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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:
DaphneLaurel · 20/12/2024 01:13

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.

He has a lot of wonderful qualities. I mean, really wonderful. But every time we've met up lately I seem to say something that he doesn't like. I wonder if he's under a lot of stress (due to health issues) and that is making him extra sensitive.

OP posts:
MyBirthdayMonth · 20/12/2024 01:17

Maybe he wants out of the relationship but would prefer you to do the dumping. Or maybe he is just a bad-tempered sod.

JingleB · 20/12/2024 01:17

Dump him. No one should make you feel stupid and wrong, particularly not someone who is supposed to care about you.

On the plus side, if you do it now you can get a refund for any gifts you bought him, and buy yourself a treat for shedding such a negative person from your life.

prepareforthebacklash · 20/12/2024 01:21

MyBirthdayMonth · 20/12/2024 01:17

Maybe he wants out of the relationship but would prefer you to do the dumping. Or maybe he is just a bad-tempered sod.

I dunno..."Really? Are you sure this is right? I've never been this way before" isn't something I'd be too happy to hear. I mean, if the OP has evidence to back up her concern that the route might not have been a correct one, then fair enough, but to justify it by saying "I've never been this way before" is pretty crap...none of us can possibly ever do all things once in this lifetime - not having done something is not evidence to question someone else's thought processes.

lazyarse123 · 20/12/2024 01:24

You're already learning not to speak when he's driving soon you won't feel like you can have an opinion on anything. Please get rid nothing you have said is wrong, maybe the parking but that's mildly irritating and nothing to shout about.
He clearly has some major issues accusing you of not trusting him all the time, guilty conscience maybe.

PerambulationFrustration · 20/12/2024 01:25

He has a lot of wonderful qualities. I mean, really wonderful. But every time we've met up lately I seem to say something that he doesn't like. I wonder if he's under a lot of stress (due to health issues) and that is making him extra sensitive.

Do not go down this route.
He acts like an arse because he is an arse.
There's a difference between a decent person being a bit stressed and snappy and someone who is constantly putting you down and making you feel you're walking on eggshells.
Stop making excuses for him or finding reasons for his awful behaviour.

Lufannian · 20/12/2024 01:26

Runnn.

it’s not supposed to be this hard.

DaphneLaurel · 20/12/2024 01:28

prepareforthebacklash · 20/12/2024 01:21

I dunno..."Really? Are you sure this is right? I've never been this way before" isn't something I'd be too happy to hear. I mean, if the OP has evidence to back up her concern that the route might not have been a correct one, then fair enough, but to justify it by saying "I've never been this way before" is pretty crap...none of us can possibly ever do all things once in this lifetime - not having done something is not evidence to question someone else's thought processes.

I wasn't questioning his thought process. The route we took was in the opposite direction to my house and I haven't lived in the town for long. It felt like a spontaneous question/expression rather than me saying that he'd got it wrong. Like how you might say "Really?" when someone tells you an amazing fact.

OP posts:
prepareforthebacklash · 20/12/2024 01:34

DaphneLaurel · 20/12/2024 01:28

I wasn't questioning his thought process. The route we took was in the opposite direction to my house and I haven't lived in the town for long. It felt like a spontaneous question/expression rather than me saying that he'd got it wrong. Like how you might say "Really?" when someone tells you an amazing fact.

How is saying ""Really? Are you sure this is right?" not questioning his thought processes. Don't get me wrong, all the replies so far are telling you to LTB, so you've got what you came for, I'm just asking you if you've any idea as to how the examples you've quoted may be interpreted by him.

Like I said, we really need to see the pair of you in action.

DreamTheMoors · 20/12/2024 01:42

I was with somebody like your guy.
At 88lbs and not sleeping, I decided my life was more important than his ever-increasing degradations.
I hope it doesn’t get to that point with you.
Be smarter than I was.
Please.

NightHouse · 20/12/2024 01:46

I ended a relationship with a guy like this. Every time we met, I had to think about what I was saying and I came away from our dates just feeling a little bit shit.

Nope.

Bin him.

MarkingBad · 20/12/2024 01:55

He sounds stressed and going over the top with it to me. Waiting for a long time on a medical issue takes it's toll.

Even so if he's losing it like that he needs further medical help. You and he do not sound compatible though and he needn't treat you like that, he does because he can and that's not a good balance in your relationship.

As for the directions and parking thing. I would find that irritating and even low level controlling if it's frequent. I'm driving if I want directions or parking attendant I'd ask. I have a back seat driver in my life, it frequently grates. I tend to ignore it because I know anything I say won't stop it happening but it doesn't stop it being bloody annoying

pincklop · 20/12/2024 01:56

Example 1 and 3. Is this health concern enough to stress him over situations to take it out on you without meaning too. If he's waiting for cancer results for example might make sense.

Jumpingthruhoops · 20/12/2024 02:20

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?

I mean... this is quite a range of subjects to argue about. Is there anything you can discuss without seemingly pissing him off?

You say you don't live together and, to be honest, he sounds like a guy who needs his own space and likes doing things his own way. It might be time to consider whether the two of you are truly compatible.

