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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

Partners strange behaviour

181 replies

wouldyoucare · 21/03/2022 10:05

Once every so often. I don't understand it, it doesn't feel right, his reply to when I challenge it or want to talk about it is 'I am who I am'. Can you please tell me if I'm over reacting
So, here it goes:
-when I drive the car and he is in the front passenger seat he would honk at random people and wave them as if he knew them, he then would moan if they don't wave back and say how boring they are
-he would push me for fun when we are out for a walk, he does it gently but I still think it is just stupid, he stopped when I told him to stop doing it
-he would throw something lightweight (leaf) at people in the park and then pretend it wasn't him.
-there is a few terraced houses along the road and one of them has a bench in the front garden. He would go and sit on that bench claiming the garden isn't fenced therefore he can sit in the bench how long he wants
-we don't live together, he suggested inviting my brother and sister in law for a dinner at his, he helped preparing it but just before they were due to come, he fucked off to the gym, ended up coming back home few hrs later.
We have christening in family in few months time and I'm anxious he is going to do the same thing.

He seems to have his own rules for everything and says he is different to other people. but the thing is I'm never sure wheat to expect of him and I feel anxious because of that. He minimises it and makes me feel I'm making a big deal out of nothing. Am I? Am I sleepwalking into some sort of a disaster?
How can I make him see how wrong is it?
He is 39.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 21/03/2022 14:08

@wouldyoucare

We have been together 15 months. And no, at the beginning he didn't behave like this. I would dump him if he was. It started gradually. He behaved like a mature person at the beginning and it is completely different now. Im embarrassed when he does it but at the same time I feel unreasonable to end. Unreasonable and too demanding. That's what he says, I expect too much and complain too much.
Yeah he is setting you up to be a 'nag' if you call him out on his bs. He is setting you up to tell you your feelings are wrong when he hurts them. And make you feel you can't object to his poor treatment of you because you would very totl you 'overreact' and are 'oversensitive'.

It's the beginning of this gaslighting. And his annoying, disrespectful behaviour now will only intensify and become more and more sinister.

It's not unreasonable to end it. He stood you and your family up and now the trust is gone. Just tell him it isn't working for you anymore and you want out.

Pinkbonbon · 21/03/2022 14:09

*be told you

Unanananana · 21/03/2022 14:12

He sounds insufferable and oh so dull. Thinking he is all different and alternative. Nah, mate. You are just a bellend.

How do you find that attractive? It sounds about as unsexy as it gets.

Maray1967 · 21/03/2022 14:15

If my teenager sat on a bench clearly in someone’s front garden I would drag him off it by his collar. If my DH honked the car horn at strangers I would pull up and tell him to leave the car.
This is utterly pathetic, attention-seeking behaviour. I agree with PP who asked whether you could cope with him messing about at antenatal scans etc.
It is not expecting too much from an adult to expect them not to behave like a five year old.

Watchkeys · 21/03/2022 15:04

It is not expecting too much from an adult to expect them not to behave like a five year old

It is. He's allowed to be who he is. If he wants to act like a 5 year old, it's not up to OP to over ride that decision and tell him how better to live his life.

People are who they are. It's wrong to expect any different from them, and it's also wrong to expect anyone to stick around if they've made it clear they don't like our behaviour, and we refuse to change it.

D0lphine · 21/03/2022 15:08

He just sounds rude tbh.

I'd dump him - he isn't going to change! Find someone normal.

PinkGinBigGrin · 21/03/2022 15:09

He sounds like one of those tedious types who say things like "I'm mad, me!" Whilst everyone else just watches on thinking "what a wanker".

Agree with everyone else - it's up to you to decide if you want to spend your life with someone who acts like this (ie like a 12 yo adolescent).

I wouldn't, personally.

30mph · 21/03/2022 15:36

Your 'expectations' are very low. Throw this one back and raise your bar.

lemongreentea · 21/03/2022 15:41

@D0lphine

He just sounds rude tbh.

I'd dump him - he isn't going to change! Find someone normal.

this
mewkins · 21/03/2022 15:45

@Watchkeys

How can I make him see how wrong is it

It's not your job to teach people how to behave. Why do you think your way is right and his way is wrong?

You and he are different to the point that it's making you uncomfortable having a relationship with him. This is the bit where you realise that everyone is who they are, and you have to take responsibility for yourself, by staying away from people who make you feel anxious, or negative in any way, rather than trying to work out how to make them do stuff your way.

