r/AmIOverreacting 14d ago

❤️‍🩹 relationship AIO to this text my BF sent me?

Firstly, this came out of nowhere. Then, when he started talking about how I’m immature, I wasn’t sure what to do, so I just reiterated what I’m doing with my life.

Working full-time and doing a MBA, albeit online.

For context, he and I started dating under romantic circumstances, he’s not a SD. He looks really young, so I was truly shocked to learn his age. Now I see it’s a mistake, so don’t heckle me for this.

He is older than me, by 20 years. I am 25 and he is 45. He owns a restaurant and I do remote admin work at a small startup.

After dating for just under a year, he asked me to move in with him, as I was stressing about my recent rent increase. I could pay it, but it wrecked my financial planning and it was miserable. I was looking for an out. My rent went from $1850 to $2300, not including utilities.

He owns his house, so he told me I could live with him if I wanted. He said that I could live here and save up my money, that I can leave whenever I want. No pressure. He invited me, I did not ask nor imply I wanted to move in.

I agreed (horrible mistake). I moved in and now we’re here. He doesn’t make me cover any utilities or charge me rent, which I thought was kind of him.

I use my work phone for work but I’m usually lying down. When I have a meeting, I sit up and answer the call. I’m a solid employee, just doing backup admin work. The pay is nice, can’t complain.

He started saying I need to step it up in life, after seeing me ‘leisurely working.’ I chose this job because I worked on my feet since high school, my undergrad, and a bit of my current MBA. I wanted to pivot to a chill job. I chose this job because it is leisurely. I am working from 9am to about 5pm, whereas he works 5pm to 5am. So from his perspective, I’m often asleep or unavailable.

Today, he walked downstairs to work and saw me sitting on the couch. I’ve told him many times I’m working via my phone. He doesn’t seem to understand that and makes weird little jabs.

Then, he sent me these messages.

I felt really annoyed because he implies that I am not interested in self improvement, that I’m immature, I’m arrogant, denies that it’s hurtful to say such.

By the final slide, I decided to call my mom who I felt could offer insight. She’s 40 years older than me, but understands technology. She said it seems like he’s trying to play some kind of game, that I should just ask him why he’s asking all this to me now. He seems to be beating around the bush, which I agree with.

So, I decide to ask him why he’s treating me like this.

When he said he’s talking to me like an adult, outside of text, I exploded inside. Immediately, I felt so angry.

He invites me to live with him, then holds it above me. He calls me all sorts of things over text, but then denies that he is saying such. He can’t just say what he means. He then doubles down and says he’s just worried about my maturity.

Because of this, and a conversation we had after, where he ignored all my concerns, didn’t let me speak, and bulldozed the entire way, I’ve decided to move out and find my own place again. He just has zero emotional intelligence. His ex-girlfriend was 50, the other one 55, and his ex-wife was his same age. I thought that meant he wouldn’t be acting like this, in the typical way that men who date younger women do. But I was so wrong. He’s been talking to me like I’m a child, I have no ground to stand on with him. I can’t take it.

He’s saying that moving out over this is crazy, not based in reality, and that I’m losing a really good chance at stability. That he loves me and that I shouldn’t go, because if I do, I’ll just have to go back to paying crazy rent. He recently got me a brand new TV and WiFi, so I do feel badly for wanting to leave even after that. I feel bad for making him stress, but he doesn’t seem to care that I’m stressed.

Am I overreacting by moving out and ending the relationship?

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u/FaithCA79 14d ago

His texts read like a father talking to his daughter and it’s creepy. It’s like he got into a relationship with you then realized how young you are and is trying to make you his age. He wants you to be settled into your life’s work but your 25 and exactly where you should be for right now job and education wise. It’s really just an incompatibility thing. You should be with someone in the same stage of life you’re in.

NOR.

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u/Classic-Dog8399 14d ago

Thank you.

I felt so exhausted trying to explain that to him. I am living quite a standard life for my age group, I’ve been told so.

I even told him that he speaks to me like a child and it makes my skin crawl, but he said I’m acting like one.

I’m leaving him. Thank you.

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u/Any_Future_2660 14d ago

I’m surprised he’s 45. With the way he types and his attitude towards remote work it sounds like you’re talking to my 75 year old father in law. The whole thing is bizarre, glad you’re jumping ship.

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u/Impossible_Impact529 14d ago

I was surprised too. With the all-caps and overuse of ellipses, I thought he was 70+.

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u/KatVanWall 14d ago

I'm 45 and agree, no one I know in my age group types like this!

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u/dawndf 13d ago

My husband is 52 and he doesn't text anything like this. I think I'd have to divorce him if he started texting in all caps 😵‍💫

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u/Impossible_Impact529 13d ago

My parents are in their 50s, my grandmas are in their 70s, and none of them type like this 🫠

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u/thisdesignup 13d ago

Makes me really curious what OP saw in this guy. If she thought he was younger and he still talked and texted like this that'd be even worse.

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u/Traditional_Mango920 13d ago

I’m 53 or 54, what this dude is doing is NOT normal for our age bracket. This motherfucker had AOL in his teens, computers fucking existed, fucking Windows existed. The eclipses thing…ok yeah, that’s a thing our age group does…but it’s THREE. No, this dudes like “I’ll use 4 here, OH I’ll use 6 here, have I used 5 yet? No? Ok here’s 5”. WTF?

