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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

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:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/03/2015 15:37

StableMaid,

Re your comment:-
"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".

You call this a positive?.

What you describe here is part of the nice/nasty cycle of abuse; you are desperately hoping for the good times to come back. They will not do so and if you were to examine it properly you would find that the good times after the initial stages are fewer and shorter in terms of duration. Also this nice/nasty cycle is a continuous cycle. You are walking on eggshells aka living in fear.

There are no positives to this and your children are also being exposed to an abusive man as well as a potential cheat (his business with his phone is suspect). He treats you like a complete mug. DO you want them to grow up thinking that yes, this is how couples actually behave in a relationship?.

What do you get out of this relationship?. He is an appalling example to both you and your children who also deserve better than to have this specimen at all in their lives.

What is the situation re the property; is it his, yours, rented, jointly owned?.

You need to extricate yourself from him asap. Womens Aid would also be good to talk to now as well on 0808 2000 247.

GoldenBeagle · 16/03/2015 15:38

Is it your house? Have you got a mortgage on it?

Do not, under any circumstances marry him if you have more assets than him.

TravelinColour · 16/03/2015 15:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 16/03/2015 15:39

"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. "

This is a pretty good working description of an emotionally abusive relationship. He's controlling you and I pity not only you but also your poor kids having to be around this horrible person watching him take you apart.

Womens Aid 0808 2000 247....

AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/03/2015 15:40

You need to make definite plans to get this person out of your lives before he completely wrecks more havoc upon yours and your childrens.

They are being deeply affected by all this; they see and hear far more than you realise.

Do talk to Womens Aid and make plans now concrete to get him out of your lives. I would also suggest that you enrol yourself in Womens Aid Freedom Programme as this could also help you going forward; such men like this one can take years to recover from.

Duckdeamon · 16/03/2015 15:41

Whose home do you live in? hope you don't already have major financial ties with him Sad

Whatever you do don't sign anything to do with weddings that commits you to any money. Fob him off if you can until you've made a plan.

StableMaid · 16/03/2015 15:48

It's his house. I have invested money into it but stupidly it's all in his name.

OP posts:
pictish · 16/03/2015 15:48

Think you've already answered your own query with this thread haven't you OP?
He's condescending, insulting, precious, rude and unhelpful. He's overbearing, plays mind games and thinks it's one rule for him yet another quite different rule for you.

Do not marry him because what you have is what you'll get and you can do better than this boor.

redrubyindigo · 16/03/2015 15:48

Have you spoken to your dc's about how they feel about him?

Duckdeamon · 16/03/2015 15:52

Think you should seek some legal and financial/benefits advice OP. And try to gather evidence of your investments, paying a share of the mortgage and so on and/or any kind of written agreement about the home.

It really doesn't sound like he is going to change.

redrubyindigo · 16/03/2015 15:53

StableMaid

Captain your own ship. You cannot change the wind but you can set the sails.

Every saying in Britain in usually based in an old nautical term.

Listen to your head and heart and I think you know the answer.

pictish · 16/03/2015 15:55

All his behaviour points to keeping you in line btw. To keep you beneath him, and your kids beneath his too. You may not expect anything from him. You may not ask him for help. You may not express any displeasure with him even if he is awful to you.

Where does all that leave you really? Under the thumb, that's where.

LineRunner · 16/03/2015 15:57

This situation has a familiar ring to it.

StableMaid · 16/03/2015 16:00

Well the mortgage payments I've made have been leaving my account and going to the joint account with the reference "mortgage" and our postcode. Not sure if that would stand up in court though.

I've also kept the TV license in my name and direct debited from my bank account as proof that I've paid bills in this house.

It's not so much the money though, it's his lack of concern that I have no rights over the home I'm paying towardS. He knows as well as I do that should anything happen to him, this house would be left to his kids, I would be thrown out and would be entitled to nothing despite the fact that it's my home and I've paid towards it. He doesn't give a shit.

We're supposed to be remortgaging in October and getting the house in both names but I'm skeptical that this will happen.

OP posts:
pictish · 16/03/2015 16:02

Just cut your losses and run OP.

nrv0us · 16/03/2015 16:03

Walk away. Like Nicolas Cage, in slow motion, walking away from an exploding car. Cool as fuck.

SnakeyMcBadass · 16/03/2015 16:08

^Do that.

This bloke's a twat. A horrible, small, mean twat. Marrying him would be madness. Stop paying his mortgage, ffs, and put your money towards the rent for your new house. Where he won't be there being a twat.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/03/2015 16:09

"It's his house. I have invested money into it but stupidly it's all in his name."

He's played you really like a violin. You will be unlikely to see any of that again I am sorry to say. How much have you been paying monthly towards his mortgage (at his behest no doubt?). You could seek legal advice re what you have paid but your legal position is poor to say the very least.

You and your children need to be gone from there now let alone before October. I think also that if he does remortgage that will be in his sole name as well.

What is keeping you at all within this now?.

sparrowcottage · 16/03/2015 16:17

what would your kids say if you broke up? if they either dont notice or breath a sigh of relief then theres your answer.

OTheHugeManatee · 16/03/2015 16:21

YANBU to be having second thoughts. From what you've posted he sounds like a twat.

pocketsaviour · 16/03/2015 16:23

Are you working? (I assume so if you're paying bills) Do you have any savings? Would your parents or other family be able to assist financially with a deposit on rented?

Tapwater · 16/03/2015 16:27

Dear god, OP, not only should you not marry him, you should make arrangements to leave him with all possible speed. He's a bad-tempered, selfish, abusive bully who resents your children and keeps you living in a state of suppressed fear, while making attempts to fuck other people. Why is marriage even on the cards???

shovetheholly · 16/03/2015 16:34

^^ What Tapwater said.

Scotchmincepie · 16/03/2015 16:36

You don't sound very happy, or very compatible. I appreciate you are in a bit of a confusion about the mortgage, but maybe its best just to draw a line and try and move on.

Having to tread on eggshells isn't making a happy home environment for you or your kids. And he doesn't sound happy either. Getting married does not make such things better.

eddielizzard · 16/03/2015 16:41

do your kids like him?

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