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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be annoyed by little lies

21 replies

strangertimes · 29/11/2020 08:43

I’ve caught my husband out on a little lie and I don’t know how to feel about it. He’s lied before. Mainly when he’s feeling awkward or in a difficult position and nothing has been life changing about it so I’ve always just let it go for the sake of peace and our very long marriage. This one has really hurt me though. We’ve been married a long time with small kids. It was his birthday a few weeks ago and on his birthday I popped out to the shop to pick him up the dinner he wanted and some goodies. While I was out, he popped out to see a friend who gave him a bit of weed for his birthday. Now I don’t necessarily mind the smoking. Each to their own but when I asked him later that day if he’d had a nice day he didn’t even mention being out or seeing this guy. The next day he made a big deal of not having been outside for days. A few days later he let slip he’d seen this guy. I was a bit surprised considering he said he hadn’t been out of the house for days and hadn’t mentioned it all. He spoken in great detail about the people who had called or sent cards but nothing about this guy. I asked him why he hadn’t told me and he erupted into a barrage of accusations. He didn’t tell me because I would have shouted at him. I made him feel awkward then it just got to uncomfortable to tell me. He became very defensive and hostile. Because I then said I think you’re being very unfair here. I haven’t shouted and wouldn’t. He then stomped off. His back was up because he “never gets to do what he wants to do” he’s made reference to this several times lately. For reference, we live where we do because it’s where his family are (not mine). We live hundreds of miles away from my choice of area. He gave up his job to WTH and works 2 out of 5 days a week which he does. He goes out drinking not often but encouraged by me. I’m not that kind of person. On the other hand I’ve got 3 friends he has banned me from seeing over the years. I do have an issue with this particular friend. I introduced them by the way but the first time he came over my DH took him upstairs in our house where I had all of my underwear and the room what a shit heap. I expressed my boundary that I don’t think it’s appropriate. He also started having this guy come over to the house and not even tell me he’d be coming. I think it’s basic respect to say to the other person who owns the house that somebody will be visiting. So I’ve had niggles with the way he’s gone about this. I’d never stop him seeing him as he seems to suggest but he’s felt within his rights to make opinions and say when he doesn’t want friends of mine he doesn’t like not to come to the house but the one time I do it, it’s a problem? I think overall it’s the fact he’s taken to lying to see this guy that makes me feel uncomfortable and I wanted other people’s opinions on it. FWIW if I invited one of my friends over he hates for dinner without telling him, he’d give me the silent treatment and probably end the marriage

OP posts:
FippertyGibbett · 29/11/2020 08:48

Why oh why do you stay ?

strangertimes · 29/11/2020 08:49

Are you saying you’d end a long marriage over this?

OP posts:
MerchantOfVenom · 29/11/2020 08:53

On the other hand I’ve got 3 friends he has banned me from seeing over the year

What?

Why are you with this man?

MairzyDoats · 29/11/2020 08:53

@strangertimes

Are you saying you’d end a long marriage over this?
Um... Maybe? A man who 'bans' you from seeing your friends (why?), lies, accuses you of controlling him (projection?) and would divorce you for inviting over someone he didn't like... What are his redeeming features? Do you have children together?
WeCanFlyHigher · 29/11/2020 08:54

@strangertimes

Are you saying you’d end a long marriage over this?
Over that one incident, no. But your post is clear that it isn’t one incident. Over the years he has isolated you from your friends. You live in a place convenient to him. If you invited one of your friends over who he doesn’t like he’d give you the silent treatment for days and ‘potentially end the marriage’ (so he has no qualms over ending a long marriage for something minor). He lies, blames you for his lies and accuses you of things you haven’t done. It’s not one incident.
Isthisenough237 · 29/11/2020 08:54

End a marriage over someone controlling you, alienating you from your friends, gaslighting you, lying? Yes I think that’s exactly what the poster means, all those things are a form of domestic abuse

MerchantOfVenom · 29/11/2020 08:54

FWIW if I invited one of my friends over he hates for dinner without telling him, he’d give me the silent treatment and probably end the marriage

Again ... what?

You realise his behaviour really isn’t normal or acceptable?

