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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

Am I the problem?

72 replies

Thewho21 · 17/03/2024 19:29

Thank you to anyone taking the time to read this. Any advice would be appreciated.

My partner and I have been together 4 years. Live together and engaged. No plans or even conversations about getting married have happened. He has a son who he has on the majority of days every week. We do nothing together as a couple other than go to the supermarket once a week and he waits in the car. I do everything for this man and his son who has severe LD/ASD/ADHD as well as working full time.

He makes no effort to keep me interested in this relationship. I do everything around the house and his tea is made every night for when he finishes work. Every night I put his son to bed which can take hours, I go down stairs to find him asleep on the sofa for the rest of the night. He seems to be in another planet tbh. What ever I say to him such as important dates or events coming up he says I’ve never told him that which is highly annoying and I feel like I’m questioning my own sanity. I told him yesterday that it was my mams memory today and won’t feel up to leaving the house for the weekly shop. He has never asked how I am or if I’m feeling ok. He asked why I seemed like I was in mood so I said I told you yesterday it’s my mams memory today and his only reply was you didn’t tell me that. Nothing like are you ok, do you want to talk about it? I honestly feel like I’m going insane.

At the beginning of the year I said we would see how things go over the next couple of months and if nothing improves I’m leaving. Things have got no better and I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall. He makes no effort with my family whatsoever. I told him a week ago my brother was calling round with his birthday card and gift, also reminded him the night before and he decided to go out before my brother arrived. He didn’t even text him to thank him for his card and gift. When I got onto him about it he said this shouldn’t be an issue and that I’m causing a problem out of nothing and said right if it makes you feel any better I will text him now. I make an effort with his family and go above and beyond for them. We were at a family event on New Year’s Eve and even his own brother and his wife spoke to me in private and said that if he doesn’t change his ways he will end up losing me. When his brother wished me happy new year he said I hope my brother treats you better this year. I brought this up when we were in the middle of argument when he was saying I’m the problem so I said I know I’m not perfect but even your own family have said if you don’t treat me better you will lose me, he asked his brother about this and he denied saying it. It’s so frustrating.

He literally gives the bare minimum to this relationship. Never says I look nice if I’m dressed up unless I say it to him first. No little gestures to show that he cares. Nothing. He says these things shouldn’t be an issue and that I’m the problem making a deal out of it all and he feels like he is working on egg shells around me. Are these little things that shouldn’t be an issue?

Am I the problem?

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 17/03/2024 20:55

If you're not getting anything out of the relationship op, then why are you still in it?

Bestyearever2024 · 17/03/2024 21:02

Why would you put yourself through this every day? Why? It makes NO sense at all

BeckiWithAnI · 17/03/2024 21:05

Yes, you are the problem…. Your problem is you haven’t left already.
The net reward of this “relationship” isn’t even zero. You’re in negative figures. Time to cut your losses and get out.

Thewho21 · 17/03/2024 21:10

@CharlotteCollinsneeLucas no I don’t have anywhere to go. It’s his house. I was trying to save money each month to rent somewhere else but it’s hard to keep spare money aside. I also have my daughter who lives with us.

OP posts:
savethatkitty · 17/03/2024 21:15

Are you seriously even questioning this?

You are NOT the problem. Lazy, gas lighting man child is the problem.

No offense, but the kid isn't even yours, so why would you want to take all that on? You're a glorified nanny, at best.

Leave & never look back.

Thewho21 · 17/03/2024 21:16

@orangetriangle i think you could be right!

OP posts:
CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 17/03/2024 21:17

It'll be easier to save without this loser around, maybe. Have you thought about where you could go? Is there a family member who could take you in while you find somewhere?

Just imagine how nice your home will be when you don't have his chores to do and his comments bringing you down!

Opentooffers · 17/03/2024 21:18

Why are you looking after his son? That's his job. He'd have to do it himself if you left, which is what you should do. Get saving for a rent deposit and move out asap. Better still, if family help available, move out now.

woahhhh · 17/03/2024 21:22

So you do get something out if it. You get somewhere to live.

Not worth it though

jeaux90 · 17/03/2024 21:27

Well he's found a nice compliant support human hasn't he.