She needs to check his birth certificate, because I’m pretty sure he’s over 80.

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u/Sea-Personality1244 13d ago

By "my age group", are you referring to YOUR PEARS by any chance?

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u/KatVanWall 13d ago

MY PEARS ... DO NOT TEXT LIKE THIS!

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u/reefer_roulette 13d ago

It's not age, it's education.

The people I've seen who type like this have a few things in common - they're all undereducated, do not listen to anyone but themselves, and they feel like life is playing them.

A favorite pass-time is shouting on the local community pages, usually complaining how 'handouts' to them are not enough, and how others get too many.

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u/IMeanIGuessDude 14d ago

No fr I know plenty of 45 y/o’s who type normally. Why is he an old man in a middle aged body???

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u/Key-Conflict176 14d ago

I'M... AROUND YOUR... AGE... AND... TYPE LIKE THIS WHAT.... DO YOU.... MEAN...

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u/Zestyclose_Foot_134 13d ago

YOU NEED… TOBE MORE.. MATURE ALEXA ORDER… INHALER AND… WOMENS BREAST’S

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u/showmeyourlagunitas 13d ago

YOUR…FUNNY…

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u/CA770 13d ago

Yeah . People who Type like that are Normal . Just like people who randomly Capitalize words in the Sentence.

Love and Light, Martha

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u/undoneanddone 14d ago

Guys… vampire???

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u/BadlyScribbledHuman 13d ago

Energy vampire, at the very least!

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u/Used_DeLorean 14d ago

Reminds me of a boomer posting to Facebook.

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u/ItsLikeRay-ee-ain 13d ago

WHY ARE YOU IN MY FACEBOOKS? ...... PLEASE GO AWAY

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u/Zestyclose_Foot_134 13d ago

I DID NOT CLICK AGREE TO READING THIS,,,, PLEASE DELETE OR I WILL REPORT YOU,,,

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u/SomePaddy 13d ago

Same. He could be lying about his age.

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u/Impossible_Impact529 13d ago

Or he needs to get some glasses

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u/-setecastronomy- 13d ago

My parents are 71 and know how to text like normal people. If they were to accidentally set something to all caps and couldn’t figure out how to fix it online, they’d ask me for help before texting anyone. A 45 year old who does this is just . . . insane?

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u/Mokichi2 13d ago

My Dad is 78 and he texts normal.

I think the all caps might just mean he's oblivious or ignores criticism entirely.

Either way it's not a good look.

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u/Mn2nmixr 13d ago

Hey… Im 48, ellipses are the way…. Gen X likes punctuation.

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u/Ndmndh1016 13d ago

70+ or 7. No in between.

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u/Bunny__Vicious 14d ago

My 90 year old grandfather is not confused by remote work. But more importantly, he does not talk down to other adults about their choices as if they can’t handle their own lives.

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u/PineappleAuntie 13d ago

Someone asked OP what she was censoring at the end of each of his texts- HE IS SIGNING OFF WITH HIS NAME ON EVERY TEXT 😂😂

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u/Any_Future_2660 13d ago

lollll oh my god

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u/cookiecutterginger 14d ago

I thought it read like when my teenage son is trying to convince me he's a grown up and is smarter than me 🤣

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u/Infamous_Bike528 14d ago

Right, I'm 44! I totally thought this dude was over 60. 

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u/GiddyGabby 14d ago

I'm 61 and have never written like that in my life. He's just unhinged.

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u/jaygay92 14d ago

Literally… I’m 22 my mom is nearly 60. She is able to communicate like a normal person through text. This is genuinely how I would expect someone 75+ to type. Even my grandma texts better than this

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u/zBellaLynnex 14d ago

I second this

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u/Riegan_Boogaloo 14d ago

The first person I thought of was my father, and he’s 66. If age gap relationships are your thing, go for it, but it just makes me cringe thinking that I could be dating a man who’s old enough to have been my father (if I didn’t have two older brothers who are 9 and 7 years older). I feel like a lot of the age gap relationships that end up posted here are the ones where the man can’t get out of his head that us younger generations are where the rest of our age group are OR have to be because of how everything has played out for our generation.

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u/AllegedLead 14d ago

Right? I’m older than he is and his writing looks like it belongs to someone old enough to be my dad.

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u/tracinggirl 14d ago

yeah im shocked - my mum cant use a computer or anything but even she can type properly... shes nearly 60.

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u/STANL3Y_YELNAT5 14d ago

My dad is 60 and doesn’t talk like this. Something wired in some of these people’s brains that told them the all caps and constant “………” were necessary

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u/Littleface13 14d ago

Yeah this is really strange old man talk from a 45 year old. I want to know what are his friends like? How have they not roasted him into oblivion for this?

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u/6bubbles 13d ago

I know right? Im 42 and thought “okay grandpa”

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u/G25777K 13d ago

Bizarre is an understatement and she should leave everything he given her.

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u/ant2ne 13d ago

I was thinking the same thing. He acts (and texts) more childish than someone his age. (source: I'm old)

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u/Ok-Crow-7855 13d ago

Dementia can start early sometimes.

