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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:
Meadowfinch · 07/04/2025 13:38

OP, if he earns 5x your salary and he feels the need to argue about the £3 it costs to make a lemon drizzle cake, then you are better off out. Plus your son helped him make a cake and didn't even get to taste it.

He's mean and small minded. You are well rid of him.

Watch your house keeping costs dive now he is no longer around.

Timefortulips · 07/04/2025 13:38

He sounds like an absolute twat. Who goes round to someone's house, bakes a cake with that person's son, then goes back to their own house with the cake? I mean WTF.

Expect better. It's better to be single than to have twats like this insulting you day in day out with their miserable behaviour. He sounds obsessed with counting his miserable pennies instead of relishing the opportunity to treat you with his ample earnings. I bet he's one of those men who thinks women are after their money, i.e. sees women as whores.

I also think he was a twat to go shagging round Thailand while "somewhat involved" with you, FWIW. Some may disagree, but I wouldn't want to be getting into a relationship with a man like that.

Tell him where he can stuff his precious lemon drizzle cake!

outerspacepotato · 07/04/2025 13:38

I can't help but notice he's breaking up with you before another trip to Thailand.

BoredZelda · 07/04/2025 13:39

You said some hurtful words and that is on you. Maybe you are toxic etc, but only you know that for sure. He also said some terrible things and he is financially controlling so you are better off out of the relationship.

pikkumyy77 · 07/04/2025 13:39

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:26

This wasn’t in front of my son.

You are ignoring the point this poster was trying to make.

Work on your self esteem. Why are you unable to call time on an obviously, objectively, poor relationship. Are you unfamiliar with a kind, graciously, generous, courteous man? Do you mistake all this busyness for a “good “ relationship? Its not: he is cranky, sulky, mean, reactive and you are quite reactive as well. Its a bad fit. To say the least.

Haappy · 07/04/2025 13:40

I completely disagree that you should have behaved in a 'better way'. He sounds awful. There are many points in your story where I would have broken up with him, and certainly would have blocked him and deleted his number by now. Bonus, if you get rid of him now, you'll be free of having to worry about what he's up to in Thailand. You don't deserve to be treated like that.

Timefortulips · 07/04/2025 13:40

outerspacepotato · 07/04/2025 13:38

I can't help but notice he's breaking up with you before another trip to Thailand.

Oh yes, good point. When he returns from his "guilt-free" shagfest, he'll want you to grovel for the chance to get back together with him.

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:40

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?

Since we have been official we have been for three meals out, he has paid for two and I paid for myself for one.

We haven’t been out for a dinner since Valentine’s Day.

He was travelling and in hostels so I think there’s a lot of sex going on in general there.

OP posts:
CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 07/04/2025 13:40

He sounds like an idiot, OP. Who on earth keeps tabs on the cost of cake ingredients when they are baking with their partner’s child and is so stingy that they make a point of taking half the cake home! This is nothing like going halves on holidays or in restaurants. It’s really petty meanness. As is him doing the same with the meal ingredients in the shop, given he was eating his share of the food.

If he had an issue with paying for meals then he shouldn’t have offered or he shouldn’t keep going to restaurants with you knowing he earns 5x as much as you do so you can’t afford to spend as much on things like that. Instead, he’s not communicated and then shown his resentment with an outburst over a drizzle cake, the idiot.

All the comments about you are designed to stick the knife in and make the breakup entirely nothing to do with him. Given he likes to play the blame game, you’re best off without him.

updated as you posted while I was typing this. He’s paid for TWO meals and you paid for ONE? And he’s having a fit despite earning tens of thousands more?! Omfg. Sling him in the bin and put the lid on. Tight wad.

stayathomer · 07/04/2025 13:41

Op that money crap was going to turn into your life, and anyone who demands an apology is ridiculous! you’ve had a lucky escape

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:42

Timefortulips · 07/04/2025 13:38

He sounds like an absolute twat. Who goes round to someone's house, bakes a cake with that person's son, then goes back to their own house with the cake? I mean WTF.

Expect better. It's better to be single than to have twats like this insulting you day in day out with their miserable behaviour. He sounds obsessed with counting his miserable pennies instead of relishing the opportunity to treat you with his ample earnings. I bet he's one of those men who thinks women are after their money, i.e. sees women as whores.

