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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

I can't believe I've let this happen again I'm such an idiot.

115 replies

sparklyjumper · 19/01/2013 11:52

this was my original thread two weeks ago with the background info. But to sum it up I was in an on/off relationship for a few years. He was always breaking up over stupid reasons then getting back together. He broke my trust/let me down and treated me badly lots of times. Kept me hanging on for a commitment making promises. Broke up with me again just after new year.

I decided enough was enough and I was gong to cut contact which I did. He kept on texting and ringing, then when he couldn't get through to my mobile he started emailing and then on my work phone. I've completely ignored him for two weeks but he's kept on and on. He misses me, he's sorry, he's lonely, can't be without me. When that didn't work he started saying he had some bad news to tell me and I wouldn't be happy. Then it was he wanted to see ds (not his son but been there since baby), I won't break him and ds up, ds is as much his as mine. When that didn't work he started saying he was going to just come over.

I've lived with the blinds and curtains shut for the last two weeks, I'm not scared of him but he's likely to just drive over and felt spied on. When the door knocked I jumped out of my skin thinking he'd turned up. Obviously all the time I'm having to be strong as I still love him and miss him.

On Thursday it was starting to wear me down, then yesterday morning he was texting me as soon as I woke up asking if ds was off school, asked if he could come over and take us sledging. Kept saying he was sorry for being horrible and he wanted to sort things out for good. I cracked and said ok he could come over just to talk and take ds sledging. Turns out he wasn't even off work so he'd lied. Then he begged me to let him come over that night. I said ok and then he said the snow was too bad to get over and he couldn't get off his drive. This would have made sense had he not been to work plus the fact he got a 4x4 for this very reason. So I told him to just forget it, then he begged me to let him come over in the morning (today), said I was being childish and I'd never split him and ds up.

We ended up talking and he was saying how he's been so unhappy and fed up without me, he'll never leave me alone as he can't bear to be without me, how I'm gorgeous and funny and he'll never find anyone like me nor does he want to, how he knows he needs to sort himself out. He then said he never wanted to break up but I need to let him breathe and do his own thing. He said he wants all the things I want a stable relationship but he needs to be able to do his own thing. The way I feel about that is that we have lots of space to breathe and do our own thing. We were only together half the week if that as we live apart, we spent a week apart every 5 weeks when he was on call, he worked away often, I was rarely included in anyn of his family stuff, he only has the one friend but I've met him only once in 4 years and ex would go out every 2-3 weeks with him. I spent over a year not seeing him in the day at all on weekends while he did a load of work on his house, he goes skiing each year. He doesn't have any hobbies but if he did I would certainly never stand in his way. I just don't think I'm this clingy controlling person he makes me out to be, and if I ever have been a little it's probably because he broke my trust so many times. I just don't see what he's seeing, I loved spending time together but I like my space too I liked having a few nights a week to enjoy my own company.

Fast forward to this morning, he's asked can he come over to do the sledging, I said ok and then he changes his mind. Says I was right when I said if he loved me he'd leave me alone, I was right to ignore him, he's scared to come over as he'll be shouted at, he's feeling sorry for himself. Then says I must think he's happy but he's sad, all alone and scared. And asked me what would coming over achieve? I just don't know what's going on in his head I really don't.

If anyones still with me I know you're probably thinking what did I even see in him, but he can be such a nice guy. When we were actually in eachothers company we got on, liked the same things, both quiet, homely types. He was nice to me always complimenting me, he'd bring me a coffee in bed, he was close to my ds, I've even been away for the weekend and left him in charge with no worries. But he's also done some really horrible shit things which he almost didn't like to acknowledge he'd done, just expected me to shut up and move on.

Don't really even know what I'm looking for here just wish I understood what's going on in his head.

OP posts:
Schnarkle · 19/01/2013 12:35

He didn't want to come over.

He just wanted you to want him to.

He's playing with you, you've become an amusing distraction for him.

TigerFeet · 19/01/2013 12:37

Can you report him to the police for harrassing you OP? You don't want a relationship with him, tell him that straight and tell him to leave you alone or you will take it to the police.

I KNOW it isn't that simple but I think it needs to be done. He's messing with your head and unless you can get him off your back he'll continue to do so.

How old is your ds?

WeeWeeWeeAllTheWayHome · 19/01/2013 12:41

The bit that sent shudders down my spine was, "he'll never leave me alone as he can't bear to be without me".

He's playing with you as if your were his toy, seeing you as his possession. You don't owe him anything.

