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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel I've been played

170 replies

Courtney555 · 06/08/2018 00:18

Sorry in advance for a potentially long thread.

Have been with OH for two years now. He lives with me the majority of the time.

At the start, he'd been out of a 7yr relationship for 3 months. I was with someone I loved dearly, but was leaving the country so it ended. The main difference being OH was dumped and was bitter about it. My then bf and I did not have any animosity.

OH and I really hit it off. I wanted to keep it casual. He insisted on a relationship, so I agreed to try and see where it went. It was lots of fun, summer romance. Then one afternoon, he sent me a photo of the ex as he was cleaning his flat one day saying "hard to throw away" (this was 4 months in) and I found it not only insensitive, but also insulting as she is (being blunt) noticeably unattractive. He was still obviously bitter. So I made extra effort, cooking really nice meals, doted on him, even arranged a therapist.

Shortly after, he then refused to make any acknowledgement of me on social media... Which usually I wouldn't give a toss about, and his explanation was "I don't do social media"... Except he had hundreds of pictures of everyone BUT me. All exes, friends, family. I wasn't even acknowledged, you would never know I existed. When pointing it out, I was snapped at. To this day he has never initiated a picture of us together. I believe two exist.

I cover all household expenses. It's my house I guess... But it's not just me living in it. In the two years when I've pointed out he makes no contribution, he uses the strange excuse that he can't as we don't have a joint account. In the last 12mths he has made some contributions to grocery shopping.

He has no outgoings. If he's not here, he's at his familys, with all bills covered by them.

His family are rude and dismissive to me. Came to my house once, to pick up their car that he drives, as he'd gone away for work, and behaved in a manner as such I felt awkward in my own home. I brought it up, and after refusing to believe me, he eventually spoke to them. They lied, he called me a liar and as a result, I don't go to any social events so they don't have to acknowledge their behaviour. They've met me twice. I've invited them to dinner, and they didn't even respond.

He's never taken me out. Not once. On the very very rare occasions we have been anywhere, it's a local Chinese or something at my organisation. I pay most often. He's certainly never arranged anything for me.

His birthday, I bought him a whole new snowboarding wardrobe. My birthday (he works away) I didn't even get a card. I did get to sign for something he'd bought for himself and had sent to the house though!!

His ex was a cheat, who gave him an std, and yet she was given the world and he won't hear a bad word. He passed this std on to me as well, which I was so decent about, telling him, it's OK, these things happen, and I feel very few women would have been as calm as I was. He was of course apologetic. I've never had anything before. It wasn't his fault, but I feel it's one more example of me giving my all when I really had every reason not to, and his constant feeling entitled to nothing less from me.

I'm a qualified professional, with my own house, car, great job... And I "get" nothing so to speak. No thoughtfulness, no dates, no flowers, no little surprises. If I point this out, I'm "obsessed with the ex" which is honestly, laughable. I explain that I'm drawing reference to show that he obviously understands how to do nice things for other people, why am I treated so differently. Again, he rants that I'm digging up his past, to avoid the question.

He's very molly coddled. At 33. The sister, 40, is an absolute failure, (4 kids, no house, no job and a drunk boyfriend who's hit her in front of said children) but they are both treated as prodigal children by the family, and they all make excuses for why none of them are ever at fault... So I do understand that his upbringing plays a part here, but not in the way he disrespects me in so many ways compared to all previous relationships.

Am I being plain stupid in pursuing this any longer? He isn't a bad person. He's fairly good with my son. I'm just fed up of bringing everything I do to the table, which he's quite happy to take, and his ungrateful actions in return.

Am I sounding stupid. Am I holding out for someone who's never going to treat me any differently and always have an excuse why?

I ended it today. Aibu?

OP posts:
saoirse31 · 06/08/2018 08:11

Why did you have this waste of space in your sons life for two years?

Why are you so focused on how pretty and successful you are and how awful others are?

I'd wonder what lessons you're teaching your son about what's important in life.

Accountant222 · 06/08/2018 08:11

I think you have answered your own question, get shut and fast, move on.

FolderReformedScruncher · 06/08/2018 08:12

I think the more we do for men, the more they disrespect us. I think this is deep in their psyche and is related to how they view their mother. Mother does everything for them but ultimately they have to leave that behind and find another mug I know you can't generalise but there is definitely an element of this in a lot of men I know or have known. The old saying 'treat 'em mean and keep 'em keen' resonates.

GreenMeerkat · 06/08/2018 08:18

Please, pleas do not take him back or waste any more of your time on this douchebag.

You are worth more than him, and you know it!

PurpleRobe · 06/08/2018 08:21

He sounds like a loser.
And one that doesn't even like you, for you.

He's Just sponging off you.

I am pleased you have dumped him.

