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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

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:
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.

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!

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.

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.

username2185 · Yesterday 10:37

HEE HEE

no in all seriousness bin off this insecure loser.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:37

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

OP posts:
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!

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.

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.

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

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?

teresamendoza · Yesterday 10:40

You've answered your own question. This relationship isn't going to improve.
Know your worth, and end it now.

CoraPirbright · Yesterday 10:40

Happy birthday for yesterday! I would give yourself a slightly late present of getting this jerk out of your life. You and his ex-wife are correct - he IS controlling. The fact that you are always the one to try and make peace is a huge red flag in itself.

If his car is still on your drive, I would gather his things together, bag it up and leave it by his car so that when he comes to pick it up, everything is finalised neatly.

Btw, anyone turning up in flip flops to take me out for a birthday dinner would be dumped anyway (only half joking). And then to complain that you making an effort made HIM look bad??!! You looked lovely and he is an arsehole. Be rid!!

SoScarletItWas · Yesterday 10:41

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:37

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

What a prat.

Happy birthday OP and your best present is a life free of his stupid arguments.

LolaGold · Yesterday 10:41

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.

Concentrate on building a better relationship with your own DD. His DD has her own DM and I suspect the time you have invested with his DD is to gain his approval and all this time and effort has come at the expense of your own DD. You can’t be in two places at once. Choose your own DD. She has already had a family breakdown trauma and needs you to repair this for her - not some sneering old cznt in her life picking on her in her own home and abusing her DM. Why is there loads of arguments? Do YOU think this is normal? Do your DCs see, hear, sense this conflict and distress in their own home - or see, hear, sense their own mother distressed afterwards? This is NOT good for them. Create a calm and peaceful home for your DCs. Invest now and you will be rewarded for a lifetime.

CoraPirbright · Yesterday 10:41

Blast! Missed your update whilst typing 🤦‍♀️

WinterBlues26 · Yesterday 10:41

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.

That is coercive control. Look it up, and then look up the Freedom Programme. You are ripe for another abusive relationship as you haven't seen the multiple warning signs in this one. Yes, multiple!

GrillaMilla · Yesterday 10:42

He deliberately ruined your birthday, unforgivable really. You will have years of this crap if you stay with him.

LolaGold · Yesterday 10:45

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:37

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

What mindset is this? Why are you not calling it? Where’s your agency? He won’t be gone because he needs a victim and emotional punchbag - he’ll just be calculating when to return when you are at your most desperate / vulnerable.

DozyCrow · Yesterday 10:45

Sounds like the rubbish took itself out then OP. Resist the urge to message him. If he should get in touch then just be to the point and say the relationship has run its course and it's over. If you find anything of his around the house then toss it in a box in the garage. It's up to him to ask for things back if he wants them.

Sorry your birthday was ruined. From what can be seen in the photo you shared, you looked lovely yesterday.

TonTonMacoute · Yesterday 10:45

He was taking you out for a special meal, for your birthday, he turned up looking like a scruff and had a go at you for bothering to make an effort to look nice?

Forget everything else that happened afterwards which, let's face it, is a long list of him behaving badly. This relationship is dead in the water, you deserve so much better than this.

Thisismyfinesthour · Yesterday 10:47

Why are you actually with this person when you seen to be arguing so much over trivia?

JLMA · Yesterday 10:47

OP there are so many red flags from DP.

been together 2 years and arguing alot recently

You looked lovely because it was your birthday. He was angry because you made him look bad.

you’re having family problems so wanted to keep your birthday calm and happy

it was your birthday but he still did what he wanted to do

made up some crap about a song and held it against you for most of the night.

the meal was your gift and he ruined it.

he doesn’t like you singing.

im sorry he wasted your day but please don’t let him waste your life

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 10:47

You are all helping me so much. Honestly, thank you so much for all of the replies.

It is going to be so painful for me to be on my own again but I know it is the right thing. I never know the version of him I am going to get and more and more often it is the moody, sullen one that makes me feel I have to dim who I am to match his energy.

I can’t do this anymore and I can’t remember the last time I felt happy in his company. I usually feel criticised, belittled and not good enough.

I think him taking a look at me looking nice and responding with criticism rather than a compliment has just shown me I’m always going to be hoping for the nice version of him but usually I won’t be getting it.

OP posts:
ThatLilacTiger · Yesterday 10:48

Look, one of two things is happening here. Either he wants the relationship to end and that's why he's being a raging dickhead and treating you like shit, or he wants the relationship to continue with you grovelling for forgiveness so he can go on being a raging dickhead and treating you like shit.

You don't have to accept either of these options. Just tell him to fuck off and go about your life blissfully free of him.

Bonus points if you can sneak a Billy Jean lyric into the break up.