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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:
Mousefunky · 06/08/2018 11:48

So glad you ended it, Christ. He is an awful example of a human being and you are going to feel so much better without him. It’s just a shame you wasted so much time, effort and money on the twat.

timeisnotaline · 06/08/2018 11:54

Relieved to see you ended it! Now to write down what you’ve learn - If early in a relationship someone seems hung up on their ex, don’t jump in to help. Step back and give them space. Don’t move someone in without being very clear on paying and doing their share (and if they are unemployed make it clear their share financially will start as soon as they get a pay packet and they will be applying for jobs). Don’t move someone in who’s unemployed not applying for jobs without a bloody good reason. Don’t stay with someone who doesn’t stick up for you with their family. Don’t be with someone who doesn’t treat you well. Don’t keep trying harder if someone isn’t these things - you should have stopped buying him presents etc.
Anything else?

Courtney555 · 06/08/2018 11:56

It's not that I perceive myself as better, which is where I think a few people are going wrong with assumptions.

It's that they treated him so much worse. I am comparing behaviours. The reference to looks was at first an assumption on my part... As when I heard (not just from him) about they way they behaved, the cheating, the lying, the money taking, the manipulations... I couldn't see why he thought they were so fantastic. I made the assumption that if their morals sucked, their behaviour sucked, their treatment of others sucked, they weren't successful or had any kinds of careers, then pretty much the only thing left was appearance, and I assumed they would have very impressive ones at that, given what they were having to counterbalance. But then, no. Quite the opposite.

Which brought me back to the why why why. Why, when the inside was ugly, the outside was ugly, the behaviour was ugly, would he dote on them, and then when in a position of massive difference with me, would he be such a user.

So many of you are right though. Why why why gets me nowhere.

It might take a little while of licking my wounds about how ridiculous I've allowed someone to treat me. Onwards, upwards, and gin wards 🙈🙈

OP posts:
HelenUrth · 06/08/2018 11:57

Perhaps some therapy would be in order now to see why you were prepared to be a doormat for so long.

Also to figure out why you care about the opinions of these people who you judge to be horrible human beings.

And why you insist on justifying yourself to strangers on the internet who call you out on how you have characterised these people.

hottotrotsky · 06/08/2018 12:01

Clarified what??

Calling posters stupid etc?

Your comments re the sis reveal what a spiteful sneery person you are. Try to wriggle out of it but that's the bones of it.

Can't believe a victim of DV can get away with being called a failure on MN.

THEY are well rid of you.

Courtney555 · 06/08/2018 12:07

It's not justifying. They're wrong.

And unless they are deliberately misinterpreting just to argue, they are wrong because I've explained it badly.

I'm not seeking justification or approval. I'm trying to be clearer because a couple have really misinterpreted. Most haven't though, which is nice.

I agree with the doormat thing though. Why I allowed it so long. I don't know what I thought I was proving to myself maybe?

It's more a feeling of ridiculousness more than anything else now. He's made an utter fool out of me, and I've bounded along beside him like some idiot lap dog.

Ugh.

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 06/08/2018 12:16

I'm amazed you put up with this crap for 2 years. Why? Surely you are worth more than that.

Jaxhog · 06/08/2018 12:16

YANBU. I'm only surprised you stuck him for this long!

Good luck - you deserve better.

LittleMissBrainy · 06/08/2018 12:26

@Courtney555
Apologies if I missed this, but upthread you were asked if you actually know any of his exes and I didn't see your answer.
If you are getting all your information about them (the 'cheating' and the 'lying') from you ex partner, I'm afraid the chances are pretty high that he lied to you to make you think he himself is the victim.

He's a loser, cocklodger and a twat and you totally deserve better. But so do his exes, and wittering on about how you're more attractive make you seem not very nice.
Just be thankful you've seen the light before you made any major financial or emotional commitment.

MatildaTheCat · 06/08/2018 12:27

I'm amazed you put up with this crap for 2 years. Why? Surely you are worth more than that.

This is the only why you need to ask. Seriously, WHY???

colditz · 06/08/2018 12:31

He isn't a bad person

he's a really shit boyfriend though

Courtney555 · 06/08/2018 12:31

I'm only going to say it once more

Not one person on here has said that a woman is a failure because she got punched.

So please take that vile insinuation elsewhere. If you're not going to read things properly, fine. But don't be so rude as to deliberately misinterpret and then declare it's outrageous.

She has abandoned her children once already, because she fancied living somewhere else. Maybe replace failure with disgrace. Or selfish. Or whatever you would call a mother who either abandons her children, or puts them in danger to suit her lifestyle. She however, does think she's God's gift. In a similar way to him it's because the family shower her with praise and anything she wants,within their limits.

Everyone else gets it. No more time wasted on that nonsense.

So, back on topic, yes I am asking myself why I allowed this for so long. And I totally allowed it, I see that now. It's not an easy question to ask yourself.

It doesn't throw out answers that make you feel particularly good about yourself.

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 06/08/2018 12:34

No but don't too hard on yourself. You have recognised that it isn't great behaviour and you've done something about it. So go you!