Never have a baby with him. That would be a disaster

notanurse2017 · 06/08/2018 08:21

well done on ending this awful relationship. I think you need to work on your own self esteem and stop judging women by their physical appearance. All women deserved to be treated with love and respect regardless of whether they are “no oil paintings”.

Sweetcarrielynne · 06/08/2018 08:24

YANBU, doesn't make any sense at all for you to be with someone who doesn't meet your needs in any kind of way. He obviously wasn't that into the relationship, and you deserve to be with someone who sees you as more than a convenience!

AFistfulofDolores1 · 06/08/2018 08:27

Your ex-OH may have been an arse, OP, I totally agree, but it was you who enabled him from the start, consistently, and quite strikingly so.

I'd consider exploring why it is that you would do that, and where codependence played a part in your own upbringing.

MyNameIsNotSteven · 06/08/2018 08:29

I don't know why you're even giving this a second thought. You've lost a cocklodger who contributes less than nothing to your life. You've gained the opportunity to have fun alone and meet someone better. You've saved yourself an absolute fortune in bills and unreciprocated gifts. Celebrate!

viques · 06/08/2018 08:30

I wonder why you were so keen to get into another relationship after your first one finished? What were you looking for, companionship, emotional support, a father figure for your son, good sex?

He sounds like a loser and I am glad for your sake that you have finished it, but you sound like a strong, intelligent woman, please don't jump into another relationship unless you are very clear about what you want to get out of it, maybe next time you will then find someone who is actually offering a chance of getting what you want and need.

LoveInTokyo · 06/08/2018 08:31

Thank god you've ended it. And not a moment too soon.

AnnieAnoniMoose · 06/08/2018 08:31

HE sounds like a complete bellend.

YOUR ego is out of control.

You both need to grow up.

MissContrary · 06/08/2018 08:31

Yanbu.

Well done for ending it. You deserve better

TypicallyNorthern · 06/08/2018 08:33

Take the money that you would be wasting on him and spend it on some talking therapy. I am not joking and I am not trying to be horrible to you. You deserve better and you need to work on your own self esteem and worth and address why you would let someone treat you so badly.

He is a grade A tosser and being alone is better than being with a total loser like him.

TatianaLarina · 06/08/2018 08:33

To be totally honest I’m not sure that he did play you. He’s never been anything other than himself - a cocklodging loser - it’s just you chose not to read the writing on the wall.

MissVanjie · 06/08/2018 08:36

Agree with what has been said

How would you like it if i called you a total loser for putting up with this bloke, or a slapper for having an std?

Try working on how you relate to other women (they’re not your rivals) before you get into another relationship with a man.

Nanny0gg · 06/08/2018 08:37

I don't really know why I've let it get to two years. I suppose, after his insistence at the start that we had to have a proper relationship,

You’ve never had a proper relationship with him.

Why on earth did you accept it?

Barbaro · 06/08/2018 08:40

Well at least you dumped him, finally.

Have some higher standards next time and stop judging people on their looks. He is a twat, but you are no prize yourself from what you've said. Plus, he was a twat because you rolled over and let him. He had a free house and food for a year because you let him. Get a backbone or avoid relationships. You'll continue to attract scroungers if you don't.

MyOtherProfile · 06/08/2018 08:46

Has he gone? You said you ended it but how did that go? He stands to lose a lot, if imagine he won't go easily.

strawberrisc · 06/08/2018 08:48

Out of interest, how did he take it?

MrsMint · 06/08/2018 08:50

You seem to put a lot of importance to money and possessions, i.e his poor sister is a failure because she has "no house", and you let us know several times that you have "a house and a great job."

This is one of those posts where I'd love to hear the other side of the story...

Rudgie47 · 06/08/2018 08:51

Going forward if a partner/friend/anyone isnt paying their way from day one then that should be enough for you.
Also a woman who does'nt work who has 4 children to look after is not a loser. She probably is controlled to death and does'nt have the self esteem to find work if she is getting beaten all the time.Surely you'll be able to see that?
Perhaps have therapy to discuss why you let yourself be treated like this by this utter user for so long? You dont want to go down this path again with the next man.Just keep in the front of your mind that he pays or he goes.

Worieddd · 06/08/2018 08:52

You are well rid!!!!!!

SpiritedLondon · 06/08/2018 08:52

Yeah I have sympathy because he’s obviously a twat but some of your comments are also pretty un called for. I didn’t even know what a “ Scrit” was and had to look it up. ( thanks urban dictionary). There’s another thread about lap dancing clubs in which the OP refers to the dancers as “hookers” and I assume you would find that pretty insulting ( given your chartered accountancy qualification and all that). Well done for getting rid of him but really he’s behaved like this and you’ve allowed it.

Skyecat · 06/08/2018 08:54

OP, if the std is herpes simplex, he may not have known he had it. The NHS does not test for it unless you have symptoms and most people are asymptomatic or have minor symptoms they might mistake for something else. Std transmission is not always black and white.

It does sound like you are better off without him though.

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