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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think my fiance overreacted by getting a younger woman's number because I double booked by accident, and threw my belongings about?

1000 replies

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 12:52

I am trying to work out whether I am being unfair or whether my fiancé genuinely overreacts to situations.
I was spending a long weekend with him and we had plans for Monday. Friday to Sunday eve were lovely and we did sightseeing etc. then went to his and were planning to stay there for a few nights.

However, I realised I had accidentally double-booked the Monday because my adult DD had arranged for me to meet her new boyfriend and his father over lunch. It was important to her and had been organised for a while. DD has is ND and has severe MH issues; this is the first "normal" relationship she has had and it's a huge deal for her.

I told my fiancé on Sunday afternoon that I would go to the lunch for a few hours and then come back afterwards so we could still spend the Monday evening together and the following days.

He was furious. He said I was choosing other people over him and repeatedly referred to my daughter's boyfriend and his father as "strange men". He seemed particularly upset that I would be spending time with another man, even though it was DD's BF's dad not just a random stranger.

After I had told him I had double booked and would need to go for a few hours we were arguing about it non-stop for hours. I was crying at one point and I kept saying I was sorry, it was human error, not deliberate. After all this arguing I was tired and wanted to stay in, but at around 11pm he insisted we go out. While we were out he deliberately started talking to a much younger woman, introduced himself to her, claimed he got her Instagram and then repeatedly talked about how he was meeting her for dinner the next day. His argument was that if I was going for lunch with strange men the next day, then why couldn't he meet up with a new person too? Even though it was not the same at all, obviously. The young woman must have been about 20 and we are both in our 40's so it just felt really weird and "off".

The argument continued after we got back to his for most of the night and I got very little sleep. The next morning I had to get an extremely expensive Uber to make sure I did not let my daughter down and miss the lunch. He had said not to come back to his after lunch but then called me when I was in the Uber and asked me to come back to his after all.

The lunch itself was lovely. Afterwards, I travelled back to his. However, when I arrived we had another argument. During it, he picked up my bags and threw them across the room in anger, they went everywhere as he threw them so hard.

He later continued to use the lunch as an example of me not caring about him enough and prioritising other people over our relationship, and how I like "strange men".

From my point of view, I attended an important family event for a few hours and still made the effort to return afterwards. From his point of view, I had disrespected him and chosen other people over him.

When I told him how much the Uber cost he took offence because I have never gotten an Uber to his even if I am running late; he said he didn't realise I have money in this way.

When I went back to his after the lunch I had to get a standing room only train in the middle of the heatwave; I don't like public transport at the best of times and he kept asking when I arrived what did I want to do; meet his friends in the pub or go straight to his. I said I don't care and was almost in tears as I was finding the journey so stressful. I didn't realise but he had me on loud speaker so all his friends heard me when I said "I don't care" and now he's saying his friends all think I am horrible and rude to him. When it was taken out of context and they didn't know we had been arguing all night and that he'd got a much younger woman's contact details the night before.

Am I missing something or was he overreacting?

OP posts:
DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 01/06/2026 14:42

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:31

I think this is why I posted; I do know on some level this isn't normal or acceptable but due to the way my friends dislike him and siblings as well, we have ended up in a weird little cocoon where it is just the two of us and I am starting to forget what normal is like.

I think keeping me awake for so long, arguing over the same thing was especially awful as I was then tired the next day and as such I was tired before I went to the meal (and ended up getting a very expensive Uber to arrive on time).

Hi OP
I am a detective working in domestic abuse.

The behaviour you describe is very abusive and if you wanted to report this there are offences we could be looking at.

I urge you to leave this man before you are married; it will absolutely escalate and he will probably be physical with you.

He is already trying to isolate you from your friends and family, and humiliate and belittle you both privately and publicly.

I hope you are safe, and that you could leave him as soon as possible.

He is, in my professional opinion, a thundercunt.

