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My fiancé is so dull

292 replies

Emrae · 28/11/2020 02:06

So I’m pissed off at my fiancé right now and just need to vent. We’re both in our early 30’s, engaged 5 years and no plans for wedding yet as we never seem to have enough money. I’m studying full time and working 3 days per week while he works full time in a low paid job. I seem to be the breadwinner and resent this if I’m honest (although I know that’s not right of me)

Basically I am pissed off with him and really upset because it’s his birthday today and I worked so hard to make it a special day despite lockdown but he doesn’t appreciate it.
Example 1. I planned to take the day off today and go for a nice walk somewhere outside our normal area in London. I told him this weeks before and when he got up this morning he was just so unenthusiastic and wanted to go to the local park down the road as we do most weekends. I know he should be able to do what he likes on his birthday but this just bothered me as I just really wanted a change of scenery and for us to do something different together that lasted longer than the usual short stroll around our neighborhood.
Example 2. He agrees to a different park (woohoo) We get to the park in a different area of London (dulwich to be exact) and I think it’s so lovely that I can’t help commenting on all the loveliness everywhere. He barely responds and seems uninterested in anything I say, fair enough maybe I do talk too much sometimes.
Example 3. He finally talks.. saying that his mother sent him 1k for his birthday. I say wow that he should really try and put that into a savings account, she gives him money like this maybe 2-3 times per year and I added that if he saved that money each time, he’d be in a position to buy a house by now. (Bare in mind, he earns just above min wage and any small savings we have is mostly from my part time earnings) he was offended by this and said that i am very negative and ungrateful. Not the case. I know his mother sending this money is hard for her, she is very much a working class woman who is sending this money from her retirement/ carer earnings (she cares for her disabled brother full time and also has a slow progressing type of cancer which is incurable) I just think that he should save it if he takes it all(I wouldn’t even accept it if it were my mother).
Example 4. I had bought ‘sexy underwear’ for his birthday but got a bit insecure about wearing it (basically because we haven’t had sex in a month and when I’ve wore stuff like this before, his reactions aren’t always what I expect). I went in to the living room to show him what I bought and he sort of laughed awkwardly. I said out of embarrassment that I didn’t think I was in the mood today as I stayed up until 2am studying but let’s see how I feel later (not the best pick up line but I was awkward because of his reaction)
Example 5. I had planned for a few of his friends to join us on FaceTime for birthday drinks which which went well and we enjoyed it, 2 hours in, they asked him to play on his computer games as they always do. He asked me if this was alright and j just snapped, I couldn’t believe it, I’m there trying to make a nice intimate day for him and this is what he wants. He plays on computer games at least 5 nights a week and sometimes during the day as he furloughed at the moment. We had a fight after the call with our friends as I couldn’t believe this is what he wanted to do and now i am in bed crying and he is playing his games in the other room. Can I just explain that I am not a clingy person, he plays games most nights as I said and I take one day off a week from studying/ working. Today was that one day off until next weekend. I have lots of friends whom I meet when lockdown permits. I do yoga and exercise classes 3 times per week online, study most evenings so really we only spend time together maybe one day on my day off and I’d say 1-2 evenings per week. I just feel so lonely and unwanted right now that he wants to spend his birthday just like any other evening with his friends online. I feel more emotional than usual because I’m stressed with uni work and I thought that maybe he’d understand me being a little more emotional than usual today and that maybe he’d appreciate me making an effort today on his birthday but no. Apparently I’m controlling and clingy. I just don’t know why I’m with him anymore, I’m in too deep, we’re together since I was 18. If anything he drags me down, he’s unambitious, a bit simple minded and lazy. If I left him, I would be so lost. I wish he’d just make more effort to maintain a healthy loving relationship instead of letting things get like this. We could be amazing together if he put in as much effort as I do. I’d like to maybe have children in a few years and he has said he would like to also. I just can’t see him with children, he’s forgotten to feed and walk our dog multiple times, I wouldn’t trust him to pull his weight equally.

OP posts:
GlowingOrb · 28/11/2020 04:38

Do this man a favor and end the relationship.

WomanFriday · 28/11/2020 04:38

If anything he drags me down, he’s unambitious, a bit simple minded and lazy

That’s not the way you describe someone you love and respect. You are used to him rather than anything else and, I expect, fearful of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

I agree with others saying his birthday was all about what you wanted or what you thought he should want.

You need to be brave, leave and find someone who actually wants to do things with you and enjoys some of the same things as you, someone you can actually respect and who respects you. He sounds very dull and definitely not someone you should have children with and commit to spending the rest of your life with.

