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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

Aibu about dp- feel like i am going crazy

125 replies

aroundtheworld88 · 01/10/2024 16:02

I am in a relationship of 1 year and 4 months and I have started to have enough, but it feels like this relationship has eroded my sense of normal (also, i was just out of a very volatile, EA 5 year marriage when I met him), and I think i have become a bit isolated. So can the good people of mn help me to know if these are red flags? My gut has started yelling at me and i have become quite depressed and anxious which i put down to my busy job, but now I think it is actually at least partly my partner.

He is 45, to my knowledge has never had a steady job/career... he changed career from a chef in his late 20s and then did short term mechanic style jobs, before giving up work for about 8 years seemingly when he was married to a high earner, in which time he wrote several 'novels' which are unpublished.

Now, he has only worked about 3 months out of the whole time i have known him, and otherwise seems to live off interest from some investments, and his divorce settlement. No plans for work except for another 2-3 month stint short contract where he supposedly will make enough to not have to work for several more months.

He 'moved to be with me' as we were LDR but due to airbnbs being expensive and me not being ready to move in as i have one school age dc, he set up a tent in my local camping field, and has stayed there. He wants us to live together.
Since coming here 2 months ago he has basically not given me any time to myself and is around me all the time whether on the school run, or while i am doing meetings (I wfh), he almost never is out on his own.

I paid rent on my little house upfront for a year this year and pay all bills. pay for all petrol on the car which i own (he doesnt have a car), he pays for a lot of groceries but that's it. I work FT as a consultant from home, juggling single parenting, meetings, cooking dinners, shopping for food, cleaning, planning activities. It is really starting to grate on me that he doesnt work. He will sit and watch netflix on mute while i am doing a meeting at my desk in the corner, or he will take a nap. My job cab be stressful and i get so exhausted. Some days i have meetings wiht another timezone and don't get done with the day until 11pm or later, then i have to go back to sleep the next day after the school run to compensate, and he gets a bit irritated as he is an early riser and I have to sleep 'so much' and I am often too tired for sex. But he doesn't work, at all. And i don't see it changing. I don't even think that hvaing a passive income stream is a good enough reason not to be working or pursuing a career when he is very healthy in his mid 40s. It makes me feel horrible and judgy, but I am beginning to feel like we have totally different work ethics.

He gets moody and seems to have emotional dysregulation and i wonder if this is why he doesnt work. We argue a lot, more and more, and i am even starting to get the ick. I need time to myself but if i ask for it he acts rejected. I need someone who is on the same page as me with work, but he acts like iam a golddigger if i ever mention it. Oh and he wants us to have kids!! But what, with him not working? He keeps himself in great shape and is romantic but i'm in my late 30s and i dont want or need a trophy boyfriend. I just want some equality. I feel like i spend every second either working or with him or doing chores and I am getting really depressed. but he just keeps saying he loves me and wants to prioritise our relationship over anything else.

Aibu? Sorry if this is so jumbled. Not sure what i am looking for, maybe just opinions on this situation.

OP posts:
Scutterbug · 01/10/2024 16:05

He doesn’t sound like much of a catch? Your post is very negative about him so I think it will be difficult to continue. I personally, would move on.

OhDearMuriel · 01/10/2024 16:06

I couldn't respect someone like that.
It's so obvious he wants to become your cock lodger.
Fuck him off and do it quickly, he's a lazy bastard.

Shoxfordian · 01/10/2024 16:06

He doesn't work and he lives in a tent, isn't that enough of a reason to dump him? Do the freedom programme, if you haven't, and don't date any more losers

ForPearlViper · 01/10/2024 16:07

I seriously think you already know the answer to this one. The only unreasonable thing is why you have tolerated it for so long.

Emiline · 01/10/2024 16:08

Throw it back he’s gearing up to be a cocklodger.

MounjaroUser · 01/10/2024 16:09

Hang on, so he's living with you and when you mention he should get a job, he calls you a gold digger?

Tell him to go back to his tent, ffs - better do it now before it gets too cold.

Petitchat · 01/10/2024 16:13

This must drive you mad, OP.
My DH is similar. To be fair though, he is my Carer as I have been Ill for a few years and in his 60's.

However, caring for me and cooking, washing up doesn't take up that much time.
He never ever cleans, the house is a dusty mess. We need a cleaner but lots of stuff would need to be tidied away first.
I'm not well enough to do it.

Most of his day is spent just watching TV or gaming.
No ambition, never has had any ambition.
But apart from this, has been a brilliant father, husband and carer.

HappyAsASandboy · 01/10/2024 16:22

Make him move back out. 1 year in, when you have a child and have recently left a volatile marriage is a time for dating (if you want to) and settling in to life at home with just you and your child

Once he has moved back out (to his tent), see whether he is wanting to date, and see whether you want to date him. If not, then don't!

