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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:
Velumental · 01/06/2026 20:18

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.

Here's a question, not why should you leave but why would you stay?

What's the point of him?

Sleepynurse · 01/06/2026 20:18

I sometimes think people are too quick to say LTB on this site, but hell girl this one needs to go straight in the bin!

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 01/06/2026 20:19

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 20:12

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.

Are you actually listening to yourself?? 'At some point OP becomes the issue'? Nice bit of victim blaming there 🙄

Just because OP isn't saying what you want to hear doesn't make her an 'issue'.

Think before you post!

blenny23 · 01/06/2026 20:19

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?

“When people show you who they are, believe them.”

This man is not a safe person. You need to leave him. Things will get worse.

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/06/2026 20:22

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.

So it's OK to throw objects around, argue with your partner all night so she can't sleep and try to prevent her from meeting her daughter's partner and his parent because you are Muslim? OK then.

What utter horseshit.

NeededANameChangeAnyway · 01/06/2026 20:22

Please listen to everyone here. This man is horrible and is treating you appallingly and it is only going to get worse. Just leave. Go somewhere safe, block his number for a day or so to gather your thoughts and make a plan with someone you trust. If safe, go and get any of your stuff, if it's not safe...it's only stuff!! Better you are safe than you have things which are easily replaced.

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 01/06/2026 20:23

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 the actual fuck have I just read??

I've read some shite on here but this takes the shite covered biscuit.

CanIjustAskPrettyPlease · 01/06/2026 20:26

@Sunglasses1979 ....so after reading all the advice and being able to relate to the experiences of others with abusive partners.... what are you going to do?

Sunflower1650 · 01/06/2026 20:26

Run for the hills.

tierdytierd · 01/06/2026 20:26

Walking red flag…run don’t walk… away that is.
dont waste a second longer with this angry horrid man. He has shouted until you cried, left you sleep deprived and threw your belongings because he can’t control his temper. He has shown just a slither of who he is.
Do yourself a HUGE favour and believe him.

He is a controlling, jealous, petulant, angry & selfish. based on those things alone that pops him in the abusive category.
It will quite literally get worse. He’ll keep pushing you adding more vile behaviour just to see how far he can break you down until you don’t know which way is up.
get rid, get some therapy to figure out why you’ve allowed yourself to even question whether this is normal behaviour and build your self esteem back up.
concentrate on YOU and your lovely daughter who is forging a lovely life (thanks to your support) & show her exactly what not to stand for from any man (or infact any body!) x

k1233 · 01/06/2026 20:31

@Sunglasses1979 your family, who love you, don't like him.

Your friends, who love you, don't like him.

If you were with a nice person, who treated you well, they would be ecstatic. They want what is best for you and for you to be happy.

Yes, noone is perfect. But imperfection doesn't equal abusive. And your fiance is abusive for all the reasons others have been saying. If you leave him, your friends and family will rally around you and support you.

In fututre relationships keep an eye out for the abusers tricks. They separate you from friends and family. They will be extremely attentive, as long as you are doing and behaving as they want. They may call you daily, just to say hello. They will use language like "I don't want to be like this, you are making me crazy" or "you made me do this". They will throw things, hit walls etc They will engage in the endless arguing until you admit fault just to make it stop. They will gradually erode your boundaries until you don't recognise yourself any more.

Your friends love you. Your family loves you. Please listen to their views on this man.

Bearness · 01/06/2026 20:35

Does this man have access to your property? Please make sure you either get a key back (if it’s safe to) or get the locks changed before you end this (and I hope you will).

Tell friends/family of your plans to end things. Have someone there with you when you do and sadly, expect things to be shitty for a while and watch your back. A man this abusive won’t expect to be dumped as he’ll think he controls you. Block contact over all social accounts.

Be prepared for him to beg you to stay and almost love bomb you before potentially being aggressive. Don’t fall for his shit!

Sending love and solidarity to you!

