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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

Me (24M) and my fiancee (24W). I feel like I can't take a step anywhere without consulting with her.

48 replies

needadvice11112 · 12/05/2022 19:33

I had a lot of experience (red flags?), but I have never taken in seriously. Since I want your opinion on our relationship (together for about ~7 years, living together for ~5) I would to divide it into points:

  1. When we got a dog last year I was giving an ultimatum that when we come back to our hometown (same hometown) the dog will every time stay with her (we both stay at our parents). I am the only one taking care of the dog at our home (she walked him like 2-3 times during the past 3 months). We don't stay together at our hometown (only when I stay at her parents) because she does not agree to divide the time equally (I suggested that if she wants we can sleep same amount of nights at her parents and mine, she was against that). She is in a good relationship with my parents, I am in good with hers. I've also offered that one weekend the dog stays with her and the other time we come back with me. She was also against that.
*I paid for the dog and I also pay for bills, gas, food, going out, travelling etc. (we live in her parents owned apartment)
  1. I feel I have no more freedom left in my decisions. She was against that I invest in my brothers business which is profitable and I still did that (only my savings of course). From that it all started going downhill. She is constantly blaming me that I do not consult with her (I don't know if I'm in the wrong here also). Today we got in a fight because in a group chat of my friends (she is also in it and she knows them all) I wrote that maybe anyone want to meet on the weekend (since we were going back that weekend) and she started blaming me that I did not consult with her offering my friends to meet. Basically at this point as I understand that I have to consult my every move and if she doesn't approve it we will go into a big argument.
This leads to: I basically don't have permission to do anything without her. When we were younger (a few years back). My friend was throwing a birthday party (in hometown) and she did not want to go since her parents were sick at that time and she did not want to sleep at my parents. And I said that it's not a problem I'll go alone (it's only couples of my childhood friends, the people she knows). I got the same ultimatum that I'm not going without her and we got into a fight. She later decided she will go together.

extra: same goes for travelling, my friend group was organizing a summer trip to Greece and she doesn't like one girl in the company (which is in a relationship). I got the same ultimatum that she won't be going because of her and that I can't go alone (they're all my childhood friends like come on, a group of 14 people).
I allow her to go everywhere: company parties, out with her friends etc. I'm not controlling at all because I know trust builds the relationship.

  1. I got offered to be the best man at my best friends wedding (she didn't get offered the same role because the best woman will be my friends wifes sister). I don't see any issue in that at all since they both picked a person each. But since I agreed we got into a fight again that I did not consult it with her (I felt it was my duty since I got offered such a role in my friends life). How could I said I need to think or discuss it with my partner. Well, she took it as a betrayal and she was very offended by it. I did not turn down to be the best man.
  2. We want to live in different cities. She wants to live in the capital and I want to live in our hometown (since it's only 350km away and housing there is 3x cheaper). I work as a freelancer so location for me is not a problem. She only works part time in a job that with most experience you can earn /3 from my salary. But it's her dream to live in the capital and I agreed. We are both close to our families, but I would want to live more near to them so I can visit more frequently.
  3. When first covid lockdown began we went back to our hometown (since we were still in university and all classes were remote). She wanted to stay there a long time but I couldn't focus on working living at parents house so I said that I'll be going back to the capital. I was struck again with the ultimatum of breakup if I go alone (even tho we were staying separately). I did not understand that but I didn't go.
Is this trust issue or what? Because I take care of her, we clean, cook together etc. I buy her nice gifts. So basically my issue is that I feel like I don't have a say in this relationship and I feel it's turning into a toxic one really fast. Should I consult taking every step and when she doesn't agree to it do it as she says?
OP posts:
lisavanderpumpscloset · 12/05/2022 19:36

It already is toxic. She isn't allowing you to live the life you lead. Walk away.

lisavanderpumpscloset · 12/05/2022 19:36

Want to lead*

Eddielizzard · 12/05/2022 19:39

This really doesn't sound good. She sounds very controlling.

