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Why am I so stupid?

Unhappy's picture

Have you ever gotten the feeling that you were just being strung along?

One of SO's co-workers told him yesterday that he saw that SO's ex-wife had posted her wedding anouncement online. So what does SO do? Gets online and looks it up. He did use her fiance's last name to do a back ground check and that dude has quite the rap sheet. But he could have gotten that information from his ex anytime he wanted to. So if he wasn't doing it for that purpose, then why did he track down the anouncement?

We have been fighting recently because he promised me an engagement ring this past spring and of course that fell through. Then it moved to before the end of the year. There's always some reason why he can't get it. He wants to pay off his credit card first. That's been addressed now and he was planning on getting the ring. Now it's the jewelers. Their financing program sucks. Now it's he's going to wait a couple of months and ask he grandmother if he can take out a loan through her.

How stupid does he think I am? It's obvious that he is not ready for this kind of commitment to me. I should have known the first time I walked into his house and saw picture of his ex still hanging on the walls. If there was only a way to go back in time and kick myself I would. His ex met a guy like 6 months ago and they're getting married next month. I have been with SO for over a year and a half and I keep getting excuses.

I have put up with his crazy, personality disordered, stalking ex-wife. I have put up with his out of control kids. I helped him through his DUI. I have bailed him out of his tax dilema. I stayed with him after he let his ex sh!t on me for months and did not do anything about it. I stayed with him when he underminded me with his kids and let them sh!t on me. I have been there for him even if I got p!ssed along the way I still stayed. And what is my reward for any of it? I want one thing and all I ever get are excuses.

Unhappy's picture

I do feel like it's going no where. I feel like I am just being strung along but if I say anythng to him about how I feel he just turns the tables and makes me feel guilty. He'll tell me things like, "I am trying to keep a roof over our heads that's why I can't afford a ring." I feel let down and stupid.

lmac's picture

It's not about getting a 4 c diamond, it's about the love that goes into it. My dad got my mom a .25 c diamond 30 years ago, and they're still going strong.

My DH got me a .5 c sapphire because we wanted to buy stuff for US. If I had it to do over, I'd pick something even cheaper.

If your SO wanted to get married, he'd figure out a way, but he clearly doesn't. If this is something you want, you have to a.) communicate this with him, and b.) consider your options.

Unhappy's picture

I've already told him that I don't need a $4000.00 dollar ring. I've told him we can get the setting now and put a fake diamond in and when he can afford it he can replace it with the real thing. I could care less if he ever replaces it. And I have already communicated this him. I agree it's not about the ring it about the love that goes into it.

Auteur's picture

Exactly! Sounds like he's still in love with the ex;

He just wants you for:

Maid service
Laundress
Cook
Bedroom Benefits
Nanny
Secretary
Financial Backer for Entitlement Sessions

RUN, girl, RUN!!!!

Unhappy's picture

Why would he look up his ex's wedding anouncement? I just don't understand. Why was it important? Why did he have to see it?

Auteur's picture

He sounds a lot like GG who still defends the Behemoth to this day.

If i DARE call her out on something, he'll come rushing to her defense.

Do yourself a fav and find a nice CHILDLESS man!!

Sonomama30's picture

You should of gotten the sign when you seen the pics of the x wife on the wall. He still has something for her, probably she was the one that left him and he hasenet gotten over it. It will never be the "Way you want it" cut your losses now. Good Luck

CowGirl's picture

You are NOT stupid! We have all done bits of these things because we think we are "in love". Love isn't love unless it is shared!

I have also tolerated a smidge of these things for 3 1/2 yrs. Guess what? I am moving my BD12 & I out this weekend and it feels so darn good!!!

The thing is - you have put up with this. By not standing your ground, saying you will not tolerate this - your SO thinks it's ok to treat you like this. I have stood my ground - very strongly. Things were good, but he messed up by having dinner with BM & the skids a couple months ago -- harmless, but i said i was done. I have stayed since then because he lost his job, but got a new one a few weeks later - so i have waited for him to be on his feet ... and now he is moving in with ExMIL -- yes BM's mom.

Bottom line: STOP putting yourself down! You tolerate what you want and you know what you deserve! I realized i either need to accept this as this is who BF is or move on ... I am moving on. I don't know you, but i believe you ARE a strong woman and deserve better!!! It is YOUR choice.

