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AIBU?

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AIBU to make assumptions about my partner's plans when he refuses to give me clarity?

45 replies

tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 11:55

I'm working on setting some healthy boundaries, and a I've noticed a pattern where if I ask my partner what he's planning he deflects. I'm not talking huge, I'm talking about a weekend recently when we were supposed to see his mum and I wanted to know the timings but he never provided them and this weekend when he's thinking about going away for an afternoon and a night and I wanted to know if that's happening or not. It tends to start with vague things like he'll sort it out later, then progresses to maybes or talking so quietly I can't hear, or even silence when I raise the topic, and if I really push for an answer he derails the conversation by bringing up things he's upset with me for. I know this isn't normal. I know a bunch of you are going to tell me to leave him, which I might. I think either way I need a game plan for these vague occasions. At the moment I'm going with - "Okay, I need some certainty so I can fix my plans, so I'm going to presume you're doing x. On that presumption I'll be doing y." So for example this Sunday when I don't know if he's going to be in or not I've said: "I'm going to assume you'll be out from midday, and I'm going to spend some of the afternoon with my brother and his family so I get a bit of support with childcare while you're out."

OP posts:
tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:21

@Mrsttcno1 I think it's good to model healthy communication even if the other person isn't playing ball. I'd like him to tell me what he's up to so I can plan around it. So I'll tell him what I'm to so that he can plan, and maybe he'll learn by example and at a minimum he can't accuse me of not being transparent with him.

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Snorlaxo · 06/06/2025 12:20

How did this work when you were dating ?

My son was like this when he was a younger teen and it drove me crazy. He was obviously waiting to see if he got a better offer but he learned to say “yes” “no” or “I’ll let you know tomorrow “ which means we both got our way.

If you doesn’t leave the house much or rarely has plans, I would say “let me know if you want to join by Wednesday lunchtime” or say “I’m going with the kids, you can join if you’d like” because I wouldn’t want my kids waiting to see if bf wanted to come or not. He will only learn to ask you sooner if you’re unavailable.

Mrsttcno1 · 06/06/2025 12:19

tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:08

@Mrsttcno1 okay, but surely I do need to tell him what I'm planning? Do I just say "I'm doing this and you're welcome to join me"

Why? He doesn’t tell you what he’s planning?

tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:17

@pikkumyy77 I think he never learnt how to truly make plans with other people. His mum is a railroader - when we visit her she does these long planning chats where she seeks a full unanimous decision, but she sulks if the decision wasn't what she had in mind. I honestly think he just expects to be railroaded into decisions so he's given up on trying to organize things with others.

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tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:13

@MounjaroMounjaro one daughter together, aged 3

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tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:12

@andHelenknowsimmiserablenow great username. How does your husband feel about you making your own plans, has it changed anything in your dynamic? Do you have kids? If so do you get a break from childcare?

OP posts:
MounjaroMounjaro · 06/06/2025 12:12

Do you have children together, OP, or are they yours from a previous relationship?

pikkumyy77 · 06/06/2025 12:11

If he has not told you his plans don’t botger to include him. You don’t need to fuss about it—he doesn’t. But if you can’t have clear communication I would want to have a theiry about why? Is it trauma, family style, antipathy to you? What?

Theunamedcat · 06/06/2025 12:11

tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:08

@Mrsttcno1 okay, but surely I do need to tell him what I'm planning? Do I just say "I'm doing this and you're welcome to join me"

Yes because if he isn't going to communicate what else are you supposed to do?

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 06/06/2025 12:11

This doesn’t sound like a healthy relationship with good communication, eg deliberately talking too quietly for you to hear or not answering all/deflecting things back at you. Obviously we’re only hearing your side, maybe he feels that you’re overly controlling/nagging and this is his (unhealthy) way of retaliating.

Aside from that it’s perfectly reasonable to point out that his plans affect your plans, so “please let me have confirmation of time/dates by X or I will assume xxxx”.

Funkytuna · 06/06/2025 12:10

He’s playing mind games. Strikes me as he’s the one who needs to be in the control. He’s being really unhelpful on purpose. Make your own plans and do your own thing and ignore him. Wont take long for him to start singing a different tune when he doesn’t get the attention/reaction he’s clearly hoping for.

tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:10

@Lyra87 he doesn't actually leave the house very much.

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andHelenknowsimmiserablenow · 06/06/2025 12:09

My DP used to do this and it is infuriating!
Part of it was anxiety about planning anything, but part of it he admitted was because he didnt want me to plan anything separately without him in case he changed his mind or the plans fell through.
The deflection part also, if he knew what he was saying didnt make sense, he would just pretend we were talking about something completely different.
Now I just do what you do and make my own plans.

tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:08

@Mrsttcno1 okay, but surely I do need to tell him what I'm planning? Do I just say "I'm doing this and you're welcome to join me"

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Lyra87 · 06/06/2025 12:08

You mention childcare so I assume you have joint children? If so, I'd be very frustrated with this. Does he just assume you have no plans and will take care the kids while he swans off to do whatever he wants?

tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:06

@Shoxfordian yes, it's exhausting

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Mrsttcno1 · 06/06/2025 12:06

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 06/06/2025 12:03

You can’t control him and anyway he may be a last minute decision maker, not a planner. If so, he’d find your questions annoying. If you don’t like it, the best approach is to ask once, then if you get no answer take control of your own plans.

This.

I wouldn’t bother trying to mind read or make assumptions, I’d ask what the plans are and then if there aren’t any or you don’t get an answer, just make your own plans.

If two things end up lining up then great, if not, not your problem.

tecbrowidow · 06/06/2025 12:06

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter okay, that seems sensible. What's the best way for me to phrase it for him when I tell him my plans. Is it "I'm assuming you're doing x, so I plan to do y" or is there a less combative tone I can take?

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Shoxfordian · 06/06/2025 12:04

Communication really shouldn't be that difficult
Sounds an exhausting way to live

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 06/06/2025 12:03

You can’t control him and anyway he may be a last minute decision maker, not a planner. If so, he’d find your questions annoying. If you don’t like it, the best approach is to ask once, then if you get no answer take control of your own plans.

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