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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

I feel so mixed up. Is this controlling?

801 replies

Poppysquad · 07/06/2017 23:10

I am sorry, a bit of a saga.

I have been with my partner for four and a half years and we bought a house together about eighteen months ago. I have a son of 19, who lives with me, he is re-sitting his a levels at the moment. My partner has never had children.
Over our initial twelve months together he broke off our relationship twice. The first time we tried again, the second time it happened I did not contact him and left him alone and after time he came back.
There have been moments - when we took my son and a friend on holiday he told me that he would come home if the kids misbehaved. I ended up telling him that I couldn't guarantee their behaviour and I would rather go on my own. He was fine in the end.Since we have moved in probably every three months, he gets cross and threatens that he will leave. A number of these times are as a result of something my son has done e.g. allowed someone to sleep in his bed, i.e.the bed he brought into the house when we moved in, or using his speaker and letting it overheat. Once we reach this trigger there is a series of things that he says to me, like 'what do I do for him' - and I never support him and I don't do anything, I just come home from work and put the telly on. Just after Christmas we narrowed down the trigger for the rage as being the fact that I did not wipe down the work surfaces sufficiently.
It has built and built and just over a week ago, following a return from a weekend away, when my son wiped the table with bacterial spray and removed the wax and, so my partner says, allowed someone to sleep in his bed again, he just walked out of the house. Taking nothing with him. He just left. He stayed in a number of hotels for three nights. He called each day. Sometimes he seemed cross that I was not falling apart without him.
Then he came home! And here he is in the house, sleeping in the spare room, and I really don't know where I stand.
In terms of the controlling, I am expected to cook tea every night even though I work full time in a demanding job and my partner is at home and retired.
He likes to eat early so I feel under pressure to make sure I am home in time if I've stopped on my way home.
He is with me all the time. If a girl friend calls in, he just stays and joins in the conversation. I don't get anytime on my own.
He tuts and roles his eyes if I make a stupid mistake like dropping something,
He is critical of my driving and I have lost confidence in my ability to reverse completely.On the night before I went into hospital for a cancer biopsy with general anesthetic I knocked over a sleeper in the garden with my car. A silly accident and something I've done probably four times before. He had fixed this and I had broken it again. He was so cross with me that he said that he would stay with my during the biopsy, but he would not be here the following day. So, if the specialist had said that there could be an issue, he was saying he wouldn't be there. All because of a piece of wood. I was shocked.
He says that my son is a lazy s**t, who is totally inconsiderate. He is, to be fair, a typical self centred 19 year old. But he really is not a bad kid.
If I moan about how my son is behaving he tells me that basically it's my own fault as I had bought him up.
I don't know. This just sounds like a rant. I do know that I don't feel that things are right. I am worried that the nastiness could escalate. He is now in the house again, and I don't know what I want I happen. Do I want him to stay or not? Do I want a relationship with him or not?
Help ! Does anyone have any views?

OP posts:
Atenco · 18/06/2017 14:35

I think there is a psychological think that makes it more painful when it is the other person who makes the decision. I've seen it on mumsnet and seen it in RL. You were seriously thinking of splitting up and this man, as usually got in before you. If you had been the one, you would have your reasons for splitting at the forefront of your mind.

Call a friend, go out, start to rebuild your life, OP. Be glad of the good times you lived with him but remember why you were unhappy too.

Poppysquad · 18/06/2017 21:35

My partner now says he cares about me a great deal but he can't live with me because he can't rely on me?? Not sure what this means, I
I am going to go to the drop in centre for WA tomorrow. It will be good to speak with someone who is impartial.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 18/06/2017 22:22

I means he can't 'rely' on you to be a willing punching bag for his abuse. They only 'love' us when we are compliant. Once we begin to stand up for ourselves then we are 'mean', 'uncaring', and yes, 'abusive'. It's their way to get us back under control. It makes us even more compliant to prove to them that we love them. It's insidious. Don't fall for it.

Poppysquad · 18/06/2017 23:21

Thanks again. AndHermonie tomorrow I will be getting some good support. WA and counselling on the same day.

My partner is going to view another property about an hour and a half way. I saw that he had a tenancy agreement in his room so assume that this is serious this time. Who ever suggested he wants to make me jealous with this property is right.

I did go to some beautiful gardens today. They were truly lovely. It lifted my spirits. I went with a friend who, in the past, had suffered abuse. She was adamant that I needed to get away from this man. Not that I need reminding. I know I am grieving.

My partner does not seem to understand why I might be upset. He says he's nearly left so many times before. This was the cycle we'd go through. And he wonders why I told him that the threat, as I saw it, that he might leave, had a major impact on our relationship. It's like he has moved on.

He told me tonight that he thought that this might have been the relationship that lasted him through to his final days. Please keep reminding me, this is the man who has such low regard for my son, who is not interested in sex, who has said some awful things to me.

I just keep flip flopping about. He was with me when my mum died. He told her in her last few days that he would look after me. Last year we did three things together that had been on my bucket list for ever. He has been kind and supportive. Arghhh

OP posts:
Hermonie2016 · 18/06/2017 23:23

He cant rely on you to do everything he wants and never make a mistake.

