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angry husband on holiday, what to do for the next week

244 replies

Staringsun · 05/08/2025 12:25

I am on holiday with my husband. We’ve had some pretty bad arguments in the past, but this time has been awful.

I was wearing a local custom headscarf (which is not needed, but done so out of respect) and he said I was wearing it incorrectly and I didn’t need to wear it at all. I said I just liked it, and he came over to me and pulled it off my head. People around us looked at me and I said later on that I found it embarrassing and to never do it again. the rest of the day he was nit picking things like I didn’t know where I was going (neither did he), he said I have shit taste in food, that I make everything seem dirty (he was going through my makeup bag)

On the way back to the hotel, I was crying and trying hard to hide it by wearing sunglasses, when we got back he said “you’re always crying it’s just not normal”, and “I’ve never experienced anything like this”.

It escalated because I was being “quiet” with him, he said “don’t make me angry” and I stupidly goaded him and said “why not? What happens when you’re angry?” And he flipped the laptop which was on the desk over in my direction.

He then packed all our stuff, and said we’re going to another hotel where you feel more comfortable. All this whilst hysterically crying.

I said I didn’t want to go to another hotel I just wanted to sleep, and he went to bed. He woke up very sad and then just said “sorry for shouting”

I don’t know what to do. He has been ok for the last couple of days, but it just feels strange now. He’s not acted like this before?

OP posts:
Terrribletwos · 05/08/2025 19:55

Staringsun · 05/08/2025 19:47

The headscarf thing literally made me recoil, I’ve never experienced such disrespect. It was loosely draped around my shoulders and my hair and he pulled it off from the back.

He has thrown things in anger before - a phone etc. he has said in arguments before not to talk to him before he can calm himself down.

he distracts himself the same here as he does at home, with gaming. He’s brought his laptop for this reason. He doesn’t drink, and we can’t drink here anyway.

he is usually critical, he said I am bad at taking criticism. I said to him “I don’t think you like me much” before this all kicked off. He said I was being ridiculous.

we are on holiday with a friend couple (who live here) so I feel ok-ish staying. A flight back would be too expensive.

It’s just stupid stuff continually - I got too sandy at the beach (?), I didn’t stand the right side of him to walk down the street.

it is usually like this yes, but this is massive in comparison to the “norm”.

we don’t have any shared DCs.

we have only been married for a year

Bear out the holiday, keep away from him as much as you can and then when you get home make the right moves to divorce him. It's only been a year (what a shit year yeh) but hey then again it's only been a year, get well away from him, he's a very nasty individual.

Staringsun · 05/08/2025 19:47

The headscarf thing literally made me recoil, I’ve never experienced such disrespect. It was loosely draped around my shoulders and my hair and he pulled it off from the back.

He has thrown things in anger before - a phone etc. he has said in arguments before not to talk to him before he can calm himself down.

he distracts himself the same here as he does at home, with gaming. He’s brought his laptop for this reason. He doesn’t drink, and we can’t drink here anyway.

he is usually critical, he said I am bad at taking criticism. I said to him “I don’t think you like me much” before this all kicked off. He said I was being ridiculous.

we are on holiday with a friend couple (who live here) so I feel ok-ish staying. A flight back would be too expensive.

It’s just stupid stuff continually - I got too sandy at the beach (?), I didn’t stand the right side of him to walk down the street.

it is usually like this yes, but this is massive in comparison to the “norm”.

we don’t have any shared DCs.

we have only been married for a year

OP posts:
DiggingHoles · 05/08/2025 19:31

TroysMammy · 05/08/2025 19:25

The distraction I mentioned wasn't an Xbox ffs but another woman. The OP is having a shitty time without the thought he could also be having an affair.

It doesn't matter what it is. It doesn't matter what motivates him. He is abusive. That is all OP needs to know.

Crikeyalmighty · 05/08/2025 19:30

@mauvaiseherbe I think this too I’m sorry to say .

Terrribletwos · 05/08/2025 19:27

Staringsun · 05/08/2025 12:25

I am on holiday with my husband. We’ve had some pretty bad arguments in the past, but this time has been awful.

I was wearing a local custom headscarf (which is not needed, but done so out of respect) and he said I was wearing it incorrectly and I didn’t need to wear it at all. I said I just liked it, and he came over to me and pulled it off my head. People around us looked at me and I said later on that I found it embarrassing and to never do it again. the rest of the day he was nit picking things like I didn’t know where I was going (neither did he), he said I have shit taste in food, that I make everything seem dirty (he was going through my makeup bag)

On the way back to the hotel, I was crying and trying hard to hide it by wearing sunglasses, when we got back he said “you’re always crying it’s just not normal”, and “I’ve never experienced anything like this”.

