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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:
MintChocCornetto · 10/01/2023 07:53

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.

Absolutely this

OP he has done you a massive favour

And next time you meet a man - take it slow. Give yourself the time/opportunity to see the red flags before you are too invested

junebirthdaygirl · 10/01/2023 07:59

He probably will be back as he realises he has been impulsive and made a mistake. You need to be ready and take a strong stand . Do not be sucked back in.

GreyCarpet · 10/01/2023 08:01

His behaviour towards you was unpleasant but don't think it's fair to criticise the way he chooses to live, his lack of friends or how he spends his free time. You were absolutely fine with all of those things when you were planning to start a family with him and, presumably, still would be if he hadn't ended it.

Intrepidescape · 10/01/2023 14:06

Alcemeg · 10/01/2023 07:29

Oh gosh I think you are right!

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

@Alcemeg - I was wasting time believing the shit guys told me.

Human behaviour means we don’t usually dump our sexual partners before a major holiday. Usually we wait until after the new year - that’s when people wait to divorce and list their houses for sale (you’ll notice this if you trawl the Real estate sites online).

Anyway, even if it were just 2 days out he would still have a Christmas present to give her and also a reservation that can’t be cancelled without losing a deposit.

I’m wondering if the restaurant wad even open on Christmas Day.

Intrepidescape · 10/01/2023 14:09

junebirthdaygirl · 10/01/2023 07:59

He probably will be back as he realises he has been impulsive and made a mistake. You need to be ready and take a strong stand . Do not be sucked back in.

He will be back in the new year because he never got her a Christmas present and because he never booked a Michelin Star restaurant.

Clo296 · 10/01/2023 19:53

Thanks everyone. I think I went along with it because it was someone for the first time who was kind and generous to me and paid for meals out and took me away for my birthday etc. I was stupidly willing to “forget” about the things I found out early on.
he has messaged me again today about collecting his belongings, no humanity in the message and he has all his belongings except the ones he’s making up I still have but I definitely don’t!

I keep thinking is there someone else but I hope nobody else is as naive as me! He is best off being on his own if this is the way he keeps treating girls!

OP posts:
Clo296 · 10/01/2023 19:58

Yes I was but I now realise that to most people these should be red flags and they did concern me and I voiced my concerns several times but he just kept saying he was happy like that and showed zero emotion to how I might feel about it etc. he has no concept of how other people are feeling when he behaves the way he does towards them, he has been on 2 disciplinaries at his old employer because of how he spoke to people and treated them.
I do think the way I was willing to accept all this is a reflection on me to a point and that I need to learn to respect myself more and look for a whole package and not just the scraps of decency.

OP posts:
harrassedmumto3 · 10/01/2023 20:12

It's great you are reflecting on all of this. That, together with giving it time, makes us less likely to make the same mistakes.
Be strong - you CAN do this!

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