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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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I think ive fucked everything up

496 replies

whatdidididido · 29/08/2024 14:38

Name changed ofc.

Ive been with my partner 2.5 years, but known him closer to 20. I have 3 teens from my previous marriage, ds19 and dds 18 and 15. Their father walked out and have been NC since 2014. Its just been me and them since 2014. About 6 months ago we started discussing partner moving in, paying 2 sets of living expenses just seemed silly. He would come here almost every other weekend anyway, but he lived and worked over 100 miles away so there was a big travel expense. But if he was moving closer, it would be in with us as he couldnt afford to live in my town as a single person. Me moving was never an option as my childrens lives are here.

So he moved in. About a week ago. Moved his job here, gave up his rented place, left his family and friends, and came here.

I cant do it. Little things are making me rage. I have a small 2 seater and a 3 seater sofa. I have always used to 2 seater, kids the 3 to watch tv, i dont want tv, i watch my laptop with a headset. He keeps sitting next to me on the 2 seater watching my screen. I feel like im under a microscope. I feel like a i cant breathe, its claustrophobic, i need space to relax. I suggested getting an arm chair or something for him and he looked at me like i kicked his puppy! We even set up his tv and games etc upstairs in the bedroom but hes not even gone on it. Just sits next to me expecting me to change how i relax and involve him. But thats my space and my way of enjoying downstime. I need my little sofa to my self as my own space.

I have no space generally. He has started his new job granted so is out in the day, however, i work nights in a very draining, physically and emotionally, job, i do 4 12 hour shifts a week so tend to stay in a kind of night time sleep pattern all the time. This means the time he is at work mostly im asleep. Then when im wide awake at home he is going to bed so my bedroom is out of bounds. Theres no where that is my space which ive had for 10 years. The bedroom was my quiet place away from teens on voice chat etc. now its gone. I have no place to go in my own home that feels like mine. The bedroom is taken over by him and his stuff.

Hes done no tidying or cleaning since he got here. On night i was away for the night with my 2 dds at a show. Came back and everything he used is in the kitchen unwashed. Ive left it still 2 days later in the hope he gets the message. He hasnt.

He has brought 5 times the amount of shit we discussed. My living room has no fewer than 13 boxes in it we have no where to move them to, and multiple pieces of ugly old furniture cluttering up the living room hallway landing and bedroom. Its disgusting old furniture. Sitting even in my living room, as well as being basically sat on top of and constantly watched, all i can see is boxes and a cabinet i want to burn. Its making me irrationally angry to the point o cant even talk to him. My home, and my kids home, has been invaded by stuff i never agreed to. When we discussed what he was bringing none of this shit in my living room was mentioned.

He told my youngest daughter off. This is the biggest. When we were getting ready to leave i said to dd15 to go and dry her hair as we had to leave in 45 minutes or so. Now despite long, and multiple conversations about how my kids dont need a new parent, they are mine, i deal with them, its been just us for so long that if this has any hope of working, he cannot come in and try to play parent to teenager's, he chimed in with "yeah dd name, get up now go dry your hair and get ready to leave and dont come back down till its done". This may not be any thing massive in the grand scheme of things, but the minute i left with them she burst into to tears about how he isnt her dad and he cant talk to her like that. I agreed. I apologised to her for not calling him out immediately, but i was taken aback he had said anything, as he knows my stance on this. They are my children, he does not get a say.

What do i do? Hes left his job, his home, his family, everything to come here. It was fine for the night twice a month as we did something, not normal family life. But a week in, i cant live with him, i cant do it. But i also cant tell him to leave.

Ive fucked up. Havent i.

OP posts:
LaurenHutton · 31/08/2024 18:28

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Bickybics · 31/08/2024 18:30

Maybe @LaurenHutton could start a thread listing what she feels like are acceptable hobbies for people and which are not.

I also am not a gamer but I know numerous individuals who do game, all in professional roles and totally normal functioning adults. I get the feeling you don’t know that many actual people if you don’t.

This thread is batshit.

LaurenHutton · 31/08/2024 18:39

Why would i know these types when im outdoors and doing RL stuff? Why would I know gamers? and can only hope you’re not a true reflection of this ‘gamer’ person cause you’ve been nothing but rude and obnoxious and mean catty name calling but that’s ok! you’ll never get a personal insult from me

Suzuki70 · 31/08/2024 18:41

LaurenHutton · 31/08/2024 18:39

Why would i know these types when im outdoors and doing RL stuff? Why would I know gamers? and can only hope you’re not a true reflection of this ‘gamer’ person cause you’ve been nothing but rude and obnoxious and mean catty name calling but that’s ok! you’ll never get a personal insult from me

"You" don't "need" to "speech quote" "everything" you know.

Bickybics · 31/08/2024 18:42

When did I call you a name?

are you on mumsnet whilst your running around the countryside just now. If you interact with actual people I’m telling you that you will be interacting with people who game.

RaspberryBeretxx · 31/08/2024 18:50

OP, I honestly think if you repeated the post but saying you like a few hours reading on a sofa for a few hours to decompress a few times per week (which he already knew and respected before he moved in!), the responses would be very different. MN is very anti gaming.

it’s just so baffling he has moved the goalposts and become so clingy after moving in. I think you are in no way being unreasonable.

LaurenHutton · 31/08/2024 18:57

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tiggergoesbounce · 31/08/2024 19:04

Yes, you have messed up. Your expected set up sounds bizarre and not a real relationship at all, but besides that, this appears to be another case of a very ill thought out idea where a man is moved into children's homes. It's wrong. Your boyfriend should not be parenting your child in any way. They are not their parent, children deserve a space that is theirs without your boyfriend in it.

