Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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 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:
thefluffysideofgrey · 17/11/2019 15:42

Don't waste anymore of your life with him.

IsThisNormal1 · 17/11/2019 15:44

@dreichwinter cross post! I think you're right. I've been good at putting on a tough exterior but I think counselling would be good for me. My actions on Friday night have shown me I'm not as put-together as I seem to think I am.

OP posts:
GrumpyHoonMain · 17/11/2019 15:44

You need to take photos of the wounds and contact the police. He is definitely abusing you

12345kbm · 17/11/2019 15:45

The next step is for you to start gathering information in order to leave.

Get counselling for yourself, certainly. I'm not sure drinking more booze is going to help here. He's already proved to you that he can be violent. You need to leave this man.

Sagradafamiliar · 17/11/2019 15:52

He is horrific. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you owe him because he helped you out when you fell out with your family. Partners are supposed to be there for each other in hard times!
There is no going back now that there is abuse. It's just set a different bar. You need to get out Thanks

HaileySherman · 17/11/2019 16:28

OP what you did was wrong. An unplanned, unexpected mistake, because you were vulnerable for something like that to happen. He and his deliberate laziness, lack of motivation, childishness and extreme selfishness is what led you to such a vulnerable place.

You can and should apologize for yout 10 second indiscretion, but if you want to continue in the relationship, he absolutely needs to own his extremely large part in its dysfunction. Maybe if you guys decide you want this relationship to work, then with focus, help and maybe even therapy, it might be salvageable.

Under no circumstances should you let him hold this over your head. If you apologize and he agrees that he forgives it, sees his part and wants to save your relationship, then he NEEDS to let it go. Anything else is just adding to the abuse (by neglect) you've been facing. Good luck. Forgive yourself and recognize it wasn't all your fault. There was a reason you were so vulnerable to it happening.

Sushiroller · 17/11/2019 16:33

Jesus wept... this guy is a something else.

So now he is rewriting the story presumably to tee this up positioning you as the villain in this story.
Once that's done he has a stick to beat you with and keep you in line from here to kingdom come.

With the backstory re: the house
You ahould protect your assets... 100% do not marry him. Have you set a date? Or are you just terminally engaged?

Graphista · 17/11/2019 16:44

What you did was bad but in NO WAY justifies the way he behaved!

Frankly it sounds like he doesn’t give a shit about you anyway. Time for you to move on I think.

Counselling with someone abusive let alone violent is NOT advisable!

You need to get out safely

Innishh · 17/11/2019 16:51

OP when you talk about the family drama - that your parents gave “me/us a sizeable deposit” - how did the court case run - was it seen as your sole deposit or for both of you? Could you afford to buy him out either way if you chose to down the line?

I am concerned that your response to being violently physically assaulted, abandoned and money taken away when you were vulnerable and wounded - then locked out, your cards cut up, your possession destroyed, verbally abused - in just one short evening - on top of years and years contemptuous nasty passive aggressive behaviours, disengagement, no affection, gaslighting and withdrawal of affection - is to pay for him to have counselling?

You need to give your head a wobble.

IsThisNormal1 · 17/11/2019 16:51

@Sushiroller I posted a picture of the ring online, and his friends got in touch. He told them he is "permanently engaged". We haven't even spoken about a date, and he hasn't told anyone at his work. Speaks volumes I feel.

OP posts:
IsThisNormal1 · 17/11/2019 17:00

@Innishh you're right. I'm standing here cooking a full sunday roast for him while he's laying on the sofa. What am I even doing? He told me yesterday he doesn't want our relationship to end "because we've fought so hard for the house and it's not fair on the dog", but so far has done nothing out of the ordinary so SHOW me that things will improve.

Holy fuck, he's really done a number on me hasn't he?

OP posts:
Raspberrytruffle · 17/11/2019 17:04

I'd be calling the police on your ex, glassing you, stealing your money . I don't usually condone any form of cheating but I can see why you broke and accepted that kiss, get rid off him OP.

dreichwinter · 17/11/2019 17:05

He really has OP.
You could consider calling woman's aid, it might help you see how abusive his behavior was when he was angry.
I also still think personal counseling for you is an excellent idea.

colourbynumbers · 17/11/2019 17:07

I am absolutely shocked by the comments on here!