Lostthetastefordahlias · 28/11/2020 04:41

This is tricky as agree with PP that he should be able to do just exactly what he likes on his birthday even if its not what you’d like (though appreciate you had planned things to try to make it fun for him not you) and should be able to spend his birthday money on what he likes. But is the disappointment of this day making you focus only on the areas where he doesn't make an effort? Are there other things that he takes the lead on? It sounds like he is having a difficult year in lockdown and his mothers situation must weigh on him. I think the questions from popsydoodle4444 are key as well.
If, on reflection, he doesn't make an equal effort as you elsewhere, do you really want to be driving/ carrying this relationship/ your shared lives for the next however many years? If you have children, how would it feel for them to have a father with energetic ideas how to spend fun weekends with them, and a shared vision of a positive and happy family future, vs one who doesn't? Of course no one is happy and motivated all the time, but you should feel like you are a good team in some ways at least!
Hope you have a better day today! You sound lovely trying so hard with him even if its not appreciated! Flowers

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Tea3 · 28/11/2020 04:44

Time to end the relationship before kids , you will regret it if you don't leave xx

DailyCandy · 28/11/2020 04:49

I got to example 5 and stopped.
To put it in the kindest terms - you’re unsuited to each other.
More bluntly: he’s a joy killing loser who doesn’t appreciate you and you should get the fuck out.

HariboBrenshnio · 28/11/2020 04:54

When they show you who they are, listen. It won't change unless you either change your reaction or you change your situation. You don't match, he's not it. Get out now pre kids while you can.

SD1978 · 28/11/2020 05:09

Everything you organised was because you wanted to do it- it doesn't seem you sped him what he wanted at all- and clearly didn't want the same things........that being said- it also doesn't sound like he appreciates anything you do. It's not unreasonable to have an evening together- but maybe you should both agree to it? As opposed to I am free this night and we will spend it together, maybe ask in advance, what night should we spend together? Or accept that he doesn't seem all that interested in marrying you, you being with you, and this has juts become easy for him- which no one wants.

rwalker · 28/11/2020 05:20

Honestly you just sound like different people .He quite happy just to bumble on through life as he is (nothing wrong with that).
TBH I never get the big deal about birthdays this year we were locked down did nothing but have a chippy tea it was the best birthday in a long time I did nothing .

Northernparent68 · 28/11/2020 05:28

He has a point, you do sound controlling.

Bluntness100 · 28/11/2020 05:38

Two issues here

First of all it was his birthday but you showed no respect at all for what he wished to do, it was all about what you wanted and your needs. You then caused arguments because he wouldn’t do what you wanted to do, Do you see how that’s wrong?

Secondly the relationship is over, to call someone you are supposed to love, dull, simple minded, lazy is just appalling, you do not love him for who he is. You want him to be something he’s not. You stay with him so you’re not single, and can fulfil your need to get married and have kids.

You either accept who he is, or you need to end this, for both your sakes.

JustSay · 28/11/2020 05:41

He is a lazy tosser living like a teen. Dump him and dont waste your fertile years on him.

Thehollyandtheirony · 28/11/2020 05:43

Leave the boring bastard.
Will you be able to take the dog? I’d be worried about shared custody if he forgets to feed it.

fullofhope100 · 28/11/2020 05:49

Oh dear OP - I/m sorry to say this but it really does sound like you/re unsuited to each other. The way you described him also suggests (to put it mildly) that there is very little love there.
Can you honestly think of any qualities he has that you adore?
Great sense of humour? Kind? Fantastic in the sack? etc etc.
If the answer is no, then you need to be brave and do yourself (and him) a favour and end this. xxx

Lazysundayafternoons · 28/11/2020 06:04

I do think you sound controlling.

If you want to go for a long walk etc do it on YOUR birthday. On my birthday I most definitely dont want to go for a long walk. The one thing he did want to do on his birthday was playing with his friends and you argued with him about it.

It sounds like anything he does is in your terms and he can only see his friends /play games when it suits you if you are busy elsewhere.

On the money side, as a low earner, does he have much disposable income throughout the year? Can he buy the things he wants without this money or does he need this money for Christmas shopping/ to buy a new coat? It's much harder to save as a low earner. Maybe he never wants to buy a house.

I think you just sound incompatible.

rottiemum88 · 28/11/2020 06:06

Agree with others, you're not compatible. To be honest, he doesn't sound like he'd be my cup of tea either, but you're doing him as much of a disservice as yourself by keeping this relationship going. Also, it will only ever feel a million times worse if you stay and have kids with this man, believe me.

