Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can anyone shed light on this dynamic?

115 replies

DaphneLaurel · 19/12/2024 23:56

DP and I are having a lot of arguments lately. From my perspective he seems to get upset with what feels to me to be innocent comments from me. Is it me? An I bring irritating and unreasonable?

Example 1: DP went in to the hospital for medical test (a scan). I asked if the doctors were able to say what was wrong. He got really upset and angry with me because they never give out scan results on the day and 'everyone knows that'. He went on and on about how he was surprised that I asked that question. I said sorry I didn't know. He just wouldn't let it drop, for about an hour. I found it upsetting because I'm not really used to hospital tests and I didn't know that they definitely wouldn't be able to tell him anything on the day.

Example 2. DP and I live separately. He mentioned that he'd been to buy some compost on the way over. I said "Oh is that for your raised beds?". I knew he was planning to build some but i knew they weren't yet built, but he is very industrious, always doing stuff and likes to buy stuff in advance. He doesn't have a garden as such so I wasn't sure what else he would be using compost for. He got very upset and angry at me. Apparently he felt that I was completely unrealistic in asking if they were for the raised beds because they months away from being complete and he would need tonnes of compost, not just one bag. It was for planting a climber apparently. He said it showed how disconnected i am from his life. I said sorry, but again he didn't let it drop. It made me feel a bit stupid tbh.

Example 3: DP has been on the waiting list to be seen about a health condition. He's been on there for months, almost a year. He said that he's called them and he's heard absolutely nothing from them for ages. I said something like 'oh dear, are you sure you haven't dropped off the list somehow?'. He went ballistic at me basically saying that he felt like I didn't trust him to be chasing them and of course he would know whether or not he's on the list. Again he wouldn't let it drop and I felt like I couldn't escape the argument.

Example 4: DP was telling me about his decorator who has been promising to come and finish some work in his house. He was meant to finish it last Christmas and now it's this Christmas and he's still not done it. The decorator promises and then cancels again and again. I asked him gently where his boundaries were and asked if he'd considered finding someone else to finish the work. DP said he was never going to let this guy off the hook and he would hassle him until he came and did the work. I said something like "God you could be waiting another 3 years". DP then got angry with me. He seemed to think that I was making a judgement on him that he would let the situation go on for that long. He went on and on about how I don't trust him. That wasn't what I was saying at all, I just know that even when you hassle people if the guy doesn't want to do it then he'll find a way out. I wasn't saying that I didn't trust DP to make it happen. He said I'm always being pessimistic.

Example 5. Driving out of the train station after picking me up DP says he's going to take a different route back to mine. I said something like "Really? Are you sure this is right? I've never been this way before". He brought this up as an example of me not trusting him. I just honestly didn't know you could go that way.

He's made it clear that I should under no circumstances make any comments whatsoever during parking. He would hate it if I said "What about this one here?" or "That space looks a bit tight" as he thinks it shows I don't trust him. I basically learnt that I have to remain completely silent. I mean literally not a peep.

In summary, he said that I am always questioning him and his judgement and that I don't trust him and I don't trust that he's handling whatever situation he's in. I do trust him and know he is doing his best and does wonderfully most of the time. I don't feel like I'm being critical. It just feels like normal chat from my side. Can anyone give any insights into this dynamic? So confused about what's going on. Is his outrage justified? Maybe I'm a really irritating airhead to be around?

OP posts:
WoahThreeAces · 20/12/2024 07:02

Ultimately you don't make each other happy. Your comments wind him up, his responses make you feel bad. Is that likely to change?
Decide what you want from a relationship, and from life, and whether this is it. Is this how you want to live?

Calmhappyandhealthy · 20/12/2024 06:59

I wonder if he's under a lot of stress (due to health issues) and that is making him extra sensitive

No.

Hes an absolute nasty twat

Get rid

3luckystars · 20/12/2024 06:58

He is silencing you. This will probably only get worse. Don’t do it to yourself. Get out now.

It sounds like he is exploding a lot at you, is this just lately? He is having meltdowns and can’t cope with normal conversations. This is a huge red flag. Look at all the threads here about that behaviour, it annihilates you.

