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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Enough is enough or am I being petty

127 replies

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 15:48

Background: OH and I have been together 4 years. He has 2 adult ds 30 and 34. They have never accepted our relationship. After split with their mum they decided he should be on his own if not with her. There is no OW scenario here, I came on the scene well after.

The 2 DS dictate elements of our lives. We can't frequent certain pubs and restaurants, can't post things together on social media, they will not see their dad if I am present, they will not visit our home and they have said if he tries to 'push the issue' they will have nothing to do with him. To me this feels like blackmail.

They both live at home with their mother, pay no rent and have what shall we say, not a great attitude towards women in general.

They contact their dad only if they want something, usually money or a problem solved (think collect something for them, give them a lift somewhere). If he does see them he has to organise and pay for whatever they do and this is few and far between. They don't even bother to see him on his birthday or fathers day and never even a card. They live a 5 minute walk away.

He accepts this as he wants to maintain a relationship with them (which I do understand). But I'm starting to lose respect for him as he gives in to what I can only call entitled behaviour and blackmail in staying part of their life. They have bad mouthed me, they don't even know me, have met me a handful of times, for a few minutes when paths accidently crossed.

I would understand if they were stroppy teens, straight out of their parents divorce, but I can't get my head around 2 grown men dictating like this and refusing to see him ever if he continues to acknowledge me in his life.

OH is doing nothing about it. Just accepting it all - for an easy life. He has also paid for their sport which they do since they were 17, which is about £100 a month and when he recently told them they need to start paying it themselves they were not impressed.

I'm actually very hurt over it all and I do get angry they can treat someone like this when I have done absolutely nothing to affect their life in any way. And I get angry at OH for not dealing with it.

As they dictate areas of our life, affecting what we can and cannot do and OH refusing to do anything about it.

AIBU to say enough is enough. They want nothing to do with me, after all this time, Thats fine.
I therefore want nothing to do with them and when OH is at my house I do not want him taking begging phone calls or texts when he is spending time with me. They won't see him or visit him at his if I'm there, So same goes when asking for money and favours in my house.

If they want money or problems sorting then OH can deal with it when he is not with me in my house, as for every other aspect they dictate I not be there.

I feel petty but I'm honestly so fed up of their crap and if OH is not going to call them out on it, this is my way of saying they can't have their cake and eat it.

OP posts:
tallduckandhandsome · 22/07/2021 15:51

YANBU. Your DH is not helping the situation by letting them get away with their poor behaviour.

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/07/2021 15:52

Of course you’re not petty. And I’d walk away from him tbh. I couldn’t respect him at all, these men are at least in part the product of how they were parented and it all sounds really pathetic and awful.

Does he cancel things with you to pander to their whims and demands? Does he use the time you two are together to let them whinge on the phone?

This will never improve. Not because of them but because of him. I think you can do better.

WellErm · 22/07/2021 15:54

That's awful. If OH isn't willing to stand up for the woman he loves then you're just meant to put up with it? I'd seriously consider walking away over this, and tell him so. It's demeaning and unacceptable... infact downright abusive. You are being told you don't matter, don't deserve to be treated with respect or decency and that you're effectively invisible and that is the status quo... Right!

LagneyandCasey · 22/07/2021 15:54

I can't get over their ages. Yes it's like you're describing a pair of petulant teens. You've been in a relationship for 4 years and they won't even see you. That's really hard to deal with. I can't see it changing unless dp grows a backbone and stands up for you. I wouldn't play silly games but would be thinking seriously about the future. Ask dh what happens when they get partners and have childen and you're not invited to family gatherings? Will he still go or will he make a stand and put you first?

Merryoldgoat · 22/07/2021 15:55

This relationship has no legs. You need to call it a day.

ForeverSinging · 22/07/2021 15:55

Yanbu, this sounds awful. I don't think you sound petty at all, I think you've been extremely tolerant to put up with any of this. You deserve respect and you're not even getting it from your partner, never mind these petulant man-babies.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2021 15:56

This is so ridiculous it's nearly unbelievable. Sorry op, but you've made a huge mistake in marrying this man. None of this is ever, ever going to change. You will always be second place to 2 30-something spoilt brats. Living this way, and with the new rules you want to enforce, is simply untenable. I'd be ending this marriage.

Needapoodle · 22/07/2021 15:56

What a weak man. Fuck that. It's like the film stepbrothers. You can do so much better than this.

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 15:58

@WellErm

Yes thats exactly how its feeling.

@AnneLovesGilbert

he hasn't cancelled plans as such, but a few months ago we had an afternoon off together and were just going to chill and cook together, then one of them needed something and he went out for an hour (was 3 hours in the end) which I got really pissed off about. But then though I was unreasonable as we didn't have actual 'plans' as such, just that my expectation of a chilled afternoon together went out the window.

