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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

I've done a bad thing. But is this a normal reaction?

253 replies

IsThisNormal1 · 16/11/2019 21:03

Sorry, this will be long.

Been together almost 10 years. He's late 30s, I'm early 30s.

I'll start off by saying we've had a lot of stress in our relationship. About 4 years ago we were dealing with a lot of drama with my family - absolute narcs, the lot of them. It was resolved 2 years ago and I'm NC with them now.

Due to this drama, our relationship has taken a back seat. He's never been the romantic lovey-dovey type, but all intimacy stopped. We don't kiss, cuddle, hold hands, nothing. Sex is rare. Almost non-existent.

When the drama was resolved, I thought brilliant we can get on with our lives now. This hasn't happened. He does literally nothing. I do all the cleaning, washing, DIY, I even book his car MOT and doctors appointments for him. He wont take any initiative. Works at the same dead-end job which he hates but won't do anything about because "Brexit" or "job hunting is too hard" or various other reasons.

I experienced a major hiccup in my job last year (company restructuring) and was almost made redundant. I'm the bread winner so this was a huge deal. I signed myself up for an online course and told him he needs to step up with housework etc because I need to do this qualification while also working a 50 hour week. He stepped up for 2 or 3 days, then went back to his old ways. He leaves everything at his arse. I spend the evening cleaning, it's a shit tip by the next day. I do his washing and ask him to put it away, it gets left in a heap on the floor. Dishes left next to the dishwasher for me to put away. This goes on daily for months. Every day it's like he's saying a massive "FUCK YOU".

I don't like to nag but when confronted he says he's just got no motivation since the drama. Yes it was traumatic but life needs to go on. I have zero family now and it's not exactly been easy for me either! I've offered to pay for counsellors etc for him. No. He just spends all day every day watching YouTube and doing nothing. He says he needs to "build up" to doing anything and if that doesn't work, he can't do it at all.

Last night we went out for a few drinks at the pub. I admittedly drank too much and was very intoxicated. We both were. There was a man there and we got chatting at the bar. A proper real conversation for once about history, a mutual interest. This went on for some time and I feel we did have a connection of some sort. He left, and I went outside a few minutes later because I was starting to feel a bit unwell with the alcohol. Unbeknown to me, the man was still there and he kissed me. I haven't been kissed or even had any ounce of affection for years, so stupidly I didn't stop him.

DP came outside, saw this, and flew into a rage. He threw a glass at me, cutting my arm. Blood pouring. He then took my purse and went home, leaving me stranded with no money for a taxi home. The guy behind the bar had to loan me money.

I got home and DP had locked the gate knowing full well I couldn't reach the lock to get in. (The taxi driver managed to reach it for me). This morning I find that he has cut up all my bank cards, and hid my house keys so I couldn't get out. He says he didn't want me "sneaking out anywhere".

We talked today and I told him how undervalued and unappreciated I feel, he said "well write me a list and I'll do the cleaning every Tuesday". I don't need him to clean, I just need him to start acting like a proper grown-up.

I know what I did was wrong, I don't deny that. I feel awful. I've apologised to him. He has spent the rest of the day saying nothing and holding his head in his hands. I understand he's upset. I would be too. His cousin phoned this evening and he was all bright and cheerful like nothing happened. Then was laughing at stuff on tv. An hour later hes slumped on the stairs saying he feels sick and dizzy. I can hear him how pacing upstairs. Hes acting like I've just killed someone!

Words can't express how bad I feel. It was so out of character for me. I admit it was nothing more than feeling "wanted" for 5 minutes. I would never have seen this man again and regretted kissing him almost the moment it happened.

I'm not sure why I'm posting. I've been horrible, I admit. But with his reaction, I just know hes going to make me "pay for this" and use it as an excuse to do even less. I love him still, I really do. (Although the resentment is horrific) Am I kidding myself? Do I need to call time or do I deserve this?

