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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Was my boyfriend within his rights to say these cruel things to me?

313 replies

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:19

This may be long, but I’ll try and keep it short.

I have spent this morning extremely distressed, I’m questioning everything including my worth. I feel like a waste of space, from what he had said. I’m too upset to see the situation for what it is.

BF and I had been a bit on and off, but decided to make this official and things had been pretty much smooth sailing from then. We had one argument, that was resolved after we both agreed it was a misunderstanding.

We’ve had very minor disagreements, but no arguments aside from that until yesterday.

He makes significantly more than me, this around 5x more. We don’t live together. He tends to pay for meals out etc. and likes to treat me with things like flowers, but I have never asked for him to pay for anything. I do also pay for myself for other things too.

When we were shopping he had separated our things and said ‘I’ll put your things separately’ referring to the ingredients for our dinner that I was going to cook. He usually eats the majority of our meals (understandably), so I was slightly irritated by this and told him that, but it wasn’t a big deal.

The next day, he made a lemon drizzle cake with my son (he paid for the ingredients) and said he was going to take it home, since he had paid for it and had baked it. I had pointed out this feels like a bit of a double standard, a bit irritating but again not a big deal. He says that he pays for a lot of things for me, I agreed. He then said he spends about £200 per month on me, for which I categorically disagreed. He said he wasn’t going to buy me anything again.

A few minutes later I asked how long until the cake was done, he told me and I said ok when it’s finished you can leave. I was upset and didn’t want him there.

I heard a bang as he left, and I thought he had thrown my son’s car seat into the house, I text him to say it was childish but he says he didn’t throw it and I believe him.

He sent me a text saying that until I apologise, not to contact him. I said I won’t be contacting him then as I don’t feel the needs to apologise, he said ok. I took this as things ending. I then said something along the lines of ‘enjoy fucking the ladies in Thailand’ (I’m not proud of this) as he’s going there this week. I have been feeling stressed about him going as he went last year, and we weren’t together but still somewhat involved and he slept with many people and lied to me about having feeling for another woman. He was well within his rights to do so, as he was single, but it was a point of vulnerability for me. I feel bad that I even said it, and have apologised more than once.

He said he wasn’t ending things, and then ignored me for six hours while he was with friends, I was really upset by this.

He reached out today via text and said he wanted an apology for kicking him out, I said I wasn’t sorry so I wasn’t going to apologise. I said I didn’t feel I’d kicked him out, just asked him to leave as I felt upset and like the day was ruined.

We have previously agreed that we should tackle things head on, so I wasn’t wrong to ask him to leave but I think because I was so upset from the events of the past 12ish hours I couldn’t see it for what it was. I didn’t feel sorry because I was upset and angry.

He then ended things with me, as he feels I am a poor communicator, I am deliberately difficult and speak to him disrespectfully. He feels I have grossly disrespected him.

Things between us had been really lovely until this, so I was taken aback that he’d ended it.

During these exchanges I haven’t been nasty, raised my voice, sworn etc.

He has now said I am a vile person, I am toxic, I am like a dark cloud of sadness, I’m incapable of being happy, and I am not capable of a healthy relationship because of my ‘parents’ fucked up relationship’ growing up. He has told me to fuck off multiple times, that I’m manipulative.

I’ve told him how hurtful I have found his words, and that I really don’t feel them to be true. I am happy, and lots of people comment on my positivity.

He said “You think your actions have nothing to do with how I’ve been?” when referring to how he has spoken to me.

I really just need a fresh pair of eyes please. I acknowledge I have contributed to this, I should have behaved in a better way. It was a blip, but I didn’t see it as a massive deal.

I am genuinely sorry for how I’ve behaved, and I am trying and want to be a good partner. I feel really guilty that I’ve upset him and pushed him to this point.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 07/04/2025 13:23

Wow, it’s for the best it’s over. He was arguing over who paid for ingredients for a cake?! And was this spectacle was playing out in front of your son?

He sounds horrible and the whole thing sounds way too dramatic and angsty. Relationships are meant to make life happier and easier, this is anything but.

cakeandteaandcake · 07/04/2025 13:25

They weren’t lovely. You were right to tell him to leave. Do not apologise or take him back.

Burngreave · 07/04/2025 13:25

Re-read what you’ve written and ask yourself what you actually get out of this relationship? How is it improving your life?

Seriously, I’d draw a line under this and move on.

rainbowsparkle28 · 07/04/2025 13:26

Fml - life is too short for this kind of drama from a man child who clearly has issues! 😳 Trash took itself out…do not, I repeat, do not let him worm his way back in, focus on yourself and know your worth is so much more than how he is treating you.

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:26

AnneLovesGilbert · 07/04/2025 13:23

Wow, it’s for the best it’s over. He was arguing over who paid for ingredients for a cake?! And was this spectacle was playing out in front of your son?

He sounds horrible and the whole thing sounds way too dramatic and angsty. Relationships are meant to make life happier and easier, this is anything but.

This wasn’t in front of my son.

OP posts:
MaMaMaMaBaker · 07/04/2025 13:27

He has now said I am a vile person, I am toxic, I am like a dark cloud of sadness, I’m incapable of being happy, and I am not capable of a healthy relationship because of my ‘parents’ fucked up relationship’ growing up. He has told me to fuck off multiple times, that I’m manipulative.

