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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

Am I at fault or is OH being totally unreasonable??

97 replies

Dunnowotshappened · 28/05/2012 14:13

I need some advice please, I've got no one to talk to in rl & talking to myself only gets me so far! Sorry this might be long!

I have been with dp for 7.5yrs & we have 2 ds, 23 mo & 12 wo. Over the past few weeks dp has become increasingly distant & even hostile towards me. I have also noticed he has started to guard his phone & is on it a lot more. It comes across that he has little regard for me & while I have approached the subject to him, he has dismissed my attempts to talk.

There were various instances while I was pregnant. One in particular upsets me still. 2 days before I was due for my c-sec we arranged that after our son was in bed (we live with my parents) we would go to get him a present from the new baby. As I was putting ds1 to bed dp announced that he wanted to go to his mums (she lives 10 min drive away) as well, I wasn't up for this as being 38 weeks preg I just wanted to get home and go to bed. So I told him I didn't want to go & he said he didn't care that I didn't want to go, he was going so we argued & he refused to see my reasoning & kept saying he didn't care what I thought he's going to see his mum. So he went & I didn't. He came back with some toy car that I wouldn't have chosen for ds1 & while I was awake most of the night upset at the total lack of empathy from him he went to sleep.

Fast forward to one Sunday he was cleaning out the house rabbit on the top landing, I was below looking after the bunny who wasn't interested in me & just lied down. Both ds were napping & I had left my phone on with ds2. So asked dp if I could use his phone to have a look on the Internet (I had seen dp with his phone minutes earlier). He said he hasn't got it, I said I just saw u with it, he says I haven't got it, must be downstairs. So I go downstairs & it's not there. I tell him & he says I don't know where it is, its not on me, I haven't got any pockets. I l knew he was blatantly lying but why? Anyhow I caught him out, while I could hear he'd stopped 'cleaning' I quietly went up the stairs & there he was on the phone quickly stuffing it into his shorts. I confronted him, he said yeah so, I can do what I want with my phone, I'm using it. It's not that he was using his phone, it's that he lied to me. Still don't know why he lied.

Now 6 weeks & things between us are rapidly going down hill. He hardly talks to me, is still being secretive with his phone & taking it everywhere with him, not showing any interest in me or our boys - never asks about our day, no phone calls during the day (when he has always called before), no texts, coming home late, being snappy & angry towards me, not wanting to spend time with me & kids, he's hardly formed any relationship with our 12 week old son, which I find heartbreaking & he keeps putting off talking about our relationship. I dunno if I'm going nuts but somethings wrong & it all points to one thing to me!!!!

I know the 2 instances aren't that bigger deal but they were hurtful. I practically begged him one night to tell me what's wrong & he says he's not talking bullshit relationship stuff cos he's got nothing to say. Every weekend he wants to do nothing but at lunch time (b4 naptime) says he's going out for something i.e. Pet shop & he goes for hours. Today he left at 1 & came back at 4! Said he was driving around. The atmosphere is awful, my poor boy (2.5) has hardly seen his daddy & we often argue when he does.

Last night he refused to kiss our 12 wo son goodnight & I got really angry. So later I said why this change in your behaviour, he's adamant he's not changed. He responds with back chat you'd expect from a teenager. He said maybe you've changed. He went to walk off, I begged him to talk, tried to reason with him that we have to sort this our for our boys, but he carried on walking, saying he's not listening to this bullshit. I was so angry that I told him to go to his mums if he's not gonna talk to me. And he did, he left & didn't talk to me. I called him last night and he cancelled my call & again this morning. Am I imagining all this or is he being totally unreasonable to me??

Sorry for length but I need to hear other opinions.

OP posts:
Dunnowotshappened · 28/05/2012 14:16

Forgot to say I've name changed Smile

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 28/05/2012 14:20

For some reason (and that reason is blaring out of your OP) your H has checked out of you relationship. I think you know what it is most likely to be Sad

AnyFucker · 28/05/2012 14:20

your relationship

AnyFucker · 28/05/2012 14:21

The other thing to say is, what exactly might you be at fault for Confused

(you are not, btw)

CailinDana · 28/05/2012 14:22

I really hate to say this but it sounds like he's having an affair.

clam · 28/05/2012 14:25

Oh dear. Sad
Do you really need us to tell you?
And even if it's not another woman (unlikely), he's behaving abominably towards you.
So no, it's not you.

IvanaNap · 28/05/2012 14:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.

NotSureICanCarryOn · 28/05/2012 14:26

To your question in your title: No you are not at fault. And yes he is being unreasonable.
And yes he has checked out of your relationship and of his relationship with his dcs :(

NotSureICanCarryOn · 28/05/2012 14:27

Have you rung at his mum to try and speak to him?

