DP has forgotten it's my birthday this Friday. I know he's forgotten as he's not the type to do surprises and dd (6) doesn't know my birthday's coming up. I would expect him to know as we've been together 18 years and his birthday comes a week before mine.
I feel churlish for not reminding him then angry that I should have to. When dd was smaller I drip fed reminders to him mainly because I wanted dd to have the experience of making a card and getting a small present. The drip feeding would result in him remembering but there'd be lots of stress with this with comments like, 'Oh God - What do you want? You're going to be annoyed with me. There isn't time to find an open shop.' etc. Most things in life he's taken to saying don't remind me verbally send me an email to work. I put up with that but should I have to about my birthday?
DP is otherwise loyal and rings me every day from work because he wants to. It's not an example of him drifting away - he's always been just as frustrating.