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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

Engagement disapointment - Am i being mistreated and strung along?

154 replies

Ninam45 · 01/03/2024 16:58

Hi, During our first year together by boyfriend would always talk about "how there is no sooner time to get married". He took me engagement ring shopping and we chose a beautiful ring together. I thought things were moving fast but I thought I had met the man of my dreams, he seemed sweet & attentive.

A few months after the engagement ring shopping at my 30th birthday he planned a big trip to the carribean and planned a romantic dinner for two on the beach saying "it would be the most romantic day of my life". In my head I was wondering if that would be the day he proposes. When it didn't happen I got a little teary I said I really thought that this was going to be the trip when he proposes. Instead of consoling me he started to say very horrible things like "well none of your exes wanted to marry you" and that some of his friends waited 6 years before getting married. I thought to myself "have we lived the same past year"? He was the one that was pushing the engagement and I felt like my dreams were coming true. That night it all came crashing down and his comments crushed me. Afterwards after months of arguing he said his insecurities got in the way.

Not long after that I lost my business and suffered depression and distress, I can't get over the way he treated me so well and said all those wedding-related things just to turn on me, and it brought me down.

Now he is claiming a year on now, that he wanted to see a period of me being well and out of depression for him to want to propose to me.

The past year has been extremely tough, I went from being a successful business woman to. losing everything and adding the relationship problems has just brought me to new lows...

The past months I have started to finally recover from the depression caused by losing my business and being taken to court by my business partner by getting therapy and volunteering with animals. Yesterday we had an argument because I said he wasn't being very supportive in my search for a new job, I was a little bit anxious a job interview and he said his patience that day was wearing out as I was worries about not being able to do the interview. Initially he was trying to be supportive but then he belittled and made fun of my anxiety around the job by imitating me in a condescending way. I just lost it with him. He then went on to say after our arguments got very heated, that that well he was planning to propose to me next week but obviously now that's off.

I feel deeply distraught and helpless and I feel like he is holding the engagement over my head whilst sometimes being very nice but at the same time not being nice to me and making it out to be my fault because of the depression I have suffered the last year. I thought during an argument to bring up the thing that most hurt me a year ago and say "I was about to do it" highly distressing.

I don't know what to do or if this behaviour is a red flag and I should leave, I'm so confused. Or is it all me?

OP posts:
GiselleRose · 01/03/2024 22:03

He is treating you very cruelly. Get away from him and find someone kind.

TeaMistress · 01/03/2024 22:04

He's a manipulative nasty piece of work. He's playing some very cruel games and dangling marriage and commitment in front of you and he has no intention of marrying you. Its a sick nasty game. Your anxiety and mental health will improve immeasurably if you kick him to the kerb. You will absolutely be dodging a bullet if you get rid of him I promise. He's not someone you want to have children and grow old with. Any decent man would not behave like this despicable filth is behaving towards you.

MinervatheGreat · 01/03/2024 22:07

He’s treating you really badly.
This crap is down to him, not you.

Pleeeeze, do what we are telling you to do. Bin him.
Bin him as soon as it’s practicable for you.
You deserve so much more.

Lumiodes · 01/03/2024 22:11

he wanted to see a period of me being well and out of depression for him to want to propose to me.
Thats not how “in sickness and in health” works! Someone who loves you wants to lift you up when you’re on rock bottom. They don’t reject you because you’re feeling low. They don’t say “you need to be better than this otherwise I don’t want you”. It’s a huge red flag. Love would be proposing while you’re depressed, to lift you up and make a fresh start together.

Codlingmoths · 01/03/2024 22:13

Congratulations! You’re overcome your depression enough to be able to get genuine job interviews and I have no doubt at all you will have a job soon. You’ve done this while living with a man who puts you down and makes you feel like a failure- doubly amazing. Well done, lose the man and onwards!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 01/03/2024 22:23

Scaffoldingisugly · 01/03/2024 17:01

Bet if you tell him to fuck off your depression will go with him...
Imo.

I agree speaking from experience!!!!
I'm BEGGING you not to marry him op what will he do when you are heavily pregnancy or have post natal anxiety or your parents die or you get an illness and need care... he's shown you he doesn't understand the meaning of 'for richer for poorer, for better for worse in sickness and in health.' Or actually, he does, and he's not willing to stick by you under those terms. He has shown you who is please believe him and escape or you will end up like me (see username!£

FinallyHere · 01/03/2024 22:25

Now he is claiming a year on now, that he wanted to see a period of me being well and out of depression for him to want to propose to me.

