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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:
Divebar2021 · Yesterday 10:40

It would be interesting to see how he approaches getting his tools back. Can he access the garage if you’re not there?

username2185 · Yesterday 10:39

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:37

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

Do not reach out to him! Let him grovel

ohnowhat · Yesterday 10:39

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.

Send him a message saying "come and get your tools, we're finished" and if he doesn't, leave them outside his door.
By the way, you looked great in the pic, not over the top at all.

dapsnotplimsolls · Yesterday 10:38

End it. He sat outside even though it was too cold for you on your birthday. He then picked a stupid argument with you. On Your Birthday. Send him a message telling him to collect his stuff from the garage asap.

ThatBlueTurtle · Yesterday 10:37

DidYeAye16 · Yesterday 10:19

I think I'd be taking what his ex wife said seriously and ending it. He's already displaying he is controlling you with his moods.

Yes this is how it starts and is never going to get better only worse. Don't be fooled into thinking you can fix him.
It doesn't matter what you do he will find a way to make it your responsibility to fix whatever the eff he decided what happened on your birthday. You looked amazing, communicated what you wanted to do and if he can't even take his flip flops off for it then sod him. Happy birthday amazing OP. Ps I love the charlatans!

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:37

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

OP posts:
username2185 · Yesterday 10:37

HEE HEE

no in all seriousness bin off this insecure loser.

Applesonthelawn · Yesterday 10:35

I love the comment above about the best birthday gift being that he showed you who he is. That's a gift for life! One that will save you and your children years of gaslighting and general misery. Make the right choice now that you have the right information.
And forget trying to convince him that you didn't play MJ.

ApricotTulip · Yesterday 10:35

Life's too short to be with someone who creates constant drama out of nothing. What a crime for you to look nice 🙄If you'd looked scruffy that would have been something to pick a fight over too. There's no winning with this prat.

Flyingintotheunknown · Yesterday 10:35

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.

“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.”

So his ex wife says he’s controlling. Was that not enough to make you get rid of him? If his ex had told me that I would have got rid of him as soon as I found out. These men who are “controlling” are not just controlling, they are always abusive. Control is a form of abuse.
Controlling also means making you feel shit by using anger and moods to affect how you behave. He doesn’t have to be standing over you telling you what to do.
What he did last night was gaslight you! He was angry because you dressed nicely. But he turned up looking like a scruff for a meal out on your birthday? Wearing flip flops? He then sat out in the garden and left you alone on your birthday? He has no respect for you at all! He then came inside and made up some batshit story to gaslight you by saying you was playing Billie Jean when you wasn’t.

These type of men are dangerous, they are abusive and controlling. They’re the type who will turn the gas on the hob after you know you’ve turned it off, or leave the water running in the sink with the plug in and let your bathroom flood when you know you haven’t used the sink then blame it on you and tell you that you did it to make you think you’ve gone crazy - when it’s all just a game he’s playing on your mind. He’s trying to gaslight you into thinking you’re going crazy op. The next time he tries this shit just turn it around and tell him he isn’t right in the head and he’s crazy. Because at the minute he’s trying to control your mind by having you question yourself and whether or not the kids were playing MJ/ the telly was (even though you’re sure you turned the telly off), the more he knows his tactics are working!

Sweetbeansandmochi · Yesterday 10:35

I can see from your replies you are in shock and disbelief. You know what he did was wrong but you also don’t want all the ‘unknown what if’s’ If you break up. Lost relationships, being alone, having to start again for a new partner’…and I do get that’s scary.

Gently, though if you stay with him, you will lose your precious self. Your essence will get eroded and you know this already. Which is why you posted on here.

fifySix82 · Yesterday 10:34

This is quite sad, all of this on your birthday just because you looked nice. It’s not normal at all.
I think the balls in your court, you could leave his tools in a box by his car and block him or you can have a face to face talk and end it.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:34

AgathaX · Yesterday 10:30

He's not good for you, is he?

I wouldn't worry about how to end it, just make sure that you do. A WA or text should be enough in this situation. No point in letting the aggression continue with face to face conversations. How he approaches you to get his tools back is his problem, not yours. Do you have stuff at his place?