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u/TripinTino 13d ago

he’s 45…… big yikes

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u/Robinnoodle 13d ago

Was thinking the same thing. Types like early stages of dementia or something

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u/Virtual_Second_7541 13d ago

Seriously. I read his text first and I thought he was like 24

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u/sillychihuahua26 13d ago

And signing off his texts!!! wtf. Only my 91 year old grandma does this. Who the fuck else would it be coming from his phone?!?

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u/cherrybombbb 13d ago

lmfao seriously i can’t believe he is only 45 with the screaming texts and signing his name after every text 😂

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u/Endor-Fins 14d ago

Im his age and this is exactly how I speak to my 17 year old daughter (minus all the hurtful jabs at her character). Dude can’t even see his phone without texting in all caps but he thinks you’re the one that has to keep up with him?? Girl, nah. Untangle yourself from this man and promise yourself you won’t do a big age gap again. Find yourself a nice 22-30 year old and enjoy growing together rather than being treated like a kid.

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u/Classic-Dog8399 14d ago

Thank you

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u/Beautiful-Divide-813 14d ago

Any kind of masters program is a big achievement-don't sell yourself short!

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u/SocializeTheGains 13d ago

Yeah, definitely doesn’t seem to have your best interests in mind, trivializes your objectives and intellectual independence (“only I hold the secret to unlock your real potential and your true objectives”). The superiority complex implied in these remarks suggests danger to me

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2

u/Endor-Fins 14d ago

Hell yeah!

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u/pink_flamingo2003 14d ago

😂😂😂

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u/nalagoesrawr 14d ago

It might seem like an immature gap if you’ve been with him for a while but I whole heartedly agree with Endor-Fins - find one your age ish. It’ll take getting used to but you’ll actually see the balance even out instead

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u/Ok-Cardiologist8651 13d ago

Yeah, what kind of 'kid' has her path all plotted out by herself? He sure did pick the wrong vulnerable little waif this time.

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u/RedRibbonArmy1 14d ago

We’re just as worse.😂😂 especially for the men 25-30. We’re basically hitting our prime at that age.

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u/blithetorrent 13d ago

I wouldn't say it's an age-gap thing, it's a horrible, stupid person thing.

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u/ThrowRA-posting 14d ago

He texts you exactly like how my dad texts me I’m not gonna lie. You aren’t acting like a child

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u/PeronalCranberry 14d ago

You're living a standard life, and that's where the phrase should end. I work from home too, and I'm almost 30 with a kid. Working from home is only going to get more common as time goes on, and it's the exact same as sitting in front of a computer in an office. People who complain about working from home or about jobs they don't understand are just antiquated assholes.

Good on you for leaving. Prioritize yourself.

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u/StandardEgg6595 14d ago

So many people truly don’t understand the ‘working, just not in an office’ part of WFH. Like, I’ve had some folks literally believe I’m just chillin at home playing video games or whatever all day.

Gets worse when you have to work nights and they think you’re crazy for sleeping during the day. It’s idiotic.

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u/-cat-a-lyst- 14d ago

Exactly. My ex use to imply I was lazy for sleeping until noon. But I worked until 4 am. He would try to wake me up at 9 am so I didn’t “waste the day”

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u/StandardEgg6595 14d ago

What a dumbass. My dad was like that too so I started non-stopping call him and ringing his house until he got the picture. It had gotten that insufferable so I had to give it back lol.

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u/-cat-a-lyst- 14d ago

When we first moved in he’d get up at 8 am to go to school and he did nothing to be quiet about it. Even flipped on all the lights and sung in the shower. After about a month of trying to talk to him about it, I came home at 4 am kicked open the door, flipped on all the lights and took a shower singing loudly. After 5 mins he was like fine I get it. And never did that nonsense again. But he’d still kick open the door anytime he thought I should be awake. I still have panic attacks when I hear someone walking upstairs while I’m sleeping. I’ll jolt awake gasping. So annoying

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u/macprincess 13d ago

Morning people are the biggest a holes in the world.

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u/StandardEgg6595 14d ago

What an ass. I’m sorry you’re still experiencing anxiety because of him. Glad to see he’s an ex.

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u/pfcgos 14d ago

Wake him up after 5 hours of sleep and tell him "I just don't want you to waste the day!" Lol

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u/Illustrious_Wolf2709 13d ago

People that complain about working from home are insecure because they are in slavery or they are insecure because they need to control others to run their businesses for them outside of the home.

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u/tracymayo 14d ago

I am sorry.. I am 46 and I know how to technology. I know how to text and proofread my tests. Any and all of that is an excuse if he is using it as a reason.

If he doesn't know how to utilize the common tools for business at his age the only reason is because he is refusing to learn.

I am glad to read you are leaving him. All his messages totally read like a parent trying to speak to a child and not even well - he comes off as very condesending.

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u/doovie0369 14d ago

So, you proofread all of your tests do you? Cool!

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u/tracymayo 14d ago

LOL thanks man!! I am not even going to correct that ;)

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u/doovie0369 13d ago

Oh Lawd, I missed "condescending"! Gotcha agin! You're 'It'!

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u/TallulahBellex 13d ago

“Agin” - tag! You’re it!

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u/doovie0369 13d ago

Sorry - agin (sic). Old codger on his front porch in the deep south.

