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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

455 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:
dreamingofgoodhair · Yesterday 11:19

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:03

He’s replied ok if that’s what you want and suggested a time to collect his stuff.

So he’s not remotely sorry for his behaviour

Don’t be home. Leave it all outside. He will try and reel you back in.

Badvocthebad · Yesterday 11:20

Omg.
You are WELL rid.
Expect your dc to be thrilled.

ApricotTulip · Yesterday 11:20

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:00

Ok I’ve messaged him saying exactly that that it isn’t working and it’s time to call it a day and to let me know when he wants to collect his tools.

Anything else is just dragging things out and I need it done now.

Well done

PleaseDontTreadOnTheDaisies · Yesterday 11:22

Well done for calling time on it. This man is what I'd call a "celebration ruiner" - he really can't bear for you to appear happy & confident on your birthday, doesn't like you singing, so many red flags. What a fun sponge.
Funnily enough DD & I were listening to a random 80s playlist on Alexa and Billie Jean came on. We just had a conversation about whether we could separate the man from the art.
The man's a dick.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:23

Oh I’ve just remembered the only other comment I got from him about how I was dressed.

I gave him a hug while he was sitting down and he said ‘stop putting your big boobs in my face are you wearing a real bra for a change’. He is very much a boob man so I thought he’d appreciate the outfit but maybe he thought it was too revealing. I neither know nor care but just another example where he could have said something nice and instead tried to make me feel like I was in the wrong.

OP posts:
RamsayBoltonsConscience · Yesterday 11:25

I think that you know that it is over - you deserve better than to be on edge due to the moods of someone who is supposed to care about you. He clearly doesn’t - he only cares about himself. Text him, say due to how things have been over the last couple of months, culminating in last night, he needs to come and pick up his stuff. You will have it ready outside your house by x time on x date. It will then be done.

rainbowstardrops · Yesterday 11:25

Bloody hell, you’re well rid OP!

Ihaveneedofwaternear · Yesterday 11:26

He sounds awful. Well done, OP, hold your head high and enjoys your life without him where you can value yourself and do what you want without pandering to him.

ApricotTulip · Yesterday 11:26

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:23

Oh I’ve just remembered the only other comment I got from him about how I was dressed.

I gave him a hug while he was sitting down and he said ‘stop putting your big boobs in my face are you wearing a real bra for a change’. He is very much a boob man so I thought he’d appreciate the outfit but maybe he thought it was too revealing. I neither know nor care but just another example where he could have said something nice and instead tried to make me feel like I was in the wrong.

There's no winning with this guy. Whatever you did he'd have found fault with it.

RamsayBoltonsConscience · Yesterday 11:27

Sorry, missed the post where you said you’d ended it!

JustAnotherThoughtfulThursday · Yesterday 11:28

Well it appears that you have ended it.

Well.done!

But, for future reference, 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. you had already gone to bed and hebwas leaving so there was no way this was a de-escalation technique.

This was just starting it up all over again.

It didn't need de-escalating, it was already over.

Newname29 · Yesterday 11:29

Yes
Please get rid of.him

Tablesandchairs23 · Yesterday 11:29

Hes nasty and controlling. Trying to tell you what to do in your own home. Get rid.

trythisforsize · Yesterday 11:29

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:03

He’s replied ok if that’s what you want and suggested a time to collect his stuff.

So he’s not remotely sorry for his behaviour

Please try and ensure you have a friend or relative in the house when he collects his stuff purely to stop him from trying to talk to you about it all or change your mind.

I once had an ex like this and he came round to collect his sons bike and I couldn't get him out of the house for 2 hours.

He just needs to pick his stuff up (can you put it all in boxes by the front door?) and go. No chat.

Therescathairinmybath · Yesterday 11:30

He’s such a bellend @everynowandthenifallapart and well done for ending the relationship.

You now need to block him on your phone and social media. Leave his stuff outside at the time he’s due to collect it and make sure that you will be out for a few hours before and after the agreed time so that you don’t have to see him.

