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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

How common is it that men behave like this?

62 replies

Jtaylor143 · 14/05/2017 16:25

I need to question myself because although I am independent and wise enough to realise it is probably not acceptable behaviour, I feel like I need to know that I am not alone in this because I am being made to feel like I am at fault with everything.
After logging in today, I noticed the top thread and had a good read, it's amazing that someone has written that to support other women/men going through shit relationships, but it is easier said that done.
What has prompted me to write this thread is the passive aggressive argument I just had with my fiancé, and the realisation that he was never like this before we had our son (2 years old).
We came back home after dropping my dad off and I came into the kitchen to finish washing up and was going to start making lunch for us. We are a bit scrapped for cash till pay day at the end of this week, so it's usually putting food we find in the fridge together and making it work! My fiancé asked what was for lunch I said I would make a toastie. He asked what with, I said ham. He moaned that he had pork for breakfast (I made him a bacon and egg sandwich), and we were going to have pork for dinner and so he didn't want pork for lunch. Now, he is very hard to please and most of the time won't have a meat for dinner if he's had that for lunch, he wants 'variety'. Well when we are skint and need to use up the food until pay day, I'm afraid that's what I was going to make. He said, well you don't suggest anything different like an omelette or some soup, I said I can make an omelette and we do have a tin of soup actually. He said no, I will have the beef burger that's in the freezer you will have to grill it. I looked at him in disbelief, because it's not like he asked me nicely, he went on and on just nagging and bringing up other nonsense. I walked away pottering about and he just came up to me and said, I expect you to make me lunch.
Since having our son, I can count on one hand how many times he has cooked for us. And when I cook, most of the time there's a complaint about something.
I just looked at him in disbelief and just went up to the bedroom and started crying. He waited a while and eventually realised I was going to make him food, so he's now left to go somewhere.
I would never have put up with this, and various other demanding behaviours of his, but I find myself becoming more and more submissive because I don't want my son to grow up in a household with constant fighting, as I did. So I just want to keep the piece, even though he's just chipping away at me until there is nothing left of me. We get married in a few months, and I'm just enjoying doing the craft for the wedding, I'm not really excited about the actual marriage. I feel like it's doomed already. We have spoken so many times about this and how he's made me feel, I even went (and still on) anti-depressants, I feel like I have completely lost myself and what I stood for before we had our DS. I'm a true feminist yet I can't stand up to this.
Is it normal then men expect you to change once you have children, and does anybody else's SO need to have different types of food in a day cause I'm going out of my mind!

OP posts:
Changedname3456 · 14/05/2017 17:21

I can't speak for all men, obviously, but (as a man) I'd be horrified if I ever heard one of my mates say that to his DP/DW. I'd be seriously considering our friendship.

I cook a little less often than my partner, do the washing more often, Hoover slightly less, clean the bathroom more than she does, etc. Nobody keeps score, but it all about evens out. As it should. We both work FT, have a varying number of kids in the house (depends which weekend it is) and several pets. If we didn't pull our weight collectively it'd all collapse into something you'd see on "secret hoarders."

I expect her to pull her weight as much as I do, but realise there are days when she has less time and other things on her plate so I step up what I take care of - and vice versa. That's what a partnerhip's about.

This guy sounds like a Neanderthal and someone missing a mother figure/scullery maid in his life. Don't fill that space - and put some serious thought into stepping back from the relationship now. There'll be a high cost in both emotional pain and cold hard cash if you go through with this marriage.

laundryelf · 14/05/2017 17:21

Hermonie2016 said exactly what I was going to. Please don't make a bad situation worse by marrying this man. You're already putting up with crap because you are trying to keep the peace. Better to split now than divorce later.

AgentProvocateur · 14/05/2017 17:21

Why would you even think about marrying this abusive dickhead? He's only going to get worse - not better. Do your son a favour and don't settle for this poor role model.

AnyFucker · 14/05/2017 17:21

You don't need to "stand up" to him, love. Healthy relationships should not involve that.

