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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

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:
WickedLazy · 07/06/2017 23:52

"He is trying to stay out of the way and has said - is it my fault mum?" Sad

Mrskeats · 07/06/2017 23:55

That's so sad what your son said.
Please think carefully about your future
You can pay someone to garden that won't be horrible to you. Life is too short for this type of nonsense

Poppysquad · 07/06/2017 23:55

Just to be clear. He did stay with me during and after the biopsy. But he did threaten not to. I woke up the morning of the procedure not knowing if he was going to stay or not.
I don't think that I can afford to buy him out of the house. Legally it's half his. I think that the only option is to sell.

OP posts:
Mrskeats · 07/06/2017 23:58

Him staying with you is the absolute minimum you should expect though isn't it? And he made you more anxious during an already anxious time, he just sounds awful

Poppysquad · 08/06/2017 00:00

Initially, when he first left I was devastated. It was a real kick in the teeth. So dramatic, heading off with nothing.

OP posts:
RunRabbitRunRabbit · 08/06/2017 00:05

Stop getting home earlier than you want for dinner. Stop cooking for him. He is the one at home, you are the one who works, he cooks the fucking dinner.

Poor DS, thinking it is his fault that his mum's boyfriend is so fucking horrible and she walks on eggshells.

Your boyfriend is a dick. Stop giving him the choice of when you break up. Take back control of your life.

Mrskeats · 08/06/2017 00:05

I think you are bound to feel that initially but it will go quickly

Poppysquad · 08/06/2017 00:06

What I am also ashamed about is that there's no sex, or even real intimacy, not even a prolonged kiss. And there hasn't been for some time. There's plenty of affection, kisses on my forehead, a hand resting on my knee, hand holding whenever we go out, pecks on the lips. I am 56 and he's 63 tomorrow.

OP posts:
RunRabbitRunRabbit · 08/06/2017 00:08

Are you expected to fawn and pander to his lordship because you are so grateful he is back? Maybe make super nice dinners, keep the worksurfaces super sparkling and of course make sure your DS doesn't wipe the table down wrongly or have friends over.

nakedscientist · 08/06/2017 00:13

Poor you and your poor son. This man sounds dreadful on many, many counts. Choose you, choose your son and escape from him Flowers

Poppysquad · 08/06/2017 00:14

Thank you. I am so grateful. I really need to do some thinking now. How and when......

OP posts:
DancingLedge · 08/06/2017 00:14

Yes, I think you'll lose your son.
He'll move on, and won't want to return much, to such a joyless house.

And you'll be left there, a prisoner of sorts, to someone who's pretty horrid if you don't do everything his way.

What do you want?

Butterymuffin · 08/06/2017 00:15

Bloody hell, what a misery guts he sounds. Do you want to live with being shouted at for not wiping kitchen surfaces for the rest of your life? I don't think you do. He is not worth your time. Tell him you are too different and it isn't working, and the house needs to go up for sale. (I would bet on him backtracking then, but don't listen.)

ThistleofIona · 08/06/2017 00:19

What on EARTH are you doing? I was hoping you'd say that the upside is he is sparkling company and a stallion in bed but no!!!

Bin him off! Get him to buy you out, and get the fuck out of Dodge!

ThistleofIona · 08/06/2017 00:23

And in answer to your question, well it doesn't matter really does it? You don't need a reason to break up with someone. You have that permission already.

blessedbrianblessed · 08/06/2017 00:33

Oh God - he sounds just like my ex. I'm so sorry to say this but he is a selfish, controlling twat. Please do yourself and your poor son the most massive favour and tell this man to fuck off once and for all. You can do SOOOO much better.

BeeThirtythree · 08/06/2017 00:42

Who is sleeping in your son's bed? A stranger? A friend? What is the objection there?

Maybe it is harder for partner to adapt to life with a child, although 19.

