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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is he abusive or do I push him?

260 replies

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:13

Hello
Me and BF have been together for 3 years. I dont wish to tell every single detail but I think it is relevant. When I met BF I was married and BF was effectively the other man for 4 months, until I left my xDH. BF suspected I wasnt seperated several times but didnt end things as I convinced him otherwise. He lied about when his ex moved out and when they split but he said that is because I said I wouldnt date anyone who had just split with an ex so he altered dates. I do remember saying this but he shouldnt have lied. For context, they were not together whilst we were, I have messaged his ex and she confirmed this.

However, back to my question. I am 6 months pregnant. We have always spoke about starting a family, living together and one day being married. BF has always been so lovely, gentle and caring. I have never met anyone who puts in more effort. Whether its breakfast in bed to asking about my day and genuinely taking an interest, no matter how boring my day has been.

After I left my xDH, I admit, I probably wasnt in a good place for a relationship. I anaylised everything BF had told me about his past and I used to spend hours and hours searching facebook, asking him questions (from morning to night) and even setting up fake accounts to message his ex. Little by little, I started noticing a change in his temper. He would often tell me that the more I argue with him, the more I damage the relationship. I have stopped all the past questions now. However, I have went snopping a few times around his house to find "past" items and then we have argued when I have found something belonging to an ex. I had stopped all of that and have been seeing a therapist. However, on friday, I went snooping in a drawer. I then saw he had an old watch and a braclet that looked like something he would give another woman. I then made up a lie to ask him about this. Said I was scattering notes around the house for him and found it. He was annoyed with the questions but answered them - it was a watch that he bought a gf 20 years ago and the bracelet he bought his ex wife ten years ago (his ex isnt his ex wife by the way). He then flipped after I asked more questions. He then demanded to see where the love notes where around the house, I then told him there wasnt any, he got angry. He then started saying things like "you havent changed" "You still dont trust" "you have no self control" etc etc. He then said he didnt care if I was in his house or if I went home. I promised him I wouldnt do it again and he said it was just words. He then started getting angry the more I pushed him to talk to me, trust in me again and to talk to me. He shouted and said I had no right telling him what to do and then he said he doesnt trust me at all now.

He then started saying that he is fed up putting in effort when I dont (which is not true). He means he is fed up fixing our issues when I keep doing the same thing over and over again. The last time was in August when he went to the bathroom and I went down his phone. But I am happy I did as that is when I found out when him and his ex really broke up and I always had doubts over that. He kept wanting space and to stop speaking about it but I didnt leave it and he then started shouting at me and shouting in my face.

Last night he agreed to still come out with family. It was a nice evening, not too much chat from him but it was civil. He then slept in the car on the way home. When we got home, he didnt want to cuddle in bed and said he was "too full". When i questioned this he got angry. Said he wanted to sleep, told me he wanted me to go home earlier but I wouldnt. So after shouting and calling me "damaged" he went to sleep. This morning he said "hello" to me. I then said "okay, so you have had your sleep, what is going on with us" and he got immediately angry again. Telling me that there is something wrong with me that I want forgiveness and not do anything for it. He then started shouting in my face when I kept trying to hold his hand and apologise. He said I keep pushing him and he wants a quiet morning before work. I asked him for a time when we could talk and he got angry and said I had no right to demand anything. I then said it feels like you dont want me here, he said he didnt care, and that he doesnt want to speak to me, and he said he doesnt. I then said that I am the only one putting in effort and that I am fighting an uphill battle. He agreed and said he has no fucks left anymore and he wont be putting in effort and it is for me to do to win his trust back, again. he then got up, angrily said I had ruined his whole morning and he was now in a bad mood for work. I then said I would come work in his upstairs office (I have a desk there too but have been working int he livingroom for months, out of choice, it is more cosy) He said no, he didnt want me to work in the same room as him, I said I didnt care and I was going to make him a coffee and come up stairs. He said there wasnt the room, I said I would make room. He then got angry and grabbed me and forced me up the stairs to see the room, and he was right, there was mess everywhere and nowhere for me to work - he then said "here we go again, always think I am lying".

He kept shouting he had a meeting in "5 minuts". I grabbed his hand and apologised and said I had changed and I wouldnt break his trust again. He said he wanted me to go away, I refused and then his alarm went off reminding him his meeting had just started (online). He got angry, shouted that he wanted to be left alone. I said no. He then raised his fist and told me to go away. He didnt hit me but when I said "dont ever threaten me with violence" he said I have pushed him to that as I wont respect his feelings or boundaries. We are now in seperate rooms not talking with him making arsy remarks.

I dont know what to do or how to move on from this.

I am 6 months pregnant and I dont need the hassle.

Please dont say "LTB", please give honest opinions.

Is he abusive or have I pushed him to this?

Thank you

OP posts:
Ablondiebutagoody · 03/02/2025 10:23

I only made it halfway through that. Unless there's a massive revelation in the second half, you are pushing him. I suspect that as a cheater yourself, you find it hard to trust. Your obsessing about the past and snooping would drive me nuts. I'm honestly surprised that he's sticking it out.

SpringleDingle · 03/02/2025 10:24

This reads very much to me that you are the abusive one here. You have harassed this guy for 3 years with your never ending questions, suspicions and crazy. I would very much encourage him to leave and find a peaceful life - you need a LOT more therapy and some time alone.

