Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
Caneloalvarez · 28/11/2020 08:47

It's pretty standard to plan your other halfs birthday isn't it? And it sounded like he was happy with the plan but not enthusiastic on the day... Not your fault OP! I'd be really annoyed about the gaming too. Birthdays are for quality time together, not stuff you can do any old time.

Seems like you're going back and forth between his nicer qualities and the ones that drive you mad. Have you ever raised your issues to him? If not, I think a really good, honest chat about how you really feel is the way to go. Gives him a chance to show enthusiasm to change. If he doesn't, well you've done all you can do!

Ps not being spoilt on your birthday is NOT ok. You deserve to feel loved and be spoilt if that's what you want.. don't let another birthday drift by!

AnnaMagnani · 28/11/2020 08:47

You aren't compatible. He bores you because you have nothing in common.

Yes you planned a load of stuff you wanted to do on his birthday - but in loads of couples that would have been fine as the couples have shared interests. FFS most couples have a shared interest in sex.

Seriously don't get married to him. you are more his mum than his fiancee.

Flowerpot345 · 28/11/2020 08:47

I can't see how you think you would be lost without him?
You do so much without him, yes it would hurt because you have history but you have outgrown this relationship.
I couldn't be with someone who games as much as that and takes money off his elderly mum, as well as forgets to feed the dogConfused
Please don't have kids with this man.
You will regret it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

isadorapolly · 28/11/2020 08:47

Honestly op you sound lovely and he sounds like a boring loser.

If you leave him you will THRIVE.

scubadive · 28/11/2020 08:48

You do not sound at all compatible, he sounds very immature, I think you need to part now, this is no foundation for a marriage.

Marriage and particularly children years (if you want the ) are very tough.

Cyberworrier · 28/11/2020 08:48

I have to say, OP, I would also find frittering away £1000s of pounds given by his fairly hard up mother pretty awful. Do you think she means it to be for savings /property deposit or would she not mind?
The other thing that strikes me is how your relationship dynamic will work if you have children. If you’re the higher earner, will he be the stay at home dad? Will he be capable of that and do a good job? Would you have to do all the shopping, cleaning and cooking as well as a full time job? Would you be happy having him be the stay at home parent?
It sounds like others have said like you’ve outgrown each other. His good points make him sound like a nice person, making cups of tea and running a bath, but those are the kinds of things my mum would do for me when I go home- as in nice family things but I’m not sure they make him a great partner in light of the other problems.
If you’ve been together so long, you may be quite unaware of the joys a relationship can bring. I think in not-100%-happy relationships you become acclimatised to pretty low expectations and “happy” or “good” become relative terms. When I broke up with my first long term partner, I was amazed at how kind the next guy I saw was, how much effort he put into things- how attracted he was to me. It made me sad for ages to realise how many years I wasted with a guy who didn’t make me happy. You deserve to be with someone who appreciates you and who you can have the life you really want with (in a more happy, grown up, equal relationship, where you dont have to ‘steer’ or ‘control’ for anything beyond humdrum to happen).

AntiHop · 28/11/2020 08:50

I think the relationship has run it's course. I know it's hard to end such a long relationship, but it sounds like you're incompatible these days.

Walkaround · 28/11/2020 08:50

You’re staying in this relationship more through habit than mutual compatibility. You want more, whereas for him, this is all it is.

madcatladyforever · 28/11/2020 08:51

He is an utter loser and a dead weight. Even the very worst of my relationships was better than this.
You do know it will never get any better don't you.
Ditch him now and have some excitement in your life. Imagine the fantastic things you could do with the right person.
It's got nothing to do with you being emotional, he really is Mr Super Boring.
I'd have died from boredom by now.

yearinyearout · 28/11/2020 08:52

I only got halfway through this and thought "why is she with him?" You sound like a couple who've been married for twenty years and are bored shitless of each other.

Jaxxi · 28/11/2020 08:53

The mother is also wrong to give a thousand. Thats too much. Id give 50 quids. Maybe 200.

NataliaOsipova · 28/11/2020 08:53

You’d only be lost without him because you’ve never known any other way; you’d soon sort out where you were going. In fact, you sound like someone who has a lot of get up and go - I suspect you’d find yourself in a much better place pretty quickly.

What jumped out at me was this: ” We could be amazing together if he put in as much effort as I do”. But he doesn’t. He clearly isn’t that sort of man. So you’d be better off finding someone else who is and with whom you’d be a lot happier.

Candyfloss99 · 28/11/2020 08:53

Firstly, you are not in too deep. You don't even own a house together. It would be very easy to leave him.

Secondly you made his whole birthday any you.

