...to hope (or even expect) that when you tell someone "I'm knackered because of xyz" they should then respond to what you've said rather than redirecting the conversation to themselves?

[MrsThierryHenry]

E.g in our household:

[after 2 whole weeks in which I have sat with tearful DS for up to 3 hours every night bar one. My DH earns the crust and so currently sleeps in the spare room. He sat with DS for just one night, and has had about 2 or 3 bad nights out of the past 14]

Conversation goes:

Me: I'm so exhausted. 2 weeks of 4 hours' sleep a night is taking its toll.
DH: So am I.

What I was hoping for:

Me: I'm so exhausted. 2 weeks of 4 hours' sleep a night is taking its toll.
DH: You poor thing, I'm not surprised. And I'm tired, too.

Can you spot the difference? Am I asking too much here?

ummm, sometimes Minky. Why?

My theory (wot is mine) is that when you say:

'DH, I am tired'. They hear:

'DH, will you take over everything I am doing so I can go to bed.'

So the 'I'm tired, too' response is a defense against being required to do anything extra.

That sounds a bit cynical, doesn't it?

But true, Gizmo.

Very true Gizmo - its the "finding a solution" response isn't it ? We don't want a solution - just a bit of sympathy would be just fine

Having said that, leaving everything to DP and going to sleep for a few days hours, does sound incredibly appealing

Gizmo - I think you've nailed it in one!

In his defence, DH did (eventually) concede this evening that perhaps he could have shown a little more sympathy...