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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

Boyfriend's mum says I'm too old for him and attacked me

73 replies

raindropstea · 08/06/2017 10:20

Yesterday I was visiting my boyfriend's/partner's parent's house. His mum has a history of being emotionally abusive, screaming at him, etc. Both of his parents are volatile and were physically abusive to him growing up. We have an 8 year age different. I am early 30s. I've finished my degree and he still needs to study, but I see potential in him. I have had my doubts about the relationship, but we are working on things... I don't know if we will last or not, but I do love and care a lot about him and it pains me to overhear his parents talk down to him and degrade him. I literally heard his father call him a piece of sht multiple times yesterday and tell him to "fck off."

But earlier in the day his mum screamed at him that "She's too old for you... I think she's too old for you. She just wants a younger guy she can manipulate." (He brings me drinks and doesn't have me go get it myself and things like that when I'm visiting their house). So due to this, she finds me to be manipulating him. These things are incredibly hurtful to me! I spent most of yesterday crying. She then shouted "I don't give a SH*T if she can overhear me."

I have not made much effort to talk to his parents because I don't want to get to know these people. I find them rude and abrasive and LOW CLASS. I have treated them with kindness and done things for them, baked them things, even got his mum a sympathy card when their dog passed away (their 12 year old dog passed away and less than a week later they got a new puppy in the midst of moving into a new home - not a safe place for a puppy as the house is a freaking disaster).

There is so much more I could write here, but you get the idea of it. I'm just so hurt. I'm also feeling OLD AS HELL right now after her words. I didn't go out in search of a guy younger than me. I met him online of a forum that we were both on. He chased and pursued me. He was kind to me. We have had issues, but I care about him very much. I came into it with a clear and open mind about getting to know his parents, but they have been beyond horrid. I feel his mum and dad have crossed lines and boundaries and there is no going back.

Her words are terrorizing me and keep going on instant repeat. He told her I had been bawling my eyes out and she rolled her eyes. They had a "family discussion" after she said all those things about me which is when his dad called him all those things. He said I am rude because I don't always greet him. I tried the other day, but he walked past me while looking down at his feet the whole time. I am shy and have anxiety aroudn these people (because they are so volatile). He never looked up at me... usually I tend to smile and then say hello after making eye contact. Why would you walk past someone and look down at your feet the whole time if you want to greet them?

To make matters worse, they had this discussion in front of his two younger brothers with his mum constantly repeating "She is 8 years older than you!!!!" She suddenly has this issue with me. We have been together 2 years now and in the past she said it didn't matter. I've asked him repeatedly if he would rather be with someone younger than me. He says no and that he only wants me. She then said "Well girls in their 30s start to want babies and you're not ready for a baby." Said all this in front of his brothers. He said "I can change that and I'm working towards it." He wants to marry me. I don't want to be related to these people. They are beyond awful. It hurts so much. I've never had issues with a boyfriend's family in the past at all, always had great relationships with the parents and siblings, some that I am still friends with to this day.

I feel so judged and hurt by the comments that they have made...and attacked, embarrassed, etc. Questioning if my life is just one big joke.He told her I had been crying and knew what she said and she rolled her eyes. Her dad kept screaming at him to "bring her here and make her tell me to f*ck off to my face." He refused and told them I would never do that. I'm scared of these people. Wtf, I'm not going to go up to them and say that and although I'm hurt (and probably will eventually start to go through anger), I don't want to give them the satisfaction of stooping to their level and engaging in an argument with them. Please help, what should I do from here? Feeling sick over this.

OP posts:
DancingLedge · 08/06/2017 10:23

Stop visiting their house?

DancingLedge · 08/06/2017 10:25

Sounds like a lot of disrespect all round.

How's he feeling about all this?

raindropstea · 08/06/2017 10:27

He's very upset with them and doesn't want to speak to them again. They've done similar things like this in the past and I've always encouraged him to try to work through it with this parents. I just feel really insecure now... and hurt. I should clarify that I have made an effort to know them in the past - oh and his dad is a heavy chainsmoker. I don't want to be around the smoke and he knows this, but can't put down a cigarette for even 10 minutes.

He's embarrassed and hurt. He wants nothing to do with them.

OP posts:
thedancingbear · 08/06/2017 10:34

He sounds like a remarkably stable character given his youth and his background. Obviously there are issues that need sorting, but it sounds to me like you have a keeper there

DancingLedge · 08/06/2017 10:36

If you think so little of his parents, why are you taking their opinions to heart?

raindropstea · 08/06/2017 10:37

He is a good guy with a good heart. They were shouting and screaming at him, cutting him off while he tried to speak and he remained calm the entire time but his parents can't have a reasonable conversation. I just can't get over the hurt I'm feeling. And why did they need to say all this in front of his younger brothers? A part of me feels violated. His mum doesn't really have any business commenting on some of this. Both him and I are adults. But she has managed to make me doubt myself and I feel old now and have told him several times he should be with someone younger. He tells me I look like a 21-22 year old and he doesn't want anyone younger, etc and says all the things to reassure me. I just feel awful and beside myself.