Megifer · 01/06/2026 14:43

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Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:43

AmpleHazelSheep · 01/06/2026 14:33

OP, I was engaged to an abusive person as was my cousin. For all the people asking why you’re with him, they don’t realise that they’re not like this to begin with! They are charming and sweet and helpful, and so slowly build up these behaviours bit by bit. The whole time they make you blame yourself and think that you are the one at fault and the reason for their behaviour. I have been there myself and I know it’s not easy.

I was also distanced from my family/friends and part of the reason I stayed so long was that I felt I should try and make it work and I was embarrassed to end an engagement after we’d announced it, I had the ring etc. I felt like I’d failed at the relationship, and as someone who is a feminist, successful, intelligent, independent etc I didn’t think it would happen to me. For me it was a moment like this where I realised something wasn’t right, and it was only looking back that I realised how much behaviour was abnormal/abusive that I’d just accepted at the time.

It is really difficult to accept that someone you love is abusive, especially as it can affect your perception of yourself so much. I really didn’t want to feel like a victim. But this behaviour will only get worse and more controlling after you are married and it gets much harder to leave. Better to go now before you get legally entangled. I am five years on and thriving - you don’t realise how much smaller these people make you. Best of luck

This is so helpful you have put into words what I am thinking really.
Yes he has made me feel at fault for stuff gradually over time, and yes he was not a all like this to begin with, he was very nice and normal. But he has got more and more critical as time has gone on. Of course I never thought that I could end up in this sort of a situation.

OP posts:
TheFormidableMrsC · 01/06/2026 14:43

God almighty. This man is a fucking nasty piece of work, abusive, controlling and violent. Get rid of him. What a vile creature.

MSDOUBTFIRE · 01/06/2026 14:43

Sometimes I am left speechless by some of these posts that allow people to let others treat them so despicably, why would anyone want to be in a relationship with someone like this.

tartyflette · 01/06/2026 14:45

Jesus wept. You have to ask???
Your fiancé sounds horrible, really horrible. If this is in any way normal for him what on earth do you see in him? He is jealous and controlling, his treatment of you is so dreadful, it sounds as if he doesn’t even like you very much.
The fact that he asked another woman for her number means very little, (other than as a further example of his shitty behaviour) — she probably had the measure of him and transposed a couple of the digits. I would have.
Please, please do leave him, it won’t get any better. Rather the reverse.

SpringSunshines · 01/06/2026 14:45

fiancé???

Are you sure you he is going to be a positive life partner?

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 01/06/2026 14:45

What do you want out of this thread?

Validation he was wrong but you will stay with him anyway?

Validation he was wrong, you need to leave bit dont know how?

For others to take his side so his behaviour can be justified cos you feel really scared and unsure but dont like the feeling and want to get back to normal?

OceanSafari · 01/06/2026 14:45

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 13:35

That is what I said to him, that my DD is my priority and I am not his mother, I'm her mother and that was why he threw my stuff across the room... He has a complicated relationship with his mother I think it hit a nerve.

No, he threw your stuff across the room because you were not doing what he wanted you to do. He is controlling and emotionally abusive, the physical aggression he has shown towards your possessions will likely escalate to your person at some point. You deserve so much better than this.

ilovemybluesharpie · 01/06/2026 14:46

As PP have already said, do a Clare's Law request, but even without that, you need to walk away from this relationship. He is jealous and controlling and distancing you from your friends and family.

BestZebbie · 01/06/2026 14:46

What would your daughter say if you showed her your OP? (I think she would be horrified and tell you to get out).

Donteatmychips · 01/06/2026 14:46

@Sunglasses1979 you don’t need anyone else to advise you to leave this man - in your heart you know you have to. Just be wise to do it safely. This is a wonderful community for those in need so be sure to come back for handholds and support. Just make sure you LTB!!

Witchonenowbob · 01/06/2026 14:46

He is a total cunt ……. Run! Fast!!

