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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

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AIBU or my boyfriend

536 replies

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 18:08

Hello,

Had a slight disagreement with my boyfriend.
To begin, my boyfriend is awaiting his papers from immigrations (going on for about two years now- his parents did not sort out his immigrations papers when he was younger) so he cannot work, or essentially do anything, he is staying at a shared flat and is getting a small allowance (100-200) per month and some help from a scheme.Because of this I have been helping him out financially little by little. Now of course he wants to see my regularly, but often when we go out, I know I'm going to be the one paying for almost everything and then I feel bad because I get him toiletries, food etc. So We generally see each other once a month, around my payday, as I work part time and I'm a part time carer to my mum. He also suggests things like going to the park... but I sometimes say no as you will read below.

So of course, sex is off limits at the moment. He cannot come and stay over at my house and my mum really does not like him and they do not get on. I cannot stay over at my boyfriends house because he is in a government paid shared flat and he is not allowed to bring visitors. So every month, we book a hotel and spend the day today. But of course, I pay for everything and it's eating up my salary.

So two months ago, myself and bf stayed at the hotel. This time, he paid about half of the hotel and I bought food etc. So bf has been very stressed lately, he tried to commit suicide the day before and didn't like the was I was treating him. Unfortunately, on that day, I came on my period and he became upset, saying that it was a waste of time and that I should give him the £40.00 that he paid for the hotel. I said "no because, I paid for the majority of the funds for the hotel (UK hotels are getting very expensive) plus food (which he didn't eat and there in the bin) and that I never ask him to pay just this time as money is tight'. BF got very angry and said 'Well get out and book yourself a taxi, this always happens your always on your period.". He then was threatening me saying that I should give him the money back or else. Not wanting him to get angry, I transferred him the £40.00- telling him that I am struggling financially as I'm supporting my mother, as well as taking her to various private therapies which i also partially fund from my wages.

Anyway, not wanting to get into an argument, I just went to bed and pretended that I was I'll so he doesn't get angry. Then all of a sudden, I just hear him shouting at me at 3am in the morning!! I got up and said "Bf why are you shouting?", he was telling me that he de didn't like the way I was treating him, he was getting angry. Then when I told him to stop and that I have to get up early for work tomorrow. He began to kick my back very hard on multiple occasions and I fell off the bed, he then came very close to me, with his hands clenched, looking very angry, and wanting me to admit all the things that I've done and how it's my fault. If I dared talked back, I know he would have hit me. Anyway, I managed to call him down and we both went to bed. I didn't sleep at all because of what happened. When 6am came, I immediately told Bf that I had to go because I need to go to work- which was true but also because I wanted to get out of there ASAP. He was being such a mood, he was insulting my dress /sense, saying that I did not look nice for our date night and that if I ever wear what I was wearing again he wouldn't want to hang out with me. He then dropped him off home and he was being such a bitch, shouting at me because I suggested the wrong direction to getting home, telling me that I had no common sense, people were looking at us- it was just a bad day.

When I got home, I just cried, he apologised but I told him that I wanted space and we haven't really been speaking for about a month ago.

Anyway, present day, we have been speaking on and off and things are getting back to normal. But currently, as he is so stressed because of immigration, he wants to have sex (I have known him for a long time, but when he feels sad/stressed it's like he uses my body as a stress reliever- he doesn't admit it but it's true and god for it if I deny him sex, he just gets angry). So anyway, he has been initiating that he wants sex (we haven't done it in a while). I then told him that I would be happy to see him, go somewhere, take a walk, but right now I don't feel safe to book a hotel and spend the night with him because of what happened the last time. Well you know what happened? He became very angry, saying I'm cheating on him that I should admit it to him, that I'm making up excuses, that his giving me a month and then watch, he would be in "full rage and no one can't say anything".

AIBU? I know it's been a while that we haven't had sex but I just don't feel comfortable to be in his company at present and want to wait a while. What should I do?

OP posts:
PriamFarrl · 17/08/2022 20:29

Traditional morals? What? Being and arsehole?

What is your cultural background, OP? What tradition is it that encourages men to behave like this?

I know this is all hard to hear but we are all women looking at this relationship from the outside. We can see how damaging it is. We are all your aunties telling you the truth that you don’t want to hear.
You know this is a bad relationship, you know you could do better than this. It’s not too late to leave him and find someone else. If you didn’t think this was wrong then you wouldn’t be posting here.

