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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

Is this normal behaviour from a partner?

19 replies

TeaBookcats · 03/11/2024 18:19

Is this normal for a long-term relationship?
It seems to be a cycle with my partner. He is really nice but then sometimes he is so incredibly selfish and spiteful. He says things to me that he knows hurts me.

He will call me, dumb, lazy, r’tarded and stupid. He says I leave the house a mess every day and I do nothing for him. The house is a little bit of a mess when he comes home because at dinner time its chaotic with a toddler. When he comes home late in the evening after training the house is always nice and tidy.

I do work 4 days a week, painting and decorating whilst juggling everything else. But apparently his work is harder although he spends a lot of his time in coffee shops and on his phone and only finishes an hour later than me.

He hardly does anything in the house. We had a disagreement today because I asked if he could build a cupboard for our shoes, he said “you do it, are you really that dumb? And instead he built his gym equipment and then when it came to the shoe cupboard he said he would do it only if I clean out his ice bath as its only fair.

I went out with a friend on Friday and he complained that I hadn't made my daughter dinner before I left, the same time he was complaining about this as he was making himself dinner. When I came home from the concert he got himself kebab from the place I have been asking to order from but he has always said no. Today he went to get shopping for himself and got himself coffee pods but not me, as they are too expensive. He knows mine are all gone. He also said I spend too much time on my phone. He is on his all the time. When we get home from shopping he spends 20+ minutes sitting in the car on his phone.

I do become as low as him sometimes, I call him emotionally immature and selfish. I tell him he is emotionally abusing me, which I don't know is correct. I do nap during the day on the weekends but to be honest I find him exhausted and it's my escape.

OP posts:
Plastictrees · 03/11/2024 18:23

You’re right - he is emotionally immature, selfish and emotionally abusive. You need to leave him as he will only escalate, leaving you more exhausted and depleted. Don’t waste any more of yourself on this waster. You will flourish without him 💐

WarriorN · 03/11/2024 18:26

Name calling is always abusive.

Sometimes it can erupt in an argument when people are very heated but it's extremely damaging and needs to be addressed.

It's very hard having a toddler and working, even part time sometimes.

He doesn't seem to understand team work - a decent partner would notice it's getting out of hand and either pitch in or work with you to see if there are any easy win systems for you BOTH to follow.

TwistedWonder · 03/11/2024 18:26

No it’s nowhere near normal behaviour in a relationship.

Hes a nasty controlling abusive cunt. Please get out away from this toxic POS like yesterday

WarriorN · 03/11/2024 18:27

He hardly does anything in the house. We had a disagreement today because I asked if he could build a cupboard for our shoes, he said “you do it, are you really that dumb? And instead he built his gym equipment and then when it came to the shoe cupboard he said he would do it only if I clean out his ice bath as it's only fair.

I missed this paragraph - extremely toxic behaviour. I wouldn't continue in this relationship.

Getamoveon2024 · 03/11/2024 18:36

No. It isn’t in anyway normal or acceptable. My dh can be a selfish dick sometimes (can’t we all?) but he never calls me names, he pulls his weight in the house and he carries more than his fair share of the mental load of our life. He champions my career, he has my back if I fuck up or if things go wrong and generally, he is on my side. He appreciates everything I do for him and vice versa.

op, what exactly is this man bringing to your table?

BonneMaman77 · 03/11/2024 18:39

It is neither normal or kind or a behaviour of a decent human being, It is important that you demand respect and tell him. It seems to me from your post that you can so go do it… look him in the eye and tell him.

If he is not intelligent enough to act respectably, esp to the mother of his child then leave him.

persisted · 03/11/2024 18:54

I would be having a very assertive chat about how he does not talk to anyone else like that and he will not do it to me because I won't tolerate it. And mean it.
He is not showing any kind of basic courtesy and I would want to know why.

StopTalkingPlease · 03/11/2024 18:58

Just another garden variety abuser. Can you leave? This is an awful environment for a toddler.

Mrsgreen100 · 03/11/2024 19:02

Not normal sounds borderline abusive verbally
hav a good look at your relationship,
sounds Weird tbh
is he controlling the financial situation to ?

StormingNorman · 03/11/2024 20:03

This isn’t normal and it sounds like he’s going out of his to wind you up or exert some sort power. He’s worth pods but you aren’t.

Does he treat you as an inferior in other ways? Is he the higher earner?

CheekyHobson · 03/11/2024 21:31

He sounds horrible and to be honest, these days I wouldn't stay with someone who called me dumb, stupid, r'tarded or lazy even once.

My ex could be verbally abusive and even though I thought I was standing up for myself by telling him "If you ever call me that again, I'll leave", the reality was he just found new and subtler ways to insult me. He didn't actually stop viewing or treating me with contempt.

woebetide8 · 03/11/2024 21:38

If a friend talked to you that way, would you still be friends with them? I doubt it. Why have a lower bar for a partner? It is not okay ever to speak to someone like that, and yes it is abusive.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 03/11/2024 22:21

Take the hint and leave his loser arse. He clearly wants you, and his child, gone.

LucyLoo1972 · 17/01/2026 18:37

Getamoveon2024 · 03/11/2024 18:36

No. It isn’t in anyway normal or acceptable. My dh can be a selfish dick sometimes (can’t we all?) but he never calls me names, he pulls his weight in the house and he carries more than his fair share of the mental load of our life. He champions my career, he has my back if I fuck up or if things go wrong and generally, he is on my side. He appreciates everything I do for him and vice versa.

op, what exactly is this man bringing to your table?

im sad because my husband does none of these things

Disturbia81 · 17/01/2026 19:11

Wow, 100% not normal. I’ve never had name calling in any relationship, it would be instant goodbye from me.

Potteryclass1 · 17/01/2026 19:13

He won’t change. You need to separate

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/01/2026 19:20

Zombie thread.

Disturbia81 · 17/01/2026 19:39

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/01/2026 19:20

Zombie thread.

Oh bloody hell I don’t see any warnings anymore

Turmerictea · 17/01/2026 20:19

Frankly I would have dumped him at "ice bath".

Joking aside, hes a total dick and you deserve much much better. Make plans!

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