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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can anyone shed light on this dynamic?

115 replies

DaphneLaurel · 19/12/2024 23:56

DP and I are having a lot of arguments lately. From my perspective he seems to get upset with what feels to me to be innocent comments from me. Is it me? An I bring irritating and unreasonable?

Example 1: DP went in to the hospital for medical test (a scan). I asked if the doctors were able to say what was wrong. He got really upset and angry with me because they never give out scan results on the day and 'everyone knows that'. He went on and on about how he was surprised that I asked that question. I said sorry I didn't know. He just wouldn't let it drop, for about an hour. I found it upsetting because I'm not really used to hospital tests and I didn't know that they definitely wouldn't be able to tell him anything on the day.

Example 2. DP and I live separately. He mentioned that he'd been to buy some compost on the way over. I said "Oh is that for your raised beds?". I knew he was planning to build some but i knew they weren't yet built, but he is very industrious, always doing stuff and likes to buy stuff in advance. He doesn't have a garden as such so I wasn't sure what else he would be using compost for. He got very upset and angry at me. Apparently he felt that I was completely unrealistic in asking if they were for the raised beds because they months away from being complete and he would need tonnes of compost, not just one bag. It was for planting a climber apparently. He said it showed how disconnected i am from his life. I said sorry, but again he didn't let it drop. It made me feel a bit stupid tbh.

Example 3: DP has been on the waiting list to be seen about a health condition. He's been on there for months, almost a year. He said that he's called them and he's heard absolutely nothing from them for ages. I said something like 'oh dear, are you sure you haven't dropped off the list somehow?'. He went ballistic at me basically saying that he felt like I didn't trust him to be chasing them and of course he would know whether or not he's on the list. Again he wouldn't let it drop and I felt like I couldn't escape the argument.

Example 4: DP was telling me about his decorator who has been promising to come and finish some work in his house. He was meant to finish it last Christmas and now it's this Christmas and he's still not done it. The decorator promises and then cancels again and again. I asked him gently where his boundaries were and asked if he'd considered finding someone else to finish the work. DP said he was never going to let this guy off the hook and he would hassle him until he came and did the work. I said something like "God you could be waiting another 3 years". DP then got angry with me. He seemed to think that I was making a judgement on him that he would let the situation go on for that long. He went on and on about how I don't trust him. That wasn't what I was saying at all, I just know that even when you hassle people if the guy doesn't want to do it then he'll find a way out. I wasn't saying that I didn't trust DP to make it happen. He said I'm always being pessimistic.

Example 5. Driving out of the train station after picking me up DP says he's going to take a different route back to mine. I said something like "Really? Are you sure this is right? I've never been this way before". He brought this up as an example of me not trusting him. I just honestly didn't know you could go that way.

He's made it clear that I should under no circumstances make any comments whatsoever during parking. He would hate it if I said "What about this one here?" or "That space looks a bit tight" as he thinks it shows I don't trust him. I basically learnt that I have to remain completely silent. I mean literally not a peep.

In summary, he said that I am always questioning him and his judgement and that I don't trust him and I don't trust that he's handling whatever situation he's in. I do trust him and know he is doing his best and does wonderfully most of the time. I don't feel like I'm being critical. It just feels like normal chat from my side. Can anyone give any insights into this dynamic? So confused about what's going on. Is his outrage justified? Maybe I'm a really irritating airhead to be around?

OP posts:
CuriousGeorge80 · 19/12/2024 23:59

God he sounds like an absolute cock.

I don't really like people commenting when I'm parking, but other than that they all sound complete over reactions. He doesn't like to be questioned or challenged and he is rude and childish.

DaphneLaurel · 20/12/2024 00:00

Sorry this was meant to be on the Relationships board not in AIBU.

OP posts:
Stuffineed · 20/12/2024 00:02

Jeez. So what are you allowed to talk about?

LegoTherapy · 20/12/2024 00:05

He's insufferable. Thank goodness you don't live together. Give yourself the best Christmas present and get rid of the twerp.

TreesWelliesKnees · 20/12/2024 00:07

The dynamic is your boyfriend is a knob who is trying to silence and belittle you.

HocusFord · 20/12/2024 00:09

He’s mean and exhausting. That’s all there is to it really.