Courtney555 · 06/08/2018 12:43

I'm really struggling with this, the more I repeat the question.

Why did I allow it for so long?

He made me laugh. He'd say my cooking was really nice. He'd stay at mine while I went out to work to save childcare costs. We had a trip to Rome (paid for by yours truly of course) and it really was a nice time. He did a really good job of the lawn 🙈🙈🙈

It's all so trivial now I look back. He would chant out the "I love yous" but then, he'd chant out a lot of crap. It's what we'd argue about most.

He didn't understand that chiming "you are appreciated" in an annoyed fashion at me, meant bugger all in a sea of months where his actions showed the polar opposite.

OP posts:
DioneTheDiabolist · 06/08/2018 12:47

You should really get a bit of cop on about you OP.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 06/08/2018 12:52

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 for ending it. How are you feeling? Flowers

Snappedandfarted2018 · 06/08/2018 12:54

He sounds like a prized dick but you sound extremely unpleasant referencing his ex who hasn’t done anything to you but exist and judgemental of his sister. I wonder if his family picked up the undertones in you’re post.

Whisky2014 · 06/08/2018 12:57

How did he take it?

TheCakeCrusader · 06/08/2018 13:24

'Why did I allow it for so long?'

There could be a number of reasons. I spent almost 2 years with an absolute dickhead who completely wasted my time. I still wonder how on earth ( and why) I had stayed around him for so long given that I'd always seen myself previously as a confident person who had a successful work life etc whilst he couldn't give a jot about me, was lazy, abusive and basically squeezed me financially too!

Sometimes we are just vulnerable or easily suggestable to something in their personality that convinces us that they will change or that they really like us. What matters now is that you have made the break, realised that there is no positive future with this man. Just be careful that you don't fall into a similar pattern again in the future!

These types of people are almost like parasites or human vampires who are able to latch onto others and exploit their generosity or vulnerabilities whilst giving the false impression that they might actually care about us. Good riddance!

Thankfully, lesson learnt and I moved on to meet a partner (now my husband) who was my equal, in terms of sharing the same values, kindness, generosity love etc.

ShumpaLumpa · 06/08/2018 13:26

@hottotrotsky

Can't believe a victim of DV can get away with being called a failure on MN.

That's not what OP said. Stop being silly. Leave her alone and stop projecting.

Groovee · 06/08/2018 13:29

I'm glad to read you have ended it! He brings nothing to your life really! Good for you... don't look back, look forward.

Courtney555 · 06/08/2018 13:34

Well. I'm not actually giving him a chance to respond. He's away. We don't ever really have the chance to use the phone (he's on a boat, commercial) but we message daily.

I've deleted and blocked every method of messaging since his "no thanks to your £35k car, look at this £48k one, I'll allow myself to drive that" bollocks yesterday.

I sent one message saying that I would not be contactable for the foreseeable. I would open WhatsApp channels again in approx a week so he can arrange to collect his stuff, and that's it.

I then sent the following. And then blocked him, because actually, I don't need to hear anymore about what an unreasonable person I am for not allowing myself to be used anymore. Maybe it's a bit childish not to allow a response, but I feel he has had two years to do something, so now, he can listen.

"I see so very clearly how unappreciated I am. It verges on taking the piss when I look at the whole process from start to finish.

When I look at everything I have done for you. For us. Everything I have invested in this family unit. And how it's all been taken for granted. Should I dare to point it out, I get the grand speeches of indignation and denial, whilst all the time your actions are to the contrary.

You are so happy to take. To use. And disrespectful enough to flaunt that you're perfectly aware of what I do, because you did it at such great lengths for everybody else. Where as I bend over backwards for seemingly nothing.

Not anymore.

You can go to the moon and back for someone, and they will still have the audacity to say, 'I never asked you though' "

It felt good to write that. And know that he knows. Whether he cares the slightest is another thing. But I need to not care, I know that, it's just easier said than done.

OP posts:
PerverseConverse · 06/08/2018 14:23

Good riddance OP! Onwards and upwards.

Marley45 · 06/08/2018 14:26

Christ what did you ever see in this man?? You deserve someone much much nicer!

Courtney555 · 06/08/2018 16:00

I can't thank you all enough for this.

Pennies are dropping left right and centre.

For example. The std. We'd been together since July. Suddenly, 6 months later in the January, he's suddenly urging us to get ourselves checked out for the first time. No symptoms. Nothing. I know I'm clean, I'd had a test done about a week before I met him... For the first time in my life because my best mate didn't want to go on her own.

Thank god for that timing, because he couldn't possibly say it had come from me, even though he's a huge blamer. But more importantly, why the hurry in January. He was fine, I was fine. So suddenly his fecking "spidy senses" kicked in??

He got a message didn't he. From some unknown delight. Must have done. Maybe one of the exes, maybe someone else. Certainly someone who'd just found out they had something in January. "You've got 'xyz' you need to get a check up". And if it wasn't the most recent ex, that means he's cheated on me to boot.

How is that only so obvious now????

Christ, I'm a smart woman (she says bouncing her head off the coffee table)

Ffs.

OP posts:
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