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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

DP gone AWOL all night

477 replies

JurassicParkaha · 30/03/2023 06:11

Been with my DP for 3 years. He's lived with me for 6 months but also has his own flat a 40 min bus ride from me (we are in London). We've been discussing renting out his flat, marriage plans and just booked an expensive once in a lifetime holiday for the summer. We are mid 30s if relevant.

We had an argument yesterday evening around 7pm - I was annoyed he wasn't doing more around the house. Despite being super clean/tidy at home, he doesn't make much effort since living with me. Obv a concern I want to address before we go down the marriage path. He got cross and told me he was going back to his flat as didn't want to talk about it anymore. Fine. He does this sometimes if - will either go for a long walk to calm down or go home for a few hours to get some space. Tbf he hasn't done it in a long time since I told him I don't mind the long walk to think things over but think going home is unnecessary drama.

This time however, his phone is switched off/unavailable which is unlike him. And I haven't heard from him since he left. He's never awol like this all evening/night and we always talk and resolve things after an argument after a few hours. My first thought was to be pissed off that maybe he's being petty/punishing me for nagging him (even though it's unlike him). But it's now 6am and his phone is still switched off, he hasn't been online since early afternoon yesterday, and I'm wondering if something happened. He's not usually active on social media so no way to check that.

I'm debating going to his flat to check now (which would delay me for work) but also don't want to give him the satisfaction if he is indeed being petty. If I do go into work though I'll be 2 hours away from his flat with no way to check on him till evening.

He wouldn't be at any friends as none live close by, he doesn't do drugs and even when drunk always remembers to charge/have his phone switched on. He's on days off this week so no need to be at work. What would you do? Check on him or leave him and wait to hear from him.

OP posts:
TheCentreSlide · 30/03/2023 15:53

This is your sign to end the relationship.

He refuses to do his fair share of adulting and expects you to tidy up after him like a maid.

He gets furiously angry if you even mention this.

He then stonewalls you completely and leaves in a sulk, intentionally worrying you.

Not good.

CarPoor · 30/03/2023 15:55

OP did the right thing in going to his flat.

If he's hurt she will know. If he's not she has closure to the situation and can stop worrying. If he has been sulking this whole time then he's a total twat and definitely not someone worth pursuing a future with

OP shouldn't have to spend her days sitting at home worrying when he's going to come home. That's playing his game and enabling him to continue his punishment. Find him and end the suffering. If he has been sulking and she stays with him, that would be enabling his behaviour but if she goes to his flat at least she knows where she stands

Youcanhavehim · 30/03/2023 15:58

Hope all went Ross out for you op

Youcanhavehim · 30/03/2023 15:59

Sorry meant hope all works out for you

SpidersAreShitheads · 30/03/2023 16:10

Oof OP, I'd be worried too.

Without the info re his job and his dad, it would be easy to write this one off as a mega-sulk. But if he's gone to the extremes of having a whizzy security system for his elderly dad hooked up to alerts on his phone, it seems unlikely that he'd just turn his phone off.

When someone acts out of character, you shouldn't ignore it - and although he's often gone away to cool off for a few hours, OP says he's never gone away this long, usually checks in on her after she's been travelling (and she was supposed to be travelling this morning), is always available for work emergencies, and has his phone hooked up to his dad's emergency alert system. Sounds unlikely that he's just turned his phone off in a strop.

I think given the full circumstances and the unlikelihood of his phone being off, I absolutely would have checked too. And if that makes me over-anxious and interfering blah blah, I'm OK with that. I'd rather feel silly than regret not checking.

Hopefully things are OK OP, please do come back and update if you can.

Mangogirl12 · 30/03/2023 16:25

It sounds to me like he kept his flat clean to impress you, but since he now has you and has moved in with you, he assumes you will continue the cleaning of your own house and he has no obligation to help. I'd have to ask myself if he's really worth it.

JurassicParkaha · 30/03/2023 16:27

Well, he's fine and I’m livid. I took an Uber to get to his quickly. He wasn't in and it was hard to tell if he'd been in and was out or hadn't been home at all. It's pretty empty and didn’t look lived in but then again he didn’t carry anything with him. Phone still unavailable.

His friend had asked me to let him know what I found at the flat. He is an ex copper and suggested we start ringing around hospitals to ask if he'd been admitted. All the main ones were negative but one had a man admitted with his surname but different DOB. I went to check anyway in case it was a mistake. It wasn’t luckily but by this point even friend was worried.

He said we should contact police as there's no 24 hr deadline apparently. I wanted to wait till 5 as it would get back to his work and didn't want to cause embarrassment in case it was a broken phone.

Then finally see WA blue tick! He had read it and not bothered replying to me or his mate asking where he was. Called him and he answered.

I expected him to at least sound apologetic. NO, he sounded belligerent in a way I’ve beard heard before. Admitted he’d turned off his phone - to get ‘peace’ from my ‘nagging’. I explained how worried I had been and his friend too, and how he hadn’t called his dad at the normal time. No remorse, said I shouldn’t have bothered. When I asked if under similar circumstances he’d have done the same for me, he didn’t reply.