WillowTit · 20/12/2024 06:58

i hate it when people suggest where to park, i can manage and do not tell me how to reverse park either

WillowTit · 20/12/2024 06:56

but as regards the scan i presume he was worried so perhaps that is spilling over all areas

User37482 · 20/12/2024 06:55

He’s too much work, he’s releasing all his frustration onto you. Release him back into the wild OP.

birdling · 20/12/2024 06:54

If this isn't normal for him, perhaps he's very worried and stressed about something?

Though I suppose you can't ask, or you'll get it in the neck again 😫

FinFacts · 20/12/2024 06:49

@DaphneLaurel He doesn't actually want to be in a relationship, or he doesn't want to be in a relationship with you.

Either way. Do yourself a favour and seek out people who actually enjoy you. Your chit chat is completely normal.

CleftChin · 20/12/2024 06:47

I had a boyfriend who told me I never believed/trusted him and always needed a second source for things, and he got quite angry about it - which I took on as feedback (although, TBH, I do prefer a second source for things, and I don't think that's terrible, but I kept my mouth shut unless it was important from then on)

BUT, that's not what you're doing OP, the first couple were just questions/small talk - it's like he was poised to find something to argue you with about, like you just existing annoys him.

I'd say he's one of those men who's too cowardly to end the relationship himself, so is being as horrible as he can so that you do.

BilboBlaggin · 20/12/2024 06:27

Maybe it is the health condition causing stress. Think about it though OP. Life is full of different stressors. If this is his go-to behaviour when he's stressed then it doesn't paint a good picture of your future together.

Taking just the first example, a normal person would just say "they never give you the results immediately", possibly in an irritated tone. The don't get really angry and go on and on for an hour about it.

Life is short. Consider carefully how you want to live yours and who you want to share it with.

Onelifeonly · 20/12/2024 06:23

Has he always been like this with you? If not, it sounds like he's gone off you and finds you irritating.

If he has, why are you putting up with it? If someone makes you feel bad, that's an indication that this is not the right relationship for you.

Offcom · 20/12/2024 06:13

You are asking what you intend as a straightforward question and he often experiences it as a criticism of some kind.

And when he senses criticism he reacts by belittling you: you’re stupid, you’re unrealistic, you’re oblivious to his problems; you’re undermining.

It’s ironic because you are obviously very interested in his life, to the point of asking for perspectives on this situation!

Massive leap, but it makes me wonder if he’s grown up feeling he just wasn’t good enough and he’s internalised a voice that provides a running commentary on his life: oh, typical, you said you’d build planters and you still haven’t done it… what a spineless pushover, letting the decorator get away with that… I told you you should look after your health and now look at what’s happened…

And when you innocently ask about compost he’s suddenly back in a situation where he’s being criticised and it feels SO UNFAIR except with you, he feels safe enough to mount a defence - it sounds like there is a childish petulance to his responses, especially saying “everyone knows XYZ!”

Fully expect some people will think this is just a ridiculous assumption (I mean, it is) but decided to post anyway in case it chimes at all with you @DaphneLaurel

InkHeart2024 · 20/12/2024 06:04

He sounds like a dick to be honest. Is he really wonderful? How?

CheeseDreamsTonight · 20/12/2024 06:00

He sounds unbearable! You must be walking on egg shells as the things you have given in the examples in no way justify hour long rants and arguments. You must feel like you're going completely mad.

It's not you and I can't see how you can put up with this long term without serious damage to your mental health.

Scarydinosaurs · 20/12/2024 05:46

prepareforthebacklash · 20/12/2024 01:34

How is saying ""Really? Are you sure this is right?" not questioning his thought processes. Don't get me wrong, all the replies so far are telling you to LTB, so you've got what you came for, I'm just asking you if you've any idea as to how the examples you've quoted may be interpreted by him.

Like I said, we really need to see the pair of you in action.

If someone drives in the opposite direction of your house you’re allowed to question it.

It’s a total overreaction on his behalf. It’s not a slight against him as a person if he took an incorrect route. It’s of no consequence. So why turn it into a row?

Ozgirl75 · 20/12/2024 05:31

Even if you are being annoying, it’s not ok for him to go on and on at you about it. It sounds like you’re just not particularly compatible and that’s ok - but I would move on and find someone you don’t have to walk on eggshells with. Life is too short to second guess yourself.

Bubblebuttress · 20/12/2024 05:04

He finds you a nag. 😕This won’t improve

his irritability is not worth it

Octavia64 · 20/12/2024 04:25

Many people don't like comments being made when they are parking. So you should probably be aware of that one.

