Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

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

452 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 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

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.

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

Likeiloveyou · Yesterday 10:00

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

DreamingOfGeneHunt · Yesterday 10:01

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

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?

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:
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.

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · Yesterday 10:09

Why are you constantly apologising to this prick? Run!

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:
Gengha · Yesterday 10:11

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

Cheese55 · Yesterday 10:11

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

Maomee · Yesterday 10:12

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

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:
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.

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.

BackToLurk · Yesterday 10:16

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

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.

Dumbledora8 · Yesterday 10:18

He's a psycho

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.

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.

OP posts:
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.

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

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.

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!