RedRock41 · 01/06/2026 20:37

He’s shown you who he is OP. Shown you what your future will be. Objectively you’d be nuts to marry him but everyone has a brain until they fall in love. No doubt you’ll feel daft, make excuses and kiss/make up, time and again, it’ll be a cycle, think the stat is it takes 12 years to leave this kinda dynamic so I feel for all the years/time you are no doubt about to waste, but to answer your Q, YANBU.

mathanxiety · 01/06/2026 20:37

You need to dump this sad, sorry excuse for a man.

None of his behaviour was in any was reasonable.

It was all pure abuse and you deserve far better.

Please don't waste another day on him.

Astra53 · 01/06/2026 20:39

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. Get rid before it's too late. A normal reaction would be for him to say it's fine, do you need a lift or picking up, not all this childish shit.

UggyPow · 01/06/2026 20:39

I no experience of anything like this however I hope OP listens to all your histories & extracts herself quickly & safely from this man.
I do think you need to be careful OP as he is not going to want his plans for your future derailed - have you considered a Claire's law check?

SocialistMummy · 01/06/2026 20:40

Of course I'm not saying it's OK that he's abusive!

I'm just saying that some of the arguments they have might be due to misunderstandings on both people's part (including him) because he is a Muslim.

I don't think the relationship is salvageable but that doesn't mean all Muslim men are like this or all relationships with one Muslim and one non-Muslim end up this way.

I get the impression the brilliant OP isn't as judgemental against Muslims as some of the people on this thread.

Velumental · 01/06/2026 20:40

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's islamaphobic to suggest it's normal for Muslim men to behave like this. Throwing things round. Trapping her in the home, disrupting her sleep.

This isn't culture it's abuse. It's not in any way racist tor excuse to stand for abuse however someone dresses it up as culture or religion

RedRock41 · 01/06/2026 20:40

blenny23 · 01/06/2026 20:19

“When people show you who they are, believe them.”

This man is not a safe person. You need to leave him. Things will get worse.

Agreed, not to mention the old adage that no man is worth your tears because if he was he wouldn’t make you cry in the first place…

Bearness · 01/06/2026 20:41

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.

Are you actually kidding me! That’s a shocking thing to say!

All the things she is saying could not ever “appear to be abusive”. They are abusive, plain and simple. Islam is a peaceful religion. Nobody should use their faith as a reason to abuse a woman.

Janicchoplin · 01/06/2026 20:42

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?

You are asking mumset. Something about this doesn't feel right or you wouldn't be asking conplete strangers.

I am unsure if your doubting your gut instinct in the hopes your wrong.

You are not wrong. Keep trusting that gut instinct before your trying to secretly save money to get out.

RedRock41 · 01/06/2026 20:43

Astra53 · 01/06/2026 20:39

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. Get rid before it's too late. A normal reaction would be for him to say it's fine, do you need a lift or picking up, not all this childish shit.

Yup… you tell him Sunday and he goes (alternate universe) awe that’s no problem at all, what a big day for DD, after all she’s been through… do you need a lift? It’s ok if you need a rest after or you’re more than welcome to come to mines… chuffed for her, can’t wait to hear how it goes… I can make us dinner for later or just chill the wine etc

BurnoutGP · 01/06/2026 20:45

Are you genuinely asking you know this is abusive surely?

Hollycoco · 01/06/2026 20:47

SocialistMummy · 01/06/2026 20:40

Of course I'm not saying it's OK that he's abusive!

I'm just saying that some of the arguments they have might be due to misunderstandings on both people's part (including him) because he is a Muslim.

I don't think the relationship is salvageable but that doesn't mean all Muslim men are like this or all relationships with one Muslim and one non-Muslim end up this way.

I get the impression the brilliant OP isn't as judgemental against Muslims as some of the people on this thread.

I haven’t seen one person write anything even slightly Islamophobic apart from you!
You read about an abusive man and then questioned whether he was a Muslim. And then said that some of his abusive behaviour could be a misunderstanding due to his religion. That’s quite racist in my opinion.

Every other person on the thread has said that he is an abusive man and that it makes absolutely no difference what his race or religion is.

Hazel257 · 01/06/2026 20:51

Leave him. He's pathetic and abusive.

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