If he doesn't like the tent in winter, then he can find , and fund, other accommodation. It is not your job to provide accommodation for a grown man.

sockarefootwear · 01/10/2024 16:27

It sounds like he has no interest in finding any way to properly support himself either now or in the future and sees you as the next person who is going to enable him to carry on doing nothing productive. Even though you're not officially living together currently, he's clearly spending most of his time at your place and I wouldn't be surprised if part of his thinking behind staying in a tent is that it's not really sustainable as the weather gets worse so more likely that you'll feel pressured in to allowing him to move in. Since you've told him you don't want that I think this shows very little respect for your boundaries.

When he says he wants you to have children, I'd bet his idea is that you will continue to work whilst he stays at home with them. I have no issue with stay at home dads (my DH was a SAHP when our children were small) but it doesn't sound like he would give you any choice in that or actually do all the work that goes with being a stay at home parent. So you'd basically end up with more children but still doing all the work.

In short, unless you want a 40 year old child to move in with you, get rid!

Olika · 01/10/2024 16:29

Oh god please just end it.

Pigeonqueen · 01/10/2024 16:31

I got about a third down and just thought nope. You can do much better.

YellowRoom · 01/10/2024 16:34

There is literally nothing good about this man. How on earth are you in this position. What about your DC?

UltramarineViolet · 01/10/2024 16:36

You need to end the relationship and make it very clear that you will not be changing your mind

Change the locks if he has any keys and report to the police if there are any threats or aggression when you end it

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 01/10/2024 16:38

@aroundtheworld88 why the hell would you waste any time on this wastrel??? send him back from where he came! he is a cocklodger and that is obvious given that he didnt do any work while seeing a high earner!! set your sights higher, at least for your dc's security!

Snowfalling · 01/10/2024 16:45

He lives in a tent in a camping field. Dear Lord.

What is he planning to do in the winter months? You'll feel obliged to let him move in. Not that you should of course. You are looking for permission to break up with him, and that's fine, it's absolutely fine to break up with him as you no longer respect him. But please do it before the cold really sets in so he can find somewhere suitable to move into.

Snowfalling · 01/10/2024 16:48

MounjaroUser · 01/10/2024 16:09

Hang on, so he's living with you and when you mention he should get a job, he calls you a gold digger?

Tell him to go back to his tent, ffs - better do it now before it gets too cold.

Basically this. He's projecting. he's the gold digger. He has form, he's lined you up as his new sugar mummy.

ForPearlViper · 01/10/2024 16:55

He lives in a tent in a camping field. Dear Lord.

Barely though. He spends all his time at OPs or glued to her side.

adorablecat · 01/10/2024 16:56

I don't understand why you'd even want him around to be honest, but even if you do, you obviously know it is not going to end well.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 01/10/2024 16:58

read your own post, how many red flags do you count ?

CoddledAsAMommet · 01/10/2024 17:03

He's unemployed, homeless and clingy.

OP, he's not the love of your life, he's just some bloke. Blokes are ten a penny! Get rid of this one as quickly as you can for your child's sake as well as your own.

Hairyesterdaygonetoday · 01/10/2024 17:11

Petitchat · 01/10/2024 16:13

This must drive you mad, OP.
My DH is similar. To be fair though, he is my Carer as I have been Ill for a few years and in his 60's.

However, caring for me and cooking, washing up doesn't take up that much time.
He never ever cleans, the house is a dusty mess. We need a cleaner but lots of stuff would need to be tidied away first.
I'm not well enough to do it.

Most of his day is spent just watching TV or gaming.
No ambition, never has had any ambition.
But apart from this, has been a brilliant father, husband and carer.

Edited

Petit, cleaning is part of caring for someone. It’s not healthy for you to live in a pigsty.

And surely, if you can’t get out much because of your illness, he could spend more time with you instead of wasting his life in front of a screen?

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/10/2024 17:16

He sounds like a scummy, scrounging scammer. Yes, please end this.

DreadPirateRobots · 01/10/2024 17:16

What's stopping you from just... you know, dumping him?

Seaoftroubles · 01/10/2024 17:20

Good heavens, what on earth are you thinking OP? Why would you waste another minute of your precious time facilitating this loser? I can't see one good reason why you'd want to put up with this cocklodger in waiting!
For your own sake send him on his way before it gets colder, or he will move in completely and you will find it even harder to get rid of him.

SaveItForTheBirds · 01/10/2024 17:21

OP, it sounds like you're asking for permission to end the relationship? But you, and you alone, are in charge of your life. You already know this isn't working out, you know he's a loser who brings nothing of any value to your life and you know there's no future in it. So end it now, regain your agency and breathe a big sigh of relief.

He might try to make things difficult for you and lay on the guilt but you'll be ok. I can tell from your post that underneath all the doubts you've still got the courage of your convictions. Sack him off!