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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

am i being a dick about this?

107 replies

whatyonek · 17/10/2020 11:25

Met a lovely man about 5 months ago. Before anyone asks, yes we have complied with all lockdown based rules.

We got on amazingly from the start, lots of very very long phone calls, he is polite, fair with money, has a good job and great family, non intrusive but supportive. He’s very clear about wanting to be with me, doesn’t seem to be any games and he’s direct with me. He wants to meet regularly, he’s caring and considerate. Sounds great so far...

But he doesn’t seem to trust me. I’m quite flirty but have never cheated and wouldn’t, I wonder if this is why he gets quickly on edge about things. An example, I work long hours (as does he to be fair) and the odd occasions, not often with covid, I am late in the office. I’m literally there doing work and his texts become more frequent, checking I’m ok. I tell him that I am and then another message appears twenty minutes later. I don’t know if I’m being a huge brat but it makes me so annoyed! It’s the same when I am with a friend. Constant messages, even when I am seeing him hours later or the next day. Am I being a dick about this? I’ve talked to him about it and it makes zero difference.

Other times, on my birthday, he had got me a present and then when I couldn’t come over to his on the day we had arranged for my birthday as I had a stomach bug (on my actual birthday I had long standing plans with friends), he was understanding but decided to open my present and send me the image of it and said ‘this is what I got you.’ I found it manipulative and unnecessary...again maybe I’m being unfair here.

He is lovely and I really do want someone dedicated to me, I actually love how much we speak and text but sometimes when I say please can we speak tonight or I’m busy at lunchtime today or whatever it is, the messaging escalates.

He has never got angry with me directly but one time I called to say I was running ten mins late and he said that’s fine then my phone didn’t hang up immediately and I heard him swearing to himself saying fucks sake is she coming over or not! I asked him about this when I arrived and he said he didn’t know what I was talking about.

When I asked for a weekend apart he said he would do it but I should be aware that he will quickly lose feelings for me if we don’t see each other a lot. I don’t think he meant this in the toxic way it could be interpreted but it made me feel distant from him, like we can’t trust one another enough to enjoy time apart. In a way that makes me feel less like the relationship is good. I don’t know.

Maybe I’m being a dick?

OP posts:
category12 · 17/10/2020 13:52

You may not think of yourself as meek, but you're continuing to accept his schmushing of boundaries, sliding the goalposts ever more his way and that's how it starts.

At 36, you do still have time to find someone actually decent, not feigned decent. You don't have time to waste finding out just how bad this guy can be by ignoring the red flags.

2bazookas · 17/10/2020 13:58

At 36 I don’t see myself finding anyone decent now though.

   Don't despair.  In some  of the happiest marriages I know,   the partners had  never even met each other until they were past 50.
pinkyredrose · 17/10/2020 14:01

He's an arsehole masquerading as a 'nice guy'. Dump!

RhymesWithOrange · 17/10/2020 14:03

I wish I could make you see how young you are at 36. You have an awful lot of life left to live, don’t settle.

If you can’t have a calm conversation about something that’s bothering you there’s now future in it.

Indoorcamping · 17/10/2020 14:05

He is not lovely.

Brakebackcyclebot · 17/10/2020 14:13

Agreeing with pretty much everyone else! Get out now.

At 36 you have years to look for the right person. You DON'T have years to waste on a man like this. He will grind you down, you will lose your sense of self and a decade could disappear in an abusive relationship.

FWIW I am 48. At 36 I was newly divorced with 2 small DCs. After that I wasted 6 years on an abusive man. I wish I had not jumped into that relationship and had listened to my gut which did notice some small indications of what was to come. They were scarily like what you describe.

Shutupyoutart · 17/10/2020 14:21

Op have you posted about this guy before? I agree with everyone else. He sounds very possessive and he cant be that lovely if hes harassing you every time you don't meet up or reply straight away.

JenniferSantoro · 17/10/2020 14:21

I really hope you are reading and absorbing these very valid concerns that everyone is raising. He is clearly controlling and this will not end well if you stay in a relationship with him. I would run a mile. The concerns you’ve raised by far outweigh any of his qualities. They should be leaping out at you telling you to run a mile.

FizzyGreenWater · 17/10/2020 14:21

When I asked for a weekend apart he said he would do it but I should be aware that he will quickly lose feelings for me if we don’t see each other a lot.

GET RID 100%

Controlling manipulative twat.

nolovelost · 17/10/2020 15:45

He does actually sound really like my ex that I dumped. Does his name begin with an R?

