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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dp & neighbour - Aibu?

190 replies

Ocholo93 · 26/11/2023 23:01

I am absolutely fuming right now and need opinions on if I’m being unreasonable or not. If I’m being honest I don’t care if I am, I believe I feel this way for a reason and have a right to be angry.

dp recently started ‘following’ a young lady that lives on our apartment floor. We are very reserved in our building and don’t interact too much with neighbours, just say ‘hello’ when we bump into eachother however this young lady was not someone we bump into often, in all the years of living here I have only seen her to say hello twice, one of which was today! So when I noticed that her and dp began following eachother on Instagram I instantly wondered how that situation came about.. they obviously had to exchange social usernames etc?

this is another issue, I am not able to follow him on social media / Instagram, he doesn’t want me on there. I don’t have social media anymore but I did in the past. To be fair it is a business account that he has, for his business. But it is still personal, he is still posting himself on there everyday, interacting with everyone, he follows absolutely everyone he knows on there. When I asked him how they began to follow eachother he told me that she followed him for his business (even though she is not a client).

this evening whilst sitting on the couch, I hear a light knock on our front door. Dp goes to the drawer, takes out a tool and opens the door very slight just enough to pass the tool out but so that I cannot see. I hear a girl say ‘thanks I will bring it back soon’ and then he closes the door. I immediately opened the door after to see who it was and it was this young lady that he follows. At that point I was very confused and instantly realised that they have obviously been messaging as she’s clearly messaged to ask him if she can borrow this.

when I asked dp how it came about he completely refused to tell me. I tried to stay calm but was fuming inside, I asked 4 times and he completely refused to tell me. All he could’ve said was ‘she messaged asking to borrow something’ but instead he refused to answer me and told me not to stress him out. At this stage I was so angry as he clearly knows it’s inappropriate as he couldn’t even have the decency to tell me.

dp Then storms off to bed, as if I have done something wrong by asking him. I hear her knock lightly at the door again (baring in mind she didn’t press our door bell at all, it was a light knock as if to be sneaky in my eyes) so I immediately went and opened the door. I could see she was a bit stunned to see me open the door and put on a nice smile and passed me the tool. I asked her ‘how did this come about?’ And she began to tell me she has an issue with her sink but I asked specifically how did this come about that she’s messaged my dp to ask him for it. It then turned into an argument she cited his ‘profession’ as if to say that means anything? His profession has nothing to do with a tool she’s messaged to borrow. I told her that I don’t think it’s appropriate, she could have just asked me to borrow something (especially as I saw her earlier today) instead of texting her neighbours boyfriend’. She then was rude and told me ‘no one is interested in your man’ and swore at me as she walked off in which I equally swore back.

now I will admit I’m now regretting engaging in an argument. I have never in my entire life argued with ANYBODY, I have never sworn etc I am the most gentlest soul and the calmest person, everyone tells me this. I don’t know what came over me but I felt a rage.

dp did not come out of the room whilst this happened, I then went to him and told him to tell me what happened and he completely refused. He told me that he is not interested in her and that i have brought trouble to my door now, that she is a dangerous person and her friends. I then told him HE has brought this to our door. We don’t get too personal with our neighbours, he would never let me borrow things to neighbours as he likes us to mind our business and stay out of trouble, so if he thinks this girl is trouble then why would he willingly go out of his way to borrow her something. I reminded him that if this was the other way around he would go mad! But he just proceeded to tell me that I am immature and basically crazy.

I am now sitting here unsure of if I’m in the right or wrong. I would never fight anyone and I would especially never fight another woman over a man. That wasn’t really my point, my issue was the way they sneakily exchanged at my front door, she felt comfortable enough to knock on my door like that, that clearly they have messaged eachother etc. in my head I just don’t think this is appropriate, this is not just a neighbour that we are close with etc.

have I made a mistake? Have I embarrassed myself? I’m slightly mad at myself now, my issue is obviously with dp and I perhaps shouldn’t have taken it out on the girl but equally I feel it’s right to be territorial over my home and my kids home and I had a right to question. I couldn’t imagine texting a neighbours boyfriend asking for something, especially if we are not close at all with the neighbours.

OP posts:
Ocholo93 · 27/11/2023 00:02

Ghentsummer · 26/11/2023 23:59

But you supposedly haven't had access to his social media for 6 years so how do you know this?

His page is public, it can be accessed without needing an account to see what he posts etc etc. when I say I have no access, I mean I have been blocked and unable to follow/friend him for years. I have no access to his phone or see his messages/dms (not that I should but he had open access to mine)

OP posts:
Ghentsummer · 27/11/2023 00:02

I also don't know why you keep trying to phrase it as this woman messaging her neighbour's boyfriend rather than the truth of she's just messaged her neighbour?

Sounds like you have good reason not to trust your partner and he sounds like a controlling jerk. But that's on him, not her and you don't get to take your jealousy out on her.

I doubt you are as calm and non-aggressive as you've tried to claim though.

