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AIBU?

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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:
DonKeyshot · 09/11/2019 16:24

You and your 'relationship' mean nothing to him. You're just a stopgap till something that he perceives as being 'better' comes along.

He may not be actively looking, but his eye will always be on the main chance and he'll be off like a shot if a more attractive proposition comes into view and shows she's interested in him.

How old are your respective dc?

TowelNumber42 · 09/11/2019 16:27

I’m really beginning to wonder how much I and our relationship mean to him.
Answer: very little indeed, obviously, based on his behaviour.

How will you get out of living with him?

AcrossthePond55 · 09/11/2019 16:35

You have three issues:

1- Him finding other women (especially ones he knows) attractive. There's nothing wrong with that, just as there's nothing wrong with my finding a friend of his attractive. Noticing a good looking person doesn't mean you're going to jump in the sack with them! Of course, 'ogling' in front of you is disrespectful.

2- Remaining friends with exes. Not something I've ever done, when I'm finished, I'm finished. But there's nothing intrinsically wrong with it as long as the 'flames' are dead cold on both sides.

2- His still sleeping with his ex after you started going out and (I assume) were 'exclusive' and then losing his shit at you when you found out. That's the real and only problem and as others have said RUN LIKE THE WIND.

You don't need this kind of drama in your life. Especially if you have anxiety issues.

billy1966 · 09/11/2019 16:36

He sounds like a nasty selfish pig.

Thank goodness you are not having a child with him.

Detach from him asap.

💐

C8H10N4O2 · 09/11/2019 16:37

Dump.

VenusTiger · 09/11/2019 16:38

I agree with @Squoozie - you are controlling who he spends time with, because you don’t trust him. So what’s the point in being in a relationship with him?
Leave.
Poor kids.

AtrociousCircumstance · 09/11/2019 16:38

Fgs woman why are you with this arsehole?

Please get some self respect and end this soul-destroying relationship.

Tistheseason17 · 09/11/2019 16:39

I don't think YOU are the controlling one.
When someone truly loves you they don't do what he is doing. He sounds really immature and insecure,. These are not your problems.

Go and spend some time single to appreciate your self and set your standards A LOT higher than him. Best of luck.

StoatofDisarray · 09/11/2019 16:39

Dump him. Move on.

BlueSuffragette · 09/11/2019 16:40

Big girl pants time. Grow some self respect and dump the loser. You and your children deserve much better.

Soontobe60 · 09/11/2019 16:47

What is it about this lying, cheating sleaze that makes you want to be with him? I’m not sure why you even moved in with him! He knows you’ve tolerated his lying and so he will continue to do so.
Please tell us, what are his good qualities?

Curlyeyelash · 09/11/2019 16:52

Sounds like a bastard to me, and in more ways than one.

I would advise getting rid of him ASAP before he causes you untold pain and stress. It's just not worth it.

LolaDabestest · 09/11/2019 16:54

Omg get out and do it now! That's it really.

nauticant · 09/11/2019 17:00

It doesn't sound like you're controlling. You are though being manipulated by a narcissist.

This relationship sounds shit. Surely your life would be better without this arsehole?

makingmammaries · 09/11/2019 17:02

Rarely is it so obvious. You’re not married to this revolting specimen and you don’t have a shared child. Just. Get. Out.

Topseyt · 09/11/2019 17:02

Dump him. He is an arse.

GrouchoMrx · 09/11/2019 17:03

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.

Run.

Vanhi · 09/11/2019 17:06

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 ct and that he was friends with them before he met me

Run. Run fast and run far. You do not need this man in your life.

NeckPainChairSearch · 09/11/2019 17:07

The thread's going to be virtually unanimous, OP. He's awful and you should dump him today, tonight, this weekend.

You have a child to think about and your own self-esteem. This is not a 'normal' way to conduct a relationship by a long chalk.

florenceflossie · 09/11/2019 17:09

What an absolute vile cunt. Dump him.

Namechangeoflife · 09/11/2019 17:10

Wow, why do some people put up with this crap for the sake of having a partner.
I can’t actually believe that you and your children live with someone you have known for 18 months.
Do the decent thing for your children and walk away.

TowelNumber42 · 09/11/2019 17:11

Anxiety issues about him sleeping with his ex? Are you on glue? Your anxiety issues are caused by you staying with him after he did it. Dump him and the anxiety will disappear. The anxiety is your subconscious saying "FFS run away!!!"

ReanimatedSGB · 09/11/2019 17:14

Are you really this desperate not to be single? You've only known this loser 18 months, he was having sex with other people behind your back for the first four months of this supposed relationship and yet you have moved in with him and your DC.
Is it financial? I mean, do you need to have another wage-earner in the household to afford a home? If that's the case I would suggest seeking advice on finance and benefits as a single parent rather than expecting the nearest inadequate and not very pleasant man to fill the gap.

Namechangeoflife · 09/11/2019 17:16

What exactly does he bring to the relationship. 4 kids already, he sounds like a catch.

TheStuffedPenguin · 09/11/2019 17:17

So in her eyes you were an OW ? As others have said he is a cheat and this is what cheats do - they want to be desired and liked.

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