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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

My boyfriend said I'm not very empathetic to his needs

191 replies

toomanybooksnotenoughspace · 01/12/2014 08:35

Me and my boyfriend went away for the weekend. On the journey back home yesterday (which was an approximately 2 and half hour drive which he did) he complained of being tired and bad back etc. We stopped off at a service station so that he could get 5 minutes kip because he felt he might fall asleep at the wheel if he didn't. I told him I would pop to the loo and did he want a coffee/sandwich etc. I went to the loo first, then went and got him a coffee. The lid was not put on properly and spilled hot coffee all over my hand so popped into the bathroom again to run cold water over it. Anyway when I got to the car he was really annoyed asking why I had taken so long so I explained that there had been a queue at Starbucks and also that I had spilled hot coffee all over my hand so wanted to run cold water over it. He then said that he didn't want it as it been into the ladies bathroom and therefore it was unhygienic. I told him that I had not been to the loo, only to wash my hand and it had only been near the sinks etc. He was going to throw it away but I told him no, I had just bought it for him so he should drink it- which he did. He didn't say thank you for the coffee and only asked if my hand was OK until later on.

Anyway we start our journey again and he complains of a bad back, to which I start rubbing his back and he asks for a massage when we get back. I say yes, I can give you a massage. He then has a go at me for not offering one first saying that he always offers to give me a massage and that he should not have to always ask for one. I tell him I was going to offer anyway but he got there first and he said he didn't believe me. He says this is further evidence of me not being very empathetic to his needs.

He had been in a grump earlier after we had had quite a long walk near where were staying. We had for most of the walk walked together, chatting etc but on the final leg to the car park we had to go up a narrow winding roadside which made it difficult to walk side by side. I ended up walking a bit in front of him and this upset him because it made it look like we might of had a falling out. He had a go at me because he had mentioned this before in previous walks and that I should remember this.

He had been unwell last week with a D & V virus. He said that I was uncaring towards him because I did not offer to come round to look after him, bring him food/medicines etc. I have a 3 yo DD who I look after full time on my own and it would be quite a slog for us to get to his from where we live. Also he described his illness to me and I thought I don't want to run the risk of either of us catching it so didn't offer. But I think I got the tone from him when I spoke to him when he was ill that it would be best for us not to come.

I know this is all quite petty but it is not out of character for my boyfriend of 8 months to be like this. It irks me because I don't like the accusation that I am unempathetic towards him as he often does things repeatedly that get on my nerves which I tell him all the time. He complains if I seemingly don't help him - but doesn't remember all the times I have done nice things for him like offering massages in the past if he's had a bad day, or helping him tidy the kitchen, cooking for him, looking after him after a recent operation etc.

He will often get annoyed if I haven't done something he needs help with. I told him that I am not a psychic and that sometimes he needs to ask, otherwise I won't know. Also usually when he does 'ask' if comes out all angry and hostile which makes me not really want to help. For example I didn't like the feeling of 'having' to give him a massage. I otherwise consider myself to be reasonably helpful in that I will help/offer to help if I can see something needs doing.

Sorry this is so long, its just its weighing on me and also would like some MN views on who is being unreasonable.

OP posts:
toomanybooksnotenoughspace · 01/12/2014 19:02

Thanks for all your messages. It seems pretty unanimous. Yes, its not looking too good is it.

Another thing about yesterday was when he parked up outside his house I turned to him and said 'well done'. I meant it to mean well done for getting us home seeing as he was clearly not enjoying the drive (I can't drive btw) and he took huge offence to this. He snapped 'what does that even mean - well done ?! Don't you think thank you for driving you all this way would be more appropriate?!' . I was quite taken aback by this and upset because I had said thank you earlier and it made me feel terrible for not saying the right thing. Now I'm thinking perhaps this wasn't quite such an inappropriate thing to say after all.

I really don't want to waste my time/life with someone who is a controlling twat. He does have me hooked I suppose in that like I said earlier , a lot of the time we get on very well. If I talked to him about it, it probably won't make any difference, he's probably not capable of changing his ways.

OP posts:
Hatespiders · 01/12/2014 19:05

Please OP listen to all the good advice on here, loads and loads of people experienced in life and love who can see so clearly what you seem unable to see. This man won't make you happy. He will make you more and more unhappy.
Can I just add that when you're in a good relationship, with a good man, you feel very very happy the whole time. No niggles, no doubts, no grim moments. Just calm, blissful happiness. He cares about you, he does all sorts to make you smile, he looks after you when you're down or ill, he thinks you're lovely and he is delighted to have you as his woman. This isn't pie-in-the-sky, it's what a successful relationship feels like. It's how I feel with my dh. And during the first year or so, you should be on cloud nine. You should feel life just couldn't get any better. But you don't feel any of this do you? Not at all. Please please move on. Because out there somewhere is the very man who will be your special, truly loving soul-mate. Not this nasty piece of work.

Flimflammer · 01/12/2014 19:13

You don't sound like you are going to finish with him. You need to alter the way you think about him. He is NOT the charming man you get on so well with. That is a facade, it is a trick. He is the whiny sock grabbing head fucker who ruined a weekend for no good reason. Having been a single mum of a small child, I would be furious with anyone who ruined my "off" time. I'm assuming you left your daughter somewhere anyway.

You need to get rid of him. Stop thinking about the good times and when you are ready tell him it doesn't work for you and do not listen to anything he says. He doesn't want to change, he wants someone he can pick on and unless you stand up to him now while its relatively easy to get away, you will do just nicely. And so will your daughter in a few years.

Tobyjugg · 01/12/2014 19:22

I ended up walking a bit in front of him and this upset him because it made it look like we might of had a falling out. He had a go at me because he had mentioned this before in previous walks and that I should remember this.

WTF???? This guy has "loser" written through him like a stick of Blackpool rock.

alicemalice · 01/12/2014 19:31

I don't know why but I'm reminded of Justin Lee Collins with the walking in front bit.

cees · 01/12/2014 19:37

Life is to fucking short to waste on an asshole like him. Get rid and live at peace.

AnyFucker · 01/12/2014 19:37

yes, alice, he was an inadequate loser too

funny how he has virtually disappeared from our telly boxes ...

LineRunner · 01/12/2014 19:55

He's probably on some horrific after dinner speaker circuit.

Headgone · 01/12/2014 20:11

Oh no not sock man! Honestly the control this man is trying to have over you. You must be walking on egg shells the whole time, worrying about how you are going to offend him next.

He will hate it when you try to finish it though and will make it difficult for you so be strong.

MistressDeeCee · 01/12/2014 20:18

Oh God he sounds like a whinger/moaner. Me me me. Whenever he is irritated, you're there to take it out on. How can you even be bothered with him? You have a 3 year old lovely daughter to take care of. Do yourself a favour and leave him. Life's too short to put up with Mr Misery blighting it and turning all into a grey cloud.

43percentburnt · 01/12/2014 20:27

Run for the hills. Run for your life...

Seriously he is a loser. Dump him then do the freedom programme. The posts are virtually unanimous. After 8 months he is showing the real him, and it's not looking good. You are best off single.

Good luck.

OddFodd · 01/12/2014 20:34

This is the moment when you need to make like the Sound of Music

Sparkletastic · 01/12/2014 20:35

Dump him and have a lovely Christmas focussing on your actual child, not a man-shaped PITA

rumred · 01/12/2014 20:40

oddfodd- perfect video.

sums it up well op

AliceinWinterWonderland · 01/12/2014 20:42

I really don't want to waste my time/life with someone who is a controlling twat

If I talked to him about it, it probably won't make any difference, he's probably not capable of changing his ways.

And there you are. Your own words. Dump him. He's not worth the aggro. Can you imagine dealing with this for the rest of your LIFE?!?!

FiftyShadesofScreeeeeeeam · 01/12/2014 20:45

Run OP, run. Grow some extra legs so you can run even faster. And for the love of god don't have babies with him. RUUUUUUUUUUUUN.

SweetsForMySweet · 01/12/2014 20:53

He sounds like a big man child. Dump him, it's not going to get any better

MushroomSoup · 01/12/2014 21:58

I ended up walking a bit in front of him and this upset him because it made it look like we might of had a falling out. He had a go at me because he had mentioned this before in previous walks and that I should remember this.

After 8 months my now DH used to always want me to walk in front of him on narrow pavements, so he could perv at my arse see me.
He still does, after 15 years.

You are soooooo with the wrong bloke.

FunkyBoldRibena · 01/12/2014 22:08

He does have me hooked

More fool you love. More fool you.

calypoppy · 01/12/2014 22:13

I had a 'boyfriend' like this once in my teens for about a month. I'd known him for years through family and school. He behaved exactly like this and then got upset with me when I agreed with him that we should break up.

This man is a whinger and it sounds like he enjoys making you out to be the bad guy ... which means you'll never win or be in his good books. Do yourself a big favour and dump him.

Sallystyle · 01/12/2014 22:14

He sounds awful. You really would be better off without him.

I am also surprised that you got a coffee from starbucks that was actually hot enough to burn you!

Thumbnutstwitchingonanopenfire · 02/12/2014 06:22

Talking to him will make fuck all difference in the long run. What is worrying is that it might make a short-term difference, especially if you decide to give him another chance. So you'll say "if you don't change XYZ, I can't stay with you" - he does X and Y for a bit, but probably not Z, you think, "ok he's trying" and stay with him longer, wasting more of your life, losing more confidence by the day, thinking "if only I do ABC, he'll be fine, I'm the one who causes him to get upset" - then he drops Y and maybe starts to forget about X... and so it goes.

Talking to him = massive waste of time, unless it's to say "sorry, this isn't working for us [me and DD], I don't want to see you any more, we're through. Have a nice life."
Then change your number and block his.

Hissy · 02/12/2014 07:26

darling this man IS abusive, he will only ever get worse.

your relationship has zero potential.

the flashes you see are the 'nice' bit he manufactures to keep you hooked. the angry bits are those he (again) manufactures to control you.

he will get worse. only ever worse. in about 2 years (or less if you get pg) he will be nasty pretty much all the time, only ever throwing you a bone if you show signs of actually leaving him.

end this now. NOW NOW.

just call/text him and say that you don't think it's working and you'll be better off alone this christmas, and wish him well.

make sure you tell him that you don't want/need him to keep in contact that it's over for good.

Hissy · 02/12/2014 07:28

2 women a week are killed by men like this boyf.

most abusers make it to the 2 year mark before their colours show. he can't even make it a few months.

end this, regardless of what your head is telling you, end this and we'll walk you through what you are feeling and why. you've been targeted and programmed/groomed by him, this shit needs undoing.

PedantMarina · 02/12/2014 07:57

Ahem

clears throat and wishes for Mumsnet to have font sizes<

You

Are

NOT

HOOKED!!!

All it takes for you to be unhooked is for you to say these words to yourself AND MEAN IT.

And lots of self-pampering and the counselling suggested by other to help break the cycle, and cuddles with your sweet DD to keep clear in your brain what's important, her safety and well-being.

But it HAS to start with you. Has to. We can't reach through the screen and make it tight for you, gods know I wish I could. It's your life and your DD's and the sooner you stand up and fight for your souls, the better.