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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

Worried about possible red flags early dating?

123 replies

Sheshappy123 · Today 17:25

Ive been dating a guy for the past 6 weeks (although it feels much longer and things have moved fast and we do have strong feelings for each other already) but a few things have rang small alarm bells in my head and wanted to see wether others would think these are red flags

He looks at my phone when I’m texting and asks who I’m talking to

i noticed one night that he’d looked through my phone as it was open on messages that I hadn’t looked at in ages

He was messing around like play fighting with me and put his arm hard against my throat I got upset and did cry as my last relationship was a little violent at times and I suffered abuse as a child from my mums partner, he did seem upset though and apologised and said he was worried that he’d messed it up but since then he has been quite heavy handed and hurt me a few more times

He’s is a little bossy and will ask me to go in the Kitchen get him a drink etc or ask me to pass him something that’s right next to him

he likes to slap me in the face during sex or grab my throat but he knows I don’t mind this as long as it’s not too hard

He drinks quite a lot mostly every day- goes to bed with a can of alcohol

has thrown up in my garden a few times from being drunk (I did tell him the second time I didn’t like this as it bought back traumatic memories of my mum being an alcoholic) he did kind of apologise but also kind of turnt it round on me saying are you really gonna get funny about it and why didn’t you at least rub my back (I did the first time)

he used to be addicted to cocaine but has been clean 6 months

he’s really charming and gets along with everyone has lots of friends but when on a night one he met one of my friends and she said he’s really nice but said it seems “smoke and mirrors” and just go slowly/be careful

when on a night out another guy grabbed my arm to get me to sit back down (we were with a group of people we just met) and he got aggressive to him and nearly got in a fight”

he’s told me openly that his last relationship went downhill because of drink and drugs on both sides and it becoming toxic and it came to an end when they had a fight and they both became aggressive and he accidentally hurt her, he’s not seen his children since then as his ex moved away, he also openly said she has accused him of being controlling and coercive

He openly admits he struggles with jealousy and he sent aggressive texts to one of my clients that he saw was being a bit flirty and made him block me

On the flip side he’s very emotionally open with me and admitted he’s done lots wrong and has cried when talking about things he’s gone through

He checks on me through the day and we’ve seen each other mostly every day since we’ve met, he’s good with my children (yes he’s met them, when we met each other I was with my children) he gave spending money when i was taking my kids on holiday, brings flowers and is attentive and loving.

he tells me he just wants to be loved, says he’ll look after me and his dad says he’s got a good heart

I don’t know what to think and if I’m thinking too much of things?

OP posts:
Cheesecakeismeesecake · Today 17:57

Also. Do a Clare's Law request on him op.

That version of events he told you re: his ex, is Not The Truth.

Goodnessyoualldashoffdontyoureppies · Today 17:57

Was this the chap you started a thread about in August? Because in that one you said you’d discovered he had a dating profile and that you were ending it

Goodnessyoualldashoffdontyoureppies · Today 17:58

Cheesecakeismeesecake · Today 17:57

Also. Do a Clare's Law request on him op.

That version of events he told you re: his ex, is Not The Truth.

Don’t waste the police time.

Just finish it Op
(The op won’t finish it. Would appear that intended to finish it in late August last year but still staggering on )

JLou08 · Today 17:58

I can't believe what I've just read.
6 weeks in and all of that already.
You have children around him.
You need to do the Freedom programme or something similar, work on yourself and stay single whilst you do.
This man shouldn't be near any woman, never mind one with children.
If your self-worth is too low to do this for yourself, please, do it for your DC. This man is dangerous.

3luckystars · Today 17:59

There is a really good book called ‘women who love too much’ read it, it is old but very good.

If you have Employee Assistance Program at work call them and ask for some counselling.

All the very best x

Ilovemyshed · Today 17:59

Sheshappy123 · Today 17:36

its not a wind up post at all, it’s just easier to look at the green flags when you have feelings for someone. Some of these things do seem bad, I know trust me I’ve seen my mum in a violent relationship but it’s hard to not also see his good side

He doesn’t have a good side.

You are a fool if you don’t get away from this man. Now.

