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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:
VeganStar · 01/06/2026 19:56

Well op have you made up your mind yet. You’re answering other PPs when they’re relating their own terrible experiences to you by agreeing with them and then telling them about times similar things happened to you but you don’t appear to have come to any decision wether or not you’re going to leave him.
People are warning you that it’s going to get worse the longer you’re with this abusive, narcissistic, selfish psychopath yet it doesn’t seem to be sinking in.
So what if he’s from another culture. That doesn’t give him the right to treat you the way he is.
Ive never been in an abusive relationship thank goodness. All my relationship partners have been extremely loving, but if my relationship matched up with what other people were telling me about them then I’d get out as quickly as possible.
Please OP make up your mind and get out now because if you don’t and end up being completely terrorised or worse then you’ll only have yourself to blame. You have been warned numerous times on this post alone. For you own safety and possibly that of your daughter it’s time to end it. PLEASE

blubberyboo · 01/06/2026 19:59

Complete abuser

He is trying to control you with his tantrums

Get out get out get out!!!

SocialistMummy · 01/06/2026 19:59

YorksMa · 01/06/2026 19:52

It doesn't matter if he's from Mars. His behaviour stinks. The fact that everyone on here agreed he was abusive BEFORE Op mentioned he's from another culture demonstrates it's the behaviour, not the religion or skin colour, that we're judging.

If he's Muslim then what might appear to be abusive could just be his culture / cultural misunderstandings that need to be discussed.

It does change things - it's potentially Islamophobic to pretend it doesn't.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 01/06/2026 20:00

Hollycoco · 01/06/2026 19:25

”I have been trying to persuade family and friends that he is not so bad, after all, for well over a year”

@Sunglasses1979 read your own words back to yourself. And then read it again a few times.

Firstly - do you want a life partner who you say yourself is “not so bad”? Or do you want a partner who is bloody lovely?

Secondly - your family and friends all think he is a terrible man. When several people are telling you the same thing, it’s time to listen. I’ll bet they will all be so relieved and thrilled for you if you ditch him.

This.

I have seldom read a post on here where there are so very many of the classic red flags for abusive behaviour.

You need to leave this relationship asap for your own sanity and safety.

NotAWurstToIt · 01/06/2026 20:02

It’s not part of the Muslim faith to throw things, shout at your partner, call them names or chat up other women in front of your partner. This isn’t a faith / culture problem, it’s he’s an absolute cock problem!

OriginalSkang · 01/06/2026 20:02

SocialistMummy · 01/06/2026 19:59

If he's Muslim then what might appear to be abusive could just be his culture / cultural misunderstandings that need to be discussed.

It does change things - it's potentially Islamophobic to pretend it doesn't.

It could be part of his culture to try to pick up other women in front of her?

TenTenTenAgain · 01/06/2026 20:02

@SocialistMummy nonsense. He's an abuser , that's all we need to know. My abuser behaved the same way and he was a white English man.

BlueMum16 · 01/06/2026 20:03

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 19:22

This hits home I do feel like I am losing myself and have lost myself a lot.
He has not made me choose between DD and him before but he has made me choose between him and my friends and siblings and when I have chosen friends he has made it very clear he is not happy and is still going on about this way on down the line. It is like he is keeping a tally in his head.

So what are you going to do about this situation?

Will you now make plans to split up or are you giving him more chances?

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 20:03

SocialistMummy · 01/06/2026 19:59

If he's Muslim then what might appear to be abusive could just be his culture / cultural misunderstandings that need to be discussed.

It does change things - it's potentially Islamophobic to pretend it doesn't.

What in earth are you talking about. There is nothing in the Muslim culture thay says you throw things, abuse, shout, isolate, and exert co ercive control, I’m non Muslim and even I know that.

Loley22 · 01/06/2026 20:04

I would absolutely do a Clares law request on this man.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 01/06/2026 20:05

I couldn't even read all of the op.😵‍💫
LEAVE THE BASTARD.
Sister, give your head a shake. 🤦‍♀️
Don't discuss it. Don't give it another chance. Don't think you have done anything wrong. Just. Bloody. Leave. And. Block.

THEDEACON · 01/06/2026 20:06

STOP just Stop seeing him Stop excusing his behaviour Stop showing your DD that its ok to be treated like this ITS NOT Stop ignoring the red flags listen to your friends and family!! LTB

IsawwhatIsaw · 01/06/2026 20:07

SocialistMummy · 01/06/2026 19:59

If he's Muslim then what might appear to be abusive could just be his culture / cultural misunderstandings that need to be discussed.