Oreservoir · 29/11/2020 08:54

The issue here is your dh has banned you from seeing friends.
Men do this when they know the friend sees through their bullsh#t.
Forget everything else in your post.
No one would ban me from seeing a friend.
He's controlling.
If he won't change then leave.

firecracker69 · 29/11/2020 08:56

Banned you from seeing friends? That alone is enough for it be over.

feathermucker · 29/11/2020 08:56

Can't you see the double standards here?!

He's berating you for your friendships but is defensive over his. He sounds quite controlling and moody.

What do you want to happen? How have things been over the years and how long have you been married?

DianeChambers · 29/11/2020 08:56

Wtf op? Can you leave him?

FippertyGibbett · 29/11/2020 08:58

Yes, absolutely.
He lies.
He does drugs.
He is ‘defensive and hostile’ and ‘erupted’ when you tried to talk to him.
He has ‘banned’ you from seeing friends.

ButterMeUpScotty · 29/11/2020 09:06

Your husband is a selfish, controlling bully. Give yourself a present and pack up and go hundreds of miles away to where your family are, make some new friends and live your life. You deserve better than this.

strangertimes · 29/11/2020 09:41

I’m digesting all the comments. It’s hard to read

OP posts:
strangertimes · 29/11/2020 09:42

Married a long time with young kids and none of this is easy during lockdown

OP posts:
RandomMess · 29/11/2020 09:59

He's kicking off etc to control you.

Isthisenough237 · 29/11/2020 10:39

Sometimes seeing it in black and white is hard but you knew there is an issue which is why you wrote it on here. Think of your DC imagine them growing up thinking it’s ok to be controlled or be the controller? You only get one shot at life and it needs to be the best you can make it, being controlled is not part of that. I really hope you make the right choice for you c

SummerWhisper · 29/11/2020 10:56

@strangertimes - today is hopefully the start of a different life for you and your children. You sound unbelievably tolerant of unbelievably hostile behaviour towards you. It reads as though he has been wearing you down over the years so that he will have ultimate control. Any little (and very reasonable) challenge by you in an adult manner seems to be met with brattish, intimidating and very toxic behaviour.

You have options to leave or stay (without him) as joint owner of the house. Speak to Women's Aid tomorrow or when you feel able to do so. Flowers

FippertyGibbett · 29/11/2020 12:36

@ButterMeUpScotty

Your husband is a selfish, controlling bully. Give yourself a present and pack up and go hundreds of miles away to where your family are, make some new friends and live your life. You deserve better than this.
This.
NRE20 · 29/11/2020 12:55

Lockdown isn’t a particularly good time to be considering breaking up a relationship, because everything is so different to normal. That’s unless you are suffering abuse, or are very clear on what you want. It sounds like you’re working through how you feel, so don’t feel panicked or pressured into having to make a life-changing decision, right now.
These forums are good for collecting opinions and viewing the situation from different angles, so you can take as much time as you want, so long as you’re not physically or mentally in danger.
Unnecessary lies in a relationship are confusing and upsetting, so no wonder you’re trying to work out what’s going on and how you feel. My partner has told me unnecessary lies before and it just confuses me as to why he felt they were necessary.
Can you have conversations with your partner when he’s calm normally, or are they off limits altogether? If you can, I’d say try to explain how you feel about the unnecessary lying and how you’d like for him to give you warning if someone is coming round and that likewise, you’ll give him warning if you’re having friends round too. Maybe if he sees it’s a two-way street, he’ll be more willing to work with you.
You shouldn’t give up friends for him, unless you agree that you personally would be better off without them, so if these people are still friends you want in your life, reintroduce them. If he has a problem with them, keep them separate from him, but don’t cut them out of your life, he just doesn’t have to see them, or hear about them, other than you telling him you’re meeting them (to avoid you having to lie to him). E.g. “I’m seeing xxx today for lunch at xxx. I’ll be back at xxx roughly” is all you need to keep him in the loop and he can choose to ask questions about your meet up, or not. If not, you don’t have to volunteer the info, but he knows when and where you’re seeing them, so he’s aware of what you’re doing, as a mark of respect and inclusion in your life.
If things do come to an end, you don’t want to end up without support, so don’t shut yourself off from others on his say so.

Cherrysoup · 29/11/2020 13:37

Why has he banned your friends? And why did you let him? What would happen if you tried to ban this friend of his?

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