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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

What would you think about this?

106 replies

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 17:56

I'll he honest. I do have some self esteem issues. I find it difficult to tell when something is the sort of thing other people would be bothered about (eg reasonable) or whether I'm making a mountain out of a molehill (eg unreasonable).

I find that other people saying how they would feel/what they would do helps to get a clearer perspective, if that makes sense?

Until last weekend, I hadn't been out socially since August. Before then, I went out every Saturday night but I just lost my confidence - almost overnight. Some of it was, I suspect, down to perimenipause (I'm 49) and some of it was because I felt that, when I went out, my partner would 'forget' about me. Eg we would arrive together and he'd spend time with me but, once people he knew had arrived, he would wander off to chat and I wouldn't really see him again.

I had a thread in the summer about it and whilst some people felt I should just follow him, tag along and join in conversations with people I didn't know, the majority agreed that it was a bit off of him to leave me on my own.

We had a conversation about it. I gave examples of times when it had happened and how it made me feel. He apologised unreservedly and said he'd been selfish and hadn't seen it from my perspective and promised to "do better."

So, last weekend, we went to a gig. It's one of the things we like(d) to do together. It was an all day thing with 5 or 6 bands on from early afternoon until late evening but we were both really looking forward to seeing the headline band - they're one of my favourites.

The whole day was absolutely fine.

Just before the last band played, we both went to the loo at the same time. The toilets are located at the back of the main room, up some stairs and along a short corridor (in case it matters). As we went in, he said, "I'll see you here in a minute," and gestured towards a specific area meaning outside the toilets.

I came out and waited for him. I didn't really have much sense of the time, but was probably only there for 5/10 mins or so. There were a lot of people we both knew, so I assumed he must have got talking to someone. So I waited. I didn't want to leave in case he came put and thought I was still in the loo and waited himself - given that he said he'd "do better" before.

Eventually, his friend's wife came up to the loo and told me he was downstairs chatting to her husband.

I went down and there he was. No longer chatting but waiting for the band to start. And completely oblivious to the fact that I wasn't there.

When I asked him about it, he said he'd got talking to someone in the loos (a stranger) about the bands and they walked out, past the place we were supposed to meet, still talking, and went downstairs - still talking. He then left the stranger and started talking to is friend and had completely forgotten about me. Just forgotten I was even there to fhe point me not being there didn't remind him.

It really soured it for me. It was the first time I'd been out with him in months and the first opportunity he'd had to consider me. And he forgot about me. Forgot I was even there.

Am I being over sensitive about this or is it something I actually should be concerned about?

And before anyone makes this point - yes, I'm quite capable of going to the loo on my own but, at that point, we had both gone at the same time so he said we'd wait for each other and go back down together.

Thanks.

OP posts:
MarmaladeSideDown · 30/11/2024 17:59

That was pretty shitty of him.

SunflowerTed · 30/11/2024 18:03

Why are you with him?

Oodiks · 30/11/2024 18:12

Don’t let it ruin an otherwise good night.

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:13

Because in every other way and at every other time he is thoughtful and considerate. This is literally the only time I feel like I don't matter.

It's hard to explain. I don't want to be joined at the hip and ii have no issue with him or anyone I'm out with talking to other people. I'm a big girl and capable of looking after myself but this has really knocked confidence and makes me feel very wary of going out with him again because I don't want to feel forgotten.

Maybe he just doesn't enjoy my company when there are other people around?

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NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:13

Oodiks · 30/11/2024 18:12

Don’t let it ruin an otherwise good night.

Unfortunately, it did. I just felt unnecessary and surplus to requirements. Probably because I'm already feeling a loss of confidence.

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Moogpie · 30/11/2024 18:16

No you are perfectly right, he's a cunt.

He's the definition of an unsafe partner.
Stop going anywhere with him, dump him and find a gentleman who respects your presence.

I think men who do this, do it intentionally but they always feign ignorance.
He knows what he's doing.

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:17

I don't think he did it intentionally to ve a dick.

He just forgot about me. And when he got downstairs he didn't wonder where I was and so that didn't trigger his memory. He just forgot I was even there

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cunningartificer · 30/11/2024 18:20

Really that seems not worth spoiling a good evening for; you might be overthinking. Did he really forget you were even with him or did he just forget the meeting plan as he was talking to someone? Not the crime of the century but mildly annoying I would have e thought.

yeesh · 30/11/2024 18:23

Why do you want to be with someone who forgets you are even there? You say that everything else is fine in the relationship but he’s knocked your confidence so much that you have stoped going out

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:24

cunningartificer · 30/11/2024 18:20

Really that seems not worth spoiling a good evening for; you might be overthinking. Did he really forget you were even with him or did he just forget the meeting plan as he was talking to someone? Not the crime of the century but mildly annoying I would have e thought.

I don't know.

I can see how he'd get talking to someone and forget but surely he'd have got back and seen I wasn't there and thought ooh shit! And gone back. Especially when he knows the reason I haven't been out since August.

