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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu - just had an argument with bf

322 replies

Tinkofhousepan · 11/02/2018 05:40

Hi all, this is quite personal (and it's gonna be really long as ive got a lot to get off my chest so Sorry in advance), but I really need some impartial advice. I'm really confused and I genuinely don't know where to go from here or even if i should try to fix this. I am posting this in AIBU instead of relationships because people tend to give blunter answers - and that is what I need!

Been with BF for a while, we don't live together, but I stay at his every other night (he lives on his own, I am with parents saving for the seemingly impossible to obtain mortgage - this is relevant).

I have to commute for about 45 mins each way to work, whereas he works locally to where we both live, practically in the town centre and 5 mins walk from the pub. He goes to the pub every afternoon after he finishes work at 4. I work weird shift patterns so some weeks I finish at 5 and others I could finish as late as 8pm if we are running to time, sometimes we can still be there at gone 9 if something takes longer than expected or if we have a walk in emergency that can't wait.

On my early days when I get to our hometown at around 6 he is fine, and he genuinely is the loveliest most caring partner that I've ever had and I just want to be around him all the time because he makes me genuinely happy and I am in love with him, and I feel his love back.

He cooks for me, gets me tea/hot water bottles without me asking for them (just because I look like I need one), runs me baths, doesn't pester me for sex if he can see I've had a bad/stressful day or if I'm just exhausted. But our sex life is great, he has really embraced some of my more wacky desires and does it really well!

He texts me throughout the day taking a genuine interest in how its going, tells me several times a day that he loves/misses me. He is so attentive and makes me feel really special and loved throughout my work day - all great.

The problem is on my late weeks where he could end up being in the pub from 4pm - 9pm, and when I meet up with him he is obviously pretty drunk but still ok to be around, if a little belligerent and opinionated.

It's when I'm not going home with him on those occasions he goes really paranoid and starts a row over nothing. He will accuse me of getting up to no good and says he 'knows what I'm up to' but will not elaborate any further.

The other day i text him to ask if he was still in the pub so I could see him briefly and get a cuddle and a kiss on the way home, and he accused me of checking up on him to find out his wherabouts so I could meet someone else without worrying about bumping into him Confused. I have never done this so I don't know where he got that idea from.

He gets quite hurtful and once he has this idea in his head, nothing will change his mind, not even if i take a picture of me sat in the living room or on my bed.

This happens on a fairly regular basis (3 times this week, latest one being tonight) literally over an non issue!

Tonight's was he was out with the boys, it got to midnight, I asked if he was coming over and he went all funny and passive aggressive saying that I had said I would stay at his tonight and calling me a liar etc.

When I relayed the conversation that we had had yesterday about where I was staying tonight and that he was welcome to stay over, and in the morning I'd make him a hangover breakfast feed the cats and then we would go to his for a 'fun' day (parents are away this weekend so have to be here to feed the cats -which he knows!!!!).

He started again accusing me of lying to him, and insisting that I had said nothing of the sort yesterday. He blew his top and went super cold on me when I screen shot and sent him the conversation where it showed i had said that i was home tonight and him saying that he remembered and that he might come over if he wasnt too drunk.

It sent him into a spin of him then asking me questions about my evening , what did i do? (ate fajhitas, had a bath and some wine and was chilling in bed watching the hobbit when this all kicked off) which pub did i go to? (Didn't go to any pub) who did I meet up with? (The freaking tooth fairy came round and we did a ouija board obviously) which are his way of trying to trip me up and catch me in a lie, so he can feel vindicated that he was justified in starting this whole pointless argument when he sobers up tomorrow.

It's really draining, and I am not happy for this behaviour to continue. The next day he is full of apologies etc, but I am now quite frankly fed up of this.

He is lovely in so many ways, but I can't help feeling that this is just something he does, and won't change or even try to change, and I don't want to deal with that any more.

What should I do?

Thanks for reading, it felt good just writing it all down.

OP posts:
viques · 11/02/2018 12:50

Oops, forgot the gas lighting........

WheresTheHooferDoofer · 11/02/2018 12:52

My ex is still trying it on after 6 months. I can't ignore him completely because of the DCs. But they are old enough to make their own decisions and chose not to contact him just yet, they aren't ready.

But he tried to accuse me of leaving for someone else, still tried that very recently, like he can't accept I've left because of him and &his^ behaviour.

SukiTheDog · 11/02/2018 12:55

Walk away. This man is trouble.

Tinkofhousepan · 11/02/2018 12:56

I haven't responded. Don't have anything to say

OP posts:
YearOfYouRemember · 11/02/2018 12:58

Sounds like he's cheated, cheating, thinking about it. Classic projection. "I know what you're up to."

Dizzylin · 11/02/2018 13:00

I have been reading the thread and you've definately done the right thing. Stay strong x

usualGubbins · 11/02/2018 13:02

OP you are my hero! So many of us would have engaged, knowing it to be the wrong thing to do!

CuriousaboutSamphire · 11/02/2018 13:07

No, you don't have anything to say, but your Bingo card looks good, 1 text and look:

I was drunk yep!
We are special yep!

