Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

DP's really, really starting to annoy me now (work stuff)

5 replies

AbsofCroissant · 14/09/2010 14:35

So, DP and I work in the same industry, but in completely different fields and different companies. I recently moved jobs because I was being bullied at my last job by my managers, and was utterly miserable (but still my pay was decent).

Upon moving, I was given a raise, which obviously, has been wonderful and the new job is working out well - it's interesting, the people are nice, my managers are supportive and want to help me develop (which is such a nice change from people trying to undermine me all the time), though at times it's really quiet and I get bored, but it's starting to pick up.

DP's miserable at his job, and has been for a while. Despite being promoted, his pay has actually been cut over the last three years, and he is working much longer (and busier) hours than I am. Obviously, this is making him miserable, and he is (finally) getting around to trying to find something new - had two interviews last week for an internal position (which sounded very interesting - I was actually a bit jealous) and has been talking to lots of senior people, many of whom are saying he's great, and they're more than happy to help him find stuff. He's working on a big project which is making him crazy busy, but it should all be completed in two weeks time, and his work load will calm down. You'd think this might alleviate some of the months of gloom and general grumpiness that he's been through, but no. He continues to complain all the time. The plan is to move country in about 18 months/two years time, so both of us are looking to be in a position to find a good job when we move country.

I have tried to be as supportive as I can through all this. As at present my workload is much, much lower, I've sorted out bills, bought groceries, cooked, done laundry and sometimes ironed his shirts (e.g. before a big meeting).

But, every time something good happens to me work wise, he tries to guilt me about it. In my old role, I got a bonus. I told him. I then got told that I was being insensitive for telling him and that it's really unfair (because he didn't get as much money as I had, but then, his employers nearly went under a few months before, so I wouldn't expect them to be paying my out). Since I've moved roles and started being paid more than him - all I get is "you're so wealthy" blah blah blah - conveniently forgetting that I got myself into tens of thousands of pounds into debt to pay for the education to be able to be in a role which pays well. And on the grand scale of things, I'm not paid that much, just more than him. Then, my manager and I were discussing the possibility of me doing some professional training (which would be great for my career), and all I got from him was "but how's that going to affect our plans to move?" no "congratulations - that's a wonderful opportunity; you should look into it". None of that. Now a similar thing today - had an objective setting meeting with my boss, and some interesting work is coming my way, so I told him and his response was "Well that sounds like a very good meeting, your Manager seems rather nice and you like your job, all good. I?m very far from that. You?ve made a very smart move."

I suppose 1) this was a chance for me to offload - there's few people in RL I would be willing to and 2) I just wish he'd be happy for me. I know he's having a miserable time, and is stressed (I live with it every fucking day), and wants to move jobs, but there's nothing more I can do.

Sorry it's so long

OP posts:
tb · 14/09/2010 16:03

I know that years ago we had a really difficult 6-8months, long commute, unreliable car, house sale falling through, strikes, lack of petrol, etc etc. We were too knackered to argue, but at end of it all, after we had moved the stress sort of caught up with us and we did nothing but argue. Could it be something like that? Or has he perhaps got a bit depressed?

Could you get him to go out for a meal or something, and ask him open questions about how he's feeling - not giving him a chance to moan, but what he's really feeling?

Sometimes when you're down someone else's success almost seems as if they've done it on purpose just to make you feel worse. On the other hand if he's a narcissist, he deserves a good hard kick for being such a tosser.

curlymama · 14/09/2010 17:32

I can understand that you want him to be happy for you, and in an ideal world he would be. He probably would be if he was happy in his job, and I think all of this says much more about the way he is feeling about himself right now than the way he is feeling about you. You are the one who is happiest in your life at the moment, so I think it's your job to be the supportive one and let some of this stuff go. It's important to pick your battles.

Of course, if your dh is normally negative about your achievements, then you might have some serious relationship work to do, but if you think this is just a symptom of his unhappiness then I'd just leave it.

Try and put yourself in his position, with all that male pride and ego that they have and think about how you would feel. I can understand that he's not likely to be that enthusiastic about your training if it woulod affect you moving. Moving could be the thing he's really holding n to at the moment.

AbsofCroissant · 14/09/2010 17:47

"Moving could be the thing he's really holding on to at the moment."

I think it is actually.

Thanks for the responses. I've found it difficult as he is so miserable all the time, and I do love him so much - seeing him that was is heartbreaking.

I think I just need to be patient and there for him, and then super happy when he gets a new job (for his sake, hopefully very very soon).

OP posts:
curlymama · 14/09/2010 18:51

It is difficult when you have to be supportive and take whatever gets thrown at you. I hope writing it all down helped you feel a bit better, keep doing it if it does Smile

IseeGraceAhead · 14/09/2010 19:12

I disagree that you should put up with it because he's miserable. Support him, empathise, do little things for him - yes. But undermining your successes is selfish, obnoxious and inexcusable.

When you were more unhappy than him, did you respond to his good news with mean-minded complaints? Bet you didn't.

Tear him off a strip. Misery breeds misery!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page