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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:
AcrossthePond55 · 07/07/2017 00:17

Telling my ExP that he's not welcome back in the house unless we agree in advance. No touching I think ought to be another

Abso-frickin'-lutely!!! He needs to keep his words and hands and lips to himself. And his fucking waiting round to make a dramatic exit has got me in a rage! Fuck him with a splintery fuck stick, the rat bastard!!! That is SO low!!!

Poppysquad · 07/07/2017 07:51

across thank you for your raging. Honestly, if you met him, he is so reasonable, pleasant, credible.

He did manage to get in a few comments about my reactions being childish last night. But now I don't argue back. I make a mental note. Controlling. He's putting me down, patronising me. It's part of the pattern.

One thing, he has taken on board is me saying that he kept 'threatening' to leave. He now talks about the fact that I say he threatened me. I think he finds that uncomfortable. It doesn't fit his self image - of the lovely, reasonable guy, being undermined by a partner who does not understand or support him.

Like I've said, just at the moment I am being brave, but I know that's for now. Off to work.....

OP posts:
Poppysquad · 07/07/2017 07:52

PS hermonie I've ordered a copy of the book.

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 07/07/2017 08:27

I'm still looking in, Poppy. You are doing brilliantly, with the help of these lovely wise women. When I read about him touching you and waiting in your home, it made me cringe. Definitely time to reclaim your territory I think.

Poppysquad · 07/07/2017 09:25

The bravery is slipping already. The carpenter has been in touch. He's planning on starting to fit the new front door tonight. There's just this and some gravel for the drive - and then the house can go on the market. Feeling emotional. I know I've got to get through this and getting upset about selling the house is stupid but we both put so much into this home. We both hoped that this would be our future sorted.

Incidentally - my ExP told me that I should get things into perspective and not be so emotional.

OP posts:
Poppysquad · 07/07/2017 09:26

Oh - and thanks pickleme

OP posts:
withouttea · 07/07/2017 10:28

Poppy now I'm raging on your behalf too! How dare he tell you that you are too emotional!

He does things like await your return so he can sweep out doing a dramatic 'leaving' - which is designed to provoke an emotional reaction - and then criticises you for being emotional! That's so gamey. And you absolutely can't win. If you display no emotion he'd probably tell you that you are a cold bitch.

Of course you're emotional. FFS! It's the appropriate response.

If I had a penny for every time my ex told me I was too emotional I'd be loaded. After we split, there were occasional flashes from him of emotional honesty. They were brief, and he always pretended they hadn't happened afterwards.Hmm but once he told me he was frightened that he was a sociopath because he just didn't feel things like other people seem to.

Being emotional is normal. Flowers

AndTheBandPlayedOn · 07/07/2017 14:22

You have things well in perspective now. He wants you to doubt this. Nope. The second guessing hasn't done a bit of good so no need to bother with that anymore.

At the end of the day it is just a house. You'll have another very lovely home in no time.

Koko Flowers

AndTheBandPlayedOn · 07/07/2017 14:24

*very lovely home=any place without him Wink

DistanceCall · 07/07/2017 16:25

my ExP told me that I should get things into perspective and not be so emotional

And you should tell him to fuck off. How dare he tell you what you ought and ought not to feel???

Bluebellforest1 · 07/07/2017 18:27

poppy just keep your cool.
Interesting that your EXP picked up on your use of the word "threatening". I once (probably about 10 years ago) told my H that he was a bully. Every time since then that we have had an argument, he has brought up that he is not a bully. He, too, comes across as a charming, lovely guy who would do anything for me. Yes he would "do anything" for me, as long as it's on his terms, and suits him.
I've had the dramatic leaving scenario too, he once flounced out drunk and said he was sleeping in his car because he couldn't bear to be in the house with me and my sons. I wish I'd not begged him not to, it was December and he might have died of hypothermia if I'd been lucky.
Stay strong, Flowers

AndTheBandPlayedOn · 07/07/2017 19:04

Stop listening to him. This isn't rudeness, just another necessary boundary created due to his behavior. Be the Grey rock. It is for people like him that the excruciatingly irritating word Whatever was invented.

