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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:
emotionsecho · 29/09/2014 11:56

dollfin this is going to sound very harsh - staying with him would be a failure and weak, walking away is the opposite.

We all want to feel butterflies and bowled over and when we do we want to keep that feeling and make it work, but it will never work unless both people feel the same and he clearly doesn't feel that way about you, he wouldn't treat you so appallingly if he did.

You will live a better life without him.

NewEraNewMindset · 29/09/2014 11:58

I would bet you anything that if you do move on from him and meet someone new he will pursue you and badger you till you come back. It's all about his ego and arrogance and nothing to do with having love for you as a partner. You are his possession when it suits you and you are nothing to him when he has had enough. I suspect he would also cheat on you without too much thought also, these behavioural traits tend to go hand in hand.

On a practical level where are you living currently? Can you pull out of your house sale and stay put or have you exchanged? You need to rebuild your security and then try and rebuild you life without him. If he is a drug to you then so be it, but keep your house and your independence and have him as a boyfriend until he finally does something bad enough to get you to wake up and shake him free.

ImperialBlether · 29/09/2014 12:07

Don't buy a house with someone who doesn't emotionally support you. He turned against you, he sided with others who were against you and now he isn't talking to you.

For god's sake, phone the solicitors and say that you are withdrawing from the purchase. Don't give in - this man is horrible to you and both you and your son deserve better.

glenthebattleostrich · 29/09/2014 12:18

There is a saying on here, when someone tells you who they are believe them. Your (hopefully soon to be ex) partner has repeatedly told you how little you mean to him.

I think one last message to him is needed. Tell him the house sale is off, you will be contacting solicitors and informing them of this. He will not be coming with you to Blackpool, that is a family holiday and he has made it clear he does not consider you to be family. He may collect any possessions from you at x time on x day. If this is inconvenient you will bag them up and leave them outside for him to collect as he pleases. He is not under any circumstances to contact you again. and he and his bitch of a sister can fuck the fuck off to the far side of fuck off

It'll be hard, you will miss him but you and your son deserve better.

wellthatsdoneit · 29/09/2014 12:22

when someone tells you who they are believe them

^^ This. With bells on. If this isn't a man prancing around with a gazillion red flags, I don't know what is. Just his relationship history alone gives you the measure of him, never mind his insufferable family. Honestly love, you'll be kicking yourself in years to come if you don't make a run for it now.

losthermind · 29/09/2014 12:29

I cant honestly see how you can move forward in this relationship???
He has allowed his family to humiliate you, and in turn has humiliated you himself by not standing by you.
His sister is obviously a manipulative bitch, and it sounds that you've just played right into her hands.
I can only imagine what has been said behind your back, and he will be slagging you off with the rest of the coven.
Hes an even bigger arsehole than his family.
Be glad the house isnt bought

Itsfab · 29/09/2014 12:30

"Supposed to be buying a house together"?? WTF are you even still thinking about him never mind anything else.

Just get out of this abusive controlling relationship as your son deserves better even if you don't think you do.

CSIJanner · 29/09/2014 12:30

I am sorry but this all sounds like it's been building up without your knowledge behind the scenes. The sister and OH both knew how you felt about ExWNK to the point where even before you knew she was there, everyone was asking if you were okay? It does sound like a complete set up by either one or both of them as its sounds like the sister wants her brother back with ExWNK. Bin him and live without indigestion. The butterflies aren't worth the emotional manipulation.

Castlemilk · 29/09/2014 12:33

I'm so relieved that you seem to be willing to put the house stuff on hold at least.

Please, please listen to this thread. Not a single person has said that your relationship sounds a good one. Not one person.

'when someone tells you who they are, believe them'.

Yes.

'staying with him would be a failure and weak, walking away is the opposite.'

and yes.

I think one of the reasons everyone is howling with frustration is, also, that it's so clear from your posts that you are the one stuck with the booby prize - you are clearly more sensible, nicer, tougher, smarter - everything. You just don't need him, at all. You definitely don't need his shit.

LadyLuck10 · 29/09/2014 12:36

Time to take the blinkers off and realize finally what an unhealthy, bad relationship you have. Why on earth did you accept the excuse of not being invited to the Italy wedding? Do you see how easy it was for him to get you to go along with whatever he wants you to do, because you accepted that?

Don't tie yourself by getting a house with him. He told you he doesn't want anything to do with you, please don't beg him. Keep your self respect and leave him.

Do you think he will treat your son well? Do you think if you have a child they will be treated equally. Time to wake up and take control and responsibility for your own life. Don't allow anyone to treat you this way.
He has kids and exes littered all over the place, do you really want to get involved in that situation??
Think of this last horrible event as a blessing in disguise.

Sunna · 29/09/2014 12:49

Another voice saying you deserve better. Dump him.

oldgrandmama · 29/09/2014 12:53

Oh gawd, OP - are you the only one putting up the money for the new house, out of the proceeds of the sale of your previous house? Please tell me you're not. Better still, please tell me that YOU ARE DROPPING OUT OF THE PURCHASE. And dumping that sorry excuse for a 'man' and his toxic family. Because, believe me, if you proceed, buy your 'dream house' with him, he'll shaft you good and proper and I don't mean in bed! You'll end up with your finances in ruins, your and your child's future wrecked and your life an utter misery at his hands, and the hands of his family.

DON'T DO IT! Call off the purchase, safeguard your money (for Christ's sake take out your money from the joint account, immediately), and dump this vile, abusive man.

