Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
Elbone · 29/08/2024 18:27

Yes, you’ve made a mistake but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed.
Explain that it’s not working for you to live together and give him a date to move out by.

Mabs49 · 29/08/2024 18:29

Yes OP. You're going to have to give him the news that it's not working for you. And you're not sure if it's going to work ever.

I'd not be able to cope personally. I'd want him out, for good and back to how things were.

Or the compromise is he gets a place by himself in your town but you say he can't afford it.

I couldn't be doing with having someone ontop of me like that, esp if you work nights in a draining job. I would want to scream. I need space.

Wherearemymarbles · 29/08/2024 18:37

OP,
do either of you actually know how to have a relationship?
Whole thing comes across as completely souless to me.

whatdidididido · 29/08/2024 18:51

Wherearemymarbles · 29/08/2024 18:37

OP,
do either of you actually know how to have a relationship?
Whole thing comes across as completely souless to me.

Edited

Of course i do. I also know i need space to destress after my job and do something i enjoy. I dont see how knowing my boundaries and needs is a bad thing, even if these boundaries and needs are outside of what society deems as "normal". I work a job where performing CPR, multiple times, every shift, is deemed normal. Where i see people, of all ages, from newborn to over 100 pass away, sometimes in the most traumatic of ways. Where i deal with the aftermath for families, provide support and comfort, provide information on what they do next having just been through the most awful thing a person can face.

I cope with that by distraction, by being in my own comfort space, by doing something i enjoy, by chatting and laughing with people who are similar to me. A hobby i have enjoyed since i was a child with my own parents, and now as an adult with like minded people. Needing that time and space is not a measure of how well i manage a relationship. Its how i manage.

OP posts:
Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 29/08/2024 18:51

whatdidididido · 29/08/2024 18:06

Ive said now multiple times sharing space is fine, its the one small area a few times a week when i need the space to destress and relax i need to be able to do it without being touched and constantly watched

Uou need to give up OP, most people on this thread struggle with basic reading comprehension and you have explained the same thing over and over.
I totally get it, you had an agreement, he said fuck it and did whatever suited him without agreeing. I think you need to sit down and have a conversation about it- he will either need to get rid of some of the stuff, or find another place to live, or find storage to put stuff away.
Life will not be the same now you share and some thing you will both need to work on, but for now it seems you are the only one compromising and he is the only one benefitting.

Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 29/08/2024 18:52

Wherearemymarbles · 29/08/2024 18:37

OP,
do either of you actually know how to have a relationship?
Whole thing comes across as completely souless to me.

Edited

I think your comment sounds a bit soulless.

MWNA · 29/08/2024 18:54

Ive said now multiple times sharing space is fine, its the one small area a few times a week when i need the space to destress and relax i need to be able to do it without being touched and constantly watched

It's a bit bloody weird that some people just aren't getting this. How hard is it to understand and be kind about a person's very specific and not at all unreasonable needs?
I can't bear being observed and touched while I'm busy doing something else. And my down time is not negotiable. I would not tolerate someone invading that!
It's hardly as if you're new to each other. He knew who you were. More fool him. I'm annoyed for you just reading this thread.

MWNA · 29/08/2024 18:56

"Of course i do. I also know i need space to destress after my job and do something i enjoy. I dont see how knowing my boundaries and needs is a bad thing, even if these boundaries and needs are outside of what society deems as "normal". I work a job where performing CPR, multiple times, every shift, is deemed normal. Where i see people, of all ages, from newborn to over 100 pass away, sometimes in the most traumatic of ways. Where i deal with the aftermath for families, provide support and comfort, provide information on what they do next having just been through the most awful thing a person can face.
*
I cope with that by distraction, by being in my own comfort space, by doing something i enjoy, by chatting and laughing with people who are similar to me. A hobby i have enjoyed since i was a child with my own parents, and now as an adult with like minded people. Needing that time and space is not a measure of how well i manage a relationship. It's how i manage.*"

I'm sad you have to defend yourself like this. People are idiots.

SensibleSigma · 29/08/2024 18:59

I’m with you, OP, and was from the getgo. It’s not hard. You aren’t unreasonable!

Questionqueen · 29/08/2024 19:02

You haven't fucked up. You tried something that failed. I think you should just say look, I can't do the living together arrangements so let's just do it living separately again for now. A bit of a soft let down. It must be hard after 10 years in your own routine. I feel for you so much. Be kind to yourself you didn't know this would happen x

MrsLeonFarrell · 29/08/2024 19:03

whatdidididido · 29/08/2024 18:51

Of course i do. I also know i need space to destress after my job and do something i enjoy. I dont see how knowing my boundaries and needs is a bad thing, even if these boundaries and needs are outside of what society deems as "normal". I work a job where performing CPR, multiple times, every shift, is deemed normal. Where i see people, of all ages, from newborn to over 100 pass away, sometimes in the most traumatic of ways. Where i deal with the aftermath for families, provide support and comfort, provide information on what they do next having just been through the most awful thing a person can face.

I cope with that by distraction, by being in my own comfort space, by doing something i enjoy, by chatting and laughing with people who are similar to me. A hobby i have enjoyed since i was a child with my own parents, and now as an adult with like minded people. Needing that time and space is not a measure of how well i manage a relationship. Its how i manage.

