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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

Have I had a lucky escape?

33 replies

Clo296 · 09/01/2023 22:21

So my ex broke up with me after 14 months 2 days before Xmas! He wouldn’t allow me to ask any questions about it or make the suggestion of talking about it and working through what he said were his issues. Those being that he said he felt my little ones dad had too much input and that he felt I was always mad at him! I agree that my little ones dad does need some firmer boundaries putting in place but he’s his dad and my little one is only 3! However I was definitely not always cross at him and I loved him dearly and was very happy and was only that week telling everyone I saw how happy we were! We had made life plans and were planning on starting a family this year! Only days before he broke up with me we were still talking and planning this and he was buying me Michelin star restaurant meal for Christmas and had booked it. I was devastated and tried to talking to him but he wouldn’t have any of it and has still 3 weeks later not even had a conversation with me about it or given me any answers. I feel the reasons he gave me were the symptoms but not the cause.
He was late diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 38 and I feel after his recent behaviours and how strange and cold he has been with zero emotional intelligence there is maybe more going on, he literally has not been bothered or emotional about any of it and when I said to him to try and have some empathy and I know he doesn’t have any feelings about things once they’ve happened and can move on all he said was that was a good thing for him and just kept laughing at me, my sister in law was listening on the phone in my pocket and she couldn’t believe how odd it was and how cold he was!
That was the night I took his key back and he then clearly went through his stuff a day or so later and messaged me to say there was only one of each shoe! I mean that would have been funny and I wish I had had the idea but 10000% there was every shoe in the same bag! Then messaged about some stuff I had genuinely forgot about and then when I didn’t reply messaged me later that night to say something else was missing which again 10000% he already took back a few weeks ago! I haven’t made any contact as he ignored me throughout this whole thing when I was really struggling and emotional.
He spends his spare evenings during the week drinking alone in the only room habitual in his house and that is only a mattress on the floor and peeling wallpaper etc he says he is happy there and sees no problem with his drinking.
He has no friends other than a guy who his cousin is married to and another guy way down south who he met through online paedophile hunting groups that he was once part of! Both of whom he has never seen whilst being with me.
He doesn’t speak to his sister and is very evasive with his family.
He has never had a relationship longer than 18 months
He is 40 wanting kids but never had any
He met his ex gf through the paedophile hunting groups and used to sit in smoking weed together
He earns a big wage every month with very very small overheads and only him to provide for and yet never has any money left at the end of the month and has no savings whatsoever.
with hindsight if I had told friends and family at the beginning all these things I think I would have left earlier but I was wrapped up in someone being nice and kind and generous which was such an alien concept to me after the previous guy I was with.
Have I had a lucky escape?
I’m just trying to make some sense of it all!

OP posts:
Westernesse · 09/01/2023 22:23

Very very lucky escape. This guy has serious issues.

Lucylock · 09/01/2023 22:28

Yes

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 09/01/2023 22:30

God almighty. Yes. With the greatest of respect why did you give him the time of day in the first place let alone consider him as a father to a baby. Please don’t rush into a new relationship.

Clo296 · 09/01/2023 22:32

Thank you. I loved him so much or I think I did and my little boy had developed a great relationship with me. However I feel now after doing some reading that he very much love bombed me at the beginning and then when his hyper focus stage had passed I then became the toy that got thrown into the corner but they don’t want to throw away! It is still all very raw but as you say I do think he has some serious issues but won’t recognise this and get help. He won’t have any medication for his ADHD and due to him being very intelligent he thinks he can outsmart basic human life, none of us can!

OP posts:
hoppityscotch · 09/01/2023 22:33

Yes. Don't allow him back into your life.

Clo296 · 09/01/2023 22:34

I know and I ask myself this and all I can say is that the initial affection and generosity and kindness was a welcome change to me but that should never outweigh emotional intelligence and compassion and empathy and basic human principles and I know that now and need to learn to love myself more. Thank you for your reply and I am frustrated with myself for allowing him into mine and my child’s life now

OP posts:
Nagado · 09/01/2023 22:41

You were planning on starting a family with him? I mean this in the kindest possible way but are you actually insane?

It doesn’t sound like you’re able to recognise when a man is not a good prospect. Being nice to you doesn’t make him special. Being nice to you is the absolute bare minimum that you should expect from anyone, boyfriend, friend or family member. This man is not someone you should be making plans with. He is someone you should be running a million miles from.

EL0ISE · 09/01/2023 22:41

Yes you’ve had a lucky escape. You deserve much much better than him,

Please don’t date again until you’ve had some counselling and worked out how to fix your picker.

