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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WFH- partner came over unannounced

559 replies

Inchacha · 21/02/2025 14:56

I mainly WFH. I was in a video call meeting earlier when DP arrived at my house unannounced (we don’t live together). He was unwell yesterday and I know he is really worried about his health, I made my excuses from my call for a few mins whilst I said hello to and made him a cup of tea, checked how he was feeling and apologised that I couldn’t take more time out of my meeting (sometimes when he pops over unannounced I might be able to grab 15 mins but not always). I rejoined my call.

DP then interrupted me after 20 mins or so by coming into my office, made stupid noises and laughed when I muted my call and asked him to keep it down. I was really embarrassed. He left but 20 mins later came back and said he was going and it was clear he was pretty cross that I hadn’t made more effort to fuss round him.

I understand that he is scared about his health and wanted more support than I gave him. But AIBU to think that I shouldn’t have just dropped everything? I know that when I call him in a minute he’ll say something along the lines of “as your partner I should take priority over work” or something like that and it will be the start of a reason to be cross with me.

OP posts:
IfItWasUpToMeIWould · 21/02/2025 16:13

StillTooOldToCare · 21/02/2025 16:08

I know a lot of posts have pointed this out but i too feel this is really nasty, its self centred behavior, yes he's looking for drama as you said, and there is no excuse, if your ten year-old was say off school sick and did it, i bet you wouldn't put up with it or make excuses, I don't like your posts as it implies you can see he has a reason and this is a not a once off. He doesn't, he is belittling you in his actions and words, worse he is negatively impacting your work life, please tell me that he has a job that you can just pop into unannounced while he is in a meeting , and expect him to make you tea, and interrupt him again after 20 mins, then again, or maybe you can ring him at 3 am to tell him him behaviour is unacceptable - because "as his partner your need for a serious chat , is more important than his sleep"

This is very well said, and good advice, far better put than my post. I hope OP takes this on board!

Dillydollydingdong · 21/02/2025 16:14

He doesn't even live with you FFS! Take his keys off him

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 21/02/2025 16:15

Sorry OP but that isn’t normal behaviour starting with appearing when you’re working, anything after this just gets worse. I would take a good look at this relationship to be honest - you’re worth much more!

TheFunSponge · 21/02/2025 16:16

You sound lovely. He's a nasty prick. I'm glad the scales have fallen from your eyes.

BigHeadBertha · 21/02/2025 16:18

I think you are right, where you said you need to get better at setting boundaries. I think people who aren't confident of their own rights also tend to attract self-centered and/or abusive people.

I'm not one to suggest ending an established relationship at the first misstep or obnoxious habit. However, I would be open to the possibility that this "might" not be a person that it's possible to have a healthy relationship with.

From what you've said, he seems threatened by your work role and wanting to make you feel smaller than you are because of his insecurities, rather than being supportive of you. He also seems overly self-centered, at your expense.

However, if you have allowed him to take this position then I could see how you might want to try changing the dynamic before taking a more drastic step. It's also possible that his health problems contribute to bringing out a childish and unreasonable side of him. If so, maybe try something like this, as a step between letting him continue to mistreat you and ending the relationship:

  1. Tell him he is not to come over any more during your work hours.
  2. Tell him he is not to make any more disparaging remarks about your job.

Then you will need to be prepared to back up your words. Spoiled adults, like spoiled children, don't like to be told no and are, in my experience, likely to test you. So I'd be expecting it.

If he comes over during work hours anyway, don't let him in. If one of your children lets him in, tell him he needs to leave. If he doesn't respect any of that, after you get him out of your house, don't speak to him for a week. This is to demonstrate to him that things have truly changed.

If he makes another insulting comment about your work role, don't speak to him for a week, to show him that things have change.

But if you need to do the above, consider if someone who needs to be "trained" like a dog to treat you with basic respect is the kind of guy you want to partner up with. Good luck and please keep us posted.

S18 · 21/02/2025 16:19

I wouldn’t have even opened the door for him let alone take time out to make him a cup of tea. So disrespectful to interrupt your working hours.

aylis · 21/02/2025 16:19

He's undermining you and your work and he should be worried about you being absolutely livid with him, not the other way round. What a childish bully.

mumda · 21/02/2025 16:20

Inchacha · 21/02/2025 15:30

I’ve not sat down and thought about lots of these things before. I’ve got a history of not setting great boundaries. An emotionally abusive ex-h made sure that I didn’t know a healthy boundary from a shitty one- thought I’d worked on this but seems I need to do more work.

Start by clearing him out of your life.

Impose a boundary for him that means he's not your problem anymore.

AcrossthePond55 · 21/02/2025 16:20

I'm sorry, but I'm picturing 'the old days' (I've been retired for 15 years) and my DH driving to my office and walking into a large meeting, whereupon I excuse myself to 'greet him and make him a cup of tea'. I go back to the meeting room and later he walks in and starts making 'noises' and laughing and then me interrupting the meeting to 'shush' him. He then leaves the meeting room in an huff but comes back in 20 minutes later to tell me "with attitude" that he's leaving. Can you just imagine the ration of shit you'd get from upper management? Yikes!

