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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed with dh even though he is kind - If so - tips please as probably bu!

79 replies

Eeehbahgum · 29/07/2025 16:19

My dh expresses care via -
1 taking action when I am upset -say if there is an issue at work ,he will listen , advise .
2 he express care via practical things.eg doing the mot appts for the cars.

I know that we all have out different love language’s - re how we express or receive care.

For example- I know his is food and action - so I bake healthy treats and good meals for him .
ie i try to notice his love language that he feels cared about- do it his way .

The issue is he expresses care for me according to what HIS love language is - so he does practical action things for me - when he knows that mine is surprises, gestures, arranging time together… little ( not expensive at all) gifts-but instead I get my car mot done.

Now don't want to be ungrateful.!!
He has a v kind nature.
But I am struggling with the fact that I try to do things according to what I know he likes ,but he expresses care according to what he likes . So I don't get a suggestion of a night out , etc - which I would really so appreciate.

I feel that am partly bu and partly not !
I yearn for romantic type little gifts / a night out planned etc
Have talked about it in the past many times, and whilst he knows that I appreciate his practical side , he has said he will try to be more expressive in the way that I would really enjoy. But this only lasts a week or son, then he goes back to type.

Am I b u to explain the small things that would give me pockets of joy?
expect him to adapt?

or am I best just to accept and try not to want those things in a dh ?
I feel shallow- but they are really important to me and how I feel valued ( which he knows) .
Do I work on accepting he will never do it ? I have asked many times and I really feel that nothing will change.

OP posts:
Obimumkinobi · 31/07/2025 07:00

My birthdays as married woman improved immeasurably when I stopped kidding myself that there might be an exciting surprise treat being secretly organised for me (outside of a card and present).

There was a woman on MN recently who didn't know how to tell her DH he was wasting lots of money on expensive underwear that she felt was no longer suitable for her more mature body. I'm sure he thought he was speaking her 'love language' - and at one time he was, but now it was a waste of money and a source of anxiety for her.

I think the take home is to buy the pants you want, organise the excursions that you'll enjoy (with or without DH) and appreciate his genuinely good traits and contribution to your lives without longing for prescriptive romance.

Connectionsconundrum · 31/07/2025 07:03

TitaniasAss · 29/07/2025 17:28

Sorry, I can't get past 'love language', it's such a ridiculous term and if DH asked me what mine was I think I'd burst out laughing. Different strokes and all that I guess.

Same!

JMSA · 31/07/2025 07:12

I’m single. I’d love a partner whose ‘love language’ was doing practical things to help me out.
It can be draining, doing everything on your own all of the time.
I also have kids though, so am single through choice!

TaborlinTheGreat · 31/07/2025 07:13

'Love languages' are a silly, made-up thing. The fact that they may have been mentioned in some vicar's church sermon doesn't make them less made-up. They seem to be used as a way to justify inconsiderate and selfish behaviour and expectations of a partner just as much as they are used to promote catering to your partner's needs, because it implies that people have no choice in what they demand or give in a relationship - they can't help what their 'love language' is.

It sounds like there's no affection from him. What's the point of this relationship if you just feel like flatmates?

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