JLou08 · Today 18:00

Goodnessyoualldashoffdontyoureppies · Today 17:58

Don’t waste the police time.

Just finish it Op
(The op won’t finish it. Would appear that intended to finish it in late August last year but still staggering on )

It may not be waisting police time. Depending on what actually happened with the ex, the police may be very interested to know he is worming his way into children's lives.

category12 · Today 18:01

Your boundaries are way off, probably because you grew up seeing your mum in an abusive relationship or your own life experiences.

Don't recreate that life, that pattern, for yourself and your kids. Do better for yourself and them. Don't tolerate ill-treatment.

Dump this bloke.

Do the Freedom Programme.

It's no use spotting these abusive behaviours and red flags if you don't act on them.

VoltaireMittyDream · Today 18:01

Not a single thing about any of this is OK. Please seek professional help for your trauma - your past experience is preventing you from protecting yourself.

Northermcharn · Today 18:02

Nope. Not a genuine post. Again.

Nomorebullshitnotavailable · Today 18:03

He’s abusive. This is the start.

Run while you are able to and protect you and your children. These situations do not EVER get better. They get worse. And worse can be fatal.

Goodnessyoualldashoffdontyoureppies · Today 18:03

Northermcharn · Today 18:02

Nope. Not a genuine post. Again.

I think it’s real.

Just bleak and depressing to think a child is involved.

PickAChew · Today 18:04

Sheshappy123 · Today 17:36

its not a wind up post at all, it’s just easier to look at the green flags when you have feelings for someone. Some of these things do seem bad, I know trust me I’ve seen my mum in a violent relationship but it’s hard to not also see his good side

Would you still eat a sandwich if it only had a little bit of shit on it?

OompaLoofah · Today 18:05

Every thing you have mentioned is a massive red flag OP. It’s moving fast and you have strong feelings because He’s love bombing you, using your kids to get you on side etc.

Run from this man - checking up on you constantly throughout the day is not being “caring”, it’s wanting to know what you’re, doing, where you’re at, who you’re with. As soon as your answer is something he doesn’t like, he will ramp up the control and eventually you’ll just stop doing things so you don’t cause “any aggro” with him.

its already impacted your business as he’s approached a client (maybe more than one and you don’t know yet), which has caused you to lose that client. That’s income he’s taken from you and your children.

He’s testing boundaries and right now he’s smashing through all of them:

  • looking through your phone
  • questioning who you’re on the phone to
  • checking up on you multiple times a day
  • getting physical with you, the first time was bad enough, but he’s still hurting you repeatedly
  • treating you like a skivvy and making you wait on him hand and foot
  • Getting off his face on drink and drugs and seeing if you’ll accept that
  • hes allegedly 6 months clean from drugs - if he was committed to his sobriety he’d be abstaining from all drugs, including alcohol and would be in no place to be starting a relationship, as it could trigger a relapse

And all of this is in just six weeks OP. Imagine what he’ll be like when he’s really comfortable 😩 Your friend is right - he’s laying on the charm, but also showing you a taste of what he’s really like.

Youre not thinking enough about things - all of his actions are screaming run away fast, yet you’re still there. Of course his dad will say nice stuff - it’s his dad!

summitfever · Today 18:07

I’m sure Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer had a good side, I still wouldn’t go out with them. See some sense op this guys a complete waste of space!

Sheshappy123 · Today 18:07

@Goodnessyoualldashoffdontyoureppies no it’s not him, I ended things with him a while ago, my post says this is a guy I’ve been dating recently

For those saying my poor children and I’m letting them endure the same things as when I was a child not At all! Me and my sisters were beaten constantly (if this man ever laid a finger on my children nothing would ever ever make me stay) my children are my whole world.

all I want is to be in a loving happy relationship and with someone who is also going to be good to my children, I think I just find it difficult to keep starting over and never actually finding my person.

I am aware that I do probably need therapy I’ve been through more than I could ever put on here, I know I have a lot of trauma and generally hide it all the time. Maybe this affects how I see people I don’t know, but I’m a normal person who just wants love

OP posts:
andnowwhatdowedo · Today 18:09

Hhe is dire as you must know. Are you seriously thinking of staying with him?

