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Am I Overreacting? Need Advice on Relationship Behavior

18 replies

BlaireA · 04/10/2024 08:34

Hi everyone,

I'm currently feeling really frustrated and confused about my relationship (me 33, him 39), and I could use some advice. For context, I’m 6 months pregnant with our first child, which could be influencing my emotions, but I also feel like my concerns are valid, so I’d love some perspective.

A bit of background: My partner and I have had issues before with how we communicate and handle conflicts. A couple of weeks ago, we had a big argument where he got really angry while driving. He hit the steering wheel aggressively, pulled the hand brake hard and got out of the car after we had disagreed with the plan for the day. I was really upset because I had never seen him act like that before, and being 5 months pregnant at the time made it even worse. After that incident, I made it clear I wouldn’t tolerate aggressive behavior. We had more silly arguments the past weeks, mostly because I just feel he doesnt care about our relationship or how Im feeling while being pregnant. He doesnt read into pregnancy and is basically only focused on his business 95% of the time. I feel taken for granted and maybe also a bit alone in this, while trying for a baby and being in it for 100% was both our intention.

Fast forward to yesterday—we had another fight. He went to his first football training at 8:30 pm, which was supposed to last about an hour. I assumed he’d come home after or at least message me, but by 10:15 pm, I still hadn’t heard from him. He had told me his mobile data had run out (but then you could still make regular calls/texts). I tried calling him once but got no answer.
By this point, I was feeling stressed and angry. He’s always on his phone when we’re together (mostly for work), so I don’t understand why he can’t send a simple message when he’s out, especially when I’m pregnant and worried about him driving home late or something happening. I always send him updates when I’m out, just to keep him in the loop, but he doesn’t seem to care.

He came home at 11:30 pm, much later than I expected, and he got irritated when I told him I was upset. He said he didn’t want to feel like messaging me was an “obligation” and that I’m overreacting. He thinks I worry too much, but from my perspective, it feels like he doesn’t care and is taking me for granted.

I don’t know if I’m overthinking it because of the pregnancy hormones, or if this is genuinely a problem in our relationship. I just feel like I’m asking for basic communication and consideration, but he thinks I’m being too controlling or needy.

Has anyone else experienced this? How do I approach this without it turning into another fight? I’m starting to feel really drained and unsure of how to handle things moving forward.

Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
Mammajay · 04/10/2024 15:18

Perhaps your behaviour is a bit overwhelming for him. I think it would be reasonable to ask him roughly when he expects to be back and could he text if he was going to be late.

TheShellBeach · 04/10/2024 15:23

Any man who uses aggressive behaviour to keep women in their control is not a good man.

He's frightened you already, and he doesn't respect you when you voice very natural requests and concerns.

Can you separate easily before the baby is born? This man is not going to be a good father. He's already a bad boyfriend.

TheShellBeach · 04/10/2024 15:24

Mammajay · 04/10/2024 15:18

Perhaps your behaviour is a bit overwhelming for him. I think it would be reasonable to ask him roughly when he expects to be back and could he text if he was going to be late.

And perhaps his behaviour is aggressive and controlling.

I don't like the sound of this man at all.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

TheShellBeach · 04/10/2024 15:27

Has anyone else experienced this? How do I approach this without it turning into another fight? I’m starting to feel really drained.

You're afraid of him.
I'm very sorry, but he reminds me of my ex-husband.

You're walking on eggshells.
That's not good.

Can you kick him out, or move out yourself?

How long have you been together?

FerienInLipizza · 04/10/2024 15:32

Can you describe in more detail about the car incident. Did he endanger you ?
If so, you need to consider ending this relationship.

MadCatWoman7 · 04/10/2024 15:32

Back in the day we all just got on with it and did not start reading things into passing situations. On reading your post I was starting myself to feel a little hemmed in. Are you one of these people who hangs on ever word and tries to read a meaning into it? Your bloke sounds just like that, a bloke, bloke. I think I would blow a gasket if someone kept on asking I felt. It is needy. Pregnant or not, you are not ill - just get on with a natural situation, enjoy the fact that he is working so hard at his own business and not running around with some bit of skirt. He will be OK just give the poor bloke some space. As for being late home from football, he probably wanted to go out for a couple of pints with his mates, and have a chat (especially if he works so hard) and he did come home! This advice is coming from an old woman who has been around the block a few times and knows her sh*t.

TheShellBeach · 04/10/2024 15:35

This advice is coming from an old woman who has been around the block a few times and knows her sht.*

I think you missed the part about his aggressive behaviour and the fact that she's now scared of him.

MyOwnToes · 04/10/2024 15:36

Where was he until 11.30?

MsMarch · 04/10/2024 15:37

When DH hit the steering wheel and almost hit a cyclist a few months before our wedding, I told him if he didn't deal with his anger issuse i wouldn't marry him. So he took himself to therapy the following week and DID deal with them.

The football one is an issue in that lots of peopel will tell you that you're being controlling. Personally, I think its fine for him to stay out. I also think it's perfectly reasonable to expect your partner to give you a rough estimation of when they will be home.

Where your expectations are unreasonable is, for example reading about pregnancy etc. At the end of the day, it's not as real fo rhim as it is for you.

yeesh · 04/10/2024 15:43

The aggressive behaviour and frequent arguments would make me leave but I think you were over the top about the football.

SauviGone · 04/10/2024 15:47

My partner and I have had issues before with how we communicate and handle conflicts.

What were the issues, and what did you both do to work through them before trying for a baby?

The car incident isn’t great at all. The football story makes me feel claustrophobic.

SummerInSun · 04/10/2024 16:47

The thing is, having a newborn baby is one of the most stressful situations a couple goes through (as well as bringing lots of joy obviously). No matter how strong your relationship, you will have times when you want to kill each other. If you don't have a good foundation of trust and communication before the baby is born, when you aren't sleep deprived, etc, you are unlikely to be able to weather that. I'd head off to relationship counselling before the baby is born and see if you can sort this out.

Terrribletwos · 04/10/2024 17:01

First of all, do you absolutely know he's on the phone all the time to his work? What sort of work does he do to warrant this? Secondly, are you sure he's going to football training?

I think you have valid concerns and it's not just hormones.

His angry behaviour is wrong either way.

Boomer55 · 04/10/2024 17:05

You’re both being a bit Drama Llama- perhaps he’s not the man for you.

EVHead · 04/10/2024 17:08

His behaviour in the car was unacceptable.

Your statement that you were “worried about him driving home late or something happening” is unreasonable: he’s an adult and you’re not his mum.

I agree that counselling for you both would be a good idea. You’re both going to find child-rearing impossibly hard, the way things are at the moment.

Pinkbonbon · 04/10/2024 17:08

2 arguments in a year, maybe fine. 2 in a week, nope, time to leave.

Demonstrating aggressive behaviour infront of his pregnant partner though? Fucking get out of there.

Get out before the baby is born and you're too exhausted to leave.

Go, now.

Terrribletwos · 04/10/2024 17:08

I don't think you're being dramatic OP. It would be quite easy for him to send you a quick text/call to say he's late/on his way or whatever. But instead of that he turns it around on you which is quite concerning.

AW24 · 04/10/2024 17:15

It sounds to me that he's feeling a little trapped, maybe ask him what he wants.
Be prepared for an answer you're not going to like, then hope it's not what he says

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