OP posts:
Innishh · 17/11/2019 09:04

Before last night you have been living with a joy sponge and covert abuser. He is passive aggressive - you are 100% correct that all of his not clearing up after himself and not being part of a team is a v deliberate FUCK YOU. He is not just lazy and stubborn - he is a v disruptive passenger in your life. The relief around babies and the strop around engagement are his attempts to smear shit on your dreams - as he doesn’t have the balls to say this isn’t what he wants. He holds you in real contempt.
He is also hiding behind this family drama (not even his!) to claim depression or like a grumpy teen to get out of chores / being an adult. What is his family background like - that is where the real story is.

Well done to you for listening to your doubts of having babies with this neglectful abusive man child. But if all of the covert abuse dealt out for years listed above isn’t enough - what he did next - is shocking violence, coercive control and an a criminal offence.

His reaction was nothing to do with a kiss - it is years and years of stored up contempt for you that is seething and bubbling beneath he surface 24/7. I hope that you take time time to see what has happened to you - how you have poor boundaries due to shocking family. But just keep re-reading this thread.......and consider what advice you would give a friend is they told you this:

*DP came outside, saw this, and flew into a rage. He threw a glass at me, cutting my arm. Blood pouring. He then took my purse and went home, leaving me stranded with no money for a taxi home. The guy behind the bar had to loan me money.

I got home and DP had locked the gate knowing full well I couldn't reach the lock to get in. (The taxi driver managed to reach it for me). This morning I find that he has cut up all my bank cards, and hid my house keys so I couldn't get out. He says he didn't want me "sneaking out anywhere"*

45andfine · 17/11/2019 09:21

It takes two to make a relationship work, you've been through alot TOGETHER, maybe give him a chance to sort his shit out, he sounds depressed tbh, but that's not an excuse for you to give up your life. We need boundaries, find yours and stick to them.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 17/11/2019 09:29

I strongly suspect he's now panicking as he can see his maid, carer and money source disappearing down the drain.

Tbh he sounds bloody awful and nothing I've read makes me think he has any redeeming qualities

Life is way too short to be putting up with this type of shite.

IsThisNormal1 · 17/11/2019 09:49

I think he's depressed too but he refuses to see a GP. He "doesn't believe" in anti-depressants. He reckons depression can be cured by different vitamins, supplements, and a good diet. Hmm Total nonsense.

Doesn't look like he's getting up today to face me. I went into the bedroom to get dirty washing and he said (in a teeny tiny voice): "you alright?" "yeah, you?" "Still thinking" then a loud groan and pulled the covers over his head.

OP posts:
bipbop · 17/11/2019 09:58

Depression isn't an excuse for abuse. There is none. There is no coming back from that. He's shown you what he's capable of. You need to be very careful of this man.

NormaBean · 17/11/2019 10:02

It’d be laughable if he wasn’t abusive. Sorting the mortgage won’t be tricky, OP, so don’t let that put you off. These things happen every day.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 17/11/2019 10:10

Be rid of this lazy, manipulative dosser. He brings nothing positive to your life and has now been physically violent to you, as well as leaving you stranded and locked out. He can see the writing on the wall and is now scared his cushy existence is coming to an end. Beware - he has crossed a line by hurting you and he may well do that again, so keep any plans well hidden from him, keep credit cards and other important documents away from him, with a trusted friend if need be.

Anniegetyourgun · 17/11/2019 10:18

As a side issue, I'm still trying to work out what kind of family drama leads to one partner having to do all the household chores. Seems like a non sequitur at best. A threadbare excuse to duck out of one's duty, more likely.

Innishh · 17/11/2019 10:22

How is his drinking generally?

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 17/11/2019 10:22

And how many times had he come to you to communicate how its not normal or ok to not have intimacy without even discussing why, for eg.

It's so.interesting how the views on lack of sex in a relationship are dealt with on here, depending on whether it's the man or woman instigating it.

Another thread currently running where it's the wife who doesn't want sex, husband has started the thread about it. He's being totally berated for it - he's not entitled to sex, his should just accept it, he needs to send her off for a spa weekend, buy her treats, romance her, do all of the household chores and not even mention sex whilst he is doing all of these things. Yet, here because the op is female it's not right that she should have to live without intimacy and her partner is wrong for not even discussing it?

I wonder what exactly happened with the ops family - from her own post it sounds pretty awful. How was the partner affected by it, so much so that she offered him counselling? That sounds like it was far more serious than just a few arguments.

