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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my boyfriend is being a prick?

184 replies

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:12

Today I got upset because I told him I was coming home, rather than staying at work late like I usually do on a Tuesday. He said “okay that’s fine”. He used to get super excited when I wasn’t working late, and I sometimes get really sensitive about wording. As in, my boyfriend thinks saying “that’s fine” is interchangeable with and the same as “that’s great, can’t wait”.

I know it’s something I’m very sensitive about and I’m trying to change.

He flipped and shouted at me, saying “oh don’t start this word thing again”. I thought the way he said this was really rude and nasty. I tried to explain to him that yes, I didn’t realise what I was doing and I didn’t mean to, but I was sorry.

He then wouldn’t apologise for saying something mean without ending it with a “but”. He denied this and said I was doing the same thing.

I tried to explain that I acknowledge what I did wrong, but it’s the way he said it that upsets me. That he comes to me so overly critical rather than telling me kindly what I did wrong.

He just doesn’t get this at all??? He said he did nothing wrong and that I’m trying to flip everything into him, that I can’t just take accountability without letting him know what he did wrong. He doesn’t seem to understand that actually he does stuff wrong too. He said he does, but he genuinely thinks I’m just “flipping it on him as a defence mechanism”. That I can’t accept that I did something wrong without us both doing something wrong.

He then hung up on me and said he “can’t talk to me when I’m like this” and “maybe I should’ve stayed at work”

im so hurt but I can get very sensitive and clouded sometimes so maybe I am in the wrong. Help???

OP posts:
Stripeysocks1981 · 30/04/2024 18:35

DoesNotPlayWellWithIdiots · 30/04/2024 18:34

You haven't said what your response to "okay that's fine" was that made him so exasperated.
It does sound as though you do this quite a lot and I'd find it exasperating too. Neediness is draining.

Draining!! Yes this is exactly how I would find this

EveryOtherNameTaken · 30/04/2024 18:35

You sound hard work. He's probably always saying the 'wrong thing'.

Imagine if he hadn't answered 🙄

MyRobotFriend · 30/04/2024 18:37

I don't understand. Does he need to be super excited about you coming home early?

I love my DH but sometimes I'm annoyed when he gets home earlier than intended because I like some time and space alone.

Littlefish · 30/04/2024 18:38

This sounds like a massive over-reaction on your part.

Could you afford some sessions with a therapist to explore why you feel so rejected by something so seemingly insignificant? Your reaction seems out of proportion with the event.

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 30/04/2024 18:41

I get really excited when dh says he is working late!

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:44

The thing is.. I actually acknowledged the neediness. I apologised and said I didn’t realise I was doing it, but I’m really sorry. That’s NOT what I’m disputing.

The reason I’m calling him a prick is because he thinks he can be really critical of me, and doesn’t understand how he could word things kinder. And he genuinely thinks he never does anything wrong…

OP posts:
DoesNotPlayWellWithIdiots · 30/04/2024 18:46

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 30/04/2024 18:41

I get really excited when dh says he is working late!

My DH got home early the other day (he doesn't usually get back until after I've gone to bed) and was greeted with "oh god, does this mean I've got to feed you?" 😂😂😂

Wishimaywishimight · 30/04/2024 18:46

You can't dictate to someone what words to use, that would really irritate me especially if I was expected to reply "can't wait" or something equally enthusiastic if DH announced he would be home earlier than expected! I love him but my response would be more like "grand so"!

PonyPatter44 · 30/04/2024 18:49

If you are aware that you are needy and rather highly-strung, I think the onus is on you to adapt your behaviour and dial it all down a bit.

I could not be arsed with having to run everything I said through a "kind enough for MissSqueak" filter. I say again, if you KNOW you have a tendency to overreact to words not being kind enough, you are the one who needs to adjust your thinking.

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:49

Yeah that’s not my complaint!!
ifs the fact he thinks if I mention anything he did wrong, he thinks I’m deflecting and being defensive. He can’t accept he does anything wrong and I feel a bit like a doormat

OP posts:
MyRobotFriend · 30/04/2024 18:50

But...I can't actually see that he has done anything wrong here?

You're pushing him away.

DoesNotPlayWellWithIdiots · 30/04/2024 18:51

He can be really critical of me, and doesn’t understand how he could word things kinder.