You do owe yourself and DS space away from this headfuck.

TalkativeJim · 19/01/2013 12:41

This is how your life will be until you drop this utter tosser.

And stop saying how good he is with your DS - as you say above, he'll piss him around in exactly the same way. If you want your DS to grow up with a fucked up view if what a 'father figure' is and see men as creatures not to be trusted who don't fully commit to families - just keep this loser in his life.

I do feel a bit sorry for him - creatures like this never change. He won't ever be capable of a proper relationship with you or anyone else - he simply doesn't know how. He can't love, he can only use and manipulate, because his overriding need is to make himself feel good - that he has someone pining over him, and that he's in control of that. That's the service you provide. He needs you there to use. You rejecting him makes him Feel All Bad and -oh no! - undesirable - cant have that!!! - so you need to be made to pine after him again. Sigh of relief, he can now get back to doing the rest of the stuff that makes him feel good and powerful - giving you the slight brush off, getting a bit of a kick out of keeping you hanging and pushing you away slightly.

...and that's this man's idea of the perfect relationship!!! Hurrah!

Stop contact, send a text from both phones saying you do not want him to contact you again and any further texts will be logged for harassment. Then go find yourself an adult and enjoy a real relationship. They feel much better!

Doinmummy · 19/01/2013 12:42

What are you going to do Op?

dequoisagitil · 19/01/2013 12:50

Sometimes we just need a reminder of why we need to kick a guy to the kerb. This is a very effective one of those, I hope? Just see it as lesson learned.

You don't need to understand him - he is like an alien, but not the friendly kind, he's the 'we come to destroy you' kind.

I think you should block him/have him blocked on your work email, make sure his ways of contacting you are shut down. I don't think you should be hiding in your house either. You need to be able to live normally not shrinking behind closed curtains - you could put up a reflective film on your windows so no-one can see in, as one practical measure that you could forget about rather than sitting in a darkened room.

And be prepared to call in the cops - trying to force contact on you is harassment - you can make him stay away. Repeatedly phoning, emailing, texting, contacting you at work, driving by your house can all be considered stalking.

He's not a reasonable person, don't treat him like one.

Lueji · 19/01/2013 12:50

But he's also done some really horrible shit things which he almost didn't like to acknowledge he'd done, just expected me to shut up and move on.

Keep this in mind and tell him to go.

In fact, tell him to stop contacting you. If he persists, tell him that any further communication will be considered as harassment and that you will contact the police.

He just doesn't want to be dumped.

Doinmummy · 19/01/2013 12:51

If you stay with this man you are a WILLING participant in his games. You KNOW he will keep picking you up and dropping you. There is a thing called co-dependency,I wonder if you have fallen into this trap?

My friend is in a similar situation. He dumps her, week later they're back together. He lets her down, she forgives him. He starts a row and dumps her. He forgives her and they're back together. This has been going on for years. Another friend told her that she must like the situation as she keeps putting up with it.

dequoisagitil · 19/01/2013 12:52

I'd agree with TalkativeJim. No matter how nice he is to your ds when he's around, the picking up and dropping of him, (which he does to you as well), is very bad for your ds and the long-term damage of that outweighs any laughs out sledging.

sparklyjumper · 19/01/2013 12:53

Yes I like pathetcissuesman too.

Hecate that has to be right but to me that's just crazy.

I'm very reluctant to involve the police as I had to do that with my ex (different situation) but I'd be so embarrassed and it could also be awkward because of my job. But hopefully it won't come to that I'm not in any physical danger it's almost trivial really, texts, but they get in my head.

And I know that there's a new start and millions of other men out there. I think I'm a bit scared of meeting someone even worse, kept convincing myself, well at least he does this or that, at least he's not like this or that, could be a lot worse.

Won't be meeting anyone else for a long while anyway, I'm not bothered about being on my own, I just fell in love or I thought I did with this one.

OP posts:
dequoisagitil · 19/01/2013 12:57

Maybe you could do some counselling or the Freedom programme (esp. if your previous relationship was abusive)? Try to sort out if your boundaries & expectations of relationships are set in a pattern and how to reset them?

Change your phone numbers again.

LilyontheLeaf · 19/01/2013 13:00

Trust me my love, this is definitely not "trivial". All stalkers start out this way - then the behaviour escalates.

