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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:
ItGhoul · 03/02/2025 10:59

Please dont say "LTB", please give honest opinions

My honest opinion is that this is a very, very dysfunctional relationship that needs to end now. The entire relationship is founded on lies, for a start, and you sound very emotionally volatile and extremely hard work. Of course he shouldn't be threatening you, but I think if someone was grabbing my hand during an argument and wouldn't leave me alone, I might be inclined to raise my hand too. I wouldn't ever actually hit anyone, but in the circumstances you describe I would certainly be extremely angry and I can imagine myself clenching a fist - and I'm speaking as a former victim of domestic violence.

I do think think you should end your relationship, for both your sakes. It sounds incredibly unhealthy and you are not making each other happy. You both have trust issues (and I can absolutely see why he might not trust you, frankly) and you both sound messed up and the whole thing is a fucking mess.

You need some serious help with your behaviour.

DaisyChain505 · 03/02/2025 11:00

What an absolute shit show.

End the relationship, get yourself some therapy and grow the F up.

Meecrowahvey · 03/02/2025 11:00

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:56

I will be speaking to my therapist tonight.
I am thinking that he has reached breaking point. This isnt him.
I am sitting thinking about what to say / do next with these replies in mind.

Good. I'm sure your therapist will have a duty to report your abusive behaviour to police and social services.

Butchyrestingface · 03/02/2025 11:00

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:59

I dont know how to make it better. I wish it could be better instantly as I wont do these things again. I want this to be the last time we ever have words about this stuff. I only looked in the drawer to see if there was a birthday card for me. I then saw something that I was curious about the snopping started. I didnt intend on snopping through his things out of distrust. I do trust him.

So if you DO trust him why do you keep doing these things? Do you just enjoy abusing people for the lolz? (some people do).

Rosscameasdoody · 03/02/2025 11:01

So your initial relationship was based on lies and mistrust - on both sides. He was the OM and you lied to him about it, and he lied to you about dates regarding his ex moving out. You’re snooping through his personal life and his personal effects. What are you actually looking for ? Because whatever you find isn’t going to solve this. You don’t trust him - you’ve been a cheat yourself so you know how it’s done, and you know he’s lied to you in the past. OP this is insurmountable. You’d be better calling it a day and leaving, rather than bring a child into what is basically a toxic environment.

takealettermsjones · 03/02/2025 11:01

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:59

I dont know how to make it better. I wish it could be better instantly as I wont do these things again. I want this to be the last time we ever have words about this stuff. I only looked in the drawer to see if there was a birthday card for me. I then saw something that I was curious about the snopping started. I didnt intend on snopping through his things out of distrust. I do trust him.

You don't trust him. You need to be honest with yourself if you're actually going to make anything better. You don't trust him, and you will do it again. When you admit it to yourself, you can then admit it to others and actually get some help.

ItGhoul · 03/02/2025 11:02

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:59

I dont know how to make it better. I wish it could be better instantly as I wont do these things again. I want this to be the last time we ever have words about this stuff. I only looked in the drawer to see if there was a birthday card for me. I then saw something that I was curious about the snopping started. I didnt intend on snopping through his things out of distrust. I do trust him.

I wont do these things again

Yes, you will. You know you will.

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 11:02

A few things.
I dont want to be lied and cheated on - like I have done so in the past, so I know how easy it is to do. That is the old me and I am disgusted with that version of myself. In arguments, I hate the thought that he might walk away and I try and get him back by trying to talk and pushing for resolution.

OP posts:
MarkingBad · 03/02/2025 11:02

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:56

I will be speaking to my therapist tonight.
I am thinking that he has reached breaking point. This isnt him.
I am sitting thinking about what to say / do next with these replies in mind.

You apologise and leave. Get help so you can coparent respectfully but you need to be away from any relationship right now. Your behaviour is off the scale and it won't end well if you don't get help now

MissUltraViolet · 03/02/2025 11:03

You are pushing him to breaking point then when you get the reaction you want, you cry and play victim like he is the abuser. It's typical of people like you and people can see right through it.

A woman being treated this way by a man would be told to leave, call the police, get help from Womens Aid etc. I pray he has people in his life telling him to seek help for himself and get away from you.

MsMarch · 03/02/2025 11:04

the snooping and the questioning is just ONE aspect.

You are hounding him, trying to force him to be physical with you (cuddlse, hand holding, working in the same room). In a man-to-woman situation like this the issue is often that the woman is scared because she knows if he forces her, she can't do much. You get away with it because he CAN force his way out of the situation... but then you accuse him of being violent and abusive.

I think you cane on this thread to find another stick to beat him with "see, you raised your hand, YOU are the problem and I am the victim."

You should absolutely discuss all of this with your therapist but I think you need to move away from him and give you both some space while you take a long, hard, real look at your behaviour and thinking. It is NOT for him to prove that he can be trusted. It's for YOU to do the work to accept that he's done nothing to suggest he can't.

