Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Precious about mother's day

188 replies

NessanDormant · 13/03/2021 12:20

Just that really. I am I being precious about the following or can you think of a way to get out of my mindset....

Last year, it was my first mother's day with the child DP and I have together. Our relationship was not in a good place, at his doing. He didn't get me anything, my own mother got a little card for me from the baby as it was my first mother's days to her, and although I didn't say anything, it upset me even more because it brought home that the only thing was from my own mother on a day that (when a child is too young to do anything themselves) is imho for DP to make you feel a little appreciated for everything you do as a mum.

Last valentine's, he got me nothing as well. This year, I told him I'd got him a card and a little something, and he went into this big "oh I'm not sure you'll like what I've got" episode. He's done this before when he hasn't actually got me anything at all, so I suspected the same, but thought, just wait and see. So valentine's, I woke up already quite dejected because of what I was predicting. It came and went, and I just got sadder throughout the day as my card to him sat unopened, with the card from him, as I was waiting for a "happy valentine's" and to have my first ever gift. He said afterwards that he had got me something I really wanted but I was so sad all day it was impossible to give to me, and he can't give it too me now because of the negative feeling he will associate with it. I sort of get that, but after him always getting me nothing, I was waiting for him to make the first move and it wasn't rocket science for him to see that. I know that may sound childish, but it hurts to keep being the one who always gives thoughtful things and not receive anything back, especially when I did so at times when he was being a terrible partner.

So, it's mother's day tomorrow. And he is asking me what I want for dinner so he can cook it. I'm already feeling quiet because I just have last year, and this valentine's playing over in my head. AIBU to think he should be able to think just once about what he can do, without me having to decide myself and tell him. I'm not in the mood to find a recipe to tell him to cook it.

If I don't, he won't do anything, then like valentine's will say that I would have had a nice day/a gift if it wasn't for my own behaviour.

I know I probably sound precious, but I've spent so long not ever having anything because our relationship was not in a good place, but it was genuinely all his doing. He now says he wants the opportunity to show me what we could have, and without going into details, after what he's done and I've stayed with him, he should be doing this with bells and whistles. And this transpired into how he dealt with valentine's, and I guess that's why it's prickling me so much that for mother's day, after doing nothing for our first, he now looks to me to tell him what meal he should cook. I hope people can see that I'm really not ungrateful at the concept of someone cooking for me, and that there is a bigger picture here.

I just know I'll wake up tomorrow, expecting groundhog Day, I'll be sad from the start, he'll then say he could do nothing because of this, and this will be the "reason" the day is ruined. I told him after valentine's why I was sad all day, I was expecting no acknowledgement again and waiting for him to prove me wrong.

Sorry so long, didn't want to drip feed.

OP posts:
ChonkyChook · 13/03/2021 12:24

You know he's talking shite about having a gift that you wanted but he couldn't possibly give you? An 8 year old could come up with something better than that.

He's a nasty liar.

GrumpyHoonMain · 13/03/2021 12:24

I sympathise with you. He sounds like an arsehole. In your situation I would just take DC out for the day to the park - pack a picnic.

GrumpyHoonMain · 13/03/2021 12:25

Needless to say go without him lol

EpiphanySoul1 · 13/03/2021 12:27

I’m not sure why you’re even in a relationship with him and have had a child with him when your relationship is so bad. Your feelings are completely justified - he is treating you terribly!

NessanDormant · 13/03/2021 12:27

I did say that @ChonkyChook but he said, "I'll find the receipt"

At that point I said don't bother, because discovering whether for the first time he'd actually got something or not, was not the real issue, to me.

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 13/03/2021 12:27

Just tell him what meal you want!

TheBusiness · 13/03/2021 12:30

Horrible man. Is he expecting you not to tell him what to cook? Why don’t you suggest something and see what he does? Just say you would like a roast dinner. He is obviously looking for a reason not to do it and will probably find one.

EarringsandLipstick · 13/03/2021 12:32

He is obviously looking for a reason not to do it and will probably find one.

This. ^^

I'm sorry OP. This guy has nothing to recommend him. Time for serious talks about your relationship.

SillyLittleBiscuit · 13/03/2021 12:32

So what was this MD gift? Did it ever materialise or did he take it back? Pretty sure it’s bullshit and a way for him to place his failings on you. This is how these days are going to be as long as you’re with him. You feeling sad and unappreciated, him not really caring. You’ll get more and more quiet/sad in the hope he sees and makes an effort. He won’t.

StopSearching · 13/03/2021 12:32

If my dh asked me what I wanted for dinner, I would tell him. I wouldn't make it into a power struggle.

LAgeDeRaisin · 13/03/2021 12:33

Does he have any good qualities?

RJnomore1 · 13/03/2021 12:34

What a cock.

He’s completely full of shit, you see that right?

