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AIBU?

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Should I be angry with DH or friends?

62 replies

Anothe · 30/04/2024 08:23

DH and I having a rough patch atm. He thinks I need to get angry about how my sister and a few friends are reacting to something that has happened to us. I don’t want to - she’s my sister - and they are my friends.
He tells me what I should be saying to them. Am I being a flying monkey? I just don’t feel the same anger, and he gets frustrated because I’m being wimpy. They have their reasons which I understand. I also feel exhausted from his emotions and have no anger left!

Trouble is, every morning we discuss what’s happened and what to do and it always turns into a row it seems.

anyway the other day I didn’t answer my phone. He said,‘aren’t you going to answe that? That’s suspicious’ I called back and It was one of the many robot calls I’m getting. But I was really cross, how dare he accuse me of suspicious calls! What’s he implying? He said I was overreacting.
yesterday I reheat new potatoes and leave 3 teeny ones on my plate. In front of DS he says, ‘are you going to leave them, that’s a waste’ I was really embarrassed.
He spends a fortune on stuff in the supermarket.

im so muddled. Do I tell friends what he wants me to? It will ruin our friendship and he says, well then they’re not real friends.
what do I say next time he says something like this in front of ds?

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 30/04/2024 12:09

So what actually happened to you and dh?
What was sister and friends reaction?

andHelenknowsimmiserablenow · 30/04/2024 11:05

Tell him that your feelings towards your sister and friends are valid and he has no right to try and tell you what you should be thinking or saying to YOUR loved ones.
To be honest he sounds like he is using whatever this situation is to isolate you from people.
The food issue is very controlling also. Just smile, say you're full and put it in the bin, don't engage in any discussion about it. Whether you clear your plate or not is your business.

Ultravox · 30/04/2024 10:49

I think this all hinges on what has happened to you, what your friends have done to support you and what your DH thinks they should have done instead.

Dery · 30/04/2024 10:47

As PP have said, it’s impossible to tell from your posts what’s gone on and whether your sister and friends have let you down really badly or not. But the fact that he seems to want you to alienate yourself from your DSIS and friends is ringing alarm bells for me.

GerbilsForever24 · 30/04/2024 10:45

This is completely incomprehensible. My answer would vary massively depending on whether or not you are being unreasonable in not fighting with your sister and friends. But we can't tell if you are or are not because you are being so vague.

so either he is hurt and upset because you're not backing him up, in which case I understand why he's snappy and a bit irritable.
OR
he is a controlling ass who is trying to drive a wedge between you and your family and friends.

Impossible to say.

VeraForever · 30/04/2024 10:43

We need to know what the issue is. It's hard to advise otherwise.

FakeMiddleton · 30/04/2024 10:35

If your DH is pissed off and wants you to stand up for him with your friends because, IDK, they were dicks to him, YABU.

If your friends didn't use a coaster and he wants you to have a pop,, YANBU.

marzipanlover81 · 30/04/2024 10:28

I’m concerned this kind of thing affects son (16)

That ship has well and truly sailed OP

BuyOrBake · 30/04/2024 09:58

@Anothe

Does he ever change his mind or compromise for you?

Are you ever afraid to say what you think or feel? What happens if he disagrees with something you say or do?
Does he make life difficult until you go along with him as its easier?
Do you feel like you are always walking on eggshells and having to pick the right moment to say things?

My ex was like this but it happened slowly over a long period of time andI couldn't see it for years!

peachescariad · 30/04/2024 09:57

He comes over as a controlling twat

exomoon · 30/04/2024 09:54

He wants to isolate you from your friends and family.

That is abusive behaviour.

Is he financially controlling?

SleepingStandingUp · 30/04/2024 09:49

Honestly op it's impossible to give much support with so little context.

Something happened to you and DH, he wants your friends and family to support you in a specific way and they won't? Can you give a comparable example?

Re potatoes, why did DS decline pudding because CV you didn't eat all your potatoes? Because he was worried money was so tight Dad was worried about potatoes?

