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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

Boyfriend keeps ending the relationship after his dad passed away - am I in the wrong?

65 replies

LAE1709 · 17/08/2021 20:26

I have just joined this forum as I need help and any advice. I feel like I am going crazy. Bare with me, this might be a long one. I will try and make it as short as it can be.

My boyfriend (22) and I (26) have been together for about a year, but we’ve known each other for 3 years. His dad suddenly passed away in July, after having a stroke a few days before. He was fit and healthy so you can imagine what a shock this was. I didn’t leave my boyfriends side. I took him forwards and backwards to the hospital, along with his family. Stayed at his family home and did anything I could to make their lives easier, cooking, shopping, cleaning etc.

To give a bit of context, it’s not always been an easy road for us both. There have been a lot of issues before and we have awful communication. We had been best friends for around 2 years and decided to give a romantic relationship a try. He has trust issues, because of my past, and he cannot seem to let them go, even now, nearly a year after us being romantically involved. This has been the cause of the majority of our arguments. I haven’t done anything whilst being in a relationship with him, but he’s more bothered about the things I’ve done when I was single.
He does have anger issues which were there before me, however he’s been blaming me for his behaviour, which I’ve believed up until recently. When we do get into an argument, everything is always about how he feels and he gets so angry that he starts throwing things around and damaging my items and property and says some cruel and spiteful things to me, ultimately ending the relationship irrationally. This behaviour often leaves me questioning his feelings towards me and doesn’t give me confidence in our relationship. I’ve felt like I can’t have a voice and have to tread on eggshells around him.

Fast forward to the present, after a week or so of his dad passing, his step mother made a few passing comments about his sister and her boyfriend being in the house and how she didn’t want them around anymore as they were annoying and in the way. I expressed how I didn’t want to overstay my welcome either, however she didn’t reply.
This of course made me feel a bit unwanted and awkward there, so I spoke to my boyfriend about it. He got angry and flipped at me, telling me that I’m making it all about me and I’m selfish, I’m unsupportive and I’m a horrible person etc etc. He ended it with me and told me that he didn’t want to be with me anymore and didn’t want me at his dads funeral.
I tried to talk to him but he wasn’t having any of it. I left it a couple of days and reached out as I felt in my heart that I needed to make amends as the funeral was approaching and I did not want him to go through that on his own. After begging and apologising for me speaking about my issues, I went to his, we didn’t talk about the situation at all and just carried on as “normal”.

The days running up to the funeral, he lashed out at me a couple of times but I just took it on the chin and didn’t make anything of it.
The funeral came and it was a lovely send off for his dad. To be honest, I didn’t even see my boyfriend much that day, he was with his friends apart from the times he was talking to family or people who knew his dad. I was with his cousins, his sister and her boyfriend.
That night, he had another little pop at me, but again, I didn’t react. The next day, he was agitated that his step mother was hoovering early in the morning and they had builders doing the kitchen so we went out for some lunch and went to the beach. Whilst on the way to the beach, he mentioned that he wanted to move away. He didn’t just say it once, he said it maybe 3 or 4 times throughout the day. He said he was going to wait for the money from the will and then he’ll be gone, he’ll be much happier away from everyone and everything around him and he’ll do just fine on his own. One of the times he mentioned this was on the phone to his mum. She asked him “well how am I going to see you?” (She doesn’t drive). After the conversation finished, I asked him if he genuinely was thinking about moving away and he replied “yes, why, are you shocked by that?” And I said “of course, what about me, your mum, your sister, your life here?”. He went mental at me. Again telling me how selfish I am and how I’m making everything about me. How I’m an evil person and that he doesn’t see a future with me so why would he involve me in it. He blamed me for not seeing his dad much for the past 10 months as he’s been staying with me and how I’ve wasted his time and that he could’ve spent it with his dad. He ended it with me, again. He packed my belongings that were in his home and chucked them in my car and off I drove. About 5 minutes later, he text me saying that there’s no need for me to go away and think and apologise in a couple of days, the relationship has run its course and that’s that.
To me, there was no need to message me that, he’d already said enough. I couldn’t stand anymore abuse so I blocked him.
We have been in contact since, but he’s still blaming me and still saying that I shouldn’t of made it about me. He was only thinking out loud and that I should’ve been treading carefully and stayed quiet. In the end, I cut contact because he kept going on and on and attacking me and my character, and to be honest, it hurts.

He’s making me feel like I’m not allowed to have feelings or ask questions. Was I not allowed to ask a question to make him refocus and think straight? I understand the last thing he probably wanted was the added pressure of reassuring me. But that wasn’t what I was doing. Was I wrong for asking? But why didn’t he have the same reaction when his mum asked?

I know he has just lost his dad and the pain must be horrific. But this behaviour is not new. I would understand more if it was. I understand that people grieve differently, but does that mean I deserve all this spitefulness?

