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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:
Over40Overdating · 03/02/2025 11:45

It’s helpful at least for people to see the mindset of an abuser out in the open like this.

So often they don’t even admit to their behaviour but seize on any display of reactive abuse to twist things to their own advantage. Here we are seeing the lead up to what’s caused her partner to react like this.

No, you are not a victim @Uusallypositive . You are not being abused. Your partner has been pushed to his limits by your endless, repeated tormenting.

Of course you don’t want to hear LTB - why would you leave a situation where you get your jollies from the systematic abuse and torment of another person?

You don’t trust your partner because you judge him by your own standards.
There is no old you and new you, just the you now, bleating on the internet that your victim has reacted and now you need validation in twisting the situation to your advantage with something new to torment him with. Who’s going to believe a big bad man over a teary, pregnant woman?

People like you never change. You just get more devious. I hope he has people around him to help him get away from you, but I pity him having to still co parent with someone as nasty and manipulative as you because no doubt you’ll spend every minute punishing him for leaving you.

I’d be banned if I said what I really thought of you and your ilk.

MissUltraViolet · 03/02/2025 11:47

So you think he is abusing her? Because he finally snapped and raised his hand in one last desperate attempt to get her to stop?

That despite being asked numerous times to stop and leave him alone, she is entitled to follow him around, shouting at him and grabbing at him because, what? because she’s the woman and he is the man therefore it’s just automatically him at fault and him that’s abusive in this scenario?

If a man had been searching his partners house, following her around, tormenting her, berating her, accusing her, grabbing her and she raised her hand to make him stop you absolutely would not be telling him to call a helpline, no fucking chance.

pimplebum · 03/02/2025 11:47

Why on earth would you look in his drawer to see if he bought you a birthday card ?

that’s bonkers ! Obsessive constant checking and snooping
are you working ? Do you have other kids?
this is a really unhealthy and volatile situation to raise kids in

there is no hope for this relationship , you should not date until you are well mentally and have had a few years of therapy

NewFriendlyLadybird · 03/02/2025 11:48

You are pushing him.

The relationship began with lies and cheating and has continued with suspicion, snooping, and manipulation. It has to end now for the sake of your baby.

Epidote · 03/02/2025 11:48

You need therapy, a long one. I would have left you the second time you spy around.
End the relationship and work on yourself.
You are abusive as well.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 03/02/2025 11:48

I remember the other posts too and it sounds just like you eith the is it me or him dance then you try and convince everyone it’s him.

You need to tell all this to your gp because you don’t sound mentally well and you’re about to have a baby who needs a stable mother. MH issues are very common so you won’t be the first.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 03/02/2025 11:53

'I only looked in the drawer to see if there was a birthday card for me'

you keep telling that to yourself, as you are the only one that will believe it.

Normallynumb · 03/02/2025 11:54

This is incredibly toxic.
You are both abusive and being a cheater yourself, it's no surprise you have trust issues
Separate, get some therapy and raise your baby alone
This isn't a relationship, it's a war zone

BringOnFebBankHoliday · 03/02/2025 11:54

I only looked in the drawer to see if there was a birthday card for me.

Come on @Uusallypositive - you know this isn't true, you're trying to come up with (what you think) is a reasonable excuse. By the way it isn't OK to go looking in other people's drawers to see if there's a birthday card for you. You'll find out on your birthday!

This poor man, and I feel even worse for the poor child coming into this shit show!

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 03/02/2025 11:58

Are you serious? I think he needs to get away from you!
You need to some help or you will never have a decent relationship.

SpryCat · 03/02/2025 11:59

You are abusing him @Uusallypositive you are obsessed he overlapped his last relationship with you as you did with him. You don’t trust him and are punishing him for your own cheating actions in your past. He has tried everything to convince you of his innocence yet you still go through his phone, belongings and blow up at him. There is nothing this man can do to make you feel secure because you are so obsessed that he has behaved exactly like you yourself did. You need to leave him, get your head together before having this baby as your issues will fuck up your child. Carry on in therapy and you might realise one day it’s your own guilt your transferring onto your BF and it is the upmost importance to start healing before giving birth.

