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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think my partner is treating me badly and denying it?

48 replies

minnieminnie · 29/06/2026 16:21

I have zero idea if I’m losing my mind. My DP is a bit moody but I’ve never known this period time of him being moody. We live together and have done for 3 years. He has 2 children from a previous relationship.

I thought it was the heat, so didn’t say much about it. Didn’t initiate any contact, no physical affection, just generally shitty and snappy with him. Examples like, if I made his children dinner I’d given them the wrong plates (the ones we always use), and that you don’t eat potatoes with a fork. The kids then mimicked him and made me look stupid “silly Minnie doesn’t know how to eat potatoes”.

He recently told me he wanted to reduce his drinking and “not take the piss” as he’s out near enough every night and then goes to the pub after with his mates for around an hour. Sometimes this means I’m left with the kids alone, albeit they’re asleep. So I took his word for that, but on Friday he did his hobby and then went the pub… I pointed his out and he said “I don’t need your judgements, it’s the weekend”.

I tried to be nice to him all weekend, went to see him do his hobby all day on Saturday and bought the kids games they’d wanted. But he’s just been so so cold - not talking, one word answers, just moody.

I was paying our bills last night and he was muttering under his breath that I was texting and not watching the tv with him… what?

Also tmi but we usually have sex daily but haven’t for around a week now.

I asked him if anything was wrong but he said im paranoid, im creating a strange narrative in my head and im being very strange.

Today he came in with his kids to my home office and they all started playing there. I politely asked them to go downstairs til id finished. Dp smirked at me. I said “this is what i mean, what’s up?” And he told me to go to a doctor.

I’m so fed up with my life.

OP posts:
nomas · 29/06/2026 17:26

toomuchfaff · 29/06/2026 17:22

You might not, but OP might. That was the person I was trying to help. Not you.

Thanks for the comment.

I can provide the information but I cant understand it for you. If you need it more succinctly maybe put it into Google and get it to bullet it for you.

Be honest - did you read it all? Or just copy and paste?

Createausername1970 · 29/06/2026 17:32

OP.

I am not part of the LTB brigade. I think relationships are constantly evolving and need constant work to keep them fresh.

But I have to say in this instance, unless there is a massive drip feed on the way, I cannot see what benefit you get from this relationship.

Knock it on the head as soon as you can.

toomuchfaff · 29/06/2026 17:33

nomas · 29/06/2026 17:26

Be honest - did you read it all? Or just copy and paste?

No i read it, and I agreed with it. I took out the fluff, the un-neccesary wording. Then i posted what i thought was relevant to OP. In a far more detailed and cohesive wording than I could ever have presented alone.

AI is a tool, it gives us information, that we mush digest, and utilise as we see fit. Same as any other information source.

Thats why I posted it. Some people hate on it, but its just information.

Italiangreyhound · 29/06/2026 17:34

Yikes OP leave and find someone else better.

angelikacpickles · 29/06/2026 17:38

Kind of beside the point, but what on earth would you eat potatoes with if not a fork?

Teanbiscuits33 · 29/06/2026 17:40

Seems we’ve all been eating potatoes wrong 🤣

toomuchfaff · 29/06/2026 17:42

Teanbiscuits33 · 29/06/2026 17:40

Seems we’ve all been eating potatoes wrong 🤣

we should be scooping them up with our spoons or knives? maybe we should be spiking them with toothpicks? I've no idea...

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 29/06/2026 17:45

Naurrr · 29/06/2026 16:36

Dump him with no discussions and enjoy the blissful future that awaits you.
A boyfriend is for enhancing every aspect of your life, making it easier and fun. That's the entire point of a relationship.

A very neat summary.

Don't take any more crap from this man. He doesn't treat you well means he doesn't deserve you. His behaviour is very nasty.

He's complaining because you are busy paying the bills instead of watching TV - which I bet was football - with him. I hope you are not paying all of the bills, but going from the content of the rest of your post I wouldn't be surprised.
He brought the kids into your home office to annoy you, and probably so that he could go out whilst you look after them, despite the fact you were working.

Three years is a long time. Don't make it any longer.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 29/06/2026 17:47

Pinkflamingo10 · 29/06/2026 16:31

You are a nanny with a fanny
Leave

This. And a cleaner to boot i'd bet.

