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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:
colourbynumbers · 17/11/2019 18:19

I stand by what I said.

If the roles were reversed, you'd still be siding with the OP.

Bunch of man hating drama queens!

IsThisNormal1 · 17/11/2019 18:25

He's just left for work. 10 minutes prior to him leaving, he asked me for a hug and cried and said he loved me more than anything. As he was going out the door, he said "well, that's me off. Hopefully I don't lose my temper tonight. I shouldn't do." Smiled, and left.

This has happened before. He got into a fight with someone at work and claimed it was due to the stress my family was putting him under. He almost lost his job but I have a legal background and helped him keep it.

He's a manipulative shit, isn't he?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 17/11/2019 18:27

Yes. He sounds a right dead weight

IsThisNormal1 · 17/11/2019 18:28

@colourbynumbers I agree with you. I cheated, and it was a horrible thing to do. He's understandably upset and angry. Being drunk absolutely does not excuse it. I thought I knew myself. I didn't think I was capable of something like this. Obviously I'm wrong.

OP posts:
BrightYellowDaffodil · 17/11/2019 18:28

He's a manipulative shit, isn't he?

Yup. But you can now see him for what he is.

TimeforanotherChange · 17/11/2019 18:40

Oh God, just get rid of him.

He is manipulative, pathetic and a cock-lodger. How can you possibly have any respect or liking for him? And honestly, as someone else said earlier, if he'd anything about him he'd have lost his temper with other bloke.

Except it's so much easier for a coward to throw a glass at a woman, abuse her, smash her stuff, lock her out - of the home SHE is paying for.

He's understandably upset and angry at the thought of losing the cushy life where you work your arse off and wait on him hand and foot. He doesn't actually give a shit about you.

colourbynumbers · 17/11/2019 18:42

OP, you are wrong to put all the blame on your DP for his reaction to your betrayal.

Imagine how you'd have felt if it had been you that had watched your DP flirt with a woman for an hour in the pub, then walked outside and seen them kissing?

You're also wrong for letting it get to the point of cheating instead of ending the relationship

IsThisNormal1 · 17/11/2019 18:49

@colourbynumbers I don't put all the blame on him at all. I know I shouldn't have done what I did. I'd be heartbroken if the roles were reversed. I know he is devastated. I've obviously got some underlying issues. I've apologised to him several times for not talking to him about how I was feeling.

OP posts:
Bluetrews25 · 17/11/2019 19:03

I hope that doesn't mean he's going to hit you when he gets home! Because he seems to be justifying it in advance.

SusieOwl4 · 17/11/2019 19:10

you are only in your 30s - I think you should at least try a trial separation at least it might give you a chance to think . You both have your lives ahead of you and you both need some care and love which neither of you are getting at the moment.

Hanab · 17/11/2019 19:17

He has is so good at hime OP .. he obviously does not want it to end ..

12345kbm · 17/11/2019 19:19

For god's sake OP can't you see what a dead end of a relationship this is? This man doesn't love you. He doesn't respect you. He is manipulative and he treats you with contempt. Utter contempt.

He is grinding you into the ground running around after him. You obviously come from a dysfunctional background if you are making him a roast dinner while he, yet again, sits on his arse. A normal partner helps. They chop vegetables, they make the gravy, they set the table, clear up etc etc They don't sit on their lazy, entitled arse and wait for their so called partner, to scurry around them.

It doesn't matter if he rescued you from a burning fucking building, you should be treated better than this. I don't even know you and I wouldn't sit there and watch you run around. I would help.

You are on a hiding to nowhere with this shit relationship. Counselling will at least help raise your self esteem so I suppose it's at least a step forward.

Why you want to stay in a sexless, miserable, relationship in your 30s is beyond me. I'd rather live in a box on the street than with that fuckwit.

LemonPrism · 17/11/2019 19:25

You made an idiotic move but Tbf your relationship had been shit for ages. There's no excuse for violence or endangering someone like that.

What he has done is about 8 million light years worse in my opinion and he can fuck off with his head in the hands manipulation and his 'I'll do the cleaning if you tell me to' bullshit

Innishh · 17/11/2019 19:26

He had a fight with someone at work? WTAF! Was he drunk then too?
What’s his drinking like?
Should have binned him then.

