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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

dumped for being a bitch?

187 replies

florenceflossie · 23/10/2019 15:08

At the first sign of argument. I am in my 20s, he is in his 30s.

Me and boyfriend were still really in an (extended) honeymoon period of lovey dovey stuff up until about a month ago. He got a promotion, I graduated from a post-grad and looking for work, my mother got ill, he moved house - normal life stuff, but stressful none the less.

My boyfriend copes with stress poorly. In the past has suffered appalling mental health (has attempted to take his life before I knew him) and is in a family situation in which he is taken advantage of financially. Perhaps because of his culture, he is still expected to give money to his sister (who works) and his mother (who abused him physically/mentally as a child). He is approaching being broke, as am I. Difference of course, is he has promotion, but obviously more stress with longer hours.

Anyway, things were going amazingly until three weeks ago. He was distant because of the stress. In the night he would wake and pace the room writing lists of budgets etc. He confided in me that his family situation was getting him down. I comforted him and reassured him that his feelings were valid, and tried to offer practical help like painting his new house whilst he was at work, doing his laundry etc., and made his meals/batched cooked and froze some meals for when I wasn't there. I know it's not much but in my position it was the most I could do.

We've had two "disagreements" in the entirety of our relationship. I say disagreement because it never escalates to an argument - I have never raised my voice or sworn at him, and he hasn't to me. The disagreements have literally been "nagging" at most from me, but in my mind not unreasonable nagging? The first time was asking him when he would be back from seeing a friend for a coffee during a weekend at his house (we are LDR: said he would be back at one time and after an hour passed this I said: "what time will you be back? :) do you want any dinner?" Apparently that was disrespectful.

Second time was about porn. He makes a point of not watching it Confused I'm not trying to be a cool girlfriend here, but I really don't care if my partners do watch it. I mean, there are circumstances in which it would piss me off - e.g. if it was chosen over me, but generally couldn't care less. Anyway, he makes a point of saying how he hates the sexualisation of women. He uses social media for his business and unfollows/deletes women regularly who post selfies etc. He says porn makes him feel uncomfortable. He hates feelings of "lust". He won't talk about sex. He says that lust ruins lives (his father cheated on his mother, his sister cheated with his best friend, his first girlfriend cheated on him...)

So a few weeks ago, I was on Instagram and saw that he had liked a picture of a pornstar (well known) Confused so I called him asking why he had done that, when he said he hated stuff like that. He wouldn't discuss it saying he couldn't remember doing it. Conversation lasted 2 minutes if that. I apologised immediately - said that I appreciate it wasn't a major issue considering our current stresses, and that I had had a bad day etc., and I didn't particularly care.

But he wouldn't let it go. Like I said, I never raise my voice to him, I didn't swear - I just asked a question, because in my mind it seemed so unlike him (and it was on his business page).

Anyway, after a week of him effectively sulking and making me feel bad, I apologised again and said it didn't really bother me BUT that I stand by the fact I mentioned it, because it was previously discussed as something he wouldn't do, and it was more a discussion that an argument.

He said I was making him feel guilty, accusing him of being lustful and how could he ever open up to me again when I twisted his words so much? That he can't see past this ... Why did I have to make him feel bad? I thought I was his soulmate etc etc. He said I had put pressure on him.

I am honestly shocked. The level of overreaction on my behalf is something i will own, and take responsibility for, especially considering his circumstances. I said I understood that he was feel pressures, and that I had added to them, but that ultimately, I was on his side, was willing to work at us etc... he said he thinks we should break up, he was confused, that the last few weeks had been weird

We haven't spoken since this meeting. It was nearly a week ago. I told him I was willing to meet again if he wanted to, but this hasn't been discussed.

Was I unreasonable?

OP posts:
MyNewBearTotoro · 23/10/2019 16:53

The lies around porn would be a huge red flag, considering you have said you’re okay with porn there would be no reason for him to lie and say he’s against it unless he is trying to hide something. He’s annoyed that he’s been careless by liking the pornstar and that his anti-porn stance has been discovered as a lie and so he’s throwing this back at you, making you out to be the unreasonable bitch to hide the fact that he’s been lying. To pretend to be so vehemently against something he’s clearly engaging in suggests to me that he’s probably engaging in extreme amounts or variants of porn.

