I’m 23, and my boyfriend of 3 years has left me.

r/

I (23) met John (23) about 3 years ago in March of 23. We have a 1 year old.
Everything seemed perfect.
John got laid off three months after moving here, so I went to work. I was burnt out after a month because John wasn’t helping. He never helped with the house. I felt alone, I fell into a depression. I didn’t want to do anything. Sometimes he’d help by sweeping the floor or doing some dishes. He would say things like “why are you acting like that?” Or “what? You’re just going to sleep all afternoon?” Two months of this, and his friend, Sarah, comes to visit. She brings her friend, Jane. They were supposed to come for dinner but John told them just come early. I panic. ‘This isn’t the plan. Everything is going to go terrible because they’re early.’
When they got there, I had a breakdown. John called me embarrassing and I was overreacting. I calmed myself down and as I’m walking through the hallway he’s laughing at something Jane had said. I felt a rush of embarrassment and hid again. When they left, we had a bad fight. They came that night, and I was ashamed to have acted that way so I hid. John was disappointed. A month passes, we celebrate our son’s birthday, start trying for another baby.
Sarah and Jane come back. We have dinner at John’s mom’s house. I have work the next day, so I go home around 10pm. 1am comes and John isn’t home. I call. He’s drinking in the pool with Sarah and Jane, and I ask when he’s coming home. He says “I’ll come home whenever I fucking want.” He stayed AWOL for 5 days with the girls and Sarah’s family in a cabin. I’m told he’s at his mom’s and to come talk. I tell him I’d work on myself if he’d just come home. He broke up with me saying he’s unhappy and we argue all the time. I beg him to not do this. Him and his mother say I need therapy and I need to get better so maybe things will fall into place. They try and convince me for three hours saying I’m miserable. I’m not, I just want his help. So, eventually I have to go home with our son alone. A day goes by. He wants to keep our son for the night, so I say yes. I drive over and try to persuade him to come to couples therapy.. he says that “for now” that won’t work. I go to our friend’s, Sydney and Chase. Chase has been friends with John since middleschool. They tell me to stick up for myself, but I give Sydney my phone and said “you do it.” She logs into his Snapchat and sees that he’s been messaging to Jane. He tells Jane that he misses her, they’ve made plans for her to come back down and spend time with him and our son. They fall asleep on the phone and when she felt anxiety, he reassured her that he loves the way her brain works. Sydney lost her mind and messaged John off of my phone. He just tells “me” I’m torturing myself and have no idea what “I’m” talking about. I literally just wanted support. Is it even possible for us to make it through this?

Update: I found out I was pregnant the day I wrote this.

Comments

  1. Delicious-Strain-722 Avatar

    Why would you even wanna work things out with someone like him? He clearly showed you red flags. He doesn’t do anything to help you out? And you’re pregnant again? Do you really think he’s gonna step up more? Seriously think of your kids. Do you want them to think it’s okay for their father to act like that and their mother constantly puts up with it?

  2. WolverineLucky2938 Avatar

    The nails are already in the coffin. He’s ridiculous. I’m sorry you had to go through that.

  3. Ambitious_Koala_1122 Avatar

    This man is a piece of work, OP. You have one child, one on the way, and you don’t need a grown child on the side too. It’s so much worse to be a single married mom. I hope things get better, but you’re going to need to find love for yourself and walk away from him first.

  4. Honest_Specific6241 Avatar

    You should absolutely cut him off and get into therapy immediately. You need to take care of yourself and your child. I don’t recommend having another baby with him, but your body your choice. Babies don’t fix broke relationships. This is not healthy and he’s likely been cheating for a very long time. Stop trying to get him to love you. He will not change for you or your kid(s).

  5. Belle-llama Avatar

    Dump him!  He’s useless!  He has no dedication or respect for your family.  Find someone who will contribute financially and do his fair share around the house.

  6. Icy-Caterpillar-5084 Avatar

    Your 23. Move on. He’s garbage

  7. NovaLunar721 Avatar

    I think he’s got strong narcissistic traits and you’ve been broken down please don’t let him emotionally manipulate you. He needs to go .

  8. NesAlt01 Avatar

    You’re unhealthily attached to a pieace of crap of a man.

    No offense, but you are better off alone. Cut him off from your lives, he’s just bringing toxicity in your life.

  9. Next_Discipline_5823 Avatar

    Get out while you can, a man who continues to step away is either hopelessly lost or ungrateful, it may sound scary but start planning an escape route/plan considering your safety and happiness first, seek other family or friends, remove yourself from a toxic environment

  10. aguacatelife7 Avatar

    What others are saying. Forget about him. Move on and be strong. Get some help and surround yourself with supportive people.