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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'm distraught by his behaviour...still....

97 replies

babygoose48 · 14/11/2018 17:02

Hi everyone.

Please go easy on me, im not looking for advice really because I know what I need to do, but my councilling session isn't until next week now and I really need a go to :(

Regular poster will probably remember my 'being treated like a mug' thread in September and my other threads where basically I have been living with my partner of 4 years who is the ultimate of ultimate of the entitled 'man child' who also put me through a summer of hell by being emotionally manipulative and nasty to me on purpose.

I have been in therapy over this to try and get my head straight (I was having a hard time accepting and not believing that someone I loved could do this to me) and im on my third week next week.

So basically it all ended with me confronting him crying hysterically 6 weeks ago and saying I didn't want this anymore and I couldn't cope. I told him about the anxiety and dreading coming home and he got really mad when I said I thought he was bullying me on purpose and denying it.

So it took him a month of being really helpful around the house, making sure I was supportive and just being a lovely perfect, compassionate partner.

And then the games started last week again.

We go and pay for shopping in alternate weeks, but ever since we moved in I have been having to nag and remind him he needs to get shopping in on his weeks. The week before, I thought I'd leave him and trust him to take the initiative to go himself without me nagging.

Fast forward 8 days later, he still hadn't gone shopping. I had bought little bits in fresh for me to take to work, meanwhile he was complaining nightly that there was nothing decent in to eat. He asked me what we was happening for food that night and I pretty much said 'ill have the rest of the fries, you have the turkey dinosaurs' (LOL) as that's how stripped out we was. He went to order a take away, 2nd time that weekend and I complained about money with xmas and other family birthdays coming up and that we would have spent as much on food shipping on two nights of take away alone and that he cant keep putting the food shop off. He sulked and put the oven on.

In short, it took him TWO hours to get these chips and dinosaurs cooked, not bothering to put the food in after he'd warmed them up and then later with me anxiously stressing about the oven and checking on it (his turn to cook that night also). I realised at 9.30pm that he had put the oven on really low and therefore food was taking ages. We finally ate at 10pm. He seemed a bit off. I asked him if he was okay and he looked at me strange and said 'Yeah babe, why?' as if I was making it all up.

Fast forward to the next day I was laughing to my collegues at work about him not having the oven on high enough and not eating until really late at night. As I was telling this story I realised that he was doing it on purpose, and id left really anxious about the situation the night before and feeling like crap as he would be pretending to watch tv and 'forgetting' about the food.

I confronted him about it, and he directly told me he did it on purpose because he was mad that he had to eat turkey dinosaurs for dinner.

I asked whos fault that was (meaning him - shopping being put off).

He said it was mine because I stopped him from ordering a take away, and hed have a nice tea if I hadn't have complained (!!!)

He had purposely left me hungry until 10pm to punish me. (in my defense, I cook 5 nights of the week, it was his turn, another thing he avoids to do because he knows if he doesn't mention it I will give in and cook)

He was really nice again after he'd realised I caught him out with being sly and manipulating the situation to get me angry - I know it sounds stupid but I really don't realise at the time its happening that he's playing games - its usually when I reflect later about the situation that I have a light bulb moment.

Anyway, this month I am taking part on a project that is very important to me and runs every November. He had gotten jealous in the past that my attention (at least two hours work a night is needed to 'win' this project, it requires me to post updates on my work every night, is a good career boost and is a very challenging but rewarding thing, especially with working full time with one DD!).

On Saturday he had the weekend off (he normally works 6 days) and I asked him to help with the housework whilst I worked on this project and caught up from the week (DD at her dads). He had booked a round of golf in sunday and wanted to go to the pub to see his friends after, and I had DD sunday and knew I wouldn't be able to get any work done with her and catching up with the housework. He said okay, and then had an engagement do later on which he packed a bag for and left about 2pm.

When I went downstairs all he had done was wash up (but didn toffer to wash my plate so I also washed up) and he'd left the recycling by the door rather than putting it away because he couldn't find the shed key. I was mortified - The vaccuming, polishing, bedding washes, kitchen floor was full of cat litter and cat food, bathroom was a state etc would all be left to me on Sunday. So I was upset about that but never said anything.