HashtagShitShop · 03/02/2025 11:04

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?

No it's not OK. But at the same time you aren't completely innocent in the constant winding up of this man too.
He told you he wanted to be left alone, to have space and he had a meeting to attend after a high voltage weekend where things had been emotional.

He had just woke up and you instantly went in to attack and then kept trying to emotionally manipulate him by constantly trying to hold his hand when he didn't want to and wanted space and had a time frame to get to an online meeting. You would not let it go and would not move back and were smothering him until he told you what you wanted to hear. Sad thing is even if he did tell you what you wanted to hear, you wouldn't believe it because your damaged from your past relationship and cheating with him too

You did not respect his boundaries, he repeatedly asked you to give him space and to back off and you refused. To be honest I'm not surprised it burst into anger as whatever he did you would not and did not back off and continued digging.

Personally you need space and to work on yourself and to let him have a break too. I'm not saying LTB, I'm saying look at yourself and get help with your thoughts and actions before you continue this relationship as you are damaging it from the inside because you don't trust... When really you don't trust because you did something bad.

Zanatdy · 03/02/2025 11:04

sorry but sounds like you are the problem here

SheridansPortSalut · 03/02/2025 11:05

I only made it half way though. Neither of you are coming off well in this story. The whole relationship is pretty toxic. You need to part ways.

WilmaTitsDrop · 03/02/2025 11:06

I've 100% read a slightly different version of this before.

lechatnoir · 03/02/2025 11:07

MissUltraViolet · 03/02/2025 10:34

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

Edited

This.

Bigfellabamboo · 03/02/2025 11:07

You sound absolutely bloody awful. You should LTB and let him live in peace. Your poor child about to be dragged into this shit show.

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 03/02/2025 11:09

You are both abusive.

You can only control your own actions though. You can't control or change him.

You need to separate and work on yourself immediately.

CryptoFascist · 03/02/2025 11:10

Poor man, poor baby. You need to get help - proper help, not just paying a therapist to listen to you whinge for an hour so you can claim that you're "in therapy".

Refer yourself to an abuse perpetrator programme.

Whatabouthow · 03/02/2025 11:11

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 11:02

A few things.
I dont want to be lied and cheated on - like I have done so in the past, so I know how easy it is to do. That is the old me and I am disgusted with that version of myself. In arguments, I hate the thought that he might walk away and I try and get him back by trying to talk and pushing for resolution.

You hate that you're losing control of the situation. Not that he might leave. It all has to be on your terms and at your speed. That controlling nature is very abusive.

Meanwhile33 · 03/02/2025 11:12

You sound completely awful and disrespectful, in multiple ways. In the incident of not giving him any peace when he’s just about to start work I honestly can’t understand your thinking or your behaviour and in that moment he absolutely needed to make you get out of his office somehow. Why the hell did you make such a scene and refuse to give him any space when he was just about to start work? If I was him I would be so ready to leave you, you seem to have absolutely no insight, morals or common sense.

Frostynoman · 03/02/2025 11:12

You lie and are emotionally immature looking for fights and arguments and keep on pushing and pushing the boundaries. You operate on a double standard. Please get some psychological input for yourself so your baby has a decent chance here

SpryCat · 03/02/2025 11:12

You got together with your BF when you were still married and told him if he was on the rebound, you wouldn’t want to be with him?? That ultimatum was very hypocritical seeing as that was exactly what you were doing. You don't trust him because he had no qualms being the OM with you whilst you were still married and you fear he might sneak about with someone else as he was happy enough to sneak about with you. Cheating and going off with new partner is a recipe for trust issues as he knows he can’t trust you and you’re actively searching to see if he has lied about being single when he got together with you because that would make him as untrustworthy as you. Your relationship is full of angst and drama and no place for an innocent baby.

Poppyseeds79 · 03/02/2025 11:13

Uusallypositive · 03/02/2025 10:59

I dont know how to make it better. I wish it could be better instantly as I wont do these things again. I want this to be the last time we ever have words about this stuff. I only looked in the drawer to see if there was a birthday card for me. I then saw something that I was curious about the snopping started. I didnt intend on snopping through his things out of distrust. I do trust him.

You're absolutely full of shit OP, and essentially trying to gaslight him, us, and yourself. Of course you'll carry on doing these things, of course you weren't just 'looking for a card'. You weren't scattering love notes either 🙄

Speak to your therapist, move out of your partners and leave him alone for a bit. You need to get yourself sorted or where will it end? Him hitting you and getting locked up and you playing the victim? You using your baby as a weapon against him?

2025NewUserName · 03/02/2025 11:14

He should never have grabbed you or raised a fist to you, but your seriously abusive behaviour backed him into a corner massively.

I would actually feel threatened by someone refusing to leave me alone, behaving in the way you were and saying you will work in the same room as him whether he liked it or not. That's really threatening behaviour; he would have to stop work and physically leave his home to get you to stop.