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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

He's lying, isn't he?

58 replies

LovesPeace · 24/04/2012 08:57

To give you a potted history, partner of 12 years, has been supportive and kind for most of it, but has a secretive side.
Have struggled a bit in the last few years - sick pets which needed lots of care, my father died last spring, both working long hours (no kids).
I've 'felt' that things have changed in last six months - he doesn't look me in the eye, answers me in teenager like grunts (he's late 30's and I'm 5yrs older). I've told him that I feel 'lonely' - but I also feel that he's been engineering arguments - no matter what I do I can't win, and get grumped at and told I need to 'see someone'.
Life should have been easier this past few months as our commitments have reduced, but it has been worse. :( I have felt he is hiding something from me - and looked at his computer where I find incriminating pictures.
I challenge him - he says it is nothing, it is over, it was way back in Jan when we were under a lot of stress, he wants to be with me, he does love me, but he does not seem that bothered. When I push him, he threatens to leave, I ask him not to - I want to sort things out and know what is going on!
We are now alternating between behaving like sweet lovers (while I secretly call him names in my head because I am so angry but not allowed to express it) and rowing, because I am apparently 'unreasonable'.
He was in the living room this morning, and I thought to myself 'if I go down, he will stop what he is doing and get up' and sure enough he had been on his mobile, jumped up and said he had to go to work.
I asked to see his text messages (first time ever) and he scowled 'no' then barged past me to go to work. He shouts that he is 'sick of this' and storms out.
Am I wrong to think his refusal to show me text messages means he is still having an affair with this work colleague?
Sorry...I don't trust my own judgement any more!

OP posts:
LovesPeace · 24/04/2012 16:34

:(
Not sure what you mean by 'knows which buttons to press to get a certain type of reaction from me'. If I get angry, then I'm a cow who starts fights, if I cry I am depressed/anxious (delete as appropriate) and 'need help'. If I say to him 'shall I do A or B, which would you prefer' he will still rage at me because C or D will suddenly be on the table, and again it's all my fault.
If I try to talk to him calmly to sort things out he becomes passive aggressive, or even overtly aggressive til I shut up 'not everyone wants to talk about things' he says.

He only wants to do what he wants to do, on his terms or he has a tantrum. It is very controlling behaviour, I think, now I am starting to get some perspective on him (writing this thread has been an eye-opener for me).

He tries to control me by text. If I send a text, he will ignore me for hours 'because he's busy at work'. If he sends me a text, I have to reply instantly or he chases me. Apparently it is ok, because he is worried about me; I may have self harmed, so it's all done in a caring way. (I have no history of ever self-harming, nor do I want to).

Regarding the bills, he has always been bad tempered when I ask him to pay them. Early on in the relationship he wailed 'why do you always have to organise the bills, why can't I do it?' and so I agreed.
Two months later, the red letters/warnings came through and he'd spent the money he should have used to pay them, so the bills reverted to me. But that doesn't stop him behaving like a child, and I have to praise him for paying them 'I was good last time, wasn't I?' :(
I am living with a child in a man's body. Gah.

OP posts:
Proudnscary · 24/04/2012 17:10

Are there any redeeming features?

My God, love, you will feel fanfuckingtastic when you are free of this dreadful, oppressive and yes, I'm gonna say it, abusive relationship.

Keep posting though. Get it all out!

arthriticfingers · 24/04/2012 18:03

I am living with a child in a man's body.
No, LovesPeace, you are living with a f*ing twat.
Been there, and handed over the bills, and got them back - now just think that all tossers should just disappear down a dark hole forever and never be heard of or from (especially from) ever again.

kingbeat23 · 24/04/2012 20:21

lovespeace that's exactly the type of behaviour I mean. He knows that you will either try not to force an issue so that it doesn't cause an argument, to sulk until you give in to him and his odd demands, to cut off emotion to you so that you feel like you are in some way to blame for his shitty behaviour. This is what I mean by pressing the right buttons to get a reaction from you.

It's rubbish when you finally come out of the fog and find yourself living with a controlling idiot but what is better is finally coming out of that mist, picking up your life and moving on with it.

You are doing the right thing, as hard as it will be, it will all work out for the better in the end.

Hope things go ok for you tonight and that it's not too fraught. Stick to your guns, get HIM to go not you, it's not you that has had a physical affair with one woman and an emotional with another. He might try and paint a picture that you have "if you hadn't of been like a/b/c/ then i wouldn't of done it!" but in reality you know this isn't true.

We're all here to stand by you and give out helpful advice!

Babylon1 · 25/04/2012 16:08

Just wondering how things went lSt night and how they're looking now. Hope you're ok OP xx

LovesPeace · 28/04/2012 18:03

Just to let you all know what happened.
I told him that same night that I was leaving him.

I am really excited to get my own life back, so full of ideas for the future, for work, friends, hobbies etc.

I keep waiting for the twinge of sadness to hit, but all I feel is relief, as though the burden of responsibility has been lifted.
He is excited at the prospect of having sex with people who behave like enthusiastic porn stars, lol. Not sure if he'll find any. Don't care either way. :)
He has also been talking about looking for a job in MY home area (miles and miles away) - and a part of me thinks he plans to follow me and enjoy our relationship but with the 'friend' moniker, whilst he sleeps with all the hot women throwing themselves at him. This will not happen.

So, thank you for your support - you allowed me to believe my outrage was not unreasonable, and to see him more objectively.

I'm not going to post anymore, as we are trying to split amicably and I don't want him to read this and jeopardise it.

LovesPeace x

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 29/04/2012 18:30

well done to you

I just wanted to say that in case you are still watching this thead x

ImperialBlether · 29/04/2012 19:54

Oh god what a complete wanker.

If you're reading this, ex-boyfriend of the OP, you are a complete and utter tosser.

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