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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I am at my wits end with my immature partner

64 replies

Alexbh · 22/03/2023 11:18

I am at my wits end in my relationship. Since the beginning my partner has demonstrated a clear lack of consideration and respect for me which he seems to think is made right by the other 65% of time he’s not being a complete pig!
My partner has always told
his friends and work colleagues personal details of our relationship or even my life which I have made him aware numerous times I do not appreciate. Four years on here we are with him on the phone with his mates in the work van this morning thinking he was funny and pointing out to all of them I’ve had Botox. I actually wanted to keep it quiet not that it mattered at all to him. I know it seems small. Buts it’s on going. He also pulls faces at me all the time and constantly sighs at me and talks to me in a tone I don’t appreciate unless he is trying to get something out of me or laugh at my expense I’ve had enough of it!

OP posts:
Lockheart · 22/03/2023 13:36

Since the beginning

My partner has always

This is the point at which you should have stopped dating him. The beginning. Instead you carried on dating someone who treated you badly and fell pregnant too quickly.

I'm sorry OP but this is entirely of your own making. You've made your bed, although you don't have to lie in it. You can either stay with him, or leave and work on yourself before getting into a new relationship.

Notjustabrunette · 22/03/2023 13:39

I think you should try counseling, it might be that he sees it as completely normal to act the way he is. Hopefully counseling will help him realize the impact his actions are having on you.

Longdarkcloud · 22/03/2023 13:39

I guess a positive point is that he was able previously to moderate his behaviour when you had it out with him. I think you need to demonstrate to him that you are serious about ending the relationship if he continues to disrespect you in these ways. One last chance.
Maybe counselling if that feels appropriate to you.
I’ve seen how destructive this attitude can be and how the children almost inevitably pick-up on it.
Basically he must feel inadequate if he needs to hurt you in these ways in order to feel superior.
You don’t deserve the posted negative comments — so easy to underestimate the negative when you are in love and on the brink of a new life together.

Lovingmynewbicycle · 22/03/2023 13:47

Why, in this day and age, do some women still sabotage their (and their children's) lives like this and put up with this kind of shit.

Choosing a man to have children with is THE most crucial decision a woman can make - so why go about it so casually?

5128gap · 22/03/2023 13:49

Have you actually sat him down and told calmly him that his behaviour is making you so unhappy you're considering leaving him? Because what usually happens is they do something, like the botox reveal, you complain about it, there's a row, then eventually everything goes back to normal until next time.
You need a non angry conversation where you list all the things you won't tolerate, and then give him a time in which to change. If he can't or won't then you move to plan (LT)B.

Ffsmakeitstop · 22/03/2023 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LlynTegid · 22/03/2023 13:56

If you do decide to give him an ultimatum about no sharing of personal details, you must be prepared to act if that is ignored or only heeded for a period of time.

Sympathy for the fact his true colours were not shown for a while and the lack of consideration from some other replies.

Maray1967 · 22/03/2023 14:07

5128gap · 22/03/2023 13:49

Have you actually sat him down and told calmly him that his behaviour is making you so unhappy you're considering leaving him? Because what usually happens is they do something, like the botox reveal, you complain about it, there's a row, then eventually everything goes back to normal until next time.
You need a non angry conversation where you list all the things you won't tolerate, and then give him a time in which to change. If he can't or won't then you move to plan (LT)B.

This is good advice - a very mature way of approaching this situation.

I’d go with this plan first. If he still thinks it’s totally hilarious to carry on as he is I would be off. But not before I’d made sure I’d broadcast some problem of his.

Unfortunately I would find it hard to follow Michelle Obama here. At work, yes - I’m the model of the dignified response that others apparently admire, so I’ve been told, and it’s served me well. But in a relationship with a moron like this, I’d go for the jugular. I’d view it as teaching him such a lesson he’ll not forget in a hurry.

klallen · 22/03/2023 14:15

From an outside perspective, it is very easy for us all to say "leave him". We aren't emotionally intertwined with this man, nor do we have to deal with the mental, legal and financial fallout that would come from leaving a relationship when you have three children. Its easy to say leave him but it's not easy to do, and we all know that.

That said, it seems that this man does not respect your feelings currently and, if this is not going to change (suggestions on this to follow below) then leaving him is absolutely what you should do.

From the short amount you've said in the original post, I am guessing that he's a bit of a people-pleaser with his mates (perhaps not so much with you anymore, which probably annoys you, but he's still good to you most of the time). I get the sense that he might almost word-vomit the inner details of your relationship to keep a conversation going/get a laugh from his friends. I wonder if he actually doesn't realise the full effect its having on you, because he's a bit blinded by the good feedback he gets from his friends when he lets them in on these intimate details of his life. He'll hear your words when you tell him you're mad, but he'll probably feel defensive and shut down and it won't go in. He then needs that pick me up from his mates and the cycle continues...

