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Relationships

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Please help me process what on earth went on with me and DP last night

486 replies

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 09:45

It was my birthday yesterday. DP came over after work and my main present was dinner somewhere nice local to me (this is what I had asked for). I’d arranged to have an empty house at mine for us so we’d have some time to ourselves.

Been together almost 2 years and been arguing a lot over the last few months. My kids caused some trouble between us and we both said some things that hurt the other and are trying to get through it. Argued earlier in the week about that but I genuinely felt that we were working through it.

Anyway, I don’t normally dress up but I put on a nice dress and heels. I know I looked nice as my DD said so. Answered the door to DP and he was really angry with how I was dressed as apparently he had turned up ‘looking like a scruff’ and it made him look back.

So no compliment on the effort I made and a couple of times thought the night made angry comments about it.

Other than that all fine at dinner. We got home and Dp went to sit in the garden and have a beer. It was dark and cold and I didn’t fancy being out there so I sat indoors entertaining myself playing music on the Alexa - not loud - and singing along to it. DP hates me singing along to music but I just thought well he’s outside, not listening and it’s my house and my birthday so I’ll entertain myself.

We then watched a TV show for an hour, all good.

Then just the weirdest thing happened - DP started having a go at me for playing Billie Jean and how he’d had to comment that MJ is a paedophile to make me stop playing it.

I was baffled as I don’t like MJ either, hadn’t played Billie Jean and didn’t know what he was talking about.

When I responded to that he got really angry going ‘I know what I heard, stop gaslighting me!!’ And I was literally like maybe it was coming from one of the kid’s Alexa’s upstairs and he went on and on about how I was telling him he was imagining things.

i said I wasn’t saying that just that I hadn’t played it. I said I’d been playing the charlatans as the last song and pulled out my play history on Amazon music and indeed it was the charlatans and a load of other 90s indie which is exactly my taste as he knows.

i thought that would just solve it all but it escalated and escalated about how he heard Billie Jean and I’d stopped as soon as he made the comment.

I said I hadn’t played Billie Jean but also it’s my house and if I wanted to play it I would.

I then decided I’d had enough and thanked him for ruining my birthday and went to bed. I didn’t know what else to do to de escalate things.

i could then see him on the drive waiting for a cab so I went down again to try and de escalate things. I said I felt the conversation was unnecessary and unkind, that I had no idea where he heard Billie Jean - he said it must have been on the TV I said maybe it was but I have no recollection of it or of the comment he made.

I tried to get him to calm down and come in, I just wanted a nice end to the evening but he wouldn’t back down.

It was the most ridiculous argument of my life and I also believe it has ended our relationship because where do we go from this?

Usually when we argue I initiate apologies and we smooth things over but I have no idea how or why I would apologise for playing a song I didn’t play. I feel like last night he was wanting an apology and it’s usually very easy to get one out of me, but not for something like this where I’ve done nothing.

His car is still outside so presumably he’ll come and get it today but I’ve heard nothing from him and don’t expect to.

This MUST be the end of our relationship right? I can’t live like this.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Bonkers1966 · Today 09:38

Gosh he's annoying. Hope you don't meet him so he can tell you it's all your fault and you just need to be a better gf.

Victoriawould24 · Today 09:37

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 09:11

I’m not going to meet him or let me talk him round. I did send him the Chappel Roan song and say I think this may have been the cause of the misunderstanding.

He replied ‘Well I’m gonna go after this Chappell Roan character as she’s fucked my life up!!’

What the actual, actual fuckedy fucking fuck. Still not his fault then.

And yes I’ll sort out the utility room stuff and stop engaging and block him.

I’m glad you aren’t meeting him but you might want to question why you felt the need to send him an explanation for his insane behaviour and effectively absolve him of that part of the shit show.
Are still trying to fix things.

Blomama · Today 09:31

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 09:51

No he really doesn’t! He’s usually very stable and calm I literally cannot fathom what on earth went on.

When I read back through the lines though, I think he was angry at me for how I was dressed, angry at me for sitting indoors singing and then angry at me for playing MJ but felt he had achieved something by making me turn it off when he commented.

