Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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’ve just asked my partner to leave. Am I in the right?

54 replies

Sj325 · 17/01/2019 18:35

Background - I’ve been with my current partner 3 years and am 7 months pregnant with my 3rd, his 1st child. I have 2 DC’s from my previous relationship. He hasn’t moved into mine yet but stays over most of the week (between 5/6 nights) although, he’s in the process of moving all his things to mine to move in at the end of the month.

He got a new MacBook about a month ago and literally any spare time he has is spent on the laptop playing some football manager game. I’m not exaggerating when I say this. He has even “worked from home” all this week as apparently his skin is very sore (he suffers from eczema) and the air con in his office aggravates it. He’s worked in the same office since we met and it’s never been an issue before. I honestly think he’s using it as an excuse so he can sit and play this game all day.

Yesterday I asked him to pick up DC’s from after school care as I was running a bit late and also had to pick up a prescription from the doctors as the midwife had phoned me yesterday afternoon and said my bloods had come back and I was anaemic. He was at my place “working” anyway so I thought he may have offered to get the kids as the school is literally across the road from where I live.

Anyway, this morning my youngest saw that he was working from home again and asked him if he was picking them up again today from ASC. He asked if she wanted him to and she said no. I never hear this but he told me about it later on. They used to have such a good relationship but he’s barely paid her any attention this past month as he’s been so engaged in his laptop. This afternoon he sent me a text saying he was just going to stay at his own place tonight as he was “a bit miffed” at what the little one said to him this morning and wants to give her some space. I replied saying I didn’t think it was space she needed, but maybe some engagement from him e.g. instead of sitting on his laptop constantly and barely engaging in conversation with us, maybe we could have a games night or watch a movie together. I said I think she’s also disengaged with him as lately all she sees me running around like a blue arsed fly constantly and literally doing everything in the house while he just sits there on his laptop and she’s picking up on this. No reply.

When I got home me and the kids literally stepped foot in the door and he was there, with his jacket on, laptop in hand saying bye as that was him going. He had stayed till I got in as I didn’t take keys with me this morning then couldn’t get out the door quick enough. Just before he was about to go I told him not to bother coming back as he’s making me and now it seems, the kids miserable. Tbh this has been on the cards for weeks as I’ve seen how lazy and selfish he can be and it’s making me miserable. He didn’t even acknowledge what I said, just looked at me and left.

Last week I had to go for a liver scan as my liver function tests kept coming back abnormal. I went to the see the midwife on Monday for the results but he didn’t come with me. Turns out they found 2 x 2cm solid lesions on my liver so I phoned him after the appointment to tell him. He didn’t seem that fussed and even when I got him that night he never mentioned it and hasn’t since. I’ve tried to bring it up a couple of times but his face is stuck in the laptop and he’s more or less ignored me.

I’ve been feeling like shut and worried all week because of it and he seems totally uninterested. Then he decides that because there seems to be an issue with youngest DD, he’s just going to retreat to his bolt hole instead of trying to address it.

Was I wrong to tell him not to come back? I just feel like I’d be better off on my own.

OP posts:
NotTheFordType · 17/01/2019 18:58

Of course you're better off on your own! He's a fucking bell end!

HollowTalk · 17/01/2019 19:02

What a waste of space he is.

I hope the problem with your liver is resolved quickly.

NotMaryWhitehouse · 17/01/2019 19:02

What she said! ⬆️

Honestly, what a cretin he sounds. I guarantee you can do about ten million times better.

ltk · 17/01/2019 19:05

Good call, OP. It will be very hard to break up when the baby is due soon, but worse to be constantly belittled and ignored. You need to focus on yourself and your dc.

Auba14 · 17/01/2019 19:19

I'll tell you something, I downloaded Football Manager 2019 to my iPad last week and it's very very easy to get hooked on playing. For the first time ever, I took my iPad into work last Friday and spent my lunch break playing it - that was when I realised I needed to switch off and stop playing, and I have.

I do think you're right to ask him to leave, as he's putting this game ahead of his family and basically used your daughter as an excuse to go home and play on it some more. He sounds like a big kid to be honest, he needs to grow up before moving in with you. If he's like this with one game, what's he going to be like in November when the new one comes out?!

Sj325 · 17/01/2019 19:43

Yeah I completely agree that he used my daughter as an excuse to go home and play the game some more

OP posts:
lifebegins50 · 17/01/2019 20:09

How old are your dc? What other support do you have?

Sadly he has revealed himself to you. Was he wonderfully attentive for a while? I suspect that be has turned cold because he is incapable of putting anyone ahead of himself. He has to have adoration.
His lack of concern over your health is a sign that he doesn't care, that's not your fault.

Sj325 · 17/01/2019 20:20

@lifebegins50

DC’s are 7 and 11. I don’t have any support really. I do have siblings but we barely see each other as they have their own kids/full time jobs and are busy with their own lives. My mum is 60 and works full time too.

DC’s are NC with their biological father - his choice. His family don’t bother with them much either.

The other day when I found that out about my liver, I got home from work and still had to do all the cooking and cleaning. He didn’t lift a finger to help. Didn’t even offer to cook us some dinner and give me a bit of a rest, he just sat all night on his laptop.

OP posts:
al1111 · 17/01/2019 20:48

Wow, this resonates with me so much. The only difference being that we have a 17 month old that, in all this time, he’s bought nothing for, taken her out nowhere and doesn’t lift a finger at home. I work part time so little one is at nursery those days. The days I am home I make sure we go out somewhere, shopping, park, toddler group. As well as this, I maintain the house (although it isn’t always tidy, I have a toddler!), and try to catch up on work stuff on my days off. I’m the one that wakes in the night with DD despite waking up at silly o’clock on work days. Weekends are worse, he doesn’t stroll out of bed til 11am or 12pm then spends all his time on his phone, no thought given to myself or his child. I could go on but I won’t. It’s relentless and totally unfair on DD. I’ve reached the end, and ready to go.

