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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

BF dismissive, shrugs at me, had a go

113 replies

Calling · 02/06/2025 16:34

I went on a French city break with my BF and I just don't know what to make of his behaviour some of the time. He turned unpleasant to me and I would value some advice about what happened, please. I just saw something emerge that stunned me and I feel punched in the stomach.
We met in the city where I went there before him and I was telling him about the things I had seen, but he wasn't really responding in his usual way, v probably because he had just been very busy and he said that he was very tired. So when he played up, I put it down to that.
We were enjoying a meal when he picked up his phone and took a call for about 15 minutes, then didn't say sorry. Usually we agree never to do that because we say it is rude during a meal in a restaurant.
He has a habit of butting in when I am asking a waiter about the menu and BF justified that by saying that his French is better than mine (it is) but I enjoy the interaction and practice. He continued to do that, despite my asking him not to.
When we were checking out, I put borrowed plug adapters on the hotel front desk and he said "you need to hand them back" - which I was doing, obviously. I diffused the situation by saying "no, I am going to take them home with me" and he shouted at me "no, you can't do that, they don't belong to you!". I was stunned that he shouted at me and patronised me like that. In fact there were other examples of him patronising and also dismissing me.

We went to a cafe in a garden and he went off to buy coffees. I found seats and was chatting to a v nice couple. I couldn't see BF and waved. Eventually, BF returned with a face like thunder. When the couple left, he had a real go at me,
"you should not have chosen to sit with your back to where I was, I was looking for you, its not what couples do, I sent you a text" and went on. He was really angry. It was a mistake of mine.
When we queued to get into a restaurant, he offered to queue for me in the heatwave while I sat in a shady cafe and he would phone me. I got his phone calls but there was no sound so I sent him a text to say what's happening. Then I got up and found him at the head of the queue and he just had a furious go at me: "you didn't answer texts, I waited and now we have to stand aside waiting for the man to let us in'. Why didn't you answer my texts? I said "again, you are accusing me without looking at things. I sent you texts! He showed me his texts and he had sent them by WhatsApp not by text as we had agreed (issues with my phone). He didn't say sorry.

The last day, we met for lunch and he seemed in a better mood and he said he had had a good explore, then I said you seem in a much better mood, that you had not always been and eventually I said that I was upset by his behaviour to me. I really tried hard to have a non-blaming discussion. He said you should have raised them at the time and I said it doesn't matter, I'm raising it now, it's my right to say when I want to". He said things like he was ok with having an argument and I said look, I virtually never have one, I am telling you my feelings, if you want an argument you pick on someone else. He said "I used to be like you, never expressing my feelings", I replied "I have just been telling you my feelings! I am really upset that you shouted at me." I carried on and then he just shrugged in a dismissive way and I pointed that out and he shrugged again dismissively.

I said that I had been upset and cried but he offered no comfort or compassion.
I have been feeling numb ever since I got home (we live apart and not in the same area).
Sorry for the longish post. Is his behaviour enough to leave him? I have a lot to lose by doing so, he had been v supportive before.

OP posts:
NCtoavoidsniggering · 16/06/2025 18:09

Men try for a second chance because- first, we’re like children. If an uncared for toy is taken away, obviously it suddenly becomes the most wanted thing in the world. And also because it’s been a long time, there’s a lot of habit and comfort zone involved, adjusting to not seeing each other and sharing everything is difficult. Kindest to just tell him it’s best not to contact for a while until you’re both settled. I’ll bet he’ll be thinking about you every day right now, it’ll take a while for that to stop and only then will it be ok to be friends again.

Calling · 17/06/2025 11:50

@NCtoavoidsniggering You are so right! Altogether, it has been a very long time and a lot of shared experiences. I did tell him that it was a difficult decision [in that way]. Since he treated me badly, that made it easy.

Also, it is a case of I took away his toy and how very dare I! Who am I, the underling, to do such a thing?

I will message him to say that we need some space or some other expression, on the lines that it is for our own good.
He tried to call me twice again; I was on another call and I had to close down the phone afterwards, which again, is not healthy for either of us.
We have been amicable although he really wanted me to shout at him and have an argument- so I took away that potential from him and I think that annoyed him.

Crucially, I have taken away the potential for s.x and that must be ... frustrating and a hit to the ego- I understand that.

