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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:
BunnyLake · 01/10/2025 07:30

Oh for god’s sake woman leave him! Your instincts about him being too full on at the beginning were right! Too many red flags and a terrible idea to have this man in your children’s lives. His many (unasked for) assertions that he wouldn't be violent to women or children is a horrendous red flag! Do not stay with him he sounds unpredictable, unstable and will cause you (and your kids) nothing but pain, emotional and physical!!

BunnyLake · 01/10/2025 07:32

Thepeopleversuswork · 30/09/2025 18:51

Christ OP this is off the charts. Why are you “torn”?

He could not be more of a red flag if one was tattooed on his forehead.

It should be law that red flags are tattooed on these types!

JKRismyPatronus · 01/10/2025 07:40

Just repeating what everyone else has said.

I’m so torn, am I right to feel like this is off?
Treeseys · 01/10/2025 09:02

I really think you should consider informing the police of his serious sexual assault of you, if only for their records.
He is a ver dangerous person.

Stick with the www.freedomprogramme.co.uk
Read Women who love too much. by Robin Norwood.
Why does he do that? By Lundy Bancroft.

Comtesse · 01/10/2025 11:07

Well done OP you’ve made the right call.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 01/10/2025 13:51

Sounds like you did the right thing OP.

Will you be able to continue your race hobby without him annoying you?

SunshineAndSoap · 01/10/2025 14:11

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 01/10/2025 13:51

Sounds like you did the right thing OP.

Will you be able to continue your race hobby without him annoying you?

I should be able to, we do a lot of the same stuff so it’ll be inevitable that I’ll bump into him somewhere.
He messaged this morning to ask if I’d like him to come along and support me at my next one. I’m going to go alone and prove that I can do it all by myself, which is actually making me quite nervous and excited!

OP posts:
DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 01/10/2025 14:18

Good for you OP. Stick to your decision.

It seems like he is ignoring the fact that you ended it and is trying to reel you back in with a bit of Nice Guy behaviour. You may find you need to make it really clear its over. You mentioned that he broke up and made up several times, so it might be that he's not taking it seriously.
I bet he turns up anyway. Stay strong.

RunningJo · 01/10/2025 14:30

SunshineAndSoap · 01/10/2025 14:11

I should be able to, we do a lot of the same stuff so it’ll be inevitable that I’ll bump into him somewhere.
He messaged this morning to ask if I’d like him to come along and support me at my next one. I’m going to go alone and prove that I can do it all by myself, which is actually making me quite nervous and excited!

I hope you told him no thanks!

Can you ask friends to go and support you so you aren’t there alone if he turns up?.

Good luck in whatever face it is you’re doing - stay strong OP, you don’t need him in your life!

chocolatemademefat · 01/10/2025 15:08

Marry him!😱. I would never be in conversation with him again. How many red flags do you need. The ‘love bite’ would have been the end for me - he assaulted you. Don’t let him back into your life if you value your safety.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 01/10/2025 18:27

BunnyLake · 01/10/2025 07:30

Oh for god’s sake woman leave him! Your instincts about him being too full on at the beginning were right! Too many red flags and a terrible idea to have this man in your children’s lives. His many (unasked for) assertions that he wouldn't be violent to women or children is a horrendous red flag! Do not stay with him he sounds unpredictable, unstable and will cause you (and your kids) nothing but pain, emotional and physical!!

Oh for god's sake woman READ the thread. She's already dumped him.

FairyBatman · 01/10/2025 22:18

Good on you @SunshineAndSoap and good luck for your next event. Hopefully you can find someone to come with you as a cheering squad incase he turns up. If he bothers you at all don’t be afraid to talk an official and let them know.

SunshineAndSoap · 02/10/2025 11:28

Thank you all, I know deep down I have made the right decision.
I haven’t yet brought myself to blocking him on my phone, after pretty much silence from him. Today I have received 2 messages - one telling me that I have no empathy, I’m flakey, too needy, comparing himself to gold where all my exes were lead?! Blah blah blah. To then sending a second messages telling me that we are soulmates, I’ll never find a love like this and that he is going away to a spiritual retreat for a month and would I like to have an evening together before he goes to have sex one last time?!
I am in a little bit of shock at the quick turn around there!

