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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Boyfriend upset with me for seemingly not showing enough concern when he was ill.

151 replies

Freckles81 · 17/04/2024 08:54

I am grieving the loss of a family member atm (she passed Fri), so I am a bit emotional and not able to process things clearly, and need an outside perspective.

We live together and I have sacrificed an international, very well paid career to stay with him in a small village in the UK (but am hoping to return to this previous career in a year or so). I am infertile, no kids.

I do the lionshare of household duties as I am home more and am a very loving, attentive partner.

Yesterday he told me he has had something on his mind that has been bothering him and needed to speak to me about. A month ago, after I looked after him for a full day when he was sick (I turned down supply teaching to do so, losing money), and he then decided to go back to work the next day, I didn't seem concerned enough about him, as I agreed he should go back to work if he wanted to and felt up to it.

He said he felt I just wanted him out of the way and so didn't really care enough for him at that moment. I had looked after him the day before and he was adamant that he wanted to return, and seemed better, so I agreed that if he felt ready to go back to work he should. I also wanted to be available to work that day if supply teaching jobs came through, as I too needed the money, and apparently he felt that 'energy' e.g. lack of concern towards him, and it made him feel I didn't care enough.

I even texted him that day to tell him to come home if he felt he wasn’t well enough to be there once he got there, but he declined, saying he needed the money. However, he harbours resentment against me for my seeming lack of care for him by not encouraging him to take another day off and for me to stay home to look after him again. I see this as incredibly needy. He is a man and not a baby/child who needs me to decide whether he stays off work and gets looked after.

He has been feeling v upset about this, which to me is a non issue, and brought it up to me whilst I am trying to grieve for my family member but put a happy face on it so as not to ruin our evenings together. The fact he has done this now, when I am grieving and feeling delicate, has really upset me. It seems such a trivial thing to carry and to raise with me whilst I am so emotional.

The act in question happened about a month ago and it has been bothering him since, even on his mind when he wakes up in the night! To me it was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

He also said that lately I have been short with him but couldn't give me examples. I had recently been signed off sick with stress by my Doctor due to violence and aggression in the classroom on long term supply, and money has been a bit of an issue so I have been extra stressed recently. I definitely have not been myself but can't think I have ever been annoyed or short with him. I try my best to put on a brave face and look at positives.

I feel upset and resentful that I prioritise him in all areas of my life, have sacrificed money, and an international career, as well as sacrificed living near friends and family, and all of my love and care seems undone by one morning in which I didn't seem suitably concerned that he wasn't well enough to go to work, despite him deciding that he wanted to.

He is now apologetic but I feel so upset with him and am considering asking him to move out and going back to him staying over 2 or 3 times per week, instead of living in my house full time with me, but am I being unnecessarily reactive here?

I would really appreciate outsiders' perspectives on this as I am grieving and emotional at the moment!

OP posts:
OhCobblers · 17/04/2024 15:14

Thepeopleversuswork · 17/04/2024 08:59

He’s a manipulative man child. I’m going to stick my neck out here and say you would have been better off taking the international job.

Exactly and frankly I'd be asking him to move out on a permanent basis.
He sounds like a complete arsehole!

VampireWeekday · 17/04/2024 15:29

I hate him.

Leave the self indulgent arse hole. He's just fuming that you have something other than him on your mind and is trying to get you back into support human mode.

DreamingofGinoclock · 17/04/2024 15:30

The biggest red flag for me is turning work down to look after him on the first day.

Why? Unless he was at deaths door/it would be dangerous to leave him (which I'm guessing isn't the case as he went back to work the next day) why did you need to be home.

Surely a grown adult can look after themselves when ill,.of course it would be nice to have our partners there to look after us but not essential.

What would he have done if single, he would have just got on with it ...so why did you even have to turn down the work in the first place?

Zucker · 17/04/2024 15:44

These idiots all follow the same script! Have a read of this OP.....basically another manchild who couldn't stand to be ousted from centre of attention status. I'm sure there are much more posts like this on Mumsnet!

Boyfriend has left me while I'm helping family in hospital www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/5009221-boyfriend-has-left-me-while-im-helping-family-in-hospital

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/04/2024 15:51

Very interesting that he brings this up at this precise moment, when you're burnt out and coping with grief...

Is this the first big loss/big upsetting life event that has occurred whilst you've been with him?

Or, if you think back, are there other times where he has coincidentally brought up 'him' stuff (you not caring enough about him, not doing enough, doing him wrong) at the same time as you having to deal with big 'life' stuff, or being unwell yourself?