As an aside though, it's worth bearing in mind OP that birthdays are meant to be about the person who's birthday it is and what they want. Your comments about wanting to go for a walk in a certain place, telling him what you think he should do with money he was given as a gift and then getting annoyed because he wanted to spend some time playing on his game on HIS birthday are all unreasonable and somewhat controlling. Oh and also, save the underwear for the bedroom rather than walking into the lounge with it and you might save yourself the embarrassment and him the awkward laughter in future. They're all good lessons to learn.

NeilBuchananisBanksy · 28/11/2020 06:15

I just don’t know why I’m with him anymore, I’m in too deep, we’re together since I was 18.

Google sunken costs fallacy.

I think you are slightly unreasonable over some of the birthday stuff- it's his day, and the underwear stuff is all a bit cringe.

But overall it sounds like he's a drifter and he's happy to be carried by you. Basically you aren't compatible- you've outgrown him.

Staying together because you've been together a long time is illogical. Time to move on before it's too late- don't give him your best years, it won't get better.

TammyTwoSawnson · 28/11/2020 06:18

At first I thought you were the unreasonable one, making his birthday about what you wanted to do etc.
But after reading the whole OP, I can understand that you're so bored by his feckless ways that you'd been eagerly anticipating his birthday, thinking it was one day he might want to do something fun for a change.

He sounds miserable. You're both totally unsuited - you sound fun, outgoing and ambitious and he sounds like a sullen teenage cocklodger. You would be absolutely fine without him, more than fine I'd bet. He's dragging you down.

Tootytata · 28/11/2020 06:20

I agree with PP who say you are incompatible and want different things in life. No one is right or wrong here. You are both just different and not suited to being together.

I think you stay with him because he's all you have known given you are in your early 30s and you have been together since 18 years old. That's a long time. Do you really want to be stuck in this rut for decades to come?

You say you want children OP. It's hard enough having children with someone who does their fair share. You will just make life extremely hard for yourself if you have children with someone who sounds lazy!

If he's happy playing computer games every day then that's who he is. If you want more out of life, you need to be brave and end the relationship.

Find someone else who adores you, wants to do exciting things, goes ga ga at the thought of you in sexy underwear, wants to have children and is willing to help with the daily drudgery of it all. He does exist. The longer you stay in this relationship, the less time you are giving yourself to find / meet him.

JustAnotherUserinParadise · 28/11/2020 06:21

To be honest I think you've been a little mean about his birthday - it is HIS day after all, not yours!

That said, he does sound dull! And you don't sound happy to be with him. Maybe you've just outgrown him?

MerchantOfVenom · 28/11/2020 06:23

Oh my goodness OP, come on!

Read your post back to yourself. Can you not see how bad this has got?

You both seriously dislike each other. Why are you persisting in banging square pegs into round holes....?

You are deeply incompatible. Just rip the bandaid off - break up and move on.

There is no way being single is worse than ... this.

Ineedaduvetday · 28/11/2020 06:27

You're incompatible. You want certain type of life, he doesn't. He's clearly happy on a minimum wage job, being a bit boring and being subsidised by his mum. That would be a huge turn off for me and it sounds like it is for you. Time to look elsewhere methinks ...

Openthecurtains45 · 28/11/2020 06:27

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

BadLad · 28/11/2020 06:28

They've been together since she was 18. The OP has only had a few months at most of being single as an adult. I can see why it might seem a bit daunting to call time on it.

But it's definitely the right thing to do.

Sally7645 · 28/11/2020 06:30

OP I was in your situation a decade ago. I had been with the guy since I was a teenager. He was all I knew but the relationship sucked the life out of me... you are a different person in your teens to in your thirties, often people grow up and grow apart. He wasn't a bad guy but we were not bringing out the best in each other. I was ambitious and wanted to travel, he found it a chore to travel the the city down the road from us.

It took me a year to pluck up the courage to end it, after the relationship had been flat for several years...our lives were completely intertwined. Lived together, shared friends, embedded in each other's families (in fact his parents are still good friends with mine!)

But end it I did... and guess what? Best decision of my life! I moved home for a bit to save, then moved to that city down the road and never looked back. I'm now married to a wonderful man, with two lovely kids... own a property, have a good circle of friends- my old friends from school and my new main gang who all came together once I became free of the relationship that held me back.

I remember the day after I ended it, driving to work alone in my car absolutely beaming... I couldn't believe I'd done it and the relief was massive. Good luck with your next steps x

lovelemoncurd · 28/11/2020 06:30

He sounds entitled and you sound controlling. Perhaps it's time to call it a day op?