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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

So unsettled by DP's behaviour

70 replies

PagingDrKarl · 01/05/2017 04:22

Long one, sorry.

Feeling very unsettled by behaviour of dp over last two days.

We are on a Bank Holiday weekend away, and on the first night, after a lot of walking, I suddenly felt shattered. Dp was very much in the mood for sex and rather threw himself at me (throughout the day we had both given each other the impression it would happen); I was reciprocating a little but clearly very tired. He asked, would you rather wait until tomorrow? I said yes, if that would not totally mess up his body (If i had REALLY not wanted to, I would have omitted that second phrase). He said fine, seemed really relaxed about it, then asked if he could go down on me quickly to make me come. Now, I was tired and simply not in the mood. I said he could if he wanted to but reiterated how tired I was. He seemed fine for a minute then exclaimed, "What's wrong?", to which I replied "nothing. I'm just tired". Then, to himself in anguish, he said "this is so confusing." Lay down with back to me and earphones in, saying he was listening to a short story. I, now very awake due to this sudden turnaround and keen to regain a sense of intimacy, asked to listen with him. Ignored.

Eventually, he did talk and said it had been a hormones issue, hard to control and better to just sleep than try to talk in the circumstances. He said that was why he had ignored me/turned away. He also added in a preoccupied tone that the "inconsistency" was unsettling. This inconsistency was me giving impression I'd be in the mood later, then not being, and saying I was tired then waking up. I pulled him up on this and he seemed to accept it was unreasonable to in any way make me feel bad about these things, and to recognise I had woken up in reaction to his own change of mood.

On day two, we saw some teens rollerblading. The girls were in skinny jeans and tight crop tops although it was freezing. He made a comment along the lines of "oh dear, teen pregnancy". When I asked him to explain what he meant, he said the only reason to dress like that in such weather was if you were after sex. I felt livid about this but but my tongue for the sake of having a nice weekend; but later I couldn't, and said in a calm way, "by the way, what you said about those girls was not true and not acceptable". He said it was just a joke, and when I said it was not a funny one he sighed and said "oh, I can't make a joke about anything with you" and added how easy things were with his friends compared to with me. He said that the media was "divided" on the issue [of women's attire], and I was at one extreme. I said yes, the media can be chauvinistic, and that what I had said was not "extreme". He took umbrage, said how would I like if if he called me a prude. I felt rather shell-shocked, but did mention that surely the prudish thing is to say those clothes mean only one thing, rather than (as I had) we should be able to wear what we like.

Later, he said again I had "extreme" views when it came to women's rights, and I said that claiming the only reason a kid of around 13 (of course, actually it could be anyone of any age) wears revealing clothing is to get sex is the extreme view. He said that I never back down because I need to redress the balance of gender inequality by winning arguments, and also that I would be contrary and argue a point for the sake of it with three people: him, and my parents.

This last point unsettled me. I have been considering if it is true and was worried it may be. I don't know why it got to me so much but it did, and I felt he was right and I had in general been being contrary. He said "don't get upset, like you did last night." I have not been myself all evening, and he has told me that I "need help" and that I need to "stand up for myself" (this when I was being quiet, mainly so as not to be accused of ensuring I win the argument or fighting for the sake of it). I had had a few drinks (along with the same volume of water, and totally within my limits) and he has said he won't talk to me when I have alcohol in my system. He also said he needs someone strong and stable if his career is not to suffer. I feel a) self-obsessed bastard; b) well why not my career, if we're going there; c) I WAS feeling strong and stable until HE unsettled me.

As we were lying in bed, him snoring away and thrashing around, I was anxiously thinking about turning over for 40 minutes. I did so; he woke up, furiously said "what are you DOING" and took himself off to the spare bed in our hotel room.

Now, regarding this last point, he does literally lose his mind when half asleep, and also loses sense of time (so maybe he thought that I had been tossing and turning to get to sleep a few minutes before I moved again, when really it was a 40 min gap!)

This is the second such late night almost mad-seeming episode in a year, and I think I can handle them if it is a case of him being half asleep.

But overall, I'm feeling very worried. I feel that all this points to him being a not very nice person, and I myself feel gaslighted. This is all out of character for him (but is it? He has made one other misogynistic comment; tip of iceberg?), but do I give another chance or not? What is strange is we have been together for ten years, but all these things are new.

I'm shattered and may not be making sense myself, and am not sure why I have written here. I think I partly want to have a record to remind myself all this really happened, as it is out of the ordinary. And I am doubting myself, and want to know if my concerns are unfounded.

OP posts:
MsGameandWatch · 01/05/2017 08:01

He sounds horrible and deeply unattractive. The comment about the teens would have completely put me off him.

squishee · 01/05/2017 08:11

Sounds exhausting.

Only1scoop · 01/05/2017 08:15

His 'teen pregnancy' remark would make me feel like we nothing more to discuss TBH Op.

Chops2016 · 01/05/2017 08:18

He sounds absolutely nuts.

bittapitta · 01/05/2017 08:19

It sounds like he has suddenly got into the Mens Rights Movement which is a bunch of chauvinistic bollocks. Milo etc. Must be what he talks about with those colleagues who are so easy to talk to. He is being a knob and gaslighting, try to be normal and know you're not doing anything wrong.

