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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

Should I LTB?

21 replies

Coconutlime1 · 24/06/2023 12:57

NC for this one.
Feeling very fragile and hoping that posting this will help me get some perspective. Sorry if this is long but didnt want to drip feed.

Just for reference, I've been in a sort of long distance relationship for 18 months- we don't live together and for the past few months haven't seen eachother as regularly as I'm living in a different part of the country. But are meant to be exclusive. I recently found out that he still lives with his 'ex' girlfriend and had been lying to me that he lived with an elderly family member that he supported. We'd always met at mine. He insisted they'd broken up ages ago and begged me to give him another chance. I didn't confirm I would- I had other worries;

Around the time I found this out, I discovered I was pregnant. Neither of us have any other children, I'm on the pill and have been told I'd struggle to have a baby naturally so it was a massive shock. I didn't tell him straight away, I needed to think about what I was going to do before I told him, especially given what I'd just found out re. lies about his 'ex', and he'salways been pretty clear he didn't want children. But only a couple of days later, I miscarried at 9 weeks.

It was a lot to deal with, the bombshell that he was living with his ex etc, then coming to terms with the fact I was pregnant when I never thought I would be, and losing the baby in the same week. I eventually told him everything last week, and he said the clichéd 'You should've told me, I'd have been there for you, I wouldn't have pressured you in to abortion' etc. He said he'd have been 'indifferent' if I'd decided to keep it.

But even the same evening I told him, in between him telling me he was sorry I'd gone through it alone, he was cracking jokes about how a baby would've 'ruined' my body anyway and some other vulgar sexual jokes etc. At first i thought it was his was of making light of a dark situation, and I was just happy he didn't blame me or freak out. But now it's bothering me.

I never expected him to be devestated or anything, he didn't know I was pregnant until I wasn't, he never wanted to be a parent. But that was his baby, our baby, and it's not even swayed him in the slightest. And once I told him, that was it. The next day he didnt mention it, or check if I was OK or wanted to talk about it. He hasn't even phoned me (just messaged), hasn't offered to come and see me. He was more doting and attentive when I found out about his lies. If anything, he's seen it as an opportunity to side-step the fallout from me finding out about his living situation.

Am I expecting too much from him with regards to his reaction/ support after the miscarriage? Or is it not just the hormones making it look worse- and I should run and never look back?

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
Humanswarm · 24/06/2023 13:03

Wow, OP you've been through such a lot, in a shirt space of time. I'm not surprised your head's all over the place. But, when things settle and the emotions aren't so raw, you'll see this for what it is. He's playing you massively. And at this point, you need to question, who he really is. Of he can't support you, emotionally, after something so important to you, that's a red flag isn't it?! And then, let's be clear about the ex girlfriend and the living situation, they are together. It's that simple.
So, you know what you need to do...
Big hugs, there's a whole better someone out there waiting for you!

Coconutlime1 · 24/06/2023 13:13

Thank you @Humanswarm, I do feel like a whirlwind of emotions at the moment. And I know deep down that I don't believe they're not still together, I'm sure she very much believes they are.

I hope I get my strength back quick enough to walk away, obviously he didn't know what else I was going through at the time but I basically cut contact with him for two weeks after the lie came out, and he would not stop trying to reach me. He's nothing if not persistent. Hopefully in the future there will be a much better man waiting for me 🙂

OP posts:
PiedPipa · 24/06/2023 13:16

LTB, he doesn't deserve you. I'm sorry this has happened to you💐

Coconutlime1 · 24/06/2023 13:40

Thanks @PiedPipa, I'll have a look at this. Could really do with some support right now.

OP posts:
Cloudspace10 · 24/06/2023 13:51

I'm so sorry for your loss, even when the pregnancy wasn't planned, losing the baby can cut deep.

They say men deal with miscarriages differently, but he sounds heartless IMO. Has he asked you anything about what happened? He might be glad he doesnt have to deal with becoming a father, but he doesn't seem to care what you've been through at all.
You're probably right, he's just happy to have a distraction from his shitty behaviour.

Run and don't look back.

Coconutlime1 · 24/06/2023 14:02

@Cloudspace10 he asked one or two VERY carefully-worded questions around how I'd been feeling before I discovered I was pregnant, and whether I have any more medical appointments following.

He doesn't even know that I actually saw the baby on an ultrasound, it had a heartbeat. He's not asked anything else. He said he was sorry it was 'lost'. But he's not.