Unhappy's picture

I'm just so sick of all of it. He thinks that after all the crap that he put me through throughout our entire relationship that because he eventually did something about it, it just makes everything go away. Like it never happened. I am still really angry about most of it. Especially about letting his ex sh!t on me for almost a year and doing nothing about it. He doesn't realize the damage that he did to our relationship and just expects me to get over it. I just can't let it go.

CowGirl's picture

What i learned:

My BF said when you talk about something and get it out after word you just go on. It's done - get over it. I used to get mad because he hurt me so much and he just acted like it never happened ..... I felt like he owed me, needed to kiss my a$$, etc ...

Men think differently than woman and it's hard to find a compromise.

My best friend said to me: You have to let it go, trust in him that it won't happen again so you can move forward with him. You can't sit around waiting for him to "mess up". It took me a while (1 yr) and i let it go. But then a little thing happened and it brought back all those old hurt feelings ... and i am moving on.

I still after 3 1/2 yrs feel like a casual GF .. as if we have been dating for 6 months. I have NOT pressured him for marriage, but i have talked with him about the seriousness of our relationship. He on his own, bought me a $1200 promise ring 2 1/2 yrs ago ... i thought i was "important", but I do not feel as important as i think i should.

dragonfly5's picture

Life is to short! Get out of this mess. The love of your life should want to marry you! This is not the one for you!

You are not stupid, you just want to be loved. We all do. This is not love. RUN...and don't look back.

Oi Vey's picture

You're not stupid. You're just looking through the rose colored glasses of love and optimism. The fact that you're questioning it means the sheen is starting to wear off.
Honey, you should never feel like you have to push someone into marrying you. It should be something the guy really wants to do, is excited to get the ring and pop the question, etc.
This sounds like he's dragging his feet and coming up with excuses not to.

(And, yes, I think he's still very hung up on the ex.)

Unhappy's picture

I think he is still hung up on his ex as well. He tells me he's not. He tells me he hates her and how abusive she was towards him throughout their marriage. If that's true why would you have pictures of your abuser hanging up in your house over six months after the divorse? (He told me that if he took them down it would make the entry way look bad.) Why would you be looking up her wedding announcement? It just doesn't make any sence. He says one thing and then does another. Actions speek louder then words.

lmac's picture

I'm not justifying his behavior, nor am I suggesting you marry him or stay or leave or whatever, but I also looked up my ex's engagement announcement and even scrolled through his fiance's tweets. I was just curious. Wasn't harboring any feelings for him, just nosey.

Unhappy's picture

You have to understand Imac. He literally le this women treat me and my child like we didn't exist. I kept telling him how I felt and that he needed to tell her that he was in a commited relationship where he was planning on getting married to that person. His response was, "I don't want to hurt her feelings." Or, "I don't want to be mean to her." How is telling someone the truth being mean or hurtful? She would send him texts about how she was still in love with him when she knew I was home and heh would always tell me that he had to respond. He didn't want to leave her hanging. I think one of the reasons why I can't get over it is because I knew he wasn't over her. I knew it, I just couldn't see it. I refused to process that. I had no problem standing up to my ex and letting him know that I was in a commited realtionship. If he ever said anything about SO or his family I ripped him a new one. I protect the people I love.

CowGirl's picture

Same things with me!!!! Except my BF had a cute pic of BM with one each of their kids on the side of her kissing her cheek. It was on his phone when she called. Then last fall - i said something about it again (how it bugged me) and BF said he needed it on there so he knew she was calling. I was PO'd ... then a couple weeks later he had deleted it. Mind you we had already been living together for over 2 yrs ...

This is why the little things bug us (like looking at the engagement announcement)!!! And we can't get over that "feeling" ... Gee! I wonder why????????

lmac's picture

HAHA! Same thing with DH. Had a pic of her with the kids. I told him it needed to go, and he understood immediately

Unhappy's picture

This is why I am upset and hurt by his actions. He knows how I feel about all this and yet he just doesn't care. You were being nosey. I have no idea why he needed to check on her annoucement. This is the same lady that he said was very abusive to him.

Kes's picture

Indeed - actions do always speak louder than words. I agree with the other posters - cut your losses and get someone who deserves you and is keen to make a committment to you. You said on your bio that you are independent, strong willed and resourceful, so you can use these qualities to turn your life around without this disappointing man in tow.

asheeha's picture

"but if I say anythng to him about how I feel he just turns the tables and makes me feel guilty."