Stop over reacting and being over responsible. He is playing you so badly. He isn’t “devastated” that you had a slobbery drunk kiss for a few seconds - he is just delighted that you handed this stick so that he can beat you overtly and the violence started.

The sulking and shuffling along behind you walking the dog is just pathetic!

Starlight456 · 17/11/2019 19:43

I have read the whole thread .

First question have you protected your share of the deposit ? I imagine not .

Whilst court case I am sure was horrible , you lost your family ( although a dysfunctional one ) still your loss .

He has crossed a line . If you were having sex outside the pub he had no right to assault you, he had no right to leave you the way he did .

He lay in bed to ensure you knew tjis was your fault and so the status quo continues . He lies on the sofa whilst you make him a nice dinner. Did he wash up after? Did he do anything ?

I hope you have photographed your arm . It should be reported to the police.

I have seen couples go through far worse and support each other .

I think you would benefit from counselling . I doubt he would as he never holds himself responsible for everything , uses a court case as a excuse for his behaviour.

For me this f nothing else he crossed a line and anything vela’s you do wrong in his eyes will be punishing you for.

Alicenwonderland · 17/11/2019 19:45

He's definitely abusive! As you are obviously an intelligent woman he has to be careful not to expose himself so he's being very manipulative and sly. As you come from a family where you have been manipulated and abused it's harder to see as it's what you've grown up with so normalised. It took 8 years before my ex hit me, before that it was very covert, lots of gaslighting and verbal abuse. He's definitely using the 'depression' card as an excuse, my ex did this too. His behaviour was shocking! Yes, you kissed someone else but his response was not normal or okay and the fact that he's trying to turn you into the bad guy is abusive. Also the little threat before he left for work is concerning. Please report the incident to the police, I know it's scary but it's better to have it on record if things escalate. Big hugs xx

TatianaLarina · 17/11/2019 19:51

I said in my previous post that the real issue is why you have been with this man so long. Sounds like your weird family is the answer.

It seems like the bar has been set super low.

But even so I still don’t quite get it. You clearly have a good job. You work hard. You’re motivated. He has a shit job. He’s lazy. He’s violent.

Why would you consider him? Let alone stay with him for 10 years.

Sometimes people cheat ‘accidentally’ when they are desperate to get out of a relationship but they won’t admit it to themselves. You didn’t betray him by kissing some random for 30 seconds. You’re betraying yourself by staying with a loser when you don’t even like or respect him.

3luckystars · 17/11/2019 19:51

Are you married?

Lozzerbmc · 17/11/2019 19:54

You of course were in the wrong kissing that man but his reaction was way too extreme - he physically hurt you! He’s not going to make you happy long term so why continue. The family stress was not your fault dont stay with him because you feel bad about what happened with the house. Move on, meet the father of your kids...

3luckystars · 17/11/2019 19:54

Because if you are not married and are not doing anything together, then you are just flatmates. Your relationship is over, just nobody is saying it out loud.

nearlynermal · 17/11/2019 20:06

OP, it's not about the guy in the pub. Please don't beat yourself up about it. You did not do a "horrible" thing. That's just silly. You have been in a miserable, unsustainable situation for way too long and you took a moment of comfort. Enough with the guilt. Seriously. The issue is how you want to live the rest of your life.

Rainbowx2 · 17/11/2019 20:18

Similar thing happened with me and I did leave. He cried, I almost went back but then I thought can I see myself an old woman in my 70s having spent my whole life with him, the kids grown up and left would I feel like I wasted my life? Yes I would, so after 8 years, 2 kids I left. Best thing I ever did! Married now and I'm thankful everyday I left. You're just surviving each day, life is too short and precious to continue like this. Leave him asap, difficult at first but so worth it.

DotForShort · 17/11/2019 23:19

“Man hating drama queens”? FGS. How ridiculous.

DotForShort · 17/11/2019 23:27

Oops, posted too soon. Of course kissing another man was wrong, as you’ve acknowledged, IsThisNormal. But it’s not the crime of the century. And your partner’s reaction was horrendous. Please put an end to this sham of a relationship. He isn’t a true partner to you. He’s using you by not lifting a finger around the house. And he’s an abusive bully as well.

Shooturlocalmethdealer · 17/11/2019 23:34

Time to get unused to what you are used to and go your separate ways.