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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Fall out with partner over my disrespect.

134 replies

Tracey555 · 07/08/2025 18:41

I’ve been with my partner nearly 3 years, we don’t live together.

I’m struggling with how we resolve arguments and his response to arguments.

English is his second language, and sometimes I know he hasn’t heard or understood something, especially in a social group.

He lives across the road from his local and we go in often, it’s always the same folk in there in an afternoon, 3 men, nice enough, but I have to try and slot into the conversation. Today we were joking about the old exam systems from the 80’s I knew my partner hadn’t understood something, but he was laughing anyway. I stupidly said “well he doesn’t get it even though he is laughing” I genuinely didn’t mean it come across as it did, but felt bad.

When we got back to his, he was acting odd, quiet and he said I had embarrassed him…I apologised, but he was still annoyed and .we ended up arguing and I left. I don’t want to message him as he usually upsets me more with his response, with veiled threats of us breaking up etc, if I don’t message he ignores me until I reach out.

AIBU or is this a bit toxic.

OP posts:
GaspingGekko · 07/08/2025 18:55

I mean, how did you expect that comment to come across?
As someone who has lived in a foreign country for 20 years I would be horrified if anyone made that comment to me, let alone if it was a partner.

The whole relationship, with threats to break up and ignoring each other, sounds awful. I would step away if I were you.

Ohthatsabitshit · 07/08/2025 18:53

I think you were really horrible to him for no reason at all. Why?

TidyDancer · 07/08/2025 18:51

It sounds like he’s had enough of you humiliating him. The silent treatment is awful and I don’t agree with it as a tactic at all but you do seem like you’ve been fairly awful to him.

RentalWoesNotFun · 07/08/2025 18:51

You were nasty. That’s good you apologised. Be more careful with your words in future.

Are you usually like that because if there’s something deeper bothering you, about him or work or money worries or whatever, it’s creeping into your personal life and messing it up, so you would be better sorting that instead of taking your frustration out on him.

amber763 · 07/08/2025 18:51

Your comment was out of line. I'd have been upset too. It's you who is in the wrong here

DoYouReally · 07/08/2025 18:47

You basically publicly announced that he's an idiot.

It's insulting even if accurate.

Mrsttcno1 · 07/08/2025 18:46

You deliberately embarrassed him and are wondering why he’s unhappy?

tripleginandtonic · 07/08/2025 18:46

I think you were mean

Tagyoureit · 07/08/2025 18:44

Toxic!! Run for the hills!