I think you are probably well rid of him and are best to take the get out line he has thrown you.

florenceflossie · 23/10/2019 16:55

@IamPickleRick

He is not Muslim, no.

Interestingly my previous relationship was with someone who was Muslim. Family WAS an issue in that case, his family would have disowned him if I married him, and I wasn't willing to convert, nor marry someone after 12 months! but he didn't have shame about sex or anything like that. He never sulked at me either if I wanted to know more about his beliefs (e.g. we used to talk about women's rights in Islam and he was more than happy for that to be an open and healthy debate).

I am reluctant to put my ex partner's culture here as it is probably quite outing. We are different ethnicity though (I am Western)

OP posts:
TheHodgeoftheHedge · 23/10/2019 16:56

Be very glad you've dodged a bullet here. He's shown you who he is, draw a line under it and move on.

PinkMonkeyBird · 23/10/2019 16:59

Mmmmm, people who spout off holier than thou against things, are quite often using it as a smoke screen. Fact is, he's probably used porn and whilst he may have issues and probably feels divided on the subject, his own shame about it has no been projected and used against you.

Honestly, he sounds like hard bloody work. I wouldn't bother with him again.

BlueJava · 23/10/2019 17:00

Run! Sorry OP but there's more red flags than China in your post!

AcrossthePond55 · 23/10/2019 17:00

Sex hang ups. Family problems, esp any involving money. Cultural differences (possibly involving the 'proper role' of women). No. Just NO. No man is worth the amount of baggage this one carries.

And isn't it (not) amazing how certain men think a woman is a 'bitch' or a 'nag' if she questions him or stands up for herself.

timshelthechoice · 23/10/2019 17:01

He's grim AF! FFS, he did you a huge favour. You're worth so much more. Why is your bar so low? He's a total loser with enough baggage to keep Pickford's in business from now until the world ends. Please block him. Do the Freedom Programme, get counselling to figure out why you give the time of day to fuckwits like this.

GettingABitDesperateNow · 23/10/2019 17:03

I dont think you've done anything wrong.

If 'what time will you be back, do you want any dinner' and a comment about him doing something that he swore he would never do (which to be fair most people would do in a 'oh you're eating sprouts, I could have sworn you said you hated sprouts more than anything in this universe, what's that about' type way) can break a relationship then it wasnt a great relationship.

To be honest it sounds to me like a (maybe unconscious) move to overreact on his part so that you never question him, about anything. He sounds (perhaps understandably) given his circumstances like he perceives any question as a criticism and cant cope with it. Which is unrealistic as obviously in any relationship thre are going to be questions and criticisms and as long as it's not all the time and is done respectfully like you did, then that's normal.

Whether its cultural or just him being an asshole in response to his poor upbringing, you dont have to put up with that

Welltroddenpath · 23/10/2019 17:07

He sounds like major hard work.

Imagine yourself two years down the line sharing a house, never being able to ask him to pick his socks up, put the loo seat down, wash up, let you know what time he would be in to eat together. How could you be happy with that?

Please, you are worth so much more than this. Why settle for someone who sounds hideously insecure and confrontational. Life can be hard enough without signing up to a lifetime of that.

Racmactac · 23/10/2019 17:08

Let
Me guess in a few days he will be back saying he is prepared to give you another chance.
Next time you won't be so reluctant to step out of line and hence it begins.

You have been warned.

Run and run bloody fast

Swinningforza · 23/10/2019 17:10

Here is your problem in a nutshell:

I would help him, but...

Why would you help him, just why?? The fact that you have the concept of 'helping someone' blueprinted into how you behave in either this relationship or any relationship makes you easy pickings for co-dependency. And co-dependent relationships are usual toxic and damaging to both partners with life ruining results.

Take some time to work out what kind of relationship style you have and do the necessary personal work.

longwayoff · 23/10/2019 17:16

Life's too short to indulge people like this. Be thankful you're in a position to move on without him. Lucky!