But anyhow, now you are where you are, he has given everything up to move with you (without at least a trial 🙄) and it's not working.
Have a chat, tell him to put the money of the sale of his old place- into a new place and explain its a big mistake and you don't want an in person relationship.

Suzuki70 · 31/08/2024 19:55

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Was it me who called you a "narrow minded little twerp"? No. I said you're a bit odd, which has been echoed.

You can't actually call me a knob by the way. Reported.

Itsabitweirdinhereinnit · 31/08/2024 20:16

Suzuki70 · 31/08/2024 19:55

Was it me who called you a "narrow minded little twerp"? No. I said you're a bit odd, which has been echoed.

You can't actually call me a knob by the way. Reported.

Edited

It was me who called her that. I can’t believe she’s still here derailing support threads on mn for fun. What a great use of her meaningful, action packed life. Far more important and less pathetic than gaming 👍

LaurenHutton · 31/08/2024 20:37

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loropianalover · 31/08/2024 20:58

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Are you drunk? I don’t ‘get’ gaming either but your posts are extremely disjointed and rambling. You’re clogging up the thread.

Aquamarine1029 · 31/08/2024 21:01

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CTFD.

Elbone · 31/08/2024 21:03

I don’t think you’re suited to cohabiting.

Elbone · 31/08/2024 21:05

Elbone · 31/08/2024 21:03

I don’t think you’re suited to cohabiting.

And just for clarity, he sounds like a nightmare too

Itsabitweirdinhereinnit · 31/08/2024 21:06

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vm.tiktok.com/ZGeTTKrxG/

Babadook76 · 31/08/2024 21:12

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Are you still here bumping your gums 😂😂

LaDamaDeElche · 31/08/2024 21:12

Maddy70 · 29/08/2024 14:57

Breathe....

You are adjusting to having someone else living with you. Youve been a little nucleus for so long.

It is unreasonable for you to be watching a film by yourself with headphones... put the tv in the lounge and watch something together

He only spoke to your daughter...he didnt discipline her. He just made a comment to another human about getting ready and the time to leave

Not cleaning up ...yes. tell him thats unreasonable but also everyone has their own standards. You need to meet in the middle

Relationships are all about compromise

Time fir a frank discussion but be aware that if may be you....

I actually agree with this. It sounds like you don't have space in your life for him, yet he's uprooted his whole life for you. The tidying/cleaning is unacceptable, and you need to have a conversation about boundaries with your kids - he's not their parent. Equally your shift pattern and watching a film on headphones, basically ignoring him in the process doesn't sound ok either. It sounds like this hasn't been thought through properly at all and that you are possibly a bit set in your ways to share your home with a partner.

Babadook76 · 31/08/2024 21:16

LaDamaDeElche · 31/08/2024 21:12

I actually agree with this. It sounds like you don't have space in your life for him, yet he's uprooted his whole life for you. The tidying/cleaning is unacceptable, and you need to have a conversation about boundaries with your kids - he's not their parent. Equally your shift pattern and watching a film on headphones, basically ignoring him in the process doesn't sound ok either. It sounds like this hasn't been thought through properly at all and that you are possibly a bit set in your ways to share your home with a partner.

And what about the bit where he’s already ‘forgotten’ to pay his share of the rent, ‘forgotten’ to pay his share of the bills, has done zero housework, has left the kitchen mess for days on end, made the ops daughter cry, piled the ops house up with a couple of dozen boxes and cabinets he said he wasn’t bringing, and when she brought it up has since gave her the silent treatment?

AgileGreenSeal · 31/08/2024 21:18

Do you even like him? 🤔

Doltontweedle · 31/08/2024 21:19

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Funny your comments, as I picture you as a 40 year old man living in his mums basement, trolling women on mn in between wanking into crisp packets. Go away. No one cares what you have to say

ImaniMumsnet · 31/08/2024 21:45

Evening all,

We'd like to remind everyone of our talkguidelines. Please adhere to them when posting as we have had to delete a number of posts breaking our talk guidelines. We are always here to take a look at anything you're concerned about, so please do hit the report button. If posts continue to break our guidelines, we will need to remove the thread.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 31/08/2024 21:46

I really don’t see why @whatdidididido is getting a hard time. He is trampling all over her boundaries. She was very clear before he moved in, she has reiterated these boundaries but somehow she’s in the wrong?

@whatdidididido his reaction to you standing your ground is very telling. If he doesn’t come back full of apologies he needs to go. if he can’t respect you, your home and your boundaries he has now place in your life.

Litlgreyrabbit · 31/08/2024 21:51

It’s only been a week! VERY early days. The first step is surely a weekend conversation reviewing how the last 7 days have been, from both of your perspectives. Topics to discuss:

  1. Things we need to buy (can be trivial stuff - foods he would like to add to the shopping list etc).
  2. Things we need to get rid of (his furniture!)
  3. What has worked well in the new living arrangement (there must be something he is doing right…)
  4. Things to try differently next week (him giving you space on the sofa and not bossing your DD).
No doubt there will be things for you to work on from his point of view too.

It’s unrealistic to expect everything to be perfect from the word go. Like any new loving arrangement, it takes time to get into a routine that works.

CalicoPusscat · 31/08/2024 22:39

@whatdidididido apologies if I've missed it but has he paid the rent/stopped sulking/cleared up after himself now?