I also can't understand the sympathy for the op in her behaviour at the pub - how is it right for anyone to be flirting with someone for an hour, in front of their partner, and then going outside and kissing them? That is terrible behaviour.

Clearly what the partner then did is truly awful too so yes, they should definitely split but I do think the op needs to.own her part in this.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 17/11/2019 10:27

Works at the same dead-end job which he hates but won't do anything about because "Brexit" or "job hunting is too hard" or various other reasons.

Where have posters got the idea from that he doesn't work? Op says this in her first post.

Clearly he's very lazy around the house but he does work and so presumably contributes financially.

MarianaMoatedGrange · 17/11/2019 10:27

Doesn't look like he's getting up today to face me. I went into the bedroom to get dirty washing and he said (in a teeny tiny voice): "you alright?" "yeah, you?" "Still thinking" then a loud groan and pulled the covers over his head.

Oh ffs Hmm

Innishh · 17/11/2019 10:29

That’s the passive aggressive sulk......shifting the power and the blame by withdrawing and attention seeking in a covert way.

Clymene · 17/11/2019 10:32

Oh OP - your relationship is over. He is a lazy sponger and is using the family drama to manipulate you into staying with him when in usual circumstances you would have left long ago.

End the relationship, sell the house. I guarantee you that you will feel 100% happier.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 17/11/2019 10:36

MarianaMoatedGrange

Really? I bet if you had a look at the relationship board you would find plenty of threads started by women who had caught their husband flirting, kissing or messaging another woman. They would all be heartbroken, devastated and would all be advised to look after themselves, get friends to rally round them, go and stay with family and such like.

None of them would be told oh fgs, just crack.on, stop acting like a drama queen.

Honestly, why are men not allowed to experience the same emotions about things as women are? I see it time and again on here. Men are ridiculed for being upset about things, for feeling rejected, for feeling sad about situations that if a woman were posting she would get sympathy and understanding.

3luckystars · 17/11/2019 10:36

I'm just wondering why your self esteem is so bad that you think this is all you deserve?

If it feels wrong, then it is wrong.

You need to free yourself. You can do it. It's easier than you think and you have already taken your first step here.

notapizzaeater · 17/11/2019 10:39

It sounds like you are being punished for all your family drama. Honestly life is too short to waste it - neither of you are happy. It's like a sticking plaster sometimes you have to grab the bloody thing and yank, yes it bloody hurts but it won't get better on its own.

BettysLeftTentacle · 17/11/2019 10:40

At the very best he’s a cocklodger who is suffering depression.
At the very worst he’s an abusive cocklodger.

I know which he is, so do you OP. The vomit worthy exchange regarding the dog is a classic. You need stop this now before it escalates even more than it already has. The house won’t be that hard to sort.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/11/2019 10:41

"House is mortgaged in both our names, so that will be tricky to deal with".

No it will not. The only obstacles here will be the ones you put up in your head. And his behavior this morning is also a further example of he being passive aggressive

funnylittlefloozie · 17/11/2019 10:46

hearhooves, the OP literally started the thread by beating herself up over the kiss. Tbh i am horrified that she didn't phone the police when he threw the glass (and neither did anyone else in the pub???!), but she didnt, and frankly that's the last free pass she should ever give this abusive lazy tosser.

Good job you're not married. Get the house on the market, start a new life without him. You absolutely dont need him!

GreenTulips · 17/11/2019 10:52

Jezzz move out, sell the house

You’ll have little house work no violence no one to tip toe around - you’ll be a lot calmer and happier

yellowallpaper · 17/11/2019 10:56

If you are sure your DPs behaviour is not due to depression or other MH problem then you have to end it.

Zucker · 17/11/2019 10:57

Your relationship is dead. You've turned into his mother. Sell the house and find someone that wants you.

MarianaMoatedGrange · 17/11/2019 11:00

You've turned into his mother

That is glaringly obvious. This is a very unhealthy dynamic.

Clymene · 17/11/2019 11:02

It doesn't matter whether his behaviour is as a result of mental health issues or not @yellowallpaper. No one has to put up with abuse and the OP is being abused by this man.

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