If it was the other way around and the OP had walked outside and seen her DP kissing someone else, you wouldn't all be taking his side.

OP, what you did was disgusting. Being drunk doesn't excuse it. If your relationship has issues, you don't deal with them by cheating.

Your family were the reason for the problems in the first place. And now you're the one who's cheated.

There's no excuse for that.

Clymene · 17/11/2019 17:09

The drama with your parents is horrible but it will have affected you much more than him. I suspect that because of growing up with parents like that, you have some issues regarding your own boundaries.

I definitely think counselling would be an extremely good idea but I can't see how you think you can limp on from here. He assualted you and has damaged your property after years of being a total drain.

Actually @Innishh is right. Your sense of what is right/normal in a relationship is very far off what it should be. You are early 30s and you have a very limited time to dump this loser and find someone else if you want kids.

Have you ever read the Listen Up post pinned at the top of this board? Worth a read: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/698029-Right-listen-up-everybody

colourbynumbers · 17/11/2019 17:10

Women's Aid? For what?

The Op cheated on her DP, he caught her and reacted angrily.

This is not abuse, it's emotion.

Her DP is lazy, he's not an abuser!

It really pisses me off that the word abuse is thrown around mumsnet for every tiny thing!

An unhappy relationship is not always an abusive relationship, remember that!

Clymene · 17/11/2019 17:11

@colourbynumbers - he's a knob and she should have dumped him years ago. She isn't in a happy relationship, she's in an abusive one.

Innishh · 17/11/2019 17:13

Colourbynumbers how does your shock-o-meter measure these behaviours:

being violently physically assaulted, abandoned and money taken away when OP was vulnerable and wounded - then locked out of her home at night, her cards cut up, her possession destroyed, then verbally abused - in just one short evening - on top of years and years contemptuous nasty passive aggressive behaviours, disengagement, withdrawal of affection, gaslighting and sulking?

It must have blown a gasket ! Best have a little lie down for yourself....

Clymene · 17/11/2019 17:15

I don't think you really understand the dynamics of abuse. I can tell you that him throwing that glass and cutting up the OP's cards and taking her keys won't have come out of nowhere. There will have been heaps of red flags on the way which the OP will have ignored because she's grown up in a home where she hasn't had good relationships modelled.

dreichwinter · 17/11/2019 17:16

Kissing other people is a rubbish thing to do.

Throwing glass objects at people and injuring them is a criminal act.
Cutting up other people's credit/debit cards is also against the law.
I am also fairly sure you aren't legally allowed to lock people out of their own homes.

OP shouldn't have kissed this other bloke. Of course her DP is going to be upset. Being upset doesn't mean you can behave in an illegal way.
@colourbynumbers
This relationship has been unhappy for a long time and has now become abusive and the current legal definition in the UK.

Innishh · 17/11/2019 17:16

This is not abuse, it's emotion.

Not only was it abuse it was also a crime.

Sushiroller · 17/11/2019 17:18

Please listen when I say being terminally engaged is fantastic news (I know it probably doesn't feel like it)

But there's no wedding to cancel, no deposits to lose etc. No divorce lawyer to pay for!!!
You have lots of options and choices - there is a whole world of possibilities out there and you shouldn't accept this.
His behaviour was unhinged - he is abusive and he could have put you in hospital with the stunt he pulled yesterday.

You are not bound to this man
he has no claim over your deposit presumably...?

I would be looking to separate immediately... and by separate I mean get him out of your house.

Rainbowqueeen · 17/11/2019 17:27

I think you need RL support to get him out. Contact women’s aid

Then counselling for you. You sound amazing but you definitely need to reset your boundaries over what is acceptable. He assaulted you. He’s now lying about it (gaslighting is lying) and you are cooking him dinner. That’s not normal

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 17/11/2019 17:30

I would be looking to separate immediately... and by separate I mean get him out of your house.

How do you know it isn't their house?

WhoKnewBeefStew · 17/11/2019 17:59

I hope you left all the cleaning and washing up for him op. Time to stop being a doormat