It escalated because I was being “quiet” with him, he said “don’t make me angry” and I stupidly goaded him and said “why not? What happens when you’re angry?” And he flipped the laptop which was on the desk over in my direction.

He then packed all our stuff, and said we’re going to another hotel where you feel more comfortable. All this whilst hysterically crying.

I said I didn’t want to go to another hotel I just wanted to sleep, and he went to bed. He woke up very sad and then just said “sorry for shouting”

I don’t know what to do. He has been ok for the last couple of days, but it just feels strange now. He’s not acted like this before?

Ah? If this is true and he pulled your headscarf off your head, then this is an act of violence.

Blades2 · 05/08/2025 19:26

Your husband is a cunt, and this sounds abusive.
If my boyfriend so much as attempted to yank something of my head, I’d be on my way home.

TroysMammy · 05/08/2025 19:25

DiggingHoles · 05/08/2025 15:07

What?! He is grown men not a surly 13 year old.

The distraction I mentioned wasn't an Xbox ffs but another woman. The OP is having a shitty time without the thought he could also be having an affair.

Catloverlady · 05/08/2025 19:19

If this is your holiday I’d just head home and sort your life out without him then go on another without him. He sounds like a real arse. That’s really abusive and horrible.

Platypusdiver · 05/08/2025 19:03

I am going to go against the grain. I highly doubt that this is the first time that the husband has been such a prick. But the OP is stuck on holiday with him.

Telling her to leave now is not realistic, nor helpful. She could if she has independent funds for the flight and leaving the shared home immediately, when she gets back (hotel? new rental home?) or the support of family and/or friends until she gets herself on her feet.

Odering her to do it (which is what a lot of posts sound like, even if compassionate), makes things worse, if she has not got the means to it. It just leads of feelings of being trapped and results in more paralysis.

My advice to the OP is ride it out. Grey rock or make it clear that she will be conducting the holiday by herself - trips and meals by herself. Present it to him as "cooling off" time. It is a very umpleasant fact that sometimes arseholes need to be pacified for safety's sake. Then at home organise leaving and a future life without him.

Obviously, if he becomes violent, then leave asap. But it sounds to me like a grumpy arse, who want's to make himself feel better by forcing her to be subservient. Remember they are not at home, nor in an overally female-friendly place.

ShiftingSand · 05/08/2025 18:48

He woke up very sad? He’s a big baby and not a nice person to treat you like this. Very disrespectful. You must know that this isn’t normal behaviour. It must be very upsetting for you to be on this holiday with him. You deserve better treatment from a man.

CarefullyCuratedFurniture · 05/08/2025 18:18

He sounds utterly foul. You deserve better than this, my love, please keep yourself safe and bin off this pathetic excuse for a man.

BMW6 · 05/08/2025 17:55

Pack your stuff and go home. Tell him to Fuck Off from me.

TonTonMacoute · 05/08/2025 17:51

I don’t know what to do. He has been ok for the last couple of days, but it just feels strange now. He’s not acted like this before?

This sounds very strange. He has suddenly started being absolutely vile to you on holiday and he's never done it before?

BunnyLake · 05/08/2025 17:37

mauvaiseherbe · 05/08/2025 14:42

@Berlinlover agreed! then as soon as OP hasflownhome OW
on standby flies out, they may even pass each other at Gatwick

She’s welcome to him and at least it will hopefully make divorce easier.

Namechangerage · 05/08/2025 17:36

Abusive twat.

If he’s not like this at home, is there something addictive that he’s “missing”? Drink, drugs, gaming, gambling affair partner, prostitution, porn? HIS behaviour is not normal and would be a divorcable offence to me!!

BustyLaRoux · 05/08/2025 17:36

What the fuck have I just read???

Emonade · 05/08/2025 17:29

Staringsun · 05/08/2025 12:25

I am on holiday with my husband. We’ve had some pretty bad arguments in the past, but this time has been awful.

I was wearing a local custom headscarf (which is not needed, but done so out of respect) and he said I was wearing it incorrectly and I didn’t need to wear it at all. I said I just liked it, and he came over to me and pulled it off my head. People around us looked at me and I said later on that I found it embarrassing and to never do it again. the rest of the day he was nit picking things like I didn’t know where I was going (neither did he), he said I have shit taste in food, that I make everything seem dirty (he was going through my makeup bag)

On the way back to the hotel, I was crying and trying hard to hide it by wearing sunglasses, when we got back he said “you’re always crying it’s just not normal”, and “I’ve never experienced anything like this”.

