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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

I’m seeing a different side to my boyfriend I don’t know what to do

127 replies

Pollywhirl · 25/10/2022 11:49

Long post alert!!

I have been with my partner for a year and a half. Known him for about 3 years. I have a child from a previous relationship and he’s 4 now.

Everything seemed great until recently. Little things that bothered me about my bf in the past started to really get to me, such as him always disagreeing with everything I say. By that I mean he seems to always be looking to have an argument or a discussion. I can never be right, if I say the sky is blue he will tell me it’s green and will list 1000000 reasons as to why he feels that’s right. It gets exhausting and hardly makes it easy to have a decent conversation. this also happens when it comes to how I’m raising my son, he has always something to say on how I should be doing this or that. That the way I’m doing prob won’t work and maybe I should do it another way (hope that makes sense). I am very into gentle parenting and allowing my child to express his emotions and feelings, this is a new learning experience for me too as I wasn’t raised that way and I want to raise my son differently than k was and he just doesn’t seem on board with it or understands it. To be honest he doesn’t make the effort to understand as he has to argue with me why it is ineffective and how my child is trying to manipulate me etc…

I just vented one day to him, saying “I wish I knew a way to help my son let out all of his frustrations and feelings out in a safe way” he told me “oh speaking of letting out emotions, I seen a video by Andrew Tate where he was speaking about people who are allowed to express their emotions become psychos”. I had enough at that point. And many other things too.

He also tried to take over the parenting when he’s over here and I notice my son will hide certain things from him because he will tell him off, I stop it immediately (the telling off).

And then my bf moans that I go against him making him feel like an idiot. Even though he’s always doing that to me.

I also started to see that he will say things to me and in a judgey tone of voice and then when I call him on it, he will say “that’s not how I said it that’s not what I meant, sorry you took it the wrong way”. But I am not crazy, I’ve been with people who did this and I know what it’s like. On one instance, my son went to grab my b00b (he does that as a comfort thing when we’re at home, specially when he’s sick and wanting to be close to me as he was breastfed until his 4th bday) and I don’t care that my son does it. He’s not doing it in public and it’s not like it’s all the time. My bf looked at me and said “oh wow, I thought you would’ve put an end to that after our holidays” - in a very disgusted and judging tone of voice.I had never said I would. I asked him about it later and he said he repeated what he said in a very friendly tone and he was just curious nothing else. He also likes to boast about how much money he spends on me to show me how much he loves me, example: he took me on a 2 night stay in England (we live in Ireland) and he kept telling me he just spent £700 on me that he hasn’t done that to anyone else that’s just how much he loves me etc and insists on telling me how much his gifts cost and how much he’s spent with me on Xmas bday etc he came over couple of weeks ago and brought me some vape bars and then got my son a few toys and a take away. He then started telling me he had already spent £100 that day because he got me and my son stuff plus the dinner. Just makes me feel embarrassed and cheap
then there are other things as well but just wanted to give the general idea of the situation.

I’m sorry for the long post and I am sorry if it doesn’t make sense but my head is a bit of a mess at the moment. I haven’t seen him in 8 days and I can’t seem to properly speak to him as I am fed up
I don’t know what I’m looking for. Am I being an a**hole and making it a huge big deal? What do I do?

OP posts:
SouperNoodle · 25/10/2022 11:53

Please please take this man away from your son.
He sounds awful and your poor son will suffer living with him.
LTB

Fidgety31 · 25/10/2022 11:54

The problem is - if you expect your boyfriend to be around your son and behave in a step father fashion - then you have to accept he may have different parenting styles to you .
Happens in most relationships with two parents .

PortiasBiscuit · 25/10/2022 11:55

Just Go..

You know that is what you need to do.
Any man is not necessarily better than no man at all!

butterfliedtwo · 25/10/2022 11:56

Run away as fast as you can. Based on your post I have no idea why you've even stayed this long.

Mardyface · 25/10/2022 11:59

Anyone who quotes Andrew Tate without wanting to demonstrate what an absolute knob he (Andrew Tate) is automatically proves hinself not good enough for you and your son, OP. That's without all the rest.

ScottChegg · 25/10/2022 12:00

He sounds horrible and he quotes Andrew Tate as an authority on parenting! Have my first LTB.