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TipsyJoker · 30/11/2024 18:26

What if you’d come back from the loo and watched the gig from a completely different place in the venue? Somewhere that wasn’t near him. How long would it have taken for him to notice you weren’t there? How long would it be before he started to worry? 10 mins? 30? After the gig was finished and it was time to leave? I would stop going out with him, even if you’re going to the same event, go with your friends and not with him. Fuck him! He’s a prick!

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:27

yeesh · 30/11/2024 18:23

Why do you want to be with someone who forgets you are even there? You say that everything else is fine in the relationship but he’s knocked your confidence so much that you have stoped going out

I know 😔

I just feel I have no place being out in the world now.

Before last weekend, we sort of had plans to go out tonight but he's not even mentioned it. I just don't think he wants to be out with me anymore. He'd rather stay home.

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NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:28

What if you’d come back from the loo and watched the gig from a completely different place in the venue? Somewhere that wasn’t near him. How long would it have taken for him to notice you weren’t there? How long would it be before he started to worry? 10 mins? 30? After the gig was finished and it was time to leave?

That's what I wondered too.

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EveryKneeShallBow · 30/11/2024 18:30

I wouldn’t like this behaviour from an acquaintance or colleague I’d just gone to a gig with, let alone the person who is meant to be my life partner. I would have left him at the venue, taken myself to a hotel and gone off grid for at least a couple of days before sauntering home and saying “Oh, sorry. I forgot all about you, I got shagging with a mate, and then had a one night stand. Sorry, I’ll do better”.

RandomMess · 30/11/2024 18:30

How much had he had to drink?

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:30

Part of me is desperate to go out and have a good night out but when I think about what it would actually look like, I just can't get enthused about it.

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yeesh · 30/11/2024 18:31

You should be the most important person in the room for him, you deserve to be with someone better x

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:31

EveryKneeShallBow · 30/11/2024 18:30

I wouldn’t like this behaviour from an acquaintance or colleague I’d just gone to a gig with, let alone the person who is meant to be my life partner. I would have left him at the venue, taken myself to a hotel and gone off grid for at least a couple of days before sauntering home and saying “Oh, sorry. I forgot all about you, I got shagging with a mate, and then had a one night stand. Sorry, I’ll do better”.

Yeah I briefly considered that too! Well the going off grid bit at least! 😂

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NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:34

RandomMess · 30/11/2024 18:30

How much had he had to drink?

Not sure. Probably 5/6 pints but over the course of several hours. We got there at 2.30 and this was about 8.30ish.

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Garlicpest · 30/11/2024 18:34

This is really terrible that it's affected your life so adversely. I'm failing to understand why - what do you think?

What I mean is that a partner (or friend) who forgets to check in on you when you're out - because they're excited about what's going on, by the sound of it - is more than a little annoying if it happens a lot. It could make me feel slightly rejected, as if it shows they don't care about being there with me. I might even get cross, or maybe I'd cheerily muscle in on their conversation or even go and find other people to talk to.

In the final analysis, I don't need the person I came with to shepherd me around. I have agency, as you do. Despite this, though, you seem to feel utterly negated by being left behind. This is way beyond normal; there's something underneath it. Do you know what?

Itsmeagainunfortunately · 30/11/2024 18:37

If he really forgets you are there it is such a level of disrespect to you. It really sounds as though he just doesn't enjoy your company.
When you are at home or in the rest of your lives do you spend time together or are you so busy with doing other things you don't spend much time in each other's company? Because it's hard to believe a switch just turns off when you go out together.
My first husband was a bit like this. He was a very sociable, gregarious person and he wouldn't bother introducing me to people. People didn't even realise I was his wife sometimes. It upset me tremendously. My second husband described my ex's behaviour as" not giving me my place", I.e I was just another person to my ex when we were out and it was as though I was really nothing to do with him. It was just one of the behaviours that caused my first marriage to break down.

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:38

I just feel like I don’t matter, generally I suppose.

I also knew people there and spoke to them. It's not about that. It was the fact that he'd asked me to meet him somewhere and then just totally forgot about me and didn't remember when he got back and saw I wasn't where we were.

I just feel like I can't trust him in that respect.

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Garlicpest · 30/11/2024 18:40

Well, obviously you can't trust him to check in with you when you're out together.

@Itsmeagainunfortunately asked if you normally do 'together' things in the rest of your lives, or do you just live 'parallel'? It's a good question, and relevant.

RandomMess · 30/11/2024 18:42

Only you know if the amount of alcohol he drinks impacts on his memory/looking out for you.

I'm very forgetful but I'd like to think that unless very much inebriated I'd have realised and come back for you.

NotSureAboutThisWhatDoYouThink · 30/11/2024 18:51

I've been out with him before and he's drunk a lot more and this forgetting me thing seems to he a fairly recent thing this year. Before that, he was always excited to include me and introduce me or maybe I just didn't notice.

*Itsmeagainunfortunately and Garlicpest *
Yes, we do loads together otherwise. He says he'd rather spend time with me than anyone and he doesn't really go out unless its with me. Hes been out a few times since August when I haven't but I've always been invited I just haven't really felt comfortable going.

He goes out for a hobby he's done for years once a week but other than that, we do pretty much everything together.

He just doesn't seem to want to be out with me socially anymore.

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