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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

Is boyfriends behaviour normal

62 replies

Itsmytimetoshine · 29/02/2020 21:40

My boyfriend (of two years) and I are both 37. We live together with my two children.

I’m really curious what others opinions and reactions would be...

His work mates (all men) and him planned a night out a couple of weeks ago. I told him I’d make plans to go out with my friend too as my kids were with their dad.

The day he was due to go out, he made the effort to go get his hair cut (he doesn’t bother that often), bought new aftershave, new shoes and a new shirt. When we got home, he got in the shower, cut his finger nails and dressed (including new boxer shorts). He really went all out on looking good.

I dropped him to the pub (to meet his mates for an early session) and went home to start getting myself ready. I didn’t hear anything from him for the rest of the evening or night despite me sending him a message asking if he was having a good night and if he wanted to share a taxi home. I was walking past a bar on the way home and happened to see him through the window. When I walked in (he didn’t see me) he was flirting with a woman, smiling at her, following her as she walked towards the toilets. I followed him and asked him what he was doing. He immediately denied doing anything wrong and asked why I was out. I told him I had told him I was going out and he said that I hadn’t told him and that I was being sneaky. He then kept smiling at the woman in front of me (he was drunk). We had a massive argument with him telling me I was overreacting. The next day, he said he couldn’t remember any of it. I took that as the truth and we’ve carried on.

A couple of days ago, I received a message from him saying he had finished work early and that he was going to see a friend for an hour (not unusual). What was unusual was the fact that he’d showered and changed. I tried phoning him to ask if he wanted dinner but he didn’t answer, I sent him a message, it went unread. Three hours later, he called and said he was going to the shop and would be home. Four hours after that, he came home (drunk) and said he hadn’t received my message or seen my call.

Yesterday, I was telling him about my friends boyfriend who had cheated on her because she had lost her second drive (due to being on anti depressants). He told me that everyone needs sex and that she should have just done it to keep him happy and that he’d cheat on me if I stopped giving him sex. I got really upset and he said he was only messing around and that he loves me too much to cheat on me.

Then today, he was on his phone and he left it open on his photo album, I saw a picture of a female bum in a thong (it wasn’t mine). When I asked him what it was, he said it had come off WhatsApp from the work group and that it was just lads stuff. I said I understood lads banter but I can’t understand why he wouldn’t delete photos like that and would choose to keep them along side photos of me (I send him naughty photos). He said it was a bloke thing and that it’s only photos of models and that it wasn’t like he was going to ever see the woman in person. I got really upset again and he said I was being silly. He’s since apologised and is telling me that he loves and he’d never hurt me.

Sorry for the massive post but I feel so hurt

OP posts:
heartyrebel · 29/02/2020 21:48

All the signs of cheating right there. Your instincts are screaming at you, stop ignoring them.

Careersytype · 29/02/2020 21:49

He immediately denied doing anything wrong and asked why I was out
Nice bit of gas lighting there...

Were his friends there?

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 29/02/2020 21:51

I agree, you could keep digging or you could just trust your instincts ants chuck him now, save yourself some time and sanity!

goldenorbspider · 29/02/2020 21:51

You caught him in a lie and he made you feel bad. Run for the hills

Hotwaterbottlelove · 29/02/2020 21:53

Even if he isn't cheating, I would walk away from any man who thought people were owed sex.

He told me that everyone needs sex and that she should have just done it to keep him happy

That's vile.

mistermagpie · 29/02/2020 21:54

'Normal'? No, it isn't.

flossiewossie124 · 29/02/2020 21:54

Doesn’t sound good. I would get rid tbh Flowers

Haggisfish · 29/02/2020 21:55

Sod that. It’s not normal and you need to get rid.

Aquamarine1029 · 29/02/2020 21:58

Are you trying to convince us or yourself that he's not cheating, because it's not working. He's cheating. We know it, you know. Get rid.

Itsmytimetoshine · 29/02/2020 22:40

No, his friends had gone by then

OP posts:
Littlepeak34 · 29/02/2020 22:41

Yeah sounds like something is off. Even if he’s not cheating, he Sounds like a prick and you would do well to get rid.

nickname302 · 29/02/2020 22:49

said he hadn’t received my message or seen my call come on, you know this is BS.

Idontkowmyname · 29/02/2020 22:51

You said his friends has gone, is it possible he wasn’t even there in the first place.

FizzyPink · 29/02/2020 22:53

Can you get hold of his phone and check that photo did come from the WhatsApp group he claims it did? You can look at shared media and all photos and videos will be there

HomerSimpsonSmilingPolitely · 29/02/2020 22:56

I'm so sorry to have to say this, but there are red flags waving everywhere. Be sounds like a classic cheater. He isn't even trying that hard to hide it.

You deserve better. Don't let him take the piss out of you, OP. There are better men out there.

OhTheRoses · 29/02/2020 22:58

I'd be worried if high standards of cleanliness and personal grooming weren't an every day occurrence full stop. He's cheating. Why are you living with an untrustworthy man you have known for only two years when children are involved?

Boireannachlaidir · 29/02/2020 23:01

Yes this is perfectly normal behaviour...for a liar and a cheat. You can't trust him and he sounds like he has a shitty attitude towards women.

MapMySleighRide · 29/02/2020 23:05

Even if he hasnt actually cheated, he looks like he is trying to, and at the very least doesnt look like a very nice person. You dont have to wait for him to do something wrong to end it if you're happy. Do what you need to do to make you happy, properly happy

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 29/02/2020 23:05

If I caught my dp following a woman to the toilets on a night out, I would tell him to get to fuck right there and then, whether he claimed to remember it or not.
If he was going on a night out, I would expect him to make an effort, like hair cut, shave etc but if he bought new boxers I would be 🤔 because that's something he never does.
I think there is a massive chance hes cheated in you already OP.

Elieza · 29/02/2020 23:06

His friends had gone and he was chatting up random women, or did she come back to the table and was with him?
Either way all seems dodgy. Sorry.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 29/02/2020 23:07

You said his friends has gone, is it possible he wasn’t even there in the first place.

Exactly what I thought. Why would he stay there alone?

TheMustressMhor · 29/02/2020 23:08

He is cheating.

He is lying to you about where he's going.

He believes that women should just let men have sex even if they don't want it themselves.

He gets drunk and says he has forgotten things as a result.

He has pictures on his phone of random women's bums.

He thinks this is just "lads" stuff and you are making a fuss.

It's all bad, OP. Time to pack his bags.

Kikkoman · 29/02/2020 23:10

Well I think he was about to fuck her in the toilets tbh but you walked in.

But then he went and did it when he went missing for seven hours.

Then he told you what he would he would cheat then laughed it off.

Treating you like a right mug isn’t he?

TheGirlWithAPrince · 29/02/2020 23:26

Yep up to no good I would imagine

84claire84 · 29/02/2020 23:30

Absolutely not normal behaviour

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