To be silent for the day

[GruffBillyGoat]

Today is the only day that my DP and I are both not working and able to spend time together for the afternoon. (he worked all morning, but has the afternoon off)

We both sat down at our laptops, I asked what he was up to, he jumped down my throat and said he just wanted a moments peace and quiet. I did not speak again for over an hour, then picked up the cat for cuddles saying something along the lines of 'your dad won't cuddle me so you have to, deal with it', I was again yelled at about how attention seeking I am and that he just wanted a moments peace and quiet.

I have now stopped speaking. I am aware that I am being childish, but am I being unreasonable?

I feel like shit that I can't even ask what he is up to without being called an 'ADHD attention seeker'.

Yea I was fully aware that I was being immature (though as I pointed out earlier, I was not aware that he could hear me talking to the cat). He had been home from work and relaxing for at least 3 hours already though, and while I was happy to give him quiet time I did not know that was what he wanted until I asked what he was up to and he yelled at me. Had he calmly said not much I just want some quiet time I would have been happy to leave him alone.

I had also worked 10 hours the day before while he had the day off and as much quiet time as he wanted, but he just complained that he was lonely and missed me. So I assumed that on the one afternoon in the week that we actually had a chance to spend time together he would actually want to make the most of it.

So I assumed that on the one afternoon in the week that we actually had a chance to spend time together he would actually want to make the most of it.

Perhaps there's a more successful way of communicating that wish? Also, perhaps he thought having a lazy day, each doing what you want, was making the most of the day together.

Sounds like a disrespectful arse then. Him, not you.

I think you should be expected to be able to say "what are you up to?" without getting yelled at.

I don't do the silent thing though. I'd have just said "alright knob, no need to be so knobby, knobhead"

Or just be plain that I didn't appreciate being yelled at for a simple question.

Unfortunately giving the silent treatment never does anyone any favours so you end up being in the position of seeming just as silly.

piano I'm so nicking that phrase.

I agree with you Piano and your post made me smile.
I'm with you. If I got shouted at for daring to speak, I wouldn't sulk...I'd put him straight.
If he couldn't take a telling, and defended his right to treat me like dirt, I'd know he was an arsehole not worth bothering with.

:) I will definitely use that next time piano.

But the more I think about it I do believe that the punishment fit the crime. The silent treatment is not my go to for showing my displeasure, and in any other circumstance I would not use it. But in this case being yelled at for speaking, not speaking for a while (obviously after telling him what a dick he was being) was both giving him exactly what he wished for, and made him regret ever wishing for it.

It did not take very long for him to realise how unreasonable he was being and apologise, and after that we were able to have a proper conversation about it and then spend lovely evening together.

Had I yelled back, or tried to discuss the issue immediately, he would have just gotten angrier as he was losing more quiet time and instead of innocent questions he now had to deal with serious discussion. We both needed time to cool off and an extreme version of quiet time achieved this, while getting my point across more effectively than any other method.

The silent treatment still seems childish and passive aggressive to me.