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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner doesn’t respect my decisions and boundaries

112 replies

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 20:05

I have an ex who is an absolute narcissistic and my daughter and I fled from him due to DV. Fast forward a few years and we are “amicable” but he does snap and switch when he doesn’t get his own way, and unfortunately the only way to keep him from verbally abusing me is to block him until he has calmed down (usually a day or two) which is the followed by a grovelling apology. We are not together and he sees our daughter 6 days out of a month. I know how to deal with him and I have very strict boundaries that he is forced to respect because I do not take any crap from him. I’ve been in a relationship with a wonderful man for a few years now and one one occasion he had to step in to be the middle man as the abuse was too much. Unfortunately, my partner doesn’t know how to set boundaries and is happy to receive messages from ex. I’ve explained to him that the reason my ex contacts him, is because I have blocked him and he knows the only way the abuse will get to me is by contacting my partner. I asked my partner on several occasions to not respond to him and let him shoot himself in the foot but I end up finding out that he still responds to him. The most recent issue I had is when my ex (who is due to have my little one this weekend) started his excuses by planting the seed that he can’t get a train ticket this weekend to pick her up(we have an arrangement which we have been doing for a couple of years now), when I told him I’m sure he can find another way he said he would then the next day asked if I can drop her to him instead because of train delays, at first I said yes to avoid his negative comeback but then I found out there were no train issue and told him this, to be which he responded that he knew but wants me to drop her anyway, I told him I don’t owe him favours and to stop making excuses (his fave football team are playing this weekend). He sent me a barrage of abusive messages accusing me of being angry and abusive and that if I don’t bring her to him, then he’s not coming to pick her up. My partner is aware of this and aware that I had asked my ex to only contact me if it’s to confirm a pick up and drop off and nothing else. Today my partner tells me that my ex messaged him to tell me that he blocked me because I’m abusive and stopping him from seeing our daughter, my partner responds to him saying that “ahhh this shouldn’t really be happening” to which my ex started conversing with him as if they were best friends and even telling my partner that I’m abusive etc and that I should be made to pay for his transport to pick up and drop off our daughter and that he shouldn’t be paying! My ex then responds saying “ahh ok, I’ll let her know, this isn’t right”. AIBU by getting upset with my partner who should have spoken to me first before responding to my ex? I blocked him and my partner is aware of his cycle of anger towards me when he doesn’t get his way but I’m starting to realise that my partner may not understand boundaries! This is a super tough topic for me because I don’t understand why my partner even though I have told him many times not to get involved with him, still feels ok to do so. Any communication with my ex is still his way of being abusive to me because my partner will repeat his negativity to me. I’m sick and tired of this and don’t know why my partner cannot stay out of it!
for clarity, I have full custody of my daughter.

OP posts:
Bookworm1111 · 03/04/2024 21:02

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 21:00

@WandaWonder what drama? The same way he vents about things that make him upset, so do I, it’s what happens in relationships so not sure what your point is? It’s the boundary issue that is up for discussion here.. if he told me to stop telling him things I would respect that, but if I keep quiet, he will ask me why I didn’t tell him..

Ignore that poster. It's a man trying to tell us ladies that we should be nicer to our abusers.

HundredMilesAnHour · 03/04/2024 21:02

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 20:58

@Testina one two occasions I have been firm that he should not speak with him if he is contacted! I have made it very clear(clearly not) that I do not want him to ever get involved again…

Not firm enough it seems.

I'm not usually a fan of ultimatums but in this scenario, he either stops the contact and blocks your ex immediately, or you need to bin him. No negotiation.

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 21:02

@ScabbyHorse i want my little one to have consistency with seeing her dad, I don’t ever want to stop her from seeing him, he makes excuses every so often when he has something “better” to do but starts an argument so he can tell me he’s not going to pick her up because km “abusive” 😂

OP posts:
GingerIsBest · 03/04/2024 21:03

WandaWonder · 03/04/2024 20:56

Maybe he is sick of having to live through the drama's and trying to get through it as best he can, but of course he is a man so nothing he do will be right

The drama? I love the assumption that it's the OP's fault there's "drama". My god, you really don't get it do you? The ex is the one creating drama and the current partner is just feeding the troll by engaging with him.

Prydddan · 03/04/2024 21:03

WandaWonder · 03/04/2024 20:56

Maybe he is sick of having to live through the drama's and trying to get through it as best he can, but of course he is a man so nothing he do will be right

He has a very easy 'out' of the drama. Just do what the OP has asked of him. But of course he's a man and won't.

Saintmariesleuth · 03/04/2024 21:05

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 20:58

@Testina one two occasions I have been firm that he should not speak with him if he is contacted! I have made it very clear(clearly not) that I do not want him to ever get involved again…

I doubt it's a lack of clarity if you have discussed it twice OP, it is more likely that your partner is ignoring your request here

Do you live with your current partner?

ScabbyHorse · 03/04/2024 21:05

@goforit99 I totally understand that and I know it's hard. It's his responsibility however, and she will learn that you are reliable and he is less reliable in time.

Comtesse · 03/04/2024 21:06

Your DP is out of order.

ATerrorofLeftovers · 03/04/2024 21:06

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 20:22

@Kingoftheroad my partner doesn’t block people, he says it’s immature lol… but yet makes time for my ex! I’m not sure if he thinks he’s being my knight in shining armour but it’s so friggin infuriating, it’s as if he’s doing it deliberately to tick me off.. he thinks by being nice it’s avoiding conflict but that’s not the point, I still have to her my ex’s abuse towards me even though I’ve blocked him.