I’m starting to think that he doesn’t want this relationship and he’s using this as a way out of it. But then why keep messaging me? If he hadn’t of ended it because of that question I asked, it would’ve been something else. Even if I turn around now and apologise, it’s not going to change anything. He still doesn’t see a future with me. Of course I don’t want to lose him, I love him. But am I just desperately trying to force him to stay in my life?

I want him to know that I’m here for him. The last thing I want is for him to feel alone. But what can I do when I’m constantly being pushed away? I tried to reach out yesterday, to let him know I’m here, regardless of what’s happened between us, but he claimed that I was only doing it for my benefit. I feel like I can’t win.

OP posts:
PaddleBlue · 18/08/2021 07:53

You will never be able to “solve” his issues, things will never get better, he’s this way because he chooses to be and that’s who he is. He clearly doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with the way he treats you otherwise he’d be making massive efforts to change himself. A year in this should still be honeymoon time, this is as good as it gets…it WILL NOT change and afraid you’ve found yourself in another abusive relationship. Please do the freedom programme and try to look at why you keep going for the same type of men, you’re worth so much more.

Please block him and apart from work find the strength not to engage. He doesn’t deserve your loyalty (even after his dad’s death), he certainly wouldn’t be sticking around if you behaved the same as he does.

Opaljewel · 18/08/2021 08:20

Dump this little boy of 22 and walk away. He's controlling and everything is actually about him. Keep him blocked and never ever put up with this kind of behaviour again. You're teaching him what he can get away with. And he has got away with too far. Let this be a lesson learned. When you start having to walk on egg shells around someone, leave it's become toxic. You're also young yourself. You have your whole life ahead of you. I recommend doing the freedom programme so you learn to recognise these red flags. (Can do online) Good luck op!

LAE1709 · 18/08/2021 09:02

@Justilou1
I’m definitely going to look into the Freedom Programme as a few others have mentioned it. Thank you.

You’re right, I do need to enjoy who I am. I’ve lost myself and I just feel like a shell.

OP posts:
LAE1709 · 18/08/2021 09:05

@mathanxiety
Thank you for this advice ❤️

OP posts:
LAE1709 · 18/08/2021 09:09

@Roselilly36
He was. However, he doesn’t want to continue with it as his step mother sorted it out for him and was paying for it.

OP posts:
LAE1709 · 18/08/2021 09:16

@Balonzette
the things he is saying and doing don't come from nowhere.

He has always blamed me for his horrible words and actions. Often it being if I hadn’t of said what I said then he wouldn’t of lashed out.
For example, if I hadn’t of responded with “what about me, your mum, your sister and your life here” when he said he wanted to move away, he wouldn’t of said that he doesn’t see a future with me and called me an evil witch etc etc. It’s always been my fault.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 18/08/2021 09:30

Abusers always blame the victim.

He is an abuser. And he means you harm
In every way.

Tell him never to contact you again and then block him on every platform.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 18/08/2021 10:32

Google DARVO. That's what he's doing and it's straight out of the abusers handbook.

You've given him enough time, energy, headspace and benefit of the doubt.

He's always been this way and now you know he is this way you should protect yourself and end the relationship.

Dillydollydingdong · 18/08/2021 10:43

Whatever's the matter with you? Why do you keep going back for more punishment? Yes, he's probably hurting but he doesn't want you. Get out now! Don't waste any more of your precious time indulging this spoilt, self-obsessed waste of space.

LAE1709 · 19/08/2021 11:23

It’s been difficult the last couple of days.

I ended up logging into one of my SM accounts last night which I wished I didn’t bother. We both went on a SM break at the start of the new year. Turns out he’s back on them and actively using them. Which kinda hurts and I’m not sure why? Why is he carrying on his life like normal and I’m sitting here grieving? I ended up deactivating my account because I knew I would constantly look.

I enquired about the freedom programme today. I’m hoping that maybe I can make new friends through it as if I’m completely honest, I’m quite alone.

I’m dreading work next week. Absolutely dreading it. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel. It’s going to be awful.

OP posts:
CatherineTheNotSoGreat · 19/08/2021 11:31

You're 25. enjoy being 25 and all its freedom. These are fantastic years. This man-child sounds like a millstone around your neck. You're a year into a realationship. It shouldn't be this difficult. Let him go.

You'll manage work, it'll pass. And Absolutely do the freedom programme.

Hoppinggreen · 19/08/2021 11:35

Dickheads can lose a parent too.

NotaCoolMum · 19/08/2021 11:47

Work will be really good for you next week 💐💐 is it a job you enjoy or get satisfaction from? If not, maybe now is the time to look for a new job? Sometimes a whole change of scenery helps xx

bluebell34567 · 19/08/2021 12:14

op, i only read your first post.
i think you need to speak to a counsellor.
he has been treating you like a doormat for a long time, how can you allow that, how can you see this as a relationship? you need to find answers for that.

IndecentCakes · 19/08/2021 12:37

You sound like such a fantastic person. It's time to look for someone who appreciates you.

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