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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

Am I mean and 'righteous '?

195 replies

reggaesongbird · 08/01/2017 20:39

Long story, will try to paraphrase...
I'm a single mum with small kids and not insignificant health problems.
I've been seeing a lovely guy (childless) since the summer, we get on well he's into the same things as me, we have mutual friends , he's thoughtful and lovingetc
For various reasons neither of us drive.
Since his divorce he lodges very very cheaply on the other side of our small town. where he lives he's unable to have guests which makes it very awkward for me, all our time together is spent at mine so I feel under a lot of pressure to entertain him and it feels quite limiting in terms of what we can do. In case anyone asks, I know he's not living with another woman, I've been there and seen the set up, it would be very awkward to conduct a relationship there but it would be nice to have it as an alternative place to spend time together.
He has a professional well paid job. I work part time.
Although we get on well and connect in many positive ways I find it very hard to argue with him. If I express disappointment or dissatisfaction with anything he becomes uber defensive and always says I'm being unfair or mean. When he recounts any other fallouts with other people he often uses the same language, e.g. Unfair etc.
Tonight's ridiculous argument was because he was coming this evening, I asked him to come when the kids are in bed, we haven't seen each other all weekend as have both been ill and I wanted time with my children...anyway I said come about half 7/8 he replied he'd only be able to come for an hour due to Sunday buses (they're pretty regular up until about half ten) he also cycles. This has been a regular theme of our relationship, he's often moaned about the time it takes to get to and from mine in the evenings.
Anyway... I replied it's hardly worth it for an hour, he then said he'd stay longer if I pay for a taxi, this was all in messages as the kids were still up. I told him I would not pay and that we should leave it if it's too much hassle, I then got the hump and asked if his friend had paid for his taxi when bf went to his friend's last night, he then replied no but his friend lives nearer and handy specified a time...this then degenerated into a text argument where I told him as a 40 year old man living cheaply he should be able to either undo a taxi or make alternative arrangements and then I moaned about him not having anywhere for u to go and suggested he get a girlfriend who lives nearer (it takes me 20 minutes to cycle to his house which I did once on the only occasion I was allowed there) he said with buses it's a two hour journey and we both have work in the morning etc.
He then said I'm being righteous and cruel and I obviously think he's a cunt and refused to continue the conversation with me.
I thought I was in love with him but these types of things keep coming up. Every time we have an argument he then goes cold and sulks and the last time just after New Years told me that he was ending the relationship as he can't cope with the arguments and insecurity. We argued after new year because I felt he'd been moody with me because I had to cut our time short and he felt sidelined by my children. Hes met my kids, earlier than intended because they got up in the night when he was here and he was in the lounge so I have let him spend time with us as a family just because it seemed like the right thing to do but I'm very mindful of trying to give a lot of my attention to them and I feel a bit worn out by it.
I've felt he's been short with me all weekend because I wanted to spend it with the kids, he of course will deny it but I feel him saying he could only stay an hour is him punishing me for not having him here this weekend. I struggle a lot with health issues and he has kept offering to come and help. I put him off because of the kids but also because in our last row he complained about 'running around after me' when I was ill, despite the fact I nursed him over Christmas and on my birthday. When he 'runs around ' after me he's so loving and solicitous and I thought we had a real chance of a future. I've asked him if we can work on our communication skills and how we cinduction arguments. I agree texting isn't always healthy but I struggle with his defensive argument and often I'm texting because the kids are in the house and I don't want them to hear me arguing.
Sorry this turned out longer than I planned...
am I mean and wrong and righteous?

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 08/01/2017 23:10

Blimey reggae I feel exhausted reasoning about your relationship so goodness knows how you feel.

You're 6 months in. You should be really enjoying getting to know each other, all starry eyed romance. Not arguments, manipulation, tears and tantrums. You know that right?

You do sound lovely and you do deserve more. You really do

tipsytrifle · 08/01/2017 23:10

Hmmm .. not so sure he's joking at all .. maybe voicing discomfort and hoping you'll become less of that strong independent woman with the right influence (his). Because joking about stuff like that is a double bluff/challenge isn't it? It's a mind-game - "do you dare to let even more boundaries down and then see what I can do for you? " kind of thing...