He doesn’t like conflict? Fine. Make it clear to him he’ll have hugely more conflict with you than he does your ex, unless he stops all responses immediately.

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 21:12

@NotbloodyGivingupYet completely and it’s infuriating.

OP posts:
goforit99 · 03/04/2024 21:13

@Saintmariesleuth no, I don’t

OP posts:
WhistPie · 03/04/2024 21:17

OP, you seem to go for the same type of men. Ask yourself why?

And walk away from this "partner".

He's not your partner, he doesn't respect your decisions and overrides them.

If you stay with him, this will get worse.

Saintmariesleuth · 03/04/2024 21:21

@goforit99 in that case, I would have one more clear discussion about this with your partner- be absolutely clear he is not to say anything more than-' please speak to goforit99' to your ex and is no longer to act as a point of contact between. Any failure to deviate from this, then he is cut loose. I'm sorry to say, I doubt your DP will manage this but I truly hope this shocks him in to reality

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 21:21

@WhistPie he is not like my ex, my partner is a respectful man, a very kind and loving man, not like I have ever seen before, the issue is he is too too kind and doesn’t do conflicts but unfortunately In this situation, it proves difficult to accept this as it’s clearly upsetting me but he is a good human being!

OP posts:
goforit99 · 03/04/2024 21:23

@Saintmariesleuth i hope so too. I hate how upset I became with him but I was so angry as to how this is still being allowed to happen to me. I have control over my ex’s behaviour towards me, but when other people get involved it doesn’t go well.

OP posts:
Saintmariesleuth · 03/04/2024 21:27

You are right to be angry- he has ignored your wishes and is poking his beak where it doesn't belong. He likely didn't intend to act unkindly, but he is not a nice person if he carries on doing this now you have explained it to him. You deserve a partner who IS kind

Bookworm1111 · 03/04/2024 21:30

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 21:21

@WhistPie he is not like my ex, my partner is a respectful man, a very kind and loving man, not like I have ever seen before, the issue is he is too too kind and doesn’t do conflicts but unfortunately In this situation, it proves difficult to accept this as it’s clearly upsetting me but he is a good human being!

But a respectful man, a kind and loving man, someone who is too kind and a good human being would be falling over himself not to upset his new partner. He'd listen to her concerns and would do whatever it took to make her feel safe. He would agree with her wishes not to facilitate contact himself with her ex.

Your partner is doing none of those things. He's totally disregarding you. That makes him the opposite of everything you think he is.

WhistPie · 03/04/2024 21:30

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 21:21

@WhistPie he is not like my ex, my partner is a respectful man, a very kind and loving man, not like I have ever seen before, the issue is he is too too kind and doesn’t do conflicts but unfortunately In this situation, it proves difficult to accept this as it’s clearly upsetting me but he is a good human being!

Two men who trample all over your boundaries?

One might be kind, but he's still ignoring your boundaries.

Two peas but from different pods then.

Think about it.

WoodBurningStov · 03/04/2024 21:33

It's up to your partner to decide who he wants to upset. You or your ex.

GingerIsBest · 03/04/2024 21:35

@WhistPie I don't disagree with you but I do understand why OP finds this hard.

At the end of the day, a lot of narcissistic abusive men are also deeply misogynist. and unfortunately, this subtle, endless misogyny is often present in even our "nice guys". There is an instinct for many men to default to the "calm down dear" mindset, to believe other men and not believe women.

BIL, on the surface, total feminist ally. supporter of women's rights blah blah blah. But even having watched the abuse his sister suffered and agreeing it was not okay, he STILL regularly engages with exBIL and believes that SIL should be a bit more understanding of his issues.

OP, I honestly think that you have to accept he's not going to "get it". So it's ultimatum time - "I cannot have you engaging with exDH and I have worked too hard to get where I am so I will not be undermined, no matter how good your intentions are. I appreciate you want to help, but this is NOT helping me. I need you to respect this boundary and if you can't, then we will have to reconsider this relationship."

The really sad thing of course is that you've probably told him all about th eabuse and he made all the right noises, and now you're realising that he probably never really fully believed you or was thinking, "I'm sure she's overplaying it/exagerating etc"

Isthisit22 · 03/04/2024 21:39

Sorry but your new partner is utterly spineless. He’d rather placate your ex than properly support you.
Time for a final ultimatum and if he contacts or replies to your ex once more dump him (and mean it)

Throckmorton · 03/04/2024 21:41

He is NOT a good man. He is putting his own desire for comfort, ie not having to block your ex, over your wellbeing. it's more important to him that he is comfortable, even if that means you still are subject to abuse from your ex. At the very best he is a weak man who will never have your back.

AlexaPlaySomeHappyHardcore · 03/04/2024 21:47

You’re so right that your ex is using your current partner as a way to continue his abuse and controlling behaviour. The fact that your partner has been told this by you and still continues to maintain contact with him is quite a red flag. You say he doesn’t like conflict but if that was the case he’d not be having any contact with your ex and refuse to get involved. I think he either does enjoy the drama of it all (which is pathetic and gross of him) or he’s a piece of shit too.

Autienotnaughtie · 03/04/2024 21:55

Hes colluding with your ex. This isn't acceptable.

goforit99 · 03/04/2024 22:24

@WhistPie you are right!

OP posts:
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