If this person has reached this age and still behaves like a teenager...the sulking/possessiveness/threats of leaving then he won't change!
Leave, do what is best for you and your child...support each other, be honest with your son, after exams and talk things over! You are not on your own lovely, get out and move on from this episode. Good luck with what you decide

Italiangreyhound · 08/06/2017 00:45

Poppysquad I am really sorry but he sounds awful. Controlling and unpleasant. "He did stay with me during and after the biopsy. But he did threaten not to. I woke up the morning of the procedure not knowing if he was going to stay or not."

I would say this is a hugely unkind thing to do to anybody, let alone someone you are supposed to love.

I would consider calling his bluff. Next time he threatens to leave just say "OK, you can go, we will sell the house and get a divorce."

He is driving a wedge between you and your son, he is demanding, he is undermining you, is there any affection from him, or from you?

Mrskeats "Life is too short for this type of nonsense"

Do not give up your job, if you like it, do not lose your son because of this arse.

Agree with RunRabbitRunRabbit "Stop getting home earlier than you want for dinner. Stop cooking for him. He is the one at home, you are the one who works, he cooks the fucking dinner."

Poppysquad no sex, no intimacy. "I am 56 and he's 63 tomorrow."

I'd get through his birthday and then seriously think about the future. It has to change or I would not stay. But YOU do what is right for you.

Italiangreyhound · 08/06/2017 00:49

"I really need to do some thinking now. How and when......"

I;d get the birthday and exams out of the way and just make your plans. Either he needs to change massively or I would really consider if you want to risk loosing your son for this man who seems to care so little for you.

(If strangers are sleeping in your ds's bed where is he, is this friends or strangers, or is it hook ups? Either way this is your home so you can set some rules but you can decide together. I would not want strangers there if ds were not home, but friends staying with him is different.)

peaceout · 08/06/2017 00:55

he sounds like a ball and chain to me :(

peaceout · 08/06/2017 00:57

these threats to leave, stop looking at them as threats and see them for the opportunities that they are.
He's offering you a way out, take him up on it!

1forAll74 · 08/06/2017 00:59

Yes, I think this is controlling from your partner, despite him doing his homey projects. But this is no proper way for your son and yourself to live at all.
Your partner is most probably too long in the tooth to change his ways,and maybe had or has a Father who was much the same to his wife, as in treating women in this way.. And its a wonder that all this home strife doesn't affect your working days outside your home.

I hope that you will eventually decided on the best course of action now,and that means for a more pleasurable life for yourself and your son..

It wont be easy to do what you may decide to do,,and also you might get some aggro whatever from your partner if you decide to split up.
Hope all goes well for you,

RedastheRose · 08/06/2017 01:19

It sounds like he is emotionally abusive and manipulative and unfortunately it will only get worse not better. Please tell him you won't be threatened with him leaving and you won't be made to walk on eggshells any more. Tell him what you want your life to be like (presumably you want a loving and affectionate partner) and that it not what you've got at the moment. If he doesn't like it and walks out again don't let him just walk back in. With abusive or manipulative people you have to watch their actions not pay attention to their words they generally tell you what nice people they are and how lucky you are to have them but their actions don't make you feel that they are nice or that you are lucky. You might benefit from getting some counselling for yourself.

AcrossthePond55 · 08/06/2017 01:24

Before you raise anything with him, I suggest you take whatever paperwork it is on the house to a solicitor to be sure that what you understand it says IS what it says. A 'therefore' here, a 'whatsoever' there can make a difference and often what we think we understand is not always what a document says.

If you have any joint finances, as soon as you've seen the solicitor, separate them.

Then get your house valued. I assume your options are 1-you buy him out, 2-he buys you out, 3-sell and divide the proceeds according to your document. Decide (with legal help if needed) which is the best option for you and stick with it if you can.

For now, pull back. Treat him politely, but distantly, as you would an annoying roommate. Begin to emotionally divorce yourself from him. Let him start to look after himself, cook for himself, clean his own clothes. Let him roar and bluster. What he thinks doesn't matter. What he says doesn't matter. Because he is NOT your future. But protect yourself and protect your son. If this man utters one threat, call the police.

BubblingUp · 08/06/2017 04:08

You know you are scraping the bottom of the barrel for positive traits when one of your good things is he does your taxes.