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Walked out on partner while his dad is dying.

(34 Posts)
Bird40 Fri 03-May-24 16:45:43

For four years I have been desperately in love with my partner. I thought I'd found my person.
A few uncomfortable things from day one whixh I thought was probably me being sensitive..or things we could iron out or simple miscommunication...
These things have now become unbearable and I finished the relationship 2 weeks ago.

The house has always been a terrible state...not just a bit grubby, but piles of washing, rotting veg, mouldy fridge etc. The looconfused I can't understand how it was so disgusting.
I knew he was unusual, probably on the spectrum ( I'm not picking at this...I work for thr NHS and I'm quite comfy with a range of people x) I loved his eccentricity but stress from losing his business, lack of money, his diff8xukt children along with a dying family member...it's been too much for him.
He became obsessed with sorting everything himself, wouldn't allow me to go on the mortgage, even though we were due to get married....massive depressive spiral. He won't go to the gp or access any groups. He started to say I'd isolated him, didn't want him to have friends, that I was jealous etc etc. I feel a bit bemused...I'd always noticed that he was quite easy to manipulate ( I never did...it was virtually impossible over thr last 6 years to encourage him to do anything he didn't want, Include brushing his teethblush He was so low that I made an awful mistake and contacted his sister and sil for help. They now think I'm absolutely bonkers. They say basically that he is private and that they keep an eye from a distance. I should have respected this but persisted as at one point he was telling he was going to.commit suicide, he drove off twice after a row saying he wojkd be better off dead...
I've really struggled to help him. Out relationship withered away to me cutting his nails, encouraging him to have a quick shower and the odd cup of tea. In 6 months it wasn't as though I had a partner...it was like a stroppy teen.
One of the major issues was hording. I woukd have no right, in someone else's house, to expect them to tidy up or throw their own stuff away! Everyone has different standards but...his stuff smelt,greasy hand marks (dark grey ones from build up) on walls, plaster still not painted after 20 years, old love letters, notes from old girlfriends scattered about( there isn't any differentiation between this ajd a crisp Paxket or bag of old parsnips..so I don't particularly think he was holding a candle for anyone else)
Then...boundaries.
He seems to get pulled along by quite manipulative people. Anyone loud or anyone I would see as brusk or a bit rude.
He continued to say he loved me and to be patient bur at Christmas his chidlren stole off me..he did nothing for 5 days. He had wanted us to live together but this kept being an issue...I ended up in a static caravan in his garden and was very much kept there ..the whole situation was so odd. When jd ask him he woukd say he needed Time to sort the hosue out and make it nice for me and him...yet nothing seemed to change.
For over a year his dad has been dying. We have had a few calls and we have though it was the end...so,so sad. Ambulance comes out and then he peps up. He is the sweetest man and will be missed Terribly.
However, I sort of started to get tjr feeling that this was(apart from being very stressful for my partner as he would drive iver and help)
..i started to think that my partner was using this as a way to deflect any difficult conversation.
I feel like the worst person in the world but after yet another teenage strop from him, I ended it.
I asked his sister and sil not to contact me as I xoudknt keep caring for him when everyone else seems not to be worried about him. I'd wake up riddled with anxiety incase he tried to commit suicide and he had become unpredictable and I cried every day.
Why do i,3 weeks after,feel bereft without him. I'm 47 and feel like I've missed my chance and that this was my person...I've let him down,let his family down by not staying with him. I feel like an utter failure. If we lived eachother maybe I shld have just held on a bit longer... his family must think I'm utterly awful, he must do too.
I've messaged a couple of times to apolgise and then deleted it as felt it would open a can of worms. If I ever asked anything or queried stuff,it would erupt.

Callistemon21 Thu 23-May-24 11:56:26

Well done, Bird40!

Stay strong and perhaps do as pascal30 suggests, you may need support in the months to come.

readsalot Thu 23-May-24 12:30:24

I’m pleased that you’ve accepted that you are not the answer to his problems. That’s such good news. Please don’t look back but make your life for yourself and your children. It really does get better!

Bird40 Thu 23-May-24 13:03:37

I am having some counselling and honestly see how utterly ridiculous this all was. I've just read it back and I can't even grasp that I allowed this or continued with any of if for so long.
You've all been so kind and helpful thank you x

Grammaretto Thu 23-May-24 13:24:24

So relieved for you. Well done.
You are young yet and there's plenty of time to meet and love someone new.

HousePlantQueen Thu 23-May-24 13:40:40

Well done, and thank you for coming back to let everyone know. It struck me, as I read your post, that your ex partner's sister and sil rather liked having you there as it saved them the bother of taking care of him.

Embroider the Maya Angelou saying, and look at it everytime you are in danger of being manipulated back into caring for this man.

not that it is relevant at all, but I really couldn't live with the lack of hygiene shock

Allsorts Wed 29-May-24 07:38:27

Bird,
You have to keep this frame of mind as with you stronger in yourself he will want to bring you down.
You don’t need a man, learn to value yourself and certainly don’t be with such a waste of space, why are you even texting?, Block him , sever any contact, You send out a message really that you’re on the back line waiting.by having any form of contact. Don’t you think you are worth more than you’ve settked for because of fear of being on your own ?

Nannashirlz Fri 07-Jun-24 13:08:48

A leopard never changes his spots and my dad used to say you can’t go back only forward with life. You sound like you pity him not love him. I dated a guy similar living etc I tried to help his family tried to guilt trip me and it was my kids who said he’s not your responsibility he’s playing on your emotions. I walked away so many times i wanted to text/call him but I didn’t 2yrs later he died with a heart attack i still sometimes feel like texting him still had his number in my phone with his messages finally removed them last week

DrBenjaminMc Mon 10-Jun-24 11:17:39

I'm sorry you're feeling this way.
It's clear you deeply cared for him and tried your best. Ending the relationship was likely necessary for your own well-being. Healing takes time.