Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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for about 8 years seemingly when he was married to a high earner, in which time he wrote several 'novels' which are unpublished.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:
suburberphobe · 01/10/2024 22:05

He is 45, to my knowledge has never had a steady job/career..

He's not a keeper OP. Have fabulous sex if you want but don't get involved. (I know it's hard!).

He's looking for, as the brilliant MN's saying # a nurse with a purse #

ShouldIEvenBother · 01/10/2024 22:14

He sounds terrible. His attitude to everything is terrible.

OP, make sure your contraception is spot on and can't be tampered with. No one here needs a crystal ball to see how depressing your life will become if you have this mans baby. You will be utterly trapped.

Are you frightened or nervous about how he will behave if you end things? You mentioned he can be moody and unable to regulate his emotions. It sounds to me, and my apologies if I am interpreting your post incorrectly, that you want some encouragement to end this relationship. If you are feeling worried about how he will behave when/ if you end things, you can contact Women's Aid ahead of time to talk things through with them. And absolutely use this forum as support!

If I could bottle encouragement and send it your way - I absolutely would.

Given you had recently come out of a prior emotionally abusive situation to meeting this current bloke, I think you probably need to spend some time on your own and focusing on yourself.

And quite frankly, I'd bet a years salary you will feel enormous relief once this relationship has ended 💐

outdamnedspots · 01/10/2024 22:17

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.

This!

Crikeyalmighty · 01/10/2024 22:20

@sparkleghost you have hit it on the head - OP is his target for a further passive income stream. Reading the OPs opening post why is it I'm getting vibes of that utter cocklodging looney who killed that successful author- I can't explain it'- I just am - the desparate hanging around them all the time, the rushing to move to be with you, making your life, their life- Honestly OP please get out - having personally been there I'm quite in tune to losers and loners with a superficial charming side to them and I think they are a real concern to sanity and safety and often very convincing - when the reality is they need you to keep them propped up - I'm not getting good vibes here - please end it OP and make sure he hasn't got keys etc

Crikeyalmighty · 01/10/2024 22:28

@MrSeptember see my post- I lived with someone like this post divorce- very charming, fun, enormous fantasist and bullshitter - found out once things were more awkward to just end. Lied about his job, ex fiancée , all kinds of stuff- became controlling to the point he was doing stuff that made it awkward for me just to walk away. It's easy to fall for this if vulnerable- I did

QueenMegan · 01/10/2024 22:38

Get rid of your anxiety/him. Just say its not working his value system is him.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 01/10/2024 22:54

Get rid

workplaceshenanigans · 01/10/2024 22:54

What have I just read?

SquirrelSoShiny · 01/10/2024 23:03

Does he in fact have Cocklodger-in-Waiting tattooed across his forehead? If not, he should!

End it now before the weather turns cold. Under no circumstances let him keep infiltrating your home.

JaniceBattersby · 01/10/2024 23:04

He just sounds absolutely gross. I can’t really see what he’s bringing to your life. No wonder you have the ick. Send him back to his tent.

StormingNorman · 01/10/2024 23:06

He’s a walking semaphore convention OP.

A man who chooses to live in a tent rather than work to pay rent. shaking my head in disbelief here.

He’s going to drain you financially and emotionally.

Mmhmmn · 01/10/2024 23:17

You've got the ick, and no wonder. He's rather forced himself into your house. He set up a tent so you'd have to let him essentially move in. Really strange behaviour, it seems he was determined to move into yours whether it suited you or not - it clearly doesn't.

There's no going back from the ick. You'll need to be very clear and direct with him that he needs to go. Don't leave any room for confusion.

FictionalCharacter · 01/10/2024 23:38

He’s useless and not very nice. Get rid now before your sense of “normal” becomes even more distorted. You don’t need his permission or anyone else’s to end it.

Iwilladmit · 01/10/2024 23:52

Trophy boyfriend?! He lives in a tent!

OP - heed the wisdom of MN.

TwistedWonder · 01/10/2024 23:55

Can I ask why on earth you thought an unemployed freeloader who lives in a tent would be a great partner to bring into your child’s home?

Toseland · 01/10/2024 23:56

I've seen some men like this - purposefully targeting decent, hard-working women, getting them pregnant, wanting their pants washed and their dinner cooked whilst contributing nothing. Run is my advice, before he traps you.

Ellie56 · 02/10/2024 00:08

Well @aroundtheworld88 the wisdom of MN has spoken and it is unanimous.

Your so called "D"P is a lazy workshy leeching waste of space who brings nothing to your life apart from stress and the "ick", and is aiming to set you up to be his next meal ticket.

The question is - what are you going to do about it?

Feckingwrecled · 02/10/2024 00:34

Is this a joke? I'll say this loudly in case your post is not a joke.

GET RID PRONTO. HE's A LOSER.

Feckingwrecled · 02/10/2024 00:36

YOUR POOR CHILD. Having this waste of space in their home.

I hope you were doubled up on contraception.

Fraaahnces · 02/10/2024 00:37

Why isn’t he paying half of everything? Why haven’t you done a spreadsheet and told him “This is your share”. Cocklodger.
Why is he following you around like a needy bloody spaniel? Set rules or get rid - asap.

Peasnbeans · 02/10/2024 00:38

Hi @aroundtheworld88
I read your first para - and heard you.
Read it back and hear yourself. I didn't need the examples, I heard you said it wasn't quite right.
That's enough!
When you are okay with someone you don't have the time or inclination to write on a board for advice.
You are great! You have good instincts. I think YOU think you need a reason to move on- you don't. Men don't!

Good luck being single and therefore available for the next one!

CandyLeBonBon · 02/10/2024 07:20

Olika · 01/10/2024 16:29

Oh god please just end it.

Yep. This. He sounds abominable

crackfoxy · 02/10/2024 07:42

It'll be too cold to sleep in that tent soon.... get rid before he asks to sleepover, you'll not get rid of him otherwise!

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 02/10/2024 07:49

Get rid!

2Old2Tango · 02/10/2024 07:56

He's becoming a cocklodger by stealth, spending almost all his time at your place where he's getting free electricity, heating, tv, showers, etc. Is he also helping himself to your food and car OP? I'd have got the ick long ago.

Will this man's investments keep him going into old age? He doesn't seem to be forward planning. And what skills does he have that a short stint of work will keep him going for several months? Will his investment income allow him to contribute 50% if he were to move in? Could he provide financially for a child? These are all questions to ask yourself.

I'd be ending this as soon as possible, before winter really sets in and he makes you feel guilty for sending him back to his tent at night. I would most certainly not let him move in officially. Does he have a key? Get the barrels in the locks changed once he's gone.

Youll feel a lot better once your rid of this chancer. Please give yourself time before rushing into your next relationship, for both your and your child's sake.