He has sensed that tiny part of you that wishes for a knight in shining armour to rescue you. In truth you'd be rescuing him but to your (and dc) total disadvantage. In my opinion ... sorry ...

reggaesongbird · 08/01/2017 23:19

bitoutofpractice thanks. I don't feel lovely at all. I just feel like a sad loser who's mean to her boyfriend. Probably should just go to sleep now,have work tomorrow, early rising children to see to etc!

tipsy don't apologise. I'm not blind or deaf, we're not making each other happy regardless of whether he's genuine or not. I'm so sad about it, I wish I'd paid more attention to the red flags, I did notice them, hence our arguments.

Thank you everyone who has posted here, what a bunch of intelligent and insightful people. I really really appreciate each and every response, u have no idea how much I needed to discuss this and although I'm crying it's such a relief, u know when you're always being told you are wrong and imagining things (a constant refrain from all my partners, I have learned to ignore my instincts) x

OP posts:
10Betty10 · 08/01/2017 23:21

I think you aren't putting enough value on yourself! You seem to have a lot to offer a relationship. He, quite frankly, doesn't.

You are NOT being unreasonable here in any way shape or form. He sounds like a very passive aggressive and manipulative person. You will never feel truly settl d with a person like this- trust me I tried with my ex for years. You will never be as important to him as HE is to himself. Harsh but true. There is a reason he has been divorced and I doubt it is the reason he is giving you- people like this use words to confuse and control you. It's a never ending cycle.

I know is easy to say this as a bystander. I know that you had real hopes and that when he chooses he is probably amazing company and great to be with. But you deserve someone that is great to be with the rest of the time too!! Take the leap and quit while you can I say!

tipsytrifle · 08/01/2017 23:26

You are NOT a sad loser. Trust yourself because yourself is amazing. Sleep well and ask your inner self for some truth in dream about it all, just before you "go".

lovelyshinyhair · 08/01/2017 23:36

I'd get up and make my own tea in the morning! He sounds awful. Asking you to pay for his taxi Shockhe's an embarrassment. Get rid

reggaesongbird · 08/01/2017 23:38

tipsy funny enough I had a dream recently which kind of told me what I needed to know, I've been dwelling on this for a while now. When I choose I'm very in touch with my 'inner me' and it's often intimate relationships which cloud my judgement which can be good when I choose to listen to it.
Thank you so much for tonight, it's really helped.

OP posts:
reggaesongbird · 08/01/2017 23:39

lovelyshinyhair haha! Nicely put, short and to the point!

OP posts:
OutToGetYou · 08/01/2017 23:45

Well, you might not think he's a cunt, but I do.

SevenEleven17 · 09/01/2017 02:55

One of the deal breakers for me would be that he could not be bothered to walk or cycle a short distance to visit you

MNetters always say look at what a person does by their actions

No birthday celebration, another non action

I think you can do better

reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 03:34

I'm so confused. I just woke up and felt really bad like I'm the one in the wrong. I feel guilty for yet another argument where I'm critiquing his behaviour.
This has to change, I can't afford to give this much energy away to something that's not my children or enhancement of our lives in the long term.
I feel sad that I am worth so little. men become complacent around me because although I challenge I also forgive and accept the behaviour which then allows them to perpetuate the behaviour.
I'm feeling gutted now that this is ending/ended and I have put so much effort into it, trying to make him feel wanted and secure and hoping he'll see my way of thinking which of course he never does.

OP posts:
coolaschmoola · 09/01/2017 03:52

You are worth waaaaay more than this, but unfortunately you are in a relationship with a man with 'poor me syndrome'. That's not your fault nor can you fix it.

Your little family sounds wonderful - you don't need a man and you definitely don't need this man child!

Klaphat · 09/01/2017 04:06

if I take my ego out of the equation we wouldn't have these arguments

If you squash take your ego out of the equation then there'll be all the more space for his, which it sounds like is exactly what he wants.

Sometimes I can't work out if I'm meant to just ignore stuff or keep challenging?