Anyway on sunday night, he'd been out all day and I messaged asking what time he'd be home for tea and I didn't get a reply until 5.30pm... saying that after gold at 1pm he skipped the pub BUT went back to his mums and he'd been in bed all day! Knowing full well that I had DD, a house full of shit to sort out (I even messaged him at dinner asking how golf was and that the kitchen was a state and that I was that tired I'd felt hungover etc) AND HE KNEW I HAD THE PROJECT TO DO!

I went absolutely sick at him. Called him selfish and that he couldn't even think of me at home doing all this and juggling things, knowing he could have offered to help instead of bailing out. I was absolutely fuming. I was at the housework for about 4-5 hours, so I told him I'd left the bathroom and he can do that when he gets home.

He got home, got a beer and sat on his arse until about 9pm until I came downstairs and confronted him. No intention of doing the bathroom. Wrong of me but I flipped and kept saying 'im fucking sick of doing everything, fucking sick of being treated like a mug.@ He told me to fuck off and went upstairs and scrubbed the bathroom. I went to do my project, didn't get to bed until 11.30pm sunday night.

Sorry I am droaning on here im just trying to explain it all. went to work, text him about me getting shopping and two days later he hadn't text me back. I got home last night and he was at home early. Turns out he'd been off work for two days and hadn't told me. Not a finger lifted in the house. Piles of dirty washing and boxers on the stairs, which had been there since Saturday and he kept adding to. I went mad again and asked him what he was playing at and why on earth didn't he tell me he had been having sick days off work, he said its nothing for me to get upset about, why should I be upset?

I said its because normal partners communicate with each other and I knew it was because I had had a go at him at the weekend and he was deliberately punishing me for it (he does it with every big argument we have). and that the piles of washing on the stairs we have argued about before, (where I have broke down and begged him to stop doing it) I said was disrespectful and that he knows I'd be upset about it. like an act of defiance sort of thing.

He said the reason why he didn't tell me he'd been off work is because I haven't asked about how his day?!

And then he said, and THAT's disrespectful!

He said that if I want to be upset about him making a mess, then that's MY problem.

I think it clocked there and then and I agreed and thought yes, because I am allowing myself to put up with his shit.

He also said that to be upset about a small pile of clothes is ridiculous, like he was mocking me. minimising it. I told him that its not about a pile of clothes, it was that he'd been doing it continuously for 5 months now when he knew it upset me because I'm the one who picks up after him.

He said if it causes me that much anxiety, would it be easier just to... pick them up?

I told him I didn't want to be with him anymore and hes punishin me on purpose again and he denied it. Told me I was the messy one (have you seen the kitchen drawers babygoose?!) Acted all nice and coy and he acted shocked and surprised. He got upset and played the victim then, all over again like he did 6 weeks ago.

I thought he went upstairs to pack. He didn't. When I got my work done for the night I went straight up to bed. I woke up with him cuddling me.

I feel like I am losing my mind.

OP posts:
Musti · 14/11/2018 17:25

What a vile POS. Absolutely leave him.

saltandvinegarcrisps1 · 14/11/2018 17:25

OP I am exhausted just reading your post. You say you not looking for advice and that you know what you need to do ....so what are you going to do? You need to take actions to split up with this dick. Think about what you are showing your DD....could that spur you on? Show her you can be strong? I get you might not feel.you have any strength but staying in this so called partnership sounds so grim.

Zofloramummy · 14/11/2018 17:26

He does it because he doesn’t want to be thepartner you want him to be. He wants a servant and he will bend you and mould you until you accept that you were put in this earth to serve him. His needs. Having the housework, cooking, shopping, admin, sex are his needs and he wants you to meet them. And not only accept this but be grateful that he has chosen you to be his slave. He is more important than your mental health, your daughter or your emotional needs.