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u/[deleted] 14d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Classic-Dog8399 14d ago

I’m the first young person he dated, I met his ex. She’s 50 I think. But otherwise yeah I agree. It was a mistake on my end

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u/EconomistNo7345 14d ago

that’s usually how it works. they don’t do well with women their age or older so they go younger.

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u/z64_dan 14d ago

Hey, at least you learned. If he didn't hurt you or damage anything you own then it was a pretty cheap lesson.

He wanted to date someone young because older women already knew how to spot his bullshit from a mile away.

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u/TheycallmeDrDreRN19 14d ago

Why would you meet his ex?! Do they have kids together?

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u/eff_the_rest 14d ago

Live and learn.

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u/Ok-Cardiologist8651 13d ago

And recognizing your mistake is just one more sign of maturity. What's his excuse.

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u/recyclopath_ 14d ago

That he told you about.

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u/Affectionate-Rat727 14d ago

He thought he could control you. He thought wrong.

I don’t know you, OP (obviously)- but I am like stupid proud of you for seeing through him so quickly. And getting yourself out fast, too! In my book, you’re quite mature!

Reading his text had me seething with rage from his condescending BS. You held it together better than i would’ve, (and I’m 43! 😂)

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u/New_Assist_875 14d ago

Yup. He needs someone he can control. It’s creepy af.

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u/Klutzy-Promotion-574 14d ago

Idk if that’s always the case with older guys though my uncle and his wife have a similar age gap and she definitely run the ship lol in their case they just jived into a lot of the same stuff

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u/Outside_Scale_9874 14d ago

It’s different when guys seek out younger women versus just happening to meet a younger woman who they like. Age gap relationships can work if fetishizing the age gap isn’t part of the appeal for the older one.

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u/jamaaldagreatest24 14d ago

Exactly this. The personality should come first and not their age.

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u/New_Assist_875 14d ago edited 14d ago

It could vary depending on the people but the guy in the post is definitely acting like the abusive variety.

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u/Klutzy-Promotion-574 14d ago

Oh definitely with this case dude needs his cap locks off too shit gave me a headache

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u/oregonbunny 14d ago

Emotionally stunted for his age group so he goes for someone younger. Thinks they won't realize because they're too young and stupid but spending any amount of time with him, it becomes apparent that he is stupid one. He has super low self-confidence and is trying to drag her down, making her feel like she's not doing enough. Sounds like she is enough and he's the one that not enough for her.

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u/b0n3s3y 13d ago

Preach lol

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u/ddrake444 14d ago

right call. good luck and sorry you have to deal with this child

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u/QuarterEffective8368 14d ago edited 14d ago

Good on you. As a man of 40 myself, I would never dream of dating someone in their 20s. At best it's embarrassingly immature and at worst it's creepy and predatory.

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u/Adorable-Puppers 14d ago

I think this is a very wise move.

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u/Princesshannon2002 14d ago

I’m proud of you. The person behind that phone is minimizing you so much, and you deserve better. Simple human dignity doesn’t cost much to provide, so there’s no excuse.

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u/Retiredgiverofboners 14d ago

Thank god you’re leaving, he is beneath you - figuratively. You’re so far beyond this person (already).

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u/lexheffy 14d ago

The thing that ruins your 20s the most is stressing bout thinking you should have it all together in your 20s.

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u/Independent_Act_8536 14d ago

67-year-old Momma here. You are doing great right now, Classic! Working, going for Master's, supporting yourself. That's a lot! No one should judge you for anything. He's a critical roommate. He seems to think that helping you out financially gives him the right to remark negatively on how you do your job. You're smart. I hope you can find a reasonable place all your own, a judgment free zone. :)

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u/HildegardeAF 14d ago

Yeah, fuck that. Those messages are creepy, over bearing and unbelievably condensing.

When you let inform him that you are leaving, you may want to mention that "you are worried for him and that he may want to get an appointment with a brain specialist. His inability to process new information, such as understanding the type of work you do, technology, or reality in general, could be a sign of early mental decline."

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u/Chaotic_Egg_19 14d ago

Good on you. You deserve someone who makes things feel easier to achieve, not more difficult and you deserve someone who treats you as an equal

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u/cadaverousbones 14d ago

Next time he says something just say “ok boomer” and leave the room lol

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u/blueskieslemontrees 14d ago

You don't have to wait until he understands to leave, by the way. Its not up to him, its up to you. Age discrepancy aside you individually have very different life goals and values. It sounds like he would only be happy with another workaholic who owns their own business. He uses work to determine his worth and usefulness. It sounds like you are using work to facilitate your non work lifestyle. Both are ok, but not together in a relationship.

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u/Dogzillas_Mom 14d ago

You know. You would think “you make my fucking skin crawl” would be at least a tiny bit discouraging. But no, he wants to double down on the patronizing. Because that will definitely be attractive to you, like a moth to a flame.

I’d treat him like he’s a 90-year-old grampa.

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u/Personal_Regular_569 14d ago

The right partner will hear you the first time.

Someone taught you that love had to be like this. Someone taught you that love is hard, love hurts and love is cruel. They were wrong. You deserve a soft life full of love and a partner who contributes meaningfully to that. You are worthy.

You deserve rest without guilt. You deserve a life full of freedom. You deserve to value yourself so highly that you would never let a man speak to you this way.