There’s nothing of mine that I can’t live without there it’s just stuff like an old pair of glasses m, hairbrush that kind of thing.

I’ll need to check what he still has here as a lot of his stuff migrated back to his when he moved house recently.

At the moment I’m leaving it as no contact and if he does the same I think that’s for the best as I don’t want to talk about any of it anymore.

I’ve tried to make things work and we have had some good moments and supported each other through a lot of difficult times but it’s just stopped being fun and if we can’t even get through a birthday without nonsense like this then honestly what is the point.

OP posts:
ThreadGuardDog · Yesterday 10:34

OP he’s a nasty controlling twat. In the event that you’ve been dumped I would stay that way. If not I’d be doing the dumping pronto. Either are preferable to the escalation of his control issues in a longer term relationship where god forbid, he’s living in your home. Hopefully you’ll look back on this as one of the best birthday gifts he could have given you.

LolaGold · Yesterday 10:31

Wherethedogsits · Yesterday 10:14

He orchestrated the argument.

Send a short text saying that you’ll box up his stuff and leave it outside and then block him.

He’s also orchestrated the ‘arguments’ / ‘issues’ your DCs have with him that you referred to in your OP.

Know that and reflect.

The ‘issues’ with your 16 year old are because she has had this cznt in her life for the past 2 years and her DM preoccupied and tap dancing to ‘smooth over’ everything with him.

She is your priority. Give all your attention to guiding her through these difficult but finite years - it’s a beautiful investment when you get it right. Kidz over Cock.

AgathaX · Yesterday 10:30

He's not good for you, is he?

I wouldn't worry about how to end it, just make sure that you do. A WA or text should be enough in this situation. No point in letting the aggression continue with face to face conversations. How he approaches you to get his tools back is his problem, not yours. Do you have stuff at his place?

Italiangreyhound · Yesterday 10:30

Back foot.

Penhaligon · Yesterday 10:29

Two things that jumped out at me:
Your kids causing issues between you- is that his take on it or do you agree with him? I think he doesn’t like feeling sidelined when you prioritise your children.

Also, he is still controlling but he’s doing it with his moodiness to make you fall into line.

Honestly, get rid!

KaleidoscopeSmile · Yesterday 10:29

I think the best thing to do is to stop analysing any of it and simply tell him you're finished.

How anyone can put up with this and the previous behaviour you've described is beyond my capacity to understand but I guarantee that your life will improve immeasurably.

All the best OP.

Starlight7080 · Yesterday 10:29

He sounds very controlling and miserable. You turned 48 and cant sing around him! But felt it was OK as he was outside. Sod that! 48 and worried about crap like that.
Get rid of him and just focus on yourself and children

Italiangreyhound · Yesterday 10:29

Please stop tying yourself in knots trying to work out what you did.

You dud nothing wrong.

He wore flip flops to a meal fir birthday and he felt bad. He left you alone to sit moodily in the garden.

He initiated an argument.

Please tell him it's over abd get on with your life.

You are an attractive woman and he is a controlling prat. The reason he doesn't like you saying it, is because it is true.

"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."

That is controlling. It's neging. It's having you on the back fiit worrying how to manage anxiety adult man.

Dump and don't look back

The best burthday gift was showing you his true colours.

kingarthurt · Yesterday 10:29

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

I read it wrong, either way he was annoyed at you for looking nice, fuck that.

MagicThanks · Yesterday 10:28

Your relationship is over and you’ll be much happier without him

StandingDeskDisco · Yesterday 10:28

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 reckon he sticks with you because he likes regular sex, but was pissed off that he had to spend money on your birthday meal.
He wanted a big fight so the meal would be cancelled, so he would save the money, then he could come back in a week or so for 'making-up' sex.

Text him that it is over, and give him a choice of two dates/times for him to collect his stuff.
Block him after his stuff is gone.
If he fails to collect it within 6 months, bin it or take it to a charity shop.

Likeiloveyou · Yesterday 10:28

Tell him his shit is outside the garage for him to collect, then block him.