Onxob · 17/10/2020 15:52

Please PLEASE listen to your instinct - it's niggling you for a reason. I ignored mine and married a man who sounds very similar to yours. He was so lovely in every other way so I ignored that nagging sense that things were a little too "much". I should have listened. It's not a happy marriage and he is controlling and manipulative yet still "lovely" on the surface. You're lucky you asked about it now while it's still early days and easy to get out - wish I had done that! Trust your gut.

UserABCDE12345 · 17/10/2020 16:47

I always think MNetters overreact in terms of red flags etc, but in this case, not a chance!

He is NOT nice OP. The rest is an act. He was gaslighting you as well by pretending he didn't know what you were talking about when the phone didn't hang up. He will become very controlling, he already is with the constant messaging and distrust.

Your age doesn't matter. Do not get stuck with this one wishing you had listened on here.

lazylinguist · 17/10/2020 16:56

my phone didn’t hang up immediately and I heard him swearing to himself saying fucks sake is she coming over or not! I asked him about this when I arrived and he said he didn’t know what I was talking about.

When I asked for a weekend apart he said he would do it but I should be aware that he will quickly lose feelings for me if we don’t see each other a lot

The constant messaging is bad enough, but these two bits of behaviour would bother me even more. He is training you to do what he wants. Don't let him. Ltb.

MactheRover · 17/10/2020 17:17

You have landed yourself an abusive controlling arsehole OP, do yourself a favour and chuck him back in. You sound great, you will find someone decent.

areyoubeingserviced · 17/10/2020 19:22

More red flags than a Communist tea party
Run for the hills Op

solopretation · 17/10/2020 20:49

@ElspethFlashman

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
I agree with this very succinct post

He was swearing bc you were going to be 10 mins late? OMGoodness!

LilyLongJohn · 18/10/2020 07:18

Of course he's lovely on every other way, abusive men wouldn't ever be in relationships if they were abusive all the time.

And of course you'll find someone else, I met my dh in my mid 40s and I've never been happier in a relationship

Lolaloveslemonade · 18/10/2020 07:27

The thing that unsettled me most was how annoyed he gets when I raise anything at all. He gets cross about it. I know what I need to do. At 36 I don’t see myself finding anyone decent now though.

He isn’t decent. He sounds awful OP. When he is being nice it is just a front. He has shown you his true colours!
You would be better off without anyone than tied to this insecure, petulant, controlling, jealous weirdo.
Run run as fast as you can.

marly11 · 18/10/2020 07:46

I would say that being swayed by the fact that he is from a nice family and has nice relatives is a total red herring. I have done this before. It feels good to be part of that larger network but it is irrelevant in relation to what you will find yourself in in the key relationship, which doesn't look good here.

LockdownLoopy · 18/10/2020 08:31

36 isn’t old at all. Settling for this man WILL ruin the rest of your life, these huge red flags will just be the beginning of very controlling, unhappy life. They’re always lovely and kind and attentive and such on the front, deep down this a very dark man.

custardbear · 18/10/2020 08:34

He's not lovely, his facade is lovely, but you're just seeing now what happens when you scratch below the surface

baileys6904 · 18/10/2020 09:08

Just to throw in the mix, while youre with this arzehol at 36,youre wasting time that you could be with someone who's made for you. Mr right could be watching you right now thinking, wow I wish she were single...
And I met my OH at 37 after years of unhealthy and abusive relationships. I'd given up and resigned myself to being single rather than mistreated. He treats me like a queen, I actually fancied him years ago when we worked together and I am now one of those smug happy women I used to envy massively. Please don't let fearfor the future affect decisions for your present

ChronicallyCurious · 18/10/2020 09:40

When I asked for a weekend apart he said he would do it but I should be aware that he will quickly lose feelings for me if we don’t see each other a lot.

Toxic. Manipulative. Controlling. Ffs it’s only been 5 months op! Get rid!

mytimeonline · 18/10/2020 09:42

Red flags
The hanging up and swearings Mental
I am sure he appears nice
Keep your life and career on track I can assure you he won't be around for ever.
Can you not see he's charming because he's manipulating.
I am sure you love the attention but really

MJMG2015 · 18/10/2020 09:58

You're 36, not 86! Stop treating this as your 'last chance'.

Even if it was (it's not) you'd be far better off alone than with him. Yes he has some good points, but psychopaths do, otherwise they wouldn't hook people in, in the first place.

Stop being scared to be on your own & start being scared of staying with him.