AlexaShutUp · 13/03/2021 12:35

I think you both sound like hard work tbh. He's clearly a bit of an arse and not a considerate partner, but it feels like you're playing games a bit as well. If you didn't think he'd got you anything on Valentine's day, why didn't you just give him your gift and let him expose his crapness? The weird feeling sorry for yourself all day just gave him an excuse. And it sounds like you're already planning to be miserable again this mother's day before it has even started? I think you need to stop playing the martyr and communicate in a more adult way about what you expect from your relationship.

If he is a crap partner generally, as you have implied in your post, then what are you actually doing in this relationship anyway? Random commercialised celebrations like Valentine's day and mother's day are not really your problem here. Even if he got you a great gift and made you feel special all day, I don't see how that would compensate for him treating you like shit the rest of the time. You need to focus on fixing your wider relationship or else getting out and going it alone.

Easterbunnygettingready · 13/03/2021 12:39

Imo is isn't grabby to be expecting acknowledgement.. Mothers day if you are a dm is a given surely? Valentine's day in a relationship constitutes a card +even a small token gift... We got married on my birthday... Dh knows he needs to up his game!!
Grin

CanofCant · 13/03/2021 12:40

It's a symptom of the wider problem in your relationship isn't it? The problem is that he just doesn't give a shit and that he only cares for himself. He won't change and I hope you eventually find the strength to get rid of him a live a life of happiness and peace.

RedMarauder · 13/03/2021 12:40

I posted YABU as I agree with AlexaShutUp

Commercial days just give emphasis to whether you are in a good relationship or not. You aren't so what are you doing to change your own position? Remember you only have one life.

GreenSlide · 13/03/2021 12:40

You have a child in this toxic environment, seriously the both of you need to grow up or split up.

NessanDormant · 13/03/2021 12:41

So what was this MD gift? Did it ever materialise or did he take it back?

It was for valentine's, and no it never materialised. It's the first piece in a set of really gorgeous tableware. I love to cook, and this set is horribly overpriced, but something I've loved for years. He says he can't give it to me now because of the negative association it has to valentine's and that's all he would see every time I used it.

Why don’t you suggest something and see what he does? Just say you would like a roast dinner. He is obviously looking for a reason not to do it and will probably find one.

Actually, that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'll say "a roast would be nice, but whatever you'd like to cook I'll be happy with". So if your hunch is right he'll find another way not to do it. And if that is what happens, I can deal with that, and know it's not me.

OP posts:
Carolina24 · 13/03/2021 12:42

He said afterwards that he had got me something I really wanted but I was so sad all day it was impossible to give to me, and he can't give it too me now because of the negative feeling he will associate with it.

PIease tell me you didn’t believe this painfully obvious lie.

OP, he’s a turd. He’s never going to show he cares because he fundamentally doesn’t. You deserve more than you will ever get from him.

Carolina24 · 13/03/2021 12:44

And even if it wasn’t a lie (which it is), the alternative is worse because it would show how manipulative and cruel he is.

NessanDormant · 13/03/2021 12:44

"The weird feeling sorry for yourself all day just gave him an excuse. And it sounds like you're already planning to be miserable again this mother's day before it has even started? I think you need to stop playing the martyr*

You see, this is what I question. Is it me? Am I being a martyr? Am I just feeling sorry for myself?

OP posts:
ddl1 · 13/03/2021 12:46

YANBU to complain about his general all-round behaviour, which sounds pretty awful.

However, I would myself prefer to be asked what I want for a special meal, rather than be given what he likes, or just a wild guess. So if he asked, I'd tell him rather than taking offence about it.

It seems in any case that what he does or doesn't do on Mother's Day or Valentine's Day is fairly minor compared with what happens every day. Is this relationship worth keeping, let alone celebrating, at all?

smartiecake · 13/03/2021 12:47

Also say you would like a special breakfast. A card from your child and some flowers. If you have to spell it out to him because he is an arse then definitely tell him step by step for the day, the whole day.

AlexaShutUp · 13/03/2021 12:49

You see, this is what I question. Is it me? Am I being a martyr? Am I just feeling sorry for myself?

I don't think it's just you, OP, but I don't think you are helping the situation. It's time to decide what you want from this relationship. Communicate that clearly and assertively, and make it very clear that you want out if he can't or won't deliver that. And mean it.

Don't play games and don't sit around feeling miserable in the hope that he'll suddenly be overwhelmed by guilt and remorse. If he doesn't give a shit, sadly, you can't make him give one.

Janaih · 13/03/2021 12:50

YABU to still be with this dick. There is a strong theme of women expecting their loser partners expecting them to make up for their shitty behaviour with a mothers day/valentines/birthday gift and then surprised when he continues to be a nasty prick.
However, for a laugh I'd ask for a roast, and see how he manages to gaslight you into thinking you've ruined the day.
Then you can tell him what you really want is for him to pack his stuff and fuck right off.