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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

Feeling fed up of relationship / opinions

52 replies

Helloforum123 · 19/07/2023 13:12

Hello everyone, really just looking to vent and see other people perspectives on my situation. Without going into too much detail, I will post below some of the issues I have with my dp and some things that have happened:

he has told me often I don’t dress ‘sexy’ etc and even shown me women online at the gym in tiny shorts and asked me to buy those shorts. Yesterday I wore an average pair of gym shorts to the gym, he told me I look ‘hoey’ and should respect myself as a mother and that he doesn’t want me to dress like that again…

after returning from the gym he questions me on if any males have tried to talk to me or say hello (I don’t speak to anyone) he then asks if any male tried to smile at me too

For the past 5 years now his phone has been hidden from me. I don’t know his password and if I were to walk in the room where his phone is he will run to grab it.

we cannot follow eachother on social media (particularly Instagram). He has had me blocked there for 5 years now.

he never posts me, even when we go on family days out etc he will post the kids and himself and I am always left out of it.

He never texts me. The only time I receive a text from him is when he’s telling me to do something (eg cook something before he gets home or chore etc) - he messages other women via Instagram and WhatsApp everyday. His excuse is that it’s ‘business’ and they are just clients, but this has been happening for years. Yesterday I saw him on his dms and there were atleast 30 different female accounts he was talking to. This also bothers me as he is able to text other females but never me.

He doesn’t give me any attention. I understand he works hard but he never shows me any attention, doesn’t check in on me in the day, doesn’t talk to me unless it’s talking about himself/his day or something that he wants to talk about. He never makes me feel special. I don’t remember the last time he ever called me pretty or beautiful.

He doesn’t make time for me. He had made a lot of effort for my birthday and Valentine’s Day however, on a day to day basis he doesn’t make time for me. I have asked for a his help in something in particular for just 1 hour where he works, and he has not done it for me yet. However he posts with other females (clients) and has managed to fit them into his calendar and help them…

I am constantly lonely. I spend every day by myself, or with our children. Even when he is home I don’t receive the love or attention I want. I am always by myself and it really hurts my feelings.

Now the last part… 2 weeks ago he told me I need to get an std test. This was very out of the blue and unexpected, Ofcourse I questioned why I would need to since we have been together so long? He refused to answer me but Ofcourse it’s obvious why. I did the test - negative. Now yesterday he keeps telling me to do the test again… when he says it he laughs like it is a joke. The first time he said he only told me to do it as a joke. Now this time I don’t know if he’s serious or not.

every day I feel so insecure, I feel as though I am always in competition with other women. Regardless of all of this, he ensures me often that I am the ‘best woman ever’ and how much he loves me and that he will marry me one day no doubt.

I feel like I’m being dragged along until he’s ready to settle down? Which should have been many years ago when we first got engaged/had children! I feel like I’ve become desensitised to some of these issues so it would be helpful to hear other peoples perspectives.

OP posts:
WhatADrabCarpet · 19/07/2023 15:28

He's abusing you .

You know what you need to do.

Nelly10 · 19/07/2023 15:46

Your H sounds a lot like mine was, I finally got the courage to kick him out.

Please do the same this is no like.

Nelly10 · 19/07/2023 15:46

Life!

Helloforum123 · 19/07/2023 17:32

It’s just extremely draining for me. I can see what’s happening, but any issue I have is always brushed off with a laugh, or some way of disregarding my feelings and making it seem like a joke and nothing serious. I never would’ve accepted him messaging 1 woman in the past, then that became normal, then everything that followed became normalised. Even though I’m not happy with 90% of the things he gets up to, I end up accepting it and I don’t know why.

he has completely brushed off my issues and concerns again today. Out of the 10 issues I brought up he fixated on the female he had posted and continued to tell me I’m just insecure, and that she is not his ‘type’.