SlimJiminy · 29/09/2014 12:56

The only thing making you sound weak is that you're considering staying with this knobjockey despite him treating you like utter shit. Being spoken to like that isn't normal you know? I've been there, many years ago, in a relationship where I told myself that being verbally abused by a partner was normal because "that's what he does when he's had a drink." It's bollocks. There are decent blokes out there. You can find a man who will treat you with the respect you deserve AND give you butterflies, but ONLY if you believe you're worth that. Walk away now. Consider yourself incredibly lucky. Have a bit of self-respect and find someone who thinks you're the best thing since sliced bread! Please trust others who've said that walking away from this is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Tillybee · 29/09/2014 12:56

I'm just about to read the full thread (sorry for not doing first), but wanted to respond to your OP with my initial response which is that you have not done anything terrible here.

The family sound awful, but it's your DP I'm most angry with. His behaviour is the most appalling. I would walk away from him. Go on holiday with your family (and confide in and seek support from them if possible) and look after yourself.

ChippingInLatteLover · 29/09/2014 13:05

RUN

He's not even your son's father. You have NO reason to try to 'make this work'.

If you love your son, at all, you will walk away from this sorry excuse of a man NOW

Do not pay a penny to anyone today.

Get your money somewhere safe where he can't touch it.

I don't know what has got you to this sorry place in your life, but gather every bit of strength you have and walk away.

ImperialBlether · 29/09/2014 13:06

I think that even if a man is really nice, if he's got a really awful family and he takes their side over yours, it's not worth having a relationship with him.

Do you two live together at the moment?

FreeWee · 29/09/2014 13:07

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.

To me that sounds like emotional abuse. Take some time away from him to see how much of yourself you were putting into making the relationship work and how much was out of your control but in his e.g. how he behaves towards his exes, how he behaves towards his family when talking about you

longtallsally2 · 29/09/2014 13:10

Another one who remembers your last thread well: I was a moderate voice on that suggesting that you shouldn't feel too left out at the overseas trip but could let him go to Italy and then go along to this wedding ('on his arm' I remember him saying) to show your support for him, to see how it went.

Well, you went and you saw. Italy wasn't a blip. His family really hasn't accepted you. His dsis sounds toxic and will be out to stir things and he clearly is happy to let her. His exes aren't the problem, the sister is and she aint going away. Unless he showed that he values you above them all, and stood up to the sister in front of you, then he doesn't deserve you. He is losing out on an amazing woman. Please don't buy this house. A dream home is not a dream home if you find yourself trapped in a nightmare. Keep your own home. Let him come crawling for forgiveness for screaming at you if he wants to, or even better, find someone who likes you, who wants to spend time with you and who will be a good role model for your son.

RockinHippy · 29/09/2014 13:12

This arse is even worse than your first post Shock

You have SOLD your own house in order to buy a "dream home" for the 2 of you, & he has turned on you like this NOW - effectively leaving you & your DS homeless & with no f'ing remorse - he us a controlling abuser if the highest orderAngry

He will be back, he is currently reminding HE calls the shots & you bow down & do as you are told or you will be punished - that's no life for you or your DS!!!

Those are not butterflies of love you feel, but the same butterfly feeling of fear you get on a roller coaster ride - WAKE UP & RUN!!!

I also wonder what in your background makes you this way ?? - I'm speaking from experience here - I was just like you once upon a time & it took counselling after a particularly bad arsehole (sociopath) experience left me questioning my own sanity - there is a reason you are building your relationships on sand - get to the bottom of that & you can turn this part of your life around.

Sounds to me like he's probably a "cock lodger" too & the house buying us all you anyway, if so, just buy your dream house & be happy making a life without him there - just think, no one telling you your decorating or furnishings ideas are wrongly - do as you please - you really don't need him bringing you down. Ring the Solicitor & apologise, just say you were ill, bad food poisoning or Norovirus & couldn't get to the phone & move forward without this spiked noose around your neck

ImperialBlether · 29/09/2014 13:15

I've just read your other thread.

It sounds as though your boyfriend is so goodlooking that you feel dazzled by him and think you are lucky to have him. You need to start thinking about his behaviour, rather than his looks.

Can I ask whether he relies on you financially? You were/are about to buy a house together - who was putting in what, can I ask? (In % terms)

RockinHippy · 29/09/2014 13:16

Just to make sure that was clear -!I mean buy this house 100% on YOUR OWN - or NOT at all

Icimoi · 29/09/2014 13:21

OP, one of the best ways to make you feel better about yourself is to do exactly as glen says. That way you are the one in control, you know what is happening, and you walk away with your head held very high. The alternative is simply waiting for him to carry on emotionally abusing you before he dumps you in the most abusive way possible, and you know that that will make you feel ten times worse.

magoria · 29/09/2014 13:22

Get back to the solicitors asap. Is it too late to stop your house sale? Do not hand over any money and stop any purchase unless you can do it alone without him.

Do not put a penny into a shared item with a man who treats you like this.

Go home and let your family care for you alone.

Get rid of this man it will not get better you and your child will always come last.

Tillybee · 29/09/2014 13:23

Yes, he'll be back. No doubt of that. Sounds like you're being 'punished' with the silence at the moment.
I hope you can find the strength to walk away from it all when he does come back. But I would say do not buy a house with this person! Can you stay in your own home or buy this house alone, or somewhere else just for you and your DS?

patienceisvirtuous · 29/09/2014 14:06

I once read/heard a quote re butterflies and altho I can't remember it exactly, it really resonated with me... it's general gist was that butterflies in stomach stem from insecurity and are a reaction to you not realky feeling someone is fully 'yours'; an innate panic the person won't always be around. This of course makes them all the more desirable to you.

Don't be led by those butterflies OP!