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Removing bf from potential abuse

(81 Posts)
Slaytheday Fri 31-Jan-25 12:02:50

I connected with an old friend from 25 years ago recently and have over the last few months started a relationship with him. When I found him he had a gf of ten years but was not living with her. Their relationship was volatile and he seemed unhappy. Roll forwards six months and he has attempted to leave the gf on a couple of occasions but she uses her son (who bf loved dearly) to guilt trip him back, as well as some extreme outbursts, tantrums and dramas for good measure. He runs back to her because he thinks she is emotionally vulnerable and her 14 yr old son is obviously relying on him. Bf is the type of person who wants to help everyone and he tends to gets taken advantage of. He sees her as a victim and feels he is ‘abandoning her’. I think she is an emotional abuser using every manipulative tactic in the book. We have kept our relationship secret as it is early days and he is in fear of the fallout of her finding out. He has told me that although he stays over he is not having sex with her and I believe him. For the sake of getting the kind of advice I need on this platform, I would like this to be taken as true, rather than spark any side debates about whether or not he is telling the truth. He is telling the truth.

My hunch is that if she knew about me then the abuse would stop. I believe she would not try the same tactics with me in the frame as essentially she knows she would not be able to manipulate me. Or she may try, but she would not get very far.

I want to respect bf’s Soave and let him deal with things, but I can see he’s having a real emotional battle with it because he wants to be the good guy. His mother and father have both expressed views that they think the relationship is abusive, but bf seems in denial.

What might I do?

Hithere Fri 31-Jan-25 14:00:11

Run
Raise your standards and find somebody who puts you first

Hithere Fri 31-Jan-25 14:09:18

And think who has the role of white knight here? Your so called bf or you

Lathyrus3 Fri 31-Jan-25 14:29:35

I’m really sorry Slaytheday that you can’t bring yourself to see what is so obvious to all of us here.

“Knowing that you lied, straight-faced while I cried
Yet I looked to find a reason to believe

AGAA4 Fri 31-Jan-25 14:33:18

If he was going to leave his partner he would have done it by now. He is stringing you along and you may always be the other woman.

Hithere Fri 31-Jan-25 15:07:25

Yes, he is having sex with her - get an std test asap

BlueBelle Fri 31-Jan-25 15:12:23

He’s been in a relationship for 10 years and still is, and you call him ‘your boyfriend’, sorry my dear but you’re just the extra bit on the side He’s not your boyfriend and what you should do is walk away and get on with your life and find someone who is free to be your lover

Norah Fri 31-Jan-25 15:13:22

Walk away. I'd think he's a two timer.

MissAdventure Fri 31-Jan-25 15:15:32

My new bf wasn't having sex with the ex.
Things,are rarely clear cut, black and white.

He was afraid she,would,stop him seeing his child, worried that money he gave her would be spent on drink, that she would go out and leave his child with any person willing, and that the child would be taken from her.
Hardly an aphrodisiac.

Patsy70 Fri 31-Jan-25 15:19:35

Lathyrus3

I’m really sorry Slaytheday that you can’t bring yourself to see what is so obvious to all of us here.

“Knowing that you lied, straight-faced while I cried
Yet I looked to find a reason to believe

Move on Slaytheday, you are worth more than his ‘bit on the side’.

Thepanaramawoman Fri 31-Jan-25 15:22:51

Your last sentence asks what you might do. I think you should do whatever you think you feel is right for you. I know what I’d think I’d like to do if I was in your situation but that isn’t really relevant. It sounds like you’re in love with him therefore I think you would find it hard to follow any advice to leave the situation. One thing I do think that’s important for any woman who is in a new relationship is to keep cultivating your friendships/ interests/independence outside the relationship.

Grandmabatty Fri 31-Jan-25 15:38:20

As I suspected, you have no intention of taking the advice of many on your thread. You either love the drama, have a saviour complex or are so desperate for a relationship that you will put up with some other woman's leftovers. Which is it? And don't try the "I'm in love" or "relationships aren't simple" schtick. I'm sorry if you think I'm harsh, but life is too short to waste on someone like him. I've tried to 'fix' someone more than once, and it never ends well.