Watchkeys · 25/10/2022 12:02

So you disagree on parenting and money, and you can't converse without it feeling like an argument.

Why do you think you should stay with him?

EmmaDilemma5 · 25/10/2022 12:04

Move on whilst it's relatively easy. Find someone who's more on your wavelength.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 25/10/2022 12:05

By that I mean he seems to always be looking to have an argument or a discussion. I can never be right, if I say the sky is blue he will tell me it’s green and will list 1000000 reasons as to why he feels that’s right

Didn't read any further than this. My mother was the same and it was exhausting. In the end we all stopped having anything but the most anodyne of conversations with her because anything else ended up as a shouting match. That's no basis for any relationship.

And he quotes Andrew Tate. Yuk.

Fairislefandango · 25/10/2022 12:06

I can't believe you're actually asking this and that you think it might be you that's the arsehole. Assuming this is for real though, seriously- why on earth would you want to be with a man who belittles you, shouts down every opinion you have, criticises your parenting of your own child and watches and quotes Andrew Tate videos? The man is clearly pond scum! Have some standards and some self-respect and get rid of hum as fast as possible.

hugefanofcheese · 25/10/2022 12:07

Got as far as Andrew Tate. He sounds thick and awful

KitchenSupper · 25/10/2022 12:09

Bin him.
How do you feel if you imagine your sweet little boy picking up some of this guy’s mannerisms?
And be extremely careful with your contraception while you’re still thinking about it.

Stressfordays · 25/10/2022 12:12

Get him gone. Id never accept someone telling me how to parent. I'm a lone parent however have a boyfriend, he would never overstep in that way. He would never criticise my parenting, especially as he has no children of his own. Move on now before you get more entwined, not just for your sake but for your child's.

HaggisBurger · 25/10/2022 12:14

He is really awful and undermining. Move on. This will only get worse.

Outfoxedbyrabbits · 25/10/2022 12:14

I notice my son will hide certain things from him because he will tell him off, I stop it immediately (the telling off).

It's not enough to stop it when it's happening. You have to stop it from happening at all by leaving.

You know this relationship isn't right, for you or more importantly your son. Get out now. Don't be someone looking back in two/five/ten years wishing you'd got out when you realised it was bad.

Perfect28 · 25/10/2022 12:16

Please leave this 'man'

Babasghost · 25/10/2022 12:16

Hugs
Its a first step posting here and a brave one

Your home life with him sounds stressful, that's not good for you or your son.
If it was me I'd be thinking the following

Can I move away and have my own space
If I did this would I still want him as my boyfriend.

If answer 1 is no then you have to find a way to set your boundaries about how he speaks to you safely. There are some great books about boundaries that could help , but get help with this because he's not currently listening to you.

If answer 1 is yes then start planning. If he loves you your relationship will survive you or him moving out and may become more healthy as a consequence.

Andrew Tate is a red flag.

AryaStarkWolf · 25/10/2022 12:17

Andrew Tate.........leave

Thereisnolight · 25/10/2022 12:17

If I was your mum I’d tell you to leave and if I was his mum I’d tell him to leave.

You both sound completely unsuited.

Mischance · 25/10/2022 12:22

You are not in any way obliged to live with this man.

It sounds as though it is not that you are seeing a different side to him, but that he has always been like this.

You deserve a peaceful life and so does your son.

Georgeskitchen · 25/10/2022 12:23

Please get yourself and yoir son away from this horrific gaslighting specimen. This Will only get worse. I know this because I've been in your shoes

Pugalicious · 25/10/2022 12:33

OP What you have said cannot be in any way described as positive parenting on his behalf. You are the parent here and he belittles you. How dare he !
If he was trying to help only you will know. It reads like he is trying to stamp all over you and your son using other people (Andrew Tate) to back him up and of course the obligatory 'I spent this amount'
Get shut

Pollywhirl · 25/10/2022 12:37

Hi thank you for your reply. It’s simpler for me as we don’t live together. I know what I have to do. I just don’t know how to because I think he’s messed up my head a little kn a way that I now feel guilty. He has been great to me also. But these things are really starting to outweigh the good

OP posts:
ICanHideButICantRun · 25/10/2022 12:38

Ugh, he's really horrible. I wouldn't let him within a mile of my child. Do you live together?

Bananalanacake · 25/10/2022 12:39

Don't let him move in with you.