I’m sure I could scream my issues in his ears and he would only hear the parts he wants. He’s just disregarded everything, acting normal and telling me he loves me

OP posts:
ThankTwixItsFriday · 19/07/2023 17:49

He sounds a cruel man. He’s abusing you and taunting you. Stay with this man and you will look back at a lifetime of regret and a complete loss of your self-worth.
I couldn’t cope living with a person like him, he sounds like an immature teenage boy having his cake and eating it. He is doing what the hell he likes and controlling what you do. That isn’t a healthy way for you to live.

ahagwearsapointybonnet · 19/07/2023 18:06

You're viewing it all through his lens. You don't need HIM to agree there's a problem, you don't need HIS approval to leave and you shouldn't expect him to change, as HE clearly doesn't want to - the current setup is all working very nicely for HIM, he's got you exactly where he wants, doing what HE says, twisting yourself into knots because HE's gaslighting you and deliberately making you insecure, dancing around on eggshells trying to please HIM.

HE is a nasty, controlling abuser. Sod him, start thinking about YOU!

YOU are clearly not happy, YOU don't need to listen to this idiot telling you what you can or are allowed to do. YOU know he is a dirty cheat, or at the very least, likes to make you think he is so you'll keep competing for his approval (which isn't really any better) - but YOU don't NEED his approval! In fact, you don't need HIM - what's the use of a "partner" who treats you like dirt and leaves you feeling more lonely than if you were single?

Please start making plans (secretly!) to get out of there and start living YOUR life in peace, without this waste of attention dragging you down!

Backstreets · 19/07/2023 18:06

He doesn’t respect you and he’s obviously cheating on you. I think you deserve a lot better than that. Why don’t you?

StopStartStop · 19/07/2023 18:12

Fucking hell. He's picked up a disease and might have passed it on to you. He couldn't have done that just by texting.

Get your STI test. Also get your solicitor's appointment. Get angry (but don't show him - silent rage and grey rock). Don't challenge him, let him think you're still the downtrodden woman he's used to. Get in touch with Women's Aid. Look up the threads about getting your ducks in a row, find all the evidence of income and assets. Evidence of his dealings with women is not necessary and is a distraction. You know what you need to do - start planning your new life.

Mari9999 · 19/07/2023 18:54

@Helloforum123
Does it not occur to you that he may have asked about other men coming on to you as a lead up to suggesting that you have been unfaithful and transmitted an STD to him?

What about this man makes you think of him as a keeper ? It does not appear that marriage is on his mind he may be one of those people who uses the term "fiancee" as a euphemism in place of "girl friend or partner"

If you have his children. then you may have the only good that he had to offer. In your place would not be looking for compliments or I love you statements. I would be sending him off to the person from whom he may have gotten the STD.

HundredMilesAnHour · 19/07/2023 19:01

I don't understand why you didn't dump him a long time ago. None of the things you list are acceptable. I would have dumped him for one of them, any of them. But yet there's a huge long list of abuse and appalling behaviour and clear cheating on you, and rather than asking how best to leave him, you're still there and you're focussing on being drained and disregarded. Wtf?! I don't understand why you haven't kicked him out already, or left yourself. He's vile. He has no respect for you. He doesn't love you because you don't treat people you love like this. Yet you stay and you allow it.

CleoRushent · 19/07/2023 21:56

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Helloforum123 · 20/07/2023 12:06

I agree none of the things I have listed are acceptable. For some reason every time something happens I become desensitised to it and don’t see it as the big issue I would have before. (They are big issues to me, but I don’t have the energy to fight about it)

he has randomly mentioned the std test again today, telling me to do it. When I ask why? Has he slept with someone? Has he caught something? Etc he just denies and refuses to answer. He speaks on it like a joke, nothing serious, like an everyday topic, laughs etc which makes me feel like I can’t get angry. Even though I am, I’m very confused.

