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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

Sofas and Slankets V Irregular choice shoes and Snogging - Dating Thread 23

999 replies

watchoutforthatsnail · 28/09/2012 10:14

:)

OP posts:
Yogagirl17 · 09/10/2012 10:46

But that's exactly the problem watch - everything has to be hard. If my email leaves any room for discussion/negotiation etc he will be a complete arse about it and it will prompt and endless stream of deliberately aggravating emails, ranging from "I have no idea what you're talking about I'm not aware that such a thing ever existed/was in my possession" to "Fine, if you can't be bothered to buy your own children such a simple necessity as a toothbrush then please feel free to drop their clothes off at my house in an old cardboard box and I will be the caring father/hero and see that all their needs are met cause you r clearly a heartless, useless mother ."

Yogagirl17 · 09/10/2012 10:54

Oh, and then he will sign it, "Have a lovely day"

watchoutforthatsnail · 09/10/2012 10:56

ive been there :)

You just detach - dont rise and repeat what you have said.

You arent being unreasonable, keep the emails, including the one you have sent - if things end up in court, or mediation or somethng, then you have those to show its not you.

if he says ' fine - you dont care as a mother' or whatever - you just reply and say that thats great - thanks for letting you know, and you will no longer be providing the children with x, x and x when he is spending time with him.

Just dont bite. pretend its a business transaction with a 3 year old. whos in the middle of a tantrum.

You can be in control here - you just have to chose to be.

If he persists with the agression/ abuse/ being difficult, dont be afraid to tell him, via email, that this is not co parenting in your childrens best insterests, and that its abusive to you and harrassement, and that it is not acceptable, and should he keep it up you will be seeking legal advice.

You have to stand firm, show him you arent taking the shit, dont get drawn in and dont budge.

Ive been seperated for 4 years, i was back at the solicitors this summer and ex husband got all difficult again - a slow increase of arse behaviour, climaxing in a door step argument at my mothers where he told them if i ever disagreed with him he will always shout me down and that he will hate me till he dies. 6 hours arguing later - and a trip and aletter from the solicitors from me, i asked him to meet and come up with some plan to move forward as it was not acceptable and could not go on for the bext 12 or so years. Things are currently fab, im not naieve enough to think it will lastforever, but i needed to make a stand ( againn) to show him i wasnt going to be walked over and take it.
You can do it too..

OP posts:
OhWesternWind · 09/10/2012 10:57

Yoga - never mind what he writes back. You write your e-mail then don't reply/rise to anything else. It is all bluff and posturing. Do you have a separate e-mail account for him? Might be a good idea to set one up if not then you only need to look at it when you feel okay about doing so.

Yogagirl17 · 09/10/2012 11:08

Western - I have an old email account that I use almost exclusively to email him and for junk. I had to set up a new, private one he knew nothing about when I realised I was somehow reading all my emails from the old one.

Watch - he is so twisted, if he replies with the "fine just throw the kids things in a cardboard box because you don't care about your children" (I've had variations on this before from him) and then I get angry, he will insist he doesn't understand what I'm so upset about as he was only offering to be helpful by taking the burden of packing off my hands. And he still doesn't unerstand that this is emotional abuse.

Right, have decided I am just going to send him this: "Please ensure that you provide the children with toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner & shower gel) for your holiday as the full toiletry bag I provided you the last time you went away with them was never returned. Have a nice day you fucking wanker". But I have to wait until after 5pm to email him because otherwise I will be accused of harrassing him while he's at work.

Yogagirl17 · 09/10/2012 11:09

oops, obviously not going to include the "you fucking wanker" bit!

snapespeare · 09/10/2012 11:25

Yoga do you have some sort of agreement that you won't email him during working hours? I understand the wish-for-a-quiet-life - but he continues to control your behaviour - so while you are being assertive, you're still tempering your response to his reactions...(just a thought, not a criticism. :) )

watchoutforthatsnail · 09/10/2012 11:32

there is no point arguing back when hes rude like that - hes doing it to make you bite, and by biting, which you are doing, he is winning - and so is pleased.

i know its really hard. because it makes you see red and they are SO wrong, but just dont respond.

And send that email now, who cares what time it was sent, he doesnt have to read it at the exact time - again, hes trying to control you, and he is.. because you are doing what he says. You arent his wife anymore - he needs to learn that you dont have to do or even consider his feeligns anymore.

send it :)

OP posts:
MadameOvary · 09/10/2012 13:36

Good advice here Yoga Smile
Snape I LOVE that idea - the notebook that could have been his alone, along with you, haunting him forever. Muahahahaha!