OP posts:
sonjadog · 17/06/2025 14:30

As said, it is a case of him wanting what he can't have and his ego has taken a bruising because you ended it with him, and he can't quite believe that you wouldn't want someone as fantastic as he thinks he is, so he wants to get you back so he can show you how it really is all your fault.

The best thing to do is to have a complete break from him for a good while. You can be friends later if you want to, but first you need to work through the emotions and get some space. I would tell him to leave you alone if he keeps contacting you and don't agree until any meetings for several months at least.

Calling · 19/06/2025 12:18

I got a message to say that he has written me a letter saying 'how much I have contributed to his life' and what mistakes he thinks he made and could he meet and when and he had not expected for us to split up?. Oh dear.

OP posts:
FreeRider · 19/06/2025 12:23

If you feel the need to reply - and personally, I wouldn't - just send one word: NO. Rip up his letter when it arrives, unread.

Greenfitflop · 19/06/2025 12:27

Honestly OP, he really sounds awful.
Treats you badly deliberately.
That really is all you need to know.

You have wounded his ego.
Your calm, resolute inference has wounded his ego.

You are now a challenge.
In short, he is a prick.

He would treat you worse if you went back because he would think you a dim fool.

Don't entertain him.
Be so disinterested that he will kick himself for misjudging you.

There is nothing as annoying for twats like him that to say "listen I really wish you well, but I'm neither attracted to you or interested in being around you. I'm so sorry if that hurts you but I need to be honest like you were".

Cuts their ego so much.
Very satisfying.

NCtoavoidsniggering · 19/06/2025 12:29

If you’re like me - clinginess (is that a word?) can seem so unattractive. Can’t pretend I haven’t been there but it never works…

pikkumyy77 · 19/06/2025 12:36

Good work, OP. Just reject the grappling hooks he is trying to throw over your bows. He will try to reinterest you and regain control over you but he will never forgive you so you absolutely myst stay string and avoid contact.

LouiseMadetheBestBroccoliPasta · 19/06/2025 12:40

The BBC lady must have not been a goer...

Tweedled · 19/06/2025 12:42

Too little too late.
He had his (second) chance and he blew it because he cannot change the person he is so will never be the one for you(or anyone else by the sounds of it)

Calling · 30/06/2025 10:18

I have been fine, getting on with life better than I could have thought.

We met up, he came to my home town and we spoke. Predictably, he is following the script and trying to get back into my good books. Ha!
We found a quiet place and spoke about our niche interests then I gave him a blocking!

I asked him whether he remembered our conversation on the last lunch abroad and what had I said. He remembered it incorrectly. He said that he had been intimidated by me when I told him not to shrug and be dismissive of me. I said that is your problem, not mine and I am not intimidating, he said I am not, it's just how he felt. I said that was a pathetic excuse, which he knows.

I said that he had a pattern of raising something traumatic in his life that shows he needs to go to therapy for and I had told him that before. Eventually he said "ok, I will go if that helps us". ['Us'?]. I said no, you need to do it yourself and it's separate, one doesn't lead to another. So there is no carrot to do it.

We had a bit to drink so I did swear and let rip, which felt good.

No plans to meet up again, but it was worthwhile.

OP posts:
NCtoavoidsniggering · 30/06/2025 11:26

Glad to hear you had a good weekend 😂

CoffeeFroth · 30/06/2025 17:18

Calling · 30/06/2025 10:18

I have been fine, getting on with life better than I could have thought.

We met up, he came to my home town and we spoke. Predictably, he is following the script and trying to get back into my good books. Ha!
We found a quiet place and spoke about our niche interests then I gave him a blocking!

I asked him whether he remembered our conversation on the last lunch abroad and what had I said. He remembered it incorrectly. He said that he had been intimidated by me when I told him not to shrug and be dismissive of me. I said that is your problem, not mine and I am not intimidating, he said I am not, it's just how he felt. I said that was a pathetic excuse, which he knows.

I said that he had a pattern of raising something traumatic in his life that shows he needs to go to therapy for and I had told him that before. Eventually he said "ok, I will go if that helps us". ['Us'?]. I said no, you need to do it yourself and it's separate, one doesn't lead to another. So there is no carrot to do it.

We had a bit to drink so I did swear and let rip, which felt good.

No plans to meet up again, but it was worthwhile.

Sounds cathartic 😏

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