I haven’t done the test yet, as it’s only been 2 weeks since my last one… isn’t that too soon for symptoms to show up anyway? After questioning him he told me he wants me to do it as ‘I am out in the world so he needs to know and have proof of my test’…? Isn’t that trying to manipulate the situation to insinuate I am the one going out and cheating??? It’s absurd

OP posts:
ThankTwixItsFriday · 20/07/2023 12:10

@Helloforum123 yes, it sound like he wants you to do the test to prove to him YOU aren’t cheating. It’s the classic cheat projecting onto the person he is cheating on. He is messing with your head.
The laughing about it is because he’s taunting you. He knows he’s getting to you. You need to get out of this situation.

Rheia1983 · 20/07/2023 12:14

Why do you not leave? Do you not see that you are being abused?

Tiny2018 · 20/07/2023 12:16

Well he's clearly cheating on you.

What an absolute tosser. Find your anger and get rid of this pathetic excuse of a man, there's someone so much better for you of there somewhere, don't waste another second on this arsehole.

Divebar2021 · 20/07/2023 12:19

Stop expecting him to change. You may as well go and bang your head against the wall repeatedly- it would be less painful.

These threads are really difficult to read because it’s so obviously abusive and you seem to be sitting there absorbing the blows expecting a different outcome each time.

VeridicalVagabond · 20/07/2023 12:22

he has told me often I don’t dress ‘sexy’ etc and even shown me women online at the gym in tiny shorts and asked me to buy those shorts.

I've only read to here and my opinion is already to LTB, what a pig. I suspect the rest of the post is not going to get any better.

...Ok read the rest and DEFINITELY LTB. Jesus. He's absolutely repugnant. Relationships are supposed to make you feel good and add to your life, all this man has brought to your life is rock bottom self esteem and possible STDs. My dog has contributed more to my happiness than your "partner" of 5 years has to yours. In fact I have a plant that is more beneficial than he is. Please please ditch him OP, you'll feel like a ten tonne weight has been lifted from your shoulders.

Daisydu · 20/07/2023 12:27

Oh op you can do so so much better than this. There’s better out there, please get rid of this asshole.

Ilikejamtarts · 20/07/2023 12:27

I think I'd give it a couple of days then turn round and say to him ' I recommend you go and get yourself an std test'. Then laugh at him when he asks why.

Seriously though this guy sounds like a total prick and a bully. What is keeping you there with him? Surely nothing is big enough to make you stay with an arrogant pig like that 😞

StopStartStop · 20/07/2023 12:32

Don't rile him. Get out safely.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 20/07/2023 12:34

I ddn't make it past the second para and him asking you to 'dress sexy.' Why the HELL are you still with this pig?

sodthesodoff · 20/07/2023 12:36

I can't even face reading it all

It's abuse. He's utter scum

Just get out. Save your kids from this hideous creature

Hopefully if everyone posts you'll realise how far down the rabbit hole you've gone that you can't see what's right in front of you.

Don't feel sorry for yourself. Get angry.

FloweryWowery · 20/07/2023 12:38

You're wrapped up in what he says and what he does which is understandable, but he's not going to change, he's a horrible horrible man. So you need to redirect your attention towards what's good for you and your children. You will wait forever for him to understand, be a good partner, care about your feelings.

5128gap · 20/07/2023 13:00

Of course you're the best woman ever. The man does exactly as he pleases, sees any other women who'll have him and has you in the background raising his children, cooking his tea and dressing to his requirements. Nothing whatsoever appears to be required of him other than to drop the odd 'I love you' while every aspect of his behaviour is a catalogue of disrespect, exploitation and neglect.
What on earth makes you think this man is so special that you have to give him everything while you get nothing?

GreyCarpet · 20/07/2023 13:10

You know this is abuse.

At the moment, he is a cat and you are the mouse whose tail he has trapped and is tormenting for his own enjoyment. He doesn't respect you amd he never will. He couldn't ever after all you have posted.

Only you can choose to no longer believe him or be drawn back into it. No one else can do it for you.