Codlingmoths · 20/12/2024 02:32

prepareforthebacklash · 20/12/2024 01:34

How is saying ""Really? Are you sure this is right?" not questioning his thought processes. Don't get me wrong, all the replies so far are telling you to LTB, so you've got what you came for, I'm just asking you if you've any idea as to how the examples you've quoted may be interpreted by him.

Like I said, we really need to see the pair of you in action.

But it is odd to drive in the opposite direction to where you are going- anyone would question that! Op, you don’t have to live like this. The carparking one is the only reasonable take he has in that list and that’s irrelevant as even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

creamsnugjumper · 20/12/2024 03:00

God he sounds like me when my HRT is out of whack....

I can be like this with my DH and the difference is I totally recognise I'm being a twat, sometimes he asked me what I perceive to be stupid questions.

So in your compost example I maybe would have said similar, well of corse one bag isn't for raised beds etc..

The difference is I would have reflected, apologised for being snappy explained I'm feeling a bit low and maybe checked myself for a few days until I calmed down.

The parking one though I tell my DH to zip it.. I hate being told where to park.

I wonder if he's a bit low or stressed, how would he respond to you showing him these examples and saying how you feel?

My reactions are very similar and are generally when I'm low and feeling vulnerable.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 20/12/2024 03:20

Codlingmoths · 20/12/2024 02:32

But it is odd to drive in the opposite direction to where you are going- anyone would question that! Op, you don’t have to live like this. The carparking one is the only reasonable take he has in that list and that’s irrelevant as even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

I can see a constant questioning to route MAY be a bit irritating...

But, I don't think this is here....

If we're obviously going in wrong direction... At what point does one say something...??

When you're 500m off route? Waiting til 5km off route or? You understand my point.

And some people think they have a wonderful sense of direction who are utter rubbish...

I remember my mum's friend who would regularly give a 'helpful' lift home from evening class etx... She once took my mum 5 miles in the wrong direction... As in North rather than South😁.... My mum was increasingly alarmed... (she was relieving my elderly granny's carer... So was very late cos if it... An extra 10miles cross country driving....

OP he does sound an utter arse... He'd have to have some serious good points to balance out this arsehole behaviour..whcuh screams control and devaluing..!

Petrasings · 20/12/2024 03:43

Why on earth are you putting up with this? He sounds absolutely horrible, and rude.

Garlicwest · 20/12/2024 03:44

OP, this is from Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft:

"Mr. Right considers himself the ultimate authority on every subject under the sun; you might call him Mr. Always Right. He speaks with absolute certainty, brushing your opinions aside like annoying gnats. He seems to see the world as a huge classroom, in which he is the teacher and you are his student. He finds little of value in your thoughts or insights, so he seeks to empty out your head and fill it up with his jewels of brilliance. When Mr. Right sits in one of my groups for abusive, men, he often speaks of his partner as if she were in danger from her own idiocy and he needs to save her from herself. Mr. Right has difficulty speaking to his partner—or about her—without a ring of condescension in his voice. And in a conflict his arrogance gets even worse.

"Mr. Right's superiority is a convenient way for him to get what he wants. When he and his partner are arguing about their conflicting desires, he turns it into a clash between Right and Wrong or between Intelligence and Stupidity. He ridicules and discredits her perspective so that he can escape dealing with it."

~ Mr Right isn't right for any partner. Bin him off and find someone who can actually hold a two-way conversation.

Ghostofallnightmares · 20/12/2024 03:49

It's not you it's him.
Absolutely him.
Throw this one back or you're going to start believing it's you- he's already got you doubting, hasn't he?

Lurkingandlearning · 20/12/2024 03:51

DaphneLaurel · 20/12/2024 01:28

I wasn't questioning his thought process. The route we took was in the opposite direction to my house and I haven't lived in the town for long. It felt like a spontaneous question/expression rather than me saying that he'd got it wrong. Like how you might say "Really?" when someone tells you an amazing fact.

some people do take those “Really” type comments literally. Having been told someone had treated a friend appallingly, completely undeservedly and out of character, I said “unbelievable!” I was told to fuck off if I didn’t believe her🙄

As a driver I appreciate passengers pointing out parking spaces I may have missed or routes I am unaware of, other drivers don’t. I knew one who didn’t like being spoken to at all while driving.

His behaviour is making you miserable and even if it isn’t constant you’ve reached the stage you are constantly wary of it. Why do you want to live like that?

Fannyfiggs · 20/12/2024 04:23

DP has been on the waiting list to be seen about a health condition. He's been on there for months

I hope it's the waiting list for a personality transplant!

You're not compatible. Bin him and live happily ever after on your own. The end ❤️

Octavia64 · 20/12/2024 04:25

Many people don't like comments being made when they are parking. So you should probably be aware of that one.

I would get a bit upset by your comments about the route and about medical stuff as it would feel like you were challenging my decisions in a not very polite way. I wouldn't respond though - I'd just mark you down as hard work.

I don't think you and he are compatible.

Bubblebuttress · 20/12/2024 05:04

He finds you a nag. 😕This won’t improve

his irritability is not worth it

Ozgirl75 · 20/12/2024 05:31

Even if you are being annoying, it’s not ok for him to go on and on at you about it. It sounds like you’re just not particularly compatible and that’s ok - but I would move on and find someone you don’t have to walk on eggshells with. Life is too short to second guess yourself.

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