Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Boyfriend says I’m being controlling. Am I overreacting?

133 replies

Loveeachday · 09/11/2019 15:52

My boyfriend and I (both mid 30s) have been together around 18 months. We live together and each have children from previous relationships. We are going through a rough patch (unplanned pregnancy and deciding to terminate the pregnancy).
I’m really beginning to wonder how much I and our relationship mean to him. A couple of months ago, I saw on Instagram that he’d been liking pictures of girls he knows posing sexily in underwear and bikinis (some live literally down the road and he has contact with them on a fairly frequent basis). I asked him why he had liked them and he said they’re nice pictures. I told him it made me uncomfortable because he knows them personally and he said it didn’t mean anything because he’s known them for years. Then, a couple of weeks ago, he was talking about his workmates, telling me that a lot of them fancy me and he just has to accept it. He then went on to tell me how his friends wife is a very attractive lady, like seriously attractive. Again, I told him I was uncomfortable about that because it’s someone he knows personally and he had a go at me saying that you’re allowed to say that someone’s good looking and it’s doesn’t mean he’s going to sit with her at social occasions thinking how much he wants to sleep with her. Then, last night, he told me he wanted us to go to the pub as some people wanted to meet me. When I asked who, he told me it was his ex girlfriends sister and best friend. I said I didn’t want to and tried to explain why...I’ve got anxiety issues about his ex as he was sleeping with her for the first four months of our relationship, something he denied even after she went to the trouble of finding me and telling me. He only confessed around eight months into our relationship when one of his best friends told me. He went absolutely mad at me telling me I’m a controlling c**t and that he was friends with them before he met me. I can’t understand why he wants them in his life when the two girls and his ex are nearly always together and it makes me feel really upset to think of them together (she’s not the mother of his child and they were only together a year).
My boyfriend keeps telling me I’m a control freak and that I’m trying to control his life and drive a wedge between him and his friends. I think that I’m well within my right to voice my feelings and that he should take them into consideration as I’ve done the same for him and didn’t make a fuss over it.

OP posts:
GreekOddess · 09/11/2019 15:54

You need to end the relationship. He sounds awful and has no respect for you.

FizzyGreenWater · 09/11/2019 15:55

he was sleeping with her for the first four months of our relationship, something he denied even after she went to the trouble of finding me and telling me. He only confessed around eight months into our relationship when one of his best friends told me.

Really?!

You dump him, is the answer to every single Q regarding this total cheaty waste of space.

You either dump him now or you waste oh, I don't know, probably about another year or so before you work out he's messing you around and always has. He's a total arse.

Footiefan2019 · 09/11/2019 15:55

My partner often talks about how attractive he finds certain famous people. Like he can’t get over how gorgeous a certain Instagram type model/actress is but he’ll often show me pics on social media and be like ‘oof look at that!’ But would never say it about people he actually knows or us contact with, I think that would really unsettle me . I think if he can’t have a grown up conversation about how your feeling, with no accusations flying or raised voices,, then he is being a bit of a twat.

Geppili · 09/11/2019 15:56

LTB

Footiefan2019 · 09/11/2019 15:56

to add.. if he was sleeping with his ex when you first started going out did you also date or see other people or were you totally exclusive ? If so he’s a absolute tit tbh

Andysbestadventure · 09/11/2019 16:00

Erm. Run like the fucking wind and get some self respect.

Duchessgummybuns · 09/11/2019 16:00

It shouldn’t be this much hard work OP. Echoing a poster above, he has no respect for you.

AnalFloss · 09/11/2019 16:01

I think whenever a guy calls the woman he's with a c-word in anger, that relationship should no longer be at thing.
It's the most aggressive gendered slur we have for a woman. There's a reason that word is being picked.

EvenPhilip · 09/11/2019 16:03

I have no idea why you are continuing a relationship with this bloke.
He's an absolute knob.

namechange4052 · 09/11/2019 16:03

So to add to him cheating on you and constantly eying up other women, he also called you a cunt?! What more could he possibly do to make you end the relationship?