Ocholo93 · 27/11/2023 00:05

Ghentsummer · 27/11/2023 00:02

I also don't know why you keep trying to phrase it as this woman messaging her neighbour's boyfriend rather than the truth of she's just messaged her neighbour?

Sounds like you have good reason not to trust your partner and he sounds like a controlling jerk. But that's on him, not her and you don't get to take your jealousy out on her.

I doubt you are as calm and non-aggressive as you've tried to claim though.

I promise I am 100% as calm as I’ve said. It’s an issue that I have and absolutely hate as it’s caused me to put up with so much. I let everything slide which is why I think the anger just came out tonight. I have never felt that way before, I think I took too much and it finally built up. I do regret it now. It’s 100% unlike me, I have never argued with anyone (besides dp) not even my own family!

OP posts:
oogbkihdeeflkigfviimmm · 27/11/2023 00:07

The fact he won’t let you near his social media and you’ve gone and deleted yours because of his constant pestering says to me deflection because it sounds like he’s up to no good.

her lightly tapping the door, and him sneaking tools out is suspicious and the fact he won’t say why he’s following her etc.

No you’re not unreasonable I just think this is a toxic relationship and if your gut is telling you something is up listen to it.

I wouldn’t stay in this relationship

sweetpickle23 · 27/11/2023 00:15

Honestly you both sound unreasonable.

This isn’t a healthy relationship- him telling you what you to with your own SM, you checking up on who he’s following and being suspicious of him talking to a neighbour. End it.

Mrsknowitall · 27/11/2023 00:18

I would say he probably went into the bedroom to delete all the dm’s incase you demanded to see them! He is up to no good

ScattieHattie1 · 27/11/2023 00:19

I promise I am 100% as calm as I’ve said

You're not calm. You're opening paragraph says you're fuming and angry. She messaged a neighbour asking to lend something, you've hit the roof. That ain't calm.

JFT · 27/11/2023 00:24

I'm going to say YANBU here but you have a 'situation'

Sounds like DP is being secretive and mysterious and sly. Why pass out the tool so sneaky? Why not tell you oh guess what I got chatting to that woman from number 9 the other day, her name's sue, she's got a little dog. No... just shrouded in sneakiness and and quietness. I wouldn't put up with that and the natural consequence of being gaslit is you got a bit argumentative and crazy.

I'd have a chat with her if I was you. And I'd get prepared to move on from DP too.

JFT · 27/11/2023 00:26

Ocholo93 · 27/11/2023 00:05

I promise I am 100% as calm as I’ve said. It’s an issue that I have and absolutely hate as it’s caused me to put up with so much. I let everything slide which is why I think the anger just came out tonight. I have never felt that way before, I think I took too much and it finally built up. I do regret it now. It’s 100% unlike me, I have never argued with anyone (besides dp) not even my own family!

If you are behaving out of character it's because something isn't right and whatever 'it' is is starting to manifest.

hoobanoobie · 27/11/2023 00:28

Oh come on. Sit and read back to yourself everything you've written. This isn’t a relationship it's a fucking mess. But you're only posting because of neighbour lady? You've got way more serious problems than that. She's just a blip in the ridiculous circus.

WilloTheWispy · 27/11/2023 00:31

If I were you I’d immediately reinstate my SM and dump him.
He’s clearly a controlling, toxic wanker.

Headshoulderscheeseontoast · 27/11/2023 00:42

He doesn't want you to follow his social media, that's one gigantic red flag! Add in that he was extremely suspicious of your social media... that's his guilt playing out because he's up to something

Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 27/11/2023 00:47

2 separate issues -
was it weird of her to message him asking to borrow something? Not at all, if they are on messaging terms, it was totally fine.
is it ok that he's messaging loads of women, won't let you see his social media or be publicly acknowledged on there and made it impossible for you to have social media by his controlling behaviour? No not at all, he's almost certainly up to no good and using social media to flirt with/chase women.

Lisalalala · 27/11/2023 01:32

I would be very concerned if my partner refused to add me on social media. I say this because my step dad was like this with my mum, she also wasn't allowed to know his phone password or ever use his phone. I had him on social media and always found it gross and creepy that he followed lots of young women. Anyway he left my mum after 22 years of marriage last December. Found out this year that he has been having a 2 year affair and even living with the woman. (Pretending to go away for work) he's also denied this affair over and over even though my sister found evidence on this woman's social media from 2 years ago and they both got very defensive about it and then she made her profile private.
So if I were you I wouldn't be trusting him. If it is innocent he would have told you that part surely and she would have said something when she saw you. Hopefully this is not the case for you and you're just over reacting.

flowerchild2000 · 27/11/2023 01:38

He sounds controlling and also insane...the dangerous bit? Really weird! Why would you stay with him after he banned you from his socials? Wasn't that the big clue that something is wrong?