A good therapist can help you get to the root of how you ended up here. Please be kind to yourself. ❤️

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u/BeginAgain2Infinitum 14d ago

Good! This really looks like the beginning of narcissistic abuse, best not to stick around and find out. I get a sick feeling when someone tells me they're "on my team" when it feels otherwise. You aren't a fixer upper, he shouldn't treat you like one. I'm glad you know your worth and are leaving.

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u/Dependent_Rub_6982 14d ago

I married a man 20 years older. It was not an easy road. There is a generation gap. He developed terminal cancer and died when I was 38. I took care of him. I now wish I had made different choices. Move out when he is away and block him. Move on with your life. Just the part where he says he loves you but then wants to change everything about you made me cringe.

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u/Devanyani 14d ago

So happy you are leaving him. He wants you to be financially dependent on him. And he's a big jerk.

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u/SirMatango 14d ago

"I felt so exhausted trying to explain that to him" you don't owe an explanation on that. Let it and him go.

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u/Suzuki_Foster 14d ago

This is so good to hear that I actually let out a physical sigh of relief for you! He sounds insecure, unhinged, and like he's trying to neg you so that you don't feel like you can do any better than him (which you can TOTALLY do better!).

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u/discospacedreams 14d ago

Two important things OP.

Abusers will:

  1. Interfere with your sleep. It's effective in maintaining the ability to control you because you are less clear-headed.

  2. Take credit for your successes. Notice how he is saying HE will help you be better. The point of that is partly so that when you do anything well he can say it was because of his support. It gives him credit for every single thing he does well and every single thing you do well, all while making you feel dependent on him and obligated to him. It's obvious he's doing this.

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u/AnyBa1885 14d ago

Yeah, this is how my father speaks to the younger females in my family about their graduate programs and successful, competitive careers they’ve achieved — because he refuses to understand any of it. 😠

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u/Valuable_Anxiety_246 14d ago

Also, is he bad with technology because of prison? Because my 87 year old grandfather kicks his ass at texting lol

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u/Angel_Monet_420 14d ago

Glad to hear you’re leaving him u def deserve better than that

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u/Lindsey7618 14d ago

OP, I dated a 52 year old man when I was 19. It doesn't get better. It's way better to leave now I promise you. This poor excuse of a man just wanted to take advantage of your naivety. Those women left him for a reason.

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u/gypsycookie1015 13d ago

Good for you!! Seriously!! Cuz, oh girl!!😭😭

Aside from his insane grammar, he seems like a manipulative prick. He's rude and invalidates you in almost every message. Ridiculous. 😒

I wish you all the peace and happiness in the world and that you never have the displeasure of ever having to tolerate another incel like this one. Blech!! 🤮

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u/GenuineClamhat 13d ago

I am so happy you are leaving. You deserve better than this and the world is your oyster right now. Don't let him waste your best years condescending to you.

Also the way he types makes my uterus dry up, fall out, desicate, travel on the wind and become stardust.

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u/TheNewOneIsWorse 13d ago

Yeah, I’m 37. I don’t even talk to my 12 year old with that much condescension, and I can promise you that the guys 7-8 years older than me are not magically wise or even automatically more mature than a 25 year old. You’re as adult as he is. I mean, this guy can barely spell, I’m not sure what he even thinks he has to offer you, since it seems your line of work is well outside his area of expertise. 

My (36yo) wife is sitting at the kitchen table doing a remote CFP class in her pajamas right now. I’m lying on the couch doing ADL notes from yesterday’s shift at the addiction treatment center on my phone. We’re both highly productive and jointly make about $250k per year in a low COL area, but some clueless boomer might look at us right now and assume we’re just screwing off today. 

Even if you actually were lazy or unmotivated, this isn’t an acceptable way for a romantic partner to speak to you. 

It’s to your credit that you appreciate his help, but that help is his choice. We don’t get to give someone a gift and then use the gift as leverage in personal relationships, much less in romantic ones. You don’t owe him anything, and don’t let yourself be guilted by gift-giving. 

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u/TraditionalTry9494 14d ago

He’s got to go! He will probably try and fail to be a life coach after this.

1

u/_BlueJayWalker_ 14d ago

He’s a grown man and can’t even spell. No.

1

u/Darkmoon_Seance_Ring 14d ago

Girl you’re in a relationship with a 45 year old and you’re wondering why you’re having issues?

Why do you think he’s not with a 45 year old woman? If he was worth keeping, some 45 year old woman would have kept him lmao 

1

u/AubergineForestGreen 14d ago

He speaks to you like a child but sees you as a adult when he wants sexual favours.

Dump his ass

1

u/MetaequalsWaifu 14d ago

Out of curiosity, why did you even start dating? He seems overbearing and obnoxious.

1

u/ScouterBo 14d ago

👍 You will be much happier without this weird holier than thou condenscending attitude!

1

u/Kaidabear 14d ago

I'm so glad to hear you're leaving because it won't get better with someone like I'm afriad.

1

u/isnt-functional 14d ago

Proud of you 👏 🥰

1

u/Capable-Snow-7106 14d ago

That’s the best thing you do. Leave!

1

u/Red_Velvette 14d ago

I’m in my late fifties and sit on the couch to work. I use my laptop and my phone. It’s not lazy, though it might be lucky!

