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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

AIBU? Am I overreacting? That boyfriend would rather fix his car than see me?

110 replies

Crazymummy66 · 18/11/2017 13:38

Sorry about the ridiculously long post. Have ear infection from hell and I am on A LOT of drugs. Which are messing with my head and making me way more crazy than normal.

Having a blip with my man and can't decide if I'm overreacting or if he's being useless. Giving my crappy state of mind I'm majorly overthinking it all and think it could all blow up out of proportion if I'm not careful.

Been seeing my guy for a few months now. He's always been a gentleman, has moments of occasional uselessness but will then go out of his way to make up for it. We're in a committed relationship. He's told friends and family about us. He always makes time for me, apart from this weekend, grrr.

I've been really ill all week with an ear injection. Have needed intramuscular antibiotics. His car is currently broken so he travels to me by train which takes nearly 2hrs and he works funny hours so he's not been able to come and see me. He did send flowers though and has been in contact with me pretty much constantly, even remembering all my various appointments.

As I don't drive either we've been a bit limited in how often we can see each other. He has to get up around 2-3 in the mornings so it's impossible for him to stay here midweek and I have children so can't easily stay at his. This means we've only been seeing each other at weekend but if I'm honest that's been absolutely fine for me. We had a long chat recently and he told me he's hopefully changing his job after Christmas and that things will be easier then so I know that this not seeing each midweek is just a temporary blip and that he's trying to fix it. He's also been talking about moving closer to me.

His car has been broken for nearly a year. He works in London, lives outside London right next to the met underground, gets free travel from work so he's not really needed the car. He said until he started seeing me he didn't really missed it but since we've become an item he's been making quite a fuss about getting the car sorted. He won't take it to a mechanic because he's an engineer and says he can do it himself a lot cheaper. Suddenly he's basically saying he can't see me this weekend because he has to fix the car.

By Thursday a week of no sleep and being in agony has messed with my head a lot and left my quite frustrated. I have basically got myself into an increasingly negative anxious state of mind. Interestingly the drugs I'm on have anxiety listed in the bloody side effects.

Then to add to this he wasn't being very proactive about when we'd next get to see each other. He's kept going on about how much he misses me and wishes I was there but hasn't bothered to set anything up despite me doing some major hinting about when I was free. On Thursday I found out I can upgrade my phone so I said to him that I was having lunch with my mum on Sunday so we could sort it out ( mum and I share a contract as we've found it's cheaper) He seemed ridiculously interested in me getting a new phone so I made a joke about him coming with us and he freaked out a bit so I made it clear that I was joking and didn't expect him to come. Anyway I had made it crystal clear that I was free Saturday but not Sunday (unless he wanted to meet my mother for lunch) Finally on Thursday evening I said

"hoping I get to see you some point this weekend xxx"

He doesn't reply until 2:30am Friday morning, that's his regular getting up time.

"I'm working on my car Saturday, I'll see how it goes, are you free all weekend? Xxx"

At this point I feel like screaming because I've told him when I am free and I feel like he's putting his bloody car before seeing me. I mean how could anyone that really likes you and misses you put a car before you?! Especially when they've made do without the car for months?!

Because I'm upset I don't reply, I need to calm down first. Interestingly within minutes of me reading that message on WhatsApp he sent me another message saying "Good morning beautiful xxx" he then sent another one 2hrs later "how are you feeling?" So I think he was worrying about what I was thinking. At this point I'm not ignoring him, I'm just busy with the school run so I say "good morning handsome xxx" and he replies "are you ok? Xxx" I said I had just been busy doing the school run. Then he was like "get your new phone tomorrow! You'll be able to see pictures of me without cracks all over my face" Seriously why say this?! And why the sudden interest in me getting my phone on Saturday when I've made it clear that I'm getting it Sunday? I reiterate that I need my mum to do it with me and she can only do Sunday. He then starts suggesting phones. He's going on and on about a new one that's coming out this week that he's planning on buying and is basically saying I should get the same phone. I'm confused and don't understand why it matters so much to him. And I'm feeling really sad at this point because all I want is to see him and he doesn't seem remotely bothered about seeing me. At this point he realises I'm being a bit off. I know that I'm really not behaving like myself and decide to be honest with him so I pour my heart out:

"I'm really sorry I know I'm probably coming across in a bad way. My head is totally fucked. A week of not sleeping, being ill, not being able to exercise has just totally screwed me up. I'm in an incredibly over anxious state of mind where I'm just seeing lots of negatives. It's making me micro analyse everything you say and I keep coming to conclusions that I know in my heart are wrong and stupid but my head just makes me think negatively"

He replied straight away

Him: "OK well hopefully not too negatively about us. I tend to do the same so know how you feel when you over analyse things xxx
What would make you feel better? Xxx

Me: I just need to know that we're OKxxx

H: Yes, of course, I would say if we weren't. I'm very much into you xxx

Me: OK thank you xxx

H: Send me a photo of you xxx

Me: I will do in a bit xxx (I can't right at that moment because I'm crying)

H: What conclusions are you coming to about us? 😞

Me: Its just my head being stupid xxx

H: Ok.... Hopefully it is xxx
So is there something not OK about me?