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 20:30

I'm not sure. He has lost his cool to someone before but no where near how he treats me.

OP posts:
WheresTheLambSauce · 17/08/2022 20:30

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 20:21

Wow. Reading that has opened my eyes. He always told me that if we lived together, get married, have a baby, then everything would be fine. He longs a normal family (particularly as he didn't really have that growing up). But it wouldn't be, he'll just get angry/stressed probably become angry about a crying baby.
But that's not reality.

Someone asks me about his good points. He has traditional morals, his funny, his sweet with his words, he knows how to cheer me up but his anger issues just over shadow his good points.

It sounds like he's dangling a picture of the happy future you so dearly long for in front of you, just to keep you with him. But why should you wait until you're even more entangled with him, until it's even harder for you to leave, just for the chance that he'll treat you like a loving partner? I'm sure you've heard this before, but the risk of domestic abuse increases after you've had children. If he's already hurting you now, then who knows how much worse it will be in the future?

I think there are enough funny, gently-spoken, charismatic men out there who manage to avoid attacking their girlfriends. It may not feel that way now, but you deserve better, and you can have better. And I'm certain he knows that, and it terrifies him.

Vapeyvapevape · 17/08/2022 20:30

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 20:25

He did try and commit suicide as his mum was crying over the phone saying that he tried to commit suicide and that she was in the hospital. She was demanding to know why he did it and why it happened.

His mum ? In the hospital with him? The mum that went back to her own country and left him here?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 17/08/2022 20:30

You've been together for 12 years but only see each other once a month and he still relies on you financially? Dump and RUN RUN RUN!

wellhelloitsme · 17/08/2022 20:30

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 18:54

I cannot leave him. He would not let me. Even if I do, I would face the repercussions. He would stalk me, he knows where my close family members work, he would demand answers from then - or worse maybe hurts them, I don't know but I cannot put them in that position. I have to continue to talk to him so he doesn't suspect anything- just till I feel safe enough to just block. I cannot afford to get beaten up right now, I need to support my mum and I need to work.

And you want to bring an innocent baby into this dangerous situation. Bloody hell.

shmiz · 17/08/2022 20:32

Wow -
immigration issues is not a valid excuse for being a total dickhead
you have wasted too many years on this nasty horrid man
Please respect yourself and your future-
this is a really crap relationship

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 20:32

@Pinkflipflop85 yes, she is only here temporarily to help him out with his immigration. She has also been supporting him.

OP posts:
Nancydrawn · 17/08/2022 20:32

Please be safe, OP. This sounds like it has the potential for you to be seriously injured or even killed. Safe doesn't mean staying; it means seeking the resources to stop you from being hurt again.

viques · 17/08/2022 20:32

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 20:30

I'm not sure. He has lost his cool to someone before but no where near how he treats me.

Think about that. What does it tell you about what he really thinks of you?

DuesToTheDirt · 17/08/2022 20:37

"I cannot leave him. He would not let me. Even if I do, I would face the repercussions."

You know this but still you're defending him. Wanting him to change? Saying you love him? Come on now, time to walk away. No wonder your mum doesn't like him.

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 20:37

His mum ? In the hospital with him? The mum that went back to her own country and left him here?

Yes. That was many years ago when she did that. Please remember that this is normal in some cultures. It's common to leave your children in the UK, for the hope of a better life, whilst the parent goes back home. She always comes back to the UK on occasions but not very often at all. She is only here to support him with his immigration, particularly now he is at the appeal stage and is threatening he sent to a deportation centre or being deported, but she will be returning back home soon anyhow,

OP posts:
Brigante9 · 17/08/2022 20:37

Block him, if he tries to contact you, call the police for help. What are you DOING, OP?!

MsJinks · 17/08/2022 20:37

You know a child with you would probably resolve these immigration issues - just consider why he wants a child.
you’ve had all the good advice re your relationship on here, personally I’m not sure why you’d see him once a month for this abhorrent treatment, you’re not practically tied to him in any way.
If you get genuinely concerned that he is suicidal you can ask police to do a well-being check or let whoever his managing his accommodation know.

