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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:
RogueStar01 · 09/01/2017 18:51

I always joke my lovely retriever is my ideal man - he's beautiful, smarmy and is happy to snuggle anytime without expecting a whole lot in return

reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 18:52

Your responses are lovely everybody, I really really appreciate it.
I'm home now and so fucking tired. I've just got in, taken my coat off and sat down.
I'm starving and cba to move from the sofa. Fortunately I'd cooked us both a huge hearty chicken stew yesterday and of course he didn't come so at least I have meals for the next few days, just gota find energy to heat it up!
Please can somebody recommend something lighthearted for me to watch tonight?
I'm too tired and cold to do anything and don't want to spend the night dwelling on matey, I just fancy getting lost in something. Recent things I've watched while ill and laid up included Bridget jones baby (too silly and not engaging enough) Florence foster Jenkins, loved, all of fleabag BBC iplayer and all of crazy ex girlfriend, Netflix. This is my current level, nowt too taxing please.
Much appreciated x

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reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 18:54

roguestar my kids and I all have allergies, I'd adore a dog for sofa cuddles at night as well as getting us out for regular walks.

Saying nowt about cats tipsy Wink

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RogueStar01 · 09/01/2017 18:59

Ah that sucks re allergies, they are a total curse. Outlander is good, the new Jonathan creek was totally good and creepy. Not watched much else!

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 09/01/2017 19:22

My relationship history was a mess in the while after I divorced and the constant arse holes actually made me start to enjoy being on my own. I'd never been particularly good at picking anyway and had been in a long term abusive relationship with my dc's dad.
I actively stayed away from dating full stop realising that I needed to heal myself a lot more before I was ever going to be able to have a relationship with someone that was a prize bell end. By the time I did foray into daring I was actually really happy on my own but like you say did get lonely. I'd reached a place where if this was it for a long time just me and my dc I was ok with that. I was definitely a much better parent and started enjoying my life. When I met dh he was adamant he would never get married again I was adamant I'd never live with someone again. It was the old when you least expect it. I'd met a lot of assholes before I met dh but I was emotionally healthy and happy as I was so didn't put up with things I'd have ignored in the past because there were some nice bits. I was pretty ruthless and not prepared to settle. You will find that stage at some point and you're getting there because you're not settling now you're seeing the guy for what he is and have enough self respect to go you know what nope this is more work than it's worth.

reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 20:08

LooksBetterWithAFilter I can't settle, no matter how difficult my life is or becomes I cannot do it to myself, it's soul destroying.
I ended what appeared to onlookers to be a perfectly good marriage because it made me feel dead inside. I might not always get it right but I don't want my children to ever think you have to be trapped in an unhappy relationship just because it's the 'easy option'.

OP posts:
bert3400 · 09/01/2017 20:20

The box set of Cataphrophe on Ch4 is brilliant .Funny & Sad but definitely a watcher

10Betty10 · 09/01/2017 20:25

No Offence on 4OD is very funny and easy watch x

reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 20:31

Thanks bert and 10betty I did enjoy catastrophe, worth checking, I haven't seen no offence, so will check it too BrewCake

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Atenco · 09/01/2017 21:35

I've just read this and what strikes me is that taxi man never accepts responsability for anything, that is why he keeps fucking up. It is one of the things that AA works on with alcoholics but it is definitely not confined to alcohols.

I do think your alcoholic father seems to have set you up for bad relationships. There is something indefinably familiar in someone with a similar personality to our fathers that we take for attraction and compatibility.

kittybiscuits · 09/01/2017 21:46

It kind of is compatability - just not a healthy kind. But familiar. BrewCake for you too reggaesongbird. Glad you're listening to your own wisdom.

reggaesongbird · 09/01/2017 22:26

Yes it is the feeling of familiarity that gets me a lot of the time.
I recognise my dad in a lot these guys, unfortunately not straight away unless its glaringly obvious.
Taxi man had flashes of it then over Christmas it started to really show and then retreat again so I was left wondering if I'd imagined walking in on him swigging spirits (my Christmas stash) from the bottle (twice).
He also drank a whole bottle of wine under my nose one afternoon while making it look like he'd been nursing the same glass for hours.
This is what was building up for me, not so much the taxi thing.

So much for engaging with something lighthearted on telly, I've just woken up on the sofa after a nice snooze, feels like this is my foreseeable future now, falling asleep on the settee, whether my kids are home or not.
I feel dreadfully sad at the moment.

OP posts:
kittybiscuits · 09/01/2017 22:48

Sorry you're feeling so sad. You are obviously digesting things. Give yourself time. You're doing a lot of processing. You shouldn't beat yourself up. It's unconscious to get drawn to certain people. You just took a step by realising that you can be fooled. People show themselves over time.

reggaesongbird · 10/01/2017 07:31

kittybiscuits thank you for your reassurance. Yes I guess people do reveal themselves eventually and I should be glad that I've seen him for what he is. I guess I will be glad at some point, it's just that I don't trust myself, what if (as he says) I'm focusing too much on the negative stuff and not enough on the good stuff?
But the negative stuff was like having a spoiled spiteful child under my feet...!

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RogueStar01 · 10/01/2017 10:41

his negative points are all deal breakers though. It's not just a bit of negative - him never being wrong, being cheap, being wearing, the names he's called you, his manipulation over having everything on his terms. Any one of those things is a good reason to dump him. Of course you'll feel sad, you'll probably miss the good bits of him but you've made a very good decision for good reasons, take it one day at a time and hopefully it'll get easier. If you've had several relationships since you split with your DH. you'll find someone better in due course.

reggaesongbird · 10/01/2017 11:28

Thank you RogueStar01 I really need to help myself, I didn't even realise I was being manipulated until coming on here. I new he was draining me but couldn't work out why.
Believe it or not I did the freedom programme. Not just once but twice!
Years ago after being battered by a drug addicted boyfriend I was supported by women's aid and the police and did the programme then again more recently after my divorce when I got together with an old and trusted friend who turned out to be a vile abuser (another person with a role nurturing vulnerable people)
I'm feeling even more of a twat admitting this now!

OP posts:
RogueStar01 · 10/01/2017 12:23

it shows progress to me reggae that you've sorted this loser out so quickly, your defenses are getting better, clearly. I've found there are some lessons in my life I have to keep re-learning, although I've found it gets easier over time.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 10/01/2017 12:28

OP, you could be dating my best friend's ex husband! Sounds just like him!

reggaesongbird · 10/01/2017 12:46

Wow SantasLittleMonkeyButler imagine if it was the same guy, would be a weird coincidence, bet there's thousands of them around tho, just from reading this thread and googling manchild (not the neneh cherry version).

OP posts:
reggaesongbird · 10/01/2017 12:48

RogueStar01 yes I spose I am getting better. I think being responsible for children makes me see things more objectively than when it was just me. I have to be very careful what influences I introduce to them.

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