I doubt he will ever find someone who will match up to his ridiculous expectations.
He's intolerant and probadly should just live alone and not be in a relationship.

AndBandPlayedScotlandTheBrave · 19/06/2017 01:25

You are a prop in the play that is his life. This degrades you and devalues your life (and that of your son's as well). (He was getting a two for one deal here.)

His breaking it off (how many times?) reminds me of the dynamic of my daughter's playmate who would stomp off when the other 3 wouldn't play how she wanted. The 3 others would run after her begging her to not go-I had a word to insist they stop doing that. She'd come back in 10/15 minutes like nothing happened. They are 9 and 10 years old-but it sounds just like what this bloke does to you. (Thankfully, sorry to admit, the one who stomps off moved away this weekend.)

Imho, the center of the manipulation to tolerate this awful behavior lies directly with the monetary materialism that they can offer up to cloud the judgement of the target. Don't be bought.

AcrossthePond55 · 19/06/2017 02:18

He thought it would 'last until his last days' because he thought he'd be able to keep you under control and compliant.

You've said he's walked out on other relationships. He probably felt the same way about them until they woke up, too.

Poppysquad · 19/06/2017 06:33

andbandplayed that was a real insight. Thanks.

OP posts:
blessedbrianblessed · 19/06/2017 09:13

AndBandPlayedScotlandTheBrave

You are so right.

And Hermonie2016 What you have said - Don't under estimate how your confidence will have been eroded.Sure he gave you compliments but when it came to listening to your concerns you were unheard and even blamed.That is so undermining as you question yourself and you will need to rebuild.

So, so true. I'm on that journey myself - and it is not an easy one.

blessedbrianblessed · 19/06/2017 09:16

Huge well done to you for how you managed yourself yesterday Poppysquad The earliest days were the worst - it gets better, slowly but surely, with each day that passes.

What I have to do though, is to keep on reminding myself of the bad times with my Ex-DP, so that I don't start to heal myself emotionally and then think 'oh well, I could try again with him'. Because it was down to him that I was in that state in the first place!

Good luck at WA and with counselling Flowers

wizzywig · 19/06/2017 09:20

Ive only read page 1. If your son doesnt want to come home from uni when he starts in sept thats your cue to leave this man. If my kids didnt want to live with me id wonder what id done wrong

123MothergotafleA · 19/06/2017 11:06

Keep on keeping on poppy.
This time next year you will look back, give a brief shudder and a big grin will cross your face. You will be FREE. Wahoo!

robinsongyal · 19/06/2017 11:27

It kind of sounds like he did all of those nice things for you (i.e organised tax returns, running, bills ext..) because he wanted to have full control over it. He would also be able to take any of those niceties away if he was angry at you, abit like punishing a child..for instance he used to go running with you, he got mad about something so now he just took it away..its a form of abuse within relationships. I say get rid! Good luck!

Poppysquad · 19/06/2017 22:32

I am shattered. WA and counselling. I
I came home to my partner telling me that he has been accepted as a tennant in the house he went to see yesterday. They want the tenancy to start next week but he doubts he'll be able to move in that quickly. He asked if I minded being his Next of Kin on his form. There really isn't anyone else. Apparently he has spent some of the evening feeling quite upset, crying and feeling sorry for himself and his predicament. I've been out, so I wasn't aware. He told me now disappointed he feels - the inference being he's disappointed in me. He feels I let him down. He says that I knew how upset he was about his things being used and abused but I said nothing (the truth is that I was actually scared that he would just leave). Hes moved on from the You're not reliable. If he is going, why does he have to keep stabbing me?

I've told him that I am sorry he feels so angry, I do still care about him - but he says words are cheap and when it came to it, there were no actions.

As I said before. I am shattered. I'm away with work the next couple of days and my son is working, working, working. So we will all avid each other.

OP posts:
RunRabbitRunRabbit · 19/06/2017 22:43

Cheeky fucker. I bet he is disappointed that you weren't willing to be the Stepford wife he wanted. I bet he is angry that he's going to have to train a new one. How very disappointing. He's right about the actions being the important thing and his actions have shown very clearly that he does not value your or your son as people.

I call bullshit on the tenancy btw. He can't move in time, oh really, why not? I reckon you are expected to beg him to stay now.

He's stabbing you because if you are hurt enough you'll let him stay and get back to cooking his dinner in desperation to make him stop stabbing you. It is a tactic that has worked extremely well for him in the past. I bet he will ramp it up even further, while being annoyed that you have "made him" have to do it.

Hermonie2016 · 19/06/2017 23:08

He's a blamer, to him it's very black & white.You are wrong and he is right and he will keep telling you.

Honestly 'used and abused' his stuff..someone slept in the spare bed! Maybe in his mind he's rational but I doubt most people would agree.

He is unreasonable and that won't change.The loss will hit him but he can't or won't take any responsibility so it will never be resolved..if he meets someone else it will be the same..she will have to walk on eggshells and adhere to his rules.