He is, as pp have said being rather predictable. And you can use that to bolster your resolve, should it slip!

Casschops · 11/02/2018 13:11

Ive been in a relarionship with this man, well not the same one but one just like. It lasted eight years of manipulation and back and forth drama hate and love. It wasnt good or positive for my wellbeing and it was another three years before I could think about anyone else. Its called coercive control now. My advice is that the behaviour may change for a while he will be perfect contrite and apologetic but...a leopard doesnt changr its spots and he will drag you right down wih him and kick your self esteem to the kerb. Get out and stay away delete his number or like a fish he will reel you back in. Alarm bells are ringing. Listen to them.

DistanceCall · 11/02/2018 13:28

Good for you, Tink. Remember: you don't owe this man ANYTHING.

If he persists, send him a brief message saying that you don't want to have anything to do with him again, and that you will report any further contact on his part as harassment. If he turns up at your place, call the police.

Don't be afraid to do this. If you cave in, even a little, he will see it as a reward for being persistent and will keep on doing it.

laudanum · 11/02/2018 13:28

Been here with this sort of behaviour. It will never change. Worst thing was, the nasty alcohol fuelled behaviour ended up progressing into sober times too - the paranoia eventually developed to the point where he didn't need a drink for it to happen.

The only way this will stop is if he quits drinking entirely, which isn't likely to happen. You need to end the relationship because it's not going to get any better whilst he drinks, and if he's in the pub every day, that's not going to stop, even if you beg him. I get it, you'll want to try and fix it, plead with him etc, but this will very soon turn into much much worse.

That's not love: non physical relationship violence..

That post is important. Some men are like that all the time, some turn into arseholes with alcohol, and some just turn that way over time because of controlling behaviour. Please take this seriously. I'm glad you're not living with him.

dollyboots · 11/02/2018 13:28

This whole thread has been inspirational. The support! The strength!

I have no further wisdom: there’s been so much already. But lovely, don’t back down. You’ve come a million miles today and you deserve so much better than you were getting.

MatildaTheCat · 11/02/2018 13:28

If you repeat the same behaviour over and over how can it be referred to as ‘a mistake?’ It just can’t.

He has two sides to him and one is deeply unpleasant. The other side doesn’t sound much better.

Well done. Take a break from dating and work on your self worth. I have a friend aged 60 who is repeatedly allowing a dreadful man to treat her like dirt. Don’t be her.

Madonnasmum · 11/02/2018 13:31

2018 is going to be so great without this man. Today will be the hardest, and next few days while he begs for forgiveness and how much he will change. He won't. He loves his life. He loves to drink.
You can do SO MUCH BETTER.

frieda909 · 11/02/2018 13:33

As others have already said, prepare yourself for a few nasty messages if you keep ignoring his ‘nice’ ones.

My money is on him accusing you of cheating again and saying that you’re obviously feeling guilty, or that he was right all along not to trust you, or something along those lines.

If that happens, just be relieved that he’s well and truly shown his true colours!

beboldbebluntbehonest · 11/02/2018 13:36

I think you should now block him. He has nothing worthwhile to say to you.

laudanum · 11/02/2018 13:45

Also - dumping someone by text is entirely reasonable when you worry for your safety both mental and physical. Not answering his texts is totally the right way forward. You don't owe him a thing.

LannieDuck · 11/02/2018 13:49

I agree with everyone else. I think you've done the right thing. Be strong.

I couldn't be with someone who I couldn't trust, and who trusts me in return. My OH and I are a partnership. I don't have to justify everything I do to him because we trust each other.

If you ever wonder whether he's being reasonable or not, flip the behaviour around. If you'd been the one in the pub accusing him of being wrong (even when he had text messages to prove he was right)... would you have apologised immediately, or would you have gone cold and confrontational? If you'd accused him of cheating, how would he have reacted?

His behaviour is unreasonable.

Aeroflotgirl · 11/02/2018 13:53

I would dump him, you don't want to be treading on eggshells all the time, his behaviour is a big red flag.

Aeroflotgirl · 11/02/2018 13:53

It also sounds as though he could turn nasty if you dump him too.

Lweji · 11/02/2018 14:02

So, do you think the OP should dump him twice? Grin

Haffiana · 11/02/2018 14:12

So, do you think the OP should dump him twice?

I guess pp would have to muster enough respect read the fucking thread to answer that... Grin

Tinkofhousepan · 11/02/2018 14:21

Thank you everyone for your amazing support. I have now blocked all forms of contact. I just have to avoid going places I know he frequents for a while. Much love to you all. ❤❤❤

OP posts:
Graphista · 11/02/2018 14:24

"I would have tried having a conversation with him about the drinking first because it does change people and makes them paranoid sometimes" that's minimising and excusing and sounds like someone who is an addict themselves.

Good for you op blocking him. Pointless talking to him he's not going to recognise his flaws.

expatinscotland · 11/02/2018 14:25

Well done! Do not hesitate to contact the police if he shows up at your home or any other place he knows you frequent and becomes nasty or threatening. You have ended the relationship. You don't owe him an explanation, a justification, a second chance or anything at all.