Please or to access all these features

Chat

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

Is this a normal interaction

107 replies

Thesoundofsilenceisdisturbed · 07/10/2026 11:47

I am genuinely curious because I have been in this relationship so long that I'm losing touch with reality. I am in this cycle within my relationship whereby my DP is cruel, then acts completely normal and I feel like I don't know what's normal anymore.

So here is an interaction from Monday and I know it sounds ridiculous. I want to know objectively if I am at fault and uncaring.
So the backstory relevant to this scenario is that I work more than DP although he earns a lot more. He's home all day and spends most of it in bed. I work all day and do all the housework, he refuses to help and if I ask I get so much abuse and anger that I've learnt to not ask anymore. I'm completely overwhelmed and resentful.

On Monday I text him asking very nicely if he could help in the house. I ask every now and again, he gets angry and then I leave it for a few months. I spent days planning how to word this message. I just asked if whilst he's home and I'm in work all day, could he please just clear anything he uses, empty the food bin if it's full and if there is washing out that's dry, please could he bring it in. I said I'd be very grateful. At present I'm running into the house between clinics putting washing out etc. if he drops something on the floor he'll leave it, or say "I can't pick it up" and walk off leaving me to do it. Further context is that he has a bad back, however he manages to drive to his father's regularly, play pool, to to the pub 4x a week and have sex. So he can do things that he wants to do.

Lunchtime Monday he came and told me there was a dead pigeon in the garden. I didn't think much of it, I was messaging a client and also assumed he'd sort it. He didn't sort it. It seems he just went to ay Xbox instead. He then text me in the evening and asking me to move the pigeon, bag it up etc and said he can't do it. This is where I am in the wrong; I said I'd rather not do it as I hate maggots and that he manages to go to the pub, play pool etc so I'm sure he could pick it up.

He came downstairs and started shouting at me. He said I was making him pick up the pigeon, I'm a horrible person. He said he doesn't know how he can live with someone as nasty as me. He then started calling me a bitch and said I disgust him. Followed by "I think of you as I think of that dead pigeon, you make me sick". Didn't retaliate and just kept asking him not to speak to me like that and said he was being cruel but he carried on and on. He proceeded to ignore me for the day and is now talking to me as normal.
Is this actually normal? I am so used to being told I'm disgusting, he hates me etc that I just don't know anymore.

OP posts:
DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 08/10/2026 01:35

tokennamechange · 08/10/2026 00:18

Literally nobody is thinking hes a decent person who has recognised he has made a mistake. I promise you. You're so lost within this that you cant see the wood for the trees.

If you think it must be you that's causing him to behave like that, why does he do things like leave your kids clothes out in the rain? Do you think theres something wrong with them, as well?

And, tbh, even if you were an annoying, lazy person, which you clearly are not - that STILL wouldnt make it okay to treat you the way he does. Even if you were at fault in the relationship that wouldnt mean you deserved to be treated like shit. A normal response to feeling like your partner is bringing your life down is to either try and fix the issues or leave them, not relentlessly wear them down until theyve lost the will to argue.

In terms of why he has apologised this one time - I wouldnt be surprised if he is tracking your social media etc and has seen this post, or otherwise seen something in your re/actions, possibly something you've said to a friend, that suggested to him you've finally reached the end of your tether and are on the road to ending the relationship. He's panicking because he's worried his maid and sex slave will leave him so is making the bare minimum effort to try and smooth things over.

I was going to say the same... there's not one here thinking that he's a decent person.

He is utterly cruel and vile and treats you horribly. I agree with the pp who said how petty he was to take only his clothes in out of the rain and leave the children's clothes out to get wet.

He's ground you down into believing all the rubbish he spouts about you. You know in your heart its not normal... but its become normal in your household. Because of him. A mean minded, spiteful, petty abusive and heavy drinking man. He's made you doubt and second guess yourself.
Please consider ringing somewhere like Women's Aid.. to talk this through with someone in real life.
You need to start thinking about your options.. staying in this world of torture and misery, or declaring your independence.
I bet he's abusing you financially too.
You don't have to live like this.

Blueberrybonanza · 08/10/2026 07:34

Everyone is telling you, you are being abused and yours and your children's life is awful but you are clearly not interested in leaving so I dont see what you wanted from this thread?
Yes we all agree he is an abuser 🤷‍♀️ at some point you have to put your big pants on and put your children first, plus get some self respect

SuzieKew · 08/10/2026 09:10

As I said upthread, I've been there and got out and looking back I'm annoyed with myself for putting up with it as long as I did!

Get out of this awful relationship, you're never going to find happiness with him and you're setting a terrible example to your child(ren) of what a normal relationship should look like.

Like I said, I got out and my daughter is so grateful that I brought her up for the rest of her childhood on my own. It was hard work but our bond is amazing and she now knows what healthy relationships should look like.

Please get out, you won't regret it!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Iliketulips · 08/10/2026 09:38

He's treating you as a scivvy and has no respect for you, your wellbeing and what's fair.

DH will come in moaning part of a dead shrew or bird in the garden. It's me that wanted our cats, they're very much mine and it'll have been them that did it, but he's already cleared it away to save me a horrible job.

Beachtastic · 08/10/2026 09:39

AshCullen1894 · 07/10/2026 20:52

You may be calm but you are a total pushover.

A relationship like this completely distorts reality so you no longer know which way is up.

OP, please just make your way quietly out of this horrible life. Be aware that if he gets even the slightest whiff of your plans, he will mess with your head (as he did by playing Mr Nice briefly, but there are nastier tactics he can use if necessary to keep you in place).

It's good that you're waking up to what's going on. This is a long process that won't be complete until long after you're out of that relationship and can look back on it with clearer vision. Be prepared to doubt yourself at every step of the way - that's all part of the trap, unfortunately.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 08/10/2026 10:06

Thesoundofsilenceisdisturbed · 07/10/2026 18:29

Well something very unusual happened that has never happened before. He sent me a text apologising. It was sent at 12.30am whilst he was drunk. I have only just read it because I mute his messages as they cause too much stress.

This was basically what it said...
I apologise for being mean to you the other day...I accumulate inside, what I feel is your animosity from the little things you do almost daily (against me only)... which I feel are mean. I shouldn't have said horrible things.... being a twat isn't what I want to be and I'm sorry.

I know what you're all thinking, he's apologised so he's obviously a decent person who made a mistake. You don't understand though, he NEVER EVER apologises. He has said all these things to me before and much worse. I've been shouted at, followed around the house, he's threatened to punch me in the face. He has said and done so much more and never apologised.

Any insight as to why he has this time? It makes no sense.

No girl.... NO ONE is thinking he's obviously a decent person who made a mistake. But NO ONE....

He's a piece of shit who is breadcrumbing you and giving the bare fucking minimum to keep you pressed down in your little box

Please get the hell away from him....
If you wont do it for yourself please do it for your child.

deargreen · 08/10/2026 11:02

Blueberrybonanza · 08/10/2026 07:34

Everyone is telling you, you are being abused and yours and your children's life is awful but you are clearly not interested in leaving so I dont see what you wanted from this thread?
Yes we all agree he is an abuser 🤷‍♀️ at some point you have to put your big pants on and put your children first, plus get some self respect

The OP has been manipulated and controlled over many years and is only just coming to a point where she is questioning the status quo. Many people in this situation take some time to make change. What a forum like Mumsnet can offer is support and positive reinforcement. Not everyone can just leave either practically or psychologically. I hope this thread and others she (or others in this kind of situation) starts will give her the strength to make positive change. It might not be today but it could be tomorrow.

Go for it OP x

New posts on this thread. Refresh page