NoSquirrels · 20/12/2024 00:09

Can anyone give any insights into this dynamic?

You’re a normal person. Your partner is a twat (an insecure, negging type). Does that help?

thecrispfiend · 20/12/2024 00:10

You sound absolutely lovely and very level headed . I think you would be a lot happier not feeling like your treading on eggshells all the time-this guy has a lot of insecurities and he's taking it out on you x

itsmylife7 · 20/12/2024 00:27

As a driver it's really annoying for the passenger to keep making remarks about spaces ect.

sewingstockings · 20/12/2024 00:30

Find a new partner who is nicer. He sounds as if he enjoys putting you down. I rather be on my own than be with someone who is just looking to have a go at you.
To me the dynamic is he wants to silence you and demeaning you.

feedmefudge · 20/12/2024 00:31

He sounds like hard work.

endofthelinefinally · 20/12/2024 00:32

Oh dear. By example 3 I was thinking why on earth are you wasting your life with this man. I can't believe this relationship is making you happy. You only get one life. You deserve better.

DaphneLaurel · 20/12/2024 00:32

Stuffineed · 20/12/2024 00:02

Jeez. So what are you allowed to talk about?

That's how I feel. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells now. I don't know which innocuous comment is going to set him off.

OP posts:
Throwaway0912 · 20/12/2024 00:34

I very rarely call LTB, but seriously, throw him back in the sea. He sounds like a miserable, demeaning, piece of shite.

Needanewname42 · 20/12/2024 00:34

Op put the egg shells in the bin and give yourself a better start to 2025.

Hairyesterdaygonetoday · 20/12/2024 00:35

YABU staying with this rude, aggressive, arrogant dickhead! Any one of his sharp answers would have annoyed me. Any two, and I would have told him to go to hell.

rayofsunshine86 · 20/12/2024 00:35

You don't live together, so that makes life easier. Pop a warning sticker on this man, say farewell, and live life free from judgement for such silly things.

Endofyear · 20/12/2024 00:40

He sounds like an arse. In a healthy relationship you shouldn't be walking on eggshells all the time worrying he's going to go off on one over an innocuous comment. Dump this twat, you can do much better 💐

Needanewname42 · 20/12/2024 00:42

Op how old are you and how long have you been together?
Just being curious as to what's making you stay with him.

PerambulationFrustration · 20/12/2024 00:44

You'll never be happy with him and always walking on eggshells.
Live a better life next year without him.

Applepoop · 20/12/2024 00:50

Get rid of this nasty turd. Don’t spend your life with someone who is just mean and rude to you. It’s no fun and it’ll never get better.

he wants to bring negativity / belittle you because he not a nice person

dump him now and save yourself the bother of his shitty behaviour over Christmas. Return anything you’ve bought him and be free.

miserable cunt

i don’t think he even deserves an explanation any more than: this isn’t working anymore. Can you elaborate? It isn’t fun. Why? I’m not feeling it.

Applepoop · 20/12/2024 00:52

And just to add of course the relationship doesn’t start out like this. This kind of character does his best behaviour at the start. Until he’s got you comfortable. Then he unleashes his real, shitty personality.

Biffbaff · 20/12/2024 00:53

He sounds horrible, taking his frustration out on you and perceiving things as criticism when they're just questions. He's insecure and nasty with it. He's literally making you afraid to speak!

Please, please bin him off. You deserve someone who will actually have a conversation with you and respect your point of view. In your examples everything you said was totally valid! It's weird that he found anything wrong with it at all, let alone made you feel bad for speaking.

GameofPhones · 20/12/2024 01:07

Reminds me of a lad I knew when we were about 12-13. He had learned to flummox people, whenever they asked him something, with 'how do I know?' with a sneering tone and a smug smile. This was to every single question, mind. I concluded he thought he was being clever, and that he was an irritating twat.

prepareforthebacklash · 20/12/2024 01:13

It's hard to say, I mean, on the surface he sounds unbearable, taking his role of alpha male very seriously & not wanting your input, but then there's something about your 5th post that makes me think "has he just had enough of her going on at him?". Without seeing the pair of you in action, it's hard to say.

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