Poppyhopscotch · 17/08/2022 20:38

OP you really need to get out of this relationship. Staying with someone because you want kids is not a good idea. A baby will not fix this relationship. Having a child put massive, massive strains on even the happiest relationships. You really don't sound well suited and bringing a baby into this would be a terrible idea. Leave him and move on!

wellhelloitsme · 17/08/2022 20:38

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 19:57

@viques I don't understand. If you had a partner who was homeless, couldn't go to work because of reasons beyond his control, you wouldn't financially help them? If I didn't, that would make me a bad person. You don't want your partner to go without.

He's not your partner, he's an abuser you currently see once a month, who takes up precious headspace the rest of the month.

I would help my partner in that situation because he loves and respects me, makes me happy and would do the same for me. We are a team. I am in no way frightened of him because he has never once made me feel that if I did or said something he disagreed with, he would be a danger to me. All of that is normal and should be a basic requirement in a partner.

Saying "surely you'd do the same for your partner" to posters doesn't make sense. You are comparing the expectations between individuals in happy, healthy relationships to your situation, which is an abusive relationship in which you are the victim.

He wouldn't do the same for you if roles were reversed. He'd have fucked off away from you a long time ago.

And you'd have reclaimed your own life and started living in and building a future of your own.

Abi86 · 17/08/2022 20:40

He's not a nice man OP. He's not husband or father material. Leave him. Trust me on this.

if you get any (any at all) sense that he harasses you or stalks you (or your family) after cutting ties with him - phone the police and report it. Every single time. Presumably, his visa is conditional on his behaviour. He’ll risk deportation if he acts like a dickhead. You could report him now for the assault on that basis.

Emotionalsupportviper · 17/08/2022 20:40

galaxymilkshake · 17/08/2022 18:31

I love him. Also, I am at a prime age to have a child. I'm nearing 30z

For heaven's sakes don't even contemplate having a baby with this awful man!

In practical terms you can'y afford to, and you are caring for your mother without any other support.

In emotional terms he will use your child against you - and he will bully your baby the way he bullies you - you can't let him do that.

You are not too old to meet someone else - someone decent who will support you when you are low, will help you with your mum, not take all of your money, not expect you to pay for everything, not demand sex and NEVER raise his had to you.

My son met his partner when she was 31 and he was 33. They've been together 8 years and are expecting a baby. You deserve better than this - you won't get it if you stay with this waste of skin!

HeadacheEarthquake · 17/08/2022 20:40

Your mother is correct to hate him - and you should too.

FlissyPaps · 17/08/2022 20:41

Please remember that this is normal in some cultures.

OP, please remember that in OUR culture it is NOT NORMAL to manipulate, emotional coerce and be physically violent to your partner.

His mother being here is totally irrelevant. YOU NEED TO LEAVE.

wellhelloitsme · 17/08/2022 20:41

FridayiminlovewithRobertSmith · 17/08/2022 20:14

Did you say he attempted suicide the day before this hotel encounter? Clearly what you’re describing is unacceptable but he is very unwell if he is suicidal, which may contribute to the terrible way he has treated you.

It sounds extremely stressful all around. You appear to want this relationship although it is far from ideal at the moment? If so I’d suggest taking a step back from the romantic partnership and focusing more on helping him access the medical care he needs. It may be that you stand a chance of a healthy relationship but only if he makes a recovery.

Your advice is for her to give more emotional support to the man who has emotionally abused her and now kicked her repeatedly in the back? A man she is frightened of? A man she says will stalk her and harass her friends and family if she ends the relationship?

Really?

I hope you aren't ever in a position to advise a loved one who is being abused.

KnockedInn · 17/08/2022 20:43

From everything you've described, this man has serious mental health issues. And you have very low self-esteem. He is absolutely not your only chance of having a family. You could do better than him, choosing a new man blindfolded.

Cut your losses before it's too late and something horrific happens. You need to start by reporting the abuse to the police and telling them what you're afraid will happen when you break it off with him.

The best thing that could happen for you right now is that he gets deported so you don't have to live in fear. Start working on that.

LaurieFairyCake · 17/08/2022 20:43

You're being abused

And manipulated

And having sex when you don't want to

He's an evil, twisted fucker and you keep going back for more

Leave, get help, anything Flowers

Merryoldgoat · 17/08/2022 20:43

FFS - if he’s on appeal why the fuck haven’t you reported him to the police? You can get his sorry arse well away.

Why do you think you’re worth so little?

MondayMoan · 17/08/2022 20:43

What country is he from OP and does he have any paperwork proving he is from that country?

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