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Relationships

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Am I wrong to rethink this relationship after his job loss?

54 replies

AyaAya26 · 24/05/2026 11:03

I have been with my boyfriend 5 years, we had a good relationship with the usual issues. We do not live together. I lived in a small dumpy apartment with my two teens as my landlord was great and the rent was cheap. Landlord got married new wife raised rent $1000/month. I luckily found a house and the mortgage is $200 more than what my rent would be.

Our relationship has shifted since I bought the house. He was a software engineer for a financial services firm and got laid off shortly after. I demanded he get a job as he had no drive to hit the streets (I am a nurse and I get a lot of overtime). He begrudgingly got a job at FedEx and would not go to his high school reunion because he didn’t want to tell people he works at FedEx.

I feel the purchase of my house and his layoff is causing a serious issue where I don’t know if I want to be with him anymore. He no longer gives me gifts for bday and such, didn’t get my son a gift for his HS graduation but came for free meal, sleeps all day on his days off (told the counselor we never spend time together because I work so much) which is a lie.

We were invited to my best friend’s son’s getaway wedding that I paid for (I got a cheaper hotel near the wedding) and he kept trying to get me to leave early as “We don’t spend time together” and I refused.

He volunteers at a homeless shelter 3-4x a week and takes piano lessons. I have told him he needs to stop volunteering so much and he cannot afford piano lessons. I pay for the dates when we go out, and he complains about how crappy his life is. He is also making comments about when the kids are leaving so he can move in, I told him if we make that decision we will buy or rent something together and the kids will rent the house from me.

We used to go to the gym, as he started refusing to go and gained a lot of weight (like 100 pounds-he sits at home sleeps, eats, drinks). I told him I am worried about his health and his eating habits, and we need to get to the gym, that his weight is a problem as he is too heavy for me when we are intimate. He once again refused so I canceled my membership (he still has his, he won't cancel it, he goes by himself to lay on the massage beds), and he is now telling everyone I called him fat.

He asked me to go with him to his counselor, who berated me for “not supporting him” and when I said he needs to get a job and stop volunteering so much and stop taking piano lessons he berated me again stating “It makes him feel good!!!” He then angrily made the comment in therapy "I don't have a house that I can relax in!!!" (He could if he got a second or third job)....

A few weeks back he started hinting that he had no money for his child’s support and I got angry and he changed the subject. Not happy with this therapist, after the therapy I went to the bathroom thinking he was in the hallway when I got out I couldn’t find him walked around the whole place found him BACK in his office and they were discussing if “This relationship with her is worth it?” and he was saying he thinks it could work.

I just found out he is behind on his rent; I told the therapist that he didn’t seem to care. Please help, AITA?

OP posts:
Brightbluesomething · 24/05/2026 11:08

End it now. It won’t get any better.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 24/05/2026 11:10

Why on earth are you bothering ?!!!

Thank goodness you don't live together. Do not ever allow him to move in.

Wearealldoingourbest · 24/05/2026 11:11

Leave him. My friend was married to someone like this - it didn't get better. Also his therapist is terrible!

deste · 24/05/2026 11:12

Get rid asap.

Ipsevenenabibas · 24/05/2026 11:13

This is a no brainer surely?

AyaAya26 · 24/05/2026 11:15

Thank you, I am heading that way....we had good history prior to his layoff....I am not happy at all with him.

OP posts:
Wickedlittledancer · 24/05/2026 11:15

You’re not ending it as he lost his job. You’re ending it as he’s a free loading grabby selfish twat. Or at least I hope you are. How anyone couldn’t get the ick with that I don’t know.

Morepositivemum · 24/05/2026 11:15

I think you’re both just too different- I don’t really agree with the comments such as the get rid as if he’s the scum of the earth, he lost his job and you demanded he get moving to find a job- it took me a year to find a job after the last one! I’d say you’re just too different

bigboykitty · 24/05/2026 11:15

Do lucky that you don't live with this grifter. Just cut him loose. Then you are problem-free.

bigboykitty · 24/05/2026 11:16

Are you sure this 'therapist' is a real therapist and not just his twatty, misogynistic mate?

