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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I over sensitive or is he being mean?

112 replies

Fedupmum13 · 15/05/2021 09:30

I just don't know anymore.
Dp has adhd and a part of this (for him) is that he is snappy and also has very little patience. It makes it difficult to have conversations as I find myself timing it to when he's in a good mood or unlikely to snap. There's no point speaking to him when he's doing something as he gets overwhelmed and will be snappy.
Yesterday morning he comes in to see me where I was sorting dd (2) and I was running late for work. I'd already asked a few times if he could have a shower so that we could tag team. He came in and said 'everything OK?' I said ' would you be able to have a shower?' and he started shouting 'yes OK I heard you! Etc etc'. It made DD cry with the raised voice. It felt so disproportionate to what I'd said.
This morning I got up with DD and got her breakfast (dp went out last night so I let him do his thing) and realised we didn't have bananas. So I made her porridge, and gave her some pineapple (in place of the banana, first time I've ever done that). I went to go upstairs to get ready after he came down and heard him say 'what kind of breakfast is that?!', I challenged him and asked him what he meant a few times and he said 'I'm ignoring you! Just get ready'. He then text me a bbc link to children having too much sugar and he then told me how many grams of sugar was in the breakfast. I just broke down in tears. I'm trying my best, and it's the first time I've replaced banana with pineapple and he felt the need to react like that.
I told him he was mean and it was unnecessary and he's shouted for a good 20 mins about how 'you're always the angel and I'm mean and I'm abusive, change the record!'.
The major sticking point in our 7 year relationship is the way he speaks to me. The snappiness really hurts and upsets me. Maybe I am over sensitive? I was shouted at alot as a child and I find it hard. Noone else in my life shouts at me.. I don't want this for DD either growing up.
I've tried not to drip feed, sorry if I've left anything key out.

OP posts:
sweetypop · 17/05/2021 09:42

@OrangeRug I'm glad to hear I'm not alone too... last week my dd12 had a stale greggs donut for breakfast. It's not that I don't care but sometimes I'm in such a mess that I can't even find a clean spot on my kitchen counter and can't face making anything and the kids just have to fend for themselves. Then I go into mega hyper focus mode and the house can transform in a matter of hours into a palace.. which kills me physically and it all goes to shit again while I recover.... it's a horrible cycle. Today I'm in get my shit together mode, got about 3 days of washing up built up and about 3 weeks worth of washing to fold and put away but I'm motivated for it today in the hope of a brighter tomorrow

Duskydai · 17/05/2021 09:47

The best birthday present you can give your DD is to leave the abusive, manipulative, gaslighting dickhead and remove her from the situation. Your poor girl witnessing him constantly shouting and criticising everything you do.

Fwiw I am a children’s nurse with specific training in baby/toddler weaning and eating, and I always give my DD different fruits including pineapple for breakfast alongside cereal or porridge. What a completely disproportionate argument for him to cause over no big deal. He should be grateful someone is feeding his child not moaning it’s not to his standard! Bastard

OrangeRug · 17/05/2021 09:50

[quote sweetypop]@OrangeRug I'm glad to hear I'm not alone too... last week my dd12 had a stale greggs donut for breakfast. It's not that I don't care but sometimes I'm in such a mess that I can't even find a clean spot on my kitchen counter and can't face making anything and the kids just have to fend for themselves. Then I go into mega hyper focus mode and the house can transform in a matter of hours into a palace.. which kills me physically and it all goes to shit again while I recover.... it's a horrible cycle. Today I'm in get my shit together mode, got about 3 days of washing up built up and about 3 weeks worth of washing to fold and put away but I'm motivated for it today in the hope of a brighter tomorrow [/quote]
Good luck!

ElsieMc · 17/05/2021 10:07

This is so sad to read op. How can you spend your time worrying about when you actually dare speak to him? He is using his moods and snappiness to control you. You do not deserve this nor does your dd. You cannot spend your life like this.

I can imagine after 7 years it would feel deeply upsetting to separate if that is what you decide, but I think within a short space of time you will be able to breathe again and it will be a happy, stress free household.

bigbaggyeyes · 17/05/2021 10:19

I called him up on something the other day, whenever I say something to him, for example 'can you take your shoes off, there's mud on the carpet from them' he will always always retort with a counter criticism, rather than 'ah yeh of course, didn't realise', he will say 'oh well how many times have you got mud on the carpet'.

