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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

Emotionally withdrawn and or sulking

12 replies

Leflic · 03/09/2019 12:32

Need some advice about how to deal with this pattern of argument.
Been together 5 years but living in seperate houses as both have children from previous relationships at quite different ages.
As we live apart it’s easy not to argue so much as we don’t have the minor irritations. However I found him quite annoying this summer and don’t know how to move on.
He is self employed and therefore has an uneven work schedule. He had three of the 5 and a half weeks school holiday off and I had the whole time. However as I work in a school there’s no choice.
We had a big argument at the weekend because I complained that we hadn’t gone anywhere or done anything this summer ( he was happy to get his paperwork done and potter round) whilst he has spent a lot of money on a weekend away for us to see some friends in October.
I feel like it won’t seem like a holiday then as it will only be a weekend and it’s in the middle of a pressured term. And I feel like we wasted this summer.
Admittedly I’d had some wine so I got more more vocal than necessary,I had a proper yell at him and he told me to leave. The next day, no contact at all (didn’t check to see if I got home safely) . I phoned in the evening to ask if I could buy him lunch to say sorry. He said how lovely and no mention of the argument. I drove to his to find he had completely changed his hairstyle (his last one had been one I told him I really liked, so he had surprised me with it six months ago). I didn’t mention it and nor did he. I’m guessing he did it to prove a point otherwise he would have said “ like my new cut” or something. Neither did he bring up the argument.
Over lunch he asked about me going back to work “tomorrow” and about an important situation at my work.. Both of which were incorrect and things I have discussed many many times over the holiday. He said I should just answer his questions because he forgets stuff. I said there was no point because I had told him many many times so he obviously doesn’t care enough to listen. I had been lamenting the start of term for the last week so no way he didn’t know when I was due back.
We finished lunch pretty quickly and that was it. Not heard from him since.No plans to meet up. No plans to do something before I go back to work. This will probably carry on until he wants to meet and as far as he’s concerned the argument is forgotten.
I’m still upset about the waste of six weeks and I’m not looking forward to a weekend away actually when I need to be focused on work.
Is it worth discussing again?
Do I just get on with my own life and not worry about it?
What do I do about the weekend? I don’t want to disappoint my friends.

OP posts:
Sofasurfer101 · 03/09/2019 12:50

If my boyfriend got drunk and yelled at me, lunch would not be suffient apology at all..
And if ypu wanted to do stuff in the holiday, why didnt you? And why wait to bitch about it, after it was over?
But you getting drunk and yell at him, is a huge red flag, as is your not saying you wanted to do styff, waiting to complain after holiday is over.

AmIThough · 03/09/2019 13:05

He's emotionally withdrawn because you've been massively unreasonable.

Why didn't you arrange to do something together over the summer?
Why did you shout at him? If that was the other way round you'd say he was emotionally abusive.
You were buying him lunch to say sorry for your silly behaviour, but then still had to pick faults with him.
You couldn't even compliment his new haircut.

Leflic · 03/09/2019 13:09

Obviously I’ve told him many times before and during the holidays that we needed to go somewhere. He says fine and then shows zero interest. He agreed that we could go to York and maybe drop in and see his parents for a few days last week. However on the Monday he had a work meeting in London and then he started painting his garden fence on Tuesday so really had no intention of going anywhere.
In previous years we’ve gone away without him but I can’t afford to do it alone this year. It makes sense if we have a two bed apartment/hotel for him to share with me.

I agree about the wine and yelling but he won’t address it. Never mentioned it at all, not about how cross he was or if I was being unreasonable or anything. Just pretends it didn’t happen.

OP posts:
AmIThough · 03/09/2019 13:21

So you kept nagging him but didn't actually arrange anything? You had 3 extra weeks while he was working - you could have used that time to arrange days out or a camping holiday
It sounds like you only wanted him to come away with you so he could pay.

You didn't bring it up either (from your posts). You should have given him a proper apology.

Blobby10 · 03/09/2019 13:21

If this is the person he is (and there's no evidence to suggest he will change) then you need to be honest and decide if he makes you happy? If this is just a blip on the radar and for 99% of the time you are happy then carry on. If its really eating away at you then perhaps you need to call it a day.

blackcat86 · 03/09/2019 13:23

Well you've been a bit of a dick and it seems whatever the poor bloke does isn't good enough despite you treating him like crap.

RushianDisney · 03/09/2019 13:40

You sound like very different people, he is happy pottering while you want to get out and do things. This situation sounds pretty toxic, I don't blame him for withdrawing. If you can't afford to go away then you can't get annoyed at him for not wanting to subsidise the trip you want to take. He's booked something for you both at a later date and it's still not good enough for you. You feel your summer was wasted, but that is on you as you chose to wait around for him.

Leflic · 03/09/2019 13:54

I totally accept that that night I was a dick.
I don’t think it’s fair to say “whatever he does isn’t good enough”. He can’t remember when I start back at work even. He agreed to York and his parents but didn’t bother ringing them to see if it was ok with them. I didn’t nag him. Probably why we didn’t go.
I don’t get “3 extra weeks”. He’s off now until the 16th but we are all back at school.
It’s a generally fine relationship but it’s been a tough year at work ( which he knows) and I was looking forward to the summer off. Money isn’t the issue as such -we do have a joint holiday fund. But I wouldn’t use that if I was going without him and this year I gave had to spend a fortune on the car so I can’t afford it separately.
I do think I was in the wrong for yelling at him and would apologise for that but I actually don’t think I’m wrong in expecting him to holiday with us. I am limited to very set dates.

OP posts:
AmIThough · 03/09/2019 14:01

Have a sensible, sober conversation.
Don't let it all get on top of you until you're drunk and blurt it out.

Why not suggest the two of you extend your weekend away (if it's either side of half term) and make up for it then?

Leflic · 03/09/2019 14:18

I think that’s what happened AmI.

Unfortunately though his holiday is just a regular weekend. His children will be at Uni.I have to make sure my house is clean and tidy before I leave for work on Friday, so mum can stay and look after mine.. Then I have to be back for work Monday at 6.30am. It just seems unnecessarily difficult after 6 weeks of being free to do anything.

OP posts:
AmIThough · 03/09/2019 14:22

That's unfortunate - would it not be possible to do something in half term?

Or suggest you use the holiday fund towards an awesome holiday next year as you'll have two years of savings? The planning might get you through the start of term/crap summer holiday blues!

Fmlgirl · 03/09/2019 20:16

You sound controlling. I’ve also not been away this summer but don’t consider this a big deal since I‘ll be going away in October.

Also, if someone told me how to wear my hair for example, I’d tell them to do one.

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