Hi everyone.
My partner of 1.5 years started a new job this past Monday so today will be day 3. It's a job as a courier driver in our city centre. Before he started this job he has always worked in greens keeping/gardening so this new role is something completely different for him.
Sunday night came and he said he was feeling nervous but looking forward to it. Yesterday through the day I got a couple of messages from him saying he's not enjoying it and finding it too difficult. Now before anyone jumps on and says 'how difficult can delivering parcels be', I urge you to be empathetic. He is not an academic but for what he lacks in numeracy and logical problems, he is a fantastic partner, wonderful father to his daughter from a previous relationship and a bloody hard worker!
When I got home yesterday he told me it was largely because the man he'd been buddied up with for his first few days/weeks wasn't showing him what to do and getting frustrated with him because he was 'too slow'. I tried to explain to him that that wasn't his fault but the guy that he was with! He's been asked to show my partner the ropes and not been doing it correctly. My partner sent a text to his new manager to ask if he could possibly be placed with someone else as he felt he wasn't getting to learn anything and his manager couldn't have been nicer and apologised for the guys behaviour and has said this morning that he will go with someone different. I am hoping they place him with someone who is understanding!
Anyway, this morning my partner woke up very early and was almost inconsolably sobbing because he said he feels like he's a failure and that there's something wrong with him because he can't do this seemingly 'simple' job. My heart was breaking seeing him so upset and I tried to reassure him that I believed in him and that he lacks confidence. He said yesterday he felt like he didn't want to be here (he has a history of depression) and that he was useless.
He's a sensitive man which I suppose some wouldn't like but I love him for it because he truly cares about everything. But I was also getting a little frustrated with his negative attitude about it all.
I suppose I'm really just looking for some advice on how I can help him see he's not a failure, he's priceless to me, his daughter and the baby I am carrying currently. What can I say/do to help him?