Huskylover1 · 01/05/2017 08:22

This reply has been deleted

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TheHodgeoftheHedge · 01/05/2017 08:23

I am genuinely confused about what you/he mean about not having sex would "mess up his body" and is a "hormones issue".

Joysmum · 01/05/2017 08:25

you'd all think that your husbands have never reacted to be rejected in the bedroom

Of coarse they react, but you clearly mean reacting negatively.

My DH hasn't by anything other than an ok and holding me closely and kissing the top of my head...just the same way as I react when sex isn't wanted by him. That's normal behaviour from both of us, that's how it should be.

I wish MN had been about for my previous relationship. I might have spotted the signs and prevented it.

bittapitta · 01/05/2017 08:27

sarah87 I think you need to spend time with a better quality of man. My DH, Dad, brother, male friends etc have never wolfwhistled in their lives! How fucking sad that you think that's acceptable in men you know.

PatButchersEarring · 01/05/2017 08:31

Huskylover. 'Why aren't you married after 10 years'.

That is easily the most outdated, ridiculous statement I have ever read on here.

OP. Your DP sounds like a misogynist twat. I too would feel unsettled by his behaviour. The teens comment reveals an unpleasantness view point, but could possibly be passed off as a clumsy attempt at humour. The pressurising for sex is horrible- as is the exploding at you for turning over in bed.

Can you have a breather from him for a couple of weeks?

Bananamanfan · 01/05/2017 08:32

He's ruined a weekend by behaving like a spoiled petulant brat & sex pest rolled into one. Is he always so deeply unattrative?

Naicehamshop · 01/05/2017 08:34

Sarahmum27 - do you know what a dry sense of humour is? Confused It does not mean making comments about young girls' clothing and suggesting that that they are looking for sex.

I don't think my dh is a perfect gent - whatever that is. I do think that he knows better than to make sexualised comments about teenage girls.

Sample1936 · 01/05/2017 08:35

It is confusing when you say im tired but if you want to fine.
Either yes or no.
Teen pregnancy was a bad joke but it is to get sexual attention when it's impractical and unnecessary to wear a cropped top.
I think you just don't like each other anymore.
Im surprised you say he is your h as you both sound like teens having an argument. Wtf is messes with his body if you say no? Like blue balls? Sounds like you're really uoung gf and bf.

If you're really married...Go to counselling?

Naicehamshop · 01/05/2017 08:36

The comments about not talking to you when you have alcohol in your system are just his way of shutting you down op.

Chloe84 · 01/05/2017 08:37

naicehamshop it's the second thread in the past couple of days where someone thinks a man making sexist remarks about a woman's body equates to 'a dry sense of humour'

Only1scoop · 01/05/2017 08:38

Oh Sarah I see you are getting shot down on a relationship thread I just posted on for your rather erm grim advice....
I'm sure your day will improve when the days 'adventures' begin.
Brew

Only1scoop · 01/05/2017 08:39

Whoops wrong thread

Sample1936 · 01/05/2017 08:40

I wouldn't advise or try to have a conversation about something important with someone who has alcohol in their system either.

Trollspoopglitter · 01/05/2017 08:40

The way you write about your feelings in this relationship, I expected you to say you've been dating 6-7 months. I actually opened my mouth at 10 years. Sounds like something is going with you.

WonderMike · 01/05/2017 08:41

At the end of my last relationship if DP did as much as breathe I'd be seething. Sounds like you've actually got damn good cause to be very irritated. It sounds lie you are nearing the end of the road.

Huskylover1 · 01/05/2017 08:43

She was under the legal limit to drive. You wouldn't talk to someone who'd had ONE drink? Jeezo.

Pat I don't think it's unreasonable, to think that after ten years you'd be married. Piss or get off the pot, I'd say.

Dozer · 01/05/2017 08:45

"Sorry, but you're away on a weekend and you are too tired for sex? "

FFS.

FrameyMcFrame · 01/05/2017 09:03

What hormone problem does he have? Very strange indeed... I think he's told you some tall tales about how men's bodies work.
If you don't want sex then that's the end of the conversation.
Nobody should ever feel forced to do sex when they don't want to.

SemiNormal · 01/05/2017 09:08

Bringing his parents into the argument was inappropriate also. He's tried to add weight to his argument by saying other people share his opinion that you're stubborn due to challenging gender inequality. You don't know if his parents actually hold this opinion, either way it's irrelevant to the 13 year old girl argument!! - My abusive ex also did this. Example: He would claim he didn't tell me certain things because of the way I react ie get angry/upset - the certain things being his affairs. He would say everyone knows how angry and over-the-top you get so that's why everyone lies to you; all the time. Left me feeling like it was me against the world and the whole world was lying to me.

OP if the only issues you have about his behaviour are based around these few days I would try to get to the bottom of it and keep an eye out for other signs of something that could be very wrong. However, if you look back over the past 10 years and find red flags you've missed before then it maybe time to leave.

Chops2016 · 01/05/2017 09:11

Sorry, but if me and DH were away we'd be drinking and shagging. You both sound full of angst and there's no fun.

It's perfectly possible to have a fantastic fun weekend away without spending it "Drinking and shagging" 🙄

I must have been the epitome of boring when we went for a weekend away with DH at 8.5 months pregnant!

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