checked each other were OK, and then looked for dp. He had ran away! Completely abandoned everyone to look after himself. I get that he must have been terrified but context....

He's ex forces and points out how brave he is all the time. He calls me weak and scared because I am more conscious of h+s and potential dangers. Years ago, he was posted in a safe country (military base) and I was a civvy based in another dangerous country (war torn) across the water. I was there during a difficult time and he often tells me how much better he would have dealt with it than me. Incidentally, I didn't run away and leave anyone and conducted myself well at that time, but I didn't like it when we left because I was physically and mentally spent and not in the headspace to be in an aircraft so took a Xanex to get through the journey (weak apparently). I dont even like rollercoasters. He often takes the piss. He wears his veteran badge on his jacket with ME country in question (and rightfully so), but I (the civvy) was actually in it, and the closest he got, despite him telling me how weak I am, was this base in another country - but he's much braver than me, you know? And yet yesterday, he ran off and left me and the others to try to protect one another.

I can't shake the feeling that he's a bit of a fanny. I wouldn't judge if it was anyone else, what happened was scary, but the fact he's banged on about being so strong and brave has made me feel a bit sick now I've seen his terror, and I can't look at him the same. I felt scared but I'd never run off - fear and courage can be displayed by the same person at the same time. I'm on painkillers at the min (minimal injuries really, it's a miracle) so maybe they're talking, so I won't confide in anyone irl, but please tell me if AIBU? I'm prepared to accept it if I am, I know people deal with danger in different ways. If I'm being a prick about him, I will hold my hands up and accept it.

OP posts:
BlueFlowers5 · 07/11/2024 19:35

A veteran who uses their bravery and experience against anyone including their partners to suggest their military record means others are 'less' than him, are being a bully.
It also saddens me that former MOD civilian staff don't have an organisation whose members can share their experiences with.

Notacoward · 07/11/2024 19:33

I've just watched some clips from this movie being mentioned by posters - yes! This is very similar to what happened. If you add in that people could work together to get out of the way but if people ran away then there is less manpower and so more danger for those who worked together to take care of the group, not just themselves. I saw the bit where they're at that meal, and he said to the couple they'd met about what had happened that she got afraid. And I felt pure fury on her behalf. Fortunately, I'm at my parents home, not ours. I know I've not said anything yet, but I completely understand her viewpoint. It's almost like I have to mull it over myself. And accept the gravitas of that momentary action. Once I voice my thoughts, I want everything to go quickly. I dont want to have it justified, or minimised, or rewritten.

OP posts:
laraitopbanana · 07/11/2024 19:23

Hi op,

I think you overthink it because he annoyed you saying you are weak and that is the real issue. Hard to not want to tell him how he flew like the wind now it is your turn, is it? But don’t :) maybe that will make him stop? Or maybe it will make you change to someone more graceful to you?

Good luck 🌺

tommyhoundmum · 07/11/2024 19:12

That would be a complete turnoff.

One of the few good things about my on/off relationship was he is genuinely brave

Angrywife · 07/11/2024 19:05

Noodlesmumm · 06/11/2024 12:20

He sounds really unpleasant, and is rude and patronising to you. But bravery is something you either are or not.

I personally have many qualities, but bravery is not one of them, no matter how hard I try ... I'm a quivering wreck

When the kids were small and had to deal with school problems, it made me feel ill. I always did it though but did not enjoy it (some people get off on it)

That's exactly what bravery is! Feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
Bravery isn't marching in full of courage and taking over without a second thought like people often think it is.
You are brave and don't continue to think you're not!

QuantumPanic · 07/11/2024 18:52

pinkdelight · 06/11/2024 16:11

Only read the OP's posts so don't know if anyone's mentioned, but he sounds like the guy from this film - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2121382/ (except that DP sounds even worse and is real unfortunately)

Found this so funny that I watched it twice.

Rescuedog12 · 07/11/2024 18:41

Walking in the woods with my husband, a large German Shepherd came hurtling towards us..my husband jumped behind me, this was bad enough, but then he held onto my shoulders, and when the dog was close, he actually pushed me towards him.! Luckily I could tell the dog was non aggressive, and I apologised to the owner for the scene he was causing.i was shocked by what he'd done and couldn't look at him in the same light after that.we are now divorced.

Fannyfiggs · 07/11/2024 18:20

Americano75 · 07/11/2024 17:58

This one went down a storm up here. 😆

😂😂 Canny beat an Irn Bru advert.

Dogeatdog · 07/11/2024 18:20

I was in the military for 13 years . My job was potentially to be in danger zones although I wasn’t personally posted into them. I did however have a few dangerous incidents and I’m now afraid of heights and panic in crowds or enclosed spaces - probably due to past incidents looking back but I’ve never had this diagnosed. DH was also military and was in danger a few times. We respect each others different backgrounds and would never dream of belittling each other for what we experienced . He has medals, I don’t .
your husband is the worst kind of coward in that he belittles you and didn’t try to protect you - I really would worry wether he would be there for your children

Fannyfiggs · 07/11/2024 17:51

Americano75 · 07/11/2024 17:49

Are you Scottish OP? Fanny is very commonly used up here.

Oh snap 😂

Fannyfiggs · 07/11/2024 17:50

For all those of you offended by the word fanny. It's is a Scottish word for idiot or similar.