Frenchw1fe · 09/11/2019 16:03

I think your dp sounds horrible and can't think why you're with him.
He's slept with another woman whilst dating you, he's lied, he's tried to get you to meet his ex's sister and he's used foul language when he hasn't got his own way.
Imo you'd be better without him.
And he's accusing you of being controlling when he is the one who is trying to coerce you to do things against your will.
I wouldn't be surprised if he cheats on a regular basis.

Preggosaurus9 · 09/11/2019 16:04

he was sleeping with her for the first four months of our relationship, something he denied even after she went to the trouble of finding me and telling me. He only confessed around eight months into our relationship when one of his best friends told me.

And you moved yourself and your DC in with this prize.. why..? Hmm

Squoozie · 09/11/2019 16:06

I think neither of you are nice people. He's a sleaze and yes, you are controlling.

AloeVeraLynn · 09/11/2019 16:09

Confused What is the point of this relationship?

Ohyesiam · 09/11/2019 16:10

Why? Why be. A relationship with someone who lies, is unfaithful, swears at you, overrides your feelings, belittles your feelings, doesn’t accept you for who you are, and is a lech? Why do that?

It’s clear from what he says that he wants to be able to do what he wants and not act like he’s in a relationship. It’s also clear that he has zero respect for you.

Jellybellythatsme · 09/11/2019 16:11

LTB

GreekOddess · 09/11/2019 16:14

@squoozie

There is nothing in the original post to suggest that she is either controlling or not a nice person.

CodenameVillanelle · 09/11/2019 16:14

The stuff about saying someone is attractive is silly - but the fact that he is expects to hang out with his ex girlfriend who he cheated on you with and abuses you when you object is ridiculous. LTB.

BumbleBeee69 · 09/11/2019 16:14

Christ what a vile pile of shit this one is..... Hmm

Gileadisreal · 09/11/2019 16:15

He sounds absolutely awful. Truly.

Pinkbonbon · 09/11/2019 16:15

He's playing some sort of game relating to his ego and you're just a small pawn in that. One he won't hesitate to step on to get whatever (or whomever) takes his fancy to stroke his ego.

He knows being in touch with his ex is hard for you and yet, wants to introduce you to ppl close to his ex? Why? For their seal of approval? Sack that. Or more likely, so they can go back to his ex and tell them how happy he seems. Or even, how unhappy, because he's planning on cheating again and using the 'she just doesn't get me like you' line to try achieve that.

People who constantly bring up how beautiful other women are are doing it with an agenda - to Make you feel bad about yourself. People who say these things about women they know are doing it with an agenda-to make you feel insecure (often when you reach out for security, these people then accuse you of being crazy/needy/insecure or -controlling).

I don't think he is just a cheat, I think he is something much worse, a narcissist. Or similar. He is gaslighting you, and that is not the product of a neurotypical or decent human being.

Run!

ferrier · 09/11/2019 16:17

I wouldn't worry about him mentioning other people are attractive. But everything else .... just no. Get out before it gets worse.

toshbish123 · 09/11/2019 16:17

Please leave this bloke.

Normandy144 · 09/11/2019 16:18

There's no positive to this relationship. It is built on lies and mistrust. Don't invest any more time with him and move on. You don't sound controlling at all, but perhaps you should frame it as you think it's best you split up so he can be free of your controlling ways! He's a loser, move on and respect yourself.

Pretzelcoatl · 09/11/2019 16:22

You’re controlling if you want to dictate who he’s friends with or who he finds attractive.

If you were explicitly exclusive while he was sleeping with his ex, then he is a cheat. If he’s stopped, and you’ve reconciled what he’s done internally, then proceed with eyes open. If you find that, during the ten months since you’ve been made aware of what he’s done, that you don’t have the kind of trust you’d need to feel confident of him being around his ex’s sister and friends, nevermind the ex herself, then the relationship is likely untenable and you may want to consider your options.