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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:
TunnocksOrDeath · 07/04/2025 16:05

I agree that the OP is better of without him, as he sounds unpleasant. But his friends are probably telling him that he's better off without someone who lets him buy flowers and pay for dinner the whole time, but grumbles over the cost of groceries when it's her turn to cook because 'he eats more'. That's quite stingy.

Branleuse · 07/04/2025 16:06

its not you, its him

SoTired12 · 07/04/2025 16:08

What an absolute mess of a relationship

SwoopDog · 07/04/2025 16:09
  1. He's not your guy
  2. He's seeing you as an expense
  3. He is massively manipulating and gaslighting you
  4. He is projecting his own issues on you
  5. You have a son, He's your priority
  6. He will f**k others again when you're 'on a break' And he will obviously say its your fault
  7. Run.
andthat · 07/04/2025 16:09

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.

Life is too short for this bollocks

DisabledDemon · 07/04/2025 16:15

'So I think this made him feel even more disrespected and contributed to him losing his rag with me.'

You see, I read a sentence like this and it makes me see red. The level of demoralised self-abasement is appalling and distressing. OP, you need to improve your sense of self-worth, whether it's self-help meditation, therapy or taking up kick-boxing or your life will turn into one, long, weary trail of appeasing selfish men. You are worth more than this.

Silverstars21 · 07/04/2025 16:22

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.

I will never understand women or men for that matter staying involved with someone who tells them they are 'fine' with the person sleeping with others. If a man said this to me at any point of the dating experience I'd run for the hills.

Newmattress · 07/04/2025 16:24

“He was also absolutely fine with me being involved with other men if I wanted”

He doesn’t care about you, OP. There’s no way a man who has been with you for this length of time and has this level of nonchalance sees a future with you. He sounds like he doesn’t have any respect for you either.

Good riddance and hopefully you can move on and see the red flags next time.

ArtTheClown · 07/04/2025 16:28

Don't live like this. A relationship should be a place of love, support and safety.

Newmattress · 07/04/2025 16:28

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!

He sounds awful but personally I think taking half the cake home isn’t an issue. It’s not something I’d do but it’s no biggie if someone wants to do so.

MyDeftDuck · 07/04/2025 16:31

He seriously needs to grow up! What a pathetic, self-absorbed specimen!
You are better off without the twat.

Timefortulips · 07/04/2025 16:31

Newmattress · 07/04/2025 16:28

He sounds awful but personally I think taking half the cake home isn’t an issue. It’s not something I’d do but it’s no biggie if someone wants to do so.

Yeah but it would come about naturally, wouldn't it? The OP would say, "Here, don't forget to take some cake with you" and he'd say "Oh thanks, yes, if you don't mind, maybe I'll take this much?".

Whereas he has acted like a petulant brat, making a fuss about his entitlement to the cake. And then thrown various other dummies out of the pram (and car seats out of the car).

Apreslapluielesoleil · 07/04/2025 16:39

Well thank goodness he ended it…Do you really want a man like that around your child?
Block him and move on, there are much better men.

MikeRafone · 07/04/2025 16:44

WhisperGold · 07/04/2025 14:39

Eh? I've been to Thailand. It was great.

So have I

Newmattress · 07/04/2025 16:48

Oops meant to quote @Timefortulips

Yeah he communicated it all wrong. I think he resents OP for some reason and sees her as entitled/a golddigger (even though he’s only taken her out a couple of times) so was overly desperate to claw something back as he sees it.

WavyRavey · 07/04/2025 17:36

Someone else won't find you a dark cloud babe, with them you'll be a happy little sunshine, probably him making you feel like that anyway!

Scampilicous · 07/04/2025 17:38

Sounds like he deliberately started an argument to go off and his fun in Thailand- leave him to it - he sounds very childish and toxic

Poppyfun1 · 07/04/2025 17:43

Block him and move on with your life. He’s vile.

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 07/04/2025 17:43

Relationships are not supposed to be this way. They just aren't. Nothing about what you describe is healthy or OK at all.
I hope he stays gone but sadly I think he will worm his way back in if you let him. Probably after his holiday so he can fuck around and tell you it's none of your business.

Coffeeready · 07/04/2025 17:49

He sounds like a narcissist. If so he’ll be back for another go at some point. Stay away from him unless you want more of this drama and to be treated badly but at the same time be blamed for how he’s acting. Sounds like you’ve escaped early. Don’t give him the chance for round two.

CosyLemur · 07/04/2025 17:52

Honestly you feel childish and a bit like a gold digger!
You also seem to be trying to force a break up because you don't want him going away without you.

CosyLemur · 07/04/2025 17:54

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!

Why were you upset that he was going to take home ½ a cake that he was making - that seems like a perfectly normal thing to do!

TinyFlamingo · 07/04/2025 17:59

I would have text him back "last word" and blocked him on that too.
The petty, vile, vicious l, angry, egotistical, tight, dirty, ungenerous person = unattractive.
Does he have any nice qualities?
He's not someone you want around you or your son.

CannotWaitForSummervibes · 07/04/2025 18:00

Call me old fashioned but I believe one shouldn’t sleep around on holiday if you’re involved either someone, even when it’s not a relationship yet. So I wouldn’t say he was within his rights to do that last year. He was just being disrespectful of you as a woman.

please read your post back, things were not ok between you. You are trying to downplay everything and it sounds like you’re desperately attempting to hang onto something that isn’t good for you. Is that what you want to model to your kid? If you can’t distance yourself for YOU, then please do it for your kid. And maybe you need to work on yourself /get some therapy to find out why you were ok being in such an abusive relationship. What were your previous relationships like?

Plumnora · 07/04/2025 18:02

Does he treat you like a goddess? Does he make everything better? Is he proud to be seen with you? Do you feel his equal? Does he respect you? Do you feel you can tell him anything and know he's there for you no matter what?
You know you've done the right thing. He sounds horrible.

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