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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

Partner keeps telling me off like I'm a child.

114 replies

Whatsthatspookynoise · 03/04/2021 12:45

He's always done this thing where he'll just snap and start being rude to me out of nowhere. Recently it's gotten much worse. He talks to me as if I'm a naughty child and need to be put in my place if that makes sense? I've become extremely anxious because I never know when he will just be rude out of nowhere, so I'm doing that thing where I'm constantly looking for reassurance that he isn't angry or in a bad mood with me. It's his tone of voice, not necessarily WHAT he says that's the problem.

Last night I was in bed with a cold and couldn't sleep, so I'd wander into the living room every now and then. He ordered food really late and asked me if I wanted anything. I said no thanks.
When it came 2 hours later, he offered me some as he bought two large meals and I said I would have a tiny bit. He kept making comments about "you should have fucking said you wanted food when I asked". I said I didn't actually want a whole meal and I was fine not to have anything, I just thought since he had so much and offered I would have a bit. He insists I eat with him.

So we are chatting and eating and I took a tiny piece of pitta bread from the box. Then all hell broke lose. "you just took it without fucking asking, you knew I'd fucking say no." "Look at how you've ruined the meal, it doesn't look right and the proportions are off". "I fucking asked you and you said you didn't want anything and now you've fucked up my meal".

I cannot stress enough how tiny the piece was. I apologized of course. But the way he was going on about this pitta bread was insane. I thought he was actually joking. I felt myself shrinking. I felt so embarrassed and ashamed. I could feel that I was about to cry so I walked away and cried in my room listening to him laughing at the TV. He really laid into me and he keeps doing it. I'm usually the kind of person to stand up for myself, but I feel so small when he shouts at me that I just cry and say nothing and continue talking to him like nothing happened.

I really don't think this is right. If I ever bring up I don't like the way he's speaking to me, it's because I'm "sensitive". Which despite me saying it makes me cry, he never actually sees me doing so.

We usually get on really well, so when he suddenly changes, it's horrible because I can't see it coming. Absolutely everyone thinks he is the nicest guy on the planet and would never ever do such a thing. I'm tired of feeling scared I'm going to get told off and walking on eggshells all of the time. How do you hash it out with someone who absolutely believes they are always 100% in the right?

OP posts:
PussInBin20 · 03/04/2021 17:25

Leave - why would you want to stay with someone who treats you like this? You’ll be happier and healthier without him.

Justcashnosweets · 03/04/2021 17:26

If my DP spoke to me like that, first I'd be asking who the fuck he thinks he's talking to like that, then he'd be wearing the takeaway. Your husband sounds awful.

WhereYouLeftIt · 03/04/2021 17:31

You're being abused, and it's obviously been going on for some time, enough time for you to be so ground under that you sit there and take it instead of shoving that pitta bread up his arse as he so richly deserved.

  • How long have you been together?
  • Do you live together? (Or does he just stay over?)
  • Do you have children together?

I'm asking those questions because I want you to start working out how to disentangle yourself from this arsehole.

Carbara · 03/04/2021 17:34

Yet another depressing thread where vermin manages to acquire, keep and abuse a woman. I wish males like this would go extinct, who the fuck keeps breeding them?
OP, please don’t say you’re financially dependent on your scum boyfriend?

CallMeCleo · 03/04/2021 17:38

@Wanderlusto

That rant he did was straight up psychopath right there btw.

He isnt just an abuser, he is a particularly nasty strain of it. A malignant narcissist who is engaging in really sadistic psychological warfare with you.

Would you try to reason with a serial killer? Because that is the type of personality he has.

This.
RainingZen · 03/04/2021 17:39

Oh my dear, you don't need MN to tell you that you need to leave this relationship. You know it deep down. Read back over what you have written, it is really important that you leave. I know you can find the strength. Find the "you" that is brave and competent, make your plans, and leave. And don't look back.

This is the kind of intimidation and bullying that will not improve. I'm so sorry.
But you are worth more than this.

Marriagegoingtoimplode · 03/04/2021 17:41

@StephenBelafonte

Look at how you've ruined the meal, it doesn't look right and the proportions are off"

THAT is a really really weird thing to say about food.

Abusive men are very often controlling and weird about food.

Also agree with the posters who said he's not angry. He's pretending to be angry to intimindate you. Does he ever get angry with others.

So sorry he treats you like that op. My DH doesn’t refer to proportions but instead talks about ratios. Stayed at a luxury hotel, all accommodation and meals paid for by family and all he could do was complain about his ratios being off.
BillMasheen · 03/04/2021 17:48

The whole thing was a set up from the start.

He deliberately over ordered to get you to have a bit, just like putting cheese on a mousetrap. Because he knew damned well he could then persuade you to have some.

Then he could strike.

Oh, and the nice bits of the Relationship ... they’re fake. To draw you in.

Ana2021 · 03/04/2021 17:54

I think you need to speak to a professional agency who will be able to support you with finding a safe refuge accommodation and which will give you the escape you need. You can take the time to reflect on what it is you actually want to do. Many women find that the safe space away from the controlling environment gives them a new found perspective and the confidence strength and belief that they deserve better.
Much of what you describe is classic behaviours exhibited by an abusive partner.

GreyhoundG1rl · 03/04/2021 18:03

He's not treating you as though you're a child though, is he? Who'd speak to a child like that? He's treating you like a pile of shit he's just stepped in.
Sneaking off to cry in your room like a whipped dog is not helping you deal with this. Get angry.
And then leave.

