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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

534 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.

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Nearly50omg · Yesterday 10:27

He’s controlling and abusive!!! NOT the kind of man you need or you need anywhere near your kids!

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:27

kingarthurt · Yesterday 10:25

Basically you let him abuse you. Not victim blaming here, he is entirely at fault, however I would have shut the door on him the minute he called me a scruff. Do you have real life support? It sounds like you need some strength and understanding of what he is doing to you before you can break free.

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

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youalright · Yesterday 10:26

Stop begging him to like you he doesn't

Inmyuggs · Yesterday 10:26

What a way to treat you.
Why would you want to stay with a drama queen prick.
What is wrong with these men.
I hope you see it is pathetic.

kingarthurt · Yesterday 10:25

Basically you let him abuse you. Not victim blaming here, he is entirely at fault, however I would have shut the door on him the minute he called me a scruff. Do you have real life support? It sounds like you need some strength and understanding of what he is doing to you before you can break free.

Overwhelmedandtired · Yesterday 10:23

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.

Control could be disguised by manipulation. Gas lighting you into thinking you are wrong, so you always apologise, and he comes out looking clean each time. Whilst you feel like you need to 'do better'. Controlling your confidence levels and future behaviour.

I'm absolutely not an expert in this area, just have had a family member go through similar.

Definitely doesn't sound like the relationship has a future. Sounds like you have seen through his tactics and he obviously doesn't like that. If he hasn't got his car yet, can you move his tools out next to it to get him to take everything when he collects it?

nc42day · Yesterday 10:23

Think about why trying to de escalate and smooth over his behaviour, and what would happen if you did not. You know what to do, it's far past time you did it. Get him out of your house and away from your children, and you.

trythisforsize · Yesterday 10:22

He tried many ways to cause an argument and because you didn't bite he had to make some thing up.

Definitely end it.

It will only get worse.

And by the way, I know you said he wasn't controlling in the 'traditional' sense, but the emotional manipulation by forcing you to question everything due to his moods is a form of emotional abuse and part and parcel of coercive control.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:22

savemydrawers · Yesterday 10:18

He's obviously wanting to break up with you and instead of owning it he is making it all very unpleasant. You get the blame as he is justifying things to himself. He may not want to be involved in a relationship with teens either. I knew someone who ended a relationship because of this. End this now for your own sanity.

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.

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Horses7 · Yesterday 10:19

He sounds awful and certainly was using gaslighting as well as being very, very nasty. He wanted an argument and he got one.
I’m sure you’ll be telling yourself that this is not really him and normally he’s a prince amongst men but really he is not.
I can’t believe you ran after him to calm things down - this will only make him think he can behave like this again….. and he will.
His behaviour will only get worse - he’s shown you who he is now believe him!

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.

ElectoralControversy · Yesterday 10:18

Resist the urge to message him, you'll probably end up apologising from force of habit!

He can get off his high horse and message you if he wants his tools back

savemydrawers · Yesterday 10:18

He's obviously wanting to break up with you and instead of owning it he is making it all very unpleasant. You get the blame as he is justifying things to himself. He may not want to be involved in a relationship with teens either. I knew someone who ended a relationship because of this. End this now for your own sanity.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:18

MelancholyEnchantment · Yesterday 10:16

Hi Op. In your original post you say 'Usually when we argue I initiate apologies and we smooth things over'. Why? Does he never apologies or make the first move? If he won't do that I think it's unlikely he'd want to back down and say he was wrong about MJ. He seems to have made the incorrect assumption that he is infallible. You are worth so much more.

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.

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MrsVBS · Yesterday 10:18

I can’t believe you would be considering anything but ending it, he doesn’t like you to sing, wtf?!? He sounds a complete knob, ditch him.

Dumbledora8 · Yesterday 10:18

He's a psycho

MelancholyEnchantment · Yesterday 10:16

Hi Op. In your original post you say 'Usually when we argue I initiate apologies and we smooth things over'. Why? Does he never apologies or make the first move? If he won't do that I think it's unlikely he'd want to back down and say he was wrong about MJ. He seems to have made the incorrect assumption that he is infallible. You are worth so much more.

BackToLurk · Yesterday 10:16

Sounds like your kids are better judges of men than you are tbh.

JustAnotherWhinger · Yesterday 10:15

It’s very, very, very common for controlling men to spoil nice occasions.

It was your birthday and he arrived gunning for a row.

He won’t get any better, he’ll just get worse and worse. Pack his stuff up and get rid. You’ll be far better off without him spoiling your nice moments.

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.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:13

Thank you. I was 48 yesterday and thought I looked nice for a change. This is the dress, hardly fancy just more dressed up than I’d normally wear

Please help me process what on earth went on with me and DP last night
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Maomee · Yesterday 10:12

Complete bizarre more than anything, I would actually think he's not all there mentally

Cheese55 · Yesterday 10:11

What 'trouble' did your children cause. Trying to tell you they didn't like him?

Gengha · Yesterday 10:11

You sound really nice and he sounds vile. You deserve better than him.

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.

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