Luckingfovely · 17/01/2019 20:51

You did the right thing. Good luck with everything and hope you and DC will feel much happier soon, and that your health issues improve.

Sj325 · 17/01/2019 21:03

Thanks for the support everyone.

@al1111 - I know how you feel and I feel for you. I feel totally exhausted with life just now. I work full time, 7 months pregnant, 2 young kids to look after and a house to run while he does sweet F all. I mean, he doesn’t even do a full weeks work. Ever. He lives at my house most of the week, gets waited on hand and foot, eats all my food, leaves constant mess and doesn’t lift a finger - he’d rather play with his toy than offer any help. It’s like having a 3rd child already. I need to walk away now too. At least that way I’ll get a couple of months of peace before the new baby is here.

I’ve also noticed DD seems much happier tonight. She’s sat with me for the last 2 hours and we’ve coloured in and stuff. Simple things that make a 7 year old happy. When he’s here she sits in her bedroom most of the time. When I’m busy around the house though, I do try and involve her by asking her to help me put out dinner or sort packed lunches but he can’t ask her to do any of this stuff, to engage with her, as he doesn’t do any of it himself

OP posts:
al1111 · 17/01/2019 21:14

It’s crazy isn’t it? He didn’t come to any hospital or midwife appts or scans when I was pregnant so I don’t know why I’m surprised that he does jack sh*t now. We’re better off without them, seriously x

flowerswouldbelovely · 18/01/2019 00:49

You did the right thing. Good luck to you and your family. I'm sure you will all be happier in the long run.

loolooskip · 18/01/2019 01:48

I could cry for you op. But you have your head so firmly screwed on. Sounds like your life would definitely be both harder and more miserable with him in it.

Pillowaddict · 18/01/2019 02:19

Sounds like the best decision for you and your dc. Hope he steps up to parent this dc to give you some help, and time to spend with your older kids. Hope you manage some rest now he's gone, and you feel ok. I think you're very brave, and doing the right thing for your children. You all deserve more Flowers

croprotationinthe13thcentury · 18/01/2019 05:30

Sounds like you are better off out of it OP tbh.
Auba14 - is it a huge upgrade on the ‘18 version? Worth the money?

Smileandwhatever · 18/01/2019 05:47

So sorry to hear about your situation but I think you have your answer. Even if he does care and love you he needs to show it with his actions. You sound like you’re young don’t wait until you’re trapped or older - a leopard rarely changes their spots don’t ignore any warning signs. I’ve done that and made excuses now 3 years down the line we are now embarquing on a trial separation that it’s unlikely we will ever come back from. It will be a really hard decision to make now but set your ground rules with the new baby and let him be a father and make a better life for you and your kids - good luck x

Womanreadingletter · 18/01/2019 06:00

Sorry you are going through this op. I agree with pp that you sound really sensible competent and switched on. Hope your liver issues can be resolved successfully Flowers

Out of interest, what was his behaviour like before he got this laptop and got addicted to this game ? Was he a decent bloke or not?

Sj325 · 18/01/2019 08:27

@Womanreadingletter

Before he got the laptop, he wasn’t much better in terms of household chores/cooking...etc. But I did manage to get a conversation out of him when I eventually sat down at night after tidying...cooking...packed lunches...ironing. He would talk to me. Now I barely get a word out of him. The past week has been really bad though. I tried to speak to him the other night, I think I was telling him something that happened at work, and he completely ignored me. Then a few hours later I asked him a question - again, completely ignored. A while after that I walked into the living room and kicked over an empty glass he had left lying on the floor. I made a comment that he was too interested in the laptop to get up and put his empty glass in the kitchen and he responded (rather abruptly) “Well it’s empty isn’t it!” Meaning - why you moaning, it’s not like anything has been spilled. I think because I had a moan about him being on the laptop, this is why he’s made the excuse about DD and staying at his own place last night, so he had peace to play on the laptop.

He text me last night saying he loves and misses us but I haven’t responded as there are never any actions to match the words.

OP posts:
Qcng · 18/01/2019 08:36

Shock Fuck that shit.

Reply with the hard truth
"You spend your entire time in my home, ignoring us all, playing games on your computer like a teenager, being moody and not lifting a finger to help while I run around doing everything for you and my family. This isn't a relationship I want to be in I have 2 children already I don't need man child in my life"

SandyY2K · 18/01/2019 08:36

He's immature and lazy. I don't think he's ready to be a dad or a stepdad.

A mature adult would have asked your DD why he didn't want him to pick her up....but he's acted childish in retreating.

How old is he?

PickledChutney · 18/01/2019 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

hellsbellsmelons · 18/01/2019 08:57

Well done OP.
Keep radio silence.
As you say, you need to see actions.
He was a lazy man-child before and he won't change.
You are far better off without him.
I really hope your liver problem is sorted quickly.
That must be playing on your mind as well.
Good luck and stay strong.

Sj325 · 18/01/2019 09:00

@PickledChutney

What a snooty, idiotic opinion. Seriously.

OP posts:
Musti · 18/01/2019 09:16

I think women expect men to change when kids arrive just like women do. Before kids, I was lazy with housework, would wake up late at weekends etc. When kids arrived I stepped up, had routine, made sure my house was tidy etc. In my experience with the father's of my children , they change but in reverse. When kids arrive is like they only have to go to work and 'mummy' will do everything else.

If I were you ok, write him a detailed account of everything you do every day. Then ask him why he thinks he should not lift a finger and how can he love you when he sees you, pregnant with his child, struggling with everything whilst he plays his game like some game addicted teenager.