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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for about 8 years seemingly when he was married to a high earner, in which time he wrote several 'novels' which are unpublished.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:
Illpickthatup · 01/10/2024 20:24

Omg get rid of this sponger asap! He's only living in a tent so you'll feel sorry for him and eventually relent and let him move it. Total manipulation tactic. If he actually got a job maybe he could afford his own place but of course he doesn't want to do that.

His ambition is to be a cocklodger, never work, live off of you and have you driven him around. Get shot ASAP.

mindutopia · 01/10/2024 20:27

I got the ick just reading that. 😬

LittleGreenDragons · 01/10/2024 20:27

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

RUN!!! GET OUT!!!

He is consuming you. You are fast becoming a dry husk with nothing left to give.

Dotty87 · 01/10/2024 20:27

Not surprised this tramp is giving you the ick, he's a wannabe cocklodger who is literally camping out on your doorstep until you relent.

He's got you marked as his next meal ticket and will take everything you have if you let him.

AlertCat · 01/10/2024 20:34

He’s a user/sponger. He’s not nice to you and doesn’t respect you or your space. Please chuck him out, end the relationship, and block contact from him. I don’t see any good intentions from your description. Only a way to get himself a roof rent free with regular sex- look at how he complains if you don’t want to!

Guarantee your gut will be happier and your stress levels lower when you kick him to the kerb.

rosiebl · 01/10/2024 20:42

Chuck him back OP, this one has disaster written all over it. Don't look back in a few years time when he's living in your house, his divorce settlement has run out and you basically have a lazy man-child you can't get rid of.

TheBossOfMe · 01/10/2024 20:47

Another one saying he’s en route to being a cocklodger who will eventually just move into your home if you let him and expect you to keep him. You’re about to get a woe is me, I’m so cold, I can’t live like this and I did it for you sob story.

Bin him. Men like that don’t add anything that’s worth having to anyone’s life.

Screamingabdabz · 01/10/2024 20:47

I despair at what absolute dregs some seemingly bright and hard working women will settle for. Men must laugh their socks off at us.

LissaGa · 01/10/2024 20:50

Dump him, you are worth better than this.

abracadabra1980 · 01/10/2024 20:51

I just had to read your first paragraph to feel claustrophobic and to yell a categoric NO to you entertaining him any further. What kind of grown man thinks it's ok to shack up I a tent when his other half has a child, etc.. bin this waste of space, I'm sure you can do so much better.

Thejackrussellsrule · 01/10/2024 20:52

You already know the answer, you don't have to justify it. Just end it and move on with your life, you are worth so much more than this.

Pumpkinpie1 · 01/10/2024 20:52

You deserve better OP . This man has made and still chooses to make bad choices. It’s not your responsibility to fix him.
End this farce of a relationship, get some counselling and start working on yourself before you even consider dating again .

Fastback · 01/10/2024 20:52

With all due respect, have you lost your fucking mind? He is awful. Awful.

Please stop subjecting your children to him and get. Him. Gone.

Chipsintheair · 01/10/2024 20:59

Wow, that's so insane. I wouldn't mind the not working in the sense of not earning, if he has enough money to live on from what he does.

I would mind the sitting watching Netflix while I'm in a meeting. Wtf. I would also mind the not doing all the housework, shopping, etc. while I'm working long hours. I would be furious at the moaning about my being too tired for sex, rather than getting the shopping, dinner, etc., then giving me space to rest!

I would also mind that he doesn't seem to have any interest or goals. If I had so much money that I could hang around for months, I'd be volunteering, doing something to help out, doing some good however small.

gamerchick · 01/10/2024 21:04

Does he actually go back to his tent or has he moved in?

He's irritating you, this doesn't have long term legs OP. Remove the parasite.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 01/10/2024 21:05

So you have a homeless bloke camping out nearby in the hope of forcing you to let him move in and live off you indefinitely once it gets a bit chilly?

Are you mad?

MsDogLady · 01/10/2024 21:17

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.

@aroundtheworld88, he’s a moody, controlling sponger who manipulates you with his gold digger comments when you suggest his working and by playing the rejected victim if you need time alone or to sleep.

Narcissistic people like him feel entitled to the resources, energy, time and attention of their supply targets. They expect their victims to comply with their demands and service their wants/needs. They couldn’t care less about the boundaries of others, and become hostile if crossed.

