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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I’m so torn, am I right to feel like this is off?

151 replies

SunshineAndSoap · 30/09/2025 12:24

Please be patient with me, this may be a long one…

I met my current bf online in December last year, we went on a couple of dates but I was really busy with work/kids/stressed about Christmas and found him to be too full on so ended it.
We kept in touch as we have similar interests and went on a date again in Feb this year, we’ve been together ever since. We’ve competed together and have done some amazing things and made the best memories.

There have been a few red flags - he’s always saying he would never be violent to women or children and I just kind of thought why would anyone need to say this?! It’s surely as standard that we aren’t violent to anyone??
He cancelled a race I was excited to do because he said I was too tired from an earlier race I’d done. He just canceled without consulting me, he was trying to look after me.

Recently work has got even busier, I have a cleaning business and due to staff shortages and holidays etc. I’ve been working 6 days a week, 50+ hrs to keep everything going. I also have 2 teens and because of them I don’t see him as much as I would like. I’d warned him that the month was going to be busy and to just be a little patient while I got through the work stuff.
He doesn’t work so has an awful lot of time on his hands ( he sold some businesses and doesn’t need to work anymore) just spends most of his time training for an upcoming event. So I understand that he feels like we don’t see each other much but to me it feels like we do, one night in the weekend and Friday through to Sunday evening, while my children are at their dads.
there was an evening where he arrived at mine at 8pm on a Friday, we had a small disagreement about dinner and he got up and left, He messaged the next day to apologise and I said let’s have some space this weekend. He messaged on the Monday to end things and called me some horrible names, we sorted it out and got back together.
The following weekend he questioned me about whether I was cheating or not and gave me a love bite, even when I tried to push him off, he used force so I couldn’t get him off me.
I was obviously upset, had another argument - he ended things again, also calling me some awful names - Cunt, manipulative, cruel.
He turned up the next day with my stuff and we talked and I thought we’d sorted it out.
the following weekend when I said I needed to do some things resulted in him telling me he was busy and wouldn’t be able to see me until our race on the Sunday. I agreed because I assumed it was for a reaction which he wasn’t going to get. And he ended it again!! Also calling me a user and abuser this time!
we went 4 days with no contact before he started sending insta posts and now he’s back again - professing his love and how he wants to marry me and spend the rest of his life with me.

Is he completely bonkers?! Rereading this, I think I know the answer. Am I right in ending things and not going back?
I feel sick with worry about what to do, and if im going to make the wrong decision.

OP posts:
JadziaD · 30/09/2025 12:52

Get away as soon as you can. He's testing manipulative and controlling gbehaviours to see how far he can go and wht he can do to make you do what he wants. he might not even realise he's doing it, but he is.

TheStroppyFeminist · 30/09/2025 12:53

100% LTB

Lindy2 · 30/09/2025 12:54

The cancelling your race would have been enough to say finish it, he's trying to control you.

But then paragraphs and paragraphs of horrible behaviour, ending things (multiple times), getting back together again for more nasty behaviour followed.

Do you really need to question this?

Horrible relationship. End it now and keep it ended. He is not nice.

PyongyangKipperbang · 30/09/2025 12:54

He assaulted you and you are worried that you may not have done the right thing by ending it?!

The only bonkers one here would be you if you dont block him everywhere and report him for harrassment if he doesnt leave you alone!

skyeisthelimit · 30/09/2025 12:55

why on earth do you keep getting back together with him? the time to end it was when he cancelled your race. He doesn't get to control your life.

End it now, and block him on all channels.

Bavariamaria · 30/09/2025 12:58

Bin bin bin bin bin bin bin

You don't have time or energy for this shit, no one does. He sounds AWFUL. Bin him, block him, put him out of your head.

Abominableday · 30/09/2025 13:01

If one of your teenagers was dating someone like this, what would you want them to do?

whimsicallyprickly · 30/09/2025 13:02

The thing I find very very very concerning is that you are TORN? You're asking IF you should end it?

Of course you should never ever see this man again
No more contact, change the locks if necessary

In addition you need to make time for some therapy to work out why your boundaries and self respect are so incredibly weird and blurred

Libertylawn · 30/09/2025 13:06

whimsicallyprickly · 30/09/2025 13:02

The thing I find very very very concerning is that you are TORN? You're asking IF you should end it?

