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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Arguments over dinner, it's always somebody else's fault with him.

132 replies

SparkleSmash · 15/02/2024 18:13

We did our weekly food shop at Tesco on Monday. I got a roast chicken and rosemary parmenter potatoes with it for a mini 'roast' in the week + 5 or so other meals. We then nipped to Iceland afterwards where I saw some loaded potatoe skins and suggested we could make our own at some point in the week.

DP is cooking this evening as I have a stinking migraine. A roast he says. I go into the kitchen to see him scooping potatoe out of the skins. Confused, I ask what he's making. A roast he says. With cheese and bacon loaded potato skins.

I ask why he's doing that instead of using the rosemary & garlic parmenter potatos.

He then tells me that I said we are having loaded potato skins with the roast chicken when I never said any such thing. I suggest he must have misunderstood as that's not the case, he digs his heels in and insists that I did. He will not be budged. I know I didn't say that as it's not something I'd generally pair with a roast chicken.

Admittedly I'm getting slightly annoyed at this point as its a running theme. If he ever makes a mistake, which we all do and is no big deal, he never owns it and always passes it off as somebody else's fault. Every time. That is what has annoyed me, not the simple mistake.

I said it doesn't matter now we'll eat it regardless. He throws the potato's in the bin, still insisting that I said it.

I wish I could say this is an isolated thing but it isn't. The man is completely unprepared to own his mistakes whether something insignificant like this or something more important. It's always somebody else's fault.

We haven't been getting on very well lately and as you might have guessed there are deeper problems, but am I the unreasonable one here?

OP posts:
MercanDede · 15/02/2024 20:14

SparkleSmash · 15/02/2024 20:13

You are spectacularly missing the point on both cases. Are you drunk?

Are you?

SparkleSmash · 15/02/2024 20:14

Theunamedcat · 15/02/2024 20:13

Loaded with what? I do mine with bacon and cheese that does not belong with a roast dinner IMHO

Exactly this. Bacon and cheese.

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 15/02/2024 20:15

SparkleSmash · 15/02/2024 19:57

OK, fair enough.

I've come across badly here.

And there is also nothing wrong with commenting that the other spuds were supposed to go with this meal. Most other loving relationships the other person would just say something like "oh really? I didn't realise" for you to reply with "it doesn't matter. We'll have the others tomorrow".

It's not controlling let alone 'incredibly' controlling.

@MercanDede you're missing the point. It's not about whether going out late in the afternoon is a 'mistake' or not. It's about how he was late back and refused to admit it was because he went out late. That's on him. No doubt he used the circumstances to moan about not getting enough of a nap before work.

xyz111 · 15/02/2024 20:15

I agree with you op, it's all about how he says it. He could have said "ahhh I thought you said we were having these with the chicken, never mind, they'll be nice anyway". But it's the way he's speaking to you that would wind me up too.

SparkleSmash · 15/02/2024 20:15

MercanDede · 15/02/2024 20:14

Are you?

I'm not the one with comprehension difficulties here. You are. Are you being deliberately inflammatory or are you actually as confused as you seem?

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 15/02/2024 20:16

Personally I hate it when people take zero responsibility for actions they did my teenage son does it he threw his phone it bounced hit the wall and cracked was it his fault? No it was the beds fault for being bouncy and the walls fault for being there even the phones fault for "bouncing like that"

but he is a child and ultimately still being educated on responsibility

PillowRest · 15/02/2024 20:17

You're both being unreasonable, prioritise being happy over point scoring. Would you rather have a memory of a meal happily spending time together, or a memory of an argument about who said what when it really doesn't matter.

Remember how unreliable memories are too. Likely you both honestly think you are correct.

GruffalosGirl · 15/02/2024 20:17

I wouldn't have been happy with loaded potato skins with my roast, I reckon they'd be minging with the bucket of gravy I'd be putting on it.

But it sounds like you might have reached the point where everything you're both doing is irritating each other, and it's not about the potatoes. In that circumstance I would probably intend to bite my tongue and think about the bigger picture, but I don't know if I'd be able to hide my irritation.

However, I'm now separated from DH, mainly because it got to the point where there was daily bickering and irritation about everything due to the unresolved issues constantly bubbling under the surface. If you really want to save your marriage, you're both going to have to make an effort to let things go, and do a lot more work on it. In relationships where things are going well this would have led to fun jokey teasing or letting it go.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 15/02/2024 20:18

@SparkleSmash I feel like your DP's fan club is commenting here.

It's ok to ask your partner a question. It's not ok for him to essentially deny he was even there when you bought the damn potatoes - all he needed to say was damn, he forgot, and it wouldn't have been an issue (although loaded skins and roast chicken is an odd combo, granted!).

I can't help but think those of you jumping to his defense are the types that are so over sensitive a simple question makes you all of a fluster like you're being accused of something.

PussInBin20 · 15/02/2024 20:19

OMG people it’s not about the bloody potatoes!

HappiestSleeping · 15/02/2024 20:19

@SparkleSmash my wife and I have an arrangement. It doesn't matter whose fault it is, she is never to be blamed for anything. Even if it wasn't me, it wasn't her either. This works very well. Your hubby may wish to adopt similar?
The other one we abide by is that I make all the big decisions, and she makes all the small decisions. We have been together 10 years now, and so far there hasn't been a decision big enough for me to make.

diddl · 15/02/2024 20:20

and suggested we could make our own at some point in the week.

Which is what he was doing?

What was the plan for the mash from the middle?

Did he know that the parmentier pots were supposed to go with the chicken?