I also think he was a twat to go shagging round Thailand while "somewhat involved" with you, FWIW. Some may disagree, but I wouldn't want to be getting into a relationship with a man like that.

Tell him where he can stuff his precious lemon drizzle cake!

Thank you for responding.

I had told him prior to him going away, that I did not want to beg exclusive. I didn’t know who long he would be gone for and knew I’d drive myself crazy wondering what he was up to.

He was also absolutely fine with me being involved with other men if I wanted to.

OP posts:
Fluffydolittle · 07/04/2025 13:42

How convenient for him to dump you just before going off to Thailand. Good riddance to the manipulative bastard

MyGardenHasGreatTits · 07/04/2025 13:43

He sounds like my ex (down to the Thailand thing). He’s awful and you are better off single than with this ‘peach’ of a man.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/04/2025 13:44

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.

Keep acting like that. You don't care. He was a spiteful prick and you're better off without him putting your life at risk when he comes back from Thailand from the risky, at least abused/trafficked/enslaved and probably underage girls he's going to have sex with on his Rapists' Tourist Trail.

RechargeableGnu · 07/04/2025 13:44

He's a selfish dick.

You're a drama queen.

A toxic combination.

Fluffydolittle · 07/04/2025 13:44

Ps

Men do this crap all the time. Manipulate a situation so they’re the victim and then they can go do what they like guilt free. They’ll even blame the woman for their cheating.

It would almost be funny how lame they are, if we didn’t have to live amongst them

Rickrolypoly · 07/04/2025 13:45

Ffs woman, just walk away from this creep and do better for yourself and your son. You are barely official with this guy and already have him baking cakes with your child.
He's not the one, he is not even nearly the one. The relationship is toxic and abusive.
It's over now so please, for your sake and the sake of your poor child, leave it over!!

ImmortalSnowman · 07/04/2025 13:45

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:40

Since we have been official we have been for three meals out, he has paid for two and I paid for myself for one.

We haven’t been out for a dinner since Valentine’s Day.

He was travelling and in hostels so I think there’s a lot of sex going on in general there.

Doesn't sound like you've been together long and are at very different life stages. He's still travelling and staying in hostels, care free and earns well.

You have a child and earn significantly less. It's never a good idea to date someone so different financially, when you have a child.

Block him on everything and ignore and delete any messages he manages to get through to you. You aren't compatible. Move on and prioritise your child for now.

pikkumyy77 · 07/04/2025 13:45

What is to be gained, in your mind, in submitting to this toxic man who shags around in Thailand and throws any smidge of generosity back in your face if there is a quarrel? He will always rebut you by either fleeing to screw someone else or throwing his “gift” of money or attention back in your face. Thats his pattern. If you are at all “demanding “ ie assert yourself then he will force you to grovel to get the upper hand.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 07/04/2025 13:45

Oh my goodness ! you do not want this man anywhere in your child's life !!!
Thank goodness it is over...

Mischance · 07/04/2025 13:47

He was travelling and in hostels so I think there’s a lot of sex going on in general there. - is that not sufficient to be rid of him?

Never mind his meanness.

StrangerThings1 · 07/04/2025 13:47

meridiana · 07/04/2025 13:42

Thank you for responding.

I had told him prior to him going away, that I did not want to beg exclusive. I didn’t know who long he would be gone for and knew I’d drive myself crazy wondering what he was up to.

He was also absolutely fine with me being involved with other men if I wanted to.

So he hooks up with other women and is fine with you hooking up with other men……this is not a relationship that I would want any involvement in and certainly wouldn’t want a child to be part of

Raise your standards

StrangerThings1 · 07/04/2025 13:49

Mischance · 07/04/2025 13:47

He was travelling and in hostels so I think there’s a lot of sex going on in general there. - is that not sufficient to be rid of him?

Never mind his meanness.

Exactly…..I would have got rid of him a long time ago

Lost20211 · 07/04/2025 13:50

If your friend told you all this, what advice would you give?

ARO0607 · 07/04/2025 13:52

Stingy AND abusive. You’ve dodged a bullet. He’ll be back, and I hope you tell him where to go.