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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:
Krazynights34 · 13/03/2021 19:31

OP - this is ludicrous. He’s treating you like shit, lying to your face.
Get out tomorrow with your children or young one and enjoy yourself.
If he doesn’t cook for you don’t cook for him.
On an aside - what happened re gifts at Christmas?

IrisW · 13/03/2021 19:36

@NessanDormant

Again, ‘you suspect...’. Have a grown up conversation, for goodness’ sake! You are also responsible for your relationship!

Absolutely not this time. This time I'm saying nothing. I'm all smiles and can't wait for tomorrow. He will have zero reason to "blame" me for not getting the food or the pot. Then I'll have all the information I need depending on how tomorrow plays out.

Yes it will be ALL his fault and you’ll feel great about that, give it a rest and be an adult. You sound like you can’t wait for him to fuck up then you get to have been right all along, what a treasure you are.
Somethingsnappy · 13/03/2021 19:40

I'm trying to anticipate which excuse he'll use for the absent pot. Maybe.. He's forgotten where he left it? Or... It isn't where he left it. One of the two....

Okbussitout · 13/03/2021 19:44

@IrisW are you trying to be spiteful?

I honestly feel baffled how you could see op as the nasty party in this. So I can only assume you're trying to be cruel. Which is pretty fucking sad.

LemonBarley1234 · 13/03/2021 19:49

I think the plan of staying all smiles is a good one here.

He will be looking for a reason to blame you when he isn't able to produce the pot. Don't give him one and then you will have all the information that you need about how invested he really is in making your relationship work.

IrisW · 13/03/2021 19:51

[quote Okbussitout]@IrisW are you trying to be spiteful?

I honestly feel baffled how you could see op as the nasty party in this. So I can only assume you're trying to be cruel. Which is pretty fucking sad.[/quote]
Nope, I just don’t like when people are passive aggressive and I feel like both of the people in this relationship are very immature, especially considering there are children listening to their quarrels. I don’t see either as nasty. They could be adults and have a conversation. But instead they’re doing this. You’re free to think whatever you like about me and more power to you. The OP wanted to know if people think she is being unreasonable and I do.

zigzagbetty · 13/03/2021 19:55

You say you don't want to be a single parent family again but do you really want your child growing up in this atmosphere with them thinking it is ok for partners to treat each other this way. There is no respect coming from him and like you say, no effort. Do you want this for the next 16 years?

blackrimmedspecs · 13/03/2021 20:11

He's incredibly manipulative, don't stay with him, it will only get worse. He's punishing you, withholding your present like a child who has misbehaved also has lighting as he dosen't even have the bloody thing. This is no way to live, be a single parent again would be better than this.

Okbussitout · 13/03/2021 20:23

Ok @IrisW sound like you're bringing your own stuff to this and are projecting.

They have a baby so it's not like there is a child who knows what is going on. Also did op say she was arguing in front of her child?

NessanDormant · 13/03/2021 20:32

It's ok @Okbussitout there have been 7 pages of discussion, and only Iris feels the need to make that kind of input. Everyone else has put forward really helpful points, from both sides.

I suppose tomorrow will tell all. It will be really interesting to see if/how it becomes my fault when I'm a veritable Mary Poppins.

OP posts:
thevassal · 13/03/2021 21:29

@NessanDormant

"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?

Not a martyr exactly but not entirely reasonable either. You're letting your feelings from previous celebrations cloud your judgement. Yes, honestly, he sounds like a bit of a dick but if are still holding grudges from a year ago, you refuse to even tell him what you want to eat when he's offering to cook it, and wake up with a slapped arse face tomorrow before he's even said/done anything of course he'll be pissed off and not want to do anything to celebrate in the future!

I'm cooking lunch tomorrow for my mother for mother's day. I asked her in advance what she wanted, not because I'm lazy or can't be bothered to find a recipe Confused or because I'm 'playing games' but just because I want to make sure I make something she really likes!

As other posters have said - if you were cheerful from the start tomorrow and had told him what you wanted to eat - don't see why this involves you finding a recipe tbh, it's just saying the meal of a dish - if he then still found a way not to do it and be a dick you'd know it was him, whereas now he does have a bit of a point and you'll never be sure it's not you being unreasonable.

mum2bin2021 · 13/03/2021 22:17

OP, you sound lovely. I think you already know what you want/need to do, regardless of how tomorrow turns out by the undertone of your updates. Just know that your DD will grow up thinking that your relationship with 'D'H is 'normal' and will grow up to expect/accept this.

CuriousSeal · 13/03/2021 22:46

Gawd. If he was a good partner day to day then you probably wouldn't get so hung up on these occasions (created my marketeers). The relationship sounds like hard work!

Ohdobequiet · 13/03/2021 23:29

Fingers crossed op. But I think you know what’s coming, and hope you know when it does that it’s not your fault.

XelaM · 13/03/2021 23:48

You are playing the martyr. Stop predicting it's all going to be terrible and stop playing games. Start appreciating the little things (if there is a reason you're still with him) instead of always trying to find fault. Start looking at things a different way

Champagneandmonstermunch · 14/03/2021 08:17

I do hope he doesn't let you down again today!

ElizaLaLa · 14/03/2021 08:27

but I've spent so long not ever having anything because our relationship was not in a good place,

Why have a kid with him then? 🤦‍♀️

shouldistop · 14/03/2021 08:28

Why have a kid with him then? 🤦‍♀️

Read the thread 🤦‍♀️

BunnyJumper · 14/03/2021 08:50

Good luck OP. I actually hope that the gift is real and he makes you a lovely dinner. Hopefully it can be the start of a better relationship for you both

HappydaysArehere · 14/03/2021 09:16

Does he do well on your birthday and Christmas? Sometimes men just don’t “do” other events that well. Does he acknowledge any kind of anniversary?

ilikefastcars · 14/03/2021 09:43

Guess what op? He had no intention of doing/ getting anything for you today. It's simple, don't sulk, pack his bags. He is there because it's convenient not because he cares. Sorry.

Okbussitout · 14/03/2021 09:59

Hey @NessanDormant
Hope you are feeling OK today and whatever has happened isn't too upsetting.

TurquoiseLemur · 14/03/2021 12:17

I'm with Noirchatsdeux and Stormcloak here: this relationship sounds so unhealthy and it is your daughter I have sympathy with. I grew up in a family like this, the atmosphere dominated by my parents' passive-aggression, gaslighting, sulking, point-scoring, you name it. My father made it abundantly clear he hated being a parent (apart from the bits he could "perform" in public in order to impress others.) There's no way that a child can grow up in this setting and not be damaged.

soundsystem · 14/03/2021 12:25

OP, I really hope you're sitting down to a lovely roast lunch with your new tableware

ItsNotLoveActually · 14/03/2021 12:38

I really hope that he's made you dinner and used that lovely expensive Italian tableware.

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