Is he actually being critical or is it your over sensitivity interpreting it that way? Can you give an example?

StormingNorman · 30/04/2024 18:51

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:49

Yeah that’s not my complaint!!
ifs the fact he thinks if I mention anything he did wrong, he thinks I’m deflecting and being defensive. He can’t accept he does anything wrong and I feel a bit like a doormat

Because he’s not saying anything wrong. Bluntly, the problem is yours. It is how you are interpreting what he says.

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:52

I thought it was really insensitive and rude to say “don’t start with the word thing again” rather than just something like “would you mind not picking apart my wording please”

OP posts:
Newname71 · 30/04/2024 18:52

ComtesseDeSpair · 30/04/2024 18:17

It sounds as though you’ve been together for some time? Being “super excited” for your partner to come home has a shelf life, ultimately. If DH expected me to send / make excited and enthusiastic text messages / phone calls about him coming home and then got upset about it when I didn’t use the right words I suspect I’d get pretty frustrated and snappy as well. You might be “sensitive”, but it’s not his responsibility to treat you with kid gloves all the time because of that - it’s for you to work on.

Edited

Agree with the shelf life!
DH and I have been together 25 years. I ran late at work one night and then got stuck in traffic. I was over an hour late home. He didn’t even notice! 😂

YoureStuckOnMeLikeATattoohoohoo · 30/04/2024 18:53

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:49

Yeah that’s not my complaint!!
ifs the fact he thinks if I mention anything he did wrong, he thinks I’m deflecting and being defensive. He can’t accept he does anything wrong and I feel a bit like a doormat

In this scenario, he made a comment about it being fine, you've over reacted about it, and he's reacted to that.

Honestly op, you sound exhausting, it sounds like he has to watch his every word, and can't even vent his frustration at that because he words that wrong too.

I'm tired just reading about it, let alone living it.

DoreenonTill8 · 30/04/2024 18:53

What did you say in response to 'that's fine'?! Was he still at work himself?

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:53

I joked like “oh just fine? Thought it would be great news haha”
and weve only been together 1.5 years

OP posts:
IamII · 30/04/2024 18:54

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:52

I thought it was really insensitive and rude to say “don’t start with the word thing again” rather than just something like “would you mind not picking apart my wording please”

It's obviously a common theme though, for him to say that. You can't pick at him for his language (just because of your preference) and then not allow him to vent his frustration, ever.

DoreenonTill8 · 30/04/2024 18:55

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:53

I joked like “oh just fine? Thought it would be great news haha”
and weve only been together 1.5 years

But did you 'joke' really, or be annoyed/upset really?

Notsoflirtythirty · 30/04/2024 18:56

God I couldn't deal with being told how to respond to someone starting a nit pick. If my partner tries to he will either get a don't start or an eye roll. And visa versa. Obviously if its an important topic we talk about it.

Could bare being told to reply with a please don't pick apart my words

Devilshands · 30/04/2024 18:57

IamII · 30/04/2024 18:54

It's obviously a common theme though, for him to say that. You can't pick at him for his language (just because of your preference) and then not allow him to vent his frustration, ever.

I agree with this.

It's clearly something that is driving him crackers - and it would with me tbh.

Gently, OP, you sound like really hard work and quite needy. At 1.5 years you should be happy and content - not need your partner to reassure you

Butchyrestingface · 30/04/2024 18:57

@MissSqueak you've posted before, haven't you? If not, your twin is on here. You should seek her out, because I don't know how anyone else can put up with this.

DoesNotPlayWellWithIdiots · 30/04/2024 18:58

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:52

I thought it was really insensitive and rude to say “don’t start with the word thing again” rather than just something like “would you mind not picking apart my wording please”

I asked previously and I'll ask again - what did you say in response to "okay that's fine"?

I honestly feel he's just fed up to the back teeth of constantly having to monitor his way of speaking (which, on the face of it, sounds like pretty normal stuff to me) in case he inadvertently upsets your sensibilities and gets you whining at him again!

Rachie1973 · 30/04/2024 18:59

MissSqueak · 30/04/2024 18:52

I thought it was really insensitive and rude to say “don’t start with the word thing again” rather than just something like “would you mind not picking apart my wording please”

Can you not see how needy this is?

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