Me: No you're perfect, its nothing youve done. I don't normally worry about us. I've just convinced myself that you don't really like me. I know I'm being stupid xxx

H: Yeah a little, nothing to worry about. I really like you xxx

Me: Deep down I know that. I'm really sorry xxx

H: Don't need to apologise 😘

Me: No I do need to because I'm now making you think that you've done something wrong xxx

H: Its OK, just need to know you're into me xxx

Me: I am incredibly into you. More than you realise xxx

H: That's good I guess 😚xxx

Me: You guess? Xxx

H: Bad choice of words. Its good but I don't know how much which is why I say I guess. The more the better.... Better than if you didn't like me xxx (seriously what does this message mean!? What is he trying to tell me?!)

Me: I like you a lot, its why I'm freaking out a bit. I think I like you more than you like me and my head has gone into overdrive from being ill xxx

H: I hope you feel better soon xxx

Then the conversation peters out because I fall asleep. When I wake I message him and tell him I'm feeling a lot better and apologise for making him anxious. He takes 2hrs to reply and just says "you haven't xxx". Then when I try replying I only get one tick on WhatsApp and start freaking out. It's like that for hours and hours so I start thinking he's blocked me because it doesn't make sense. He always keeps his phone on, even in the cinema, he always has a battery charger with him too. They don't finally go through until midnight. But 8am there's nothing from him which is really unusual. In the end I send him another message asking if he's ok and saying how much better I feel. And I say to let me know how he gets on with the car as I'd love to see him.

He's replied saying he's overslept and is just squeezing in a gym session before his dad comes over. No comments about wanting to see me too or that I might be able to go over there, nothing.

I send a quick response back just to show I'm not grumpy, I don't expect anything back. to my surprise he comes back to me straight away and then replies straight away to me next response.

Then he puts: "are you phone hunting today?"

And I feel like screaming! I'm made it fucking crystal clear that I'm phone hunting on Sunday! I'm free all day and night today but you'd rather fix your bloody car and haven't made any suggestions as to when you'd like to see me or if you even want to see me.

I mean seriously how can he say that he "really likes me" and say he's "very much into me" when he's then not making an effort to see me?! Why does the car come before me?

He's now been messaging me enquiringly about whether the phone contract on this new phone that he wants me to get are reasonable and how he's going to buy this phone (brand new £450 odd pounds) on Wednesday.

You know what mark for £450 you could've had your fucking car fixed ages ago!

I'm so fed up and have no idea how to proceed. I really needed to see him this weekend. Especially after my little blow out.

I just don't get him this week. He saying one thing but acting another.

"Bad choice of words. Its good but I don't know how much which is why I say I guess. The more the better.... Better than if you didn't like me xxx" what the hell did he honestly mean with this message?!

"The more the better" I thought that was him saying that he'd like it if I liked him more than like if you know what I mean?

So I then said the whole liking him a lot things and thinking that I like him more than he likes me and that's when he went a bit strange so now I'm thinking was he just fishing to find out how much I liked him and have I now freaked him out?

I am so fucking confused.

Anyway a boyfriend who'd rather tinker with his car than see his girlfriend doesn't bode well does it? 😢

He's now messaged me saying how tired he is and I've just been really blunt and said:

"Oh dear, I know the feeling. Guess I won't be seeing you this weekend?"

And he's replied straight away:
"Hopefully, probably having dinner with my parents, feel bad if I don't as my dad is spending time here xxx"

Don't know exactly what I'm supposed to make of that!

OP posts:
Iceiceice · 18/11/2017 14:20

Wow. I thought I was a bit emotionally intense.

This is similar to my relationship at the moment. However the issues that complicate emotions for me are far, far more life changing serious and therefore I'm just leaving it alone for a bit.

This is not healthy. For either of you. He sounds like he's busy.

lexi873 · 18/11/2017 14:22

Thats 5 minutes of my life I won't get back reading drivel like this! Hmm
The poor guys done nothing wrong!

HelpMeToUnderstandThis · 18/11/2017 14:22

Oh my life. That was like reading text messages from my ex bf (have a thread).

We have just split up for good. Not because of anything i have done, or my feelings, but because of the ridiculousness of his reactions to things like one tick on whatsapp or me not replying to a message in a timescale he determined appropriate. Or me not prioritising him over every single other thing in my life.

Get a grip or you will lose him.

bigchris · 18/11/2017 14:27

Aw bless it's awful to feel insecure and paranoid like that

I'd be open with him and say, do you want to go for a drink Sunday night?

overmydeadbody · 18/11/2017 14:29

Oh my god op, you sound like hard work.

