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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Help - have I behaved terribly or not?

407 replies

dollfin · 29/09/2014 09:45

I am having a horrible time (again) with my partner and I need some sensible advice.

I went to the UK part of a wedding on Friday night (overseas part was in Italy) with my partner, his son and my son. When I arrived there I had no issue whatsoever but my partners family kept asking if I was ok, probably around 20 or 30 times. In the end I asked what they were talking about and it emerged that 2 of my partners exes were going to be at the party. One lady who he has an 18 daughter with and I get on with well and one girl who he was with for 8 years but has no children with. Now if i'm completely honest, I have no problem with the ex who he has kids with, thats his family and she has a special place in his life. I am always friendly with her and we get on fine. The other girl I have a bit of a problem with. The family seem to favour her over everyone in some way, she was invited to the hen do and I wasn't. She is always with my DPs sister as they are still very good friends and I know that she was devastated when she and my DP split up. They split up over 5 years ago now and she hasn't had a boyfriend since. I think she still has feelings for him but I don't know for sure.

Anyway, I tried to put all this aside at the party and have a nice time. It was made very hard because when I wandered up to my partner having a chat with someone, he was also talking about his other ex, DS's Mum. It was all getting a bit much and to be honest, normally I'm so secure and self confident but I was starting to feel unimportant and horrible.

I know that his sister is not very keen on me and when I was having a dance she started asking whether I was ok that my son was with someone he didn't know upstairs (he was with a babysitter i use regularly, he is 3 and she arrived to look after him at 9pm because he was tired and had a full day at school). I told her he wasn't with someone he didn't know, he was with a regular babysitter and he was fine). But this pissed me off a bit. Then she started on with the 'was I ok?' again and at this point I just told her what I thought. I said that I was confused at why Emma hasn't really moved on, I felt a bit sorry for my DP that she was invited to all family gatherings and that our relationship hasn't really had the space to grow and be accepted by his family. She then responded my saying the girl is a family member and I basically should just get over it because shes always going to be around.

She then asked me to go outside with her and used the whole thing as an opportunity to rake up an incident that had happened a long time ago when she had looked after my DS (6months old at the time) and she had taken him out in an unsafe car, past his bedtime and not called me to let me know. At the time I was angry about this and we fell out but I had since thought it was all forgotten about. She brought this up again and made wild accusations about the evening, accusing me of all sorts of things that hand on my heart, I didn't do or say. I got more and more upset outside, kept telling her that I wasn't going to agree with her as those things didn't happen and then my DP came over. He heard the things she was saying and he took her side. We went back to the room and he called me the worst names ever, I'm not even writing them they make me feel so horrible. Everytime I tried to explain to him what had happened he screamed at me and he told me to go home first thing in the morning so I didn't see anyone. I've since had the silent treatment since then and it shows no sign of stopping. I sent him a long email yesterday and he replied saying 'if you contact me again I will be forced to take matters out of your hands'.

I feel completely bewildered and hugely upset. I probably could have dealt with the whole ex thing better but I feel pushed out and like an outcast in his family. The fact i wasn't invited to the hen do and me and my son were not invited to the wedding in Italy was really difficult to deal with. I had had enough of people asking me if I was ok and I didn't have a go at the sister, I just explained how I felt. I feel pretty sure if she was in my situation she would feel the same. She then used that to dredge up something from the past that I have tried so hard to put right, she has made no effort at all.

My DP and I are in the middle of buying a house together, we were meant to be going to Blackpool with my family later this week and I feel dreadful. I haven't eaten anything for 3 days and he will not speak to me. I feel like his sister totally set out to do this and I feel like she is having a really good laugh at me behind my back. She has also posted a picture on facebook captioned 'my favourite photo of the night' and it is her with all of his exes dancing on the dancefloor. I feel in my heart of hearts like she is purposefully trying to be a bitch and make me miserable. I don't know what to do. Help.

OP posts:
Whoopsadazy · 29/09/2014 11:19

dollfin
I am trying to take it on board. I am just finding it very hard to be completely honest. I feel really hurt and quite devastated at the thought of losing him

For one thing, you've already "lost" him - he's told you to stop contacting him thank God

For another, you are not just YOU. You are you and YOUR THREE YEAR OLD SON. This man is not yoru husband or the father of your child. You are not dependent on him. You -currently - have no financial ties to him. Do not sell your son's upbringing down the river for this sham of a relationship.

Vitalstatistix · 29/09/2014 11:20

he was afraid of upsetting her?

Is that why he screamed vile names at you in private and screamed at you every time you tried to speak and the next day sent you that very very cold email? Because to not call you horrible names in private and scream at you in private and send you emails basically saying contact me again and you'll regret it would upset her?

I realise you are hurt, but for your sake and that of the child you have who has no choice but to have in his life those people you choose to bring into it - take the hint !

