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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU? Boyfriends Christmas Night out

258 replies

Alessoutingname · 14/12/2024 04:34

TW

I’ve been with my boyfriend over a year. Both mid thirties, own homes (although he seems incapable of spending any time away from me). Mostly happy relationship apart from the fact he’s very codependent.

I don’t know if I’m feeling this way because I’m at the point where I very much need a couple of nights and days away from him or if he’s massively overstepped a personal boundary. I fear the latter.

Backstory, I don’t really like being around drunk people (I do socially drink but rarely). Grew up with an alcoholic father so I’m always on edge and generally feel unsafe around drunk men in particular as a result of my childhood.

Boyfriend comes back to mine at around 1.30am, this is fine. He’s very drunk. Gets into bed and starts the usual drunk nonsense nonstop talking and repeating himself. Mildly annoying but ok. He says something along the lines of “you best not try have s€x with me tonight,” I reply jokingly “I doubt you’d be able to get it up anyway.” For context, I was in bed with just my pants on because I was warm.

The next part is what has shocked me. He proceeded to take his boxer shorts off and intimately touch me. I told him to stop and put his boxers back on. He didn’t. He kept going. He bit my shoulder and I had to be quite forceful and state “I am not consenting to this” to make it ABUNDANTLY clear to him. Not something I ever thought I’d have to nor wanted to do.

He only stopped because I made an excuse to go downstairs. When I returned to bed he had his boxers back on but was touching me again. I ended up shouting at him.

In the end I’ve felt so uncomfortable I’ve came to my guest bedroom.

I’m upset with myself for a number of reasons. Mainly that I didn’t ring him a taxi to send him home after he made me feel so uncomfortable but I’d worry he would come to some type of harm due to his level of intoxication. I’m upset that another person who I trusted has made me feel violated in my own home, in my own bed and that I’ve felt I need to sleep in another room while he snores loudly in my lovely king sized bed!

I do love him and I’m possibly overthinking/reacting but right now I don’t ever want to be around him when he’s drunk ever again. I feel like he’s royally f#cked up and irreparably ruined our relationship.

How do I approach this in the morning? I will certainly be addressing it with him and do not want to be around him. He will be unfit to drive for a considerable time. Currently I’m thinking that I’ll be leaving him home and telling him to arrange a lift to collect his car and belongings from my home.

AIBU to feel this way?

OP posts:
whathaveiforgotten · 14/12/2024 09:31

possibleusername · 14/12/2024 09:27

@whathaveiforgotten surly it's a personal thing to say if I feel my partner is assaulting me. I never felt violated or needing to force my way out. I make it clear with body language and words I'm not in the mood and that is that. No repeated attempts mentioned so not sure where you got this from.

You have a wild imagination and you are incorrectly interpreting what people say. And you are also rude.

I mean in OP's case.

She repeatedly said no to him and even left the room at one point after saying 'I am not consenting to this'.

When she returned to the room, he sexually touched her again.

You said this wasn't sexual assault.

I'm confused as to how you can believe this, so wondered how many times the 'he tries, she says no' cycle needs to be repeated before you would consider an incident sexually assault?

Brefugee · 14/12/2024 09:33

have only read the OP. This is for @Alessoutingname end it. Stop second guessing yourself. Don't make excuses like "he was drunk" or "he's usually so lovely"

End it now. Send him home, give him any of his things that are at your place to take with him. If you miss anything - box it up, leave on doorstep for him to collect. Get all keys back off him.

be VERY clear in your head on this. He tried to have sex with you, you said "no". He tried again - that is attempted rape. He tried to rape you. Don't give him a chance to do it again, or to handwave it away. Attempted. Rape.

WickedlyCharmed · 14/12/2024 09:35

I hope you've gathered all of his belongings into a binbag, woken him up and kicked him out by now. And I hope you're ok.

I would send him a brief text stating that he has sexually assaulted you, so that you've got it in writing should you need it at any time in the future.

Brefugee · 14/12/2024 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

pretty articulate post for someone defending a wannabe rapist.

Get over yourself and the victim blaming tripe. I hope you don't have daughters.

jeaux90 · 14/12/2024 09:42

OP a lot of comments on the situation last night, but there was also something else.

You said he keeps telling you would never survive without him.

This isn't kind or sweet, this is an attempt to condition you to accept that you are vulnerable without him.

Clearly you are more vulnerable with him around after last night.

WickedlyCharmed · 14/12/2024 09:42

Brefugee · 14/12/2024 09:39

pretty articulate post for someone defending a wannabe rapist.

Get over yourself and the victim blaming tripe. I hope you don't have daughters.

I shudder to think that some of these posters might have daughters.

Or even worse, sons.

AffableApple · 14/12/2024 09:44

possibleusername · 14/12/2024 09:27

@whathaveiforgotten surly it's a personal thing to say if I feel my partner is assaulting me. I never felt violated or needing to force my way out. I make it clear with body language and words I'm not in the mood and that is that. No repeated attempts mentioned so not sure where you got this from.

You have a wild imagination and you are incorrectly interpreting what people say. And you are also rude.

Repeated attempts mentioned. Definitely.

I don't understand the relevance of the rest of your post either TBH.

Yeah, I'm probably being rude too.

possibleusername · 14/12/2024 09:46

@BaronessEllarawrosaurus you are incorrect.