DorritLittle · 12/05/2022 19:39

A relative is in this relationship 20 years on. I can't tell if their relationship is toxic but I do know he doesn't do anything without her. And she is the person we consult about all plans.

gamerchick · 12/05/2022 19:40

What do you mean, 'turning toxic'? It's been toxic for a long long time.

Next ultimatum, tell her fine and stick to it.

totallyoutnumbered · 12/05/2022 19:40

Nope. So controlling. That's not how you have to live and you can do significantly better than this

Wbeezer · 12/05/2022 19:42

Is it learned behaviour? Are either of her parents controlling in a similar way? If this is the case it may be very hard to get her to see that there is anything wrong with her behaviour.

MadMadMadamMim · 12/05/2022 19:45

I think this relationship has run it's course, don't you?

I'd be politely telling her that the wedding was off and be moving out.

chisanunian · 12/05/2022 19:48

This is a difficult situation, and from what you have said, I don't think that the two of you are compatible at all. Maybe you need to think about what you want from a long-term relationship, and whether she is the right one for you.

You say she's your fiancee - has the date for the wedding been arranged yet?

Caramac555 · 12/05/2022 19:50

I think you know the answer to this, she's too controlling. Do you want a lifetime of having no freedom to live as you please?

If you marry her, have children, it will be much harder to leave.

CatDogMonkeyPOW · 12/05/2022 19:54

You're 24. Still young. Go and live your life. Travel, work on your career etc. Don't settle for this relationship. It doesn't sound healthy. There will be plenty of time to meet someone and get married later.

NewandNotImproved · 12/05/2022 19:56

I don’t understand why you didn’t dump her years ago.

The only point of a relationship is that it’s meant to be fun, it’s meant to enhance your life. Go and enjoy your life.

winterchills · 12/05/2022 20:02

Sounds like a very controlling relationship..,, get out now!

Itstimetoquit · 12/05/2022 20:05

Leave it will only get worse x

GettingItOutThere · 12/05/2022 20:18

take the dog and leave. its toxic

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 12/05/2022 20:26

This is really sad. A relationship shouldn't be this much hardwork. You dont have kids yet. If there's already this much toxcitiy imagine what it will be like with kids! Shes very controlling and you dont seem compatible.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 12/05/2022 20:30

You're 24. This isn't going to get better. I don't think either of you are happy.

Don't stay together because of the sunk costs fallacy.

tkwal · 12/05/2022 20:36

Get out of that relationship before she makes you marry her. You'd never see your family or friends again

needadvice11112 · 12/05/2022 20:47

Thank you everyone for your eye opening opinions since we've been in a relationship this long I'll do the thing stated by the user I'm responding to. I know I'm stupid but I'll give it one more chance.

Really appreciate all of your responses because I thought that I'm the one wrong that I don't want my every step controlled.

OP posts:
needadvice11112 · 12/05/2022 20:48

Yes, lately I've been realizing that it's more work than love...

OP posts:
needadvice11112 · 12/05/2022 20:49

Not yet.

OP posts:
needadvice11112 · 12/05/2022 20:49

Yes, I believe it is learnt behaviour.

OP posts:
Stressofherregard · 12/05/2022 20:51

leave

AttilaTheMeerkat · 12/05/2022 20:52

Do not give her any more chances, why do you want to do that?. And yes you would be stupid for doing that because that is you yet again kicking the can down the road.

this relationship is not worth hanging onto under any circumstances.

TheBeardedVulture · 12/05/2022 20:56

You need to break up. She is very controlling and it doesn’t sound like you compliment each other. You are both still young and it is clear you want different things from life. She should not be dictating whether or not you are the best man at a friend’s wedding or what you do with your savings.

I have been with my husband for 22 years. We met when we were teens. We have had about 5 arguments in that time because we are mostly very considerate of one another, trust each other and don’t try to control what the other person does with their free time. The relationship does not feel like work.