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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

Was this controlling behaviour or was I controlling?

27 replies

WhoamI83 · 11/07/2020 19:39

So now that my marriage is a fair few months behind some of the things I put up with and he persuaded me was me being controlling I’m not sure about anymore.

He would always come home from work late, when I say late several hours late. But he expected a dinner for him (I always finished work earlier) It happened all the time, wouldnt be so bad if it was every now and again. So I would wait and wait for him to come home and in the end gave up and ate on my own, later on in the relationship me and the kids would hang on until it was just too late. He never called or text to say I’m staying late. He did used to stay late to drink with work colleagues and would drink and drive and I would always worry about him. Every time their would be an argument and I would say can’t you just send a quick text to let me know. For example did your not coming and eating after work I don’t have to cook or I can go out also.
Sometimes I waited till the middle of the night for him to return. His answer was always that I was controlling and I didn’t want him having friends, this was not my intention. I just thought it would be a decent thing to let your wife know.
Maybe I am wrong???

Similar story. Every year he would take a visit home (abroad) I stopped going because all he did was drink and smoke weed and it was of no interest to me. He wouldn’t bother calling or texting just to say Hi, how are you, love you etc etc. He just said I was trying to control his time with his family and he sees me all the time. Was it wrong just to have a text. I loved him and I actually wanted to say hi, how is your family etc.

I get the impression that he did what he wanted and I could shut up. He never even after 15 years bothered to send a text if he wasn’t coming home. Was I asking too much?

OP posts:
bitheby · 11/07/2020 22:35

You were not controlling. He was and emotionally manipulative to make you believe that it was you at fault.

Glad you're rid of him. Maybe have some counselling to build up your self esteem again?

WhoamI83 · 11/07/2020 23:12

I always backed down in the arguments but I always felt something was wrong. I wouldn’t treat someone like that and I never did in return. All his behaviour did was have me question our connection and it wrecked our intimacy as I never felt safe and loved.
You would have thought if something you did caused your partner distress you would try and see from their point of view. They do say that narcissists lack empathy. He probably couldn’t understand why it caused me destress.

OP posts:
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