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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 says I’m blunt and rude

75 replies

Arums · 31/12/2019 14:17

But will never give me a specific example. I have begged him to because I genuinely can’t see it and I replay conversations in my head but am at a loss as to what he means. We had an argument today because we’re going on a city break soon that I’m really excited about, I haven’t had a child free break since before my dd 3 1/2 was born and am so looking forward to wandering around peacefully, going to galleries, eating out, all things that are impossible (well not impossible but challenging) with a lively and demanding child. He had been saying the same so this is definitely not all just my idea or all stuff only I want to do. he’s a keen film maker, he has a professional film camera and likes to take hours of footage that he then edits and grades and makes into proper films with a music soundtrack etc. Which is obviously great and he’s done some lovely ones. There have been times however when we’ve gone places and I pretty much haven’t had any interaction with him at all as he’s been filming, and there’s a lot of standing and waiting around. Also he wants to get the latest new fancy camera for this trip. So I tried to very tactfully say, is it ok if there is a bit of a balance between filming and just spending time together and being in the moment and looking at stuff without it always being through a lens. He got very huffy with me so I left it, about an hour later I tried again saying I only meant can we have some time without the camera but obviously it was fine for him to film too and I wasn’t trying to say he couldn’t! But he got angry and said (and this is what ends up being the issue almost every time we row) that it was the WAY I said it and that I’m really blunt and rude. I honestly don’t know how more gently and tactfully I could have said it, without having brought it up at all. This makes me feel like he just doesn’t like me saying anything that he disagrees with, and when I asked how else I could have said it without being ‘rude’ he had no answer and just shut down the conversation. This happens every time. Am I meant to just never disagree with him or ever bring up anything that could be contentious? If I am rude then obviously I don’t want to be that way but it feels like no matter how I try to put things it’s wrong. Was I rude? I’m starting to doubt myself and feel worried about saying anything! I have good friendships and have not been told I’m rude by anyone else. I am, I would say quite direct, as in I don’t hint about things, or meander around a point too much. But I try to be empathic and understanding of other people’s perspective, I absolutely do. Also I have a job that requires me to communicate about very sensitive and upsetting matters with people so I think my communication skills are quite well developed. I just feel like I can’t win. Does he just fundamentally dislike me as a person is what I’m asking myself, in which case it doesn’t bode well for a continuing relationship.

OP posts:
aroundtheworldyet · 31/12/2019 21:30

I would ask yourself
Would you throw at him all of what he threw at you.
It’s quite an interesting question to ask someone. My ex did this. Really shocking things about my character. It’s very hard to come back from.

Anyway enjoy NYE. Have as good as time as you can. Everything works itself out in the end.

Arums · 31/12/2019 21:34

@aroundtheworldyet you’re right. It’s an interesting thing to think about. As for tonight I’m drinking wine and enjoying spending time with family and things are not so bad. Happy new year to you too (and everyone) Smile

OP posts:
CyclingMumKingston · 31/12/2019 21:40

Dear OP

"It escalated and escalated with him throwing everything (verbally) that he could, including things from the past and a very personal critique of my many many character flaws. But I stayed with it and kept repeating that I’d simply wanted to enjoy a holiday with him,"

Well done for staying so calm. How did you manage?
My DH does exactly the same. Verbal attacks and very manipulative.
He also say things that are very hurtful (like I m not a good mum or my father was right - he was physically violent).
Any advice on how to stay calm and keep the conversation on topic?
As I feel he is always deviating my attention off topic.
It s exhausting and it s killing me
Hugs and well done again. You are very strong

Arums · 31/12/2019 21:54

@CyclingMumKingston it wasn’t easy, I honestly felt (thank you) like I had the backing of people on here and kept that in mind. It felt a bit like keeping my head down physically against an onslaught, like something was actually raining down on me, it was so hard. But I let his words just come down on me and they hurt but I tried to numb myself a bit and focus on what I had said and just keep repeating it. That probably sounds ridiculously melodramatic but that was how it felt. Previously I would have run out of the room. But I just decided to be hard headed. And it did intensify from him as a result. But then it deflated, on his part, to nothing. I’m not saying this will work for everyone and you should keep yourself safe if you feel like he is getting out of control. But I feel like in this case, with him, that he’d never been allowed to get to this point and there wasn’t anywhere else for him to go with it and I wasn’t fighting him but I wasn’t caving either. It just took the wind out of his sails. The only way he seemed to come back to being able to talk normally and rationally was to not resist, while not seeming weak if that makes sense.

