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Is this a normal interaction

107 replies

Thesoundofsilenceisdisturbed · 07/10/2026 11:47

I am genuinely curious because I have been in this relationship so long that I'm losing touch with reality. I am in this cycle within my relationship whereby my DP is cruel, then acts completely normal and I feel like I don't know what's normal anymore.

So here is an interaction from Monday and I know it sounds ridiculous. I want to know objectively if I am at fault and uncaring.
So the backstory relevant to this scenario is that I work more than DP although he earns a lot more. He's home all day and spends most of it in bed. I work all day and do all the housework, he refuses to help and if I ask I get so much abuse and anger that I've learnt to not ask anymore. I'm completely overwhelmed and resentful.

On Monday I text him asking very nicely if he could help in the house. I ask every now and again, he gets angry and then I leave it for a few months. I spent days planning how to word this message. I just asked if whilst he's home and I'm in work all day, could he please just clear anything he uses, empty the food bin if it's full and if there is washing out that's dry, please could he bring it in. I said I'd be very grateful. At present I'm running into the house between clinics putting washing out etc. if he drops something on the floor he'll leave it, or say "I can't pick it up" and walk off leaving me to do it. Further context is that he has a bad back, however he manages to drive to his father's regularly, play pool, to to the pub 4x a week and have sex. So he can do things that he wants to do.

Lunchtime Monday he came and told me there was a dead pigeon in the garden. I didn't think much of it, I was messaging a client and also assumed he'd sort it. He didn't sort it. It seems he just went to ay Xbox instead. He then text me in the evening and asking me to move the pigeon, bag it up etc and said he can't do it. This is where I am in the wrong; I said I'd rather not do it as I hate maggots and that he manages to go to the pub, play pool etc so I'm sure he could pick it up.

He came downstairs and started shouting at me. He said I was making him pick up the pigeon, I'm a horrible person. He said he doesn't know how he can live with someone as nasty as me. He then started calling me a bitch and said I disgust him. Followed by "I think of you as I think of that dead pigeon, you make me sick". Didn't retaliate and just kept asking him not to speak to me like that and said he was being cruel but he carried on and on. He proceeded to ignore me for the day and is now talking to me as normal.
Is this actually normal? I am so used to being told I'm disgusting, he hates me etc that I just don't know anymore.

OP posts:
Bavariamaria · 07/10/2026 11:51

It is not normal

You know it's not normal. How are you going to leave? You could have a nice calm peaceful life without this prick.

Applesaid · 07/10/2026 11:53

This isn’t normal except in an abusive relationship. I’m a sahm and if the washing machine hasn’t finished before I’m leaving the house and DH is working from home I know I can text him and ask him to hang it out if he gets a chance. He would consider a normal request and would do it while he boiled the kettle for one of his million cups of tea. He has never called me names.

TheEntitlement · 07/10/2026 12:00

It's not normal no, it's abuse and it's never going to get any better.

Interested in this thread?

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SummerFeverVenice · 07/10/2026 12:05

God no, that is so far from normal. You are in an abusive relationship. The only reason he has not left you is because you are his servant, laundress, and sex toy. The reason he got angry was because you tried to stand up for yourself in a teeny tiny way. He had to put you back in your place by frightening you and making you feel terrible.

Please leave or kick this man out.

momager22 · 07/10/2026 12:08

Come on op, you know this is abusive and not normal.
You’re not married - why on earth are you wasting your life walking on eggshells around this abusive prick?

PuppyMonkey · 07/10/2026 12:08

Get out.

Lomonald · 07/10/2026 12:09

You know this isn't normal or usual he is lazy and disrespectful, at best. Imagine him thinking emptying the bin is beneath him !

believeinbelieve · 07/10/2026 12:10

Of course this is not normal. He is treating you with total contempt. You can't go on like this - either he changes (seems unlikely) or you leave. Please don't carry on like this, you deserve so much better.

sherbetlemonade · 07/10/2026 12:14

No that is definitely not normal. He is extremely abusive. I only got as far as your backstory to know that. It sticks out a mile.

He's not going to change however much you keep trying, and it is not your fault.

Please start thinking about making plans to leave this abusive relationship, and please also talk to family and friends about this too.

Betterversionofme · 07/10/2026 12:16

His behaviour is wrong. Also, it would be wrong to stay with him. Life is too short for this.

JeatherLacket · 07/10/2026 12:16

I didn't read past where you say he is cruel as anything further is unnecessary to answer your question

It's not normal, whatever it is

TruffleSlinky · 07/10/2026 12:18

He's a nasty selfish lazy bully and you need to leave him.

MissingMeadow · 07/10/2026 12:18

Wtf? He sounds disgusting.

Rhaidimiddim · 07/10/2026 12:20

His is very abusive behaviour.

He treats you like a servant, except that any servant would have resigned by now.

The fact that you are here asking about this indicates that the spell he has you under (where you tiptoe around asking him for anything) is broken and you are beginning to see what a nasty man you have landed with. I really hope so, because you don 't deserve this

Thesoundofsilenceisdisturbed · 07/10/2026 12:20

When I objectively think about it, I can see that him speaking to me that way isn't how normal people communicate. However after years and years of it, you start doubting yourself. You start wondering "am I really so horrible that I have made him this angry". Sometime it's hurts and I feel completely broken and some days I just dissociate. I genuinely believe I wouldn't care if someone hurled abused at me or attacked me in the street because I'm so used to being treated badly. I have just popped home, the washing is out and it's raining. He's brought in his clothes and left the children's (none are mine) on the line in the rain.
I just assumed I must be really horrible to make him respond this way.

OP posts:
Lomonald · 07/10/2026 12:24

Thesoundofsilenceisdisturbed · 07/10/2026 12:20

When I objectively think about it, I can see that him speaking to me that way isn't how normal people communicate. However after years and years of it, you start doubting yourself. You start wondering "am I really so horrible that I have made him this angry". Sometime it's hurts and I feel completely broken and some days I just dissociate. I genuinely believe I wouldn't care if someone hurled abused at me or attacked me in the street because I'm so used to being treated badly. I have just popped home, the washing is out and it's raining. He's brought in his clothes and left the children's (none are mine) on the line in the rain.
I just assumed I must be really horrible to make him respond this way.

How can you be"horrible" he is supposed to love and care about you he doesn't. Even if you had an argument he is just showing how petty,selfish and abusive he is, by not bringing in all the washing

Godrabbit · 07/10/2026 12:26

Oh come on. 'Is this normal' dont be ridiculous. You know it isnt. Leave this waste of space and reclaim your life!

believeinbelieve · 07/10/2026 12:26

It's not your fault at all. Nobody deserves to be treated and spoken to like this.

Do you have support? Is there anywhere you can go, with the children?

SuzieKew · 07/10/2026 12:31

This WAS normal in my house 15 years ago and I felt the same as you. Doubted myself, was I the one causing it? I'd spent years walking on eggshells trying not to give him reason to start a row, it was exhausting.

Having been divorced 11 years and now in a relationship for the past 5 where there's proper mutual respect I can promise you that if you leave him your life will be a whole lot easier. Even being a single mum was easier than living with my arsehole of an ExH!

Maisymouse2 · 07/10/2026 12:34

Why are you living with that.

Lovemelovemycat · 07/10/2026 12:35

Nasty piece of work. Bin. Block. Delete.

Gobbledegoo · 07/10/2026 12:42

I've been married over 50 years. I have NEVER been spoken to like that. DH will put washing on, out to dry, brought in if it rains. Also, I very rarely do any washing up, which includes stacking dishwasher. He does an equal amount of housework, does all the gardening (including picking up waste/dead material). I'm not keen on his ironing skills, so I do it. We have always worked as a team. I

was at home a lot during the day when DCs were young and worked evenings.

I have NEVER come home to a mess that he alone made. The first time I was spoken to like your DP would have been the only and last time. Sex would not even be on the far distant future.

He is a vile man and you have put up with far too much. Time to either leave or throw him out. It depends on whether you are married, own your home, are tenants, who is on the rental agreement.

CandyCrushLevel14809 · 07/10/2026 12:48

If everyone tells you it’s not normal will you get out of the relationship?
Are you financially independent of him?
Who owns the home?

As an aside, how does he earn a decent salary from his bed?

DointheDoo · 07/10/2026 12:52

From what you have written he comes across as a lazy, mean, spiteful and entitled man.

You are in an abusive relationship and I think you need to start deciding how you will leave.

Girlwithavibe · 07/10/2026 13:04

Nasty partner !
Lazy partner !
Selfish partner !
Cruel and abusive but because you have been in this situation he has manipulated u into thinking this is your fault this is all on HIM
I know it's scary but you need to try and find a way out of this situation safely , any reason to think you can't leave ? Because I deffo need to he won't change and it's not nice for you DCS to see this either 💐