Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

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:
YorksMa · 01/06/2026 16:41

It's hard to imagine what you must have gone through in your life, OP, that you can put up with this abusive behaviour, and even write it down, and not see it for what it is. What do you think a man would do if the roles were reversed? You'd expect him to leave, right? Of course he would - and so should you. Do it while you can because this ends up with you in the hospital, or worse, or trapped as a prisoner in your own home. Every day on mumsnet there is a woman asking if abhorrently abusive behaviour is ok. Please, please, please leave while you can.

sesquipedalian · 01/06/2026 16:42

OP, if your DD came to you with what you have said in your post, what would you say to her? I doubt you’d be welcoming with open arms a boyfriend who tried to control her, belittled her, threw her stuff around and made her cry. So why are you putting up with it for yourself?

Crikeyalmighty · 01/06/2026 16:42

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 15:38

Yes it is starting to feel very claustrophobic in that it is just us most of the time.
Interesting you say about your ex picking you up after nights out as this is what he has offered too, and he always wants a phonecall before bedtime too. Once when I was surprised by a night out when I was meant to be stayign in he sounded like he was annoyed but was trying to hide it.

I’ve noticed with men like this they often don’t have many close friends or separate interests either - ‘you ‘ become their interest - in my case the guy had been dumped 8 weeks before a wedding the year before , at the time I was sympathetic , but in hindsight I saw why - you remember that case with the lovely authoress who ended up at the bottom of a well - I would bet your bottom dollar he started off very ‘just you and me’ - it is very flattering initially , especially if you hadn’t experienced it before ( I hadn’t really, my first husband was too much the other way) - thing is I’m an intelligent woman and at that time was pretty good looking too, I rushed into it far too quickly feeling a bit at sixes and seven after divorce - luckily you don’t live together - so if I was you I would take stock of what you have at his home, ( remove if you can) what things you have connected -(if anything ) and simply end it from a distance - and block -

Mapletree1985 · 01/06/2026 16:43

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?

Of course he was massively over-reacting, acting like lunatic to alarm and intimidate you. What's wrong with you? This is not normal behavior. Only marry him if you want the rest of your life to be like this.

maturemummy · 01/06/2026 16:46

He is vile & potentially dangerous. You don’t need a man like this in your life. Could you imagine how he may behave towards any future grandchildren you might one day have? Please walk away.

Kokonimater · 01/06/2026 16:50

This is narcissistic behaviour and he’s beginning cohersive control.
This is a dangerous relationship for you emotionally, mentally and potentially physically. Please begin to extricate yourself and be prepared for him to react badly. It will make him furious that he can’t control you. SERIOUSLY end this

MaryBennetThe2nd · 01/06/2026 16:51

Your life will be a misery with this man.

ThePM · 01/06/2026 16:52

Your OP asks did he overreact - the problem is that you are massively under reacting to his abuse.

I know what it’s like, you get into a dynamic where you mollify him, and he gets his own way. If you say No he rapidly escalates until you back down.

You must leave him. This disgusting shit bag abuser.

LuckyCharmz · 01/06/2026 16:53

When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
How he was in the beginning wasn’t real, how he is now is who he really is.
if you can’t see that, please get some help; therapy, the freedom programme, find your self esteem and boundaries again. Good luck.

outerspacepotato · 01/06/2026 16:54

He's abusive.

*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.

Your friends and family see he's abusive to you, that's why they don't like him. He's isolating you from your friends and family. He'll isolate you from anyone who sees him for what he is. He doesn't want you to have a support system. He thinks he should come ahead of your kid.

Break up, do the Freedom Program, and stay single until you can recognize red flags from abusive men and keep them out of your life.

FraZles · 01/06/2026 16:56

Oh god OP.

I agree with others, please bin him off. He is a nutter and this relationship will cause you to crumble.

DollyPartonsLeftnip · 01/06/2026 16:57

Honestly @Sunglasses1979 ,Throw the whole man in the bin. He doesn't give you any respect whatsoever. You are worth sooo much more than that. Huge hugs from me.

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 16:59

Thing is op, you should already have ended this, and you don’t appear to be doing that, it’s like you know you’re being abused, you know he’s starting to isolate you, you know it’s coercive control. But will you end it? Your family and friends can see it. Everyone on here can see it. You say you can see it, but still you are not saying I ended it.

MrsShawnHatosy · 01/06/2026 17:00

Why are you with this abusive man child? Please please do not marry him or have children with him.

WearyAuldWumman · 01/06/2026 17:00

Break up. He's dangerous.

flippertygibbet4 · 01/06/2026 17:04

This is not how someone treats the person they love. Please, please do not marry this man. He has shown you who he is. Believe him. You deserve so much better. Please take this seriously. His behaviour is appalling. Would you treat anyone like this, let alone someone you love??? Please call it off xxx

ExOptimist · 01/06/2026 17:06

A partner should enhance your life in every way. Ask yourself what is he bringing to your life which makes it better than if you were on your own. If you're honest with yourself the answer looks likely to be nothing.

Are you really that desperate for a man, any man?
Do you want to live the rest of your life like this? Would your younger self have imagined you'd be with a man who made you feel like this?
Take a deep breath, get rid of him, and experience freedom.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 01/06/2026 17:07

Please read this thread slowly and digest it. Please contact a good friend(s) and family who will have your back. Please end this relationship and seek support. I would file a Clare's law request and speak to the DV team at the police when you do.

Under no circumstances marry this man.

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 17:08

And why do you ignore what your friends and family are telling you , just allowed him to isolate you more and more. Now he’s trying to do it with your own child. He even humiliates you in front of his friends, god knows what he tells them about you.

are you not embarassed by them saying about how ooorly he treats you and you just allow it

you’re in there apologising to him,following him like a pet so he can humiliate you in public in front of younger women. And still you stay.

FaceIt · 01/06/2026 17:09

He’s not wired up correctly. You must know that by now.

CosyDenimShark · 01/06/2026 17:09

I honestly would not waste another second on this controlling, abusive prick. Red flags everywhere. You deserve so much better OP, please leave him and live your life. Sending hugs.

1976a · 01/06/2026 17:10

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 12:58

Didn't realise how long my post was 🫠

I didn't feel very respected at all, it was horrible going out so late to what is essentially a student bar just to watch him show me how easily he can pick up other, much younger, women. I wanted the ground to swallow me up.

I was with a cunt like this in my twenties for 6 years. Yiu become immune to the abuse which is why you are asking aibu on here. I’m so sorry this cunt has had a hold on you, has you questioning your sanity- it’s horrible. I binned the bastard 3 weeks before a huge wedding and I never looked back. Darling, please do the same. Get your stuff together, everything. Then quietly leave as he sounds unhinged and violent. When I once left he slit his wrists in front of me. That was my fault apparently! Please leave, you deserve the world. I loved being single and not second guessing myself until I met a lovely, caring, respectful man. Still married 17 years later x

1976a · 01/06/2026 17:10

Oh and please keep us updated, I’m genuinely concerned about you x

AnneElliott · 01/06/2026 17:11

Agrée with everyone else - bin him off!

allwillbe · 01/06/2026 17:11

I read this post and despair that you are even asking this question. How is your life better with him in it if this is what he does when annoyed with you

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.
Swipe left for the next trending thread