Gosh this was my ex! I'd ask him if he'd mind doing the washing up before coming to bed, and he'd have a go at me and say something like 'well I did the hoovering last week' rather than reflecting on the request and thinking 'no biggie, it's only a couple of plates, yeah no worries'

He's abusive op, this is nothing to do with his adhd, the two aren't exclusive.

Ask him to leave, it's your house and you can kick him out if needed, just get a bit of space and you and your dd can have some long overdue peace.

Hankunamatata · 17/05/2021 10:42

Hi op. I live with adhder and have been where you are. Honestly he didnt get better until he hit 40 and chilled out a bit (never took meds). We have had marriage counselling a few times that really him see my side and put strategies in place.

I also realised I have to be very blunt - I fell your criticising me and hurting my feelings.

He also hates to be managed but then we get nothing done 🤦‍♀️.

Iv discovered texting him with issues or questions works well. As he can think a out it and text me back whichnsolves issue of trying to find a good time.

TurquoiseDragon · 17/05/2021 10:53

ADHD is just a red herring.

My ex was abusive, and similar in his attitude to this bloke. I finally left afterc30 years, and I was broken. The DC have MH issues as a result of being with my ex, although we are recovering well. He had depression, but ultimately he chose to be an abuser.

OP, your DP is choosing to be abusive to you, especially if he can control it with others.

You are in a far, far better position than I was. Dump this abuser, don't remortgage for his debts and enjoy the peace of just being you and your DD in the house.

Fedupmum13 · 17/05/2021 17:53

Thank you for your replies, it's really helping me a lot to get my thoughts together. I've been in work today so haven't spoken to him. Our conversations are very functional at the moment which suits me fine right now while I sort my head out. Sorry my other post was confusing, I'm not remortgaging with his debts or anything, it's to buy the government out as I used the help to buy scheme to purchase.
He snapped at me over the phone earlier when I rung him to remind him to text me the shopping list from the fridge. He answered the phone with a 'yes fedupmum?!'.... Not normal really is it. What's wrong with 'hello, you OK?'. And then he said 'I've been in back to back meetings bla bla'.

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMoonCup · 17/05/2021 18:41

I'm mean and I'm abusive

On the positive side, he's got a modicum of self awareness, then.

Which means you definitely aren't being unreasonable if you decide to get shot of him - as he's telling you what you know already is true.

AmberIsACertainty · 18/05/2021 00:55

He's treating you like complete shit OP. I'm glad you're not putting him on the mortgage anyway. It's hard to see the truth when they've got you thinking about them every second of every day.

How do I go about xyz without him exploding because of course his reactions are nothing to do with him and entirely die to me to manage ?

I'll best remind him about xyz, otherwise when he forgets it'll be my fault because heaven forbid he should carry any mental load for anything at all ever .

When's the best time to mention xyz to avoid a scene because his behaviour is totally my responsibility ?

Maybe I should let xyz go, keep my thoughts feelings opinions to myself for an easy life its no fun arguing all the time .

Maybe xyz isn't that important, I'd rather not be shouted at I'll just do everything be everything he wants to the point I no longer really exist as my own person, to avoid it .

Let's just gauge what mood he's in now before I decide what to do next because he rules my life .

Oh gosh he's behaving like a wanker stressed and snappy, how can I calm him down because his emotions are to totally on me to manage and fix ?

I know I won't ask him to do anything or even hint at anything, I'll do it all myself, it's easier and it's fine because it's my only choice because he's made damn sure I've no other options that don't involve being yelled at . (It's not always yelling other forms of psychological abuse are available)

OP it's almost impossible to get your head fully straighted out whilst they're still in your orbit. They deliberately ensure you've no time to think by keeping all your attention on them. Its exhausting.

His phone response is typical of an abuser. "Oh she's thinking about something else, best bring her attention back onto me, whilst also taking this opportunity to squash her down further and train her that phoning me, or reminding me about stuff, isn't allowed."

helpmebeanadult · 18/05/2021 02:41

It sounds stressful OP. I've only read your posts and not the full thread. Things that jump out are that you're walking on eggshells to raise things, you're trying to get some acknowledgment from him for his actions, he won't address his actions and deflects or accuses you. I was with someone like this so my view may be coloured. Anytime in any way I raised something that had hurt me, it was oh that's right "I'm bad, you're good". It was really shit. It didn't change. Often the fallout from raising an issue was worse than the issue itself - which I guess was the point. I left.

Dryadia · 18/05/2021 07:09

So he is using you as a verbal punching bag but is nice to everyone else?

So he can control his behaviour, just chooses not to around you? Think about that for a second. If it was his ADHD why is this behavior only coming out with you?

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