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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To leave DP due to his refusal to look after his health

380 replies

lonelyinlondon99 · 29/04/2026 09:26

Firstly, I apologise for how long this is but i feel it necessary so you all get a picture of how desperate this situation is.

DP of 7yrs is slowly killing himself. He was diagnosed with fibro about 3yrs ago & hasn't worked since. He is also T2 diabetic (insulin 4 times a day) but his diet is absolutely woeful. His weight has slowly crept up and is now out of control.

Mcdonalds every day (and it's not just a cheeseburger it's a large meal with a fizzy drink, 6 nuggets or he will order 5 chicken mayos)
Huge bowl of crunch nut cornflakes every morning for breakfast with whole milk
Hardly ever drinks water & can easily drink 2ltrs of pepsi max in a day if not more
Huge portions of whatever he eats. He will get two of whatever he fancies from Greggs (2 steak bakes, 2 sausage rolls & 2 doughnuts ect) or order 5 separate dishes from the Chinese / Indian excluding the rice / chips / poppadoms that he has to have of course. Whatever he doesn't eat he has for breakfast the same day.
He has take aways 4 out of the 7 days. I always make food at home and he will have that too.
Has sleep apnea but refuses to where his masks as he doesn't like it (another reason I sleep with my son also)
Eats copius amounts of sweets & chocolate with reckless abandon
Falls asleep throughout the day

Always moaning his body/ kidneys hurt and is constantly tired
Refuses to change his diet
Never walks anywhere, always drives. We live exactly 5 doors away from our GP surgery and he still drives there.
Has an excuse or reason for everything.

Hasn't got up with our son in about 2.5yrs. I sleep with him as he is on the autism pathway & climbs on the windowsill / headboard and i'm scared he will get tangled in the curtains or unlock the window and escape (ground floor flat but next to a very very busy road) so it's safer for him to sleep with me until we can afford to make the room my DP sleeps in safe for DS to sleep in after a OT assessment which is due in May.
He lays in bed till gone 8 or 9am (ds can decide to be up for the day at 3am/4am and not sleep again until around 1pm)
He will occasionally hoover or wash up
Never cooks. If he can't stick it in the microwave or airfryer he won't do it all house work, cooking & laundry falls on me.

I could live again with the breath I waste on him asking, begging and pleading for him to look after himself. As I said our 3yr old is on the autism pathway, he is a runner, no sense of danger and just runs and runs and runs until he is caught and he will never be able to run after him if he ever breaks loose from his harness. I don't know what to do, nothing I say sinks in. I am thinking of leaving as we are dictated by him what outings we do as he cannot walk far at all without sweat pouring out of him & he has to rest every 5/10mins and it's infuriating. I wanted to go to the seaside and zoo soon (separate days) but he wants to hire a mobilty scooter to use both visits and it's instantly put me off going.
I love walking and being outside (i can drive just hate it especially in London) and DS loves being outside too.

We can't even think of going on holiday abroad or uk due to his size and mobilty. He got weighed at Boots 3 days ago and is almost 27st & he is only 5'9 he doesn't even try and help himself.
He's 35 & i'm scared he won't see 40 the way he is going. His pip & esa never lasts as goes on his huge food consumption & petrol so i pay for 90% of bills, food shopping, clothes for ds and whatever else he may need.
So sorry this is so long, both my parents died when before I was 20 & I have no siblings / auntys/ friends to confide in.

OP posts:
metalcat · 30/04/2026 10:24

@lonelyinlondon99 Speak to Women's Aid and see what they say about whether it is best to speak to the police about him throwing the car seat at your door.

Well done for throwing him out, he's an absolute pig to treat you, your son and his mum like this.

https://womensaid.org.uk/information-support/womens-aid-directory/

Home - Women's Aid

Women's Aid is a grassroots federation working together to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated.

https://womensaid.org.uk

metalcat · 30/04/2026 10:25

This is the Freedom Programme referenced by PP

https://www.freedomprogramme.co.uk/

NorthFacingGardener · 30/04/2026 10:30

Sending you love and strength OP. You will be much better off without him dragging you and your DS down.
Don’t let him wear you down and take him back. If he promises to change then let him change all by himself and you’ll still be there in a year when you can see he’s changed for good.

Beachtastic · 30/04/2026 11:07

Oh wow well done OP.

So pleased for you. Enjoy your new life without this useless oaf in it 🥰

To leave DP due to his refusal to look after his health
LilWoosmum82 · 30/04/2026 11:24

Congrats, i hope you feel a bit 'lighter' this morning. I hope you've been able to speak to his mum and all is good there, bag up his things and speak to women's aid for advice. I would also consider logging the incident about the car seat with the police. Just in case a pattern develops and you need to use it all as evidence later xx

clearlyy · 30/04/2026 11:26

Beachtastic · 30/04/2026 11:07

Oh wow well done OP.

So pleased for you. Enjoy your new life without this useless oaf in it 🥰

Oh my god I love this 🤣🤣🤣

Beachtastic · 30/04/2026 11:47

clearlyy · 30/04/2026 11:26

Oh my god I love this 🤣🤣🤣

Let's just say that I have "collected the whole series" over time... 😖🫣😬 but life is very different now!! 🌞

ManyATrueWord · 30/04/2026 11:51

Wow! Well done you for seeing the light. I was expecting this to go on and on but you have a shiny spine! May it be made out of titanium.

I'd like to take this chance to say that you are worthy of respect and care, and I hope you start putting yourself first in all things. By doing that you can be strong for your child. I wish you all the best for this next stage.

Nanny0gg · 30/04/2026 11:52

How on earth does he afford all that food?