It MAY have been on the TV but I was sure we turned that off straight after the show

Think about what your ideal birthday evening should have been like...You are dressed up, DP arrives and realises he's not as smart, a decent man would have complimented you and probably made a joke about it and got over it. You would have had a lovely meal together, come home, maybe had another drink in the kitchen while chatting or had a cup of tea on the sofa. Then given the empty house you would have probably gone to bed (together) and had sex or cuddles or whatever you wanted. That would be a normal birthday dinner evening in a happy relationship and that's what you deserve. Picture your ideal and start moving towards that rather than trying to work out how this man is hearing Michael Jackson in his head 😂

MrsJeanLuc · Today 09:27

@everynowandthenifallapart this is an amazing thread!
I've read all your posts, and in the course of 6 hours yesterday you went from:
"What's going wrong between me and my partner"
to:
"OMG I've been with a controlling dickhead for the last two years".

It's been like watching 6 months of therapy unroll in front of my eyes!

Well done for realising so clearly and so quickly! And, obviously, don't meet him to "talk it over" - you already have your closure - give him back the rest of his stuff and move on with your life.

cabus · Today 09:24

The slightest sign of weakness on your part and he'll run with it OP.

You're doing great.x

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 09:14

Check
check
check
check
check

Please help me process what on earth went on with me and DP last night
OP posts:
SendTheNextOneIn · Today 09:13

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 08:52

He’s asked to meet to talk it over next week. I haven’t blocked him yet as there was stuff in the utility room I’d forgotten about so I will still need to arrange to get it back to him.

I’d be telling him that there’s nothing to talk about. It’s over. Get your shit out of my house and go. Don’t give him the chance to talk his way back in. You’re done.

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 09:11

I’m not going to meet him or let me talk him round. I did send him the Chappel Roan song and say I think this may have been the cause of the misunderstanding.

He replied ‘Well I’m gonna go after this Chappell Roan character as she’s fucked my life up!!’

What the actual, actual fuckedy fucking fuck. Still not his fault then.

And yes I’ll sort out the utility room stuff and stop engaging and block him.

OP posts:
AngelinaFibres · Today 09:11

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 09:51

No he really doesn’t! He’s usually very stable and calm I literally cannot fathom what on earth went on.

When I read back through the lines though, I think he was angry at me for how I was dressed, angry at me for sitting indoors singing and then angry at me for playing MJ but felt he had achieved something by making me turn it off when he commented.

It MAY have been on the TV but I was sure we turned that off straight after the show

You are not compatible and he is horrid. It's no life to be unable to dress up ( for your own bloody birthday dinner ffs), to be unable to play whatever music you want IN YOUR OWN HOUSE, to be yourself. You should never, ever have to make yourself smaller in dress or mood or joy to placate a man . Please get rid of him.

PolkaDotPorridge · Today 09:08

Definitely the end. Consider it a lucky escape!

summitfever · Today 09:08

We are too long in the tooth for this shite op. I’ll never live like that again, rather be alone

Piknik · Today 09:07

Victoriawould24 · Today 09:04

ALSO - WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL COMMENTING ON THE FIRST POST WITHOUT READING ANY OF THE OP’S 45+ UPDATES.
YOUR HOT TAKE THAT SHE LEAVE HIM IS OLD NEWS.

So SO annoying. But, as you say, they will only read the first post so they don't even see the people telling them to stop just reading the first post....

It should be the law that you 'click all' posts by OP before you are allowed to respond. Literally, MN should be programmed so you can't reply if you haven't scrolled or clicked to the last post by OP. Drives me insane.

Sorry for derail!

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · Today 09:05

If you agree to meet him 'to talk' he will think you still want him and all he has to do is say the right things and he's back in. His type always think they can talk their way around women, because they see women as 'lesser; and a bit thick, and no able to see through their bullshit.

Don't meet him. Put his stuff on the driveway, tell him to pick it up and then block him.

Victoriawould24 · Today 09:04

ALSO - WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL COMMENTING ON THE FIRST POST WITHOUT READING ANY OF THE OP’S 45+ UPDATES.
YOUR HOT TAKE THAT SHE LEAVE HIM IS OLD NEWS.

Piknik · Today 09:04

Don't meet him. What's to be gained? What happened on your birthday wasn't a bit of random behaviour, it's who he is. It's his personality.