Run and let the fucker cook for his own kids and wash and dry their (and his) clothes.

Edit: also this in spades....Dump him with no discussions and enjoy the blissful future that awaits you

JLou08 · 29/06/2026 17:55

The sex could definitely be due to the heat, I know I CBA.
The rest just sounds like his true colours showing. 3 years is pretty early in the grand scheme of things. The honeymoon phase is fading and he is letting the guard down and showing who he is and/or you've gotten over that loved up haze and are noticing things you have previously been blind to.

Heretohelp1111 · 29/06/2026 17:58

I’d love to see his face if you found the courage to leave and he had to take responsibility for his own children and couldn’t go to the pub daily.

Arregaithel · 29/06/2026 18:04

Dear @minnieminnie

"I have zero idea if I’m losing my mind" you will do but only if you stay in this relationship.

Do look at @toomuchfaff's post, although it is AI generated, there are many salient and insightful points as to what is going on here.

He is manipulating and disrespecting you and encouraging the same from his children.

This is no way to live your life @minnieminnie, do you have friends or family that could offer support?

How brave do you feel?

Your whole future depends on your courage because it isn't going to get better, he needs to go!!

thepariscrimefiles · 29/06/2026 18:33

He's using you to look after his kids while he goes out drinking every night.

You say that you were paying the bills. Does he contribute or are you paying for everything? He has absolutely no respect for you. He is really rude and mean.

Did you move in with him or did he move in with you? If it's the latter, tell him to leave and change the locks. If you moved in with him, do you have someone that you can stay with while you look for somewhere else to live?

You'll feel so much better without this disrespectful twat in your life.

bittertwisted · 29/06/2026 19:04

DistanceCall · 29/06/2026 16:25

I think you know the answer already, but it's really hard to accept (I've been there myself). He doesn't love you, and he's a horrible person. Life is – truly – too short to waste on someone like him.

And of course you eat potatoes with a fork. Arsehole.

This
your OP has really resonated and made me cry
the usual ‘can’t do right for doing wrong approach’
moving the hoops to jump through higher and higher
changing the rules without telling you

run and do not believe any attempts to reel you back in, they will be lies

SunnyRedSnail · 29/06/2026 21:18

@minnieminnie I'm hoping you've packed and left??

I can't believe you look after his kids while he goes out drinking, and he encourages his kids to mock you then make out you're the one with the problem.

This relationship has done its time.

FinallyHere · 29/06/2026 22:03

Why, why oh why Why are you doing unpaid childcare for him. Why is he free to go out while you just pick up the slack.

why?

Laurmolonlabe · 29/06/2026 22:08

Being treated poorly by your family is not something your GP can help you with.
He should not be leaving you of sole charge of his kids regularly, even if they are asleep- you are being treated badly, and taken completely for granted and your DP is incouraging his kids to treat you as badly as he does.
I would run not walk in the other direction.

NotAnotherScarf · 29/06/2026 22:15

Op I don't have any kids. But I've got a fence that needs painting, a tree that needs cutting back. Can you come and do that when I go to the pub. I'll then put you down over nothing. And get some other people to join in. Then you can watch me do some sport....

No? Didn't think you'd put up with that shit from some random stranger...so why do you put up with it from the man who supposedly loves you?

shuffleofftobuffalo · 29/06/2026 23:15

This is what many men do when they don’t want you around anymore. They make it uncomfortable for you to stay rather than be honest and say it’s over.

Iamnotalemming · 30/06/2026 10:20

Why don't you eat potatoes with a fork? What is he using??

He sounds like an arse. Make an escape plan.

TheThirteenthFairy · 30/06/2026 10:21

His kids mimicked him. No. LTB and do it soon.

Elsvieta · 30/06/2026 11:51

I don't know if you love him, but he doesn't love you. You're just useful - cooking, childcare, sex. End it.

Wagyue · 30/06/2026 12:09

What are you doing with your life?

Nanny with a fanny being abused.
Pack a bag and go ANYWHERE, to family and friends.

Why have you so little self respect for yourself?

Leave him to his rude bratty children.

You are free childcare.
He can't control his lack of respect for you because he knows you have no self respect.

For goodness sake wake up and find some.

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