I would get a bit upset by your comments about the route and about medical stuff as it would feel like you were challenging my decisions in a not very polite way. I wouldn't respond though - I'd just mark you down as hard work.

I don't think you and he are compatible.

Fannyfiggs · 20/12/2024 04:23

DP has been on the waiting list to be seen about a health condition. He's been on there for months

I hope it's the waiting list for a personality transplant!

You're not compatible. Bin him and live happily ever after on your own. The end ❤️

Lurkingandlearning · 20/12/2024 03:51

DaphneLaurel · 20/12/2024 01:28

I wasn't questioning his thought process. The route we took was in the opposite direction to my house and I haven't lived in the town for long. It felt like a spontaneous question/expression rather than me saying that he'd got it wrong. Like how you might say "Really?" when someone tells you an amazing fact.

some people do take those “Really” type comments literally. Having been told someone had treated a friend appallingly, completely undeservedly and out of character, I said “unbelievable!” I was told to fuck off if I didn’t believe her🙄

As a driver I appreciate passengers pointing out parking spaces I may have missed or routes I am unaware of, other drivers don’t. I knew one who didn’t like being spoken to at all while driving.

His behaviour is making you miserable and even if it isn’t constant you’ve reached the stage you are constantly wary of it. Why do you want to live like that?

Ghostofallnightmares · 20/12/2024 03:49

It's not you it's him.
Absolutely him.
Throw this one back or you're going to start believing it's you- he's already got you doubting, hasn't he?

Garlicwest · 20/12/2024 03:44

OP, this is from Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft:

"Mr. Right considers himself the ultimate authority on every subject under the sun; you might call him Mr. Always Right. He speaks with absolute certainty, brushing your opinions aside like annoying gnats. He seems to see the world as a huge classroom, in which he is the teacher and you are his student. He finds little of value in your thoughts or insights, so he seeks to empty out your head and fill it up with his jewels of brilliance. When Mr. Right sits in one of my groups for abusive, men, he often speaks of his partner as if she were in danger from her own idiocy and he needs to save her from herself. Mr. Right has difficulty speaking to his partner—or about her—without a ring of condescension in his voice. And in a conflict his arrogance gets even worse.

"Mr. Right's superiority is a convenient way for him to get what he wants. When he and his partner are arguing about their conflicting desires, he turns it into a clash between Right and Wrong or between Intelligence and Stupidity. He ridicules and discredits her perspective so that he can escape dealing with it."

~ Mr Right isn't right for any partner. Bin him off and find someone who can actually hold a two-way conversation.

Petrasings · 20/12/2024 03:43

Why on earth are you putting up with this? He sounds absolutely horrible, and rude.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 20/12/2024 03:20

Codlingmoths · 20/12/2024 02:32

But it is odd to drive in the opposite direction to where you are going- anyone would question that! Op, you don’t have to live like this. The carparking one is the only reasonable take he has in that list and that’s irrelevant as even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

I can see a constant questioning to route MAY be a bit irritating...

But, I don't think this is here....

If we're obviously going in wrong direction... At what point does one say something...??

When you're 500m off route? Waiting til 5km off route or? You understand my point.

And some people think they have a wonderful sense of direction who are utter rubbish...

I remember my mum's friend who would regularly give a 'helpful' lift home from evening class etx... She once took my mum 5 miles in the wrong direction... As in North rather than South😁.... My mum was increasingly alarmed... (she was relieving my elderly granny's carer... So was very late cos if it... An extra 10miles cross country driving....

OP he does sound an utter arse... He'd have to have some serious good points to balance out this arsehole behaviour..whcuh screams control and devaluing..!

creamsnugjumper · 20/12/2024 03:00

God he sounds like me when my HRT is out of whack....

I can be like this with my DH and the difference is I totally recognise I'm being a twat, sometimes he asked me what I perceive to be stupid questions.

So in your compost example I maybe would have said similar, well of corse one bag isn't for raised beds etc..

The difference is I would have reflected, apologised for being snappy explained I'm feeling a bit low and maybe checked myself for a few days until I calmed down.

The parking one though I tell my DH to zip it.. I hate being told where to park.

I wonder if he's a bit low or stressed, how would he respond to you showing him these examples and saying how you feel?

My reactions are very similar and are generally when I'm low and feeling vulnerable.