Appleblum · 27/11/2023 01:52

Look I know it's not the same but there's nothing wrong with neighbours helping each other out. I have the numbers of some of my neighbours that DH doesn't know about. I've even had a neighbour stop me on my way to my car when it was raining and asked if I could give her a lift to the school pickup as it was raining (our kids went to the same preschool)... so I gave her a lift to school and came back together with her kid as well. At that point I'd only spoken to her once before in the playground.

I think you were unreasonable confronting your neighbour like that. Your issue 100% is with your boyfriend, not her.

Ilovelifeverymuch · 27/11/2023 02:05

Celticliving · 26/11/2023 23:03

You sound incredibly insecure.

Has DP previously given you reason to distrust?

Really? Why can't he openly tell her what's going on instead of sneaking around with the neighbor on social media and in real life?

Did you even read the paper or jump straight to blame the woman?

WilmaWonka · 27/11/2023 02:06

Trust your gut OP!

They’re definitely contacting each other. He knew she was coming to the door otherwise why get the tool out ready. Why didn’t he come out during your exchange with her, must have heard it if you were swearing at each other? Coward!

He’s being secretive with his SM because he’s got something to hide.

Do you go out to work at times he’s at home?

Do you have DC together? I’m afraid he doesn’t sound trustworthy and is gaslighting you. I wouldn’t waste anymore of your life on him and would make plans to get him out of your life.

Ilovelifeverymuch · 27/11/2023 02:11

Ocholo93 · 26/11/2023 23:24

I have always been on social media, I only deleted recently due to dp having an issue with it. He’d constantly want to check it/what I’ve posted/who has watched my story or followed me etc and get annoyed so I ended up deleting it for the peace, and tbh I’m fine without it. So I don’t find it weird to talk/use it to talk to people or ask someone for something, but I do think it’s weird to dm someone’s bf on Instagram, that is your neighbour especially when you are not close or friendly neighbours at all..

i am suspicious and insecure of these things as he keeps everything hidden from me… for years! He messages tons of women every day and will use his profession as an excuse even though a lot of what I have seen is very inappropriate, flirting etc etc.

Sorry I don't see how this relationship is worth it, move on.

Ilovelifeverymuch · 27/11/2023 02:14

ScattieHattie1 · 26/11/2023 23:32

People in healthy relationships don't delete social media because of their own insecurities. People in healthy relationships don't give a shit what one another does on there.

So he's got a business, she followed it, she messaged asking to lend something. I'm really struggling to see the issue.

The issue is he was controlling over her social media while keeping his secret from her.

Then following their neighbor while he refuses to allow his partner follow him, secretly messaging neighbor and refusing to let his partner know what's going on, secretly borrowing her tools while trying to keep OP in the dark and pretend like she is crazy for wondering what's going on.

It's not that hard to see the issue. If there was nothing going on he would simply say neighbor x asked to borrow the wrench or whatever, simple not just pretend nothing is going on, run to his room and refuse to talk or engage.

He heard his partner and the neighbor arguing at the door and he stayed in the room pretending he didn't hear anything, that's normal to you?

Telling the neighbor to lightly knock the door instead of use the bell so OP doesn't hear sounds normal to you? If there was nothing to it why have her sneak around?

Caerulea · 27/11/2023 02:16

WilloTheWispy · 27/11/2023 00:31

If I were you I’d immediately reinstate my SM and dump him.
He’s clearly a controlling, toxic wanker.

And add a dating app to it!

OP - he sounds like he's projected his sneaky behaviour on to you. Controlling over your SM use & blocking you from his accounts? Something is very wrong here & I think your instincts are telling you that. There may be nothing going on with the neighbour BUT it's the sneakiness, the underhandedness that speaks volumes.

DH & I don't really interact on SM (I mean.. We live together) but our business & personal accounts are not secret or hidden.

JANEY205 · 27/11/2023 02:48

I would dump him. No man is worth this bullshit and stress. He sounds dodgy as hell and you know he messages other women inappropriately. I think posters saying you are overreacting are older and don’t grasp that what he’s doing on social media or with this neighbor is not normal ffs. He’s a rat.

SaltPepperPotato · 27/11/2023 02:51

The moment my ‘D’P said I couldn’t follow them on social media it would be over. No one dictates that shit to me

FloofCloud · 27/11/2023 02:59

So they've made a connection and now they're building on that. I have to say it's weird he's not wanting you on his SM then gets the arse when you notice something ... what's all that shit about dangerous person 😵‍💫 sounds like he's gaslighting you to be honest.
I personally wouldn't be with someone so deceptive as it would piss me off

Newnamehiwhodis · 27/11/2023 03:05

Nah. He’s awful. And he’s calling you crazy and saying she’s “trouble?” What the hell. A normal, decent man would say how the hell he offered to lend a neighbor something, ffs.

he’s bad news. I’m sorry, OP, but this has glaring red flags all over it.

and why would she jump all over you like that? Even if you had come across as somehow upset, a regular human being would simply have looked confused and said “I texted.” Or something.

get rid of the creep. She’s not your problem - he is.

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