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 02/10/2025 11:53

He’s gross. And so, so pathetic.

How did he cancel your race space? Does he have your log in/password details?

DashboardConfession · 02/10/2025 11:54

Urgh. Just ignore him. Retreat my arse!

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 02/10/2025 12:05

SunshineAndSoap · 02/10/2025 11:28

Thank you all, I know deep down I have made the right decision.
I haven’t yet brought myself to blocking him on my phone, after pretty much silence from him. Today I have received 2 messages - one telling me that I have no empathy, I’m flakey, too needy, comparing himself to gold where all my exes were lead?! Blah blah blah. To then sending a second messages telling me that we are soulmates, I’ll never find a love like this and that he is going away to a spiritual retreat for a month and would I like to have an evening together before he goes to have sex one last time?!
I am in a little bit of shock at the quick turn around there!

He's a real charmer isn't he?

Those messages indicate that he thinks you are really really gulliable and will take any old shit.

You really should just tell him to stop messaging you and block him on all channels now...

and also agree with @FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee - you should tell the race organisers that no one is to change your participation except you. If you have passwords for this. Change them.

I agree with pps that you should take a friend/relative with you for the next race, or agree with a fellow racer to watch out for you.

unsync · 02/10/2025 12:12

I can categorically say you have made the right decision. Well done on doing the Freedom Programme. It definitely opens your eyes to all the behaviours. Hopefully, your boundary enforcement and red flag recognition will improve as a result. Personally, I have chosen to remain single and I am much happier as a result.

I would agree with previous posters about changing all your event passwords, in fact I would change my email passwords too and block him. Don't waste any more time on him.

user0345437398 · 02/10/2025 12:30

You are ignoring your gut. Stop it because that never works out well.
Please, go back to the drawing board and be single again. Being single is far, far better than being dragged down by a romantic partner.

Catwoman8 · 02/10/2025 17:11

Please find the strength to ignore him and stick to your decision. If you go back, it will only be a vicious cycle of abuse one min and then love bombing you the next. You are only a year into this relationship, cut your losses and move on, you can do better.

BMW6 · 02/10/2025 17:20

Uh oh stalker alert OP.

I'd send him 1 more message telling him that you do not want any further communication in any form from him and you will seek Police support should he not comply with your polite request.

Save all the messages and brace yourself to have to take it to the Police.

ApricotCheesecake · 02/10/2025 17:22

I guess he's trying a scattergun approach OP, to see which tactic (nice or nasty) you respond to!

Treeseys · 02/10/2025 17:34

He really is utter scum. Abusive textbook.
Insults, love bombing, insults, love bombing, possibly threats and harassment.

Report him.

ReplacementBusService · 02/10/2025 17:39

SunshineAndSoap · 02/10/2025 11:28

Thank you all, I know deep down I have made the right decision.
I haven’t yet brought myself to blocking him on my phone, after pretty much silence from him. Today I have received 2 messages - one telling me that I have no empathy, I’m flakey, too needy, comparing himself to gold where all my exes were lead?! Blah blah blah. To then sending a second messages telling me that we are soulmates, I’ll never find a love like this and that he is going away to a spiritual retreat for a month and would I like to have an evening together before he goes to have sex one last time?!
I am in a little bit of shock at the quick turn around there!

This classic straight out the textbook abusive behavior. Don't reply! This is how he is. Stay firm x

FutureMarchionessOfVidal · 02/10/2025 17:41

So glad you have finished with him.

Unlike PP I would just not respond at all - even to say please do not contact me- but would just block him & hope he goes away. Would also screenshot all messages & keep a log of all interactions. He sounds really dodgy & a bit frightening.

Crazycatladywithnocats · 02/10/2025 17:48

He has wrong ‘un written all over him. How many red flags do you want?