SlightlyJadedJack · 29/09/2014 11:21

Please don't proceed with the house, his sister is a bitch but his reaction was completely uncalled for and unforgivable - particularly his response to the email, what is he actually threatening you with here? Take the power away from them and take control of your life for yourself and for the sake of your son. Good luck.

MaidOfStars · 29/09/2014 11:21

dollfin

This is both harsh and blunt.

  1. How would you feel if your son's (future) partner behaved this way towards him? Angry, furious, protective? What if he puts up with it because his Mum did? How can you tell him it's not OK?
  1. How would you feel if your son behaved this way towards a (future) partner? Ashamed, horrified? How are you planning on teaching him any different, if he sees that he behaviour like this carries no consequences?
Sollers · 29/09/2014 11:21

OP, with all due respect, you need to get a grip of yourself, love. This man is not nice. If you buy a house with him you will be inviting pain and misery into you AND YOUR SON'S lives.

If you can't get it together to leave this horrible man for yourself, at least do it for your son please. He deserves better than having this asshole in his life.

DrSethHazlittMD · 29/09/2014 11:23

Dollfin you said you do know what to do and asked us for help. We have all, unanimously agreed that this guy is a wanker (at best) and that this is a lucky escape. Have nothing more to do with him, do not proceed with any house purchase and ensure your son has a happy life. He will not have if you continue to have any contact with this fuckwit.

That is our advice. Do take it. I think most of us advised against this wanker on your previous thread. You, as is your choice, ignored that advice. Sadly, we have been proved right by this latest incident. You have the chance to redeem that mistake and not make yet another.

You know, there are guys out there who are not wankers, and do not have sisters who behave like bitches from Hell.

hellsbellsmelons · 29/09/2014 11:23

Has he sold his house too?
Or are you funding all of this house buy?
Have you already arranged a joint mortgage?
Have you safeguarded your money from your house sale?
You may well be selling your sons inheritence down the river here.
Be very careful before you sign anything.
But in all honesty. Just don't go forward with this at all.

Castlemilk · 29/09/2014 11:24

You've sold YOUR house and are investing with him instead?!!!

STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP!!!

AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!

you will regret this bitterly.

he is a complete knob.

he is already treating you like shit

his sister is also a complete knob - fgs please ignore everything she said - Im sure you do feel like an idiot - I've had similar conversations with bellends and it's quite surreal. But the bottom line is you may as well have been talking to a washing line which has been magically brought to life and thinks it owns all oil rights in the North Sea. She's a T.W.A.T. You'll always feel like that talking to her. It doesn't mean anything apart from the fact that she's weird, and incidentally, so clearly is his strange clingy ex.

They don't matter.

You do, your son does.

Please please don't tie yourself to this man financially.

Can you back out of the house thing now, without losing money?

He's not talking to you and is parading around about how you are not together any more, but presumably still expects that the money will be paid today as planned for you to buy a house together, ie with your money?

So he's just peacocking with all the ignoring you shit, expectas you to take it and for it to be business as usual?

You are being USED. As a second-class-citizen partner, the little woman who provides services, someone to be on his arm, and here money too.

But who isn't respected or even seen as a part of his core life.

You KNOW this - you have to get out and you must, must protect your money - your son's future.

Please cancel the house stuff, if nothing else right now STOP the house thing and keep your assets safe while you think this through.

emotionsecho · 29/09/2014 11:27

dollfin a man who loved and respected you would not treat you like this, nor would he stand idly by and let others do so, or even worse, join in their humiliation of you.

He doesn't consider you or your son important or worth enough, his behaviour and implied threats make that perfectly clear.

He doesn't deserve your love and neither you nor, more especially, your son deserve the life of cruelty and sadness you will both endure if you don't walk away now.

Be strong, don't waste another minute on this man walk away with your son into a better future.

dollfin · 29/09/2014 11:30

Thank you for your advice everyone, it does seem a pretty unanimous opinion. I am going to take some time and try to pull myself together. It's really hard when someone keeps telling you that you are the one in the wrong, it makes you doubt your sanity and question your whole self as a person.

I don't want to make my sons life miserable and he doesn't, he has a lovely life. I'm really really sad that something I have put so much of my emotional time into has turned out this way. I feel like a failure and like I'm being weak.

I don't mind all the home truths and blunt responses, I would probably say the same thing. It's just a whole lot different when it's you and you are feeling overwhelmed.

Bottom line is that I desperately just wanted this to work and my life to be happy. I was bowled over by him when we met and I still get butterflies when I look at him now and things are good. My heart hurts so much and is so heavy i'm struggling to out things into perspective.

OP posts:
cees · 29/09/2014 11:31

You sold your home, your sons security to live with this prick. My God your poor son, come on dollfin wake up. He doesn't want you, he wants to get rid of you, his actions say so.