You are over emotional. "Whatever"
You are the most cold, selfish, Wicked Witch that ever lived! "Whatever"
You are stupid. "Whatever"
These have been the worse years of my life! "Whatever"
I am leaving now, and will call you later (because I know you will miss me). "No, call someone else...please."

He is a part of your past except for the administrative task of him moving his stuff/selling the house. Can you put his stuff in boxes by the door?

AcrossthePond55 · 08/07/2017 02:29

Bag the rest of his shit, pile everything in a pile somewhere (garage, spare room). When he shows up point to it and tell him "I did you a favour and packed your shit for you. Now you do me one and get it and you the fuck out of my life". Tell him that future communications are to be via email and regarding the sale of the house only. You are no longer interested in his fucking new house, his fucking new neighbours, or his fucking new life!

If I wasn't 5300 airmiles from you I'd come over and do it for you! And give him a hobnail boot up his arse for good measure!!

Poppysquad · 09/07/2017 09:52

I have a new front door. A few coats of wax and that's that finished. I need to get tid if the skip and sort out some gravel for the drive and then the house can go on the market.

My son comes home today. He should be back sometime early afternoon. It'll be good to have him back.

The ExP is coming around later to collect his computer. I just don't understand why he didn't take it earlier in the week. I head a good look around with a girl friend. There's masses of his stuff in the house, clothes, underwear, ornaments, pictures.

I can't quite be as harsh as Across suggests but I will put the stuff out of the way so that I don't have I look at it daily and it's not staring me in the face as a daily reminder.

I've been a bit more in control this weekend. But am not looking forward to the ExP, I can't call him 'Dear' because he's not., coming over

OP posts:
Applebloom · 09/07/2017 12:43

Have lurked on thread OP your ex p is really dragging out the move out process and seemingly on purpose to illicit an emotional response toying with your emotions. You'd be best off out of there while he drags out his collections.
You could even do him a favour and box/bag up his ornaments clothes computer etc and leave in hall to 'help him make a swift exit'.

It would help you immensely possible by taking some control of this long drawn out break up. Leave a note saying think this is everything will box up any remaining belongings, that you'd prefer no further contact and be in touch with agent/solicitor details. Then you could skip out for afternoon.
Of course its not easy but you need mental space from him to grieve end of relationship and all you wished it could have been. But you can't do that with him invading your brain and space.

Bluebellforest1 · 09/07/2017 15:33

Hope your sons return from holiday cheers you up poppy, I love having my boys home, although the washing might be a bit depressing, Grin I speak as the mother of 3 sons. Has p been to collect the rest of his stuff yet?

AcrossthePond55 · 09/07/2017 19:12

I'm a mean one, I won't deny. But I think it's because I still remember what happened to me almost 40 years ago and I hate to see someone else being dragged through that emotional quagmire of having their deep pain being used to feed someone else's ego.

You do what feels right to you, poppy. But for the price of a 1st class ticket over I'll be happy to be mean for you Wink

Poppysquad · 09/07/2017 20:32

Hi Bluebell the boy is home. Sigh. he stayed out all night last night at a club before his flight so he came home absolutely knackered. He went to bed as soon as he arrived back home and I don't expect to see him until tomorrow. Oh - sorry - he did have time to tell me that tomorrow is one of his friends birthdays so he is planning on going out and will probably stay at their house. So maybe by the time I get back from my session with the counsellor, he will have gone out. Why do I feel like the next couple of months are going to be like this? What it is to be 19 Smile and do you know - just at this moment I am totally relaxed about it.

I forgot to mention - the counsellor has suggested, as she is a family therapist, that there might be some benefit in my son joining me for a couple of sessions. I don't know if he will agree. I would love to have had the opportunity to set things straight between us before he goes to Uni. I really want to make sure that he is OK. He says he is, but the truth is that I have put my ExP first on a number of occasions and I am sorry.

Across you do make me smile. Thanks. I am saving up for the ticket. But it might mean me having to forgo my F*CK YOU holiday. Smile

The ExP did come around today - and helped me finalise my more complicated tax return. He also helped paint the new door and took some more of his stuff, including his toothbrush. It was civilised. Him still demonstrating what a kind, thoughtful and supportive bloke he can be. I have to keep reminding myself - I think there's evidence he lied about my son. He has definitely said some awful things about him. You'd have never known today when he asked my DS did he have a good holiday. I really wish he hadn't been here when my DS came back.

