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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:
Tubridy · 14/12/2019 17:08

Well, sure @IdiotInDisguise, but don't you find it mildly concerning that if the same man had produced a ring, the OP would presumably be overlooking all his unpleasant characteristics purely because he's grudgingly agreed to marry her?

IdiotInDisguise · 14/12/2019 17:19

I can assure you most people give their partner the benefit of doubt, more opportunities, a chance to fix things until they get the final straw. And they are happy to stay put in relationships that no longer work because they may work again in the future, even if the likelihood of it is negligible.

The OP has finally got to the breaking point and is re assessing the value of her relationship. There is nothing weird with that, in fact is quite courageous to face the truth, accept it and move on. Many people don’t have the guts to do the same.

RockingAroundTheXMasTree · 14/12/2019 19:24

Very well put @IdiotInDisguise. Some people can’t seem to understand what it is like to be stuckin a less-than-perfect relationship. Lucky for them maybe. But no excuse to go around accusing and/or condemning others. Flowers

BumbleBeee69 · 14/12/2019 20:34

Leave him.... find someone that doesn't dick around with fake promises.. Flowers

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