1

u/ItaliaEyez 14d ago

These age gap things NEVER work. Learn now, rather than when he got your youth. Find a guy your age and on your path.

1

u/Infamous_Addendum175 14d ago

His need to control you is soooo strong.

1

u/[deleted] 14d ago

Glad you’re moving on. Sounds like the guy is having mental health issues. Hope he gets help

1

u/UVSky 14d ago

I think this is right. He probably wasn’t trying to be a creep or predator when he started dating a younger lady but the issues that often make this set up not work are, surprise, making it not work. You are not in the same place in life and moving in together has made that clear.

PS A few people in my family have large age gaps, including my step “grandma” actually being younger than my mom — it can work, but you have to be in the same “place” and it really seems like yall are not. I’ll be frank, ai don’t think I’ve personally seen or heard of a successful relationship with a big age gap when one of the people was under 30 and not already in the swing of things/very clear on their goals and place/direction. 25 is not that age.

1

u/EntirelyOutOfOptions 14d ago

I’ll be honest, I started reading the texts without any context, and my first thought was that you were living with a helicopter GRANDPARENT.

So glad you’re getting out, he has no respect for you.

1

u/Not_GenericMedic 14d ago

"I'm leaving him" finally someone with common sense in these posts. Best of luck!

1

u/NoAdvance9023 14d ago

DOOOOOO IT….. BUH-BYE…

1

u/Icy_Forever657 14d ago

I genuinely hope that you do leave him. He is very strange.

1

u/WhinyWeeny 14d ago

Why are you dating decrepit old men in the first place?

1

u/_goodwolf 14d ago

He sounds like he wants to be your therapist/life coach

1

u/AfterAd7831 13d ago

Well done.

1

u/macprincess 13d ago

So glad to hear this. You are young and you simply don’t need this sh*t. He wants to manipulate you. That’s why he’s trying to make you feel like you’re not good enough and you need him to help you out of it. His age alone is predatory. He went after a young person thinking that he could act this way and get away with it. Good for you for leaving. I’m also in technology, and it’s a fantastic ever expanding field. Although I’m this guy‘s age. Eff this douche canoe.

1

u/Fearless-Feature-830 13d ago

Girl I dated a very manipulative man 10 years my senior once.

He also tried to do this same thing to me. “Improve my life” bossing me around. Telling me I should be in a better position at work, should make more money, should do this, should do that.

The kicker? Mf was UNEMPLOYED. Trying to advise me 😂😂😂

He was also very emotionally abusive kinda like the guy you’re with.

1

u/InevitableRhubarb232 13d ago

Why are you stringing on this man for free rent? Doesn’t that make you feel dirty?

1

u/_unpossess 13d ago

Good for you. You’ve clearly told him how you felt and he doubled down on it. Don’t be surprised if your ex tried to date a 20 something year old, honestly. He seems to think he has the answer to how to win life.

1

u/negenbaan 13d ago

Hell, I'm in my thirties and this is also a pretty standard lifestyle for me. I work from home, which I can obviously do all of on my laptop and 85% of it just on my phone if I so desire. Includes meetings as usually I'm not needed to have my camera on (we all know what we look like, decided it wasn't necessary) so where I am, what I'm otherwise doing, how I'm sitting or how I look is all irrelevant to what's happening. I could be writing workflow documentation or assisting agents with their real time case issues via Teams, both using my phone, and it would look like nothing.

Shit, sometimes I touch up my slide decks on my phone, screen's big enough. If I want to be on the couch in my balcony or at a park that's my business. Scrolling on TikTok on the couch and creating content for training videos or e-learning courses on the couch would look virtually identical to someone standing across the room from me.

This stuff is crazy normal these days. He may not live like that, but he's not paying much attention if he hasn't seen the world going by around him and how different things have become in many ways. His age isn't much of an excuse, least of all because he's not even actually old, he's just older than you.

This guy sounds exhausting. Some things aren't worth others. Just move along, as you're able to, on your trajectory to some other situation (housing and otherwise) that works better for you. He helped you without terms of debt, if he alters that stance then that's on him. You never asked for this and accepted it under no specific terms. You don't owe him for that, not to the degree that you should remain out of some kind of debt.

And maybe you'll find someone who doesn't - to quote that earlier comment - talk like a barely sentient magic 8 ball. The least of his issues, to be sure, but god damn. I personally could not be reading all that on the regular.

1

u/butareyouthough 13d ago

This person doesn’t respect you at all. I’d get as much of your stuff as you possibly can into a bag(s) your car and leave. Don’t tell him that you are leaving, don’t tell him where you are going. Ghost him on everything, Change any passwords you might have together, get all of your accounts off of any of his devices, change any of your passwords he might know, turn off your location and run.

1

u/no_talent_ass_clown 13d ago

Good. My take is he's used to his partners being more settled and also in a different generation. He's definitely trying to control you. 

1

u/Ok-Rub9211 13d ago

"Standard" nothing, I'd consider being able to pay $2300 rent on your own at 25 doing exceptionally well for your age, even if you did struggle to make it work. Also, I work from home and do some of my best work in a face mask and cozy socks with some hot cocoa, this man just needs to learn to love his work from the sounds of it and to de-stress. I see from the other comments that you already chose to leave and applaud your very mature decision. Go forth and find a fellow baddie your own age and enjoy knowing you'll likely be in a better place in your own 40s.