I'd get rid. Throw away whole man. Start over. This is not just one red flag, it is several.

  • Spurious complaint that you've not done enough of.. something not quite definable
  • Spurious complaint that you're off/short - no actual examples
  • Timing of such complaints when you're struggling with big stuff
  • Trying to paint you as unwell rather than acknowledge that you're grieving
  • Stewing over non-existant things for a month
  • You seem to be the one making all the sacrifices

Run.

idontlikealdi · 17/04/2024 15:54

Did I really just rad that? You took a day off work to look after him? is he a toddler? My vag would have clamped shut immediately at that and never reopened.

Go back to your career and life and friends, now. Lose the man child.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Freckles81 · 17/04/2024 16:00

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/04/2024 15:51

Very interesting that he brings this up at this precise moment, when you're burnt out and coping with grief...

Is this the first big loss/big upsetting life event that has occurred whilst you've been with him?

Or, if you think back, are there other times where he has coincidentally brought up 'him' stuff (you not caring enough about him, not doing enough, doing him wrong) at the same time as you having to deal with big 'life' stuff, or being unwell yourself?

I'd get rid. Throw away whole man. Start over. This is not just one red flag, it is several.

  • Spurious complaint that you've not done enough of.. something not quite definable
  • Spurious complaint that you're off/short - no actual examples
  • Timing of such complaints when you're struggling with big stuff
  • Trying to paint you as unwell rather than acknowledge that you're grieving
  • Stewing over non-existant things for a month
  • You seem to be the one making all the sacrifices

Run.

Omg I do remember something- I had a really bad chest infectiom about a year into our relationship, and was struggling to breathe, so I called an ambulance, in panic. He had his kids staying with him at the time, but was only a 2 min walk away (staying at a caravan near my house). He said he couldn't come over due to the kids (that wasn't the issue), but to keep him posted. I updated him when the paramedics were on their way, also when I had been seen, and that they said I was ok and didn't need to be hospitalised.

I never heard back from him until 9am the next morning- apparently he had fallen asleep. I wouldn't be able to sleep if my partner had an ambulance on the way and struggling to breathe, personally!!

I nearly split up with him then, in fact.

OP posts:
CrispieCake · 17/04/2024 16:02

He sounds like another person who is taking from you and giving very little in return.

Whenwillitgetwarm · 17/04/2024 16:04

I chose YABU because the situation you’re in is ridiculous. He’s a baby and you appear to be his mum. Do not marry him. Go and find your international career and leave him for dust.

theholesinmyapologies · 17/04/2024 16:17

Having read all your posts, I would say you should be incredibly thankful you haven't married him and can just leave.

I would just leave. Get your career back and remember that you deserve so much more than this going forward.

Freckles81 · 17/04/2024 16:18

Zucker · 17/04/2024 15:44

These idiots all follow the same script! Have a read of this OP.....basically another manchild who couldn't stand to be ousted from centre of attention status. I'm sure there are much more posts like this on Mumsnet!

Boyfriend has left me while I'm helping family in hospital www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/5009221-boyfriend-has-left-me-while-im-helping-family-in-hospital

Thank you for posting the link. Just reading through it now and so much resonates, particularly this:

OP any explanation is about centering himself in the narrative when all you needed at this moment was a caring partner.

Uncannily similar

OP posts:
Delphiniumandlupins · 17/04/2024 16:27

How much of your future do you want to spend tiptoeing around this man, trying to show you "care" as much as he thinks you should? It's never going to be enough for him.

PastaBaby2024 · 17/04/2024 16:32

Sounds like my exH. Note the term "ex". Immature, everything was always about him, he had it harder than everyone in everything. It was easy to put up with it in our 20s because life was easy, it really wasn't an issue.

My mum getting cancer was the turning point. He was absolutely wonderful. For a about a week. And as we know, stage 4 cancer does not go away in a week. He go SO frustrated that I wasn't paying him enough attention.

The day I found out my mum had 6 months left to live, he spent 45 minutes berating me for not being understanding enough about what a hard time he had that day at work because his boss was so annoying and he regretted not becoming a computer programmer.

I stayed with him for another year as I needed to focus on my mum and couldn't focus on selling the house, uprooting everything etc. But everything changed that day. I never forgave him and there was nothing he could ever do to make up for it.

Don't waste another minute of your life on him.

AcrossthePond55 · 17/04/2024 16:37

@Freckles81

He is very loving, but I now wonder if that love is when everything is going how he likes it, and when I have needs or am seemingly not prioritising him he dislikes it and finds a reason to hold me to account.