Lubey - lolololol at his nickname and at Mr Wankbag. WTAF indeed Confused

Western- Run for the hills. It all sounds dodgy but the constant bitchy communication is the big red flag. You are right when you say his telling ex about you is point scoring.
There are currently three of you in this relationship - sorry Sad When you think of how much feeling and emotional attachment is needed to provoke that sort of response in one another, with both engaging equally...there's no way he is free to date. You can cannot focus on a new relationship when your head, and possibly heart, are still with the previous one.

He might be present physically but that's all.

Sponge We'll be here when you come out. Crossing everything for you. x

Movingforward123 · 09/10/2012 13:46

snape thank you, I am not usually this grown up. I am trying something new and I'm not massively confit table with being this honest as it makes me feel needy, but I'm fed up of how easily I get in game playing mode with guys!

I think I will meet up with him, as I did really like him at the start, but I don't want to feel like a fool!

But bearing in mind he lives 2 hours drive away, would he really come all this way just to be a prick or use me for sex? Who knows!! Confused

Movingforward123 · 09/10/2012 13:56

Actually I think we should put it to the mn vote

Should I meet mr wealthy again

My reason to meet him is because I really liked him and I want to

My reasons not to is because I feel like he was being an arse after we slept together and didn't pay me even half as much attention as he did before

So mn dating thread lets vote!! Grin

TessoftheAngels · 09/10/2012 14:03

moving I vote yes, see him just to give you the chance to make your mind up properly Smile you may feel differently once you've seen him in the flesh again.

watchoutforthatsnail · 09/10/2012 14:09

i vote no.
After sleeping with you, and wanting more, he should be chasing you, you shoudnt be on the back burner. You should be feeling on top of the world, not insecure.

Sponge - thinking of you.

OP posts:
snapespeare · 09/10/2012 14:12

i think your reasons not to outweigh your reasons to. yes you liked him, but if he carries on being an arse, when you have explicitly told him he is being an arse then you are normalising his nonchalant behaviour towards you.

that said, it might be too early to tell. I think it's worth a meet-up in person to discuss... just ignore the voice-of-foof!

watchoutforthatsnail · 09/10/2012 14:15

the dreaded voice of foof.
responsible for many, many, bad choices!

:)

OP posts:
MadameOvary · 09/10/2012 14:21

Moving - I vote no. Sleeping with someone should progress the relationship, not make you feel like crap! He sounds dismissive and careless of your feelings.
Never mind what he says, look at his behaviour and his crappy text-speak

Distance is nothing to some people. Maybe he's had to look further afield after exhausting all local possibilities. It does sound like you were a "conquest" and he's lost interest. Please don't waste a second's more headspace on this loser. x

Yogagirl17 · 09/10/2012 14:28

Moving - I just think it's so easy to misread intentions by text & email. Meet him face to face and then go with what your gut tells you. That's just my vote but I'm often wrong!

Movingforward123 · 09/10/2012 15:18

Ok so far we have 3 yes and 2 no! So very close Grin

What does voice of foof mean Confused

MadameOvary · 09/10/2012 15:20

Voice of Foof is when commonsense is overruled by lust.

Movingforward123 · 09/10/2012 15:23

Oh ha ha. Well yes that voice is often very strong in my head Grin

I'm not ate that's what it's about with me and me wealthy! The reason I liked him was because I the way we seemed to get on so well when chatting! And I did fancy him but not like I must have you instantly, I think Confused

watchoutforthatsnail · 09/10/2012 15:39

Seemed to get on being the thing.. hes been very different since, yes? Do you actually like him as a person, since then?

OP posts:
watchoutforthatsnail · 09/10/2012 15:41

3 nos and 2 yes . You got mixed up :)

OP posts:
OhWesternWind · 09/10/2012 15:51

Moving, I don't think you really do want to meet up with him really. You've not sounded positive about him since you met up, and he seems to have been blowing a bit hot and cold with you. Deep down, you know whether you want to see him or not so go with what your gut's telling you.

I am a fine one to talk though as I've spent today texting the optician AND the solicitor (he's a new-ish one for me ). Keeping my options open ...

KirstyWirsty · 09/10/2012 15:52

I'll say No too ... he made you feel anxious when you are supposed to be having fun

hatesponge · 09/10/2012 16:04

I say no, cos I think he will mess you around (he has already in terms of blowing hot and cold)

I am horribly cynical though.

Even more so today as found out our office is closing by end of the year. Merry fucking Xmas to us :(

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