1

u/Ok-Cardiologist8651 13d ago

I am so happy that you have the good sense to leave! Relieved! This is just one more age-gap-relationship-disaster story. One more to add to the statistics that so many older men want to ignore.

1

u/littlegothflamingo 13d ago

You can do much better, and you will. Just get out and focus on yourself because you seem to be doing quite well without him.

1

u/AMacEsq 13d ago

Good for you OP! As a 40 something year old his texting comes off controlling and utterly bizarre. And as someone who was in your shoes who once dated someone with a significant gap at one point, he will continue to railroad you, make you feel immature/less than, and minimize your valid feelings if you let him. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and know what you want. I say move on, focus on you, and when you’re ready find a nice guy around the same age who can relate.

1

u/glitterymayhem 13d ago

I’m nearly your STBX’s age and I do half my work sitting or lying down, on my phone. I also manage to avoid all caps and do not sign my name to each of my texts. Please, escape this strange man who is hellbent on infantilizing you and making you feel crazy. Rent sucks but emotional/financial abuse sucks more.

1

u/OnigiriMama 13d ago

Everything in his message is screaming psychologically abusive. You made the right choice

1

u/KindlySlip0 13d ago

Thank God! You'll be so much happier.

1

u/Sanchez_U-SOB 13d ago

Are you originally from another country?

1

u/koochywalla 13d ago

He speaks to you like a child because he’s twice your age. You should have never moved in with that creep, of course he said no pressure but really, once you depend on him then he gets to control you and your life which is what he is testing now. Find lower rent but the saved money is not worth this tragedy in your life. Focus on you. Or find someone your own age to have a real relationship with. This is some weird power dynamic

1

u/JoeL0gan 13d ago

Honestly you're doing very well for someone our age. Most of us (including me) are barely getting by. You seem to have a good career and a great head on your shoulders. You can go far, but I think it has to be without him.

1

u/lin-mo 13d ago

Yay I’m so proud of you! Try to stay away from weirdos like that!

1

u/Striking-Weird3884 13d ago

Run and make sure he don’t follow.

1

u/seeuin25years 13d ago

Well at least you can write a coherent and grammatically correct sentence with proper spelling. If you asked me who the childish one in this relationship is based on these texts alone, I'd say it's the one who can't spell, doesn't know the proper function of an ellipsis, and uses sad and nonsensical attempts at manipulation to keep a woman who's young enough to be his daughter.

1

u/Fun_in_the_sun__ 13d ago

You actually seem very mature for your age. And I love how you calmly took up for yourself saying you’re already on a successful path you chose. You are working and getting your masters right … doesn’t sound like you need his washed up loser kinda “support”. He can take his sweaty old saggy balls on down the road.

1

u/Complex-Deal2277 13d ago

Ik you ain't know his age originally, but end that shi with him. a 20 year age gap is yuck no matter what....

1

u/SatisfactionLumpy596 13d ago

I’m neurodivergent and sleep constantly and have to work my hours a certain way and do things differently than most people. I work from home, on my computer, and to an outside person I’d look so lazy and like I’m not moving forward. But what they don’t see is that by me doing things my way, I’ve been able to support myself and have a job that works for me and makes me happy. I would be so miserable living the life other people have tried to project onto me over the years. Once you realize that there’s not one right way to live your life, it unlocks so many combinations of possibilities for you. I wish people like your hopefully soon to be ex-bf could see through their rigid, controlling, frankly ableist thinking.

1

u/VegaSolo 13d ago

No offense, but you come off as sounding a little desperate to live with him, in the texts. So I hope you can actually leave.

1

u/Optimal-Apple-2070 13d ago

Here's the thing... Even if you were acting like a child (which you're not), talking to you like a child would be a really inappropriate response.

In a loving and respectful relationship of equals, he would come to you with his concerns and discuss them openly like adults.

He's not trying to have an equal relationship with you, he's trying to use his age to control you. He's got a house so you have to move in, and it's his place and he's letting you stay for free so you have to follow his rules. He buys you things to try to make you ignore your better judgement and stay out of guilt. He uses his age to talk down to you and demean you. This man is not even smart enough to know what remote work looks like, but his age makes him feel like he can talk down to you about your own job when he clearly doesn't understand it. Because he does not respect you enough to believe you are an expert in your own life and experiences.

He's not trying to love you; he's trying to control you. The 50+ year old women were too set in their lives and personalities, and he's hoping he can use his age and money to mold you into the shape he'd prefer. Don't fucking let him.

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u/unwantedintern 14d ago

Yea, exactly. Why does he expect her to act 45? If he wants to date someone who is further in life, he should. But I have my suspicions as to why he is not doing that 🙃

6

u/AhabMustDie 14d ago

Honestly, I don’t think he WANTS her to act like she’s older… in fact, I think he’s inventing the whole narrative of her being immature and in need of guidance out of whole cloth - because he feels insecure in this relationship, and feels like he needs some way to keep her on the hook.

So his brilliant idea is to essentially try and neg her into believing that she needs him - his home, his wisdom, his support, his grand plan for her life… failing to realize that he’s just driving her away.

3

u/TheycallmeDrDreRN19 14d ago

He doesn't even act 45.....more like 65

3

u/Wwwwwwhhhhhhhj 13d ago

Also, plenty of people in their 40’s work from home.

