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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:
rwalker · Yesterday 10:56

It’s done tbh it doesn’t really sound like you both like each other there a few passive aggressive things on both sides you’re just both needling each other

this is going to escalate till one of you pulls the plug on it your just stumbling along

username2185 · Yesterday 10:55

Say Annie are you ok? Are you ok Annie?

Naurrr · Yesterday 10:55

Text him 'Billie Jean is not my lover, and neither are you, you prick. You are not to contact me ever again.'

Life is for enjoying, don't date any loser or lower yourself to analysing some bloke.

PearlButtons · Yesterday 10:55

Don't allow anyone-him or your 16 year old-to try and lay the law down in your own house.

Once you establish that in your mind, it becomes a lot easier to decide what you will put up with.

If you want to stick a feather up your bum and do the splits in your front room while singing the entire back catalogue of Michael Jackson, accompanied by the Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band then that is your business.

Also, I'm sure you looked lovely and are lovely so don't settle for this guy or any guy who is the HP Sauce Bottle in the Tombola of Life.

Value yourself and you will be valued and certainly don't try to placate people who misbehave in your own home. All that will achieve is them thinking that they deserve to be placated.

So, go on, get that feather and start afresh.

AMurderofMurderingCrows · Yesterday 10:54

Send him a message to arrange for him to collect his tools, which will be outside the garage, and when he arrives play MJs Beat It at top volume and sing your heart out ❤️

ginasevern · Yesterday 10:54

He sounds unhinged OP. He's done you a massive favour by fucking off.

YourWildAmberSloth · Yesterday 10:53

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:18

It just usually feels like I’m in the wrong but on this occasion it was an argument manufactured out of thin air by him.

I suspect a lot of them are, but he's manages to make you think its your fault. You argue a lot, there are issues with your children...honestly just end it and walk away. How? You call or text, leave him a message. Pack up his things and tell him when to collect them. Then focus your time and energy on rebuilding your relationship with your children. What issues did your children cause between you?

Flyingintotheunknown · Yesterday 10:53

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.

Be careful of him trying to talk you round and love bomb you. He may try to do it straight away or come back out of the blue months/ years down the line. People like him almost always do this. But he’s just trying to rope you back in so he can trap you back in the abusive cycle again. Someone like him is never going to change. It’s the reason why he is single, especially if his ex has also warned you he’s controlling. I imagine he concocted some bullshit story about her being the “crazy ex” too or the one to blame for their break up. It’s all typical textbook stuff. In reality he only has himself to blame for his actions.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:52

ThatLilacTiger · Yesterday 10:48

Look, one of two things is happening here. Either he wants the relationship to end and that's why he's being a raging dickhead and treating you like shit, or he wants the relationship to continue with you grovelling for forgiveness so he can go on being a raging dickhead and treating you like shit.

You don't have to accept either of these options. Just tell him to fuck off and go about your life blissfully free of him.

Bonus points if you can sneak a Billy Jean lyric into the break up.

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.

OP posts:
LolaGold · Yesterday 10:50

username2185 · Yesterday 10:37

HEE HEE

no in all seriousness bin off this insecure loser.

She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene…..

ThisWiseRobin · Yesterday 10:48

He's too gutless to end it, so he's trying to cause an argument to get you to end it with him.
Do him and all of us a favour and ghost him.

ThatLilacTiger · Yesterday 10:48

Look, one of two things is happening here. Either he wants the relationship to end and that's why he's being a raging dickhead and treating you like shit, or he wants the relationship to continue with you grovelling for forgiveness so he can go on being a raging dickhead and treating you like shit.

You don't have to accept either of these options. Just tell him to fuck off and go about your life blissfully free of him.

Bonus points if you can sneak a Billy Jean lyric into the break up.

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.

OP posts:
JLMA · Yesterday 10:47

OP there are so many red flags from DP.

been together 2 years and arguing alot recently

You looked lovely because it was your birthday. He was angry because you made him look bad.

you’re having family problems so wanted to keep your birthday calm and happy

it was your birthday but he still did what he wanted to do

made up some crap about a song and held it against you for most of the night.

the meal was your gift and he ruined it.

he doesn’t like you singing.

im sorry he wasted your day but please don’t let him waste your life

Thisismyfinesthour · Yesterday 10:47

Why are you actually with this person when you seen to be arguing so much over trivia?

TonTonMacoute · Yesterday 10:45

He was taking you out for a special meal, for your birthday, he turned up looking like a scruff and had a go at you for bothering to make an effort to look nice?

Forget everything else that happened afterwards which, let's face it, is a long list of him behaving badly. This relationship is dead in the water, you deserve so much better than this.

DozyCrow · Yesterday 10:45

Sounds like the rubbish took itself out then OP. Resist the urge to message him. If he should get in touch then just be to the point and say the relationship has run its course and it's over. If you find anything of his around the house then toss it in a box in the garage. It's up to him to ask for things back if he wants them.

Sorry your birthday was ruined. From what can be seen in the photo you shared, you looked lovely yesterday.

LolaGold · Yesterday 10:45

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:37

I’ve just looked out the window and his car is gone. That’s that then

What mindset is this? Why are you not calling it? Where’s your agency? He won’t be gone because he needs a victim and emotional punchbag - he’ll just be calculating when to return when you are at your most desperate / vulnerable.

GrillaMilla · Yesterday 10:42

He deliberately ruined your birthday, unforgivable really. You will have years of this crap if you stay with him.

WinterBlues26 · Yesterday 10:41

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.

That is coercive control. Look it up, and then look up the Freedom Programme. You are ripe for another abusive relationship as you haven't seen the multiple warning signs in this one. Yes, multiple!

CoraPirbright · Yesterday 10:41

Blast! Missed your update whilst typing 🤦‍♀️

LolaGold · Yesterday 10:41

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:22

He has teens as well and I get on very well with his daughter. I’ll be really sad to lose her actually. I don’t think he wants us to break up but he wants me in my place I think.

Concentrate on building a better relationship with your own DD. His DD has her own DM and I suspect the time you have invested with his DD is to gain his approval and all this time and effort has come at the expense of your own DD. You can’t be in two places at once. Choose your own DD. She has already had a family breakdown trauma and needs you to repair this for her - not some sneering old cznt in her life picking on her in her own home and abusing her DM. Why is there loads of arguments? Do YOU think this is normal? Do your DCs see, hear, sense this conflict and distress in their own home - or see, hear, sense their own mother distressed afterwards? This is NOT good for them. Create a calm and peaceful home for your DCs. Invest now and you will be rewarded for a lifetime.

SoScarletItWas · Yesterday 10:41

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:37

I’ve just looked out the window and his car is gone. That’s that then

What a prat.

Happy birthday OP and your best present is a life free of his stupid arguments.

CoraPirbright · Yesterday 10:40

Happy birthday for yesterday! I would give yourself a slightly late present of getting this jerk out of your life. You and his ex-wife are correct - he IS controlling. The fact that you are always the one to try and make peace is a huge red flag in itself.

If his car is still on your drive, I would gather his things together, bag it up and leave it by his car so that when he comes to pick it up, everything is finalised neatly.

Btw, anyone turning up in flip flops to take me out for a birthday dinner would be dumped anyway (only half joking). And then to complain that you making an effort made HIM look bad??!! You looked lovely and he is an arsehole. Be rid!!

teresamendoza · Yesterday 10:40

You've answered your own question. This relationship isn't going to improve.
Know your worth, and end it now.