Unpaidworkmakestheeconomytick · 30/04/2026 12:16

Well done Op.
If you ever are wobbling and he’s giving you the ‘I’m going to change’ speech, remember that he had 3 YEARS to change and chose not to.
Also and very importantly think about where you are on his priority list:
1st is himself and his food,
2nd is his gaming and other women,
Are you even 3rd, is your son even on his list of priorities?
Not saying this to be mean, just for you to remember he is a very damaged man and it’s not your job to fix him. That’s his job, or not, up to him.

INeedAnotherName · 30/04/2026 12:18

Well done OP, I am ridiculously proud of you. Life will only get better from now on for you and your child. Don't forget to claim CMS once the dust has settled, he can finally start paying something for his son.

Omgblueskys · 30/04/2026 13:13

So proud of you op 💪

Now change all your passwords on everything he is on, including the ring doorbell,

Joint accounts, move money across into single account

Pack up his stuff ready because he'll use this as a reason to come back to thr house

Brownbl · 30/04/2026 13:29

Throwing the car seat was domestic violence.
Don't hesitate to tell the police.
Spending family money on games is financially abusing you.

He is vile.
But he will be back to you.
Don't allow him in the door.
Pass stuff out to him from a window.

Pack it all up today and have it ready to go.

He is a bad man.

Read Women who love too much. By Robin Norwood.

BauhausOfEliott · 30/04/2026 14:10

lonelyinlondon99 · 29/04/2026 22:44

I can't reply or thank you all enough for your replies. They have made me feel so seen & validated. You're all amazing.
This evening took an eventful turn. Some app he uses payment got declined and he asked me to pay it & he will pay me back.
On android you have to go into playstore and update the details for it to take the money. On his list of purchases is dozens of payments to a gaming app.
So whilst i've been at work, asleep or out with DS he's been watching & sending this lady gamer money in the form of gifts. One was for over £35. Most in a day was £50.
He doesn't even buy me or DC anything. I felt like such a mug. He never denied it, just said so? i told him I can't live with him or like this any more and he has to leave. He left under protest, slamming about. I was getting DS bathed & my ringdoor bell went off & then an almighty bang. Looked at the video & he's thrown DS car seat at my door. I have called the council and explained the situation and said i need my locks changing. They're coming out to do it tomorrow. The key is in the lock and the chain is on.
Thank you all again so so much.

Bloody hell.

You've done absolutely the right thing and you've been bloody brave. We're all right behind you!

SecretSquirrelLoo · 30/04/2026 18:24

Hope you’ve been safe and well and peaceful today OP. Wishing you a great future without him.

daisychain01 · 30/04/2026 18:28

lonelyinlondon99 · 29/04/2026 10:07

I know the man he was and can be again if he only tried. I love him dearly & that's why i try to get him to help himself. I just don't know how long i can waste my breath & my sons childhood on him.

You need to split up for the sake of your son.

How can you sacrifice your most precious person, your son, for someone who by your own admission couldn't care less about his health and causes you so much stress.

you deserve better.

VikingsandDragons · 30/04/2026 19:36

Hope you're safe today and he's not shown his lazy face at your door

SadSaq · 30/04/2026 20:17

VikingsandDragons · 30/04/2026 19:36

Hope you're safe today and he's not shown his lazy face at your door

Hope so too 💐

PlumPuddingandGravy · 30/04/2026 20:20

Yeah, I’d leave. It’s not the health issues, it’s total failure to try to improve the situation and the general victimhood.

blubberball · 30/04/2026 20:26

Sounds like he's completely on self destruct

Beanosaurus · 30/04/2026 22:04

Well done OP
Your new life starts now

xxxlove · 30/04/2026 23:54

he is totally lost. What a horrible man

Ilady · 01/05/2026 12:30

You have done the right thing in kicking him out. You are working and your child is waiting for an assessment for autism. Meanwhile he was getting benefits, spending all his money on food and getting heavier each day. Then you found out that he was gifting money to a woman gamer. He is a disgrace.
I hope you get locks changed. Change all your passwords. Make sure he has no access to any bank accounts or money in your name. Keep the ring doorbell footage of his behaviour in case he starts to cause problems for you.

You need to inform the benefits system that he is no longer living with you as it will bring down your council tax and you may be entitled to some more money each week.
He is no longer your problem and I know he will try to get back with you. You need to keep saying no to him.
My feeling is that his health will keep getting worse and he will end up needing a lot of care before he dies at a young age.
You need to keep putting you and your child first in this situation.

PumpkinScarf · 01/05/2026 18:59

Brilliant update, well done! Keep going life is about to get a whole lot easier and make sure you get a new car seat too just shows how little respect he has for you and his son.

Lavender14 · 01/05/2026 21:24

Do you know what op, he's done you a massive favour here. If you'd left just on the grounds of his lack of care for himself (and others) I think that would have been a really emotionally hard call to make, whereas he's now shown you exactly who he is and exactly how far he's willing to go to disrespect you so I hope you feel that your conscience is clear and you can move forward in your life with zero looks back.

I would contact police and log the damage to property with them and the video so you've it documented incase he becomes more volatile or your concerned for applications re: contact/custody. Could you pay for an emergency lock Smith if it would make you feel safer for tonight or how soon did council say they could provide this? It would be worth telling them you feel unsafe after a break up and that he had a key.

Op honestly, you've already been doing everything but with his dead weight dragging you down - I'm sure it's hard and it's a lot of change to navigate, but I hope this is just the start of a much brighter future for you both. Do you have in person supports you can lean on right now? Even though he's a complete pig and i think you've made absolutely the right decision, it's still normal to grieve the end of a relationship and future you've invested into. Be gentle with yourself where you can. I know it sounds cliche but I'm proud of you.