Of course you should never ever see this man again
No more contact, change the locks if necessary

In addition you need to make time for some therapy to work out why your boundaries and self respect are so incredibly weird and blurred

This. Totally.

Poirot1983 · 30/09/2025 13:06

'he questioned me about whether I was cheating or not and gave me a love bite, even when I tried to push him off, he used force so I couldn’t get him off me.

I was obviously upset, had another argument - he ended things again, also calling me some awful names - Cunt, manipulative, cruel.'

I didn't read any further. Sorry this happened, OP please end this.

Dontbeme · 30/09/2025 13:10

he’s always saying he would never be violent to women or children

It was at this point you should have ran away screaming. Please safely get this man out of your life OP.

Catwoman8 · 30/09/2025 13:16

The only, to quote" cunt " ( I hate using that word) in this relationship is him. Why would you want to be with someone who is constantly threatening to break up with you and calling you nasty names? He is showing controlling behaviour by cancelling your events , he is abusive with the name calling . I would leave this relationship, it is not healthy and your instincts are right, dont ignore your gut feeling.

Headabovetheparapets · 30/09/2025 13:16

Yes he is bonkers.
also controlling & manipulative.
End it properly this time & run far & fast.
oh & a forced love bite is violence, surely?

notacooldad · 30/09/2025 13:19

He gave you a warning about him not being violent and you picked up on that. That should have kept your senses heightened. The initial thing where he called you 'horrible names' should have been the end.
To see him after thst is giving him a green light of what is acceptable to you.
Forcing a love bite IS violence.
There should have been absolutely no going back from there He should have been blocked from everything and not been able to contact you.

I dont know about him being bonkers but you will.be if you put up with this abuse.

Remember abuse increases and escalates.
Keep yourself safe and away from this lunatic.

dancingbymyself · 30/09/2025 13:19

Would you be wrong to dump the man who assaulted you? No, no you wouldn’t. I hope you’ve blocked on every channel, too.

Tubestrike · 30/09/2025 13:20

It saddens me that women need to ask this question.

looselegs · 30/09/2025 13:27

Run! As fast as you can in the opposite direction!
Controlling, manipulative, narcissistic behaviour, with a sprinkling of violence thrown in!
Huge red flags!

themerchentofvenus · 30/09/2025 13:32

Run!!!!!!!!! RUN!!!!

Don't look back!

There are more red flags here than at a bull fighting ring and I don't think you need these pointing out by strangers.

Have some self respect and run a f*cking mile.

What would you say to your teenager if they got into a relationship with someone who called them a c*nt?!?!

Canonlythinkofthisone · 30/09/2025 13:32

ba bye. This man could sell red flags he has so many. Run for your life.

Cartwrightandson · 30/09/2025 13:35

Op please listen. He is abusive and controlling.

He cancelled an event without asking you

Love bombs, rejects and ignores you

Calls you cunt ect

Physically assaulted you by biting you and wouldn't get off you when it was clear you didn't want it

He is abusive!

Grey stone, cut contact, block everywhere

He will try and talk you round, apologise ect but he is only doing that to win you back.

He is extremely dangerous, he is a cohercieve controlling abuser

Please read the freedom program living with the dominator, free pdf below or Lundy Bancroft why does he do that. He knows exactly what he is doing.. please do a Clare's Law request to see if he has previous records of abusive or controlling behaviour..and report him to the police yourself biting you is assault

freedomprogramme.co.uk/docs/fp.pdf

Callipygion · 30/09/2025 13:39

He sounds like an absolute tool.

Cartwrightandson · 30/09/2025 13:43

Also read.

https://amzn.eu/d/8qrrPAO

His intensity, controlling behaviour is a pattern seen routinely and studied closely

ParmaVioletTea · 30/09/2025 13:47

Of course you're right in ending things. He's been sexually aggressive and violent, and doesn't treat you as an equal.

Catwalking · 30/09/2025 13:50

DashboardConfession · 30/09/2025 12:33

Dude. This should have been the end before any of the other abuse!

He cancelled a race I was excited to do because he said I was too tired from an earlier race I’d done. He just canceled without consulting me, he was trying to look after me.

completely agree with this comment.
And feel the need to add this seems to be controlling behaviour imho.

KelsCommemorativeSausage · 30/09/2025 13:57

Jesus.

Fuck That.

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