I didn't disagree. I just questioned the situation and asked the OP to provide some definition to what she described. These situations are highly nuanced and personal, and before everyone is rushed to give a 'rape' or 'sexual assault' verdict I only intend was for clarity.

Also for the sake of the OP. Based on her first post only (which I have responded to) I wanted to question wether she should consider her past playing part in how she feels, and the dilemma she is facing, compared with others perhaps whom may have been more accepting of their partner being a useless, unresponsive and responsible drunk. I don't know. It is for the OP to reflect.

Livingthedream1978 · 14/12/2024 09:47

OP I’m so sorry this happened to you. What he did was assault no matter whether he was drunk or not.

Read the posts on here of many women further down the line in relationships than you and how signs of controlling and abusive behaviour begin. He is love bombing you and coming across as it’s because he loves you so much but I would be willing to bet this turns into more abusive behaviour down the line.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he claims not to remember what happened last night but I wouldn’t believe a word of it.

SmileEachDay · 14/12/2024 09:48

Based on her first post only**

in which she described this man continuing to sexually touch her after she had said no.

TimeAndTideAndButteredEggsWaitForNoMan · 14/12/2024 09:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

You are a rape apologist. Please never offer advice to women again.

Aberentian · 14/12/2024 09:54

@possibleusername you are a fucking idiot.

CalicoPusscat · 14/12/2024 09:56

@Alessoutingname is he up yet? Apologies if I missed it

whathaveiforgotten · 14/12/2024 10:00

possibleusername · 14/12/2024 09:46

@BaronessEllarawrosaurus you are incorrect.

I didn't disagree. I just questioned the situation and asked the OP to provide some definition to what she described. These situations are highly nuanced and personal, and before everyone is rushed to give a 'rape' or 'sexual assault' verdict I only intend was for clarity.

Also for the sake of the OP. Based on her first post only (which I have responded to) I wanted to question wether she should consider her past playing part in how she feels, and the dilemma she is facing, compared with others perhaps whom may have been more accepting of their partner being a useless, unresponsive and responsible drunk. I don't know. It is for the OP to reflect.

"Her first post only" makes it clear she repeatedly and explicitly said no and he continued to repeatedly sexually touch her despite this. Here is her section below:

The next part is what has shocked me. He proceeded to take his boxer shorts off and intimately touch me. I told him to stop and put his boxers back on. He didn’t. He kept going. He bit my shoulder and I had to be quite forceful and state “I am not consenting to this” to make it ABUNDANTLY clear to him. Not something I ever thought I’d have to nor wanted to do.

He only stopped because I made an excuse to go downstairs. When I returned to bed he had his boxers back on but was touching me again. I ended up shouting at him.

She said no.
He continued.
She repeated no.
He continued.
She left the room.
She came back.
He continued.

You told her this was not sexual assault and berated posters for describing it as such.

So how many times does a woman need to say no, and continue to be sexually touched, before you do consider it sexual assault?

DepartingRadish · 14/12/2024 10:03

What the fuck is "highly nuanced" about someone saying "stop" and "no" and "I do not consent to this"?

He assaulted her. He fucking BIT her. God I hope you don't have daughters.

BodyKeepingScore · 14/12/2024 10:04

He sexually assaulted you. You approach it by informing the police and taking nothing to do with him ever again.

blackerfriday · 14/12/2024 10:05

I don't think I'd be leaving him in my house to pack. He'd be waking up to bin liners with his stuff in and out the door no discussion. It's easy to get drawn into discussions and believe promises not to do again - but he's shown you who he is. Believe it.

Harrumphhhh · 14/12/2024 10:05

I’m sorry this happened to you OP. He acted completely inappropriately and your reaction was totally valid.

AelinAG · 14/12/2024 10:07

Break up with him. You’ll never feel fully comfortable with him again now.

AelinAG · 14/12/2024 10:07

blackerfriday · 14/12/2024 10:05

I don't think I'd be leaving him in my house to pack. He'd be waking up to bin liners with his stuff in and out the door no discussion. It's easy to get drawn into discussions and believe promises not to do again - but he's shown you who he is. Believe it.

This is the correct approach to chucking him out as well

littlemissprosseco · 14/12/2024 10:08

Sorry this happened to you.
Hope you’re ok this morning. Do you have someone close by you can be with?

whydoihavetowork · 14/12/2024 10:10

Aside from what happened last night it seems he's just irritating the shit out of you anyway. He needs to go. Well done for being so strong last night. Now get rid.

MJconfessions · 14/12/2024 10:10

To be honest I don’t understand why you’re letting him sleep it off in your bed.

Throw water on him and ask him to leave. If you’re worried about violence then call the police, and call your friends/family to make them aware.

possibleusername · 14/12/2024 10:11

@SmileEachDay what is 'sexually touching'?Ask million people and you get million answers.

It was not conclusive from the OP first post in my option if his sexual gestures and advances where unacceptable to her because she was upset his was drunk, he came to her house so late or indeed their nature crosses a boundary which made her feel unsafe and abused. She did not refer to rape or sexual assault but rather that she needs to be loud and clear , perhaps as he was drunk. It was then the barrage of comments by others who so decisively start framing the event as rape and act of sexual violence with little qualifications.

Cherrysoup · 14/12/2024 10:13

He’s totally stifling you. I hope you’ve sent him home in a taxi and told him to fuck off.