You need to get away from him.

londonrach · 14/05/2017 17:29

Op can you live with this guy for the next 40/50 years? Does he make you happy? Why are you marrying him? Look after yourself and ds

Smeaton · 14/05/2017 17:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kirsty157 · 14/05/2017 17:36

This will get worse once you're married and he thinks he has you. Yep u need to leave him xx

Fluffypinkpyjamas · 14/05/2017 17:45

Another one saying please don't marry this man. It WILL get worse.

Awoof · 14/05/2017 17:55

I've never felt so compelled to post on a thread Jtaylor.
I was in your exact position 18 months ago. I hope you know that you're not in the wrong here and you're not thick for not seeing the signs. My ex fiance was so lovely before I gave birth to our dd but just slowly morphed into a nasty misogynistic pig. I didn't see it coming at all.
Anyway it started out like yours criticism over food and cleaning despite him not lifting a finger and then began the financial constraints, sulking, digs at my appearance (never direct but constant insinuation I was too fat/thin) he made it so hard for me to work full time, pestered me sexually etc etc.
To the outside world he seems like the perfect bloke who worshipped me and his dd but there is a dark slice of him for sure.
Anyway it came to a head when he started intimidating me physically. Never a slap or a punch but backing me into a corner and shoving hands in places I told him not to while I was doing domestic tasks.
It felt like death by a thousand cuts and it broke my heart.
What did it for me was the idea that my dd would grow up believing that this is how men treat the women they love.
I broke off the engagement in march last year and it has been tough. BUT my dd adapted so quickly, I think due to her age. They still see each other and have a good relationship, even if he is still sometimes awkward with money etc.
It is hands down the best thing I have ever ever done and I haven't regretted it once. I feel happy and free and my little household is calm and positive.
I did have to bat away a lot of comments and nastiness. People thought I was fucking nuts, but they're not the ones who were signing up to spend the rest of their lives with the bastard.
There is some fantastic support on here, so do educate yourself on what is available to you.

I guess there will be some posters telling you to talk etc but honestly I believe that you shoulder never really have to explain to the man who loves you, that you need him to be nice to you. Hope that makes sense!

mrholmes · 14/05/2017 18:26

He sounds a bit of a dick to be honest. If I talked to my partner like that she would tell me where to go very quickly and I would deserve it too.

I think it's a case of you letting him get away with murder so now he has.

Jtaylor143 · 14/05/2017 18:34

Hi Awoof, thank you for your post and kind words, and I'm glad to hear you're in a much happier place. How old was your DD when you left him, and how did he take it? I did once mention to him that I didn't want to marry him when we intended to get married, to delay it a bit, and his reaction was incomprehensible. He said that I would be ruining our sons life... without him thinking well why does she want to call it off, is it something I can do to fix it. He never thinks he's in the wrong. We have ups and happy times then this shit happens, but it's the same shit. Iv told him so many times the more you demand stuff the more I begrudge doing it for you and the more arguements we will have. He thinks he does his part 'for the family', and he is hard working, but only with the jobs he's decided he wants to do (like gardening, sorting out the garage, finances), never what I would like him to help me with, so really he's no help at all!
I had to speak with his father in the end, who supported me and said it was abuse. Which shocked me that he said that, but what's more shocking is that he's learnt this behaviour from his dad, his mum does everything for him, and still spoils my SO that it gets me really riled up. He won't change because he's seen it himself growing up. But then there's a little part of me that thinks I can change that because I won't succumb like his mum did.

OP posts:
Jtaylor143 · 14/05/2017 18:35

Yes you're right Mrholmes

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 14/05/2017 18:36

You have already succumbed.

Damage limitation is all there is left now. Save yourself and end the relationship before the next generation pays this shit forward.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/05/2017 18:37

Please don't ignore your gut feelings and please, FFS, do NOT marry this man. It will be a nightmare.

mrholmes · 14/05/2017 18:52

I'm with AnyFucker

I hate banding the word abuse around so I'll just say it's a very unhealthy dynamic. Nobody should have the power in a relationship power so to speak should flow between you both in the form or consideration and respect.

