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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

Don't think I ever want to marry DP

84 replies

StableMaid · 16/03/2015 15:14

DP are due to book our wedding next month, 12 months in advance of the actual day. The thing is I don't think I want to marry him anymore. There are multiple issues in our relationship.

The main issue is that he has a problem with my kids who are 14 and 16. He's constantly moaning about them saying they're full of attitude, have no respect, are messy, lazy etc etc. A few weeks ago my (just turned) 16 year old asked me if I'd pick him up from work and take him to get his hair cut. I said I would and DP started moaning saying he shouldn't be expecting lifts at his age and should be sorting out his own haircuts etc now - yet he thinks nothing of ferrying his own 19 year old around as soon as he clicks his fingers. Other times he'll do something for my kids and then make a massive deal out of it saying he "runs around" after my kids like an idiot and nobody appreciates it and their dad should do more etc etc. Other comments I've had such as "to be fair, that's the job of their old man, I'm not their dad" or "I do more for your fucking kids than I do for my own" and "can't believe none of the fellers you've had in the past hasn't taught the lad how to change a bike tyre" (I kid you not. I've had ONE other man involved in my kids inbetween leaving their dad 14 years ago and meeting my current DP 4 years ago yet he makes out I've had tons of blokes in the mean time). Apart from these comments he's always banging on about how polite his kids are and how great they are because that's how he's brought them up and my kids have been missing a good male role model etc etc. He's so offensive and doesn't even seem to realise.

  1. His kids - obviously the more he complains and whinges about mine and the more he bigs up his own the more resentful I start to feel about them. His kids are far from perfect, immature, still very dependant and neither have ever worked yet he waffles on about them as if they're a gift from the gods. It's starting to grate.
  1. Finally, kids aside his attitude towards me. He sulks for days about stupid things, the latest one was a simple text I sent him. He took offense and sent me a defensive attack reply. I sent one back saying he's obviously taken it the wrong way and he needs to stop being so defensive. Well this row continues for 2 DAYS. Ignoring me, sulking, snapping, saying he can't believe the text I sent blah blah blah .... I turned it around and if it had been the other way it would have resulted in:

DP "offensive text"
me Hmm "that was a bit offensive, what did you mean??"
DP "explains" (or more likely kicks off saying how could I possibly be offended blah blah but for the sake of argument, lets say he simply explains the text).
me "well I found that offensive to be honest because ..... anyway, if it wasn't meant like that fair enough."

and that would have been the end of it. He's always had this awful habit of dragging stuff on forever, it's boring, depressing, has ruined holidays and many weekends ... I find myself dreaming of being with someone who just lets stuff go. Not because I want to be able to say what I want and 'get away with it' but because what's the point in dragging on an argument that just goes nowhere?

He's so defensive too. Here is an example of his sense of humour:

me "Are you working saturday?"
him "no I have the day off"
me "aww I am working! how unfair :)"
him "unfair??? oh yes how unfair that I have a day off after the 42 hours I've put in the rest of the week, how selfish of me!! fucking hell"
me "I was joking"
him "unfair??? can't believe you think it's unfair that I have a day off ... "

for fucks sake, forget it.

Turn it around though and he can say what he wants to me and god forbid I don't take it as a joke each and every time. If ever I react I get "you're being provocative again" Hmm

OP posts:
Itscurtainsforyou · 16/03/2015 15:16

I'm not sure what you're getting out of this relationship OP. Sounds like you should be breaking up, definitely not getting married.

NickiFury · 16/03/2015 15:17

He sounds like a complete high maintenance nightmare.

I don't want to be flippant and understand there's more to etc but I read your post and only word I wanted to post was:-

Dump.

nrv0us · 16/03/2015 15:19

I don't want to marry him either.

BeCool · 16/03/2015 15:19

Don't marry him, don't marry him, don't marry him.
This is as "good" as its every going to be.

Run in the other direction!

redrubyindigo · 16/03/2015 15:20

No brainer really. Difficult for you and a feeling of 'back to the drawing board?'

Itscurtainsforyou · 16/03/2015 15:22

Now is the time to make the decision rather than when you've started to make plans, hand over cash etc.

Has he always been like this? Do you think he might change if you explained how he was making you feel? Do you want him to change? It sounds like the relationship may have run its course.

StableMaid · 16/03/2015 15:22

Oh it's fine, as long as I continue on the egg shells.

If I mention his kids at all you can 100% guarantee it will cause an argument. For example when he said about my son being too old to be asking for lifts - in a normal relationship one might reply "yet you taxi your 19 year old around?" and maybe a little stand off would have resulted but a point would have been made. If I'd said this to dp it would have resulted in:

"WHAT??? HOW dare you complain about the one thing I do for my son, he's MY SON!!! I can do whatever I want for him!!! if he needs a lift I'll give him a lift, I don't need to run that past you!!! can't believe what you just said and tried to imply!!!"

And this would have carried on for at least 24 hours.

So what do I do? avoid conflict and stay quiet Sad

OP posts:
pocketsaviour · 16/03/2015 15:23

Are you getting anything positive out of this relationship, at all?