OP posts:
Cloudspace10 · 24/06/2023 14:07

So reading between the lines 'what took you so long to realise?' and 'are there anymore appointments l, so I can stop having to ask you about it?'. What a prince.

I'm sorry OP. You deserve a much better man than he could ever be. Leave him to hia miserable life.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 24/06/2023 14:17

Tbh I'm not sure why you wouldn't end it.

Coconutlime1 · 24/06/2023 14:18

Thank you to everyone who's commented, my emotions are all over the place right now and it's so helpful to hear from others.

I don't really know where to go from here, what should I say, how should I end it?

Any thoughts would be so welcome

OP posts:
Coconutlime1 · 24/06/2023 14:21

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy that's what my head's telling me. But I think the emotions are muddling me.

But talking it through is giving me confidence to see through the hormone fog. He's not a man I want to stay with.

I need to leave, I'm thinking about what I'm going to say.

OP posts:
ThatOnePlease · 24/06/2023 14:26

I'm so sorry for your loss. That's incredibly difficult, OP. You must be in a daze with all that happening at once.

The boyfriend is easy - LTB. He's lying, most likely cheating, and clearly not someone you want to negotiate difficult life events with. You can and will do better.

Flowers
BreviloquentBastard · 24/06/2023 14:28

I'm sorry for your loss, even if you were undecided on the way forward, that's a hell of an emotional rollercoaster you went on in a very short space of time.

Obviously pp have nailed it, you should definitely leave this guy. Chances of him still being in a relationship with this "ex" and you being the side piece are high. But the comment about pregnancy ruining your body so soon after a miscarriage would be the final nail for me. What a pig.

I don't think you have to say anything much, long explanations are kind of unnecessary. Just "this isn't working out for me, I don't want to see you anymore." You're already long distance so not like you have to disentangle finances or anything. Getting bogged down in explaining why gives him openings to try and worm his way into "another chance".

Aquamarine1029 · 24/06/2023 14:28

I'm sorry you had a miscarriage, but your hesitancy to end it with this absolute shitbag of a man is very, very concerning.

He is trash. He is reprehensible. There is no conversation to be had here, because you've heard enough bullshit from this self-absorbed liar. If you're looking for an apolyor kind words, you can forget about it. He doesn't give a single fuck about you or what you're going through. The only thing you need to do is block him on everything and never contact him again.

Kikicoconut · 24/06/2023 14:36

Sorry for your loss OP, sending you strength to cope with this.
I think he’s shown you his true colors, and to be honest , if a man ‘joked’ with me about a miscarriage, I’d leave. The loss of a baby is nothing to be laughed at. Not exactly the best way to support you. He’d be ‘indifferent’ … in other words he couldn’t care less about whether you had it or not. Charming. Down on top of that he lied to you about where he’s living? You guys don’t see each other a lot so you’ve no way of knowing what else he’s lying to you about. Are you content with not knowing? If you’re not, I’d cut ties now. You deserve much better than the man you have described.

Humanswarm · 24/06/2023 14:39

@Coconutlime1 you ask what to say/how to end it?
You send him a message, saying you're done. It's that simple. You owe him no explanation at all. Then you block on every conceivable platform.
Then take some time to focus on you. Do not engage, if he does find a way of contacting you either. Cold turkey here.
And if he is really persistent, maybe offer to chat with him, but only at his house..I'm fairly sure he'll do a pretty fast u turn then, when he doesn't want to get caught out.
Only way is up now!! ❤️

Alcemeg · 24/06/2023 14:42

Sorry OP you've been through the mill.

Just say what you said above: "You're not the man I want to be with." Goodbye. That's it! Job done.

Don't waste your energy worrying about upsetting him. He sounds shallower than a puddle. And let's face it, you're not the woman he wants to be with, either. Otherwise he wouldn't be living with his girlfriend!!!!!

Opentooffers · 24/06/2023 15:41

Somehow you've failed to realise that you have most likely been the other woman all along. This man lives with his girlfriend. You cannot trust that she's an ex when he's already lied about who he lives with.
It's a perfect arrangement you've set up for any man wanting an affair- long distance, go to your place only. You really need to check out their gaff at some point to know what's what.

kathy647 · 24/06/2023 17:54

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Milkand2sugarsplease · 24/06/2023 18:00

When you have to ask that question, it's not a question!! Walk away and don't look back.

Take some time for yourself and let yourself heal after everything that's happened. Don't give him another thought

tsmainsqueeze · 24/06/2023 18:03

I am sorry you lost your baby ,but do you really need to ask ? of course you should leave him , joking about your loss fgs.

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