Anothe · 30/04/2024 09:42

freakin I know, I sound mad.
lid used old fish out of the freezer and last nights potatoes so it wasn’t the best dinner. I get over sensitive when he criticizes me in front of son. It’s not often, but he can say things that sound a bit snidely then he sort of looks at our son as if for approval. Maybe he doesn’t, but it’s how it seems to me.

my friends are helpful given that everyone has their own lives and stresses. He disagrees with how they are supporting us and says I need to get them round to our/his way of thinking, as once they understand better, they may be able to help. That does sound mad.

OP posts:
Freakinfraser · 30/04/2024 09:36

But telling them off for what op? Why does he think you should be a vey with them?

Anothe · 30/04/2024 09:31

freakin that’s why I’m posting! I don’t know if I’m being rational any more. Maybe I should be being feisty and telling my sister and my friends off like he wants. I don’t think so, but he does keep going on.
thanks fozwomble I’m sorry you had a rotten time. I kind of wondered if he wants me isolated, but I can’t see why it would benefit him. It’s not like I have loads of mates. He just disagrees with their viewpoints.

OP posts:
Anothe · 30/04/2024 09:26

re reading and thinking, conkersinautumn about backing partner up.
I think the problem is that if I don’t agree with him it feels as if I get persueded until I do.
maybe he is controlling.

OP posts:
Freakinfraser · 30/04/2024 09:20

Anothe · 30/04/2024 09:17

Sorry to be so confusing! Im trying to keep it short, and not reveal too much.
thank you for attempting to untangle my post. I appreciate the advice very much.
re potatoes(!) I was embarrassed because he’d said I’d wasted them in front of son. I’m concerned this kind of thing affects son (16) Son then said he didn’t need a pudding. DH had bought posh pud without batting an eyelid. Maybe I’m being too sensitive.
the something that happened happened to DH and I, and it’s stressful in its self, but causing stress too.
i guess I’m posting because I am not sure what is acceptable or rational behavior from DH or me anymore.

To be honest I’m not sure your behaviour is rational either, and really don’t get the 3 potatoes and your son.

fozwomble · 30/04/2024 09:17

Christ almighty. This sounds familiar - exactly the playbook my abusive ex followed. He is trying to isolate you from the people who will call him out on this sort of behaviour so he can continue and potentially escalate it. Please speak to someone in real life about coercive control. Women's Aid are great.

Anothe · 30/04/2024 09:17

Sorry to be so confusing! Im trying to keep it short, and not reveal too much.
thank you for attempting to untangle my post. I appreciate the advice very much.
re potatoes(!) I was embarrassed because he’d said I’d wasted them in front of son. I’m concerned this kind of thing affects son (16) Son then said he didn’t need a pudding. DH had bought posh pud without batting an eyelid. Maybe I’m being too sensitive.
the something that happened happened to DH and I, and it’s stressful in its self, but causing stress too.
i guess I’m posting because I am not sure what is acceptable or rational behavior from DH or me anymore.

OP posts:
Sauvblanctime · 30/04/2024 09:12

Please may I have a crumb of context?

WarshipRocinante · 30/04/2024 09:10

What?

Eviebeans · 30/04/2024 09:01

Is it “something that has happened” to you and DH or you and sister and friends? If the first then he could tell them if he wants to. I’m assuming that you and DH have different opinions about it although the post isn’t that clear
it seems as if that one thing has morphed into disagreements about lots of unconnected other things

Catza · 30/04/2024 08:46

I don't know what's going on here, to be honest.
Re potatoes and phone calls, I wouldn't really react to this. Seems like a non-issue. It wouldn't bother me that it was said in front of my child. In fact, when my partner is being unreasonable to me she is the first one to say "dad, why are you acting like that" so embarrassment is 100% his.
As far as you friends, why does he need you to be go-between. If he has something to say to them, he should be the one doing it.
And why discuss whatever happened every morning if it leads to arguments?
Either he is incredibly controlling or both of you have some major communication issues. No way to figure that out without specifics.

Member984815 · 30/04/2024 08:43

Without knowing what's happened to cause his reaction , it sounds like he is trying to isolate you from family and friends . Don't let anyone tell you how to feel .

Beezknees · 30/04/2024 08:39

What did your friends do?

It's up to you how you react to it, not him.

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