Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 07/04/2025 15:27

Any post that starts with 'we've been on and off' I can practically guarantee will be a relationship that is better off being permanently 'off'.

It's not meant to be this hard.

Northerngirl821 · 07/04/2025 15:29

He showed you his true colours with the abusive message. He’s realised you’re not easily manipulated, that’s why he’s out - it’s a good thing even if it doesn’t seem that way!

Plus being that mean over money when he’s on such a good income is always a red flag.

Consider this a lucky escape.

MissDoubleU · 07/04/2025 15:31

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!

Oh, well this makes things better then.

Is this really the example of a relationship you want your son to grow up with? It’s toxic af.

orangedream · 07/04/2025 15:32

It's sounds like a horrible mess of a relationship. You are better off out of it. He seems vile with his Thailand sex trips. Stop berating yourself for it ending. There's every chance he manufactured it deliberately before his trip. Decide it's over and done.

Hwi · 07/04/2025 15:33

Utter scumbag, sorry, no other words for him. He makes x 5 more than you and counts pennies and begrudges you food? Stinginess so unattractive. You need to change your assessment scale - you wrote 'things were OK until he broke up with me' - do you really think it is OK to take the cake home and separate your items in a trolley? Seriously? Good riddance to this scumbag.

GildedRage · 07/04/2025 15:33

Quit waffling; it’s bad/not that bad, cake/well half a cake, money/well not as much as I said….
He’s not the right fellow for you MOVE ON.

MumWifeOther · 07/04/2025 15:35

He’s done you a massive favour by ending things.

Never settle for a man this petty or stingy.

Also he absolutely will, and was always planning to, sleep with many people while abroad. Do not have unprotected sex with this man again!

venusandmars · 07/04/2025 15:35

So for some reason he's started making a big deal of finances. Has someone else maybe spoken to him about this, and he's now testing you? Or has he noticed that he's often the first one to offer to pay or that you eat at his more often than he eats at yours? Either way how he has behaved is not OK.

Fair enought that he took half the cake home but not how he phrased it. He could have said "we've made this delicious lemon cake, half for you to enjoy, half for me to enjoy at home" but he didn't, he made it all about money. If he's so fixated on it, that is never going to get better. Expect to be charged for using toilet paper at his house!

Pallisers · 07/04/2025 15:37

Nobody should live like this. block him and move on with your life.

adriftinadenofvipers · 07/04/2025 15:40

Not sure why you even have to ask. The man is utterly vile. If he earns that much then he could afford to be generous and not cast it up to you. The Thailand thing last time round would have put me off right there and then - I wouldn't have let him near me with a bargepole. I think you need to get an STI check.

Never, ever consider, not for a millisecond having him back. I could see him come crawling back and as you accepted his debauchery last time round, he will think he can talk you back.

This is the time in a relationship that's supposed to be fun and loved up. If he treats you like this now, just imagine what you would be enduring 5 years down the line, when you'd probably be more tied to him. Get out while the going's good. He's a sleazy, skanky narc. I take it this Thai shagfest is an annual event? Gross. The thought of him makes me want to heave.

IntermittentFarting · 07/04/2025 15:41

He sounds awful.
As others have said he’s glad he’s single now so he can be one of those princes among men, The Thailand Sex Tourist. 🤮

OP, you said you were sort of single last time he went? I think it likely that he engineered that, too.

Caerulea · 07/04/2025 15:42

OP - he sounds like a giant prick, & vile to boot.

But all of your posts have a whiff of defending him about them.

Stop that - immediately. You and your son don't need this crap in your lives. He clearly has no respect for women so do you want him as a lasting influence on your son?

Let him go, move on & expect better for yourself.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 07/04/2025 15:43

You've dodged a bullet here. He's a nasty nasty man.

Oncewornballgown · 07/04/2025 15:45

He comes across as an unpleasant man who wants to be single again for his Thailand trip. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to rekindle your relationship when he returns. Then you can probably expect the same unpleasant nonsense whenever he is about to go on a stag do or holiday with his mates.
You seem to blame yourself a lot when it sounds more like you were reacting to his provocative and mean behaviour. I think you did the right thing by blocking him for being abusive to you and hope you will move on to someone much nicer.