It's not love at all, it's 'creating a beholden'. He isn't sincerely being 'nice' for the love or you, he's storing up 'gestures' like a squirrel stores nuts for the winter. If you give it some thought, you may notice that his 'caring' is in ways that are very 'visible' yet don't require too much effort on his part. Then he can pull those gestures out and use them when he thinks you aren't pandering to him enough. He'll either use them internally to built resentment and/or use them verbally to make you feel 'uncaring' and to shame you into putting your own needs and wants second to his.

This isn't just a red flag, it's a fireworks display spelling out "RUN" in big red letters!

Reclaim your life. You had a great one before him and you'll have a great one after he's gone.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 17/04/2024 17:31

@Freckles81 he sounds really immature! does he want a mother figure to coddle him or a partner?? I dont know any many who likes some to nurse him when he is just feeling a little bit ill!! he is actually uncaring towards you. I would get rid, sorry!

ladymalfoy45 · 17/04/2024 17:47

Would you like some of us to pop over and pack his stuff for you? We could then throw it in the boot of his car as he drives past.
Or we could do it 'Aldi' or 'Lidl' style and he tries to pack his shit as we throw it at him.

honeyrider · 17/04/2024 18:03

Run and keep running, he'll never change. You say your mother sees him as clingy well it looks like she has the measure of him. Run.

LaurieFairyCake · 17/04/2024 18:33

Little special cunt wanting to be the center of your world

Fuck that Hmm

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 17/04/2024 18:39

OrigamiOwls · 17/04/2024 08:57

He's upset that due to your grief about your family member that he hasn't got your complete focus and is bringing up a random event as a stick to beat you with.
For me this is a red flag.
Can you get back to your high-flying career now? It seems you've sacrificed a lot for him and still he wants more.

Seconded.

If he's that het up about how a partner should care for another partner when they are down.... WHY isn't he caring for you!

You are grieving a close family member but OH My, its so much more important that you didn't show the acceptable level of concern when he insisted on going into work even though the poor lamb was still feeling a bit iffy.

So that's what you both should be focusing on.. how upset he is, as that totally beats bereavement (not)

BinkyBeaufort · 17/04/2024 19:15

It sounds to me, and I hope I'm wrong, that he's building you up to dump him, so that he's not the bad guy.

Gymnopedie · 17/04/2024 19:15

OP get rid. He's showing you who he really is and do you want to live the rest of your life placating him?

You must have loved him very much (or he was emotionally manipulative) to give up a good career, suffer financially and move away from your family. But you've been had. Next time you need some tlc, or even just not to make him your immediate priority, he'll either bring this up again or find some other non event to make himself the victim. Bin him off before he can do the same again or worse.

Blondie1209 · 17/04/2024 19:40

ladymalfoy45 · 17/04/2024 17:47

Would you like some of us to pop over and pack his stuff for you? We could then throw it in the boot of his car as he drives past.
Or we could do it 'Aldi' or 'Lidl' style and he tries to pack his shit as we throw it at him.

Nearly spat my tea out at this!! 😂😂😂 'Aldi style'! 🤣

JWhipple · 17/04/2024 19:52

He was so ill he needed another adult there, but went back to work the next day because he wanted to prove a point. No mention of how he's been supporting you either? Do his needs always take centre stage?

Run. Run far away. Go back to your old life.

KidsandKindness · 17/04/2024 22:18

So sorry for your loss OP.

I'm afraid I'm yet another one saying kick this selfish pig out of your home and out of your life, as soon as you have the strength to deal with it.

I think you've finally seen that this man child is NOT worth all the sacrifices you've made, so get rid, look after yourself until you are able to think of things other than your loss, and then, when you're ready, re-assess your life, and where you want to go, then make it happen.

Meanwhile sending you love and sympathy.

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/04/2024 22:21

Freckles81 · 17/04/2024 16:00

Omg I do remember something- I had a really bad chest infectiom about a year into our relationship, and was struggling to breathe, so I called an ambulance, in panic. He had his kids staying with him at the time, but was only a 2 min walk away (staying at a caravan near my house). He said he couldn't come over due to the kids (that wasn't the issue), but to keep him posted. I updated him when the paramedics were on their way, also when I had been seen, and that they said I was ok and didn't need to be hospitalised.

I never heard back from him until 9am the next morning- apparently he had fallen asleep. I wouldn't be able to sleep if my partner had an ambulance on the way and struggling to breathe, personally!!

I nearly split up with him then, in fact.

Edited

You need to remind him of that.