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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

Perspective please

86 replies

everynameseemstobetaken · 04/05/2015 15:12

Hello. To start with, please bear with me as my own thoughts are not very clear. I genuinely don't know if I've just lived alone too long, if I'm intolerant or if things aren't right. My partner moved in a few months ago. We each have one child still at home. My 17 year old lives with me, but works about 60 hours a week so is rarely home. His 14 year old is here about 50% of the time. Nice lad. We have very different parenting styles, but both completely accept that and don't directly parent each others children really.
Earnings - I earn a good amount more than him. I also work relief in other jobs if I need additional money. I worked very long hours indeed for about 18 months to pay off house debts. He doesn't have any interest in working any extra hours at all. My mortgage is far less than his rented flat coat and my bills are low in general.
He is lovely, tolerant and peaceful. But...I feel like I have to lead everything. I feel that he looks to me for guidance on every little thing. He has no social life but me, except for a hobby he is passionate about. I showed him a job with much higher earnings that I thought he would be great at - his reply was 'fuck that' as it would sometimes clash with his hobby. We each have £100 per week 'fun' money. I easily live within that, it's plenty! He has maxed out the overdrafts on the accounts in his name that we paid off from my account when we got together (both have our names on my account now so I suppose he paid them off from his own account if that make sense). I really couldnt guess where that money goes as he doesn't drink, smoke or ever buy clothes. We went shopping when we were first living together from the joint/my o riginal account to get him lots of new clothes as he had been on a tight budget for a long time due to high rent, child maintenance, not massive wages etc - don't resent that at all. But I can't fathom how he's spent £100 a week and maxed out his overdrafts of about £900 (in 4 months) which I only know because he has spent another couple of hundred from the joint account and had to tell me he had no money. Some goes on his hobby, but it's not a terribly expensive hobby. One part of me thinks - not my business and the other thinks....eh??!
He does cook. I've put on a lot of weight from being very slim. I loved being cooked for at first. Somehow now I feel quite controlled by it but I have no idea why it makes me feel that way. He also does the food shopping.
He doesn't do anything else round the house unless I instigate it. Then he does a slow slow job...I could clean the whole house in the time it takes him to do the bathroom. He does it well though! DIY is all 'later' and I'm starting to wait till he goes out so I can just get on and do jobs myself. No fussing, takes me 5 minutes and they actually get done. Then I get told 'I was going to do that'.
Lots more, but mainly passive behaviour which is driving me mad. But I lived alone for years and wonder if actually I'm impatient and intolerant. Before I get flamed for suggesting he got a new job, he complains about his wages and makes reference to me being a higher earner. I don't care who earns what as we have one pot for money.
This is very long so I'll post. Please be kind!

OP posts:
Lovingfreedom · 24/07/2015 14:47

Stop giving him money FFS!! Don't pay the deposit, withdraw as much as you can towards paying yourself back for what he's taken. Get him out of the house. Sorry but you've been taken for a mug. It happens but now you know...stop!

pocketsaviour · 24/07/2015 14:54

Hmmm... my guess is that he'll ask you to pay for a removals firm.

SugarOnTop · 24/07/2015 15:37

He was texting last night saying he's crap, and useless and now he's lost me, how much he loves me but clearly I don't love him

My gut tells me that the next stage is likely to be anger

Trust your gut instincts - they are rarely wrong! He is the kind of guy who will never admit or acknowledge his bad behaviour or any wrongdoing - he will ignore it until YOU bring it up - at which point he will start playing the injured party (as you have seen). He is trying to blame YOU for everything that is 'wrong' - his behaviour and attitude, his stalking, his lack of financial management. He saw you as a cash cow - sorry to be blunt.

i bet he turns round to you now and says that he can't afford to move out unless you give him YOUR money for the deposit and removals etc.

you've been very naive to date so don't let him get away with this last one - not if you want to walk away with some dignity and self respect. with people like him you HAVE to be upfront and play hardball. Tell him clearly his finances are his own responsibility and you want him out by X date - and that you're not interested in listening to his excuses as to why he can't do that without using YOUR money.

If you haven't already transferred your money into an account he can't access then i would suggest you withdraw all your wages from the joint account because he WILL steal yours. He will come up with all sorts of excuses to delay the inevitable just so he can either emotionally blackmail you and force YOU into paying for the move. i hope you don't fall for that thinking it's an 'easy' way to get rid of him.

Hissy · 24/07/2015 19:16

Get your phone checked, I think he's tracking you on it.

Georgethesecond · 24/07/2015 19:30

I think you are being very decent OP. But I think that is only right when there's a child involved. I know he is not your child,but he should still be prioritised. And as you say, if that costs you money, so be it.

GetTheFudgeOutOfRodge · 24/07/2015 19:55

I don't have any advice, but wanted to say that I think you're a very kind person who is being generous and thoughtful.
Please try and look after yourself and put you and your DS first Flowers

everynameseemstobetaken · 25/07/2015 01:24

Well, he hasn't asked for anything. He just wanted to clarify what was happening with me. He's moving this week, has the keys to a flat which he signed for today. It's unfurnished so he has sorted out some furniture and is organising the rest and will have the flat habitable by next weekend latest. His son comes back from holiday next weekend, and his goal was always to be fully moved by the time his son returned. The atmosphere is much better now. I think we're both relieved to have a clear path ahead. There were a few comments about limited money, and where to get cheap furniture from, but nothing too hard to brush off. I'll barely see him between now and the weekend due to opposite shifts - will update in the near future.

OP posts:
hellsbellsmelons · 25/07/2015 08:30

Point him in the direction of freecycle. Great sight for freebies.
Here's to freedom.

shebefierce · 31/07/2015 08:07

So, he moved out last night. Just a few bits to collect today. To his credit, once I'd asked him to leave in a clear and unambiguous way he mainly handled himself with great dignity. Found a flat, sourced all his own furniture and got himself organised without asking for anything from me or leaning on me for support. He has been unfailingly polite.

It needed to happen, I needed him to leave and it is the right thing. But still seems very sad and final.

Thank you all for your support over the past weeks xx

hellsbellsmelons · 31/07/2015 08:39

I'm glad he has done it all without causing you any extra upset.
You will feel sad.

Blimey, I still think about my ExH sometimes and he left well over 5 years ago.
You can move on now.
Onwards and upwards.

AmIbeingTreasonable · 31/07/2015 09:23

I hope he doesn't have a key to your place, if you are in any doubt please change the locks asap!

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