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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

Thought he was proposing. He wasn’t.

129 replies

Takethebullbth · 12/12/2019 17:27

Listen & learn young ladies. I’m a really private person, but am shell shocked atm. My partner of 5 yrs told me 3 mths ago (when pressed) that no, he didn’t want to marry as he’d been there before & failed. Him 59, me 49, never married. This after him leading me to believe he wanted to. Okay, fine.

Not happy, but spent the next 8 weeks in my remote job location getting my head around it & making plans for myself. EG: Switched from casual to permanent fifo, planning on packing my stuff for storage & selling my car. As being out there requires very little & will spend my 9 wks annual leave a year & flight allowances on travelling, visiting mates, whatever.

I came home 3 weeks ago & he proceeds to tell me how he thinks he’s been selfish, as clearly being married means more to me than him not marrying, & given he loves me & wants to spend the rest of his life with me anyway, he will do it. Awww I hear you say, how sweet. Yep, me too ladies, I swallowed it hook, line & sinker. Sooo, was waiting for a proposal. Today he says, well let’s go down to this jewellery store to get you an Xmas present. I said, no I’m fine I don’t need a trinket for Xmas. (As last year I nearly threw the cheap locket at him) as I’d been hoping for a ring. (When I say cheap, think something you would give to a 10 yr old). “Well, I’m going to go anyway, wouldn’t you rather it something you choose rather than being disappointed? & we’ll go for lunch first”.

Well I’m ashamed to say after all I’ve been through in my life, I was like an excited puppy thinking this is it. We get to the store & he says “would you like a watch?”. I said no thanks & walked out before anyone could see the tears welling. This man, who knows the hell myself & my children have been through at the hands of my alcoholic ex (who drank himself to death). Who knows I stayed single for 12 yrs because I didn’t even trust my own judgement as far as men were concerned, so refused to have anyone around my children. Who knows this is a hill I will die on due to my insecurities ( If I’m not good enough to marry I’ll walk). Has just figuratively kicked me in the guts. I am astonished that he is in fact a cruel bastard.

I’m lucky, my children are grown, I have a good job to go to, but young ladies, listen to your gut & don’t let them waste years of your life. My gut told me 4 yrs ago something wasn’t quite right, but every time I wanted to break it off, this tosser reeled me back in. I thought the world of him because he wasn’t abusive. Keep your standards high girls 💕

OP posts:
IdiotInDisguise · 12/12/2019 20:30

That wasn’t the proposal, just a statement of intention.

Livpool · 12/12/2019 20:32

What a vile shit.

So sorry op Thanks

CruellaDeVille2019 · 12/12/2019 20:32

OP you sound absolutely lovely. This man doesn't sound worthy of you. He will be the one losing out when he realises that you have called time on the relationship due to his inability to give you the one thing that you want that was missing.

You don't have to be on your own if you don't want to be. At 49 you still have years ahead of you. Loads of single men out there who would be lucky to have a strong, independent woman like you. Go and have some fun. See where life takes you. Who knows what might happen. I bet this time next year you will feel that this is a lucky escape. Flowers

Candace19 · 12/12/2019 20:35

He'll end up lonely & old. Don't waste anymore time.

RandomMess · 12/12/2019 20:41

49 well plenty of time to have lots of "fun" with men without ED and who knows you may meet someone worthy of your commitment along the way Thanks

choli · 12/12/2019 20:42

That wasn’t the proposal, just a statement of intention.
Yes, a proposal is a statement of intention. What do you think it is?

IdiotInDisguise · 12/12/2019 20:46

If that was a proper proposal I have been engaged to 7 different guys.

Until a date is set and you go public with a ring or an announcement, it is just a statement of intention.

BoudicasBoudoir · 12/12/2019 20:55

Sorry to hear that OP Flowers. I’ve had a similar situation myself and it’s gutting.

But now: celebrate your escape by doing the Single Ladies dance.

Takethebullbth · 12/12/2019 21:07

@EKGEMS, I love you, can we get married 🤣 I nearly wet myself.

OP posts:
NaturalDisasters · 12/12/2019 21:11

OP, this mean clearly has all the emotional IQ of a teaspoon, but it sounds to me as though he wasn’t linking the planned proposal with the trip to the jewellery shop at all — that sounds as if he thought of it as an entirely separate trip to choose a Christmas present because you (understandably) didn’t like last years. Nothing in what you say suggests he brought you to the jewellers thinking you were expecting to buy a ring. The offer of the watch I see as one made in all innocence.