@Inchacha

Has he never worked in a professional environment? What would he say if you walked into his job/worksite and pulled this shit? Sounds as if WFH isn't all it's cracked up to be in certain, hopefully rare, situations.

He disses your job and then accuses you of being 'high and mighty' (another term for 'stuck up'). He doesn't respect you when he should be very proud of your career achievements. What does he add to your life? And don't tell me he 'makes me laugh' or that he's 'fine most of the time'. And for God's sake don't say we enjoy 'snuggling on the couch', he 'brings me tea' or any of the other things women try to defend bad relationships with. Those are easy things to do. He doesn't respect you ALL of the time and that should be a dealbreaker.

LovelyLeitrim · 21/02/2025 16:22

How utterly unattractive and childish.

No, you don’t take priority over my job that pays for everything I do. If you were that sick, you would’ve stayed at home.

Do not contact him, let him contact you and give him both barrels!

Maray1967 · 21/02/2025 16:22

Lurker85 · 21/02/2025 15:33

No woman’s job could possibly be as important as a man’s needs. Bin the misogynistic, grim prick off.

Yes, that sums his views up nicely.

Dump him now. I would be raging at the behaviour that interrupted the work call.

PorridgeEater · 21/02/2025 16:25

He sounds very juvenile. I would not put up with this.

JFDIYOLO · 21/02/2025 16:26

He has form for doing this. He's a selfish, disrespectful drain.

And unfortunately you have got into the habit of letting him do it, enabling and encouraging him by taking time away from your work (that time's your employer's, not his), making the tea, paying him attention.

Is this learned survival behaviour from your previous relationship?

So he continues to repeat toddler attention-seeking behaviour, expecting it as his due, and offended if it isn't forthcoming. You dropping everything to fawn over him has become his new normal.

Insulting your work that supports a mortgage and several people ????

This is because you're centring something that isn't him.

And the stupid childish noises and distractions are yet more 'me, me, me, mummy' nonsense.

Have an assertive word with your adult DC not to answer the door while you're working, if they don't feel comfortable saying no to him.

But honestly OP ...

SassiestPants · 21/02/2025 16:27

This is BONKERS! You need to get rid. I can't understand why you would tolerate this ridiculous behaviour.

SofaSpuds · 21/02/2025 16:31

NZDreaming · 21/02/2025 15:31

@Inchacha lets make a list:

  • disregard your boundaries by coming over unannounced
  • embarrassed you in front of colleagues
  • disrespects your career
  • sulks when he doesn’t get the attention he wants
  • stonewalls you to punish you for not doing what he wanted

Have I missed anything?

I imagine there'll be more once OP really thinks about it!

In MN parlance.... LTB
(I know he doesn't live with you so... Lose The Bastard!)

diddl · 21/02/2025 16:33

I know that when I call him in a minute he’ll say something along the lines of “as your partner I should take priority over work” or something like that and it will be the start of a reason to be cross with me.

Do you take priority over his work?

he will suggest (without saying it mind you) that I am getting a high and mighty opinion of myself and my “important” job.

So he doesn't care about you or respect you?

Hope you dump him pdq!

JFDIYOLO · 21/02/2025 16:34

Some thoughts -

Does he have a job?

And what was the illness?

steppemum · 21/02/2025 16:34

OP - one thing that is bothering me - you left your meeting, spent 15 minutes with him and made him a cup of tea.
That is behaviour which isn't actually normal. It is behaviour which is very much accommodating someone, appeasement tactics.
if someone interrupts a work meeting that I am in, I mute the mike and say - sorry I'm in a meeting, with the full expectation that they will say Oh sorry, and creep out and put the kettle on for themselves!

Please be clearer about your needs

GoldMoon · 21/02/2025 16:34

Have you turned up at his place of work expecting at chat and sympathy ?
I bet the answer is no , he shouldn't either.
A chat about boundaries is needed , and if he can't see your point of view . Dump.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 21/02/2025 16:34

@Inchacha he doesnt live with you so he isnt your partner to demand your time when he is ill! he knew you were working so why the hell did he knock at your door? does he not work? how old is he? 5????

MeridianB · 21/02/2025 16:35

Dillydollydingdong · 21/02/2025 16:14

He doesn't even live with you FFS! Take his keys off him

OP says her adult DC let him in, so I really hope he doesn't have keys. If he does, please change the locks.

Iamallowedtodisagreewithyou · 21/02/2025 16:36

Inchacha · 21/02/2025 15:30

I’ve not sat down and thought about lots of these things before. I’ve got a history of not setting great boundaries. An emotionally abusive ex-h made sure that I didn’t know a healthy boundary from a shitty one- thought I’d worked on this but seems I need to do more work.

You do. But at least you know now.

What is his long term illness?

Regardless, sit down and have a fairly robust conversation with him about how it's not appropriate for him to come into a work meeting that you're in and he hasn't been invited to and make silly noises.

Doesn't he work?

Whoarethoseguys · 21/02/2025 16:37

Ask him if he would do that if you were working in an office.n
He isn't respecting your work and by implication he isn't respecting you.

DoYouReally · 21/02/2025 16:38

I would be really annoyed. He wouldn't be the partner for me.

travelforthesoul · 21/02/2025 16:40

It is time to put an end to this relationship and get yourself some counselling with boundary setting.