Nothing you say - however carefully, sensitively and cleverly worded you make it - is going to change him because deep down, he doesn't respect you (or possibly women in general). He thinks he is right i all things and is just looking to have his ego fixed because 'how very dare you see him for what he is and end it'

I speak from experience. Don't waste your energy or worse... hope.

Bangerang · Today 09:03

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 08:52

He’s asked to meet to talk it over next week. I haven’t blocked him yet as there was stuff in the utility room I’d forgotten about so I will still need to arrange to get it back to him.

Don't meet to talk. You've said everything you need to say to him. He will just use a meeting to make you feel like it's your fault and that really you should try again.
But from everything you have described about his behaviour on this thread he seems to dislike and resent you (through no fault of your own). Not a healthy relationship. Don't look back.

Victoriawould24 · Today 09:02

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 08:52

He’s asked to meet to talk it over next week. I haven’t blocked him yet as there was stuff in the utility room I’d forgotten about so I will still need to arrange to get it back to him.

Please, please don’t do it, he will 💯 try to love bomb you and show you the act that reeled you in the first time. You have to take control and stop this all, even if it’s tempting to enjoy him grovelling or apologising.

AMurderofMurderingCrows · Today 09:01

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 08:52

He’s asked to meet to talk it over next week. I haven’t blocked him yet as there was stuff in the utility room I’d forgotten about so I will still need to arrange to get it back to him.

Please don't meet him. He'll pull out the big guns to get you back and then his behaviour will get worse as he knows he can get away with it.

Protect your own happiness and tell him to fuck off. And when he gets there tell him to fuck off some more!

Bookbears · Today 09:00

Your kids are trying to tell you something in their own way OP. They don’t like him for a reason and are probably punishing you for it by not getting you a card etc. It’s not the right way to go about it, but they are children and trying to get the message across in the best way they can.

I would say that they seem to be correct, they are clearly very emotionally mature and can see this man is not a good fit for their mum.

Pack up his tools and leave them next to his car. He can collect them when he picks his car up and then not return.

i commented something similar on another thread, but you only get once chance at life. Don’t waste it with someone who gets upset because you have made an effort to look nice on your birthday. You deserve to be with someone who makes an effort for you!

NeverDropYourMooncup · Today 08:57

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 08:52

He’s asked to meet to talk it over next week. I haven’t blocked him yet as there was stuff in the utility room I’d forgotten about so I will still need to arrange to get it back to him.

Don't do it.

It'll be when he convinces you that it's all your fault.

everynowandthenifallapart · Today 08:54

Calliopespa · Today 02:00

He’s usually very stable and calm

This isn't accurate though OP because he doesn't like you singing along. That isn't a calm and stable person. The dc also caused trouble between you recently, so that is a further example of tension.

And, while he sounds awful, you were singing along knowing he was cross and doesn't like you singing along. I get that it was your house, but there is also an element of antagonising going on, presumably because you were cross about your birthday. It is all just a terrible dynamic, and I can't see it working.

I absolutely wasn’t antagonising him by enjoying myself on my birthday. Or, I wasn’t trying to.

I’m sure he expected me to trot outside and sit with him as we always do that as it’s what he wants to do (he vapes btw so being outside is easier for him).

But this time I just did what I wanted to do. Not to antagonise him but to please myself for once. The fact that it antagonised him is a him problem.

OP posts:
everynowandthenifallapart · Today 08:52

He’s asked to meet to talk it over next week. I haven’t blocked him yet as there was stuff in the utility room I’d forgotten about so I will still need to arrange to get it back to him.

OP posts:
exiledfromcornwall · Today 08:48

Just be thankful he's your DP and not DH. Easier to get rid.

Huskysledging · Today 08:47

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 09:54

The thing is I am having an awful time with my 16 year old who didn’t get me a card or present or say happy birthday and I knew she would try to ruin my birthday.

So he knows I was feeling sensitive and wanted to keep things low key and calm

He knew this and did it any how. You don’t need this man he isn’t a partner

TexturelyTroubling · Today 08:46

Your emotional happiness is so important esp when you have children.
This man was ruining it, he sounded horrible and I've been with crap like that thinking I could smooth things over when he was in a bad mood, all sweetness and charm the next time I saw him tho....