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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DP behaviour. Aibu to this is behaviour is abusive?

66 replies

Pineapplesquares · 11/07/2023 02:49

Atm I'm doing alot of work in my counselling on boundaries because tbh I've never had any or if I did I let people trample on them. This has resulted in me having previous abusive relationships etc. I've done so much work on myself over the 6 years since I left my DC dad.
This brings us to yesterday. In my counselling session I said I felt angry that people try to blame me when I set a boundary and try to put myself first for once.

I had spoken to DP on the phone earlier and we only get 1 night together every other weekend. However this weekend I need to do a carboot for money and declutter purposes. I said I wouldn't be able to stay this weekend as need to be up early to be there for 6am. We live 40 mins apart and I'd have to travel there with all my stuff in the car and wake up before 5am to get there if I stayed at DP.
She didn't like the fact I said this and told me I was being selfish and not putting them first. However last Friday DP had a child free night and I'd excitedly asked if they wanted to come to an event with me and DC. She said no and went out with her friend. I was supportive and said yea sure you're friend needs you atm.

Today after the first carboot chat she sent me some holiday date messages. I was just about to go in to my counselling appointment and then I went food shopping so in all about 2 hours I didn't text back. She deleted the messages and said she felt I didn't care about her. I explained I had been busy. She then said she didn't like it when I got annoyed about the not staying at hers chat earlier. I told her that she had made me feel selfish for doing a carboot and I said I'm fed up of always being made to feel bad when I put myself first. She replied do what you want, this isn't working and hasn't spoken to me since.
Aibu to think this is abusive? Even though I've done the work I worry I still don't recognise the signs.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 11/07/2023 03:02

Good grief, op. She's an absolute pain in the arse and you're well rid.

Block her and move on with your life.

WallaceinAnderland · 11/07/2023 03:36

She has her own boundaries which she is setting out. You just need a face to face conversation.

Aria999 · 11/07/2023 03:40

Not sure if I would call it abusive necessarily but it's selfish and high maintenance and way too much drama.

Doesn't sound like she overall improves your life?!

babbscrabbs · 11/07/2023 03:46

Aria999 · 11/07/2023 03:40

Not sure if I would call it abusive necessarily but it's selfish and high maintenance and way too much drama.

Doesn't sound like she overall improves your life?!

This.

MrsRickAstley · 11/07/2023 04:34

Could she not stay at yours that night ? And then be about to help with car boot ?

But if it's over, doesn't sound like a bad thing.

Too much drama.

OrangesAndLemming · 11/07/2023 04:43

Not abusive just a bit dramatic. She’s allowed to be disappointed about you not coming to hers especially as you don’t see her often. You’re setting your boundaries but people are allowed to have feelings about them. I agree deleting the holiday messages is a bit ott but perhaps she feels she has invested more in the relationship than you and is getting frustrated? Just playing devils advocate!

Pineapplesquares · 11/07/2023 07:12

Thanks for opinions.
In the past she has blocked me on WhatsApp, given me silent treatment for using a computer at hers that she said I could use, she is allowed to do this but if I do what she's done then she gets mad, she gets funny if I go out and drink, she has told me I'm a bad parent for taking my DC out of school last year when it was 40 degrees, she once got in a mood and didn't speak to me because apparently I was looking at a man in a romantic way in the supermarket. This is when people were wearing masks and I literally had no clue what she was on about. I guess this one thing may seem small but there are other things in the past too

OP posts:
HopelessEstateAgents · 11/07/2023 07:23

She's dramatic. But also you two don't seem
that bothered about actually seeing each other, neither of you prioritising just one night a fortnight!

Not much point is there?

Strugglingtodomybest · 11/07/2023 07:30

If this is a regular pattern, that you do something that she doesn't like and then she withdraws affection to punish you, then yes, I'd say that it was emotionally abusive behaviour.

It certainly doesn't sound like a healthy relationship.

Toniii · 11/07/2023 07:30

Your first examples no I don't think they are abusive. If you only see each other once in 2 weeks but a car boot cane first, so presumably that meant you'd only see each other once a month? What's the point?

But your further update, getting funny when you go out, and so on. That's 🚩

CarpetSlipper · 11/07/2023 07:31

It sounds like you have different expectations and she feels insecure (perhaps because you doing a carboot sale presumably meant you didn’t see her for a month?). Sounds like neither of you are happy in this relationship.

thishasnotmyweek · 11/07/2023 07:35

I don't think it's abusive, you only see each other once every other weekend and now you're saying you're busy on the one night you can see her.

I too would be very upset and feel like you didn't care about me.

The getting upset because you took too long to respond is childish

Sparkletastic · 11/07/2023 07:36

She's right. It isn't working. Leave it at that.

TheHandbag · 11/07/2023 07:38

She is emotionally abusive and if you went back to her, it'll only get worse so best end it now.

supersonicginandtonic · 11/07/2023 07:39

Why don't you do the car boot on the weekend you don't see her? That's the solution that makes the most sense to me

StopStartStop · 11/07/2023 07:40

Consider yourself well rid of her.

TRexTara · 11/07/2023 07:41

She sounds like a right pain in the arse.

WilkinsonM · 11/07/2023 07:43

the added detail does paint a picture of a controlling person, yes
probably for the best that she's ended it.

Pineapplesquares · 11/07/2023 07:43

thishasnotmyweek · 11/07/2023 07:35

I don't think it's abusive, you only see each other once every other weekend and now you're saying you're busy on the one night you can see her.

I too would be very upset and feel like you didn't care about me.

The getting upset because you took too long to respond is childish

Sorry I don't think I made it clear we see each other every weekend. This wasn't the case until recently due to my DC contact with his dad. Before that I used to see her 3 nights per week.
I'd see her this Saturday daytime and this Sunday daytime just not staying over the Saturday night so I can do the carboot in the morning.
I really need to do it as I'm low on money and need to declutter. I don't want to do it when DC is about as I have some old toys to sell and they would get upset about it.

OP posts:
HellonHeels · 11/07/2023 07:48

You don't need this kind of stress. She has no business criticising your parenting.

Getting annoyed if you go out with friends and the deleting messages if yodon't t respond within 2 hours is controlling.

Silent treatment is emotional abuse.

Talk about it with your counsellor, but I think you're much better off without her.

Have you done the Freedom programme? Might be useful for you

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 11/07/2023 07:53

Have you posted about her before?

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 11/07/2023 08:02

The trash has taken itself out. Don't contact her again and start afresh. She's abusive!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 11/07/2023 08:03

Pineapplesquares · 11/07/2023 07:12

Thanks for opinions.
In the past she has blocked me on WhatsApp, given me silent treatment for using a computer at hers that she said I could use, she is allowed to do this but if I do what she's done then she gets mad, she gets funny if I go out and drink, she has told me I'm a bad parent for taking my DC out of school last year when it was 40 degrees, she once got in a mood and didn't speak to me because apparently I was looking at a man in a romantic way in the supermarket. This is when people were wearing masks and I literally had no clue what she was on about. I guess this one thing may seem small but there are other things in the past too

These examples are much. Pre concerning than the first post (where she comes across a bit anxious!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 11/07/2023 08:03

HopelessEstateAgents · 11/07/2023 07:23

She's dramatic. But also you two don't seem
that bothered about actually seeing each other, neither of you prioritising just one night a fortnight!

Not much point is there?

I agree

Pineapplesquares · 11/07/2023 08:04

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 11/07/2023 07:53

Have you posted about her before?

No I haven't

OP posts: