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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU or is DH over this petty argument?

985 replies

StupidArgument · 16/08/2020 21:57

For background, DH has a brother in law, Brian, who is quite pedantic, he likes things his way, he doesn't like windows or doors open or unlocked, even in the recent hot weather.

DH and I today have had a nice day, went for a long dog walk and made a nice dinner, watched a film etc but towards the end of the day we were both feeling a bit bored.

DH asked if we could go to bed early tonight, it was 8:30, I said fine shall we finish watching this program and go up at 9? He said "I have to be up really early" so I said should we just go up now then, but I was slightly irritated because we ended up having a conversation about it with him being a bit funny with his answers to me and me having to guess what he was hinting at instead of just saying "can we go to bed now as I have to be up really early".

Then, I was locking up and he had a moan at me about where I put my keys for the night and that I shouldn't put them there, I should put them there instead, and how I didn't lock the bolt properly. I didn't really say anything to him about it in reply.

He went upstairs before me, and as I was walking up he called to me "I wish you'd be a bit more security conscious" and I said "what do you mean?" and he said "you've left all the windows open up here". Five windows are open, 3 are just on the latches so can't be opened more, one was fully opened by him and one by me. I told him this and he started saying "don't come crying to me when someone robs you" and I just snapped and said "sorry, Brian"

He called me a sarcastic bitch and then he called me "Doreen" - my Mum's name. He said it was disgusting that I'd called him Brian and that I'd really hurt him. I said "Look, I'm sorry I called you that--" and he cut me off and said "you need to apologise to me". We got into a stupid, petty argument then with him saying "you need to apologise to me" and me saying "I just did" over and over, and writing all this down it just sounds absolutely ridiculous. He told me I can fuck off and that he doesn't accept my apology and went to get in the shower. I changed the bed sheets and when he came back I apologised again but he still told me to fuck off and that he doesn't accept my apology as I really hurt him. I left him for half an hour watching TV in bed while I came in another room and then tried apologising again but he said the same.

I do feel bad now for saying that as I only said it because I was annoyed and my temper flared, but I felt like I had kept my cool about the stuff before and having a go about open windows, when it is still warm and stuffy here, it just pushed me over the edge and I snapped at him.

AIBU or is he? Or are we both just BU and childish? He's gone to sleep now, what should I do in the morning?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 16/08/2020 22:22

Your DH sounds not that much different to Brian...

He was being a bit of a dick hinting at what he wanted, then somehow locking up the house is your responsibility when he's the one dragging you up to bed...
Then the complete unreasonableness over refusing your apology Confused

I think he is a lot like Brian and you hit a raw nerve and he was out of order.

islockdownoveryet · 16/08/2020 22:22

Am I the only one who thinks that he wanted a early night but not to sleep ?
And you didn't pick up on it or don't seam keen so he's pissed off .
He wanted sex love he's not bothered about the windows . Hmm

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 16/08/2020 22:23

He seems to think he's your Dad and yet, at the same time manages to act like a big baby. Weird man.

Winterwoollies · 16/08/2020 22:24

Ok a lot of this seems a bit worrying.

Firstly, you have nothing to apologise for. He was being absolutely ridiculous. He has subsequently been a complete arsehole by repeatedly demanding an apology and telling you to fuck off. He’s leapt on the one tiny thing you did and is using it to play the victim. That is a method adopted by abusive partners. Not saying he is, but it’s a known tactic.

Not only that, he does not get to ‘insist’ you go to bed when he wants to. I assume it’s always him dictating the bedtimes. If you wanted an early night would he accompany you or assist you stayed up later until it suited him?

BruceAndNosh · 16/08/2020 22:25

Life sounds very exciting in the OPs house

notforonesecond · 16/08/2020 22:25

I can’t believe you apologised to him!

If my DH was being that much of a pillock (never mind telling me when I had to go to bed) he’d be getting his birthday cards addressed to Brian for the rest of his life. I’d be making friends call him Brian. I’d be getting him personalised gifts with “hi I’m Brian and I love a closed window” written on them. Bloody hell.

Mamette · 16/08/2020 22:25

[quote StupidArgument]@oldbutstillgotit I think it's silly too, I think his parents did it whereas mine didn't. If I don't want to go to sleep at that time (which I usually don't, I tend to have trouble falling asleep) I get into bed with him for half an hour or so and then get back up and potter about in the spare room/my craft room or Mumsnet or read until I want to go to sleep.[/quote]
I used to do this with my toddlers Hmm

MrsClatterbuck · 16/08/2020 22:26

Dh likes to go to bed early some nights which is fine but I will be dammed if I have to go too just because he said so.

Does your DH think you are incapable of making sure that the downstairs is locked up.

He owes you the apology for the terrible way he has spoken to you and I would make that very plai.n

nancybotwinbloom · 16/08/2020 22:28

Quite consious that no one has asked who Brian is?

He seems to be a major character?

Who is he?

Am I that pissed I've missed who Brian is?

RiteAid · 16/08/2020 22:28

He’s being a twat. Clearly he wanted a fight and provoked one.

Leave him to stew, and certainly don’t apologise again - he’s being a total arsehole.

RiteAid · 16/08/2020 22:29

@nancybotwinbloom first para of the OP (I missed it too on first reading) - he’s the husband’s pedantic brother.

Crabeyes · 16/08/2020 22:29

What do you in that half hour? Watch him fall asleep? I go to bed at half seven most nights so i can read. If I told DP right come bedtime he'd be like Hmmand Confused Aside from that you did apologise but he cut you off and then wants another? Tell him go boil his head.

nancybotwinbloom · 16/08/2020 22:30

Omg I'm going to bed. I am that pissed. There we go.

BornInAThunderstorm · 16/08/2020 22:31

Your Dh sounds like a controlling twat tbh

nancybotwinbloom · 16/08/2020 22:31

Thank you @RiteAid maybe I am not that pissed. Surely if you missed it I can have another gin.

StupidArgument · 16/08/2020 22:32

@stella8686 oh my gosh that would have driven me mad

OP posts:
thevassal · 16/08/2020 22:33

8:30?!?!!? that's a very early bedtime for a child let alone an adult man! Even when I've had to get up for early for work (that's very early for me) I'd never be able to go to bed that early. I honestly don't know of any adult that goes to bed before 10pm unless they're ill, even those who have to get up at the crack of dawn (night shifts excepted)!

so many issues here - the insistence on joint bedtimes (I have literally never heard of this in my life) at ridiculous times, the complete overreaction to being called brian (even if this relative is a bit annoying, it's not like you called him hitler or something!), then using your mother's name as if that is supposed to insult you, being way OTT about the close to non-existent danger of having windows ajar in the middle of summer while you are in the house, and most of all his refusal to accept your apology for a non-event multiple times. Sounds like a right charmer!

ithinkiveseenthisfilmbefore · 16/08/2020 22:33

I agree with another poster: your Dh sounds quite similar to 'Brian'. Pedantic, controlling, everything has to be his way. You seriously have to go to bed when he does, or at least pretend to until he falls asleep? WTF is that?

MadameMeursault · 16/08/2020 22:34

I can’t believe you apologised to him. He should be apologising to you for calling you a bitch and telling you to fuck off twice. He sounds like a gaslighting, controlling twat. Stop apologising and start asserting yourself.

mathanxiety · 16/08/2020 22:35

So you go to bed with him even though you don't feel like it, and then get up and do your own pottering or whatever when he has nodded off?

That's like soothing a toddler off to sleep.

And he is pompously refusing to accept your apology now?

There is something seriously wrong with your DH.

farmertom · 16/08/2020 22:36

He sounds really rude and not very nice. You had nothing to apologise for! He should be apologising for calling you a bitch and telling you to fuck off. What a prick. Does he regularly speak to you like that? He sounds controlling to me

StupidArgument · 16/08/2020 22:37

@Justasecondnow

You’re argument was a daft argument; neither one of you covered yourselves in glory. Strange that you acknowledge what you did wrong and repeatedly apologise but he doesn’t have to acknowledge the shitty things he said too, or apologise.

You may have hurt his feelings but clearly posting on mumsnet suggests he’s got to you too. Why are his hurt feelings the only important ones. This alongside him insisting on bed times doesn’t look great.

Is he normally a good partner?

He is normally a good partner yes, he is generally kind and generous but he has his faults (as do I)

He does have a tendency to like things his own way, and he can never admit fault or to being wrong, he never apologises for anything.

He has got to me, I feel bad that I hurt his feelings but at the same time I wouldn't have hurt his feelings if he didn't keep going on at me. He will never see that though, he will never look at what lead up to me saying it, whereas I feel like I am fairly good at being objective even about my own behaviour, and I have no problems apologising if I am in the wrong.

OP posts:
Firsttimemummy33 · 16/08/2020 22:37

My sister was married to a man who insisted they go to bed at the same time, she’s now dead and he’s in prison Sad

CorianderLord · 16/08/2020 22:37

Bed at 8.30? When are you waking up? 4am?

I think he was nagging at you loads and you made a joke and now he's taking it too far and being a martyr.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 16/08/2020 22:37

Poor Brian, sat at home, minding his own business, having his name taken in vain all over MN (PS does he live in Hull?)

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