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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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:
JustAnotherThoughtfulThursday · Yesterday 11:28

Well it appears that you have ended it.

Well.done!

But, for future reference, 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. you had already gone to bed and hebwas leaving so there was no way this was a de-escalation technique.

This was just starting it up all over again.

It didn't need de-escalating, it was already over.

RamsayBoltonsConscience · Yesterday 11:27

Sorry, missed the post where you said you’d ended it!

ApricotTulip · Yesterday 11:26

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:23

Oh I’ve just remembered the only other comment I got from him about how I was dressed.

I gave him a hug while he was sitting down and he said ‘stop putting your big boobs in my face are you wearing a real bra for a change’. He is very much a boob man so I thought he’d appreciate the outfit but maybe he thought it was too revealing. I neither know nor care but just another example where he could have said something nice and instead tried to make me feel like I was in the wrong.

There's no winning with this guy. Whatever you did he'd have found fault with it.

Ihaveneedofwaternear · Yesterday 11:26

He sounds awful. Well done, OP, hold your head high and enjoys your life without him where you can value yourself and do what you want without pandering to him.

rainbowstardrops · Yesterday 11:25

Bloody hell, you’re well rid OP!

RamsayBoltonsConscience · Yesterday 11:25

I think that you know that it is over - you deserve better than to be on edge due to the moods of someone who is supposed to care about you. He clearly doesn’t - he only cares about himself. Text him, say due to how things have been over the last couple of months, culminating in last night, he needs to come and pick up his stuff. You will have it ready outside your house by x time on x date. It will then be done.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:23

Oh I’ve just remembered the only other comment I got from him about how I was dressed.

I gave him a hug while he was sitting down and he said ‘stop putting your big boobs in my face are you wearing a real bra for a change’. He is very much a boob man so I thought he’d appreciate the outfit but maybe he thought it was too revealing. I neither know nor care but just another example where he could have said something nice and instead tried to make me feel like I was in the wrong.

OP posts:
PleaseDontTreadOnTheDaisies · Yesterday 11:22

Well done for calling time on it. This man is what I'd call a "celebration ruiner" - he really can't bear for you to appear happy & confident on your birthday, doesn't like you singing, so many red flags. What a fun sponge.
Funnily enough DD & I were listening to a random 80s playlist on Alexa and Billie Jean came on. We just had a conversation about whether we could separate the man from the art.
The man's a dick.

ApricotTulip · Yesterday 11:20

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:00

Ok I’ve messaged him saying exactly that that it isn’t working and it’s time to call it a day and to let me know when he wants to collect his tools.

Anything else is just dragging things out and I need it done now.

Well done

Badvocthebad · Yesterday 11:20

Omg.
You are WELL rid.
Expect your dc to be thrilled.

dreamingofgoodhair · Yesterday 11:19

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:03

He’s replied ok if that’s what you want and suggested a time to collect his stuff.

So he’s not remotely sorry for his behaviour

Don’t be home. Leave it all outside. He will try and reel you back in.

AMurderofMurderingCrows · Yesterday 11:19

Well bloody done OP ❤️

What a fucking man-child. When he comes to pick up his stuff just leave it at the door and don't go out to see him. Tell him your out.

Anyahyacinth · Yesterday 11:19

He's a nasty bully, arrived in a mood and used every opportunity to sulk or try and provoke an argument. Apologise for this and you've said you accept that behaviour.
You mention a DD don't model this for her. You deserve SO much better.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:18

I do have friends I can talk to but I think I’ve hidden a lot of this stuff from them because I’ve tried to convince myself that this was ok.

My ex H was a miserable, controlling arsehole and I was convinced this guy was different.

But there have been red flags I’ve tried to rationalise away. He doesn’t make me feel seen, heard or valued.

He makes comments that I’m more intelligent and educated than him, more attractive than him but it’s like he resents that and those things are objective opnions largely anyway.

It’s like he feels proud he has me but also wants to put me in my place so I don’t outshine him I don’t know it’s a weird dynamic.

