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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

Would these things be deal breakers?

70 replies

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 16:56

Hi looking for perspective here!!

Met my partner at work following a divorce. At the time I was struggling to get a mortgage large enough to keep my house & he very kindly offered to come on to the mortgage to help me out. He wrote a very generous legal agreement protecting my equity in the property.

When we met I was attracted to his intellect, his ambition and his worldview. I found him attractive too if course.

Fast forward 4 years and I’m really struggling. He still works in a high powered role but now100% from home. He never leaves the house. Has no friends. Drinks a lot every night. His only social engagements are work drinks- and it’s rare he’ll do that. He never, ever brushes his teeth and he really smells at night and in the morning in particular. He has generally low standards of hygiene, dirty food-stained clothes. He smokes SO much it’s unreal. He doesn’t clean. He does however cook a lot - but he always cooks massive meals that are really unhealthy and then leaves everything dirty so I have to clean it. I do all other housework too - unless I’m annoyed then he’ll do some.

he is a very kind and generous person (as helping me with getting a mortgage demonstrates). But when he’s not working he’s a big like a shell, scrolling Facebook or playing Call of Duty.

he’ll do anything I ask - but would never take the initiative to do something himself - like anything. I guess he doesn’t bring much of himself into our relationship - in fact I’m not sure if there is any “himself”…. It’s like there’s a work persona, then outside work there’s a shell that can do people pleasing / servitude if needed.

He is brilliant to talk to and if I ever have a problem he has amazing advice and he’s super loyal.

am I wrong to be reconsidering this relations?

OP posts:
5128gap · 26/11/2022 21:08

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 20:59

No definitely not looking to have kids.

I think on reflection why I started this thread is partly because I don’t quite have the words to describe the problem to him.

like what is it about the fact that every day he rolls out of bed, smokes a fag, has a 30 minute poo and then spends all day on the sofa that is actually a problem? I can still go out, I can still do stuff, I still have a morning routine. So why is it actually a problem for me that he does that??

maybe I am just very controlling about how I want the people around me to be?!

It would be a problem for me. If I'm going to have the restrictions of a relationship (having to share my space, consider another person, turn down opportunities from other men) I'd want a lot more in return than a partner who just sat there, smelling bad and ignoring me.
You are trading freedom and opportunity for him. He needs to make it worth while.

Watchkeys · 26/11/2022 21:14

So why is it actually a problem for me that he does that

You don't like it. That's it.

If you don't like broccoli or going to the cinema, you don't question why, you just avoid those things. You don't question whether you are controlling about broccoli or the cinema, because you aren't trying to get them to do anything different. You know what they are, accept them for that, and stay away from them, because you are responsible for looking after your own feelings.

maybe I am just very controlling about how I want the people around me to be

And that's fine. It's just that the healthy way to control is to control yourself: you choose to be around people who are the way you want people around you to be, and leave the others behind. The unhealthy way is to try to control other people's behaviour to fit what you want/need.

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 21:19

@Watchkeys - thankyou. And apologies for my earlier prickliness!

OP posts:
Dontsayyouloveme · 26/11/2022 21:22

So why is it actually a problem for me that he does that

I would find the behaviour very unattractive in a man.

Watchkeys · 26/11/2022 21:22

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 21:19

@Watchkeys - thankyou. And apologies for my earlier prickliness!

Apology accepted. Hope you get this sorted out to your satisfaction.

Ofcourseshecan · 26/11/2022 21:30

The hygiene would be a dealbreaker for me, and the smoking and other lack of self-care, and household laziness, would be important too. Do tell him how serious you are and make him realise adults have to take basic care of themselves. Askhim if it’s worth losing you for.

Tuilpmouse · 26/11/2022 21:40

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 20:14

@Outtasteamandluck - he never, ever brushes. And I’ve told him a number of times how much it bothers me but he doesn’t seem to want to… there is intimacy - but yes it does put me off.

The fact he never brushes is bad enough... The fact he still won't after you've told him how much it bothers you is just disrespectful... If he doesn't realise that not ever brushing his teeth is minging he's not all there!

iloveorange · 26/11/2022 22:15

I'm a bit confused, to be honest! This man is both attractive, intelligent and ambitious AND an absolute slob who has no initiative, no self-respect and doesn't follow basic hygiene standards?

Kellaher · 26/11/2022 22:32

He’s an addict - cutting himself off from relating to you and the rest of the world by numbing himself with alcohol and dissociating by scrolling online.

He might be attempting to soothe a rough childhood, neuro-diversity or an undiagnosed MH condition.

What's his relationship history?

You are not in an active relationship with him. Was your upbringing so emotionally impoverished that this is acceptable or familiar to you?

Also concerned about the transactional nature of this situationship - are you able to extricate yourself financially?

Do you have DCs exposed to this?

Icedlatteplease · 26/11/2022 22:36

Smoking alone is a deal breaker for me

Tsort · 26/11/2022 22:37

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 20:25

Thanks @Watchkeys very insightful 🤨

im not asking for permission and I know there aren’t rules keeping me in the relationship - what I am looking for is a sounding board to help figure out if there’s anything to invest in, if people have experience of getting others to change what seem to be pretty fixed habits, some perspective to see whether it’s as odd as I think to live like this, because ending the relationship is a huge decision and while he’s an odd guy he’s also been a partner and friend for a long time.

