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Original poster

Family mocking partner’s speech - AIBU to be upset?

466 replies

PReggoDuck23 · 08/06/2025 15:40

Bit of a rant really. We’re on a UK break with my family, just a cottage thing in Wales. Me, OH, my parents, my sister and her fella. I’m 23 weeks pregnant and just feeling a bit raw anyway tbh.

So my OH’s got a bit of a speech thing. Not a full stammer but he struggles sometimes with certain words or says stuff wrong, mispronounces things a bit. I’m used to it now and usually know exactly what he means. He gets worse when he’s tired and it’s been a long few days. We’ve been walking loads and it’s not exactly relaxing.

Last night after dinner he was trying to tell a story and got stuck on a word. Tried like 3 times to say it and my dad and sister just started laughing and taking the piss. Doing voices and repeating it back to him all wrong. He tried to laugh it off but I could see he was gutted. I told them to pack it in and they were like oh calm down we’re only joking. Then my sister said I’m just hormonal.

This morning he said he had a migraine and stayed at the cottage. Might be true but also reckon he just didn’t fancy spending the day with them after last night. Can’t blame him.

I said something again to my mum and she just rolled her eyes and said he’s too sensitive and they’re only winding him up. But I don’t think it’s funny at all. I feel really protective of him and also just really sad he’s been made to feel like that. It’s meant to be a nice time away before baby comes and now it just feels crap.

AIBU to be upset? Should I have said more?

OP posts:
BrightLeader · 09/06/2025 14:44

You should just leave tbh. They have treated you both really badly.

Bluedenimdoglover · 09/06/2025 14:33

Pack up and go home. Tell them their behaviour is childish, ignorant and hurtful and that you are ashamed to be related to them. Shocking behaviour.

DraigCymraeg · 09/06/2025 14:25

God, they sound absolutely vile, all three of them! I wonder how the boyfriend felt?
If you can leave I would do so.
I'm so sorry.

LittleBitofBread · 09/06/2025 14:25

They're cunts.
If you happen to speak to them (I wouldn't be rushing to if it were me) and they bring up you leaving early, I'd tell them exactly why, and what you thought of their behaviour.

Snapandfart24 · 09/06/2025 14:15

Nope OP, your family are being right dicks. Like, riiiiight diiicks.
It can be crippling to have to struggle with these things and to have so-called family rip the piss is unacceptable. Sorry for being a bit sweary but it really grinds my gears, my youngest is virtually non verbal due to these type of "fun, jokey" reactions to speech problems.
Really feel for you being in the middle as fully taking a hard side with your OH makes it very awkward with your family which is the last thing you need.
If they can't play nice for OHs sake, they could bloody try for you and bubs. So sorry you are in this position, but it really isn't you (or OH) that are to blame at all.
Sincerely hope things improve for you all to enjoy the remainder of your break xx

YourRealAquaOP · 09/06/2025 14:12

Hi I'm sorry that your family are so ignorant,don't they realize if someone stammers they are embarrassed and picking on them makes it worse,and your not hormonal they have hurt and disrespected your partner which automatically hurts you.Perhaps they should watch The Kings Speech.Speak to you OH and tell him how upset you are and think maybe you should both go home.

CatLoco · 09/06/2025 14:10

It's just not funny. If I were you I'd tell them to apologise or you're off back home. How would they like it if they had a disability that others took the piss out of 😡

MassiveOvaryaction · 09/06/2025 13:40

nomas · 08/06/2025 23:19

Why would their endanger themselves by driving at night? They could be in a rural area with unlit country roads.

Show quote history

There were still at least 2 hours of daylight when I posted that Confused

uncomfortablydumb60 · 09/06/2025 13:26

@Muffinmam
You have all the sensitivity of a brick
None of your fucking business if he has had a brain scan
FYI Stammers usual have a psychological cause not a Fucking physical cause

uncomfortablydumb60 · 09/06/2025 13:23

Oops meant to quote muffin man my apologies

uncomfortablydumb60 · 09/06/2025 13:23

TooSquaretobehip · 09/06/2025 02:40

Condition? Condition?? Wtf, HOW does that excuse BULLYING? Whether he has a 'condition' or not, is completely and utterly irrelevant. I cannot believe your post, you are suggesting that unless he has a diagnosis, then the bullying is justified because if people 'don't understand it', then bullying is understandable. No one needs to 'understand' anything to not be a fugging bully!