If you're not happy with something, of course you challenge it. Your life is for you to live, not to arrange around someone else's whims and opinions. Your opinion is worth at least as much as his (and when it comes to your own life, your opinion is the only one that carries any weight) - please, please remember that. This guy is a waste of space.

reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 04:11

coolaschmoola I'm sure it's no coincidence that both my parents have 'poor me' syndrome.
He and I have a disagreement, I say we often choose partners who resemble what we grew up with, he says this is rubbish but it's becoming more apparent.
This man is only happy when left unchallenged, he is kind and thoughtful and helpful when he chooses to be. When things aren't going well I challenge in order to make things more pleasant for me/us. He does not accept my challenges and makes me feel bad for asking for more.
He clearly can't give what I need. This is like a free therapy session with 100 counsellors at once!

OP posts:
reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 04:39

Klaphat thank you. Just what I need to hear/read. I was blaming myself for being egocentric when asking him for acknowledgement/recognition.
I have been so confused and blinded by what I thought was love.

OP posts:
BratFarrarsPony · 09/01/2017 05:04

sorry but a forty year old man whining about things being 'unfair' ?
Dump, find an adult to see.

Couldashouldawoulda · 09/01/2017 05:08

He sounds like a right PITA to me. Not a keeper, OP. You don't need this guy making your life hard work.

PollytheDolly · 09/01/2017 05:25

So he can behave like a cockwomble, but you're not allowed to pull him up on it. If you do, you feel the bad one?? Put up or shut up, right?

Fuck that shit.

RogueStar01 · 09/01/2017 07:10

If he already feels sidelined for your dc, having a baby too isn't going to help anything and shows he's too immature for parenthood. It won't magically cure anything if he has one of his own

reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 07:35

Good morning everyone. Thank you for your support last night and this morning. I barely slept and now feel shattered!
I'm really really sad that I had such high hopes and put up with crap because I was made to feel unreasonable. I know I have a right to my opinion just as he has a right to his but I let him make me feel like such a bitch. I know he goes back and tells his family everything and no doubt his friends too so I imagine everyone telling him to get rid as well as of course he will tell his side of the 'story'. I hate the thought that people who hardly know me might think I'm so horrible to him.
From what he's told me his whole family are über sensitive and frequently upset each other, as in my family his has a lot of anxiety and depression.
I don't know where I'm going with this!
Time to face the day. I imagine he's either going to go radio silent on me or just ask when he can come and get his stuff. I know he'll say it's over because we had another argument by text. He always says let's talk about it f2f but when we do he's really hard to reason with as is always so affronted, he says I lie and twist things which I don't, obviously I say things from my perspective but if I get one detail wrong when recounting things then he jumps on it .
I'm feeling very upset and a bit devastated.

OP posts:
reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 07:36

I knew how devastated he was about not having had children. I thought I loved him enough to want to make him happy and I thought having a child would finally make him happy and fulfilled. I've always wanted more kids and am broody a lot!

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 09/01/2017 07:40

If I were you I'd get in first with a short matter of fact text.

"This relationship simply isn't working for me any more. Your things will be in a bag on my doorstep from 8pm this evening. Please come and collect them. Don't knock the door as I will not answer. Good bye and good luck in the future".

Then delete his number, congratulate yourself that you saw through him so soon and move on.

I appreciate that this is going to sting like hell. But stop beating yourself up and feeling stupid. We all make mistakes and his problems and issues are just that, his.

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/01/2017 07:40

Have you ever seen the film Big? It's where Tom Hanks body swaps and portrays a 13 yr old boy in an adult body. This is the image I have of your bf but with none of the fun stuff. Pubescent, mood swings, selfish, inconsiderate, sulky... perhaps it's not such a bad thing he hasn't fathered a child yet as he doesn't have the maturity to do so right now. The guilt you're feeling is the manipulation working on you. So you'll need to sit there with the guilt until his hold on you releases. If your exh says anything, perhaps be prepared with an answer you can choose to tell him to butt out or explain you fell for his charm but now realise he's a Dick. After all we all make mistakes and when we know better we do better.

ChuckSnowballs · 09/01/2017 08:12

I just feel like a sad loser who's mean to her boyfriend.

Which is exactly what he wants you to think. This triggers all the guilt and the backing down and him getting the upper hand and you changing your ways. 6 months in! It is all part of the training for him to always win and for you to always lose. It aint' gonna get any better from here on in.

I would not wait for him to end it. Grab the bull by the horns. 6 months in it should still be fun. End it yourself and TELL him when he can come and collect his stuff.

Freedom2017 · 09/01/2017 08:16

It does sound like you argue a lot. When you can't see eye to eye on anything there's no point.