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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:
Driechdrizzle · 09/11/2019 19:45

I'm sure your kids don't adore him. He's a dickhead. Kids recognise this stuff more clearly than anyone. If they are acting as if they like him it's to keep you happy. This relationship is about what you want, not their needs.

He's not paying rent, he's using you. That's why he's moved in with you because you're an easy target to manipulate and exploit. A few kind words and you'll ignore his cheating and his abusive behaviour.

You were vulnerable when you met him, just out of a long relationship. You need to dump him and go it alone. You don't need a man, you need to put your children and yourself first. It's awful that you moved a cheater and manipulator into your children's lives.

carly2803 · 09/11/2019 19:45

agree with the ones saying leave. hes a dickhead OP. They dont change.

run. very fast - and i mean this kindly, you need self respect - you are worht way more than this piece of shit

SunshineCake · 09/11/2019 19:51

He is grooming you to accept him shagging around.

After all he can't help it if people fancy him ..

Lifeisabeach09 · 09/11/2019 19:57

I work to support my kids and pay my rent so it’s never been about money plus he pays towards food shop, etc. Admittedly, I do the housework, cooking etc but he does work hard.

He cheated on you, doesn't pay rent(?) and does fuck all around the house. Sorry, OP but you need your head examined. Why the fuck would you stay with him?

Suzie81 · 09/11/2019 19:57

Why do people allow themselves to be treated like this?

Driechdrizzle · 09/11/2019 20:01

That term "cocklodger" has never been so apt.

Creepster · 09/11/2019 20:07

If you look back over your interactions and see that he deploys DARVO when you state a personal boundary it is a sign that he is an abuser and it will only get worse from here.

Notajogger · 09/11/2019 20:09

You need to get this idiot away from your kids as fast as you possibly can before they start thinking this kind of behaviour is normal.

Coyoacan · 09/11/2019 21:21

He's only been living with you three months and he is already calling you a cunt. I hate to think how he will be in a few years time when it will be even harder for you to get rid.

BumbleBeee69 · 09/11/2019 21:29

OMG what am I reading.... OP you really need to wake the fuck up. [fowers]

pinkyredrose · 09/11/2019 21:36

This guys only nice to you when he wants to be. He lives in your house, does fuck all, pays fuck all, calls you a cunt, bullied you to have an abortion, gets angry a lot, what the fuck do you see in him? He's using you!

Creepster · 09/11/2019 21:43

So he puts on a nice guy show for the kids, but cheats on you and calls you names, three months into living together?
The sooner you say no and make it stick the easier it will be to recover.

Sn0tnose · 09/11/2019 22:01

He’s not angry with you because he thinks you want to control his life. He’s angry with you because you’re stopping him from completely controlling your life. There is not one single thing you have written which would make me think this creature would be worth being in a relationship with.

This is not the way to teach your children what relationships are supposed to be like.

Tistheseason17 · 09/11/2019 23:43

Please take the advice you have been given,OP - you did ask for it after all...

ptumbi · 10/11/2019 13:27

My kids adore him and his child and he’s good with them, when the kids are with us, its a happy, good environment - and you are going to stay with him because of that? Don't you get to be happy? Your dc DO NOT adore him - kids don't have the life-skills to work out who is GOOD FOR THEM or NOT! You do - and you know that this guy is NOT GOOD FOR YOU - OR THEM!

And after all, if you stay with him because of the kids (who are not even his) you are teaching your dc that the 'woman's' needs don't need to be considered, so long as everyone else 'adores' him - and of course they will learn how to treat women. YOU are teaching them that. You are teaching them it's OK to swear at women, call them names to get what they want, to cocklodge because after all, women are second class and desperate for a man, any man.

FGS OP - chuck him out for all your sakes. He can pay his own way for a while - you can even 'date' him if you so desperately need to be with someone - but don't expect him to be faithful to you, because he doesn't love you, doesn't respect you, and you won't be paying for him or useful to him.

Pinkbonbon · 10/11/2019 13:57

OP you already know this is going to end in an utter car crash. Either it ends with you so broken that you struggle to carry on, a shell of your former self - because he's taken everything from you. Or, you end it yourself now and yes, it hurts, yes, he probably kicks off- but you do it as you. You do it before you are completely broken by this leach of a human being. Before you completely lose yourself.

And then you and your kids are free.

Beaverdam · 10/11/2019 14:12

Theres absolitley nothing wrong with saying how attractive someone is. You need to get over that as it is controlling. However, he is taking it to the extreme and was sleeping with someone else in the first few minth of him being with you. He couod have given you crabs, hepetitus etc. No idea how anyone couod forgive that.

IWentAwayIStayedAway · 10/11/2019 14:35

Dump him. What would you tell your child if they were being treated that way?

giggleshizz · 10/11/2019 15:01

Is this going to be one of those threads when the OP asks for advice, everyone tells her that she is with an abusive man and that she should leave him and then she comes back to tell everyone how lovely he is and what a good dad he is 🤔

user1480880826 · 10/11/2019 15:16

You obviously don’t trust him (with good reason). This relationship is doomed to failure.

When you have children you need to act like a grown up and not move in with a man that you hardly know after only a few months of being together.

Mammabear111 · 10/11/2019 15:19

Hi from him trying to turn back and say your controlling is ridiculous He sounds like my ex partner he's just trying to say your controlling to cover up the wrongs he's done do you love him ?

WaggleWiggle · 10/11/2019 15:24

His behaviour is shitty and he’s trying to make out that you are odd / possessive / controlling for calling him out on it. It’s him that’s the problem, not you.

Sparklybanana · 10/11/2019 16:20

You are being controlling as your anxiety shouldn’t prevent him going out to see pre existing friends. However, he caused you to have the anxiety in the first place so really can’t put all the blame on you! He sounds like he’s got the potential to be abusive or at the very best, a proven record of being a twat. You can do better I’m sure. I think I’d take a good look at how much you value being in this relationship and if you get anything out of it. He’s cheated once so he will do it again and clearly has no respect for you. Do you really want to spend your life wondering if you need to watch out for stds or wondering if he’s not answering his phone because he’s shagging Jane from down the road? And then getting the blame because you suspect him? Nah thanks! Put yourself first and ltb.

PurpleFlower1983 · 10/11/2019 16:22

You are in an emotionally abusive relationship and he is gaslighting you. Please consider leaving this man.

Hanab · 10/11/2019 16:26

Goodness OP .. let him go on his merry way .. YOU are worth so much more than this!

Do you reaaaallllly think this man is a long term prospect?

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