Believe me it’ll be easier once you realise that he is only nice when he is getting what he wants. So your choices are - become the person he wants you to be or leave. Because he doesn’t think he needs to change at all, he’s quite happy.

chocolatebox1 · 14/11/2018 17:26

What he's doing is not acceptable, if you think it is, you're way in over your head. I have been in the same situation as you and I'm going to be blunt - a therapist is not going to come up with a way to change his behaviour or help you manage him better. You sound like you're at breaking point already. Please leave. The therapist is to help you understand why you put up with this and to help you regain your self esteem. I can promise you now - if you stay with this man, things won't improve, they'll only get worse.

Zofloramummy · 14/11/2018 17:27

I left mine after 3 years with my sanity just about hanging on in there.

StormTreader · 14/11/2018 17:28

Its "strategic incompetence" - hes dragging his feet on everything he wants you to do, waiting for you to break and "just pick it up then".

I'm distraught by his behaviour...still....
pallisers · 14/11/2018 17:29

Like I am being a psycho over nothing and there’s nothing wrong with what he’s doing?

So what. Even if there is nothing wrong with what he is doing (there is of course) you can still get rid of him. He is making you miserable and ruining years of your life. That's enough to dump him straight out. You don't need permission from anyone to end a relationship. There is no "good enough" reason. If he says you are a psycho for wanting him to be different say "very likely but that's the way I am so bye then"

Zofloramummy · 14/11/2018 17:30

Oh and your work is only important for the money it brings in. Any additional interests (like your project) will not be tolerated because it takes your tome away from him. Therefore he will not lift a finger to help you because he wants you to fail/stop doing it.

How old is your dd? Do they get on well or does he find her an inconvenience?

Zofloramummy · 14/11/2018 17:30

Time not tome

VictoriaBun · 14/11/2018 17:31

You do not have compatible personalities . Tbh it's sounds like you have to micro manage him and you have fallen into the pattern of parent / child . That is not healthy for either of you .

Adora10 · 14/11/2018 17:32

I actually gave up towards the end; he's a sick fucker OP, whatever his issues are they are not yours, in essence, he does NOT have your back and NEVER will. You can go over his actions a zillion times in your head and even write it down here, no problem but you won't change the fact that he's a nasty piece of work and will in the end really do you over. I can only suggest you get to fuck away from the sick bastard.

Mitzimaybe · 14/11/2018 17:40

OP I remember your previous thread and I really thought that you had seen the light. I'm so sad that you have got dragged back in to the same cycle of misery.

You need to realise that this is never going to get better for you until you get rid of him. Each time you get to breaking point he makes a bit of effort for a couple of weeks so you give him another chance, and then he goes right back to his old ways. This will never change - he is not the person you want him to be, and he will NEVER be the person you want him to be. You said you were reading "Why does he do that?" and you identified him all the way through. So why have you not acted on it?

Get rid of him, do the Freedom Programme, spend some time by yourself for a while to rebuild your self-respect and your boundaries, then find yourself a nice man who will treat you with respect.

Hidingtonothing · 14/11/2018 17:40

This is what emotional abuse does to a person OP, it has you questioning your own mind, your behaviour, words, personality, your sanity. Do you think he is doing the same? Spending hours picking over his behaviour or what it is about him that makes you treat him this way? He's laughing at you, he knows exactly what he's doing and what effect it will have on you and he's enjoying watching you turn yourself inside out trying to understand him. You can't, because you are probably a decent person with a normal range of human emotions. He is cruel and vindictive and manipulative, it's not anything you are doing that's making him behave this way, it's WHO HE IS.

All this will become clear, after you leave, you will look back and wonder why the fuck you put up with it so long, why you couldn't see it at the time. But you can't, he's scrambled your head so much you don't know which way is up anymore, but that's why you posted, you need to hear it, read it from an outsiders perspective.

So here it is, he's an abusive wanker, you need to leave. Accepting that is hard but it needs to be done, you can't fix him, or your relationship so the only thing left is to save yourself. I think that's enough for you to deal with for now, accepting you have to leave is the first step and until you've done that nothing will change. We will be here when you're ready Flowers

bumbother · 14/11/2018 17:41

Think about what your daughter is learning from living in this situation.

What would you say to her if she came to you and told you she was in this exact relationship?

bumbother · 14/11/2018 17:43

And I don't see what good it's doing attending counselling only to go back home to that shit show of a relationship. That must be messing with your head no end.

