Upset
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Am I being selfish for feeling like this?

I come from a broken family one where I was loved by my maternal side and more or less scorned on my paternal side.
I have grown up feeling like I didn't really belong because although my family loved me they lived 2 hours away.
I was bullied alot at varying stages of school and consequently I didn't have a lot of friends.
As I got older I just got on with things but I've noticed that when I tried to find my own family, family members in those friendships didn't really want me to be around.
So I have just got on by having Internet friends, who I treasure a lot and I think the dynamic works.
I've had different dating experiences that haven't work out simply because well I just wasn't right for them.
I met someone I thought was nice and he comes from a stable home.
But I was very honesty initially about my life background and the struggles it presented to me but despite that I was still out going under the right circumstances.
I have been ready to settle down I feel after having counselling and working through my issues.
But I've been noticing my ptsd is resurfacing.

When I met my partners parents I was a little hesitatant about getting close to the dad. My dad passed away 4 years ago and well its still raw and due to the trouble we faced I still question why I speak of him in a positive light when a lot of my pain stems from him.

I have seen how much the father and daughter get on and as lovely as it is it's painful because I always wanted that with my dad.

My boyfriend constantly highlights instances where he helps people financially despite knowing that I'm struggling financially. I would never ask him or want him to give me money because I made a sacrifice to complete a course, eventually I can better my circumstances. But it doesn't help and I'm finding myself wanting to prove I'm not poor and I'm spending money that maybe I'd be better off saving.

It bothers me more that he helps people out when from the outside perspective it feels like he's been walked over.
Ie he was invited to a wedding as a guest through a friend. When they went to the dinner rehearsal they couldn't afford to pay. So in comes my boyfriend with his credit card to save the day.
He says they have paid him back but of however many guests that were there noone else could pay?

He regularly tells me his sister pays a small amount of rent due to her pay. But she regularly has to ask him for help. Borrowing from him...
Despite this she has passed her driving test and wants to buy a car. He initially said that he didn't want her to get it because it's too expensive for her to manage and spoke to his mum about it.
He later revealed she booked a last minute holiday abroad next week and offered to allow her to delay her rent so she could enjoy her trip.

In the next instance he said that he will just buy the car for her because he can afford it and knows it will be a struggle.

What bothers me more is that there's no talk of her savings. But she's doing what she wants with her money and getting a lot of "help" without asking.
He has also mentioned wanting to buy a car but was waiting to sort it out as we have a holiday booked (he hasn't paid for me) in June and are playing another trip in August. So will he have to wait longer again? Or is this going to be a shared car because he paid for it...!

The following day I looked at some shoes I've been wanting for a year. I noted that I had some money left over so I decided to get them as a treat. When I paid for them (with pay installments which he doesn't know) he snapped at me saying I thought you was going to save for them.

I was upset because it's my money. It's not that I couldn't afford them I just thought it was better to distribute the pay so I can still save some money and pay them off in small amounts for a longer period of time, so I can still save along the way.

This feeling of what I can do with my hard earned cash versus what he does with his is feeling unequal and it's building resentment because I'm not asking for help.

In just feeling like I can't do anything right and it's making me feel jealous because I'm doing what I think I'm supposed to as an adult being independent and managing my money. But I'm constantly shot down.

Even compliments are a miss. He criticised how he was dressed because I was dressed different to him.
"now I look like a hood rat!" he was in a hoody and track suit. While I chose all black in varying textures with my Chelsea boots. So I asked him "is that your way of saying I look nice?"
He said he was going to say I looked nice when we were outside.
Why because others may here that but not the negative comment inside?

I'm not in competition with him and I didn't think I needed to be. But it's making me question where he even sees me in his life and on his scale of important people then.


My head is all over the place and I don't like feeling like this. Because I feel sad. I don't even know why we discuss so much about money.
Kstrong · 56-60, F
You are getting those warning bells for a certain reason. You state he frequently helps others, not asking for his help, making the necessary sacrifices to achieve what you get. the payment plan on the shoes, while still saving for the future. it is your cash as you remain independent for yourself. You ARE managing your money and doing a good job of it, learning to live within your means. You Are doing something right, yeah may be jealous of those who have it handed to them, but you get the self satisfaction of doing it on your own. By him shooting you down, he's trying to make himself feel bigger, not even able to give an authentic compliment to you.

You ARE important and need to be with someone that treats you that way. I was in similar circumstances as you, after many years of living in the situation, i stepped out on my own and doing things for myself.

Do it for yourself before you lose who YOU are!
Dez580 · 61-69, M
@Kstrong well said
Mellowgirl · 31-35, F
@Kstrong thank you I appreciate this response
Gangstress · 41-45, F
I think you need to revaluate this 'relationship'

If it leaves you feeling like this why are you in this relationship?

Has he stopped looking at his phone constantly when you're together? Has anything changed from the initial dating?

I feel you really need time to think about what YOU want from your future years and what you need to do to live those dreams you have..
Gangstress · 41-45, F
@Mellowgirl also why are you holding out till June?
Mellowgirl · 31-35, F
@Gangstress because we have paid for the holiday to Turkey. I also spoke to my mum about this and she said it would be a good opportunity to see how he is with me. I guess given my unhealthy mindset and self doubt I don't always feel like I'm handling things correctly. I also think that because I spend so much time thinking on things that I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill. Doesn't make it wrong just intensifies things.
Gangstress · 41-45, F
@Mellowgirl i think you need to move on from the past B and i hope the counselling helps that..these things will take time.
Don't also look too far in the future either.
Live today because tomorrow isnt promised x
Dez580 · 61-69, M
We all have different experiences and exectations and often these varyinh immensely from person to person. I do however admire you very much for putting thesr thoughts doen in detail as you have. It showd you have a strength of purpose even though you may doubt this.
Kstrong · 56-60, F
@Dez580 well stated!
Mellowgirl · 31-35, F
@Dez580 thank you
Barefooter25 · 46-50, M
I am sorry you are going through this. We've all been there in one form or another. Maybe you need time for yourself and reevaluate your relationship. It is kind of hypocritical that he spends all this money on other people but otherwise snaps at you for how you handle your own money. That's your money and how you spend it is your own business. It's also best you find ways to move forward with your life and make the best of it.
travelguy01 · 41-45, M
He views you as beneath him and as someone that “needs him”, while the opposite not being true (he doesn’t feel that he “needs you”), because he thinks that’s safer for him, and that’s the way he wants it. You are not and will never be “equal” to him in his eyes. If you actually did do something to where he began to view you as “equal and not needing him”, he would probably just leave because he doesn’t want an “equal” relationship. He wouldn’t be able to handle that. He wants to feel that he has the upper hand.

Closet and well hidden narcissism at its core.
Mellowgirl · 31-35, F
@travelguy01 that's a very interesting perspective and not one I thought of.
It bothers me because his beginnings in life are not far off mine.
Ohwell people forget where they are coming from
Kstrong · 56-60, F
@travelguy01 the description fits my previous relationship
Let me just say this......

People who can absolutely, positively and without question afford to give freely to others...... [b]DO NOT TALK ABOUT HOW GENEROUS THEY ARE, NOR EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN.[/b]

In fact, they will often downplay their generosity. IMO...To do otherwise is a sign of a RED FLAG called INSECURITY.
BigGuy2 · 26-30, M
Sorry to hear your plight
BigGuy2 · 26-30, M
My PM's are open, so feel free 🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️
Mellowgirl · 31-35, F
@BigGuy2 feel free to what?
Is there something you feel unable to say
BigGuy2 · 26-30, M
@Mellowgirl no, not really

 
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