The ‘nagging’ was me expecting him to have made dinner like he said he would as he was on a rest day and I was working. I came home, no dinner, he hadn’t even done the grocery shopping and it was clear he expected me to do it. Also told me he’d manually done the washing up from dinner I cooked day before because dishwasher needed a deep clean. Which he obv expected me to clean. When I asked him why he hadn’t made dinner, he said it was because he was doing the washing up. When I told him he was always going to have to do washing up to cook (as it’s the same pans and he didn’t do it last night) he said he hadn’t realised how long it would take. (No way, he didn't! as he's never owned a dishwasher)

He still didn’t offer to make dinner, or clean the dishwasher. I have ‘nagged’ him to share cooking/cleaning before and he does it for a few days then back to normal service. I actually work longer hours than him too but because I wfh he thinks I have more time. Which is why I said we needed to talk as I shouldn’t have to negotiate with him to do his share. That’s when he got cross and said he didn’t want to talk. And that he was going to his flat as tired. Didn’t pack anything which is why I thought he’d be back for bedtime or next morning. And previously he’d message to tell me how long he was going for. You all know the rest.

Now, he hung up on me in the middle of the conversation when I wasn’t apologising. And SWITCHED OFF HIS PHONE AGAIN. Obv I won’t be contacting him now. He is being so manipulative. We booked a sabbatical from work, spent non refundable £££ on this holiday, were discussing a September town hall wedding, renovating his flat to sell. It feels like he made this fight on purpose to get out of doing it all. And was too cowardly to tell me.

Friend has been very apologetic and offered to talk to him about what’s going on. Previously when he left for his flat or a walk, he explained he needed to calmly think through arguments and not respond in anger. It was only ever a few hours, he’d tell me what time he’d be back and his phone was never switched off. I sometimes need to sit in a quiet room away from the argument so understand everyone has different coping mechanisms. He always came back more willing to compromise too. And he hasn’t done it in a year esp not since moving in. So I know this isn’t about the chores - it really isn’t that big an adjustment for him to cook more. He wanted to push me to end things. And I’m angry and devastated at how he’s done it. It’s so selfish and immature.

Thank you all for support during a crap day. Going to stay with my friend this weekend to think of next steps but I’m aware the relationship is terminal now. He will keep doing this till I end it so best to put us both out of our misery.

OP posts:
Ostryga · 30/03/2023 16:28

Well he sounds like a prize cunt and you are very well rid!

smizing · 30/03/2023 16:28

Alright the thread can rest now. Thanks OP.

Glitteratitar · 30/03/2023 16:29

Be thankful you discovered this side of him before you got married and bought somewhere together. At least this is a much cleaner break for you.

Jonei · 30/03/2023 16:31

Well at least you know op. Can you take a friend on the holiday instead?

TedMullins · 30/03/2023 16:32

Wow what an utter cunt. This is definitely the end of the relationship. Imagine how much worse this would get over time - like you said it would become a pattern. He’s done you a favour showing you what an entitled lazy prick he is before you’re married or have kids and it’s harder to split up.

Mangogirl12 · 30/03/2023 16:32

Wow, by your last update he sounds like far more trouble than he's worth if he often storms out in anger. He's a real drama king isn't he? Just reading your posts makes me feel exhausted. Now he doesn't care how you feel, is nasty and belligerent, no remorse. He's a scumbag and you are worth so much more than this. Why do men turn into nasty arseholes when they are too cowardly to end things/get cold feet, in order to make women end it so he doesn't look the bad guy? Be grateful at least that you kept your home and have dodged a bullet. Pack up his stuff in bin bags and message him to come collect them (and get his key back from him).

Peachy2005 · 30/03/2023 16:33

Thanks for letting us know: I think we were all a bit over-invested in your situation today. Glad you can move on now - you have all our positive wishes xx

Trickedbyadoughnut · 30/03/2023 16:33

I'm so sorry. It will feel like this now, but at some point hopefully all you will feel is relief that you found out before you were married.

Yamaya · 30/03/2023 16:34

What an absolute dick. Doesn't even have the courage to come out and say it to your face.

IhearyouClemFandango · 30/03/2023 16:36

Ah I'm sorry OP, not just for this silliness but for your future plans. I would have reacted exactly as you did.

cartagenagina · 30/03/2023 16:37

Can you change the holiday to a friends name? Don’t miss out just because he’s a cunt!

BellePeppa · 30/03/2023 16:39

OP don’t marry him. He sounds awful. There was nothing wrong with what you did, I’d have been equally worried in your shoes. He’s certainly showing you his real self and it’s not nice.

SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 30/03/2023 16:42

Oh op.
You are so switched on and did everything the right way.
He is being a coward and it shouldn't and doesn't need to be this way. 😪
So sorry you're having to deal with this.
I hope you can change the holiday to a different name and it can be time to lick your wounds with a good friend. 🙏

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 30/03/2023 16:43

At least you've seen his true colours before getting married.

randomuser2019 · 30/03/2023 16:43

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randomuser2019 · 30/03/2023 16:44

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Leopardpj · 30/03/2023 16:45

OP I'm so sorry for you. He has behaved appallingly. But when someone shows you who they are... believe them. Sounds like you are ready to call time on your relationship with this awful bloke and I'm so relieved to hear it. I agree with everything other posters are saying.... but you're the one having to call off a wedding which is no small thing - well done you for having the guts. It is 100 per cent the right thing. I literally cannot imagine how much worse this would have got with a child/ children in the mix... if you have someone who won't share the load now, they will make your life with children at utter misery, trust me.

ShirleyPhallus · 30/03/2023 16:46

I’m so sorry OP. It doesn’t feel like it now but best not to waste time on men like this. You’ll meet someone else and be glad of this ending as decent men don’t do this