Clo296 · 09/01/2023 23:08

Thank you and I welcome your advice and have been thinking about counselling. I do struggle with picking a good one and cling to someone who shows me some basic attention and I must recognise my worth and look for a more wholesome package as you say just the basics isn’t enough. I am very glad I posted this as it has given me some outside validation that I can and will get through this and it will be for the better

OP posts:
Ging7878 · 09/01/2023 23:17

So hes 40. Drinking alone on a mattress on the floor in the only useable room in his home. With peeling wallpaper. It sounds like a scene from trainspotting. You had a very, very lucky escape.

barmycatmum · 10/01/2023 05:01

ok this pedophile thing... was this a group of people hunting for kids to prey on? I'm hoping I am misunderstanding this .

catmademedoit · 10/01/2023 05:10

barmycatmum · 10/01/2023 05:01

ok this pedophile thing... was this a group of people hunting for kids to prey on? I'm hoping I am misunderstanding this .

I think you are .. these are vigilante groups who will attempt to catch out perverts grooming children on line - set up a meet and then call the police in hope of arrest -

Guavafish1 · 10/01/2023 05:19

I think he has many other issues your not aware about.. especially where he spends all his money!

Lucky escape and good life relationship lesson.

EVHead · 10/01/2023 06:00

He sounds like an absolute waster. Lucky escape!

Motherofalittledragon · 10/01/2023 06:04

Definitely dodged a bullet with that one. Don't go back!

harrassedmumto3 · 10/01/2023 06:05

A lucky escape, but you also need to look at why your standards are so low for both you and your son.
You've listed all the guy's bad points, yet you still would've had a family with him!

ChaToilLeam · 10/01/2023 06:10

Yes, you have had a very lucky escape. And really need to have a look at why you ever thought that this man would be a suitable father for your future children. Drink, drugs, living in a hovel, online vigilante, bad with money - there are so many red flags here. 🚩🚩🚩 You and your little boy deserve better than that.

SquishyGloopyBum · 10/01/2023 06:24

You were making life plans with someone and we're going to have a baby with him yet he's an alcoholic, living in squalor, tight with money.

You really need to examine yourself here.

FeinCuroxiVooz · 10/01/2023 06:28

definitely dodged a bullet here.
I think it might be good for you to take a break from dating and spend some time learning about yourself, building up your self-esteem and thinking about what red flags to keep an eye out for in future. counselling and/or a course may help.

it's difficult to know from the info given here whether he had a valid point about your ex. the above learning could also help you to consider whether you have appropriate healthy boundaries with your DC's dad.

I am concerned that you were seriously considering getting pg after such a short relationship. that's moving way too fast and with a 3yo who obviously is your priority, you need to take things very slow in any future relationship. your DC needs stability and it's not good for little kids to have a string of temporary "father figure" boyfriends as you work out whether or not each is "the one". when you start dating again, make sure the "honeymoon" is over, and that you're sure you've had a chance to spot any red flags, before you introduce him to your DC.

Intrepidescape · 10/01/2023 06:42

Firstly, he didn’t make as much money as he told you.

Secondly, he never booked a Michelin star restaurant for Christmas.

Thirdly, he never bought you a Christmas present.

The aforementioned three points are the primary and substantive reasons he dumped you two days before Christmas.

I predict he will return in the New Year. Then you will know that I am right.

HomeTheatreSystem · 10/01/2023 07:22

Yes, you've had a very lucky escape: he's done you a massive favour. For the sake of your daughter and your future self, please get some counselling to try and understand why your judgment is so badly off that you thought someone like this would make a good partner and father. Until then, I would stay away from all men.

Alcemeg · 10/01/2023 07:29

Intrepidescape · 10/01/2023 06:42

Firstly, he didn’t make as much money as he told you.

Secondly, he never booked a Michelin star restaurant for Christmas.

Thirdly, he never bought you a Christmas present.

The aforementioned three points are the primary and substantive reasons he dumped you two days before Christmas.

I predict he will return in the New Year. Then you will know that I am right.

Oh gosh I think you are right!

Where were you all my life when I wasted years believing shit blokes told me 🤩

Wibbly1008 · 10/01/2023 07:32

This Christmas he gave you the best gift ever by pissing off. See it as a massive loving gift that will keep giving all year round, then bag up his stuff and make sure he has no reason to come back. Do not cave as this guys has issues and you have a little one.

romdowa · 10/01/2023 07:43

The adhd is a red herring here. He's just a filthy asshole.

BunchHarman · 10/01/2023 07:48

You were ‘planning a family’ with this former paedophile hunter, whose house is a dump apart from one room which he sits in and drinks heavily, was a heavy weed smoker, has no money at the end of each month despite apparently earning well and who has no friends and has cut off his family?

Yeah. He’s done you a massive favour. I truly can’t imagine what you saw in him. 😳