Have you ever?

StableMaid · 16/03/2015 15:25

He wasn't like this in the beginning (classic line) but he gradually got worse and worse until I realised I had to really consider what I wanted to say before I said it because saying the wrong thing would ensure a huge 2 day blow out. Can't really have a joke with him anymore unless he's in the mood for it either. Everything is a confrontation.

OP posts:
nrv0us · 16/03/2015 15:25

Years from now you will look back on this moment and high-five yourself for making such a narrow escape. Congratulations on not sleepwalking into this.

pocketsaviour · 16/03/2015 15:25

Wait, did you post about his phone earlier? So on top of all this sulky tantrum shit and slagging off your kids he's also using hookup (I assume) apps?

Jeez, do yourself and your kids a favour and get rid of this tosser, post haste!

ShanVanVocht · 16/03/2015 15:26

Does he have a golden cock or something? I can't see any reason for being with this man at all. You're crazy if you book a wedding with him.

Twinklestein · 16/03/2015 15:27

He's awful OP, why are you even with him?

He's not a good role model for your kids. Why are you imposing him on them?

elastamum · 16/03/2015 15:27

You should be leaving him, not considering marrying him. It will only get worse.

He sounds horrible Sad

CogitoErgoSometimes · 16/03/2015 15:28

"So what do I do? avoid conflict and stay quiet"

Only if you want to end up hating yourself in a few years' time and having no relationship with your children. Agreeing with others that it sounds miserable and that, rather than planning a wedding, you should be planning for independence.

StableMaid · 16/03/2015 15:28

Positives: Now and again, we go through a spell of getting on. We'll have a laugh, we'll make plans etc but then one of us will have a bad day, something will get said and taken the wrong way and then all hell breaks loose.

At the moment we're getting on but I'm having to be careful because I can tell the "wrong" word will spark the fuse. I spend the bad times looking forward to the good times and the good times on tenderhooks waiting for the bad times. That whole marriage dream I had is looking more and more like a black cloud as the months go on.

OP posts:
nrv0us · 16/03/2015 15:28

I wouldn't want to be stuck in a lift with this guy, much less a marriage.

DaemonPantalaemon · 16/03/2015 15:28

So what do I do? avoid conflict and stay quiet

Yes but why exactly? Why are you with him at all? He sounds really really horrible, immature and self-absorbed. What are you getting from this relationship?

And is all this not affecting your children? It can't be easy for them to share a home with a man who so clearly resents them. Why not put them first and just kick him to the curb? You really deserve better you know, as do they.

Cameochick11 · 16/03/2015 15:29

Run. And fast. This man doesn't seem to respect or support you, and the situation with your kids is deeply worrying. If it's like walking on eggshells now, what on earth will it be like if you are married to him?

StableMaid · 16/03/2015 15:33

Well I think I already have started planning for a future without him, subconsciously. Everytime we argue I can theoretically see the nails being hammered into the coffin that was once our relationship.
He's hurt me so many times, disrespected me, broke my heart in the beginning trying to be unfaithful after I'd introduced him to my kids. Downloaded hook up apps in the past year too showing he still doesn't respect me.

A new one is the underhand insults too. The other day I said our rabbit was looking cute as she has a little fat belly and he replied "just like you". And twice in the past week he's accused me of having smelly breath.

OP posts:
GoldenBeagle · 16/03/2015 15:34

A feeling of walking on eggshells, being afraid to say something because of the reaction, or staying quiet to 'avoid conflict' are all huge great red flags waving over your relationship.

Him sulking and refusing to talk for days is a huge great red flag.

He is sarky, he puts you down, he is moody, touchy, he puts your kids down....

I certainly would not marry him.

What do your boys think?

Your 14 yo is entering a delicate time, with GCSEs and all, you don't want a man like this criticising him and trying to turn you against him.

Why would you want to marry this man?

AlternativeTentacles · 16/03/2015 15:35

Why oh why oh why OP?

Just fucking dump him. You know it is shit, you don't want to marry him and you know your kids must hate him. So just why?

fuzzywuzzy · 16/03/2015 15:35

Here's what you do.

Bag up his stuff

Leave it outside the front door.

Change your phone number.

Why one earth are you putting down a deposit to marry him? He'll have a claim on half of everything you own if you marry him! And it will take money and a fight to extricate yourself from him.

GoldenBeagle · 16/03/2015 15:36

You are NOT in a 'good' period if you are worried that one word will light a fuse.

He is being horrible to you.

Get rid of him before he wrecks up your life and wears you down so much that you actually lose the strength and will to get rid of him. Seriously: that is what will happen.

SnagglePuss37 · 16/03/2015 15:36

Well there's no Question mark in the heading, is there. If you hadn't made up your mind before you put all that cr*ppy stuff into black & white (and I think you had!) you certainly should by now. Hmm
How long have you been a couple - and how long living together, if different?
Do your kids like him - putting aside teen grumps?
If it was ever good between you two, those days have well and truly gone now.
Not sure if it's property matters making you hesitate about parting, but if you marry him it's only going to make it more complicated.

Exit door required, I think. Either way, good luck.Wine