(PSA: None of this is excusing him by the way - I'm just trying to see it from a man's POV).

If you feel that resonates, it sounds as though he's not quite as emotionally developed as you, and you might need to try to guide him to a place where he can be. Irritatingly, this might be through some subtle adjustments on your end as to how you approach the next occasion of disrespect. Do you find your conversations are fresh of the heels of his conversations with the lads? Are you feeling deeply hurt at the point you talk, and you find it difficult to hold back your emotion? If so, I'd maybe try and park your feelings until the kids are in bed and then ask if you can talk about what happened, and ask if you can try to keep the conversation calm. Don't talk over each other (so hard, I know!) and if he tries to talk over you, stop, wait, and then carry on exactly from where you were previously, without acknowledging whatever he's just interrupted you with. Set your stall out (non-aggressively) that the next time this happens, the outcome will be xyz. I'd also try to ask (genuine) questions, e.g. "is it not clear to you what topics are off-limits for discussion with friends?", "would it help if I explained what would be "off-limit" topics for me and why I feel that way". It's so much harder for someone to get on the defence when it feels like you genuinely want to know their opinion.

I absolutely hate suggesting a woman change when she's so clearly not the one in the wrong, but sometimes men are so inept at communication as a result of their upbringing, they genuinely do not know that it is possible to have a "disagreement" without it becoming an "argument".

However, if you have done all this previously and he's still acting this way (or you try this and it continues), I most certainly would question the respect he has for you. Without mutual respect, there is a power imbalance within your relationship and you may never feel like equal 'partners'. Would you be happy living the rest of your life like this?

Leaving this man may feel terrifying, but you will be setting an example to your children in the future that they deserve to be respected (a particularly great lesson if you have girls) and that they should treat people's feelings with respect and dignity (a particularly great lesson if you have boys).

Sorry you are dealing with this and I hope you find the answer x

Doesthepopeshitinthewoods · 22/03/2023 14:23

He sounds like an absolute fucking twat.

CandlelightGlow · 22/03/2023 14:40

Alexbh · 22/03/2023 12:09

Why did I have kids with him if he was an arse hole?
he didn’t decide to show me he was an arse hole until I was heavily pregnant on my second child (his first) my eldest is from a previous relationship, and 10 years old. He’s a little younger than me. After that he did a good job of being nice for long enough to convince me he had changed and we had another. Wow you mrs perfects , I hope all you see is all you truly get with your own husbands and your life perfect all the way through. The rest of us understand reality happens though. And people can pretend well.

I don't think people are (yet, it will come!) trying to be superior or snarky. I guess from your post it just sounds like you intensely dislike this man to the point where it sounds hard to believe you'd enter a romantic relationship with him let alone a serious one with DC.

I guess most people are used to hearing that people love their partners but the balance of issues shifts over time to where one person might find that relationship is no longer tolerable. But the wording of your post made it sound like it was kind of like that right out of the gate. It's only a tiny snapshot, a paragraph to illustrate an entire multiple year long span and a relationship between 2 people, which are always complex, even the good ones.

The only relevant thing about how you've ended up here is whether in your opinion the parts of his personality that drew you to him and kept you with him are real (it sounds like you think all his good side was a ruse at this point). Is that the reality or are you just very pissed off in this moment?

Is it possible to genuinely work on how you communicate with each other? Do you like or love him?

I mean, I get relationships aren't black and white, but at the end of the day your choices are binary. You stay with him or you leave him. You need to try and explore your options. Do you want to fix it and if so is that realistic. Do you want to leave, if so what are the practicalities.

Good luck, FWIW he sounds gross and I certainly couldn't be with one of those cringe, immature, banter, her indoors type men.

isitjustmey · 22/03/2023 14:42

Get rid of your "partner" OP. Like someone said above, he does sound gross.

NotAnotherBathBomb · 22/03/2023 14:52

Alexbh · 22/03/2023 12:09

Why did I have kids with him if he was an arse hole?
he didn’t decide to show me he was an arse hole until I was heavily pregnant on my second child (his first) my eldest is from a previous relationship, and 10 years old. He’s a little younger than me. After that he did a good job of being nice for long enough to convince me he had changed and we had another. Wow you mrs perfects , I hope all you see is all you truly get with your own husbands and your life perfect all the way through. The rest of us understand reality happens though. And people can pretend well.

From your second line in the OP: 'Since the beginning my partner has demonstrated a clear lack of consideration and respect for me'

I'm sorry, but I will never understand woman who not only stay with a partner who does this, but then goes on to breed. Especially when you have one child already. Mind-boggling

Dangelis · 22/03/2023 15:12

I'm going to give you the advice I wished I'd given myself when I was in the same situation with a useless immature partner:

Consider that you might only be sticking around because complaining about him and feeling like the mature, superior victim has become a way of life for you. Then leave, because that's no way to spend your precious life on Earth.

You're not scoring points with anyone by sticking around.

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