Oopsadaisy1 Fri 31-Jan-25 15:43:01

For what it’s worth I don’t think he will do anything until the boy is 18, then maybe he will ask him to move in with him.

Meanwhile the situation will remain unchanged, with you wanting him to do something and him not doing it, because he is worried about the son.

Of course if the son moves in with your BF they will both be worried about the child’s mother.

And so it goes on.

As someone else says you might be his ‘girl friend’ but unless he is willing to risk losing the boy, you will be the one sitting at home on your own, possibly for years.

It sounds to me that you are in fact the ‘other woman’.

Shelflife Fri 31-Jan-25 15:47:55

Our are being made a fool of - simple as that really.
What happens next is up to you.

keepingquiet Fri 31-Jan-25 15:48:22

Walk away. Are you on the right forum here? This is Gransnet.

AGAA4 Fri 31-Jan-25 15:55:43

keepingquiet

Walk away. Are you on the right forum here? This is Gransnet.

She probably is as many of us in our age group have seen these type of relationships before and they don't usually end well. The ' other woman' either realises her bf will never leave his partner and moves on or she spends many years of lonely times when he is with his family. I have seen this happen to colleagues and friends.

keepingquiet Fri 31-Jan-25 17:44:16

For that reason I may sign up to Mumsnet to impart my wisdom too... I was one once.

MissAdventure Fri 31-Jan-25 17:49:02

Slaytheday

Thanks everyone. I know it’s a technicality but he not having an affair as they are not married.

Anyway, if it walks like a duck then it is a duck. So I guess it’s an affair.

Misadventure thanks for response. It’s interesting to hear . Did you have to leave or just give him a firm date?

We have actually agreed to a ‘plan’ or a timeline for him leaving but I see he’s struggling with it a bit.

The responses here are a bit of a mixed bag and reflect all my conflicting thoughts.

No, I didn't have to end it
I think whilst he was single, he just put up with her shenanigans, but because he really liked me, he knew he had to face the music and tell her there would be no more buying her shopping, getting up in the night to go round to her because she was drunk/threatening to kill herself/ both.

He did still bail her out on occasions, as his daughter was a young child, but that was no more than any decent man would do.

He got custody of not only his daughter, but the next child she had with someone else, in the end.

Again, any decent person would look out for children caught up in abusive situations.

She and I would be able to chat, in the end, and she was quite likeable at times.

Luminance Fri 31-Jan-25 17:53:55

Where is your self respect and line in the sand? Rather unfortunate to be "the other woman". End things until he does. That is what you should do.

BlueBelle Fri 31-Jan-25 18:08:10

He’s been with his partner 10 years are you really happy with breaking them up although personally I doubt very much that he ll leave her

MissAdventure Fri 31-Jan-25 18:18:07

My person was,separated and they lived apart when,we,met.
So,I suppose,that puts,a,different light on things.

Sorry for all the,commas.
Just realised my phone,inserts a,comma,when i hesitate before writing.

Only had the,phone 15 years. smile

Cossy Fri 31-Jan-25 18:25:16

If you only ever want to be a bit on the side or his dirty secret, then just carry on as you are.

He is being unfaithful, with you, to someone with whom he is in a relationship.

Very blunt I know, but walk away, tell him you won’t accept being second best.

If he really cares for you then he will leave her and face the consequences and then, if he wants to, he will come and find you.

You are worth more than this. flowers

jeanie99 Sun 02-Feb-25 00:44:01

What he tells you about his relationship and the reality could be totally different.
Personally I would tell him to take a hike, it's not that you are married to him is it.
Find someone who is a decent reliable honest person who cares about you this man clearly doesn't and I find it hard to believe you can't see that.

mumofmadboys Sun 02-Feb-25 06:42:53

I agree about getting a sexual health check done.

Nanato3 Sun 02-Feb-25 07:42:39

I know it would be hard but I'd walk away . I wouldn't be anyone's secret ! I'd feel degraded if a man asked that of me .

Oopsadaisy1 Sun 02-Feb-25 09:11:44

keepingquiet

For that reason I may sign up to Mumsnet to impart my wisdom too... I was one once.

Once a Mum always a Mum 🤗