Without sounding melodramatic, every time a woman is killed by her stalker, you will generally hear the words "it started with lots of texts etc"

I'm not saying this to scare you, but this behaviour is not normal and needs nipping in the bud now. Threaten him with police action, and if contacts you again, get in touch with them.

They will be very low key about it - they will just go and speak to him and hopefully give him a "harassment notice". The notice basically tells him that if he contacts you again, he will be prosecuted.

Please protect yourself :(

HecateWhoopass · 19/01/2013 13:03

Of course it is.

That's because you are a normal, rational, reasonable person.

But you cannot take someone who is none of those things and try to imagine that their thought processes and motivations are logical to you.

It doesn't work that way.

If he was a reasonable, good person - he wouldn't continually shit all over you in the first place!

sparklyjumper · 19/01/2013 13:03

Yes I said last night why don't you just leave me alone and he said he can't, then he said he'd try but he will find it too hard as he knows he can't not have me in his life.

What are you going to do Op?

I'm going to get back on the wagon. I was feeling a lot better but caved in, maybe all the snow we've been having sent me a bit doolally. I'm hoping now he'll just give in now he's got what he wanted.

OP posts:
HecateWhoopass · 19/01/2013 13:06

What he means is he rather enjoys keeping seeing if he can reel you back in.

At the very least, it must be a hell of an ego boost.

I can treat her like shit on my shoe and STILL keep her coming back...

You have to put him out of your life once and for all.

Doinmummy · 19/01/2013 13:08

Stay strong. Think of your son, he really does not need such a destructive influence in his life. If he learns from this man then he may go on to treat women like it himself and that would be really sad.

HecateWhoopass · 19/01/2013 13:10

I doubt he will.

More likely he'll not like you backing off again, so will begin again.

sparklyjumper · 19/01/2013 13:12

Maybe you could do some counselling or the Freedom programme (esp. if your previous relationship was abusive)? Try to sort out if your boundaries & expectations of relationships are set in a pattern and how to reset them?

Yes someone suggested the Freedom programme. To be honest, I'm confused, this relationship is nothing like my last. This ex is nothing whatsoever like my previous ex. I deliberately went for someone who I knew was completely different. My previous ex was the classic abuser, ticked every box.

This one was totally different, doesn't shout and swear or name call, doesn't hit, isn't controlling with money in fact the opposite, very generous, doesn't stop me doing what I want, in fact he'd be more likely to pack me off for a night out, look after ds, give me a lift and some money to go. That's why I liked him so much I thought I'd found a really good guy. They're both total liars though, and make promises they never keep. It's so confusing.

OP posts:
HecateWhoopass · 19/01/2013 13:16

sounds like he made you dependent on him.

some men like that.

AnyFucker · 19/01/2013 13:16

Yes, he will start again

So use this little setback as a stern warning to yourself to not get sucked back in

and fgs, don't be manipulated into setting up some sort of "access" with him for your son

I get that he has been a "father figure" (albeit a shite one) but he is not his father

if this was an amicable split and he wasn't playing silly buggers, I am all for contact being kept up but no this man is not a good person for your son to be around. Full stop.

AnyFucker · 19/01/2013 13:19

There are a variety of types of abusers, honey. They all have their own subtle little ways, but their behaviour patterns follow a general agenda. Control. They just use different techniques to achieve and then maintain it.

dequoisagitil · 19/01/2013 13:20

But the hot and cold treatment - the breaches of trust - you've put up with an awful lot of mistreatment from this man.

HecateWhoopass · 19/01/2013 13:22

I agree, AF. The last thing the OPs child needs is THIS for a male role model!

sparklyjumper · 19/01/2013 13:25

Perhaps hecate, I do remember him once saying something to me like 'if it wasn't for me you wouldn't do anything', in terms of because he would do all of the long distance driving if we went anywhere. He did also do this thing of if he was supposed to be coming over, he might say he can't be bothered as he's tired. Then he'd say but in a sarcastic way 'why don't you come to me', knowing full well I couldn't as ds was in bed. Oh I don't know.

anyfucker yes I definitely have the sense to know trying to keep some kind of contact between him and ds going wouldn't work. Doesn't even bear thinking about.

OP posts:
fiventhree · 19/01/2013 13:26

Yes, classic control tactics.

He did whatever it took to win you back, so he could feel better about himself. And then he needed to take charge of the situation and control the outcome. He probably feels that if you are upset enough he may want you back, and in his terms.

Even if he hasnt thought this through rationally, it is what he is doing.

Tell him to fuck off and thank him for teaching you about controlling arseholes.

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