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:50

Megifer · 01/06/2026 14:41

Has this thread helped you realise this is in no way remotely close to normal?

Yes absolutely. I think writing down what has happened that weekend and the thing with the Airbnb too has helped me see clearly.

I was hesitant to post as the whole thing sounds so crazy and ridiculous, of course he was being unreasonable, and so on. Took me a good few days to get round to posting because of the element of shame / embarrassment and I knew people would be thinking I am a total fool for letting it get to this stage.

OP posts:
Tabarnak · 01/06/2026 14:50

@Sunglasses1979 Your posts actually make upsetting reading.

I can't bear to think of him humiliating you like that in the bar as a punishment, and putting your distress on speaker for his friends. It is like something from the Handmaid's Tale.

You can't live like this.

HIs behaviour this weekend is an escalation of his previous abusive behaviour. It will keep escalating.

He is (Or, I hope, was) your fiance. Your dd is a future member of his family. If he cared at all about you, about her, he would have said he was sorry to miss a day spent with you but have a great time meeting her Bf's family. That would be the behaviour of a normal man. Even a not-especially-impressive normal man.

You can't live like this.

Please rescue yourself before he destroys you.

Have you got close friends or family who will support you?

FrogOfFrogHall · 01/06/2026 14:51

You've done nothing wrong. Your dd has done nothing wrong. He is abusive and is trying to isolate you from friends and family so he can become more abusive and potentially violent. There is no hope of a healthy relationship here, you need to end it so you can be free to live a happy life. Sorry this sounds harsh, it must be hard to hear but so important that you do hear it!

Trotula · 01/06/2026 14:51

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 13:01

He has always had a bit of a temper but he has never thrown my things before. He has done stuff like throwing presents he has bought me away. Or tearing up cards / letters I have written.
He has never gone out with me to get a younger woman's number before.

My first thought on reading your original post was that by the time I reached the end he would be an ex fiancé. When I read this it’s obvious what he is like.

You really don’t need to think about this, he’s abusive and controlling, you will be twisting yourself into a pretzel in no time at all. He will get worse.

This surely is the end!

Quincy2381 · 01/06/2026 14:51

Please speak to Women’s Aid or your local Domestic Abuse service. They will support you in making a plan to leave this abusive relationship. The longer you stay, the harder it gets to leave as they grind you down. Nothing about what you have said has painted him in any sort of Saintly light. He’s a horrible man.

Heyheyitsanotherday · 01/06/2026 14:51

surely he is now your ex??? What a horrible man

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:52

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I don't know what this means.

OP posts:
Megifer · 01/06/2026 14:52

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:50

Yes absolutely. I think writing down what has happened that weekend and the thing with the Airbnb too has helped me see clearly.

I was hesitant to post as the whole thing sounds so crazy and ridiculous, of course he was being unreasonable, and so on. Took me a good few days to get round to posting because of the element of shame / embarrassment and I knew people would be thinking I am a total fool for letting it get to this stage.

Well you can bin him off now and move on. You owe him nothing so could even do it via text which will be much safer than in person.

Loungingbutnotforlong · 01/06/2026 14:54

He is horrendously abusive. You are worth so much more. Please leave him. Your DD (even as an adult) will have much worse struggles with her mental health if she sees what this arsehole is doing to you. Bin him off

MeAndMyGhost · 01/06/2026 14:55

Girl.. come on.

Nothing about this is normal in a healthy, loving and respectful relationship.

Megifer · 01/06/2026 14:56

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 14:52

I don't know what this means.

Theres been a couple of threads recently where the partner has bought a weird piece of furniture as an apology for being a horrible person. Possibly some TikTok thing? "Buy your woman a chair to show her you love her". Really bizarre!

TruJay · 01/06/2026 14:57

You know this whole situation is madness, you’re being treated terribly, being isolated from family and friends and I’d bet money that when you’re successfully isolated it won’t be just your bags being thrown around! Get out now!

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