It's literally how he treats you. His support human. Please leave this user.

Lucy377 · 17/03/2024 21:33

He provides you with housing for you and your daughter but that's not love.

At the start of the relationship because you wanted a man in your life, you did all the relationship and he did nothing.

Now you are just noticing that that's how things are. But they were always like that.

It's just you can't pretend anymore by you creating 95% of the relationship 'around' him.

Freakinfraser · 17/03/2024 21:35

You need to get out of there. This isn’t a relationship, you’re his domestic help. And as payment you get to live there. Cmon op just get you and your daughter out. This is no example to show her, and it must be miserable for you.

Picklestop · 17/03/2024 21:52

You are definitely the problem here. But not his problem, you are your own problem. I truly cannot understand why you have put up with this for four years and are only threatening to leave if things don’t improve! Why would they improve and why is that good enough anyway? It won’t erase the last four years of your life that you have wasted on this dreadful man.

Bananalanacake · 17/03/2024 21:53

Have a relationship without living together

Thewho21 · 17/03/2024 22:07

@woahhhh yes, probably the only thing I get out of this relationship is living here but I pay more than my fair share.

OP posts:
Thewho21 · 17/03/2024 22:10

@CharlotteCollinsneeLucas my family don’t have the room for my daughter and I which is a shame otherwise I would move tomorrow if I could.

OP posts:
Noseybookworm · 17/03/2024 23:17

Yes you are the problem - why are you doing all the shopping, cooking etc and taking care of his child? You have allowed yourself to be a doormat and then act surprised when he walks all over you. If you want to be treated differently, you have to act differently - stop doing everything for him and start doing what makes you happy. If that means leaving a relationship you're unhappy in, leave!

Bestyearever2024 · 17/03/2024 23:23

Thewho21 · 17/03/2024 22:10

@CharlotteCollinsneeLucas my family don’t have the room for my daughter and I which is a shame otherwise I would move tomorrow if I could.

I'd call Womens Aid and move tomorrow with their help

Thewho21 · 17/03/2024 23:34

@Bestyearever2024
i don’t think this is appropriate for my situation as he is not abusive, I wouldn’t want to use this service and potentially take away from someone who desperately needs it and is in a far worse position than me.

OP posts:
ChimneySweepLiverpool · 17/03/2024 23:53

I'm sorry OP, this must be tough for you and your daughter. You sound trapped and the logistics are your main problem. You gave him the ultimatum that you would leave and it hasn't improved. You need to leave for you and your little girl x

RandomForest · 17/03/2024 23:54

In the 17 and 1800's it was quite common when someones wife died for a housekeeper to be employed by a working widow. The 'housekeeper' would take over the duties of caring for the man's children and keep house, they would also take over the sexual duties of the deceased wife.

They were not often remarried to these women although in all name and purposes that is what they were, it provided a roof over the females head and quite often new children would be born. Many of them were not respected by the male or previous families due to them just being housekeepers.

They often were left with illigitimate children and lost their homes when the male died.

This man has sought you out to enjoy a life of serfdom to him and his child, you have given yourself away too easily, no marriage, no entitlement and in the future would have a precarious living arrangement if he died and left his money to his son.

You are not getting enough back, find alternative living arrangements and expend your energy on your own child and yourself.

SwordToFlamethrower · 17/03/2024 23:56

Couldn't read it all. Lost interest at "I do everything..."

LTB. You're nothing but a domestic appliance.

AnotherSuperHeroe · 18/03/2024 00:02

Basically you're his bangmaid

LTB ASAP

Mmhmmn · 18/03/2024 00:44

There isn’t a little 2-bed somewhere that you and your daughter could go OP? For a short time? Or even a 1-bed plus sofa bed that’d allow you to save?

Catoo · 18/03/2024 01:03

He won’t ever marry you because you’ll be entitled to a claim on his house.

He allows you to do all the housework as he feels you owe him for living there. Plus you don’t stand up for yourself so he has no respect. You said you’d leave but you haven’t so he has zero reason to improve.

You don’t stand your ground because you think you can’t afford to move out and are scared to be homeless.

How many more years will you sink your money into a household that you could be thrown out of at any time?

Start planning your exit OP.

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