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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Break down of relationship - am I doing the right thing?

215 replies

xxp · 10/01/2023 21:44

So I have been with my partner for 12 years but I am now contemplating ending the relationship. I do genuinely love this man but being together is proving to be very difficult because of his behaviour.

Context: We have a joint mortgage together in our beautiful home, 2 cats and a shared car so I am quite hesitant to end this but I want some opinions on what I am going through and if I have enough reason to call it quits. Over the last few months I’ve found his behaviour to be quite controlling. To keep this relatively short I will bullet point
⁃ he turned the heating and hot water off to get back at me one day, said that he was paying for it and he didn’t want to pay that day… he knew I needed a shower before going out
⁃ Mum and siblings visited for 2 weeks at Christmas and I haven’t seen them for 4 years, he made the whole time hell. Telling me I was neglecting him however he did not want to take part in any of our plans (his choice). He also made it very difficult with the shared car, he demanded it when he knew I had plans. I gave him the car when asked, no problem with me and it then sat outside the pub for a whole day… so he didn’t actually need it, just wanted to be difficult.
⁃ Our car was keyed on 23rd dec when I was visiting elderly grandparents, admittedly the area isn’t the best but this could have happened anywhere. Told me I wasn’t to park it there anymore and I did today to quickly drop off some messages and he seen… he’s now come home and cancelled the car insurance, and asked for the payment to be removed from our joint account although this was meant to be a joint financial commitment. I cannot afford this on my own which he knows.
⁃ When we fall out, he knows it hurts me and he takes out on our cats: they are mainly indoor cats but venture outside for about 10 minutes a day. One day we fell out and he put them outside in snow for hours and I didn’t know until I returned home later
⁃ I was I’ll with the flu recently and he refused to let me sleep one night… blared the tv so loud we had s noise complain from the neighbour, put crisps in my hair until I eventually had to sleep in another room

This is just a small selection of things he’s done to me in the last few weeks but I feel like I am going crazy and I’ve had enough of his behaviour. I think I need to leave. Any thoughts on my situation would be appreciated, I think I just need reassurance I am doing the right thing. I guess I am just scared about how I will cope financially after separation on my income alone

OP posts:
KettrickenSmiled · 11/01/2023 12:31

Motherland2624 · 11/01/2023 10:38

No actually thinking of the welfare of a animal is crazy when the abuse the op that has been documented has been skimmed over
putting crisps in her hair and sleep deprivation
and that’s just the start

What do you mean "No"? - That you don't want to try being able to care about 2 things at once, or that you're not able to?

How is it you are incapable of perceiving that when this man hurts her animals, he is hurting OP? That this is yet another frightening thing for her to worry about, & yet another way for him to control her?

Pamparam · 11/01/2023 12:55

Good luck OP, you're absolutely doing the right thing. I'm so glad you don't have kids with this absolute loser.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 11/01/2023 13:11

You have great courage OP and this will spur you on to a better life
You will feel the weight lift from your shoulders when you're free of this monster
Tell your Friends and your GP's, they will be so glad you've left
The shame is his, not yours

MummyofTw0 · 11/01/2023 13:36

Wishing you all the love and best. Be strong. You've got this xxx

Alleycat1 · 11/01/2023 13:42

Just seen this on My London, MSN news!!! Completely outing if OP's DP sees it. How utterly vile of the reporter as he has obviously read the thread and knows OP is trying to leave today.

Username721 · 11/01/2023 14:04

Alleycat1 · 11/01/2023 13:42

Just seen this on My London, MSN news!!! Completely outing if OP's DP sees it. How utterly vile of the reporter as he has obviously read the thread and knows OP is trying to leave today.

Just seen that too. I hope she’s done what she needs to do before that article was published.

Username721 · 11/01/2023 14:07

The reporter who wrote the article is on Twitter as RafiMauro1 . I don’t have Twitter but someone should message him and ask if he realises how stupid he’s been.

musicalkittens · 11/01/2023 14:27

Loads of advice here but just in case you're worried about the car - if the v5 is in your name, you can get it insured just for the day with a company like veygo so that you can fill it with your things and move it somewhere. As long as it's parked off road overnight you can have time to work out what to do with financing it in the longer term. Ask friends if you can leave it on their drive / in their garage or whatever (ideally blocked in so your ex can't steal it if he has a second key).
Good luck.

DontSpeakLatinInFrontOfTheBooks · 11/01/2023 14:38

This is abuse and it will only escalate. I’m really sorry this has happened to you, please for your own safety and your pets get out of their as safely as you can. Talk to women’s aid for advice on how best to do that.

GabriellaMontez · 11/01/2023 15:12

When you've got all your essential belongings eg passport, consider sentimental items too. Photos, old computers with photos, gifts, pictures. He could make it hard to get them later.

Good luck.

Alleycat1 · 11/01/2023 15:37

@Username721 I don't have Twitter either.
Anyone??? The idiot reporter has potentially endangered OP.

Chickmad · 11/01/2023 16:03

I have messaged him via Facebook as I don't have twitter to ask him to delete it

ShirleyValentin3 · 11/01/2023 16:09

I have tweeted him. What a complete idiot.

applebee33 · 11/01/2023 19:13

What a controlling horrible fucker , please leave him asap he sounds unhinged thank god you don't share kids with this pos

Alleycat1 · 11/01/2023 19:17

@Chickmad and @ShirleyValentin3
Thank you. Any response?

Pansypotter123 · 11/01/2023 19:27

There seems to be more going on than you're telling us here and I don't criticise you for not doing so.

I think you need to report the full extent of his behaviour towards you and the cats to the police.

NewyearNewStartnomorejunk · 11/01/2023 19:31

ShirleyValentin3 · 11/01/2023 16:09

I have tweeted him. What a complete idiot.

I can't see it. Has he removed it

Zola1 · 11/01/2023 19:31

He put crisps in your hair when you were sleeping because you were sick?? He sounds wildly insane. Leave leave leave

ClangingBell · 11/01/2023 19:36

I hope you’ve managed to get out safely. Stay strong.

Chickmad · 11/01/2023 19:37

@Alleycat1 sadly no response from the journalist. I have also complained to the editor but again no reply.

Sadly it is still up @NewyearNewStartnomorejunk

www.mylondon.news/news/uk-world-news/woman-told-run-dont-look-25947015

Chickmad · 11/01/2023 19:38

I just hope OP got out safely

Amy2611xcx · 11/01/2023 19:41

Chickmad · 11/01/2023 19:37

@Alleycat1 sadly no response from the journalist. I have also complained to the editor but again no reply.

Sadly it is still up @NewyearNewStartnomorejunk

www.mylondon.news/news/uk-world-news/woman-told-run-dont-look-25947015

I have submitted a complaint about the article to the regulator. I would strongly encourage others to do so (link below):

www.ipso.co.uk/complain/complaints-form/

OP I hope you managed to get out safely.

ShirleyValentin3 · 11/01/2023 19:45

Alleycat1 · 11/01/2023 19:17

@Chickmad and @ShirleyValentin3
Thank you. Any response?

Still on the website. What a dick.

IneedanewTV · 11/01/2023 19:52

Worrying that we have not heard from the Op since this morning. I hope you are safe OP.

NewDogOwner · 11/01/2023 19:57

He is torturing you. This is really frightening.