I wish we could name & shame these guys as I know they present as charming to other women..it would be a service to womankindSmile

AndBandPlayedScotlandTheBrave · 19/06/2017 23:48

He is shaming you. Verbal spanking. The Grand Pity Party, poor diddums.
All this crying? Wtf is up with that? (I know it is more manipulation, drama...is he an actor?) Dump him for being a cry baby.

His timeline on moving out is his problem, not yours. Print out a comprehensive list of movers for him, just being nice.

Do not apologize anymore. The word "sorry" shall not pass your lips to him again, ok? Enough is enough with that...not like he takes your apologies on board anyway.
It isn't you or your ds...and I would have presumed empty beds would have been fair to use unless made clear before hand...which he didn't do to your ds, so that is on him too.

Don't be his next of kin. Again, his problem. (However, if it helps him move more quickly...?) That will give him an excuse to contact you periodically. Clean break. Could you imagine if he was in hospital and you got a call as next of kin?
Do not let him pre-orchestrate an emotional quagmire for you. Just say: "no"

AcrossthePond55 · 20/06/2017 00:11

NO!! NO NO NO!!

You are NOT his NOK. Tell him that you want a 'clean break' and when he is gone all responsibilities and duties are gone, too.

He's just trying to drag you down. Don't let him do this to you!

picklemepopcorn · 20/06/2017 06:25

Anytime he starts up with his whining, "because you behave like this".
It's time to push back. You are not his stress ball to be moaned at and have his disappointment taken out on. "Because you do this" "because this behaviour is unattractive"

I don't know about being NOK. I would want to say no, but will he use it as a reason not to move? I'd do it now, but then tell him to take you off when all the business has been sorted out.

Poppysquad · 20/06/2017 06:51

Sorry. A complete meltdown. Soooo tired

My son did allow someone to use the bed my partner sleeps in, when he can't sleep in the same room as me cos I snore. It has an expensive mattress that he bought for himself - ages before we moved in together. My son was asked, by me , not to allow anyone to sleep in it, but reckons he was drunk and was not aware who slept where. Hmmmm. He was told it would be ok if a couple of friends came over, and It looked like the had been more than just a couple. He worked really hard at tidying up afterwards. It was not a party, just a few mates stopping over after a night out.

My partner says that this was the last straw. Apparently I was bothered about 'my' table that was damaged but I appeared not to be concerned about his stuff when my son had used and abused it. I did not say anything. Apparently I stood there and did not say a thing. This is not like me, this is the bit of me that has changed. I truly felt - this is it. He will leave now. I did not want him to think any worse of my son than he already does. He is inferring that I didn't do anything - meaning I obviously did not care that my partner was very upset about his stuff being used. This isn't one of the reasons he is disappointed in me.
Am I just a selfish cow? Did I not care about my partner and his concerns about his stuff. Should I have been more concerned?

Please, please keep reminding me that I am not making this controlling stuff up. Please keep reminding me that I have been miserable. Please keep reminding me that the relationship was not straight forward.

OP posts:
Poppysquad · 20/06/2017 06:53

Sorry I meant this IS one of the reasons he is disappointed in me

OP posts:
muffinmonster · 20/06/2017 07:55

Poppy, I have been lurking on this thread and I think you are doing brilliantly.

Your partner is putting 'stuff' above his relationship with you, his relationship with your son and, worst of all, YOUR relationship with your son.

You are right. He is controlling and manipulative and he does not value your happiness.

He is bringing out the big guns now because he is beginning to realise that you really mean to let him go. Keep talking to WA and posting here. Stay strong.

I think the next of kin thing is a ploy. I would say no. He's trying to make you feel tied to him.

Naicehamshop · 20/06/2017 08:47

What Muffin said.

He is putting his "stuff" above the emotional and physical needs of you and your son. He professes to love you, but he actually just uses you as a verbal punch bag when you don't do exactly as he wants.

In all fairness for your dp, he may not be aware of this behaviour, but it is emotionally damaging for you and son.

His behaviour is not normal or acceptable. Remind yourself of this everyday! Flowers

Naicehamshop · 20/06/2017 08:49

Also, don't listen to him going on and on about the bloody bed!! It's a minor irritation in the general scheme of things, and he should be able to put it behind him. The fact that he can't, speaks volumes.!

AnniesShop · 20/06/2017 09:19

I’m going against the grain here OP but have you thought about taking
this in stages rather than a final cutting off?
It seems the problems started or got unbearable when you moved in
together, could you compromise and see how it works out if you both
go back to living independently?
It seems there’s a lot of care and love for each other but the living
together niggles got too much.
I comes across to me that you have something worth salvaging.
I can understand where your partner is coming from when it comes
to getting upset about his things being disrespected. I look after my things - always have but my ex was the opposite. It is wearing and
difficult not to take it as a deliberate fuck you.
And I totally get that the way he is towards you is not on but I think
a lot of this behaviour is down to him being frustrated at the incompatable living styles between you both.
Good luck in whatever you decide, OP Flowers