This statement is HUGE! I think it is true that divorced men have to figure out where to place the ExW in their heart and where to place us and that the lines are very confusing for them, especially at first.

But, if you have a problem and he shirks his responsibility and places the blame on you, that is a huge red flag. In my book it's a black one.

There are men out there who will hear you and take responsibility for their part and help to resolve your concerns. Does he do this every time you have a concern or only with this issue? If he can't admit fault, apologize, and change his behavior he will be a nightmare to live with for the rest of your life.

If his actions do not match his words then they are just words.

I realize you probably love him deeply and will miss all the very good things about him but it is never a good idea to marry someone hoping things will change.

Men usually relax more after marriage no try harder.

Unhappy's picture

I agree with you but you don't understand his point of view. Everything has to be financially perfect for this. Every debt needs to be paid in full. The interest percentage through the jewelers is to high. Whatever SO. I just talked with one of my friends and about this and she made a very valid point. She told me that finances will always be an issue before and after marriage. So what's the point of waiting. Something will always come up. And she was shocked that he looked up her wedding announcement. She doesn't think he is over his ex and I agree.

At this point I don't even want a ring from him. It's kind of like what cowgirl has said. You get to point where enough is enough. I'm tiered of the BS about how he's over his ex just have him turn around and look for her wedding announcement. I'm sure he'll just have another valid excuse as to why he did it. I'm tiered of the everything needs to be perfect before I can propose to you. It's all just excuses. One after the next. Nothings perfect. Nothing throughout this entire relationship has been perfect for me ever. But he gets to wait until things are perfect for him, which will be never. I don't think that's very fair. And that's one of the excuses he uses too, "I know nothings been perfect throughout the relationship that's why I want this to be perfect," meaning the ring. The only prefection he's talking about is how financially it will be perfect for him. You know things with my ex weren't perfect. He was a alcohol and drug addict. I did everything from cooking, cleaning, yardwork, paid all the bills. I mean I did it all but it sure was a lot easier to have a relationship with him then it is with SO. Don't get me wrong I would never go back to my ex ever. But even with all that, it was easier.

CowGirl's picture

I must say that have a guy best friend he helped me understand a guys point of view on things. One of them was in that buying a house, a ring, finances .... a lot of them think a like. I realized that some men have a view in their head of where they want to be (financially) for those types of things. I am sure your SO does love you & he is "waiting" for that moment & has his idea of perfect and he is not there yet. Although i see his point of view and learning how guys think ..... However, his behavior & disrespect for you & your relationship is NOT tolerable.

Unhappy's picture

I agree. And I think the final straw of disresepect is looking for his ex's wedding engagement. There is no reason why he needed to do it. At least a valid one for me. I don't care if he was being nosey. It's just yet again another form of disrespect. It wasn't benefiting us in any shape or form. I don't care how insignificant he thinks it is. It's just another blow to me.

CowGirl's picture

Honestly - the wedding announcement issue is probably innocent and as not of a big deal as you are making it - just as my BF going out to dinner with BM and the skids -- it is all "no big deal" and harmless (and for the kids) BUT it has been all the bad feelings regarding this same issue, the lack of respect, the feeling of insecurity surrounding BM issues that make you feel like you will NEVER compare to her ... and our BF's just DON'T GET IT.

I'm with ya sister!!! I totally understand your feelings ... and like myself -- you deserve better!!!! I realized these feelings will NEVER go away ... and i need to move on ....

Unhappy's picture

It is an insignificant small act. But when you add everything up it becomes a large significant act. SO wonders why I can't let go? He should quit doing his stupid crap. He never listens to me ever. I thinks it's always the small things that finally push us over the edge. Something that would be forgivable had the past not happened. I'm just sick of it. So sick of it. All the betrayals and I'm the one who is just supposed to move on because after all of my b!tching he finally desided to do something about it. It wasn't a conclusion that he came to on his own. Infact he was perfectly fine with how everything was. I keep telling him this relationship has been easier for him. He had no choice but to deal with his ex and his kids his baggage. It's like we're on two different sides of a river. He's got the sandy beaches on his side and mines covered in rocks and has sink holes and there's no way to get across it.

Polo's picture

a question i find helps me make a decision is "Do i want to do this for the rest of my life"? if the answer is No then I need to make some decisions to change the way my life is going. That question helped me walk away from a 10 year relationship that no matter what I did was not going to get any better. I am now 5 years into a relationship that I Do want to do for the rest of my life.