SaltySeaDog72 · 14/05/2017 18:56

Damage limitation time, absolutely. Cancel the wedding. It will be without doubt the worst mistake. Please don't do it. You can't live like this. Stop the pattern repeating itself and leave him. Do it to set a good example of to your daughter of good boundaries. I am like you intelligent and feminist but if happened to me too. As soon as I pushed a baby out of my vagina ExH turned into a misogynist pig. It's not you fault, it creeps up.

Don't waste too much time explaining to this disrespectful excuse of a man. Just say 'I've realised you're not the man for me' and start a happy life as a family of two.

If I can, you can.

mrholmes · 14/05/2017 19:00

I'd just like to add that although this might not change. I do think people are capable of change but it's not your job to make him see his behaviour, you can try by talking to him but if he won't listen and blames you your are fighting a losing battle.

It's your job to make sure you are happy and your kids too. That's it then, job done.

CiliatedEpithelium · 14/05/2017 19:04

There's only one answer to what he said. "Get tae fuck"
My ex was abusive but even he knew if he had said to me what your 'D'P said to you I would have walked. He's a twat. If you would leave if you didn't have the DC, leave anyway. Children should not be a litmus test.

averylongtimeago · 14/05/2017 19:06

AnyFucker has it right.
By the way, the correct response to "I'll make a ham toastie for lunch" is "thank you".

ItalianMare · 14/05/2017 19:07

I think you should tell him you expect him to fuck off to the far side of fuck. Then leave him. He wants a maid, not a wife.

Awoof · 14/05/2017 19:47

Jtaylor - it took about a week for him to get his head round it, and another two to leave. He seemed to act like I was having an extended tantrum which was even more infuriating.
And the same as you - it was all about 'how could you do this to dd' etc etc no recognision of his turning into a stranger and grinding me into the floor.
He very much became 'the victim' in the break up and me the villain. But I can cope with that.
I bet your dp doesn't talk to his grandma/Co workers /female friends anything like the way he speaks to you? And I bet it's not in front of your friends and family is it?

Jtaylor143 · 14/05/2017 19:52

Awoof- surprisingly he does. My mum does not like him anymore, yet seems to be still excited about the wedding??! I'm really confused with it all. He speaks with his mum the same - not in how she should run a house but he can shout at her and be disrespectful, it's embarrassing. He'll tell my mum how it is sometimes, because admittedly she can be overbearing a lot, to be honest they clash. So to sum up, he doesn't seem to care how he speaks to me in front of others! Writing this all down in black and white I fail to see why I am still with him, sadly enough. My little boy makes me so happy though I'd hate to break his family home.

OP posts:
Iflyaway · 14/05/2017 20:17

Iv questioned myself many times whether I should go ahead with the wedding, a year to be exact.

Sweetheart, this tells you all you need to know.

Please listen to your intuition/instinct/little voice within).

You say you are a feminist, but it's not coming through to me. He has worn you down and treats you like his personal maid. And not even kind at that!

Why are you putting up with this?

Please get out and don't subject your child to this kind of relationship.
He will grow up thinking this is how you treat a loved one. WTF!

You have a choice even if you don't feel you have - please contact WomensAid -

rumred · 14/05/2017 20:23

You are equal partners. He is treating you as a lesser being. Stand up for yourself and get rid. He has no right to treat you like shit, noone has. Being a man isn't a trump card. This is sexism and contempt all rolled into one. Please plan your escape

Cloudyapples · 14/05/2017 20:32

You clearly love your little boy and sound like a fantastic, caring mum. Don't stay because you are worried about breaking up his family. Leave because you don't want him to be exposed to his fathers bad behaviour. Do you really want him to grow up thinking that the way your partner speaks to and treats women is acceptable?

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