Show quote history

You have all the sensitivity of a brick
Nobodys business if he's had a brain scan!!!
stammers are often caused by a psychological reason, not a Physiological one!!!

uncomfortablydumb60 · 09/06/2025 13:19

PReggoDuck23 · 08/06/2025 16:15

tbh I’m kinda shocked by it all, like I knew they could be a bit much but not like this. they started on day one actually – he said something about the kettle not working right and my dad was like “eh? what’s that meant to mean” in this fake confused voice and my sis was like “english pls” and laughing. I let that slide cos I thought maybe it was nerves or whatever and they’d settle down but nah it’s been every day in little digs

I’ve asked OH just now if it was really a migraine and he kinda half smiled and said “a bit of both” so yeah reckon he’s just done with it all. I said we can go if he wants and he just said “up to you babe” which is classic him, always putting it back on me. he’s not a confrontational person at all

trip’s til tues but honestly thinking of heading back tomorrow morning. I feel like I’ve tried to stick up for him but it’s like talking to a wall. can’t believe they’ve made me feel like I’m overreacting for not wanting them to take the piss out of the father of my child

thanks for replying, appreciate it. feel a bit less mad in the head now x

Please make the decision for him, he's trying to please you, and cause no offence to the stupid twats who take pleasure in mocking him

BarBellBarbie · 09/06/2025 12:48

RampantIvy · 09/06/2025 12:25

and my sister laughed and said “hope he’s gonna be able to pronounce the baby’s name”

@PReggoDuck23 While this is a nasty and uncalled for remark it is worth thinking about. A family member has a child called Ruth. The dad pronounces "th" as "f" so the child gets called Roof.

Please do call out your family for their bullying behaviour.
As a pp has pointed out only bullies respond that it was only a joke.

It's fine to pronounce Ruth like this if it's your natural accent, and not a speech impediment.

TreeDudette · 09/06/2025 12:37

I'd have left and taken my DP with me. Your family is horrible.

FatherFrosty · 09/06/2025 12:31

Fuck them

imagine how they are going to treat your child?

your poor partner. It’s not him coming between the family, it’s their awful behaviour.

RampantIvy · 09/06/2025 12:25

and my sister laughed and said “hope he’s gonna be able to pronounce the baby’s name”

@PReggoDuck23 While this is a nasty and uncalled for remark it is worth thinking about. A family member has a child called Ruth. The dad pronounces "th" as "f" so the child gets called Roof.

Please do call out your family for their bullying behaviour.
As a pp has pointed out only bullies respond that it was only a joke.

feelingfree17 · 09/06/2025 12:14

Well, as the saying goes, you can’t pick your family, but you can pick your friends (Partners)
They are just rude, ignorant vile people. They are clearly very unhappy people. On the other hand, you have clearly chosen a lovely, kind, sensitive man who’s clearly going to be the most wonderful Daddy.
Concentrate on your little family.

PrettyParrot · 09/06/2025 12:07

How mean-spirited of them. Do they have form for 'banter' or bullying of your friends/boyfriends in the past? Your poor partner, that sounds like a really unpleasant situation to be in.

Tortielady · 09/06/2025 12:06

Muffinmam · 09/06/2025 02:28

Has your partner not had any brain scans or speech therapy to find out what is wrong with him?

You can’t expect everyone to understand a condition that hasn’t even been formally diagnosed.

The issue isn't "what is wrong with him." It's what's wrong with them. Why should kindness and respect be dependent on a diagnosis? If they've had a decency bypass, does that mean the OP and her DH can't stamp on their feet and sprinkle chilli powder in their underwear?

VIOLETPUGH · 09/06/2025 11:38

Its only a joke , thats an excuse for bullying and mocking, what a horrible insensitive lot !! Tell them straight, that you dont like it and it had nothing to do with hormones or being sensitive and their behaviour was cruel.

user1492757084 · 09/06/2025 11:29

Speak directly with your father and sister. They are not being caring enough.

Tell them that if they intend to continue to behave like bullies they will not have you, DH and new baby to stay.

JHound · 09/06/2025 11:24

Your family are arseholes.

Delphiniumandlupins · 09/06/2025 11:22

Like everyone else I don't really understand why you and your DP are trying not to upset your family. They're not caring about upsetting you. Even ignorant people know that drawing attention to someone's speech difference will make it worse. It must be horrible to realise you are genetically linked to such stupid, cruel people and your DP sounds lovely.

tipsyraven · 09/06/2025 11:21

RB68 · 09/06/2025 08:37

Is it something he is effecting or can change - nope therefore they are arseholes

Eh? Bullying is never ok whatever the cause.

I’m baffled at posters talking about diagnoses and speech therapy. It’s got nothing to do with the OPs situation at the moment and is no-one’s business except theirs.

Nanny0gg · 09/06/2025 11:20

Muffinmam · 09/06/2025 02:28

Has your partner not had any brain scans or speech therapy to find out what is wrong with him?

You can’t expect everyone to understand a condition that hasn’t even been formally diagnosed.

I've broken the MN cardinal rule and searched

How can you of all people post that utter claptrap??