I don’t have a lot of people I want to talk to about this yet so I’m hoping to gather or explore my feelings here. Maybe with input from others who have insight to share

Your partner is vomit inducingly disgusting. The only question here is how it’s possible for a woman to have such low standards. This man never brushes his teeth, FFS. And you need to ask if you’re unreasonable for wanting to end things? Genuinely?

merryhouse · 26/11/2022 22:44

Look, do you enjoy being with him?

Is your life better because he's in it?

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 22:53

@iloveorange i am confused too! That’s the point! He certainly was attractive, intelligent & ambitious. He’s still highly intelligent- but he has also slipped into really terrible habits / depression / who he always was… post lockdown I think - but not sure if he can turn it around….

OP posts:
TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 23:02

All 3 perhaps:

  • He did have a rough childhood. And I believe teeth brushing was a focus of some of the parental anger
  • he is autistic as discussed above
  • He might be depressed

and I did have a rough childhood - not physically abusive - but we weren’t really prioritised and so it is hard for me to put myself first - see the wood for the trees, or really know what I feel sometimes.

on the financials. I have a good job & if I had to move out of this home & downsize I could. Right after my divorce I just didn’t feel able….

OP posts:
rockingbird · 26/11/2022 23:03

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 20:42

@rockingbird in fact it could be the same guy by the sounds of it!! Why did you split up?

He worked away a lot.. and it transpired he also was an entitled twat leading a double life whilst I brought up our two children. Complete selfish git. Now sad and lonely 🙌

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 23:04

Sorry the above was in response to @Kellaher

OP posts:
Kellaher · 26/11/2022 23:21

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 23:02

All 3 perhaps:

  • He did have a rough childhood. And I believe teeth brushing was a focus of some of the parental anger
  • he is autistic as discussed above
  • He might be depressed

and I did have a rough childhood - not physically abusive - but we weren’t really prioritised and so it is hard for me to put myself first - see the wood for the trees, or really know what I feel sometimes.

on the financials. I have a good job & if I had to move out of this home & downsize I could. Right after my divorce I just didn’t feel able….

It seems that there was significant neglect in your own childhood so that your own self care / boundaries / standards is compromised to you tolerating this.

Can I ask if you have DCs exposed to this?

Also the drinking too much … what does this look like?

Scautish · 26/11/2022 23:23

Has he been diagnosed as autistic or have you diagnosed him?

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 23:27

@Scautish he has a diagnosis from childhood.

OP posts:
Scautish · 26/11/2022 23:34

Ah ok. Sounds like he is really struggling and it could be depression however this does not mean you have to stay. You need to live your life too. There is no way I could stay with someone who has such extremely poor hygiene habits. I know there are emotional considerations and only you know how you truly feel, but you would not be unreasonable in the slightest to reconsider this relationship given what you’ve said.

good luck.

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 23:40

@Kellaher - yes I have two sons. They are at school so they get home around 4pm
and 6pm (supper club). My partner would at this point be cooking - and cooks big extravagant meals that the kids love. We always have Taco Thursday, for example. We might play a few games, chill in the lounge, watch a film... But he could consume 4-8 cans of lager a night through the evening & smoking too… I’m definitely definitely conscious of the kids seeing this and it’s a big part of my decision making. But then also, as I say, he’s good at understanding people & talking with the boys. He also makes stuff out of wood, plays guitar and is in other ways a good role model - practical. It’s when they’re at school that he just sits there vacantly….

OP posts:
TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 23:43

@Scautish - thankyou

OP posts:
QS90 · 27/11/2022 00:01

If you really care for him, and are comfortable for the most part in your life, it might be worth talking to him. If he went to a doctor about his addiction and depression for example, you might see a big change in him in the medium term. Something more like the man you fell for?

But if you've already made up your mind, because he has given you the absolute ick, you don't have to justify it. Brushing your teeth is a pretty low bar to miss :-/

Kellaher · 27/11/2022 00:33

TheCunningLinguist · 26/11/2022 23:40

@Kellaher - yes I have two sons. They are at school so they get home around 4pm
and 6pm (supper club). My partner would at this point be cooking - and cooks big extravagant meals that the kids love. We always have Taco Thursday, for example. We might play a few games, chill in the lounge, watch a film... But he could consume 4-8 cans of lager a night through the evening & smoking too… I’m definitely definitely conscious of the kids seeing this and it’s a big part of my decision making. But then also, as I say, he’s good at understanding people & talking with the boys. He also makes stuff out of wood, plays guitar and is in other ways a good role model - practical. It’s when they’re at school that he just sits there vacantly….

Wow.

He is consuming between 10-20 units a night 70-140 a week.

This a huge alcohol issue.

Again I think that you are looking to defend him and minimise the negative impact of his interactions with your DCs.

There is no way this set up is not impacting them. It’s not possible to be safe and attuned around DCs consuming this amount.

This situation can’t possibly be in your DCs best interests. This is a dreadful role model for them. It must be overshadowing the home. You all deserve better than this - this is not benign.

CallieQ · 27/11/2022 00:39

Omg he sounds awful
LTB