It's also a name, my name in fact 😁

Americano75 · 07/11/2024 17:49

Are you Scottish OP? Fanny is very commonly used up here.

Verge · 07/11/2024 17:38

Absolutely take your time in getting yourself organised and even secretly record your conversations and take notes, so that the worm can't try and get out of anything.

The fact you are mother to his children and he would run is unbelievable.

Well done for planning on telling the others involved. They will so want to know and not be indulging his lying, false tales.
I wouldn't be one bit surprised if he starts embellishing his involvement.

You are correct to let him waffle on.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 07/11/2024 17:35

Notacoward · 07/11/2024 12:20

This is hard to read, but I have time to think at the moment - and I suspect there may be some hard truths in it. My whole family are military, but I joined the CS, and although nothing was ever said, I always felt on some level that there was a hint of disappointment. I dont even know whether that is true, I just felt it. So perhaps it was a narrative I believed on some level, though I don't think it was conscious.

DP never just launched into belittling me, there were always humorous comments/banter made; with my family because his and mine are in different branches, with me because I was in a civvy role. But it certainly didn't start in a horrible way. I think on some level I started to believe it because I felt some guilt at not going down the route that had been expected of me. And so I've allowed my self esteem to be pulled down further maybe. Thank you, it's something I will really think about, and try to avoid in the future.

Before that, I think I have to consider my marriage. It is almost like I have fallen out of love in a matter of seconds, like scales have fallen from my eyes. And practical decisions now have to be made. Would he have done the same with our children?

Thank you to everyone, I haven't discussed this with anyone in real life at all, and don't feel ready to until I have a firm action plan in place.

You sound amazingly level headed in the face of a massive upheaval in your life. Good luck moving forwards. You’ve got this!

Newdaynewstarts · 07/11/2024 17:30

Using the words of female anatomy to describe someone’s failure is insulting to women.

Newdaynewstarts · 07/11/2024 17:28

If he is indeed “a bit of a fanny” then he is incredible… don’t you think? I mean my fanny birthed 3 kids.

InconsideratelyThoughtful · 07/11/2024 17:16

But I'm watching his actions through a clear lens now.

You may well start seeing quite a few other things now you are out from under his cloud.

The car in the desert thing resonated with me - my ex would do something like that, loved to terrify me then berate me for reacting exactly as he wanted me to.

I hope you are not long in healing @Notacoward and that your other teammates are okay and a good support to you.

It makes sense to get everything in place before you tell him you want to end things, if that's what you do. He's spent all this time keeping himself safe, time for you to do the same, just in case Flowers

Coneformyparkingspot · 07/11/2024 16:59

Apart from being downright dangerous, the wearing of the medals on the wrong side is just so cringe. Needs court-martialed for embarrassing you in public like that.

GettingThemFromHereToThere · 07/11/2024 15:11

Yep, I'd have the ick feeling.

  1. because of his cowardness and 2) the way he puts you down.

I'd be shoving this in his face from now on.

Sparklfairy · 07/11/2024 15:08

CanadianHobbit · 07/11/2024 14:59

What does “ME” mean?

Middle East I think.

CanadianHobbit · 07/11/2024 14:59

Notacoward · 06/11/2024 12:03

Yeah, he definitely was. We were doing these jobs at the same time, although he was with someone else then. Saying that, an inferiority complex might explain his attitude a little as his partner then was also posted in ME (not the same one) while he was at this base, and he seemed a little hurt by that then.

What does “ME” mean?

FictionalCharacter · 07/11/2024 14:52

Ah sorry, I didn’t read your post and thought it was your H who was wearing the WW medals.

Notacoward · 07/11/2024 14:46

ElaborateCushion · 07/11/2024 14:19

My Dad will wear his long service medal on remembrance day. He has other medals from various conflicts that he earned but won't wear. He saw some horrible things and doesn't want to "celebrate" such awfulness by wearing a medal.

So, he wears the one he's most proud of - serving his country for over 15 years.

The people that wear the medals that their fathers and grandfathers earned? That's just super weird IMO.

It's a member of his family who does this. It's allowed to wear medals of loved ones who've passed away on the right, but only your own on the left. I offered to help switch them over for him last year, after explaining the etiquette (which he's already aware of) but he declined. Dp has never done this but has presented himself as some sort of hero, if he'd only had the chance.

OP posts:
Notacoward · 07/11/2024 14:43

Verge · 07/11/2024 14:05

I cannot understand why you would be party to his blatent lie?
Why would you allow his lies to stand?

That you are the mother of his children and he ran from you and left you is so shocking.

Your relationship is absolutely toxic.

But I really think you need to have a hard look at yourself to, that you would all that lie to stand.

So dishonest from him and you.
I hope you make a speedy recovery.

I certainly won't be lying to the rest of the team. I haven't seen any of them in person yet, just communication via WhatsApp groups. It's only been 48 hours. There's not a chance I'll be keeping it to myself. But I'm watching his actions through a clear lens now. I want to see exactly what he does so that his actions can't be minimised or put down to instinct beyond his control, or any other excuse. I think this is the end for me, so I need to have a plan in place which will take time. I want to see him exactly for who he has shown himself clearly to be, where he can't provide excuses later on. I need to be able to recall this time during what may be a drawn out process of divorce. I don't want to forget anything, or think perhaps it wasn't that bad, later on when the shock dies down. I want to see the truth fully now. I dont know if that makes sense, but it does to me.

OP posts: