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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

Realised I no longer want to marry passive aggressive, gaslighting, cold DP

77 replies

Bogwasher · 09/12/2014 14:22

Last night he said to me, calmly and thoughtfully -

"we're not a family so I don't think you should think of us as one. We're a couple, you have your kids, I have mine so we're a unit - but we're not a family and never will be."

Reflecting back, this has hurt me more than I thought it did at the time. So him and his ex and his kids were a family then and he'll never regard me in the same light?

We're engaged to be married. What kind of a marriage is without family?

It's got me thinking about the way he is in general. He never gives a thought to me - never buys me anything, never suprises me with anything, never suggests a quick jolly down to the pub or an evening out at the cinema - never takes me for a meal unless I instigate it. I'm even having to plan my own birthday. For christmas I've bought him a present which I think he'll like. He's since told me that he'll buy a load of computer parts and that can be his present from me. My present from him is a coat, which I desperately needed now - picked out and bought myself and as far as he's concerned that's him done with my present now. No effort whatsoever.

Apart from this his attitude towards everything is wearing me down. He accuses me of not being interesting in his work (I always show an interest) or his kids (difficult when he insists on keeping everything to do with them deadly private). His gaslighting is driving me insane. The other night we argued because I suggested something and he insisted that I meant something entirely different. Even though I told him over and over again that he'd got it wrong he rehashed the same point over and over again about something that I didn't say nor mean. He's not stupid, he MUST have known what I meant but he specifically chose NOT to understand. At one point he stopped and said "oh, so you meant X, Y and Z?" hooray I thought! "yes! that's exactly what I meant!!" I reply. He said "oh well in that case I agree with you" Confused but that's what I'd been saying all along! ... anyway a few more things were said and then he started going on and on about the thing that I DIDN'T say again and when I pointed out that a minute ago he understood and agreed with me he got more angry and denied it had ever happened! To this present he STILL insists that it never happened and is continuing to purposely misunderstand what I said.

He has now decided that I have been trying to stop him speaking to his kids and gave a scenario to prove it. I said "that never happened!!" - for a while he insisted that it did but then said "I know it didn't happen, I'm just giving a hypothetical scenario ... " ????? wtf??? he then went back to saying that it HAD happened.

He blames other people for EVERYTHING. He agrees to do stuff for people (me, his mum, his kids whatever) and then throws it back in their face (well no, he throws all of it in MY face as he wouldn't risk upsetting his mum or kids) saying that he's always expected to run around after everyone.

He makes a big point of saying "right that's it, I'm not listening to you anymore, if I want to go to my kids' college events and see how they're getting on I will do." - I have NEVER stopped him doing stuff like this, he just doesn't bother and then either blames me or his ex.

A few months ago he told me that he thought his 18 year old should at least try and get a saturday job. I agreed with him. Last night he spouted out "I'm sick of you slagging off my son! what's it got to do with you if he works or not??" Confused I reminded him that it was HIM who said those things ... he outright denies this and says it was me and he just agreed with me as I've brainwashed him against his own kids.

It's mentally crumbling me.

OP posts:
Bogwasher · 09/12/2014 14:44

He never used to be like this, he started showing signs of it when we moved in together but in the past few months it's got much worse. Everything is an argument with him. everything is a huge drama. He insists that everyone is disabled, he insists that he's the only one that cares about the house, he insists that he's the only one trying to make the relationship work

OP posts:
FreakinScaryCaaw · 09/12/2014 14:47

Everyone is disabled? Was that a typo?

Funky, get off that fence! Grin

Quitelikely · 09/12/2014 14:47

He's is filing you with rubbish. I'm pleased you believe his ex wife. Even I believe her!

I like your plan to stay put until it suits you down to the ground to shoot off. But remember he ain't gonna change and if you stay and marry the twit you will only have yourself to blame!

Make sure he books you on a luxurious holiday in the August before you depart! Smile and think of it as his punishment for being a terror

AttilaTheMeerkat · 09/12/2014 14:47

This man has more red flags about him than a Communist Party convention meeting.

As I said he was likely charm personified in the early days and could not do enough for you. This is precisely how such men reel in their victims, you were deliberately targeted. It is not your fault that you did not see the red flags; he hid all that well from you and now he thinks he has you trapped he tells you all this.

Now you know the real him you must not stay; he needs to be gone from your life and by Christmas to boot.

Look at the Freedom Programme and read "Why does he do that?" written by Lundy Bancroft.

DustOffYourHighestHopes · 09/12/2014 14:48

RUN
FOR
THE
HILLS

Well done on realising this. Sometimes it's easier just to turn a blind eye and pretend everything's fine.

ouryve · 09/12/2014 14:50

He did used to be like this, but the person he did it to kicked him out.

TheEponymousGrub · 09/12/2014 14:53

It is tempting to wait until things suit you to move, but you don't really know how things will change in the meantime. It might turn out to become more difficult, not easier, to leave.

If you do wait, for God's sake make sure your contraception is in order.

Bogwasher · 09/12/2014 14:54

No he has a thing about people being disabled. His youngest son genuinely is disabled with a learning difficulty but he also insists that his eldest son - an 18 year old who has always been in mainstream school, attended mainstream college for two years, is about to embark on a degree, plays guitar, had a girlfriend for two years and occupies himself going to gigs, going camping, doing a bit of voluntary conservation work ... this lad, is disabled. I say "how is he disabled??" and he says "when he was younger he had speech therapy and was behind everyone else academically." so is my son but I don't call him disabled! oh but apparently my son is also disabled. He's also suggested that his ex wife is disabled. It's so strange.

I do have that Lundy Bancroft book somewhere, I'll have to dig it out.

OP posts:
simontowers2 · 09/12/2014 14:56

Werent you a bit suspicious of his ex wife reasons for divorcing him?

GoatsDoRoam · 09/12/2014 14:56

What are your plans now?

FreakinScaryCaaw · 09/12/2014 14:56

Eeek run for the hills!

middleagecrisis · 09/12/2014 14:57

It must be so tiring for you to have to listen to everything he says and wonder does he mean that or will he change his mind tomorrow and mean something else.
very stressful. I think he's gone beyond sitting down and rationally discussing the issues here. he'll blame everyone else but himself.
you may love the man you once met but i think over time he has changed.it happens and not always for the best.
What would hurt me so much would be the family comment.

JP12345 · 09/12/2014 14:57

Love that moment when the scales have fallen from your eyes, and you can suddenly see how wrong things are... But excitingly, how much better your life will be in the future!

If you don't want to make ructions before Christmas, it will be interesting to view the hols (and attendant dramas) from a more detached perspective, and see all the rubbish you won't have to put up with any more.

I applaud your bravery - good luck!

FreakinScaryCaaw · 09/12/2014 14:57

Dustoff just realised you'd written the same words Grin

Bogwasher · 09/12/2014 15:01

I believed him initially when he said his ex was a nutter so when I came across the divorce papers I read them and my first instinct was "wow, she really went for him, poor bloke."

A few months later and I started to feel a little bit controlled - I ended up on the receiving end of his drunken verbal abuse and emotional detachment. After an argument (which was entirely his doing) I was upset and went to hug him. He pushed me.

I then went back to the divorce papers, read them again and thought "shit".

I've felt for the woman ever since.

OP posts:
DayLillie · 09/12/2014 15:02

He has now decided that I have been trying to stop him speaking to his kids and gave a scenario to prove it. I said "that never happened!!" - for a while he insisted that it did but then said "I know it didn't happen, I'm just giving a hypothetical scenario ... " ????? wtf??? he then went back to saying that it HAD happened.

Confused

Leg it. Don't wait 10 months.

Littleturkish · 09/12/2014 15:03

Another year living with him could also harm your chances of completing your degree- esp because he will sense you want an out once you begin to emotionally withdraw.

Is it possible to utlise the facilities at your uni and investigate support and accommodation from their student services?

confuddledDOTcom · 09/12/2014 15:04

it won't get easier, just look at his last marriage. you need to go.

theDudesmummy · 09/12/2014 15:07

He sounds significantly mentally disordered to be honest. He probably needs help but that is not for you to do, your priority should be getting away from him.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 09/12/2014 15:09

I would also be talking to Womens Aid as well on 0808 2000 247 as they can help also.

HellKitty · 09/12/2014 15:15

My exes two previous wives were 'nutters' too apparently, I'm guessing I'm a nutter now! Get rid. It sounds like he's just with you for the sake of being with someone. You can do so much better.

rumred · 09/12/2014 15:24

you know what you need to do... and please don't get hung up on weddings and marriage. they don't mean much from my perspective. contentment and self esteem are far more improitant

SlimJiminy · 09/12/2014 15:30

I don't think you should try to wait it out for another year either op Thank your lucky stars you have seen him for what he is before you've married this monster - and with no children together you can leave and never see the bastard again.

QueenofallIsee · 09/12/2014 15:35

OP, I mean this will all respect but ffs don't wait 10mths - leave him and leave now before it gets any worse. Can you really live with, have sex with, sleep next to someone that is so awful for nearly 12mths??

Arven · 09/12/2014 15:38

He sounds horrible.

Run and don't look back. No need to feel any guilt. You weren't a family!

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