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Relationships

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Please help me process what on earth went on with me and DP last night

539 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:
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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
OP posts:
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.

OP posts:
FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · Yesterday 10:09

Why are you constantly apologising to this prick? Run!

MNLurker1345 · Yesterday 10:07

The fact that you have been arguing frequently says a lot. He will end the relationship eventually, if he doesn’t do it today.

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

Even if I am wrong and he loves you dearly, he is aggressive and totally unreasonable.

You say he doesn’t have MH issues but he definitely has issues.

It is so sad the number of women second guessing themselves because of men like this.

You looked lovely last night I believe. He ruined your birthday. Play your music in the kitchen, have a dance and sing as loud as
you can, in celebration of erasing that person from your life.

Please don’t answer the door when he come for his car. Block him and focus on your16 DD.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:01

The looking a scruff thing I found weird, he always dresses casually and I have no issue with it I don’t care what anyone else wears.

The second or third time he mentioned it I said well what would you have worn if I had told you I was wearing a dress and he said shoes instead of flip flops?

I don’t care. I don’t care what he wears but it’s up to me what I wear. Flip flops is fine there it’s not a fancy place (it’s more of a theme place) I just found a dress I’d forgotten I’d bought then the heels were because I normally wear converse and couldn’t with the dress!

OP posts:
Cantyouseethishorselovesme · Yesterday 10:01

socks1107 · Yesterday 09:50

He was angry you looked nice, he was angry at your choice in music in your home, he doesn’t like you singing? Think it’s time to put you first, start your new year without him! He sounds controlling and dreadful

Read this OP, it's spot on. What are the positive things he does and is?

DreamingOfGeneHunt · Yesterday 10:01

I say this a lot on this board, but life really is too short to live like this.

Likeiloveyou · Yesterday 10:00

He sounds horrible. Leave him in the bin, block him and focus on rebuilding the relationship with your DC. 💐

Branleuse · Yesterday 10:00

Whatever you do, don't take it as your responsibility to smooth anything over.
Is there any way you can do something as a treat to yourself? Can you get away for a night or two?

I think your boyfriend is a prick and I would dump for this

Cuppachuchu · Yesterday 09:59

He was angry because you dressed nicely to go out on your birthday?
He was angry because you played some music you like and sang along happily. On your birthday?

I cannot fathom why you would put up with that nonsense. From the person who is supposed to enhance your life.
Let him be in a strop. Don't contact him.

Divebar2021 · Yesterday 09:59

Why are you arguing all the time ? That doesn’t seem to be normal. Why did he get angry for you looking too nice when he was the one who hadn’t made any effort.? Why in fact had he made no effort to dress nicely? I mean we could go on couldn’t we. None of it seems to be the behaviour of a person who even likes you let alone cares for you

Shinyandnew1 · Yesterday 09:58

He had a strop about what you were wearing, went and sat in the garden leaving you alone on your birthday and gaslit you about your music.

Leave this prick.

toottoot3 · Yesterday 09:57

He turned up dressed like a scruff for your birthday, he came ready to argue! You didn't give him a chance to argue, so he just went ahead with it anywho. Unless something bad has happened to him yesterday, and for some reason he hasn't told you about it...... He's out to let you know, your birthday isn't about you getting dressed up, taken out, fun times, it's about knowing your place, awkward, waiting for him to decide when you have fun. You can easily have years of this ahead of you if you just get over your own thoughts and feelings

Bonsaibaby · Yesterday 09:56

I think he was probably pissed which always makes people less likely to back down and also the pressure on him to step up for your birthday was compounded by your making an effort and him clearly not. All in all a bit of a wet lettuce.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · Yesterday 09:56

Sounds like you're the one that always tries to smooth things over after an argument and he knows this. Let him come grovelling for a change. But yeah, throw him back.

timtamsarebetterthanpenguins · Yesterday 09:56

What is there to process? Neither of you seem to particularly like each other and you obviously don’t get along, so just call it a day and forget about it.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · Yesterday 09:55

Ok, the only possible way I can think of that gives this guy the benefit of the doubt is that when he was sat outside he dropped off, dreamt the Billie Jean thing and that he'd made a comment, then he woke up and didn't realise he'd fallen asleep.

But even then, even if he did believe that he'd heard it, and that you were gaslighting him, his behaviour both beforehand and afterwards was atrocious.

And personally, I'd have dumped him way beforehand for this alone - DP hates me singing along to music

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 09:55

Clydebuilt · Yesterday 09:54

I’d have called the cab for him myself…I definitely wouldn’t have been repeatedly explaining to him you hadn’t been playing BJ, trying to coax him back inside! I’d have been glad to see his heels going out the door!

I was in such a state of shock I thought this can’t be happening surely we can talk through this misunderstanding

OP posts:
misstwaoyu · Yesterday 09:54

Honestly I should have stopped reading at the point you said kids were causing trouble which says a lot in itself and how he reacted to your dress. Have some self respect and end it.

Wherethedogsits · Yesterday 09:54

The outfit thing just sounds like he’s a shitty partner!

Does he have a history of childhood abuse?
I can be irrational at the slightest trigger, absolutely no talking me round and no convincing me of anything other than what I believe I heard or saw.

Obviously maybe he is just a shitty person and either way you don’t have to tolerate it!

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · Yesterday 09:54

My god. He hates you OP.

Clydebuilt · Yesterday 09:54

I’d have called the cab for him myself…I definitely wouldn’t have been repeatedly explaining to him you hadn’t been playing BJ, trying to coax him back inside! I’d have been glad to see his heels going out the door!