He is allowed to fix his car on Saturday. Why shouldn't he?!?

You need to chill out. You have plans on Sunday, imagine if he was upset about that!

bufin · 18/11/2017 14:30

I'm sure you realise that your messages are off putting OP.

Calm down, act reasonably and go for damage limitation would be my advice. Less is more applies here for sure.

EvilRinguBitch · 18/11/2017 14:30

Yes you are completely right to suspect that you are overreacting and the drugs are making you crazy.

I suggest one final text “sorry if my texts have been a bit weird - combination of drugs and pain making me over emotional. Good luck with the car, see you soon. Xxx”

TheNewSchmoo · 18/11/2017 14:31

That poor man.

1DAD2KIDS · 18/11/2017 14:32

I have just declared that I have to fix my car on Sunday rather than spend a nice day out. The sqealers are kicking in now on the pads and too be fair the disks could do with replacing too. It needs doing at the end of the day. But I did ask her if she wanted to help me do them so we still get spend time with each other before we both get our respective kids back tomorrow afternoon. She said yes.

Crazymummy66 · 18/11/2017 14:33

I'm not normally like this. I have been extremely ill, was even in hospital for 48hrs. I'm having to give myself antibiotic injections

I know I'm not myself hence posting

There really doesn't need to be so many hurtful comments

And I travel to his house just as much as he comes here

OP posts:
ReturnOfTheMackYesItIs · 18/11/2017 14:39

Jesus Christ. And that's just from reading 2/3 paragraphs.

Stop sending him weird messages. Get some sleep and don't talk to him again till you can control yourself. You WILL put him off otherwise.

justkeeponsmiling · 18/11/2017 14:39

1DAD2KIDS what??

Wolfiefan · 18/11/2017 14:43

No. Tried twice and can't get through that.
He's not "your" man. He doesn't have to see you every weekend.
Dial down the crazy!

LML83 · 18/11/2017 14:45

I think you know yourself you are being oversensitive probably because you havent been well.

Rest up, try not to overthink it. Seems generally he is attentive and the messages suggest he really likes you. Hope you feel better soon Flowers

OnionKnight · 18/11/2017 14:46

If you're that ill, surely it's better you stay at home to recover and he stays at home and fixes his car so that in future it's easier to see you?

AfterSchoolWorry · 18/11/2017 14:48

Jesus. I'd be gone if I were him. What a load of unnecessary angst for nothing.

You'll drive him away.

What medication are you on?

Is it steroids?

Cockmagic · 18/11/2017 14:49

Your hard work op!

Give the guy a break, I know you're not well but pull your big girl pants up and crack on with it.

I'm surprised he hasn't fucked off by now 😯

Hermonie2016 · 18/11/2017 14:53

So how will you react if you are feeling stronger about him?

This is what you ultimately have to acknowledge could happen with anyone.How you deal with it and self soothe is an important life skill.
Once you know you would survive and even thrive, if he cooled off, you might feel the anxiety disappearing.

glow1984 · 18/11/2017 14:56

I couldn’t read all that.

It’s one weekend, and his car needs sorting. Get over it.

DelphiniumBlue · 18/11/2017 14:57

Are you underestimating how ill you are? Because it sounds like you should be in bed, not out shopping with your mum or considering entertaining your boyfriend.

HelpMeToUnderstandThis · 18/11/2017 14:59

Tbh, the having dinner with his dad comment is because he's not happy with the level of texting and is creating a bit of emotional/physical distance between you both.

Don't try showing him you're not crazy by sending bright and breezy loaded comments, show him by being reasonable and rational.

I am being serious about my recent exbf. I am walking away permanently. Not because i don't love him or care about him. And i do miss him. But i cannot cope with the stifling expectations he has of "My Girlfriend".

ButtMuncher · 18/11/2017 15:02

If you've been really unwell requiring hospital treatment and the medication is making you this unstable when dealing with everyday situations I'd kindly suggest not going shopping. Sounds like you need to rest up and get better, both mentally and physically.

loveyoutothemoon · 18/11/2017 15:07

Bloody hell you sound like hard work! He's being patient now but you'll end up losing him. It's just ONE weekend!!

GinisLife · 18/11/2017 15:08

Freakin hell !!!! Whatever happened to picking up the phone and having an actual conversation rather than all this text angst ???? You could say what you wanted to say then and gauge his reactions. It's posts like this that really do make me wonder why I am single when I'm so not like this. Why do men prefer women who are total drama llamas ??? Grrrrrr

OldWitch00 · 18/11/2017 15:10

You’re needy and insecure. I’d be telling my sons to steer clear of you. I’m fixing a car is not a eupfamism for I’m shagging someone else. Let him sort out the car!