I would be taking some time to think very very seriously about why on earth I would consider marrying, or even ever talking to again, anyone who said such things.

Find someone who really really wants to marry you, who would be proud to be married to you. Not someone who wants you to jump through hoops in order to 'deserve' marriage.

Please, do your future self a favour and do not marry him.

BadLad · 01/03/2024 22:30

He then went on to say after our arguments got very heated, that that well he was planning to propose to me next week but obviously now that's off.

No way was he planning to propose. He’s just using it as “here’s a look at what you could have won” way to make sure you do better next time, and that you stay in the relationship to keep trying for the prize of his proposal.

Peekaboobo · 01/03/2024 22:34

It's not a red flag.

A red flag is a warning sign of potential future problems.

What he's actually done is be a dick, now.

Lauren0000 · 01/03/2024 22:45

He's a nutter.
He's begging you.
Run for the hills!
Don't marry this manipulative prick

GG1986 · 01/03/2024 23:05

Eww he sounds vile! If and when you get that ring, he will be saying the wedding is off after every little disagreement. I would bin him and be with someone that is kind, supportive, respects you and wants to marry you.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/03/2024 23:31

He is such a prize and he's going to make you work to win him.....but I really don't think the effort is worth it on your part .
The Wedding
The Children

Will they be equally as mentally exhausting and turbulant ?
Seriously , you need to walk away .

Flowers
HollyKnight · 02/03/2024 02:26

All I will say is if you want to have children someday, walk away from this man. These are the things that come back to bite you when you ignore them at this stage.

BlastedPimples · 02/03/2024 06:55

He's playing you. Nasty piece of work. He will always seek to control you.

It won't get better. It never does.

Do not waste your life on him. You are far too precious. You will find someone else - if that's what you want - who is far far better.

This man you are currently involved with is a creep.

BlastedPimples · 02/03/2024 06:57

And yes, he's tested your boundaries by being nasty on the night you thought he was going to propose.

He now knows he can be nasty and you let him get away with it.

TheMerryWidow1 · 02/03/2024 07:07

You need to run op. He is dangling the engagement in front of you, then he will do the same with a wedding and then children x all to keep you in line. You don’t deserve this.

SometimesIchangemyname · 02/03/2024 07:19

41 and still playing games like this.
There are a lot of men who still see marriage as something women are desperate for and a trap for men, which is odd as a good marriage is massively beneficial for men.

Hope you get the job and the strength to walk away. Those heady early days don’t last. This is the reality of who he is and will be.

Pinkie89 · 02/03/2024 08:25

I’d be planning my route to leave if I were you. Get a job, save for a little bit and find somewhere else to stay.

WandaWonder · 02/03/2024 08:27

You cannot be this desperate for a partner, do you honestly need to be told what to do, really?

Whiskerson · 02/03/2024 08:44

Wait, what - he already bought you the engagement ring?

Then you were engaged - which means you get to break it off with HIM.

He has absolutely nothing to hold over you.

Shitlord · 02/03/2024 08:56

He sounds fucking awful. Please spend no time trying to work out his motivations, they're not important. Figure out job, first wage, flat/room in a shared house and out.

Shetlands · 02/03/2024 09:06

Whiskerson · 02/03/2024 08:44

Wait, what - he already bought you the engagement ring?

Then you were engaged - which means you get to break it off with HIM.

He has absolutely nothing to hold over you.

OP said he put a deposit on it but then didn't actually buy it.

lolomoon · 02/03/2024 09:14

Wow he's using the engagement as a power tool. Manipulation & control.
Red flag and a really horrible situation for you. Sorry for everything you've been through.

OneLollipop · 02/03/2024 09:47

He then went on to say after our arguments got very heated, that that well he was planning to propose to me next week but obviously now that's off.

As everyone has said, this man is not planning to ever propose to you. He is using the "promise" of it to control you.

I'm glad you're planning on getting out. He sounds like a horrible partner, whatever you do don't marry him!!!

AprilDecember · 02/03/2024 09:50

Oh my this man sounds absolutely horrible. You deserve better, move on!

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