Thirdly you sound very incompatible and there's no way you should marry this man.

PhlegmyHead · 28/11/2020 08:53

@amber763

I feel like his birthday was about you. Going for a walk where you wanted to go, underwear for you, you telling him what to do with his gift from his mum and the zoom call was surely almost over after 2 hours?!
This!

Whilst he doesn't sound great, you are coming across as really overbearing.

I think it’s so lovely that I can’t help commenting on all the loveliness everywhere. He barely responds
Have you seen that episode of friends with Phoebe's new boyfriend?

DeliaOwens · 28/11/2020 08:54

Find your superpower.

My fiancé is so dull
Whatisthisfuckery · 28/11/2020 08:55

You know what OP, you two just aren’t right for each other anymore. Sometimes a good thing becomes not so good and people grow apart. You have a great future ahead of you so jettison the loser and create your own happy life. If you marry this lifeless lump you’ll be pissing all your potential up the wall. Sack the millstone.

User158340 · 28/11/2020 08:55

@amber763

I feel like his birthday was about you. Going for a walk where you wanted to go, underwear for you, you telling him what to do with his gift from his mum and the zoom call was surely almost over after 2 hours?!
Maybe the OP is with him because he's quiet and can be controlled but becomes more annoyed when he doesn't dance to her tune enough.

That might be harsh but the two aren't compatible. Would OP be happier with someone who is more like her own personality, or would those personalities clash even more?

hitchhikingghost · 28/11/2020 08:56

It is NOT going to be better when you’re 40 or 50, don’t waste any more time.

Starfish5 · 28/11/2020 08:56

He sounds very passive, like he plods along, doesn’t aim for much in life and excitement for him in 5 years will be when you serve him brocolinni instead of peas with his meat and two vege on a Friday night.

There’s nothing wrong with a person like this, some people never want to live away from the area they grew up in, they are perfectly content with their boring job because they don’t want to grow and learn, they’re happy to live always in the shadow of their childhood with someone (a partner instead of their mum). But you are not right for him.

You’ll be driven nuts by the boring crap life he’s happy and content with, you are already essentially much busier and more intelligent and interested in the world. Don’t stay with him, you are not compatible and over time you’ll be worn down by it all and your relationship won’t be a forever one, instead you’ll be organising the kids even when he has them for his Disney dad commitment every other weekend.

Heyahun · 28/11/2020 09:00

Sorry but why are you in London paying high London rents when neither of you are making enough money? You work part time and say he is in a low paying job? Seems like you’ll never get yourselves in a position where you have money tbh

Stinkyjellycat · 28/11/2020 09:00

I agree with others that you made his birthday about you and not him. BUT it does sounds like this isn’t the relationship for you. You don’t have the same aspirations or values and you sound like you’re losing respect for him.

You’re still really young, go and live the life you want. Find someone who makes your heart sing and will be a proper partner to you - not just out of habit but out of genuine love, affection and friendship.

overnightangel · 28/11/2020 09:01

“Get off your butt and make a life. You're stuck in victim mode. He is not the villain here - he's being himself, and it's not enough for you. “

Exactly.

You seem like you feel you “deserve” better but if you don’t do something to change your life you’re no better than you’re making him out to be.

Not compatible and you don’t sound particularly nice

Bluntness100 · 28/11/2020 09:01

@Starfish5

He sounds very passive, like he plods along, doesn’t aim for much in life and excitement for him in 5 years will be when you serve him brocolinni instead of peas with his meat and two vege on a Friday night.

There’s nothing wrong with a person like this, some people never want to live away from the area they grew up in, they are perfectly content with their boring job because they don’t want to grow and learn, they’re happy to live always in the shadow of their childhood with someone (a partner instead of their mum). But you are not right for him.

You’ll be driven nuts by the boring crap life he’s happy and content with, you are already essentially much busier and more intelligent and interested in the world. Don’t stay with him, you are not compatible and over time you’ll be worn down by it all and your relationship won’t be a forever one, instead you’ll be organising the kids even when he has them for his Disney dad commitment every other weekend.

This is quite a derogatory post. You say there is nothing wrong whilst writing disparagingly about him

There is nothing wrong with being happy with a simple life and being a bit of a home bod, not every one needs to be an ambitious go getter, wanting to be out doing stuff.

The op wants something different, that’s fine. But there is no need to put him down because he doesn’t.

Jaxxi · 28/11/2020 09:03

I like how all the introverted gamers and men on here are defending him 😂

IEat · 28/11/2020 09:03

Be kind. Let him be with someone who appreciates him. Find someone who can loved in the way you want. From 2 unhappy people, 4 happy people will emerge.

Swipe left for the next trending thread