Not that I think you weren’t entirely right to leave him. He sounds awful. BUT what puzzles me a bit in your thread is that he would have been equally tight and dim if he’d proposed to you. He’d be the same man, with or without a wedding ring. Why did the proposal/lack of proposal seem to alert you to his awfulness?

Takethebullbth · 12/12/2019 21:16

Sorry, I’ve settled for too much in my life to accept “that conversation “ as a good enough proposal. He even knows I would prefer to go to a pawnshop to get the ring of my dreams at 1/4 price than new. Did it tough for years, am not materialistic or a princess.

OP posts:
mummmy2017 · 12/12/2019 21:18

A had a best friend, who was treated so bad by a guy for years, the day we chucked him out a stranger arrived and offered to help as we struggled to stop him climbing in a window..
She married him two years later.

Takethebullbth · 12/12/2019 21:21

@RandomMess ya know what, am already thinking the same.

OP posts:
Takethebullbth · 12/12/2019 21:26

@Natural, that’s a really good question. I think I’ve been waiting for the penny to drop for him (about what a catch I am) lol, yesterday just demonstrated how much he thinks I’m not 😩 so I can no longer delude myself.

OP posts:
Time40 · 12/12/2019 21:29

It sounds like you need to sit down and have an honest conversation about your future and decide either to get married, to stay together without marriage or to go your separate ways

Why would the OP bother? He's tight, he's too old for her, and he has (as so beautifully put above) the emotional IQ of a teaspoon.

You're well out of it, OP. Good luck for the future - I hope you find someone much better than this muppet.

WizardOfAus · 12/12/2019 21:29

Have you told him/spoken to him about how disappointed you are?

momoney1 · 12/12/2019 21:30

Let me get this straight - a man who has told you he doesn't want to get married has indeed stuck to his word and not proposed? Ok. That makes sense.

He has also told you he wants to be with you forever etc etc. Got it.

He then wanted to buy you a treat. You wrongly thought he was going back on all of the above and was going to propose. WHY?

BumbleBeee69 · 12/12/2019 21:35

I'm so sorry to read your story OP... good luck Flowers

momtoboys · 12/12/2019 21:38

From just the few things you have told us you are fabulous! A job with travel which many would envy, two grown children that you raised singlehandedly in a bad situation, your clearly very bright. Onto to much bigger and better things for you, love!

justilou1 · 12/12/2019 21:47

Good grief! You should have accepted the most diamond encrusted watch ever and THEN dumped his sorry arse. (Down payment for the move?)

Takethebullbth · 12/12/2019 21:56

@Justilou1 I know, I’m an idiot 🧐. Had to sleep for hours, so I wouldn’t feel the pain & he’s (probably) smirking on the inside.

OP posts:
justilou1 · 12/12/2019 22:19

Fucker!!! (Also in Aus, so similar time zone) I hope your trip away gives you the physical and mental space to enjoy the freedom to explore some ideas of how you want to set up your new life without Scrooge McGrinch. Maybe set up some Pinterest boards and get excited for yourself instead of sad or overwhelmed. Do you have a good group of female friends around? (I’ll bet they feel like you have rid yourself of a massive millstone around your neck, but will only be really truthful once you fully leave the relationship.)

BlackSwan · 12/12/2019 22:22

There is a sea of men out there exactly like this. Bunch of bastards they are the lot of them. I don’t believe the real deal is out there. I think it’s a lie.

justilou1 · 12/12/2019 22:23

Btw - he’s probably justifying everything by telling himself that you knew exactly where you stood (despite that “unfair” conversation, as history and context will change to suit the narrative) and will be telling himself that you are being entitled and greedy. He will vacillate between “Why me?” mode (Victim) and being angry that you were so terribly ungracious about his generous offer.

Pinkbonbon · 12/12/2019 22:41

Well, if you think he is a smirker then that tells you all you need to know. That he isn't stupid - he's cruel. People who care about you (or anyone but themselves) don't smirk about upsetting people.

I take that as a good clue that someone is a cluster b personality these days, catching them smirking (or feeling that they are smug) at someone elses losses, discomforts or pain.

You'll be well shot of the git.
Hope you can getaway without any gaslighting and drama from him.