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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:
AnonyMumAuDHD · Yesterday 11:12

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

You know it already. Am sorry that you don’t have a mate IRL you feel you could have asked this, because if you were mine I’d have given you a hug and said: of course you end it. It’s a wanker and you deserve better.

It’s hard when you are a single mother, possibly a little older, and your confidence has taken a bashing, but you absolutely do not have to settle for less than you deserve. Your benchmark should be: what would I want for my DD? And that’s what you should aim for and settle for. If you struggle to do that for yourself in the first instance, then think of your DD and the model of relationships and of mutual respect that you are setting for her.

You can do this. You know you can. And I can assure you, despite the impression MN gives, there are a lot of decent, caring men out there who can give you what you need and want.

Sending you a virtual hug.

grrrlatrix · Yesterday 11:10

Oh god no. What an absolute loser.
He sounds like hard work. And boring. And chewy.

Wishimaywishimight · Yesterday 11:09

Stop trying to pacify and placate this arsehole. Does he really enhance your life?

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:08

Arregaithel · Yesterday 11:06

"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" so put his tools in/beside his car? @everynowandthenifallapart

The car isn’t there he collected it earlier without letting me know he was there.

OP posts:
Arregaithel · Yesterday 11:06

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.

"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" so put his tools in/beside his car? @everynowandthenifallapart

Horses7 · Yesterday 11:06

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

You’re doing the right thing - don’t cave in especially to his empty promises….. that’s if he makes any!!

Flyingintotheunknown · Yesterday 11:05

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

I’d reply back with “yes it’s definitely what I want alright. I’m not having some batshit moron abusing me in my own home and arguing with me about an imaginary song you hallucinated I was playing”

Chefpig · Yesterday 11:04

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, OP! Don't back down. It sounds like he enjoys the control and enjoys you wanting him. You deserve much more and I reckon you looked beautiful last night!

LolaGold · Yesterday 11:04

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:52

I think it’s the second one.

I think he’s training me to accept everything being his way. He won’t apologise and he thinks I will and then he can carry on behaving however he likes.

Ive honestly had enough. Love the idea of sneaking a Billie Jean lyric in 🤣

I’m going to leave it for now then perhaps message over the weekend and make it official. I’ll be interested to see what he does in the interim (nothing probably) while he waits for me to come crawling.

When people ask him why we split up what on earth will he say? She played Michael Jackson on her birthday then denied it? FFS what a ridiculous state of affairs, I should laugh really.

You waiting and wondering how he will respond is all kinds of wrong - it means he still has the power in your head. You are making yourself vulnerable and putting yourself in emotional punching distance. He will hurt you despite your cognitive dissonance believing he will transform into a white knight. Tell him you are done and that you are blocking his number and not to contact you again. Then delete his number and make your home safe.

MyDarlingRose · Yesterday 11:04

Oh OP I think it’s over. He has contempt and anger for you. Everything you do now enrages and disgusts him. He’s looking for persecution everywhere you turn as an excuse to leave.

MyArtfulGreySloth · Yesterday 11:03

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

You’re better off without! Well done op.

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · Yesterday 11:03

I really don’t understand why anyone would want to be in a relationship with someone they have regular arguments with. It means one or both of you can’t communicate effectively and can’t regulate your emotions. If it’s you, you’re not ready to be in a relationship, and if it’s the partner they aren’t a healthy person to be in a relationship with.

Very rarely does a situation or topic arise that could conceivably cause an argument with my partner and I, because we are compatible and like each other. On the odd occasion it does, we talk calmly and resolve it quickly.

Pessismistic · Yesterday 11:03

Hi op he’s a tosser he couldn’t even be nice to you on your birthday he could have said oh wow you look good and i look like a scruff but whose complaining. He made your birthday about him. He is controlling you and you’re not complying so he got a strop on. I wouldn’t even bother contacting him he drove off so he ignored you why not just take it as it is if he needs his tools I’m sure he will contact you. If people ask why you split up you tell them he is controlling and you didn’t appreciate it. He really needs to look at the man in the mirror.