OP posts:
DinosaurDiana · 22/07/2021 15:58

If you want to be with him you have to accept the situation, as he isn’t going to change now.
You have a choice, stay or go.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2021 15:59

Read what you wrote back to yourself. Do you not see how absolutely insane this all is? You can't go to certain pubs and your husband accepts this? Your husband allows these "boys" to treat you so horribly with no consequences? Honestly, tell your husband to go fuck himself and kick him out of your house.

DroopyClematis · 22/07/2021 15:59

The resentment is just going to keep building.
Do you want to spend the rest of your life feeling this way?

LittleLottieChaos · 22/07/2021 16:02

Go and watch Step Brothers… have a laugh, and then reflect on your life. You deserve a lot better than this… your life shouldn’t be impinged upon by two idiots that think that simply because they were born they get a free ride forever.

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 16:02

@Aquamarine1029 Sorry, just to clarify, we are not married. He says he wants to get married and has asked me, which I said yes.
He sent a message to his ds's along the lines of 'just letting you know before you hear it anywhere else toohotoday and I have got engaged.'

It felt like he was basically delivering bad news to them the way it was worded. Their response - one said nothing. One said ' Right. Thanks for letting me know.'

I've since called the engagement off.

OP posts:
KarmaStar · 22/07/2021 16:05

This is a joke,how you've stood it so far I don't know,they are a pair of muppets.
Kick your oh into touch and find a decent man who treats you with respect.
Don't feel sorry for him!

HollowTalk · 22/07/2021 16:06

I just couldn't live like that, OP. Why not leave and find someone who has a nice, normal family background? It sounds exhausting and frankly really horrible for you.

Naimee87 · 22/07/2021 16:07

They are 30 and 34 and still live at home with their mum? That is shocking. They should not be getting away with making you feel terrible when you've done nothing wrong here. What is it with these men that cannot grow up. The reason I have it in for the son's is i'm a single mum and My DS's dad is 36, lives with his mum and as far as i know does not contribute at home (or to us i might add we have been NC for a number of years)! I do hope you find a solution. They don't deserve all this attention and their dad needs to pull away and no longer be available for lifts/gifts/money etc. Maybe this change is what is needed to kick them into reality!

MartyHart · 22/07/2021 16:07

Why does he put up with this? Do you know the full back story?

Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2021 16:07

[quote toohotoday]@Aquamarine1029 Sorry, just to clarify, we are not married. He says he wants to get married and has asked me, which I said yes.
He sent a message to his ds's along the lines of 'just letting you know before you hear it anywhere else toohotoday and I have got engaged.'

It felt like he was basically delivering bad news to them the way it was worded. Their response - one said nothing. One said ' Right. Thanks for letting me know.'

I've since called the engagement off.[/quote]
Well then, this is absolutely fantastic! Thank god you're not married. I've never been so glad to have misread something in my entire life.

Kick the wet, disrespectful, pathetic twat out of your home today. He can go crash with his sons.

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/07/2021 16:08

I’d call the whole thing off OP. I’m a step mum, mine are pre teens and DH and I have a toddler. He wouldn’t tolerate this bs from them and they’re more than 20 years younger than your DP’s failure to launch grown adult using losers.

He will end up alone. They’ll get what they wanted. But that’s on him and he has a crap relationship with them from what you describe so if that’s what he’s prioritising over an open committed romantic relationship with you that’s his sad look out.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 22/07/2021 16:08

Imagine how things will be if they have families of their own. You will be shoved right to the back.
Ltb.

billy1966 · 22/07/2021 16:09

Why would you want to be involved with such a shit show, much less marry into it.

His delivery of your "news" tells you everything.

Have some self respect and cut him and his sons loose.

You deserve better.Flowers

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/07/2021 16:09

Presuming their mum is single?

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/07/2021 16:10

@30degreesandmeltinghere

Imagine how things will be if they have families of their own. You will be shoved right to the back. Ltb.
Chances of that sound slim, they don’t sound like much of a catch do they! But it’s worth considering just in case they meet total mugs.
Youdiditanyway · 22/07/2021 16:12

Seriously can’t believe they’re in their 30s. I’m younger than them and I just can’t wrap my head around someone 6 years older than me acting like this! It’s crazy, it seriously sounds like you’re describing two petulant teens.

He’s always enabled them so they won’t change anytime soon, if ever. Guessing they don’t have girlfriends, there’s no way any woman in her right mind would go near them so they’ll live rent free with Mum for the foreseeable. It’s just grim! Expecting their Dad to taxi them around still, Christ. So embarrassed for them.