HollowTalk · 03/04/2021 18:14

He's a greedy, selfish, argumentative bastard. Why do you stay with him? And don't say he's not always like that - even a psychopath has days when he's pleasant.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 03/04/2021 18:26

What a bullying prick. You need to lose your shit with him op and shock him into realise what it is like. Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

RabbiTouch · 03/04/2021 18:48

@Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin

What a bullying prick. You need to lose your shit with him op and shock him into realise what it is like. Fuck that for a game of soldiers.
Not a good idea, she would be putting herself at more risk if she did that. The safest thing to do is to get your ducks in a row and tell him it's over once you're safely away from him.

How are you, Whatsthatspookynoise? If you weren't aware how abusive he is it can come as quite a shock to see it in black and white from so many posters Flowers

Poppins66 · 03/04/2021 19:13

He's a bully. Don't allow him to speak to you like that. Would he speak to his mum,sister, daughter like that?

The saying "people treat you the way you allow them to treat you" is very true.

Next time he kicks off stop him in his tracks with a firm tone, no need to shout " do not speak to me like that, have some respect and stop overreacting" and walk away, refuse to give him the opportunity to talk down to you.

When he's calm see if you can talk to him about it and does he realise how he sounds, you could even record him and play it back to him, he might not realise just what a prick he sounds like.

Whatsthatspookynoise · 03/04/2021 19:18

Thank you so much everyone. I'm really ill which made me feel so much worse about it. I stormed into the living room and gave him a piece of my mind. He tried to back up his argument at the pitta bread which actually made me laugh. That is the weirdest thing he's ever done. I said that I've become used to not telling him to shut up etc because I HATE confrontation and he's taking advantage of that. I said I'm disgusted by his pathetic behaviour and that he's making me unhappy.

When I mentioned he speaks to me like I'm a child, I didn't mean that particular incident. That was talking to me like I'm a piece of shit! It's other times I get told off for silly things.
We live together, he pays the rent. I do have my own money, but nowhere near as much as this place costs. I'm a stay at home mum. We have a 15 month old and my 9 year old from a previous relationship. He's very good with them and he helps a lot as he's working from home.

It's just made me angrier the more I read these comments. Like I need to stop brushing it under the rug. I've never had low self esteem or been afraid of anyone, so why have I sat back and allowed him to talk to me like this?!

I can't afford to move out. I wish I had my own place.

OP posts:
fairydustandpixies · 03/04/2021 19:24

Run. Run far and keep running. Why the hell would you want to live with a vile person like that? You're worth more than being treated like that.

CharlotteRose90 · 03/04/2021 19:31

Get him out of the house now. I actually got the shivers and felt scared when I read what he did. He’s an abusive piece of shit. You need to get him out and concentrate on you and your kids. Believe me if he stops on you he will start on the kids. Sick sick man

AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/04/2021 19:38

He is not good with your kids if he treats you as their mother abusively. What you are describing here are examples of domestic abuse and coercive control within your home and you need to get him out of your lives. The only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is none.

What do you want to teach your children about relationships and what are they learning here, particularly your eldest?. Would you want them as adults to be in a relationship like this. No you would not and it’s not good enough for you either.

I would seek legal advice ASAP and look into non molestation and occupation orders. Do not ever do any form of mediation with him.

Wanderlusto · 03/04/2021 19:40

Could you afford a cheaper place on your own? With any benefits you are entitled to and the child support from him and other child dad?

I'd start looking into it because theres something seriously wrong with him.

Good on you for standing up for yourself! But he will only start looking for a different way to undermine and hurt you now. Perhaps after a period of pretending to introspect. Perhaps not.

I'd start planning an escape if I were you.

Monr0e · 03/04/2021 19:44

"I apologized of course" Why??????????
He spoke to you like absolute shit, he's a nasty abusive bastard and you are walking on egg shells all the time trying not to set him off.

Your dc's will pick up on this too, what a miserable way to live

MSQuinn · 03/04/2021 19:54

He sounds horrible. Really nasty and unpleasant. If I make myself a drink, I prefer my husband asking rather than just taking but he offered you food. He sounds vile. It feels like he’s treating you like a child to gradually be able to make you doubt decisions so he’ll have more control.

Woodlandbelle · 03/04/2021 19:58

Have you any family you can move in with 😭😭😭😭

blackrimmedspecs · 03/04/2021 20:06

So sorry you're being treated like this, no way to treat a human being, an adult or child. He is the same person who is nice and abusive, he won't change, you can't have one without the other. He can control his behaviour as he chooses to behave like this o lay with you in private. Leave him and you'll be so much happier.

Colourmeclear · 03/04/2021 20:08

I think he probably orchestrated the whole thing, order late so you were hungry, order two meals so you'd think it would be ok to take a bit and then completely blow up over it. I've experienced similar.

There's something inside you right now that's telling you this isn't ok, it's not normal and that you're not too sensitive. That part of you is right, listen to it.

He is showing you no consideration, a lack of respect and no generosity. You cannot trust him to treat your needs or opinions as valid. It's not you, it's him.

TurquoiseDragon · 03/04/2021 20:18

@frazzledasarock

Pick his bag and change the locks.

Don’t look back. He’s abusive and it will only get worse.

You don’t want to have kids with this man, your DC would be terrified of him and grow up learning to treat you like he does.

Run away seriously. Don’t try to get him to change. He behaves this way because he wants to.

OP, he's abusive. Time to get out. I used to think I couldn't afford to leave, and in fact I only left after 30 years, by which time both of our DC and I had MH issues.

Don't subject your DC to this man's abusive behaviour. You may think they aren't affected, but believe me, they are.