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

OP posts:
MyArtfulGreySloth · Yesterday 11:02

Why are you pandering to this idiot? The man didn’t like you looking nice on your birthday? He doesn’t like you singing? wtf. Dump the loser.

SuePer · Yesterday 11:02

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.

Just leave them on your drive when he comes to collect. Don't interact with him he really does sound like a nutter.
<obviously have BJ on full blast>

Chefpig · Yesterday 11:02

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.

He is a grade A tosser. You do not need this man in yours or your children's lives. Run as fast as the wind will carry you and don't look back.

PinkEasterbunny · Yesterday 11:01

He doesn’t like or respect you for whatever reason and so picks fights and arguments.

This, sadly

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.

OP posts:
SuePer · Yesterday 10:58

He sounds a controlling moron. He'll be waiting for you to grovel. Block and ignore!

LolaGold · Yesterday 10:58

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:47

You are all helping me so much. Honestly, thank you so much for all of the replies.

It is going to be so painful for me to be on my own again but I know it is the right thing. I never know the version of him I am going to get and more and more often it is the moody, sullen one that makes me feel I have to dim who I am to match his energy.

I can’t do this anymore and I can’t remember the last time I felt happy in his company. I usually feel criticised, belittled and not good enough.

I think him taking a look at me looking nice and responding with criticism rather than a compliment has just shown me I’m always going to be hoping for the nice version of him but usually I won’t be getting it.

There isn’t a nice version of him - that was a mask, a manipulation, part of love bombing / future faking. The real him is the moody, belittling cznt who keeps you all on a short leash with the threat of volatility. Your poor DCs. You are a grown arsed woman whos nearly adult DCs need you right now - you are not alone slowly build a productive evolving adult relationship with them. There is nothing more rewarding to have raised emotionally sound young adults although it’s a bumpy ride. Focus on this.

DaisyChain505 · Yesterday 10:57

If you hadn’t have said you had children I would have assumed you were late teens/early 20s by the way you’re describing your relationship. It’s immature and toxic and such a shame there’s children involved in this.

Trotula · Yesterday 10:57

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’s awful, just leave him to it, if he wants his stuff he can ask for it and arrange a time for you to leave it outside.
I wonder if he’s the cause of the friction with your DD? Maybe she’s picking up the vibes from him? Perhaps he makes digs at her too.
Onward and upward, you can do better than this guy; I suspect he would get worse rather than better.

Beachtastic · Yesterday 10:57

I think it's the early stages of controlling and coercive behaviour and gaslighting, OP. He sounds a lot like my first DH.

You say he's normally OK but also you say

Usually when we argue I initiate apologies

It all points to things getting worse with time. I'm so glad you stepped off that conveyor belt of misery before being dragged along to ruin.

Another plus: happy birthday - you look amazing!!!!!!!!! and you deserve to be happy. Enjoy the rest of your life without this nasty man in it.

SilveryBear · Yesterday 10:56

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:10

I don’t think he’s going to contact me, how do I do this? Do I have to officially break up with him?

I feel like just blocking him but I can’t as he’s got tools and stuff here in my garage that he’d need to get back.

Honestly, the urge to repair things is usually so strong with me but I honestly can’t be fucked. I’m completely and utterly all out of fucks.

The thing I said months ago that mortally wounded him is that some of his behaviour around a particular issue could be seen as controlling.

His ex wife says he was controlling and he hates that. The thing is he isn’t controlling in a traditional sense, but his moods do affect how I feel and behave.

I don’t think he sees or accepts that. But yesterday was controlling IMO.

I think for total closure I’d just message him and say something very brief but final like

“I think, after last night, it’s clear this isn’t working and it’s best we go our separate ways”

Then you’re taking control too.