It escalated because I was being “quiet” with him, he said “don’t make me angry” and I stupidly goaded him and said “why not? What happens when you’re angry?” And he flipped the laptop which was on the desk over in my direction.

He then packed all our stuff, and said we’re going to another hotel where you feel more comfortable. All this whilst hysterically crying.

I said I didn’t want to go to another hotel I just wanted to sleep, and he went to bed. He woke up very sad and then just said “sorry for shouting”

I don’t know what to do. He has been ok for the last couple of days, but it just feels strange now. He’s not acted like this before?

This is emotional abuse.

IsawwhatIsaw · 05/08/2025 17:15

Op hasn’t come back since original post.
Hope all ok.

StandFirm · 05/08/2025 16:51

OP do you have access to your own money and would you be able to safely leave him? You should not stick around with him for another week but make sure you're safe.

Bestfootforward11 · 05/08/2025 16:50

Horrible man. You say this is the first time he’s been like this, but that youve had pretty bad arguments before. Even if he hasn’t lost it like this before, guaranteed it will happen again. The fact he thinks a ‘sorry for shouting’ is enough means he’s not even fully taking responsibility for all that he did or the impact he had on you. So he’s carrying on now as if nothing much had happened. But I’m sure you’re treading on egg shells, trying to work out what you did wrong and how for it not to happen again. Life doesn’t have to be like this. Whilst no relationship is perfect, you really don’t need one that is full of arguments with someone who has behaved in a frightening way and then moves on as though nothing has happened. You need to feel safe with your husband. He is supposed to love you. These do not sound like the actions of a man who is capable of love. Don’t give him another chance as I fear what might happen next. You need to get out of the relationship. You need to speak to those close to you in real life and leave. Best wishes.

PigletSanders · 05/08/2025 16:48

He’s a horrible, abusive piece of shit.

Washingupdone · 05/08/2025 16:46

My ex always blamed me for things in front of people as well as behind closed doors. To others It looked as if iI was the root of the problems

Are you sure he hasn’t got someone in the shadows.

istheresomethingishouldsay · 05/08/2025 16:35

Do you spend your life tiptoeing around so as not to upset/annoy/anger him?

If there's even a small element of that in your day-to-day life, then you need to get out of there.

What he did is shocking, tbh, and everyone on the street will have been shocked at his behaviour towards a woman.

Frugalgal · 05/08/2025 16:33

Staringsun · 05/08/2025 12:25

I am on holiday with my husband. We’ve had some pretty bad arguments in the past, but this time has been awful.

I was wearing a local custom headscarf (which is not needed, but done so out of respect) and he said I was wearing it incorrectly and I didn’t need to wear it at all. I said I just liked it, and he came over to me and pulled it off my head. People around us looked at me and I said later on that I found it embarrassing and to never do it again. the rest of the day he was nit picking things like I didn’t know where I was going (neither did he), he said I have shit taste in food, that I make everything seem dirty (he was going through my makeup bag)

On the way back to the hotel, I was crying and trying hard to hide it by wearing sunglasses, when we got back he said “you’re always crying it’s just not normal”, and “I’ve never experienced anything like this”.

It escalated because I was being “quiet” with him, he said “don’t make me angry” and I stupidly goaded him and said “why not? What happens when you’re angry?” And he flipped the laptop which was on the desk over in my direction.

He then packed all our stuff, and said we’re going to another hotel where you feel more comfortable. All this whilst hysterically crying.

I said I didn’t want to go to another hotel I just wanted to sleep, and he went to bed. He woke up very sad and then just said “sorry for shouting”

I don’t know what to do. He has been ok for the last couple of days, but it just feels strange now. He’s not acted like this before?

Really? He's never done anything like this before? Ever? You mentioned previous rows - how did he behave then?

If he's always been perfectly respectful before and you only had 'normal' arguments then something is clearly wrong. On the other hand, if this is just an escalation of previous behaviour you need to follow the advice to get out.

LittlleMy · 05/08/2025 16:27

Oh gosh OP so sorry you’re experiencing this. I’ve had some bad exes but none has behaved like this.

The MN hive mind is very much unified on your predicament. I hope you’re able to follow the advice.