OP posts:
raindropstea · 08/06/2017 10:39

Dancingledge, good question. I ask myself the same thing. I don't like anything about his mum. I struggle to find one thing I like about her and I have tried with her in the past... but now it's just impossible. The woman believes she is pyschic and that she can "divine" for things. She went around the garden with two sticks thinking she was going to "divine" for rain water for the garden. I kid you not, you can't make this sh*t up.

OP posts:
Smellbellina · 08/06/2017 10:44

I don't understand why you are hanging out at their house?

raindropstea · 08/06/2017 10:47

I'm not just hanging out at their house. We went for a visit as he needed to pick up some things and we were visiting from out of town.

OP posts:
CatsAndCandles · 08/06/2017 10:48

I'm so sorry you're going through this. They sound truly awful.

Sadly, if you stay with this guy, what happened yesterday is likely to be your life for a long time to come. If you have chn with him, you will have ongoing issues about their access. If you then separate, you will be permanently stressed and upset about their influence on your chn.

I know it's hard but I would definitely recommend ending the relationship and never ever going back there or having anything to do with them. Be his friend if you want to support him but please free yourself. Flowers

MorrisZapp · 08/06/2017 10:48

Why do you visit these degenerates? And as soon as they swear or shout, why don't you leave?

caffeinestream · 08/06/2017 10:52

Just stay away from them. If he needs to visit, he can go on his own, or you can wait in the car/go for a wander somewhere until he's finished.

I wouldn't be around anyone who spoke to me like that, regardless of whether they were my DP's parents.

raindropstea · 08/06/2017 10:53

Is early 30s old? I'm feeling like complete shit about myself right now, like the best years of my life are older. She made it sound like she would rather he be with a younger girl (she also hated his ex who was 3 years younger than him for what it's worth but she has also said I'm good for him because he is more ambitious with me etc).

I have thought maybe we shoudl end things... for his own sake, not mine. He refuses to and doesn't want anyone else. I've tried to tell him he could be with someone younger.

Morris, I would have loved to leave the minute they started, but had no escape as his brother went off to temporarily use my boyfriend's car for a few hours so we were trapped til he got back. Then later in the day the parents said all the other stuff while I was in another room. I overheard a lot of it.

OP posts:
raindropstea · 08/06/2017 10:53

*over, not older... typo.

OP posts:
raindropstea · 08/06/2017 10:55

Caffeine, I don't want to be around them. But they somehow think in their minds that this is how you force a person to get to know you more. His mum was apparently busy laughing and carrying on this morning as boyfriend called his brother this morning. She acts like nothing has happened. I honestly feel like there's a point you don't cross and no return from that point and she has crossed it. And somehow they managed to forget all the nice things I've done for them in the past. I brought his mum flowers before, etc... but all this stuff seems to have never happened in their minds.

OP posts:
TinklyLittleLaugh · 08/06/2017 11:01

Personally I would run for the hills. No way would I want to be mixed up in that. And I would worry, long term, about being with a guy from a family like that. Sadly he will have grown up accepting their behaviour and values as the norm.

caffeinestream · 08/06/2017 11:01

Then just don't go round there. You don't have to see/speak to them if you don't want to.

There's no point trying to rationalise with people like that, so the easiest thing to do is to just have nothing to do with them. Why are you still seeing them?

DistanceCall · 08/06/2017 11:02

OP, I mean this kindly, but this isn't about you.

Your DP has abusive parents. You shouldn't have contact with them. And I don't think he should, either, but I doubt he can see his situation very clearly at this point.

I'm sorry because it must have been extremely unpleasant, but don't turn this into an ongoing drama. Support your partner, ignore his family, be happy.

MrsOverTheRoad · 08/06/2017 11:02

You're too old to be hanging round what is essentially someone else's home OP.

Why hasn't your boyfriend got his own place? If he's saving then why don't you just spend time at your place?

MaidenMotherCrone · 08/06/2017 11:02

He has potential? You don't describe a person you claim to love as having potential. He's not a pet project.

You don't like them, they don't like you.

Find someone with a family you don't look down on.Wink

QuintessentialShadow · 08/06/2017 11:06

Nah, you cant be bothered with that.

If he wants to stop seeing his parents, support that, but if he wants them in his life, you'd be better off to move on.

He cant refuse to end it with you. He does not have that power. You can end it with him. Not because his mum is right, but because you dont want to be mixed up with such a family.

raindropstea · 08/06/2017 11:06

Maiden, you're taking what I said out of context which is unfair. Actually his father said he was impressed with me the ONE TIME that they sat down and had dinner together as a family.

MrsOvertheRoad, please read above. We were visiting. Too old? I just turned 31.

OP posts:
CanIHaveYourNumberCucumber · 08/06/2017 11:07

Personally, I think that she's seen that the age thing gets to you and is using that at any opportunity to get a reaction from you and him.

I'd suggest going NC with them, cutting ties and having a happy life away from their drama.

Your age has nothing to do with them, it's the drama and the reactions that they want.

raindropstea · 08/06/2017 11:08

Quintessential, he does want to stop contact with his family. But I don't want that to be because of me. But I totally get what you're saying. I don't have much else to say. Thank you all for replying. I'm just really hurt at the moment.

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadow · 08/06/2017 11:10

Why do you want him to be subjected to abuse? I am sure it is not new, he probably knows them better than you, so respect his wishes and dont go against him on this. That is so patronizing.

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