@aroundtheworld88, you would be very foolish to stay with this controlling parasite. I am troubled that such a conniving individual is around your child or in his/her orbit.

ScabbyHorse · 01/10/2024 21:27

He's not a partner. He's a controlling parasite who needs to get out of your life. He sounds like someone I used to know who was very dangerous actually. But hid it well.
I wish I'd never given him the time of day! Don't carry on with this it's making you unhappy and you sound so kind! He's predatory

Bananalanacake · 01/10/2024 21:38

Don't let him move in with you, ever. I also walk off and ignore men who don't work, lazy. Bastards

Ellie56 · 01/10/2024 21:39

So he doesn't work and he has a tent which he doesn't actually live in because he's always round at your place getting in your way while you're trying to work? Hmm
No, just no.

Dear God woman, find your self respect and bin this idle loser, before the weather gets colder and you find he's moved in completely.

And in answer to your question -yes, yes he is a walking parade of red flags. Just dump him now. You can do so much better. You deserve better too.

User364837 · 01/10/2024 21:45

it sounds smothering! Having him around all the time in the room while you’re working.
if he’s spending a lot of time at your house is he doing chores and stuff to help out while you’re busy working and he has a lot of time on his hands?

I think you’re a saint and many people would’ve got very fed up with him by now!

sounds like you (don’t unreasonably) want someone with their own life and like you say, some equality. Some drive!

Maurepas · 01/10/2024 21:46

Your description of him is one of the worse I've read about a DP on MN apart from those by women who are physically abused as well. Are you totally blind not to see how very bad he is for you? Hope you don't have too much of a problem when you break the news you want him out. Can someone be with you when you tell him to leave, change the locks etc?
Perhaps he could be a gigolo if he has any entry to wealthy society or is he too old?. Have you seen the film The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone - the Helen Mirren edition (more hard hitting than an earlier version)?.

MrSeptember · 01/10/2024 21:48

It is frightening how these men are so similar - exBIL could be this guy's twin. So let's run through a few things:

1 he is attempting to mov ein by stealth - he's "technically" in a tent but spends ALL his time with you and I guarantee, the moment the weather gets worse, you are going to be guilted into letting him in permanently.

2 He gives you NO space. And when you ask for space, he makes ou tthat YOU are the bad guy?

3 You pay all the bills except for some groceries. Big whoop.

4 He is practically moved in, but isn't even making a token effort to make a permanent move seem like a good idea. if, during the love bombing phase, he's still not even doign some chores, what will he be like once he's fully in!? x10000 considering it's not like he has anything else to do because he doesn't work!!

5 You work, to support yourself and your DC and, as it turns out, him, and yet he's whining you don't spend enough time with him?

Here are a few things that you haven't mentioned, but that wouldn't surprise me to find are happening:

1 He really really hates it when you spend time with friends/family without him? possibly even your DC? Feels "sad" you don't want to spend time with him? Or perhaps he accuses you of being interested in other men? Or guilts you with "if you really loved me you'd respect my feelings"?

2 If he does something to irritate/annoy/upset you and you dare to get upset or angry, he turns it on you and YOU are the baddie for shouting/being aggressive etc?

3 He has a crazy psycho ex? Perhaps she cleaned him out financially? or cheated on him? Or was emotionally/physically/verbally abusive? Or all of the above.

4 He has little or no relationship with his family OR his family are completely blind to his faults and think its weird you wouldn't want him to move in and pay all the bills.

sparkleghost · 01/10/2024 21:52

gamerchick · 01/10/2024 21:04

Does he actually go back to his tent or has he moved in?

He's irritating you, this doesn't have long term legs OP. Remove the parasite.

Edited

I was going to say this. He doesn’t live in a tent, he’s moved in with OP by stealth 🫣 And what a manipulative way of going about it… he’s expecting OP to feel sorry for him, relent and tell him to (officially) move in… if she ends it he’ll argue “but I moved for you” and “I live in a tent, I have nowhere to go”.

Sounds to me like he’s looking for his next passive income stream OP… don’t walk, run!

EveryOtherNameTaken · 01/10/2024 22:00

Dump the dickwad. He's a scrounger.

You know he's causing your stress and it will 100% get worse if he gets a foot in the door.