Have some dignity and stop pining for him, look after you little boy and show him it's not ok to let yourself be treated like shit by anyone but especially those who profess to love us.

cheeseandpineapple · 29/09/2014 11:33

OP, you're not an idiot. He and his family are.

This is fate intervening, pull out of the purchase now.

Get a new place for you and your son and move on. Go to Blackpool with your family and focus on having fun with your son.

You've just had a lucky escape. Celebrate it.

Vitalstatistix · 29/09/2014 11:34

To walk away from a situation that has the potential to really damage your child is not weak.

To choose to say no, I am worth more than to be screamed at by you, is not weak

To say that I will not accept being treated like this by your family, is not weak.

To say I have an infatuation with this person (which is basically what the butterfiles and bowled over thing is) but I am going to use my head and look at the situation logically and consider my financial future and the well being of my child and prioritise that over butterflies is not weak.

Quite the opposite in fact - that is strength.

cees · 29/09/2014 11:34

You lived life before he showed up in it and you will after he goes. You are stronger then you think. Treat those butterflies like indigestion from now on.

dollfin · 29/09/2014 11:35

Yes you're right Cees.

OP posts:
doobledootch · 29/09/2014 11:36

I think you need to call your solicitor and get them to inform everyone that the house sale won't be proceeding.

Then follow your DP's instructions and never contact him again and get on with the rest of your life.

Things will be shit for a while as you get over it, and then they'll be better again.

Good luck OP, sorry this has happened to you [flower] Brew Wine

SaucyJack · 29/09/2014 11:37

You are not a failure Dollfin- you're a decent person who's had their heartbroken. He is the one who is in the wrong. It will hurt, and it will take time but you will come out the other side a stronger and happier person. Take care x

slushypeas · 29/09/2014 11:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SavoyCabbage · 29/09/2014 11:38

He probably had the same butterfly giving effect on all these others women too, that's how he's managed to stagger disastrously through his life leaving a catalogue of broken relationships behind him.

He has treated you really badly. It's not going to get better. There's no coming back from this.

Obviously you don't deserve to be treated like that. Nobody does. You have so much going for you.

Bouttimeforwine · 29/09/2014 11:40

I still think that you are focusing on the sister rather than dh, perhaps that is because it is emotionally easier to blame her. She is a red herring.
She could cause far more trouble but if your relationship was sound then your DP would not let it affect your relationship. So your problem is entirely with him.

Your choices now -

  1. continue buying the house. DP will have a claim on it. That is your sons security. Do you want to upset his life both financially and emotionally? Do you really want him to go through moving in together and it all going tits up? He must be your priority now.
  1. pull out or at least delay the sale. I know someone whose house sale fell through on the day of completion. Horrendous for everyone but you need to look out for yourself and it is much easier to pull out now than further down the line when the guilt hits in and you have spent a small fortune. Either way though you must pull out further down the line if you need to. You may be gutted to lose this house but there are other nice houses if your relationship does survive.

Pull out now and then see whether you salvage the relationship. Personally I think you need to forget him and get him out of your life now, but whatever you decide pull out of that house sale now.

Forget the sister. Your problem is him.

Dinnaeknowshitfromclay · 29/09/2014 11:43

Sounds to me like he is financially abusing you too. How much is he putting in compared with you OP?

To echo what other posters have said, this is your wake up call. Do not walk in to this trap. Walk away with fared nostrils and your head held high. How fucking dare he speak to you and treat you that way. Now he has done this, you will never have the respect of his family anyway. Get out, stay out, you have a chance to do it with dignity right now. N months down thel ine when the penny drops it will cost a fortune to get out and he will still be financially and verbally abusing you at best.

jonicomelately · 29/09/2014 11:44

Buy a pair of these and use them!

Alligatorpie · 29/09/2014 11:45

I think you had a lucky escape. Had you actually bought the house, it would have been a nightmare. I hope you are able to find somewhere for you and your son to live. I am sorry you sold your home to be with this man. He sounds like a total asshole.

Dinnaeknowshitfromclay · 29/09/2014 11:45

Flared nostrils. FLARED FFS!

wowfudge · 29/09/2014 11:55

Vitalstatistix is absolutely right. Unfortunately this excuse for a man has got you in a place when 'losing' him is making you feel as though you have failed. He is a manipulator and a loser. Be strong and look after yourself and your son. Being on your own, rather than in a 'relationship' with this arse, is better for your self-esteem and your health. You cannot let him pull the strings in this way: take back control.

If you love the house and can buy it on your own, then do it. If not, then take your own house off the market/don't proceed with the sale depending on how far along things are with that. Though to be honest, I wouldn't want to live somewhere with the associations of a failed relationship, unless you can cut off completely from that.

It's really tough - I went through with something when I was younger when I should have walked away. I learned through bitter experience. You are only a failure if you fail to learn from a situation and keep making the same mistake. Time to show him what you are really made of and what he has lost. You don't need this waste of space, you are worth far more than that.

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