Whatsnewpussyhat · 23/10/2019 17:17

Run like fuck and thank your lucky stars he dumped you as you clearly thought you could 'fix' him even though he's a lying, manipulative man who has to give all his money to his family.
Although by the way you are posting you seem to want to get back with him. Why?

Drabarni · 23/10/2019 17:23

When it stops being fun and easy it's time to go.
he sounds such hard work, he may be struggling but he seems to be taking it out on you.
he's done you a favour, let him go.
Out with your mates Grin

Flightsoffancy · 23/10/2019 17:32

Please, please run and don't look back. He will probably be back in touch at some point, in which case - no matter what he says - you just mustn't see him, let alone get back together with him. It really worries me that you say that you would help - it will be wasted energy and you'll end up hurt. Find someone who treats you properly and doesn't need helping!

KatyCarrCan · 23/10/2019 17:34

The only way YABU is by writing such a long, detailed post about a relationship that has obviously run its course.
He's not right for you. He can't 'see past this' and wants to break up. I agree with PP that you should run for the hills.

Curlyeyelash · 23/10/2019 17:40

Sounds like too much work to me. Imagine this after another 10 years and how bloody awful it would be!

There are plenty of men out there who are funny, light hearted, trust worthy and love a good laugh: and also able to be serious when it requires it.This man sounds very conflicted within himself and doesn't really know who he is/what he wants. Perhaps an over bearing family have made him this way.

Life is hard enough as it is!

Easilyflattered · 23/10/2019 17:43

Do yourself a favour and move on, this guy clearly has some big issues he needs to deal with. You've done nothing wrong and sound quite lovely, and I'm sure will be happier in the long run with someone else.

notbloodylikely · 23/10/2019 17:44

I'm married to someone with quite serious and long-term MH issues. Honestly, for that alone I'd say you're better off out of it. Love my DH very much and he is a lovely person but it can be very challenging at times.

Now, add in your ex's unhealthy and downright nasty attitudes to you, and YWDNBU and you are definitely better off without him.

RhinoskinhaveI · 23/10/2019 17:46

put this behind you, dont let him become your problem he sounds like very bad news

VanillaSmile · 23/10/2019 17:52

This is a guy with serious hang ups, OP. If he wants to end the relationship then he is honestly doing you a massive favour. I know it might not feel that way right now, but you’ll be so much happier in the long run.

couldwenot · 23/10/2019 17:58

I read the whole thing with my face like this Hmm Confused

Honestly I'd take him up on his offer of ending it now, it's awful to be broken up with yes but it's far better than it being a few years down the line, maybe being married with kids ect and not having had this opportunity to get out so therefore you're living subserviently and miserably!

Better now than having to post in a few years about how to escape your controlling hypocritical husband who won't let you ask him anything and blows everything out of proportion.

If you get back together you'll inevitably move in and do the commitment stuff I assume, do you really wanna bring kids into this? Do you really see a future? I have mental health issues but if he isn't taking responsibility for it there's nothing you can do, you can't fix him.

That said, it's a really hard situation and I feel for you, cry it out, rant and rave on here, drink your weight in wine and mourn. But ffs don't get back together with him or you'll suffer more in the long run.

RightOnTheEdge · 23/10/2019 18:00

Please don't go back to him and try and help him if he changes his mind and wants to try again.
Please don't.

You did nothing wrong in either of those examples. You have nothing to apologise for.

Think about your future, walking on eggshells to keep him happy and a nightmare family situation stressing him out and draining his money.

Move on and don't look back. Life is too short don't waste it with a man like this.

WhereYouLeftIt · 23/10/2019 18:00

You say dumped, I say dodged a bullet.

Seriously, why are you in this long-distance relationship with a man who is SUCH hard work? He most definitely has issues, and I suspect you have one too - the desire to "fix" him. Why? That's not healthy. Your whole relationship isn't healthy.

Do yourself a favour - accept that this relationship is now over. Move on.

YouJustDoYou · 23/10/2019 18:12

Oh god, way, WAY, too much hard work. You're best rid of him, no is needs that kind of mentally abusive shit in their lives.