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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

He said he won't fight for me/us

96 replies

lanabye · 17/01/2023 20:55

My boyfriend and I generally have a good relationship but my dd and he sometimes clash when it comes to bedtime (she's a terrible sleeper) and her typical 8 year old girl behaviour, e.g., answering back, pushing boundaries etc.

He's very firm with her and doesn't like her arguing, yet his way of dealing with her arguing is to argue back. This antagonises her and makes the situation a hell of a lot worse, when it could easily be nipped in the bud. I've learnt to pick my battles and not to sweat the smaller stuff but he can't do this. He has to have the final say.

I have EUPD which means that I find it really hard to regulate my emotions, and when I feel hurt, I really, really feel it. My boyfriend ruined my birthday by arguing with dd, and I was so upset that I told him that I couldn't carry on with the relationship. Ending the relationship is something I've tried to do previously, as it's my way of coping in that I'd rather just cut it off and try to save myself getting hurt any further.

Obviously he feels discarded and like he's not important, but I'm so fed up of not having my feelings validated, and him wanting to brush things under the carpet. When arguments happen, he says that I dwell on it and make them last for days, whereas he'd rather just pretend they never happened and move on immediately. I can't do this.

He's now saying that he won't fight for me any more, and that I've "won". I feel like shit, but I don't know what else I can do. His defences become so high after an argument and I can't get through to him - he becomes this cold, horrible stranger who I don't recognise. Hence why I end it.

What do I do? Do I fight even though I ended it?

OP posts:
CalistoNoSolo · 17/01/2023 21:03

You need to stop making it all about you or your dumb arsed boyfriend and start putting your daughter first.

Ginger1982 · 17/01/2023 21:05

Why are you letting him deal with your daughter that way? How long have you been together? Do you live together?

Eastereggsboxedupready · 17/01/2023 21:05

Is he dd's df? Tell him to get to fuck bullying her...
And get rid..

AbsolutePixels · 17/01/2023 21:05

He's bullying your daughter. Cut him off.

Choconut · 17/01/2023 21:06

This isn't working for you or your daughter, put your and her needs first and stop having contact with him. You've ended it so he doesn't need to keep bothering you now, don't out of emotional dependence or fear of abandonment/being alone make you want to cling to him.

ComtesseDeSpair · 17/01/2023 21:06

Ultimately if you break up with somebody in anger then you have to be prepared for them to say “okay then, that’s fine, I accept it and would rather we both moved on.” Between your personality disorder and him having a young child he needs to prioritise, this doesn’t sound like a relationship which is going to work out for either of you. Neither of you sound very happy in it. Move on, take some time to yourself, get some therapy, talk to some friends, improve your emotions literacy, join a hobby group, work out what you’re looking for and think about what a good relationship looks like for you and then aim towards that.

WorkCleanRepeat · 17/01/2023 21:07

If he argues with an 8 year old I wouldn't waste my breathe trying to reason with him.

lanabye · 17/01/2023 21:07

Do people really see this as bullying? I think he tries to overcompensate for me being perceived as "soft" with her, but I never viewed it as bullying.

He isn't her dad no, and we've been together about 3 years. Not living together thankfully.

OP posts:
GreenLeavesRustling · 17/01/2023 21:08

Eugh your poor daughter.
ditch him

EarlofShrewsbury · 17/01/2023 21:10

If someone threatened me with ending things every time we had an argument then I would eventually just let it be over, I'd call their bluff

Why say it if you don't mean it?

AnyFucker · 17/01/2023 21:11

Yet another example of caregivers prioritising their sex life over the welfare of a child

Eastereggsboxedupready · 17/01/2023 21:12

My ds 30 is still recovering from a similar man...

DrMarciaFieldstone · 17/01/2023 21:13

EarlofShrewsbury · 17/01/2023 21:10

If someone threatened me with ending things every time we had an argument then I would eventually just let it be over, I'd call their bluff

Why say it if you don't mean it?

I would imagine this never ending drama is what’s pushed him off.

riotlady · 17/01/2023 21:13

No. You’ve said that you can’t do this and it sounds like he doesn’t want to do it either. So what exactly would you be fighting for? It’s over.

MargaritMargo · 17/01/2023 21:17

Youve asked him to change his approach to your child and he’s refused. He doesn’t even sound like he’s trying.

We all have our default approaches and it can be a challenge when you have kids to adapt (I have a really quick temper, I work on it every single day because I don’t want my kids growing up with an “angry” mum).

The fact you’ve asked him repeatedly to not be antagonistic and argumentative with your child and he won’t listen if enough to end the relationship for good, it’s more than enough.

I don’t know why you’d fight for him or want him to fight for you?
He sounds emotionally immature and manipulative. Your daughter will be much better without someone like this in her life that’s for sure

TedMullins · 17/01/2023 21:17

have you had therapy? I’ve got BPD as well but you can’t use that as an excuse to dump someone every time you argue. They have every right to walk away. But that isn’t even the issue here - the issue is the way he treats your daughter. Why are you imposing an adult bully on her? The whole situation is toxic

jimmyjammy001 · 17/01/2023 21:18

Sounds like you have got different parenting styles and he's not her Dad, he needs to leave, or you need to kick him out, it's clearly not working and never will, will only get worse if you live together

ImAvingOops · 17/01/2023 21:18

He's not her dad and he doesn't even live with you - he shouldn't be telling your daughter anything. It's your job to parent her, not his!

Put your child first and keep your boyfriends away from her. This relationship isn't functional and it's best to let it go. You have to sort yourself out emotionally before you can have a good relationship - if you threaten to leave a person whenever you argue, they will eventually say 'okay then' and not come back.

Ginger1982 · 17/01/2023 21:19

He's not her dad, you don't live together...why is he even involved in disciplining her?

category12 · 17/01/2023 21:19

You've made the right decision ending it - don't take back a man who argues with an 8 yr old. He's not her dad, he doesn't live with you, why is he being the stern (code for bullying) "parent" to your daughter, overriding you, her mother?!

lanabye · 17/01/2023 21:21

He says that he doesn't like the way that she has no respect for me, and that if he doesn't agree with something then he will speak up. But she's 8 for gods sake.

OP posts:
Blueberrywitch · 17/01/2023 21:23

Please don’t let this man be around your child!!! This will damage her and she might never forgive you or want to be close to you as an adult if you put a man ahead of her needs in this way. No functioning adult needs to be arguing with an 8 year old.

As a seperate issue you need some therapy about attachment styles and avoidance etc but not for this relationship. Let this one go for the sake of your daughter and only be with someone who is kind and patient with kids in the future.

picklemewalnuts · 17/01/2023 21:26

"Ending the relationship is something I've tried to do previously, as it's my way of coping in that I'd rather just cut it off and try to save myself getting hurt any further. "

No, ending the relationship is the healthy way of dealing with a man who does not respect you or your DC.

AlwaysGinPlease · 17/01/2023 21:26

Put your poor child first ffs not your love life.

Sucessinthenewyear · 17/01/2023 21:30

You’re daughter deserve much better than this. Even if she doesn’t respect you only you can change this.