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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

486 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:
MightyGoldBear · Yesterday 11:44

Im sorry op happy belated birthday.

He sounds abusive and manipulative.
I'd be getting into therapy to try and unpick why your expectations and boundaries aren't higher/stronger.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · Yesterday 11:45

This man hates you. I wonder if he is narcissistic as they hate their partners bdays and achievements

NCForOneNightOnly · Yesterday 11:48

Usually you instigate apologies? Have a bit of a Google and read up on what that says about the psychology behind the relationship.

SusanJJ · Yesterday 11:48

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.

It was an argument manufactured from nothing, and possibly so were all the other arguments you have apologised for. He sounds a bit mad TBH or certainly very irrational and like a very bad partner to have introduced into your children's lives. Please make sure this is the end, however it happens.

BlackRowan · Yesterday 11:49

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.

Just the fact that he tries to control whether you call him controlling or not is controlling in itself 😂😂

and yes he does come across as controlling, you are clearly having to tiptoe around him in many ways.

PenelopePinkerton · Yesterday 11:50

Throw him in the bin

Mangetouts · Yesterday 11:51

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

Yup, he wanted you finish with him so he could claim the high ground. Gutless git.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:51

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.

Edited

I think I meant de escalating the end of the relationship.

Ive tried so there is nothing more to say. He decided to carry on and strop off home. He clearly thinks what he did was perfectly acceptable even when I was imploring him to not do it.

im glad I did as it’s given me closure. Last night was the time to try and fix it. I tried. We’re done.

OP posts:
bettyrubble99 · Yesterday 11:52

That man is not wired up right. Sack him off OP he sounds nasty & abusive. Happy belated birthday 💐🎂🥳

BlackRowan · Yesterday 11:52

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.

What a POS

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 11:54

It’s so weird. I’m sure it will come but I don’t feel upset at all. The only emotion I can feel is relief.

OP posts:
Gardenisablooming · Yesterday 11:54

He uses his moods to control you..words aren't necessary

BippidyBoppety · Yesterday 11:54

Reading your first post OP I thought - "he doesn't like her". Glad to see others have come to the same conclusion. Glad to see you've called time and he's gone.

Bloke's an arse, you looked great, don't look back.

leggingsbotoxmatcha · Yesterday 11:54

OP, you are 48 now (happy belated birthday btw Cake), do not spend the last of your 40s with this miserable and controlling man!

The behaviour you’ve described would not be acceptable any night of the week, but this was your BIRTHDAY for goodness sake. If he can’t put you first on that day, what chance do you have.

IMO, the bar needs raising. He should have been at your door with a bunch of flowers and told you happy birthday, how beautiful you looked in your dress and how much he was looking forward to taking you out. I mean, this is bare minimum- we are not reaching for the moon.

The MJ accusations/argument is unhinged and unnecessary. How ODD!

Yes, you probably do have to have an official conversation to end things and wish him the best, collect his stuff etc. etc. and then close the door literally and metaphorically on him.

You have so much going for you, don’t let this dead weight drag you down anymore. And STOP apologising for shit you didn’t do!

PretendToBeToastWithMe · Yesterday 11:55

I used to date someone who did stuff like this to me and made me feel like I was losing it. In retrospect I think he did have significant MH issues but I didn’t realise it at the time. Either way, as hard as it was initially, my life was so much better once I cut him loose. I’m now married to someone else and the difference is night and day. OP you will be so much better off without him

Francine84 · Yesterday 11:55

Sorry OP but it doesn’t sound like he even likes you very much. He had a go at you for dressing
up on your birthday, went into the garden on his own instead of spending time with you, doesn’t like you singing (!) and then had a go at you on your birthday about nothing.

Life is far too short to spend it with someone who treats you with contempt and disdain.

daffydreams · Yesterday 11:57

Did you have a birthday with him last year? what was he like?
What was Christmas like
I ask because I had an ex who would ruin every celebration by arriving late, sulking & picking a row where I was confused what happened then storming off.

It was control

NoisyMonster678 · Yesterday 11:57

His attitude is repulsive.
Its over.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 12:00

Gardenisablooming · Yesterday 11:54

He uses his moods to control you..words aren't necessary

Yes. And this is what the last arsehole did and I broke free of him, this is nothing compared to way my life was turned up side down by divorce.

I have a good job and my own home, I’m attractive and good company. I can do better than him but for now I don’t want anyone at all.

Ive spent months feeling anxious while he tells me I overanalyse everything. But the truth is he is frequently mean to me with words.

OP posts:
everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 12:01

daffydreams · Yesterday 11:57

Did you have a birthday with him last year? what was he like?
What was Christmas like
I ask because I had an ex who would ruin every celebration by arriving late, sulking & picking a row where I was confused what happened then storming off.

It was control

Birthday last year he was supposed to finish work early so we could do something but he didn’t in the end so I just sat around waiting all day. Then he came over and we went out for dinner with the kids which I paid for.

Never spent Christmas with him.

OP posts:
MzHz · Yesterday 12:01

Just read your op @everynowandthenifallapart and will post this and continue to read the rest to see what else is going on, but in answer to your question YES, this needs to be the end of the relationship

in short, who he is is only now being shown to you now.

you Don’t live together, you’re not in each others pockets, you should not be arguing.

that’s the first sign that this is wrong.

he is saying things to make you feel bad, making you doubt yourself. What fucking man complains when a woman dresses up? You’re going somewhere nice, HE should know the dress code - and absolutely does - but he’s chosen to invent a problem, manufactured anger to have a go. He has deliberately sabotaged your birthday. This is the beginning of a lot more ruined events.

He’s been frankly weird sitting outside and then having a go at you about music you haven’t played.

yes it is your fucking house! Well remembered 😊

my love, I’ve been through similar situations before and it always turned out to be an abusive relationship

that’s what’s going on. That’s why you end it. Today. Don’t ever look back, don’t ever take him back, he’ll double down and you’re going to get trapped

TheBrunswick · Yesterday 12:02

@everynowandthenifallapart he deliberately tried to cause arguments because it’s your birthday.
Whoever he’s with he will always spoil their celebrations because he has to be the most important person in the room.
He's a knobhead.

MzHz · Yesterday 12:02

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 12:01

Birthday last year he was supposed to finish work early so we could do something but he didn’t in the end so I just sat around waiting all day. Then he came over and we went out for dinner with the kids which I paid for.

Never spent Christmas with him.

Wow… my ex was like this. Hes deliberately ruining your day.

everynowandthenifallapart · Yesterday 12:02

It’s awful as I thought I had a good connection with him but really it’s just codependency and life being easier to have each other around as we’re both single parents and can support each other practically.

But we could do that as friends. Absolutely no need for the relationship part. Not that I want to be friends with him now anyway.

OP posts:
Ihaveneedofwaternear · Yesterday 12:02

See how many examples of his shitty behaviour are quickly coming to the fore now that you're admitting to yourself that he's actually a bit of a dick...