Flimflammery · 28/05/2012 14:33

That is incredibly sad, that he is abandoning his children, at least emotionally. And being a complete shit to you when you have a tiny baby to look after. You know what the phone thing points to, don't you?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/05/2012 14:36

Am very sorry you're going through this.

Sounds like he has met someone else and he's now left the relationship physically as well as mentally. Blaming you for a change in his behaviour is typical of such men.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 28/05/2012 14:44

Whether he's having an affair or not remains to be seen but he's definitely being secretive, defensive, aggressive, unpleasant, immature and dishonest. Doubt any of it is your fault. He sounds like a nasty little shit.

squeakytoy · 28/05/2012 14:55

I am sorry to say all his behaviours points to either an affair, or certainly a relationship of some sorts that is inappropriate and he is deflecting the guilt and trying to force you into telling him to go, so that he can say "well she kicked me out, I didnt leave her".

I would be ringing his mother and having a long and frank chat with her, as after all, they are her grandchildren he is upsetting as well as you.

ENormaSnob · 28/05/2012 15:03

Definitely sounds like an affair IMO.

You and your boys deserve better.

MissFaversham · 28/05/2012 15:07

Sorry OP but he's lying his arse off.

Dunnowotshappened · 28/05/2012 16:05

Well you've all confirmed my worst fears, I don't know what to do, I want to break down but can't in front of my boys. I feel sick inside. The rapid demise of our relationship pointed to another woman. I asked him last night if there was someone else & he laughed, said he couldn't believe I thought he was seeing somebody else! But it's got to be the reason behind his awful behaviour. My poor boys. I want to ring him so badly. We have my 12 wo christening in a couple of weeks & my sons 2nd birthday. Can't believe he didn't pick up the phone. Sad

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 28/05/2012 16:08

I am so sorry x

clam · 28/05/2012 16:39

"He laughed and said he couldn't believe you thought he was seeing someone else?"
But he didn't actually deny it?

SadSad

VanderElsken · 28/05/2012 16:50

I am so sorry, OP. He is having an affair. you need to begin to let the cold, clammy awfulness of this sink in. It will take a long time to deal with properly. And then you need to present to him that you know.

The response of, "i can't believe you think that!" is so awfully obvious as to make me feel a bit ill. Even politicians are taught to answer this way if they are trying to avoid an incriminating question.

Cheaters never NEVER admit when confronted, not unless the evidence is right there in front of them and indisputable. And even then a sizeable proportion still carry on lying.

You know, OP. I'm so sorry but even without details, you know. You need to tell him that, over and over, without allowing him to change the subject or turn it back on you, until he breaks down and admits.
I wish you all the best.

Cuppatea2sugars · 28/05/2012 17:00

Grrrr men like this make me sick.

"I can't believe you think that??" I had this too. There were things that were not adding up and it didn't matter how much I questioned him, this was the classic response, usually followed by "I swear on my daughters life, honestly".

He too was lying but in e process of this, he made me completely question my sanity with stupid responses like that.

I'm sorry that you're going thru this :(

CogitoErgoSometimes · 28/05/2012 17:02

BTW... don't chase him down if he's not answering his phone. Don't give him the satisfaction of making you run around after him. It's a horrible thing to go through and I know how panicked and anxious you probably feel with so many unanswered questions. But do look after yourself and put you and your children #1 now. Whether he admits it or not, if/when he returns, ask him to leave so that you can take some time to decide what to do next.

clam · 28/05/2012 17:15

Hmm yes, in my experience swearing on someone's life is cast-iron proof they're lying through their teeth!

KatieScarlett2833 · 28/05/2012 17:17

Your post screams OW. What a bastard.

I am so, so sorry Sad

MadAboutHotChoc · 28/05/2012 17:27

So sorry - he is cheating.

He is being a real shit and you do not have to put up with this behaviour.

Like 99% of cheaters he will deny deny and deny. Or minimise (it was just a kiss, just the once etc).

If you need evidence that he is having an affair, then you will have to do some snooping - emails, laptop, internet history, deleted folders, bank and credit card statements etc.

Think back to see if you can remember him mentioning a colleague/female friend just before he became distant.

lowestpriority · 28/05/2012 18:21

God, I just find threads like this so sad.....and so pointless too! I mean, if a bloke wants out of a relationship, why the hell doesn't he just say so instead of pretending. It's so bloody pointless!
OP, so sorry for what you must be going through. He is a shit and one day you will be glad he is no longer in your life.