Thesheerrelief · 03/02/2025 12:01

It's you. You push push push and don't let up. Any resolution is on your terms, you "don't care" that he needs a bit of space and insisted you were going to work in the office. And you kept this going when he had a work call in 5 mins. Your behaviour is going to threaten this man's sanity and possibly his career.

You are the abusive one and then you try to force a closeness so YOU feel better. Like a PP said, you don't "win" because you're crying. You need proper psychiatric help and support.

Thesheerrelief · 03/02/2025 12:03

You should both walk away and seek help in coparenting. This is no environment to bring a child into.

TinyGingerCat · 03/02/2025 12:05

I've been married 25 years and have never gone through my DHs phone, drawers, bags, car, social media etc. What you are doing is really destructive OP and then you cry victim because he's lost his temper with your lying and snooping. If you can't see pretending you were doing something lovely (love notes) to cover up your snooping is really controlling and manipulative then there's no hope for you. I hope he leaves you for his sanity.

Nazzywish · 03/02/2025 12:06

OP, it's you. Your the problem here.

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 03/02/2025 12:06

This thread has been a real eye opener to me. I'm ashamed to admit that I have behaved like OP in as much as if DH and I have a row I would get very upset and cling to him, not leave him alone and demand affection from him as proof that he loved me. I thought his withholding that affection was abuse on his part but it wasn't.

In my defence I was very mentally unwell at the time and am on the road to recovery now.

TheFatCatsWhiskers1 · 03/02/2025 12:06

Dear God, your behaviour is frightening. No, it's not ok to raise his fist to you and grab you, but I'm sorry to say under these circumstances I can understand why he did. You need to break up, move out and get help for the sake of your unborn child. No child should have to grow up in an environment like this.

Billydavey · 03/02/2025 12:07

You are abusive and controlling. You need to work on that, preferably out of a relationship.

his behaviour is unacceptable but reactive. I have some sympathy with how he must have felt pushed and cornered.

he should get help, and leave you.

TwinklyOrca · 03/02/2025 12:08

You are insane. I feel sorry for him

EuclidianGeometryFan · 03/02/2025 12:10

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.

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.

Here's the thing - you can't force another person to engage with you, or be in a relationship with you, or be in an argument with you, or keep talking to you, or find a resolution with you.
You can't stop someone who wants to walk away.
It is totally wrong to keep grabbing someone's hand when they are trying to get away from you.

Sometimes, you have to just be alone.
Alone, with no resolution.
Alone, with the argument unfinished.
Alone, by yourself, with just your own thoughts and emotions, with no-one else there to help you.
I am guessing this terrifies you.

You won't leave him, because you can't face being alone.

I pray he leaves you, before this situation escalates further.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 03/02/2025 12:10

You are abusing him. You sound demented.

Unforgettablefire · 03/02/2025 12:11

No wonder people snap. I hope he gets out before that happens it's enough to drive anyone nuts.

If this post was about a man behaving like this people would worry for the woman's safety and tell her she needs to escape.

Over40Overdating · 03/02/2025 12:12

I am willing to bet OP has seized on the single, wrongheaded response that validates her as a victim of an abusive man and that if she goes to her midwife about anything it will be that.

It’s difficult for people to fathom just how abusers like this operate until you see it up close. OP will have absolutely convinced herself she was ‘just’ looking for a birthday card no matter how ridiculous it sounds. She will have convinced herself she is the victim.

I pity this child coming into this shit show.

ThatsNotMyTeen · 03/02/2025 12:12

What a toxic mess

Split up.

he should never have come near you in the first place. No he shouldn’t be behaving as he is but you sound deranged

Doggymummar · 03/02/2025 12:13

He needs to end this relationship