Things have been poor for months now and they never really repair. He’s not been around my kids in many months so they haven’t been affected, but I really have been.

It feels good to say it out loud because no loving partner who respects and cares for someone would pull the behaviour that went on yesterday. Least of all not even be sorry about it.

Thats the main point I think, that he thinks his behaviour has been fine. Of course he won’t change.

OP posts:
Piknik · Yesterday 11:18

LilacReader · Yesterday 11:14

Be careful OP. I had the 'if that's what you want' a few times. They want you to give in and back down and without him having to say sorry. Be strong!

Fair point about the 'if that's what you want' comment. He is making the breakup your fault based on a feeling that your having that might 'pass' - trying to keep a foot in the door.

The response to that is:

'What I want, is a relationship where I feel cherished, safe and equal. Unfortunately, this relationship is not - and can never be - that. We are not a match'

RoseField1 · Yesterday 11:17

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:03

He’s replied ok if that’s what you want and suggested a time to collect his stuff.

So he’s not remotely sorry for his behaviour

Expect him to try to reconcile at some point, but without apologising or taking responsibility. When he does that, stay strong and don't engage. Been there, got the t shirt.

Dobeebeedah · Yesterday 11:17

He was controlling always. He came into your home and said what he wanted and what he liked very early on, especially when it was you who was expected to grovel after disagreements.

You have certainly done the right thing.

alittlepieceofme · Yesterday 11:16

He sounds awful! He’s shown you who he is and he’s not going to change!

itsgettingweird · Yesterday 11:15

the evening ended when he turned up and instead of complimenting how you looked her was rude to you.

He just continued from there.

I really hope for your sake this relationship is over. You deserve better.

Happyjoe · Yesterday 11:14

He's not a catch, you can do better.

LilacReader · Yesterday 11:14

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:03

He’s replied ok if that’s what you want and suggested a time to collect his stuff.

So he’s not remotely sorry for his behaviour

Be careful OP. I had the 'if that's what you want' a few times. They want you to give in and back down and without him having to say sorry. Be strong!

Piknik · Yesterday 11:13

WELL FUCKING DONE OP

This is a breath of fresh air.

  1. Man is a dick
  2. Woman thinks he is being a dick but does a sense check on MN
  3. Posters confirm
  4. Woman recognises behaviour for what it is and ends relationship

The fact that you recognised the behaviour for what it was and can see that all this prick wants is to keep you down, is a credit to your emotional intelligence. It's so depressing reading the usual trope and excuses churned out to justify controlling behaviour. You are a superstar and not matter how bad your relationship with your 16 year old currently is, it will get better and in the meantime, you are teaching all the right lessons about self-worth and boundaries.

Good luck to you. I hope you find someone who deserves you soon.

thelegacyofhope · Yesterday 11:12

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:27

He didn’t call me a scruff, he said that me looking nice made him look like a scruff, sorry if I wrote that wrong

OP why are you saying sorry, you didn’t write it wrong@kingarthurt just didn’t read your post properly.

GOATYOAT · Yesterday 11:12

His ex-wife called him controlling, but you don’t think he is- I disagree. He was angry that you got dressed up on your birthday without telling him, he doesn’t like you singing to music in your own house and insists on you turning songs or artists he doesn’t like off when he hears them (even though you haven’t played them!). He spoiled your birthday for no good reason other than because he could, and he’s not going to apologise because he never does.

That’s the very definition of controlling.

Komints · Yesterday 11:12

"Usually when we argue I initiate apologies"

This on its own says a lot.

It sounds like (maybe due to upbringing) he's lacking in self-confidence and hasn't grown up knowing how to admit his faults or have empathy for others. Certain parenting styles lead to adults who are fundamentally maladjusted to shared social stuff - sharing attention, give and take, turn-taking, apologising, general communication etc.
It's crystal clear since becoming a parent that if you don't allow your kid to make and own their mistakes, and if you don't hold firm boundaries and give in to tantrums, moaning etc, you end up with these kinds of adults.