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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

dh and I fought on holidays - mil involved indirectly

15 replies

actedsilly · 25/12/2017 00:26

dh and i had a fight. he was very hurtful and condescending. Finally I told him he lacked empathy for me and was being narcissist.

background story - dh is extremely sensitive to criticism and hates getting answers back. I tend to argue back especially when I am not wrong.He would never like a post fight discussion. He tends to say harsh things in fights (e.g. our relationship is horrible).
Other than that dh is supportive and understanding. But normal discussions become fight easily because dh has low patience and loses empathy.
We have a lot of stress from his dm. He was very close to her. Says has mixed feelings (guilt and anger) towards her. She lives alone in another country and is very controlling. I didn't visit her last holidays because she was very negative towards me in earlier visits. She convinced dh last time that she wants me to visit and her behaviour was not intentional.
This time I am visiting her with dh for Xmas. I am already with her for a week. I am making efforts to establish a cordial relationship with her but she continues to be bossy and passive aggressive with me, interferes in my interactions with other members which can easily cause misunderstanding.
I talked to dh about it and he was supportive of me. Said he noticed dm's behaviour himself. But yesterday, dh and I had a minor argument which got escalated because dh seemed half interested in listening to my explanation. Finally I lost it a bit and complained.
He blew up on me and told me nobody cares about him. Everyone cares about themselves. I don't care about his stress. He got very angry since I kept insisting I do but I think in some way he is right because I overlooked his stress because of mine. Since then he kept saying he would act selfish and do what he wants not what everyone wants. He told me I should stop feeling sorry for myself. He says his dm is wrong but he can't abandon her. He had asked me to go back in a few days as he can't deal with more stress. He will come back after few weeks. We were supposed to be here for a month.
He keep saying I am giving him stress and have mentioned many things I did wrong from our history of fights. While getting upset more with me for mentioning his past behaviour in response.
He does tends to fight unfair.
I am very hurt by his lack of empathy towards me. I also regret getting upset with him. I know I screwed up but I was also very overwhelmed by the atmosphere here.
Now he is with his family while I am mostly in the room. He has asked me if I want to have a drink in a very non-friendly way. I know that's his way of ending fight. He offered me cake before.
I don't know why I am writing here. Maybe because I feel very alone in a foreign country.I don't know what to do or how to feel. He is not a horrible person. I noticed nobody truly cares about how he feels.
Can someone please share their perspective on this?
Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Maelstrop · 25/12/2017 01:34

Do you have children? I think you should go home. At least nobody will abuse you there. I’m sorry, OP, in laws are not any sometimes.

actedsilly · 25/12/2017 03:35

Thanks for your response Maelstrop. I don’t have any kids.

OP posts:
SandyY2K · 25/12/2017 07:19

You need to stop bringing up the past fights. He said he noticed his mum's behaviour ... what are you expecting from him? As it's possible he doesnt know what to do about it.

He may not want to confront his mum....and one month is too long a visit, so going home seems like a good idea.

Hopefully you have friends and family to spend time with.

PoorYorick · 25/12/2017 07:52

There are obviously other sides to this and without those there isn't an awful lot to say. He clearly does not have narcissistic personality disorder at any rate (almost nobody has) so you need to stop with that.

Oblomov17 · 25/12/2017 08:08

I think you are being a bit unfair. Narcissistic? No. He needs to sit down and talk. I know you say he doesn't want to talk through, but you must force him. In a calm environment.
Plus, you must write down all your valid points and tell him.
What do you actually want him to do.
I'd stop/reduce the mil visits. For starters. Only go for a week. Anywhere. With anyone. Is my rule.

I think you are blowing this out of proportion. This is easily solveable.

Oblomov17 · 25/12/2017 08:08

I think you are being a bit unfair. Narcissistic? No. He needs to sit down and talk. I know you say he doesn't want to talk through, but you must force him. In a calm environment.
Plus, you must write down all your valid points and tell him.
What do you actually want him to do.
I'd stop/reduce the mil visits. For starters. Only go for a week. Anywhere. With anyone. Is my rule.

I think you are blowing this out of proportion. This is easily solveable.

UnbiasedOpinons · 25/12/2017 08:47

He is stressed because he feels that whatever he does he can't win.

He feels he has to constantly chose between you and his mother and is likely fed up with both. Hence his comment about him starting to focus on himself and not you or her.

It may be that nobody is right or wrong.

His mom feels the loss and needs to feel like she has a semblance of control. You feel like you are already sharing his time too much and he probably didn't set boundaries early on with him mom when he met you.

All this needs to be resolved or it will go on as one massive misunderstanding.

Fishface77 · 25/12/2017 08:52

Just come home and never visit his DM again.

MorrisZapp · 25/12/2017 08:57

Leave that horrible atmosphere and never go back. Why would you travel long distances to see someone who doesn't like you? Take control of your life, stop saying yes to ghastly shit like a month visit overseas to in laws.

Most people like their in laws but the visiting rule is usually three days absolute max.

category12 · 25/12/2017 09:01

Maybe when he's cooled down, he'll see it more your way. Going home might be for the best, but I would suggest you all (or at least he and you) try to have a good day together before you go. Next time, he could come alone or if you accompany him, you only come out for a few days and then go back.

Gemini69 · 25/12/2017 09:41

I'm sorry OP.. but your married to a selfish self DICK... he thinks about nobody but himself... he is basically kicking you out of his mothers Home and Country on Christmas Day... He's allowed to bring up the past but your not.. he's a flippin Creep.... tell him to go live with Mommy Dearest.. and they can both be vile about you together...

Don't allow this pathetic ManChild to ruin your life lady ....

Hermonie2016 · 25/12/2017 10:00

Op, whilst you make not be perfect I think your H is showing big red flags.

Your instincts I suspect are correct and don't underestimate how his mother will have influenced the way he resolves conflict.Its very unhealthy and long term destroys emotional bonds.A friend wisely told me "everyone needs to know when they are being an arse"

I have been in a very similar situation but it did get worse once we had children as I was more vulnerable.I wish I had MN then.

If your H displays low empathy, is destructive in arguments and refuses to discuss afterwards you will have toxicity.

All relationships will have issues and the quality of the relationship depends on ability to compromise, find solutions and heal any upset caused during the process.Unless people have experienced the destructive arguments, that I feel you have experienced, its hard to explain to outsiders.

I alsi wonder if you are seen by friends as empathic? if so this hostility will have a greater impact to your emotional and physical health.
For that reason you should try to get space.

Homemenu1 · 25/12/2017 10:04

Op go home, it's not worth the hassle you are getting, he's being unkind and so is his mum. You're not an emotional punch bag for everyone's stress

noenergy · 25/12/2017 10:14

He probably feels stuck in the middle. MIL is probably complaining about u and u vice versa. He had admitted that he has noticed his behaviour, feels he can't do anything.

TBH I wouldn't have came in the first place and even if I did, def not for that long.

Do u not have any family or friends there u could go visit? Try and def come back early.

Gemini69 · 25/12/2017 12:53

TBH I wouldn't have came in the first place and even if I did, def not for that long

YIP.. with bells on... Xmas Grin

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