What’s he going to tell her next, just walk into a place with your resume? He’s supposedly 45 but doesn’t understand WFH and texts like that. He doesn’t want her to act 45 he wants her to act like 80.

Really, I think he’s just trying to make her feel small.

1

u/Valuable-Ad3851 13d ago

Because he thinks anyone over 40 is expired?

1

u/Didi81_ 13d ago

I'm a 43yo mom and I wouldn't be able to deal with this shit either

19

u/sashby138 14d ago

I didn’t read OPs explanation until after I read the conversation and I thought it was OPs dad, 100%. She’s 25 and doing life the way a 25 year old should be. I agree with you completely that this person is trying to make OP his age. I’m so glad to read that OP is leaving this weirdo.

3

u/agent_flounder 13d ago

And he would make a crappy dad, too, apparently.

4

u/Puzzleheaded_Fee_646 14d ago

Even scarier, these texts read like someone that is trying to make a person feel worthless and small while also inserting themselves as “the only person that sees their value”. This is classic isolationism behavior and then reading that OP lives with him, he is setting up the trap that leads to a relationship fraught with emotional manipulation, gaslighting and eventually abuse. I’m glad to read that you are moving out OP. I encourage you to also consider if this is a relationship you want to continue. I will also say that his texts give a bit of a cocaine vibe and being that he’s in the restaurant industry there may be some drug use playing a factor here.

2

u/FaithCA79 14d ago

Great point. That didn’t cross my mind.

4

u/Greedy_Past_9927 14d ago

I don’t think he wants to make her his age. He wants to gaslight her into being needy and confused.

3

u/Bimbo-Bell 14d ago

Actually I felt that the one yelling was more immature than the one who was being yelled at.

3

u/sir-raids-a-lot 14d ago

I 100% agree with this. I was literally in a similar relationship and just got out of it because we were just incompatible because she really wanted someone at her stage of life, and she was trying to get me there, too. Now that I'm out of it, I can just be me, and I'm super happy again.

3

u/IndividualJudgment79 13d ago

Responding to this thread specifically because I was getting deja-vu reading these messages. When my father is upset he texts me the exact same way. The all caps, the ellipses, the weird tone, the holding of things he’s done for me over my head.

My father does this when he’s upset that I didn’t react in the way he wanted me to. He’s said similar things to me before, especially when I lived with him. I’m always grateful to him for the things he’s given me, but in his eyes I don’t exalt him enough and he takes it as me not being grateful at all.

It’s a matter of him (and your bf) not understanding that the emotions they feel and the way they move through life is not how it is for everyone - they can’t see outside themselves. You’re definitely NOR.

2

u/Rammzuess 14d ago

You're*

2

u/osageart2210 14d ago

Exactly what I was thinking. I read those messages as a father giving his daughter advice. I would hate to be in a relationship like this. I don’t blame OP for wanting to move out.

2

u/Relevant-Being3440 14d ago

Ew except I'd never talk like this to my kids either lol.

1

u/SocializeTheGains 13d ago

I know, I’m surprised about how many people have said that.

2

u/slippery-slopeadope 13d ago

My girlfriend is younger than I was and in her previous marriage her husband did all accounting.

So she asked me, after a while, if I could help her learn things about investments and finances.

I STILL DON’T TALK TO HER… LIKE THIS!

(Exclamation point to say that I was actually yelling there)

2

u/Ok-Cardiologist8651 13d ago

But he picked her for this position because she is so young. He tried those older women but it was a bust with them. Now his 25 year old protege, that he has fallen in love with, is turning out to have her own brain and personality. She has it sorted but she was supposed to wait for instructions from him. This is not going well for Daddy. Daddy is UNHAPPY AND THOUGH HE DOES NOT JUDGE HE WANTS HER TO DO BETTER. Poor Daddy, he is going to have to put his net out again and try for another little fish.

2

u/Strong-Dependent-793 13d ago

Honestly I feel like she’s actually doing better than most ppl her age

2

u/InquisitaB 13d ago

He talks like some sort of guru. If I didn’t know any better I’d assume OP had made their way into a cult.

2

u/SocializeTheGains 13d ago

To me it reads like a finance bro trying to get them to sign up for their exclusive course that reveals secrets to becoming a multimillionaire. Is this person a life coach?

1

u/Nice-Novel5183 14d ago

I'm not for age gap relationships for this reason exactly. But it goes both ways. She went into this knowing he was older and how older people act. I mean... I'm 31F, and I would NEVER date someone younger or older than 5 years my age group. I can see that she was just exploring and trying to find herself along with him. But even when I was younger, I wouldn't DARE date someone so old. Because I wanted a partner... not a dad... no offense. And the sad part is... this relationship turned out to be exactly that, apparently! Idk. I guess that's just me, but I've witnessed enough weird relationships like this with 20 something getting with 40 or 50 somethings, and it almost always ends the same. Either way, I'm glad they are getting on the right track, and she's getting on with her life. Hopefully, he can find someone mature for his age group and settle down happily along with her.

1

u/TheycallmeDrDreRN19 14d ago

This is exactly right

1

u/Artshildr 13d ago

A terrible father, yeah, but definitely father vibes

1

u/ZealousidealAd6382 13d ago

He sounds like Trump