I haven't packed his things into black bin bags.....yet. But I told him that I know that this is his house, but it's now my home, so he can't just pop around and let himself in and make a cup of tea. Which is what he did today. He looked really affronted. His bloody choice. He left.

After telling me about the range of interesting people he met at the residents party at his new home (rub it in why not?) He did tell me that he is not happy. Good. Neither am I. I am trying not to share too much of what I am doing. I just keep things to myself.

My theory now is that if I do not crumble and beg him to stay - fat chance. He will attempt to find another partner (nee victim) and if this does not happen in the next few months, then he might turn his attention back to me - in the hope that once my DS is out of the way at Uni I will be more accepting.

Right - I've had left over curry out of the freezer. I am not going to wash up. In fact I might even leave the plate on the table - shock horror! And I am going to watch 100% crap on tv. Sounds GREAT.

Brave now - and hoping it will last a bit longer.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 09/07/2017 23:58

Well, I wouldn't want you to miss your Fuck You Holiday!

His attitude that he should just be able to walk right in really riles me! If you don't feel comfortable changing the locks, do think about putting up a security chain or leaving the key in the lock when you're home so he at least has to knock when he shows up. Even if you do let him in, at least the message is being sent that you are allowing him into your home.

I think when he starts talking you need to put in some earbuds and start listening to music. And yes to his seeking out a new victim right away. And he will not have a problem finding one. There is no dearth of women who will fall for a sweet talking guy who starts out with big gestures of 'caring' and 'interest'. It's a trap baited with the sweetest of bait. And a new victim is necessary to him as oxygen. His ego cannot survive without someone to build up and then tear down.

withouttea · 10/07/2017 06:58

God, don't miss the Fuck You Holiday! That's so important Smile

My, you've come a long way emotionally Poppy - you sound relaxed and strong and at home. And you sound like you've been let off the leash!

Poppysquad · 10/07/2017 12:52

To be honest without I am still pretty flaky. I am just putting a good spin on it. If I stop and really think I still get a panicky feeling of 'is this really happening?'. It was only just over a month ago that I was in what appeared to be a secure relationship, with a man who I believed really loved me, I now that there were issues but I think I suppressed these. I was in a lovely home, holiday booked and retirement planning underway. And the truth is - that's now all blown apart.

No partner
House about to go on the market - and I have NO IDEA where I am going to live
No holiday - I've talked bravely about booking a FUCK YOU holiday but haven't done anything about it yet
And in a job where I believed that if there was an exit plan I'd feel happier

Sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming and I don't feel brave at all. One step at a time.

OP posts:
Hermonie2016 · 10/07/2017 13:10

Poppy, I can really relate to your feelings..I constantly think/thought "is this really happening" so reassuring to hear you express the same emotions.Perhaps it's the speed that the relationship implodes. It's as if you can't deny what is going on any longer and and then their reluctance to compromise becomes so apparent so it's over.They detach so quickly so it feels like a bereavement.

I am further down the line and it does get easier but it's certainly a journey.I think there is something about controlling or abusive relationships that take much longer to heal.

Selling the house may actually be a distraction, actions to occupy the mind.

Focus on what is working in your life, your son and friends, and keep faith that you are on the right path.

Poppysquad · 10/07/2017 16:31

Thanks Hermonie Counselling tonight. The counsellor suggested that maybe we should explore how I ended up in this relationship even though there were early signs of things not being right that I should have noticed and maybe had the balls to act on (my phrase, not hers). So maybe some exploration of why I was possibly vulnerable and / or have few boundaries.

I am sure it will be enlightening, but I am really tired and a bit fragile already.

OP posts:
Rubyslippers7780 · 10/07/2017 18:12

Take care of yourself. Be free. Take strength from your son, friends and these boards.
One day this will just be a memory.

Poppysquad · 10/07/2017 22:07

ruby. Thanks. I am back. Totally exhausted. Emotionally and physically. Posting here is keeping going. Thank you all.

OP posts:
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