He's abusive. I dated someone a while back and heard a similar script. He said I was toxic, that I'm miserable, that all I want is to make everyone around me unhappy, that I'm a conduit of misery in the world etc.

What it boiled down to is that I wouldn't let him get away with bad behaviour so he needed to blame me for even bringing it up in the first place. He needed to avoid accountability at all costs, even if that meant a vicious attack on my personality.

I highly recommend dumping. There's no way he won't do this to you again. He absolutely was being petty over finances and it's completely fair that you're annoyed about it. He's trying to teach you to put up and shut up - don't let him.

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:27

Also I meant to say he was going to take half of the cake home, not the full thing!

OP posts:
meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:28

I also meant to say I was wrong for asking him to leave.

OP posts:
Smithhy · 07/04/2025 13:29

He was manufacturing the reason for the relationship to end so he can buy sleep with women in Thailand.

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:29

He has ended things with me now. I tried to call and text but he kept telling me to fuck off etc. so I blocked him, but he has now messaged me using another channel as he feels I wanted to get in the last word. So wants to get his word in.

OP posts:
FvhgvgghhNC · 07/04/2025 13:30

He sounds awful and toxic - bullying with his words, resentful about spending money on you, ignores you if he doesn’t get his own way, blames you when he is at fault, swears at you, then threatens to end things!
Hes abusive and you are better off without him.

PeekabooRoots · 07/04/2025 13:32

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:28

I also meant to say I was wrong for asking him to leave.

Why? He sounds awful. This level of nastiness and penny pinching can only get worse if you moved in with him.

inkognitha · 07/04/2025 13:32

It really does not look like a relationship that was fine until today, more like a shitshow that was on a low simmer, big difference.

Jabtastic · 07/04/2025 13:33

As others have said - the trash took itself out.

Seeline · 07/04/2025 13:33

Arguing over half a cake!!

Honestly you are better off without him - not just in financial terms!
You deserve better
Your DS deserves better - someone who demands to take half a cake from a child is seriously warped!

pimplebum · 07/04/2025 13:34

What an unpleasant relationship , I can’t understand why you are feeling anything other than relieved this crap is all over?

he clearly does not like you at all and resents paying for you
canny believe he was taking the cake home ! What a knob
move in relationship are not ment to be this hard

InvisibleOldHag · 07/04/2025 13:34

It sounds like he is controlling over money - contributes more than you and/or treats you without being asked for a time but suddenly decides not to (and to a completely petty degree - for cake ingredients?). His reaction when you told him to get lost is totally OTT and probably arises out of anger that he can’t control you as he thought.

DoNoTakeNo · 07/04/2025 13:34

@meridiana reading your post genuinely made me cry; I cannot stand cruelty in any situation, certainly not in a supposedly loving relationship.
Please stay away from this person, he is horrible & completely undeserving of your time & affection.

SoManyTshirts · 07/04/2025 13:35

Block him on all channels, keep him blocked. A partner should make you feel good about yourself and brighten your life. It sounds as though he only spends money on you in public to make himself look good.

He doesn’t respect you at all and doesn’t deserve the last word because your view is the correct version of events. He’s a mean-spirited excuse for a man.

Mischance · 07/04/2025 13:36

I am so pleased for you that this relationship has come to an end.

He is one to bin.

Stinginess is so deeply unattractive.

andHelenknowsimmiserablenow · 07/04/2025 13:36

Maybe he was just spoiling for a fight that would lead to one of you finishing the relationship so that he can go to Thailand with no ties.
You will be better off without him.

MattCauthon · 07/04/2025 13:37

He has said and done some pretty unpleasant things so I think you're better off without him.

However, I am wondering about the money. YOu say he hasn't spent £200 a month on you - I think that if you've had a few meals out and he's paid etc, it could easily come up to £200 and it sounds to me like, rightly or wrongly, he was feeling like you were a bit entitled financially. Obviously the separating things out at the supermarket was a pretty clear sign that he felt that you needed to pay a bigger contribution. If he earns so much more then certainly, it does seem a bit stingy of him, but we've all seen enough threads on here and probably in real life too where someone feels like even though they can afford it, a friend, partner or family member is taking the piss somewhat.

So basically, you're not compatible. So I'd consider tihs over and move on.

Also, if he slept with lots of women in thailand - that is a huge red flag for me anyway, even if you were single. It screams that he was sleeping with women he paid - unless he's an absolute stud on som ekind of singles backpacker trip, how else would he sleep with so many women on one holiday?

ARichtGoodDram · 07/04/2025 13:37

If you heard a bang that corresponds with him bringing your son's car seat in please consider buying a new one.

Your instinct was that he threw it and if he did it could have internal damage.

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:38

When he ended things I also acted as if I didn’t care, e.g. said byeeee and made out I was laughing. Inside I was devastated but didn’t want to appear that way. I didn’t want to beg. So I think this made him feel even more disrespected and contributed to him losing his rag with me.

I shouldn’t have antagonised him and been honest about how I felt instead of acting like I didn’t care.

OP posts:
YourWinter · 07/04/2025 13:38

What a nasty man. You are better without him. Block, delete all messages, move on. He’s a selfish bully.