You have nothing to defend. You have the right to live in your home in a way which works for you. You explained the boundaries clearly and he has trampled on all of them.

Ask him to move out, this isn't going to work. And don't blame yourself sometimes moving in together is a step too far for a relationship.

Hecatoncheires · 29/08/2024 19:03

OP, you are absolutely not being unreasonable. You sound exceptionally self-aware and astute. Perhaps because of your job? Little wonder you need to destress by having a no-touch zone around you physically and a bit of mental escapism through your hobby. As others have said, it’s not you who has made the mistake. Your partner/boyfriend misrepresented himself. If he had demonstrated an equal, or even vaguely similar, amount of honesty and awareness as you then the situation wouldn’t have arisen. If he’d told you how he actually would behave then would you have agreed to him moving in? Can’t see it myself. You’ve done and are doing nothing wrong. (And what kind of filthy minger leaves a mess for someone else to clean up? Knowing what he knows about your working pattern? Yuk. And disrespectful).

eggplant16 · 29/08/2024 19:04

Maybe bash out some specifics and put them to him?

Then see how it goes?

The no attempt to clean up isn't great,

whatdidididido · 29/08/2024 19:08

Thank you to all those who have been kind.

I know ive made a mistake, ib all honesty i think i just needed to off load, as all my friends are shared friends, there was no one i could really off load how i was feeling to.

To those who have asked. I sent the text today, once i was feeing calmer and able to send a more reasonable text. Hes come back from work gone upstairs and is refusing to even communicate over tonights dinner im currently cooking.

Guess thats my answer to how well trying to find a solution is going to go.

OP posts:
Lollygirl15 · 29/08/2024 19:11

I was wondering how you see this relationship? Do you love him? Fancy him? See marriage?
I was on my own for 6 years after my marriage and met a lovely guy who treats me amazingly. Like you it seemed daft financially not to live together so he moved in early this year. I love having him here and any little things that have popped up we have just chatted and agreed. I still find it exciting to spend time with him and we laugh, talk and share the house easily.

Sounds like he just gives you the ick. It will just get worse if you already resent him, you should be in the romance phase! Ask him to make arrangements to move out when he can, no point in taking the help practically and financially off a bloke if you end up that you can’t stand him. Good luck

MrsLeonFarrell · 29/08/2024 19:11

whatdidididido · 29/08/2024 19:08

Thank you to all those who have been kind.

I know ive made a mistake, ib all honesty i think i just needed to off load, as all my friends are shared friends, there was no one i could really off load how i was feeling to.

To those who have asked. I sent the text today, once i was feeing calmer and able to send a more reasonable text. Hes come back from work gone upstairs and is refusing to even communicate over tonights dinner im currently cooking.

Guess thats my answer to how well trying to find a solution is going to go.

Nice of him to make the decision easier by behaving like a sulky toddler.

Onwards and upwards OP you will be fine.

LochKatrine · 29/08/2024 19:11

Oh dear. That's very poor on his part. Just tell him what you've told us. I've already said that I think the lack of clearing up is unacceptable, but it's obviously not going to work for other reasons, too . Good luck 🤞

TwinklyAmberOrca · 29/08/2024 19:12

@whatdidididido

You need to have this conversation with him, not on here.

Bullet point on paper WHAT is not working, along with a suggested solution to each point.

Discuss the solutions with him and come up with agreements to each point.

Fedupandstressed · 29/08/2024 19:17

@TwinklyAmberOrca
She can't. He's pissed off to sulk upstairs. Says it all really.

Wimbledonmum1985 · 29/08/2024 19:17

The whole setup sounds bizarre. A relationship based on gaming, headphones and not a whole lot else it seems.

Hubbabubbapple · 29/08/2024 19:18

“Paying 2 sets of living expenses just seemed silly.” is not a reason to move in together.

Hecatoncheires · 29/08/2024 19:21

Fucksake, @whatdidididido. Now he’s behaving like a sulking child. You don’t need this aggro in your life. Don’t martyr yourself and let him stay because HE misled you into the current situation. Steel yourself against incoming gaslighting.

Purplebunnie · 29/08/2024 19:25

MrsLeonFarrell · 29/08/2024 19:11

Nice of him to make the decision easier by behaving like a sulky toddler.

Onwards and upwards OP you will be fine.

I'm not getting at the OP it's not working for her but cannot you not see that he must be pretty pissed off. He's moved in with the hope of a future, packed his belongings up and now it appears that within a week it's not going to work? Maybe's he's on-line to the equivalent of MN trying to find a solution, maybe he's trying to give OP the space she's asked for. Maybe he's trying to find somewhere to live so that he's not distressing OP but no because he's giving OP what she wants in terms of space you're calling him a sulky toddler

Marcipex · 29/08/2024 19:27

So now he’s sulking.
Wow.
I think you need to give him an ultimatum asap.
Then change the locks, obviously, as he seems to have had a personality transplant.

TwinklyAmberOrca · 29/08/2024 19:28

Fedupandstressed · 29/08/2024 19:17

@TwinklyAmberOrca
She can't. He's pissed off to sulk upstairs. Says it all really.

He can't sulk forever.

If she writes down points to discuss then that makes it feel more like a balanced discussion.

Clearly he is sulking as he has just moved his entire life and it's looking like it's not working!