TheCurious0range · 24/05/2026 11:18

You've got the ick and understandably. It's not because of his lower paying job, it's the complete lack of drive and all of the complaints without actually doing anything proactive to improve his situation. I'd be the same

Wickedlittledancer · 24/05/2026 11:19

Morepositivemum · 24/05/2026 11:15

I think you’re both just too different- I don’t really agree with the comments such as the get rid as if he’s the scum of the earth, he lost his job and you demanded he get moving to find a job- it took me a year to find a job after the last one! I’d say you’re just too different

Sometimes you need to try not to make it about you. Did you not read the issues. Not buying gifts. Freeloading, wanting her kids to move out so he can move in, hinting she should pay his child support. Having her pay for all dates.

frankly I can’t beleive she’s still with him, never mind shagging him.

TFImBackIn · 24/05/2026 11:21

Ugh why on earth are you with him? So he was OK in the past - he's not now. You can do so much better than him.

AyaAya26 · 24/05/2026 11:21

bigboykitty · 24/05/2026 11:16

Are you sure this 'therapist' is a real therapist and not just his twatty, misogynistic mate?

Yes he is a therapist, I used to like him and we went a few times together and he was really nice. This time he was not so nice to me, as he is believing the crap boyfriend is feeding him.

OP posts:
AyaAya26 · 24/05/2026 11:22

Wickedlittledancer · 24/05/2026 11:19

Sometimes you need to try not to make it about you. Did you not read the issues. Not buying gifts. Freeloading, wanting her kids to move out so he can move in, hinting she should pay his child support. Having her pay for all dates.

frankly I can’t beleive she’s still with him, never mind shagging him.

Not shagging him, haven't shagged in a long time.

OP posts:
Wecanbeheroes26 · 24/05/2026 11:23

Don't let his problems become yours! Sounds like he's trying to emotionally manipulate you, but I think you should ditch him.

AyaAya26 · 24/05/2026 11:24

Frankly I feel bad that he lost his job, but if it were me I would be working my butt off to pay my bills and not be taking music lessons and not volunteering (believe me it is great to volunteer I would love to do it but not until my bills are paid and my kids are taken care of!)

OP posts:
Dozer · 24/05/2026 11:25

how much of your money have you spent on him?

You have yourself and your teens to consider, a ‘project’, loser boyfriend isn’t affordable, financially or in terms of your other resources.

If you’re paying for the couple’s therapist, stop! Even if you’re not, stop!

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 24/05/2026 11:26

Neither of you sound great tbh, and you definitely don't sound compatible. Just get rid.

Wickedlittledancer · 24/05/2026 11:26

AyaAya26 · 24/05/2026 11:22

Not shagging him, haven't shagged in a long time.

Oh in your op you said you are telling him he’s too heavy when you’re intimate.

SeeYouThroughACameraFlash · 24/05/2026 11:26

He is horrible, lazy, has no drive and is fat. Just get rid.

Stoicandhappy · 24/05/2026 11:26

Dump him. Your life will feel so much lighter without him.

AyaAya26 · 24/05/2026 11:27

Dozer · 24/05/2026 11:25

how much of your money have you spent on him?

You have yourself and your teens to consider, a ‘project’, loser boyfriend isn’t affordable, financially or in terms of your other resources.

If you’re paying for the couple’s therapist, stop! Even if you’re not, stop!

I am not paying anything; I will pay for dinner when we got out (Like once a week) and I cook alot and he will come over for dinner maybe once a week.

OP posts:
YoBetty · 24/05/2026 11:27

"He is also making comments about when the kids are leaving so he can move in"

Dealbreaker. That's enough of a reason to end this relationship right there.

AyaAya26 · 24/05/2026 11:28

Wickedlittledancer · 24/05/2026 11:26

Oh in your op you said you are telling him he’s too heavy when you’re intimate.

Yes I told him that about a month ago and he now doesn't feel comfortable being intimate because I "called him fat."

OP posts: