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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:
Anothermathstutor · 03/02/2025 11:14

This reply has been deleted

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

Wemaybebetterstrangers · 03/02/2025 11:15

Is it the old you? It looks like you are judging him by Your standards. And your standards are low so you’re expecting the worst of him. You’re getting out what you’re putting in.

Best you take a break for a while. Get some therapy (a new one as the one you’re currently seeing seems to be a poor match). Before your baby is born. Your child deserves more.

NotthinglikeaBondGirl · 03/02/2025 11:15

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.

Possibly he can't forgive you - you've overstepped the mark once too often. Frankly I would have left you ages ago - I certainly wouldn't be having a baby with you.

CaptainFuture · 03/02/2025 11:15

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.

Yes, very much so.
And the OP on that thread was so tunnel visioned with the 'but but he responded to me doing X with Y so, ta-da! He's the baddie!!'

PhyllisWallet · 03/02/2025 11:15

I am thinking that he has reached breaking point. This isnt him.

You think?

Fundays12 · 03/02/2025 11:16

You pushed him. You sound like an obsessive nightmare to live with. I am really calm and fairly easy going naturally but I think that type of behaviour from a partner would crack me up. You need to grow up and get sons therapy for your ppr babies sake

Poppyseeds79 · 03/02/2025 11:16

It's like literally harassing a dog and then acting surprised when it turns around and bites you 😒

BunnyLake · 03/02/2025 11:17

Just leave. For his sake as well as yours.

ohmymyyiaz · 03/02/2025 11:17

Read your own post, how would you advise? It is quite clear from it that you are the abuser here; you constantly look for things to blame on him, and you are happy when you find them. Everybody has a breaking point and it looks like he is very near his.

Being pregnant is no excuse for such behaviour. It is good you have a therapist; it might be helpful if both of you see one together, if he is willing. It is possible that he is still in your life only because of his unborn child.

Scout2016 · 03/02/2025 11:18

It's not the old you, you haven't really changed. You're still cycling through unhealthy behaviours.
There were lots of points this morning you could have stopped this escalating. He said don't work I the office, you insisted you would. He asked to leave him alone and you kept refusing. He had a meeting about to start you thought you'd just carry on. He asked you to go away you kept taking his hand. He doesn't want to cuddle after a meal and you question him about it.

You are already seeing a therapist and still acting like this.

Your relationship is a disaster and you need to be on your own and focus on yourself and your baby. You shouldn't be raising a child in this environment and you need to work on yourself to co-parent successfully.

Fundays12 · 03/02/2025 11:18

Poppyseeds79 · 03/02/2025 11:16

It's like literally harassing a dog and then acting surprised when it turns around and bites you 😒

Yep pretty much. Every animal and every person has a breaking point. She pushed her partner to his. After 3 years of living like this he needs a medal

EmmaMaria · 03/02/2025 11:18

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.

That is manipulation. You don't care provided you get your own way. I think the way you have behaved would push anyone to the boundaries of control/ Six months pregnant or not, you should end things for both your sakes.

BTW you are also a hypocrite - you were cheating on your husband and lied to your BF about it, so you aren't in any position to judge him. I suspect that it is your guilty consecience about the way that you cheat that makes you look for fault in him. He must have the patience of a saint to have put up with all this for so long. Even saints have their breaking point.

BunnyLake · 03/02/2025 11:19

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.

Worry more about your abusive behaviour. You sound an absolute nightmare.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 03/02/2025 11:20

This has to be a reverse. Surely...

if not, this poor man needs to run and not look back !

OopsyDaisie · 03/02/2025 11:20

You are abusive.

pinkyredrose · 03/02/2025 11:23

It's not him it's you. To use a well worn phrase 'you sound like hard work' .

BilboBlaggin · 03/02/2025 11:23

You're the abusive one OP, pushing and pushing. Everyone has a point where they will break or retaliate. In this case he couldn't just walk away as you were in HIS house and refusing to leave, even delaying the start of his meeting by pushing him further. His asking you to leave him alone was not working so seems he did something to try and shock you. You're now trying to act the victim in all this. You're a bloody hypocrite too, insisting a new bf shouldn't be recently broken up from a relationship when you were still in one yourself.

HaveTeaWillSurvive · 03/02/2025 11:23

Christ you sound like a complete nightmare. I defy anyone not to raise their voice and get angry in that situation. You hounded him! Do both of you a favour and split up, you need to focus on sorting yourself out before being in a relationship.

Iwanttoliveonamountain · 03/02/2025 11:24

Oh, you sound disappointed he hasn’t hurt you.

Mirabella7 · 03/02/2025 11:24

I think you should give the poor guy some space. You’re bombarding him. Sometimes it’s better to step back and let things settle down. The right time will come again when you’re BOTH in the mood to talk but don’t rush it.

pinkyredrose · 03/02/2025 11:26

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 lied too. You were still with your ex when you started seeing him. You're suspicious of him because you're judging him by your own standard. Why did you think it was a good idea to bring a baby into this mess?

arcticpandas · 03/02/2025 11:27

Obviously since you both started your relationship as an affair I can understand that you've got trust issues. But this is wacko crazy behaviour OP! Do you have a mental illness? If yes, then call your psychiatrist. If not, then call a psychiatrist for an assessment asap. I feel sorry for your bf, you're making his life miserable and a baby in all this is just so tragic...

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 03/02/2025 11:27

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 it's not OK for him to do that; what do you expect us to say? If you want an acceptable excuse to leave him, there it is.
Your relationship is built on lies and it's not surprising that you don't trust each other. Now you need to leave this man as quickly as possible and focus on creating as stable as life as possible for your unborn child. Gather people around you that you can trust, to support you in this.

username299 · 03/02/2025 11:27

This whole situation is all kinds of messed up. Your constant snooping, invasion of privacy and lack of trust would be enough to drive anyone up the wall. You also need to learn when to back off.

However, you're heavily pregnant, he pushed you up the stairs and threatened you with violence.

This is a really toxic situation and you need to end it. I can't see this getting any better. Please contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and get some support to leave.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 03/02/2025 11:28

You are the abusive one. He needs to end the relationship with you.

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