FruminousBandersnatch · 14/11/2018 17:51

Does the love you feel for him really make up for all this shit?

I feel stressed and tired just reading that. You need to get out of this awful, unhealthy dynamic.

SouthernComforts · 14/11/2018 18:01

I understand it's taken years to get to this breaking point but honestly- the situation where the two of you think tucking into (presumably your child's?) turkey dinosaurs at 10pm at night as some kind of passive aggressive stand off is completely insane to me. The amount of pettiness, dislike and stubbornness it must take to get to that point baffles me.

What did your poor child eat that night btw?

A relationship should enhance your life. This definitely isn't Sad. I didn't read any further sorry.

You don't sound like you'll leave, but I hope you do.

Racontuer · 14/11/2018 18:06

You are not in love with this man, you are in love with who you want him / wish him to be. You are being drawn into passive arguments which are causing needless upset and anxiety. Remove the noise and minutiae of it all. Set clear boundaries. If he didn't make a dinner, sort yourself out etc.
He is acting like a petulant child and I got frustrated just reading your post. He is deliberately acting in a manner which increases your anxiety which is very unfair on you. How does that help anything. If he won't stop doing it and act like an adult you are wasting your time.

babygoose48 · 14/11/2018 20:04

I keep reading back what I’ve written and I honestly can’t believe this is the situation I am in. It’s like it’s from someone else’s pathetic relationship, not mine. But it is mine. 🤢

As for the advice thing, I know that the only thing left to do now is leave. My emotions are all over the place.

I am angry when I confront him when it all builds up, I am anxious when he plays these horrible games with me afterwards and then I am sad that this is the man I fell in love with who was once a kind and compassionate supportive guy.

I’m so fucking sad over it all. I know I have to end this, know full well that it won’t stop but I am just so sad.

I think I need people to give my good head a wobble, I need to rant and I need people to confirm that his behaviour really is wrong and that I’m not just picking up things over nothing.

OP posts:
babygoose48 · 14/11/2018 20:10

@southerncomforts - I don’t mean to play games with back that’s not me. The night with the food up to that point I honestly thought I was doing the right thing with leaving him to do the shopping, and after many situations where he’s left me o pay for things or not offered unless I asked I knew full well that if I was just to give up and buy the shopping he would do that every time it was his week. If I do things for him, he takes solid advantage. That’s where the anger over the turkey dinosaurs came from (no joke, his food not my DD’s! He is that lazy that’s his ideal of a meal anyway, he will not cook, as where I am vegan and mainly cook fresh every night I’ve not much option otherwise). He got mad because he wouldn’t even take responsibility that he had shopping to do and couldn’t accept the consequences of not going. And then shifting the blame on to me, without directly telling me until I confront him. I’ve been putting up with this and it’s really been difficult to come to terms with. I didn’t know. I honestly didn’t realise what he was doing. He just used to make me feel guilty and get me wound up or anxious, drop fed me until I snapped.

I only started to realise over the summer when something clicked.

OP posts:
Sarcelle · 14/11/2018 20:19

Why do you have to live with him? Be in a relationship with him if you must (and you say you love him) but why not just see him rather than co-habit.

babygoose48 · 14/11/2018 20:29

I wouldn’t want to even see him after I’ve come to realise all of this. I deserve better than this crap.

OP posts:
SouthernComforts · 14/11/2018 20:51

Ok fair enough.. I've seen advice given on here before to 'go on strike' so to speak and eventually the other person will step up.. it seems like for you though the food is the tip of the iceberg!! It really seems from what you've written there is no happiness or affection left Flowers

RandomMess · 14/11/2018 21:01

He's an utterly entitled pr*ck he will carry on until you give in and do everything and he can be a complete cocklodger- he virtually is already Angry

croprotationinthe13thcentury · 14/11/2018 21:02

I really dont know who is benefitting from this relationship. Not you, and not him even. It just sounds vile and toxic.
OP you know what you need to do. Complaining about this loser won’t change anything, and ultimately you are the one choosing to stay with him.

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