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Relationships

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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:
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.

OP posts:
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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

youalright · Yesterday 10:26

Stop begging him to like you he doesn't

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

OP posts:
Nearly50omg · Yesterday 10:27

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

savemydrawers · Yesterday 10:27

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.

Well either way it's the end surely?

ThatCyanCat · Yesterday 10:28

No need for processing, just shut the whole thing down.

Likeiloveyou · Yesterday 10:28

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

MagicThanks · Yesterday 10:28

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

Italiangreyhound · Yesterday 10:30

Back foot.

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?

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.

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.

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:
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.