It does change things - it's potentially Islamophobic to pretend it doesn't.

Don’t excuse this appalling behaviour

flippertygibbet4 · 01/06/2026 20:07

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 19:04

He is from a culture which is a lot more conservative than here with regards to women's rights and has an extremely high level of women being killed every year and most of the time they get away with it.

It is like I am his possession especially since we got engaged.

Dump him immediately.

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 20:08

MMUmum · 01/06/2026 19:48

Is writing this all down making you see what is going on here? I hope so because this man is dangerous, you could end up seriously hurt at least, but we all know the extreme end of that. If you want to support your daughter then leave this man before she ends up motherless

Yes it has been very helpful. I have thought about writing about other incidents here but they didn't seem significant enough.

OP posts:
MaidOfSteel · 01/06/2026 20:10

‘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’

You hit the nail on the head there, OP. That’s exactly what he wants.

Well done for posting here. I imagine it must have taken some courage, but you already recognised something was wrong. I hope hearing from women who have been in similar situations has helped you find the resolve you’ll now need. Are you able to safely end this relationship?

GotTheBluePeterBadge · 01/06/2026 20:10

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.

What escalation must this man do before it's obvious to you that he's an abuser, OP? Does he need to start throwing YOU around?

Because he will. There is a slow but predictable escalation in his aggression.

He will not change. Don't waste another second on this man.

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 20:12

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 19:04

He is from a culture which is a lot more conservative than here with regards to women's rights and has an extremely high level of women being killed every year and most of the time they get away with it.

It is like I am his possession especially since we got engaged.

This is all so disturbing to read, and what’s even more disturbing is you still aren’t moving to end it.

st some point op, uou become the issue.

NotAWurstToIt · 01/06/2026 20:12

Sunglasses1979 · 01/06/2026 20:08

Yes it has been very helpful. I have thought about writing about other incidents here but they didn't seem significant enough.

If it was just one of these incidents that would be enough to leave - his behaviour is that bad. In addition, you can leave any relationship at any time for any reason - you don’t need to wait for things to get awful first.
Please end this relationship today OP - all these women telling you to and sharing their experiences, you know it’s the right thing to do.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 01/06/2026 20:12

Now I've read your post about you trying to convince your friends and family he's not a bad guy and that he keeps you from them. You're worried about your pride so you think you need to stay so you don't look stupid, like you were wrong and your friends and family are right ... God that's fucked up.
The only stupid thing is staying.
Pack. Your. Bags. Go. Now.
Tell your loves ones you finally woke up and thank them for their honesty and standing by you. Tell them he's a bastard and had you sucked in so much you almost lost yourself.

ChristmasRager · 01/06/2026 20:12

You need to run run run. I’m sorry to be so straight talking but he sounds like an absolute psychopath. An abusive arse!

PotatoLove · 01/06/2026 20:14

Get rid of this complete twatwaffle of a man.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 01/06/2026 20:15

I think you need this. Please contact them.

womensaid.org.uk

Velumental · 01/06/2026 20:17

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.

Why do you want this relationship?

Why would you marry this insecure, abusive piece of a**t?

You need some serious counselling for you to see that the issue isn't that he did or didn't give some woman his number, frankly who cares if he did? He's a useless piece of trash.

I'd literally laugh and leave the venue if someone treated me this way because I'd know beyond a doubt I wanted them out of my life.

SnoringLabradors · 01/06/2026 20:18

I went out with someone who was like this shortly after I got engaged. I broke it off and he cried and said how awful he was and I should never forgive him but it was because he had never felt a love like ours ….

I should of run and blocked

I didn’t

He alienated me from my friends. He had arguments with me for no reason and kept me up all night and then would take the next day off as holiday whereas I went into work. My hair fell out. He would go to pub and claim to have met younger women etc after each argument.

My advice would be to ensure you have all your things. Change your passwords on everything Mail him his engagement ring and say

We have different values and levels of respect. I value myself, my family and friends. You do not value me and therefore I am returning your ring and breaking off the relationship. I had a truly awful weekend with you and we both deserve happiness and a partner that we both want. I am not what you want and vice versa. I have no hard feelings and wish you the best.

Then block him. Ensure your locks are changed and report any further contact to the police.

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