SparkleSmash · 15/02/2024 20:20

Theunamedcat · 15/02/2024 20:16

Personally I hate it when people take zero responsibility for actions they did my teenage son does it he threw his phone it bounced hit the wall and cracked was it his fault? No it was the beds fault for being bouncy and the walls fault for being there even the phones fault for "bouncing like that"

but he is a child and ultimately still being educated on responsibility

You have just described DP to a tee.

He blamed the fact he got home at 7.30pm on our 6yo DS because DS wanted soup. It had nothing to do with the fact he didn't take them out until 4.30 in the afternoon, knowing full well he had to be at work for 9pm (and wanted to eat and sleep before going).

Me, I'd have thought - OK, I should have gone out earlier or saved it for another day. I knew I had work.

Him - it's DS fault everything is up in the air because he wanted soup🙄

OP posts:
MercanDede · 15/02/2024 20:20

SparkleSmash · 15/02/2024 20:15

I'm not the one with comprehension difficulties here. You are. Are you being deliberately inflammatory or are you actually as confused as you seem?

Sorry my opinion is not the one you want to hear. It is quite obvious that you are accustomed to thinking you are always in the right.

There is no need to post sarcastic replies followed by personal insults calling me drunk, and now stupid thrown in with ‘deliberately inflammatory’- sounds like you are calling me a troll. That is against the talk guidelines.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/02/2024 20:21

Daffodilsandsunshine · 15/02/2024 19:10

How was he parented - was he frightened of his DPs and punished if he made a mistake so he hides it? If he can't "own" any mistake because he's frightened of a particular outcome how does he manage mistakes at work - or is everyone else wrong except him?

I have one of these. Hypercritical, shaming FIL.

We work around it and find ways to deal while using humour and kindness to resolve. HOWEVER, that's probably his only fault. He's hot, hardworking, does more housework than me, makes me laugh, you know, all the other things work.

I have faults so I can work around this one. And I have very good boundaries so it doesn't leak out.

TotalAbsenceOfImperialRaiment · 15/02/2024 20:22

Any type of carbohydrate can be served with any type of protein. The idea that some foods don't 'go with' others is responsible for a lot of waste.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/02/2024 20:23

TotalAbsenceOfImperialRaiment · 15/02/2024 20:22

Any type of carbohydrate can be served with any type of protein. The idea that some foods don't 'go with' others is responsible for a lot of waste.

And a million Italians cried out then were silent. Grin

Diamondshmiamond · 15/02/2024 20:23

YANBU.
He's over reached massively by throwing the skins away. Blaming everyone but himself is also really irritating- dp is like this so I know. Especially if it's leaked out onto blaming his children.
I sympathise op.

TossieFleacake · 15/02/2024 20:24

It does feel like some posters are missing the main point of this thread.

It can be very frustrating to deal with a person who consistently refuses to take personal responsibility for their actions and would rather place blame elsewhere. Even more frustrating when they lie about or deny previous conversations.
The potatoes were just a red herring in this story, the issue seems to run much deeper than that.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/02/2024 20:24

This is very good:

SparkleSmash · 15/02/2024 20:24

MercanDede · 15/02/2024 20:20

Sorry my opinion is not the one you want to hear. It is quite obvious that you are accustomed to thinking you are always in the right.

There is no need to post sarcastic replies followed by personal insults calling me drunk, and now stupid thrown in with ‘deliberately inflammatory’- sounds like you are calling me a troll. That is against the talk guidelines.

You are so much like DP I'm wondering if you are him at this point 😂

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 15/02/2024 20:26

Is it possible that he's become defensive because you're always hyper critical.

It doesn't matter what potatoes you have. It doesn't matter what time he went out or got home. It's only an issue if you point it out/pull him up on it/make a big deal of it.

The correct response to being cooked dinner is "thank you" not "why those potatoes instead of these potatoes". The correct response to him coming home with the kids is "I hope you had a wonderful time, tell me all about it" not "why are you late home? what time did you leave?"

FWIW, I'm organised and planned and DH is quite laid back. But just because he doesn't do things how I'd do it, doesn't make the way he does it wrong. He shouldn't ever have to justify why he has done what he has done to you, and if you keep pulling him up on things not being done exactly how you'd do them, he will naturally become defensive.

thatneverhappened · 15/02/2024 20:27

I sort of get it OP. I cook most nights and plan the weekly shop accordingly so it's annoying when DP uses something in "the wrong way" but I still massively appreciate a night off cooking so I'm cool with it. Maybe I'm lucky I can afford to replace the misused ingredients though

thatneverhappened · 15/02/2024 20:27

And luckily parmentier potatoes are gorgeous with almost everything 😋

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 15/02/2024 20:28

mrsm43s · 15/02/2024 20:26

Is it possible that he's become defensive because you're always hyper critical.

It doesn't matter what potatoes you have. It doesn't matter what time he went out or got home. It's only an issue if you point it out/pull him up on it/make a big deal of it.

The correct response to being cooked dinner is "thank you" not "why those potatoes instead of these potatoes". The correct response to him coming home with the kids is "I hope you had a wonderful time, tell me all about it" not "why are you late home? what time did you leave?"

FWIW, I'm organised and planned and DH is quite laid back. But just because he doesn't do things how I'd do it, doesn't make the way he does it wrong. He shouldn't ever have to justify why he has done what he has done to you, and if you keep pulling him up on things not being done exactly how you'd do them, he will naturally become defensive.

Sounds like if there's a "correct" response and an "incorrect" response that you're going to be punished.

Who wants a relation where you can't ask a simple question without getting your head bitten off and your dinner thrown away?

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