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:24

But is it okay to raise his fist and threaten me with violence or grab and push me up stairs?

OP posts:
SpringleDingle · 03/02/2025 10:26

Of course it isn't ok but you REALLY have pushed him! Separate - it would be better for you both!

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:26

I am trying to distinguish abuse vs anger.
Would someone abusive be "pushed" or would they just act out

OP posts:
BarbaraVineFan · 03/02/2025 10:28

Come on! You are abusive. You have been through his phone and his things and questioned him obsessively. Now you are trying to get us to say that he is the abusive one. You need to separate and get more help for your mental health.

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/02/2025 10:28

Jesus Christ, what a mess. You’ve got some really serious issues and being pregnant doesn’t absolve you of extremely shitty, bullying, abusive behaviour. He shouldn’t have raised his arm but you should stop every single awful thing you’re doing. You’ve cheated and lied and you’re projecting your appalling behaviour onto him.

What an environment to bring an innocent baby into.

He should LTB.

Meecrowahvey · 03/02/2025 10:28

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:24

But is it okay to raise his fist and threaten me with violence or grab and push me up stairs?

Every person has a breaking point. Its very common for abusers to push and torment their victim until the victim breaks and lashes out. The abuser then gets to play the victim.

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:29

I only wonder if he is abusve as I have been crying and asking for forgiveness and he has been shouting in my face (literally) and banging / hitting things around me.

OP posts:
NotbloodyGivingupYet · 03/02/2025 10:29

You need help. Stop tormenting him.

MissUltraViolet · 03/02/2025 10:34

You are abusive, you are dangerous, you are tormenting him. Stay away from him and get help.

Haveyouanyjam · 03/02/2025 10:34

His behaviour isn’t acceptable but neither is yours. Your behaviour has been abusive for years and the whole relationship is completely unhealthy. You are treating him as if he was the one who cheated and lied about it for months, when it was you. You have repeatedly invaded his privacy and treated him as if he has done something awful when he hasn’t. He repeatedly told you he needed space and to leave him alone and you kept on ignoring that and just doing what you wanted.

You need to separate and you need help to address your issues as you still have them.

Heronwatcher · 03/02/2025 10:38

Yes you are abusive. Not leaving someone alone when you’ve driven them to tipping point is absolutely appalling behaviour. Honestly it sounds like you’re trying to push him until he lashes out. Just leave him alone when he asks FFS, what is wrong with you?

You seriously need to get some help and work on yourself before your baby arrives.

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/02/2025 10:38

No, you don’t win because you’re crying. Which is what you’re suggesting.

Butchyrestingface · 03/02/2025 10:39

Please dont say "LTB", please give honest opinions.

Why not? You both need to leave this toxic relationship before one (probably you) gets physically injured.

It's 🙄 that you state it wasn't okay for him to lie about when his ex moved out when YOU were still married to someone else and lied to him repeatedly about that.

You shouldn't be in a relationship with anyone.

ExtraOnions · 03/02/2025 10:40

The entire relationship is Toxic … and has been from the start.
You are abusive to each other
You don’t trust him (probably because you are a cheat yourself, and are judging him by your own standards)
It’s a terrible environment for a baby
It will not get any better

lemonyfox · 03/02/2025 10:41

You're the problem, you're awfully toxic

Chroniclesofstress · 03/02/2025 10:42

You are coming across as a very damaged and abusive individual.

As other PP’s have said; you’re bullying him, snooping on him and creating a pattern of endless abuse till he reaching breaking point. Then you are using that breaking point to make yourself the victim.

You need serious psychological help. You could end up losing your child into care or to her father if you don’t get yourself some proper help.

Holdonforsummer · 03/02/2025 10:43

I’m sorry but you sound awful, OP. Please continue the therapy, it isn’t normal behaviour to be so paranoid or pushy. I wouldn’t like it if a partner behaved this way towards me. It doesn’t justify bad behaviour from him but please re-read your post - you sound irrational.

2chocolateoranges · 03/02/2025 10:43

This is a shit show of a relationship. Your poor baby.

due to how your relationship started eg your affair you don’t trust your partner, the constant snooping and checking up and questioning would make anyone angry.

no one should raise their hand to any one but I’d be hell of a frustrated being questioned continuously, that’s abuse!

pimplebum · 03/02/2025 10:43

you have to leave him and get help , urgent help ! Today
you are completely obsessive

you are now obsessed over if he is abusive or just angry ( not relivant
you cheated but are obsessed with his past and any potential cheating but there is no real evidence of him cheating ( apart from with you )

MissUltraViolet · 03/02/2025 10:45

This sounds a lot like a thread from a few weeks ago, where someone was attempting to get people to agree her partner was abusing her because after snooping through his phone she woke him up to scream at him then followed him around the house grabbing at him and tormenting him until he raised his hand (didn't touch her).

If that was you OP, you're not going to get different replies. If it wasn't you, like her partner, I hope yours leaves you too.

PinkyFlamingo · 03/02/2025 10:45

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:24

But is it okay to raise his fist and threaten me with violence or grab and push me up stairs?

Of course not. But to say no when he asks you to leave him alone is so wrong!

takealettermsjones · 03/02/2025 10:46

You need to end this relationship. That baby does not deserve to grow up in this environment.

Meecrowahvey · 03/02/2025 10:46

Wait, you've posted similar before haven't you? There was one about an incident in a car, another one was at home.