It’s possible that your 16 year old’s behaviour might improve without him being around (or it might make absolutely no difference as some teenagers are just tricky whatever you do! 😊)

Carouselfish · Yesterday 11:30

He doesn't like you. He wants to control you. Never speak to him again.

Doseofreality · Yesterday 11:31

“Billie Jean is not my lover”

And this bloke shouldn’t be yours either. Get rid before the toxicity and drama of your relationship starts seriously effecting your kids.

PinotandPray · Yesterday 11:33

He sounds awful OP why are you allowing somebody to treat you like this?

I bet your DC can’t stand him he sounds insufferable!

all on your birthday too 🩷😔

OneNewLeader · Yesterday 11:34

You have one life, make this a very small and rather weird episode in it.

crackofdoom · Yesterday 11:35

I had an ex like this.

Usually quiet, calm, sensitive.

About once a month we would end up having a crazy argument about something random- highlights I recall include the correct pronunciation of the word "Samhain", how many holidays medieval peasants had, the LHA rate for housing in South Wales 😆. It took me a shamefully long time to realise that he was engineering these arguments.

He claimed for a while that it was his anxiety causing him to do this. Playing the mental health card is very effective if you have a compassionate partner, but I saw through him eventually.

With the benefit of hindsight, I have armchair diagnosed him as a covert narcissist. (And it's why I flinch when women are advised to go for the quiet shy men- hey, they can be abusive too!).

Oh and by the way, you look gorgeous in that dress! What a fool eh 🙄

Campervanadventures · Yesterday 11:37

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:23

Oh I’ve just remembered the only other comment I got from him about how I was dressed.

I gave him a hug while he was sitting down and he said ‘stop putting your big boobs in my face are you wearing a real bra for a change’. He is very much a boob man so I thought he’d appreciate the outfit but maybe he thought it was too revealing. I neither know nor care but just another example where he could have said something nice and instead tried to make me feel like I was in the wrong.

My DH would be delighted if I put my ‘big boobs in his face’. He wouldn’t say anything though. He would be far too busy lol!

whippersnapper55 · Yesterday 11:39

I'm sorry he ruined your birthday by being such an arsehole 😔 it sounds like he's shown his true colours and well done you for ending it. You sound lovely and deserve better!

Lilactimes · Yesterday 11:43

Dear @everynowandthenifallapart

I am getting on a bit now, been divorced, had lots of different boyfriends in the past and over many decades I have learned one simple rule and that is a relationship should make you feel safe and content inside.
It is really that simple.

There is no second guessing, tip toeing around, hiding how you really feel, covering up for the other person's behaviour, feeling rubbish about yourself when you are in a good mutual relationship.

You should always feel like your partner has your back and wants what's best for you,

This generation of 16 year olds are very aware on men's shortcomings. if your DD is playing up, or doesn't like him, i recommend you listen to her properly. She is witnessing your relationship.
Support her always - SHE is the most important thing.

You sound kind and like you don't want conflict. So this will be hard.
Draw a firm line in the sand and end it.
Don't be drawn in to persuasion tactics.
Listen to your daughter and improve your bond with her.

I PROMISE you that in a few weeks, you will feel calmer in yourself.

Good luck OP xx x

notwavingbutdrowning1 · Yesterday 11:43

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 09:54

The thing is I am having an awful time with my 16 year old who didn’t get me a card or present or say happy birthday and I knew she would try to ruin my birthday.

So he knows I was feeling sensitive and wanted to keep things low key and calm

Honestly, OP, I would forget about the man and concentrate on building your relationship with your DD. Maybe that will improve anyway if you dump him.

If it helps, my DD was pretty awful at 16. She really seemed to dislike me and years later I found a notebook where she'd written at length about what a bitch I was. She is absolutely wonderful now and we have a great relationship. 16 is a difficult age.

palepeony · Yesterday 11:44

Time to say goodbye

Play the song to him over the phone.