Cheesecakeismeesecake · Today 18:09

Goodnessyoualldashoffdontyoureppies · Today 17:58

Don’t waste the police time.

Just finish it Op
(The op won’t finish it. Would appear that intended to finish it in late August last year but still staggering on )

Doing a Clare's Law isn't a waste of police time

VickyEadie · Today 18:10

Sheshappy123 · Today 18:07

@Goodnessyoualldashoffdontyoureppies no it’s not him, I ended things with him a while ago, my post says this is a guy I’ve been dating recently

For those saying my poor children and I’m letting them endure the same things as when I was a child not At all! Me and my sisters were beaten constantly (if this man ever laid a finger on my children nothing would ever ever make me stay) my children are my whole world.

all I want is to be in a loving happy relationship and with someone who is also going to be good to my children, I think I just find it difficult to keep starting over and never actually finding my person.

I am aware that I do probably need therapy I’ve been through more than I could ever put on here, I know I have a lot of trauma and generally hide it all the time. Maybe this affects how I see people I don’t know, but I’m a normal person who just wants love

The man you want - IT'S. NOT. HIM.

EnjoythemoneyJane · Today 18:10

I’ve just re-read your OP and seen that he’s been around your kids the whole time since you first met him. WTAF are you thinking, letting a toxic piece of shit like this into your home and life when you have children?

It’s not even like you fell for a sustained charm offensive and suddenly the mask slipped after 12 or 18 months and suddenly you realised what you were dealing with, in which case I’d have a bit more sympathy with your conflicted emotions.

You’ve been with him for a matter of weeks and he’s choked you, slapped you, pinned you down, been through your phone, ordered you to wait on him, alienated people around you, told you to cut off relationships and drunkenly puked in your house.

He’s been showing you who he is since the beginning, but for some reason you just don’t want to believe it. Chucking a few flowers and a bit of spending money at you doesn’t constitute a ‘good side’. Every abusive, rapey, violent arsehole since the beginning of time has had a dad who thinks he’s got a ‘good heart’. Get out while you still can, OP, but be very careful - it wouldn’t surprise me if you’d already got yourself (and by extension your poor kids) into a potentially dangerous situation with this man.

Cheesecakeismeesecake · Today 18:14

EnjoythemoneyJane · Today 18:10

I’ve just re-read your OP and seen that he’s been around your kids the whole time since you first met him. WTAF are you thinking, letting a toxic piece of shit like this into your home and life when you have children?

It’s not even like you fell for a sustained charm offensive and suddenly the mask slipped after 12 or 18 months and suddenly you realised what you were dealing with, in which case I’d have a bit more sympathy with your conflicted emotions.

You’ve been with him for a matter of weeks and he’s choked you, slapped you, pinned you down, been through your phone, ordered you to wait on him, alienated people around you, told you to cut off relationships and drunkenly puked in your house.

He’s been showing you who he is since the beginning, but for some reason you just don’t want to believe it. Chucking a few flowers and a bit of spending money at you doesn’t constitute a ‘good side’. Every abusive, rapey, violent arsehole since the beginning of time has had a dad who thinks he’s got a ‘good heart’. Get out while you still can, OP, but be very careful - it wouldn’t surprise me if you’d already got yourself (and by extension your poor kids) into a potentially dangerous situation with this man.

Or pregnant

Bananalanacake · Today 18:14

Don't let him move in with you, like ever, and don't let him see your kids again.

sprigatito · Today 18:15

OP it’s really, really common for people who have a lot of trauma to accept a lower level of trauma for their own children and think it’s ok, because it’s “not the same”. Walking on eggshells around an abusive controlling druggie, watching their mother being disrespected and frightened…no, it’s not the same as being beaten, as you were, but it’s absolutely enough to damage them permanently and fuck up their ability to make healthy relationships. The acceptable level of abusive behaviour is none. They would be better off with a happy and self-sufficient single parent than with you trying to make a terrible man into an adequate stepfather.

Jeska7 · Today 18:17

Wow you need to run away as fast as you can from this one!!!!!

NewGirlInTown · Today 18:19

Jesus Christ, you cannot be serious!
RUN! Why on earth would you want to be so disrespected? You cannot be that desperate for a boyfriend, surely??

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