Karasis · 07/04/2025 15:48

He's a stingy vindictive waste of time. You'll feel better without him around. He says things like that now, when things get hard during the course of life he'll say worse. You're well rid.

Karasis · 07/04/2025 15:49

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 07/04/2025 13:57

Neither of you behaved well. He's not financially controlling because you don't have a shared finance that he's controlling. I do think your expectations that he was paying for your shopping was wrong. Threw him out - asked him to leave is just semantics. However he really is obnoxious and you need to end it. You didn't deserve the things he said but your behavior wasn't perfect either

Can't you read? It wasn't "her shopping."

MrsTWH · 07/04/2025 15:51

OP, I mean this kindly but when he went to Thailand and was shagging around and then lied to you about it - at what point did you then think he was relationship material? And to take this to heart so badly it’s got you questioning your own worth, it’s really sad and he’s not worth it. Perhaps some counselling might help as you need to know your own worth and not to let some disgusting sad sack make you question yourself. Why is your self esteem so low?

This man has ultimately done you a favour. Just be on your guard that when he comes back from his next Thai-shagathon, he doesn’t try to worm his way back into your affections. You are worth more than this!!

Cerialkiller · 07/04/2025 15:55

This is a relationship with no legs anyway. Any couple with such a big difference in income needs a relaxed attitude from the richer partner. The alternative is either resentment from the paying partner or the two of you end up living very different lives. One in second hand clothes, and one in designer gear. There a big risk of an unhealthy power dynamic here as you have seen.

Whooowhooohoo · 07/04/2025 15:55

It’s possible he was trying to demonstrate his financial contributions with the separating of items. Possible he feels that you take for granted that he pays.

It’s a difficult situation. It really shouldn’t matter that he makes 5x, that shouldn’t mean he pays and pays - if that’s not what he wants to do.

It seems it was no longer his decision to pay, you expected it and that might be what is uncomfortable for him.

nachoaverageusername · 07/04/2025 15:56

I can’t stand tight people, men or women, it’s not a gender thing. I’m a very generous person and need my other half to be generous as well. Quibbling over ingredients for a cake when he makes 5 x what you do? Next. Leave him to the prostitutes in Thailand. Poor women.

Julieann418 · 07/04/2025 16:00

Don't have this man anywhere near your child.

Newbie1011 · 07/04/2025 16:01

I can never read these threads without shuddering in absolute horror for the child involved, thinking he was making a nice cake with his mum and then this is what happens. The atmosphere he exists in must be horrific. You say it wasn’t in front of him but trust me. Your son will have seen this relationship, felt it, sensed it. It’s the air he is breathing. It’s his model of how men behave; and how women respond to it. For that reason apart from anyone else you need to get this person out of both your lives, immediately. I cannot fathom, as a parent of a young child, devoting even a tenth of this pointless thought and energy to my own romantic life/ relationship, let alone one so utterly dysfunctional. Block and move on!

RampantIvy · 07/04/2025 16:01

He sounds utterly vile. If I had met someone then they slept with multiple women while on holiday while I was "sort of" seeing them that would have been the end of it.

Keep him blocked everywhere and raise your bar - and get an STI check.

Burngreave · 07/04/2025 16:02

Newbie1011 · 07/04/2025 16:01

I can never read these threads without shuddering in absolute horror for the child involved, thinking he was making a nice cake with his mum and then this is what happens. The atmosphere he exists in must be horrific. You say it wasn’t in front of him but trust me. Your son will have seen this relationship, felt it, sensed it. It’s the air he is breathing. It’s his model of how men behave; and how women respond to it. For that reason apart from anyone else you need to get this person out of both your lives, immediately. I cannot fathom, as a parent of a young child, devoting even a tenth of this pointless thought and energy to my own romantic life/ relationship, let alone one so utterly dysfunctional. Block and move on!

Best post on here - agree completely.

carcassonne1 · 07/04/2025 16:03

I don't know. Wish we had his version of events, too. It's difficult to say anything with only your point of view. I think he thinks you are a golddigger? Obviously you're not, but for some reason he thinks you are.