There's lots of ways to do life 'right'. Yours isn't the only way, and if someone does life differently to you, it doesn't mean they're wrong.

There are indeed lots of ways to do life. But this guy is just being a massive arsehole either for his own amusement or to control the OP. That isn't doing life right in any way.
Hoppinggreen · 21/03/2022 15:47

Is he one of these “oh I’m so crazy and interesting” types?
They do these things to make up for a lack of actual personality
He sounds very dull, dump him

nitsandwormsdodger · 21/03/2022 15:50

V v unsexy behaviour and stressful
It’s achually a kindness to dump him ( May) make him see what an obnoxious dick he has been

Side note it is achually illegal to honk horn and could be seen as harassment and creepy , also no one honks when I’m driving it v disrespectful to driver
He may realise you are off him and this is desperate attempt to be “fun” you are totally justified to dump anyone anytime but you could always give home a chance to change by sitting him down and telling him how horrible his behaviour is

Bananalanacake · 21/03/2022 15:53

Don't let him move in with you.

Geppili · 21/03/2022 15:54

He is gaslighting you. He is a manipulative prat. Do not move in with him.

Watchkeys · 21/03/2022 15:57

@mewkins

That isn't doing life right in any way

If he's enjoying himself, that is absolutely him doing life in the right way for him. He needs to be around people who he likes and who like him, and he is responsible for that. OP needs to do the same.

Being widely regarded as a prat doesn't mean you're not having a good life or that you're doing something wrong. There are no rules. Especially not other people's opinions of you.

mewkins · 21/03/2022 16:06

[quote Watchkeys]@mewkins

That isn't doing life right in any way

If he's enjoying himself, that is absolutely him doing life in the right way for him. He needs to be around people who he likes and who like him, and he is responsible for that. OP needs to do the same.

Being widely regarded as a prat doesn't mean you're not having a good life or that you're doing something wrong. There are no rules. Especially not other people's opinions of you.[/quote]
Sure......you could say the same for murderers, rapists etc too. Just doing things their way Grin

Except he is breaking a number of rules with what he's doing...trespassing etc just because he wants to have fun.

Lookingoutside · 21/03/2022 16:27

‘Being widely regarded as a prat doesn't mean you're not having a good life or that you're doing something wrong. There are no rules. Especially not other people's opinions of you.’

It can mean that you are doing something wrong. He is doing something wrong. Manipulative and controlling behaviour is wrong.

There are rules. Of course there are rules.

SpinningTheSeedsOfLove · 21/03/2022 16:32

Just dump him for fuck's sake.

Miller2021 · 21/03/2022 16:37

He sounds like a bully to me.

Londondreams1 · 21/03/2022 16:40

My dad does this and more . I put it down to quirk and character and eccentricity for a long while until I spent some time under his roof early 2021 and saw it had a much sinister side. Pure gaslighting and crazy making when it’s on a one to one situation, which can actually be psychologically very dangerous. I am NC with him now . Don’t need that kind of weirdness in my life, when life is hard enough.

ILoveYouMoreTheEnd · 21/03/2022 16:41

@Waterfordaston

My vagina just zipped itself closed at some of these antics. Does he make honking noises when he touches your boobs?

Kill him.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Onlyhonest · 21/03/2022 17:08

It sounds like he enjoys winding people up. I would hate it.

hybridoaties · 21/03/2022 17:15

I will start with I DO NOT BEHAVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE. but I do still think like this and fight myself not to act stupid or childish. I have ADHD! I think the problem here is he doesn't see his behaviour as a problem but pushing boundaries and breaking rules is common place for people with ADHD I'll add normally after diagnosis things improve.

On the flip side he could just be a immature childish prick with no excuse. Leaving after inviting family over would have been a deal breaker for me as I don't handle social situations very well (again could be why he made an excuse and left). I used to make plans and then freak out last minute and run away.

All in all you need to make a decision. Does he want to change?

Watchkeys · 21/03/2022 17:18

Sure......you could say the same for murderers, rapists etc too. Just doing things their way

If you think sitting on a bench in someone's garden is the same as murder, then yes, you're right, it's the same. Otherwise, most of his 'crimes' are simply things that piss OP off. He's allowed to piss OP off. She's allowed to leave.

Lampan · 21/03/2022 17:19

He sounds like an utter twat

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