OP posts:
NorthernLightsInWinter · 31/12/2019 22:00

Wow. Well done for staying so calm and rational when he threw all his toys out of the pram just so he didn't have to admit what you were asking was perfectly reasonable and so was your manner.

I'm glad he's backed down, but at least now you know how awful and unfair he is to try to get what he wants and to hell with you and your wants. Hold him to it.

sallievp · 31/12/2019 22:08

He sounds rude and Very selfish. Listen to what all the posters are saying.

Cherrysoup · 31/12/2019 23:22

I agree with @sallievp. He’s selfish. He’s also an inconsiderate and an idiot. I can’t believe how patient you are, putting up with this camera bollocks. Does he also ruin your time at home as well as on holidays, ducking out of parenting because he’s making yet another bloody film?

I remember one holiday where I was left to entertain myself in a shopping centre while the OH blogged about our trip (pre mobile phone days) I was bloody furious.

SmileyClare · 01/01/2020 10:32

Well done standing up to him Op.

Please keep in mind that the way he behaved (throwing nasty comments at you, attacking your character, insulting you) is a form of abuse. It's the verbal equivalent of a slap in the face or a punch in the stomach.

If this is a pattern of behaviour from him then you should not be putting up with it. It doesn't actually matter why he behaves this way (difficult childhood or whatnot) that doesn't excuse him abusing you. Ever. Flowers

PicsInRed · 01/01/2020 10:44

As Atilla and others have said, he's projecting and scapegoating his own rudeness onto you.

I bet there's plenty of other "admissions" disguised as accusations if you think about it. What else does he accuse you of?

ThePlantsitter · 01/01/2020 11:03

Wow well done OP. Sounds like an exorcism!

HalloumiGus · 01/01/2020 11:10

Well done OP.

Littleshortcake · 01/01/2020 11:15

Glad you stood up to him. Ridiculous to spend a whole special holiday on his own selfish hobby. One afternoon of filming is plenty. To blame you for being rude is down to him not getting hid own way.

Musti · 01/01/2020 11:15

Well done op. I hope that you continue making sure that you remain important and that you don't need to tread on eggshells when you're in a relationship. I had similar with my ex, not that I trod on eggshells but anything that I brought up, he would deviate the discussion to something completely irrelevant (and untrue). Sometimes there were apologies and promises that things would change but they never did. There was always a reason or an excuse. My eldest was talking about him the other day and he can see how he talks and how unreasonable he is and knows that it's wrong.

EugenesAxe · 01/01/2020 11:28

Yes I’m not one to leap on the ‘Red flag! LTB!’ bus, but reading your OP did put me in mind of a form of coercive control as SmileyClare says (well not specifically but in the same vein).

His follow up response looks pretty damming to be honest... going all out and then crumpling when he realises it’s not going to work. It’s a little ‘I promise I won’t ever hit you again’ just with words, I think.

aroundtheworldyet · 01/01/2020 11:30

Watch out for the sulking now. If there’s sulking following this then that’s a major worry

Techway · 01/01/2020 12:09

what he thinks has caused him to be the way he is

Did he give good insight? I hope this has been a breakthrough and he will now be able to drop his psychological defences.

CyclingMumKingston · 01/01/2020 12:12

Yes so true. My DH follows up nasty accusations with sulking. Good point @aroundtheworldyet

plumpmom · 01/01/2020 12:23

Well done you. Don’t fall back into old ways after this. Now it’s time for you to think if you actually want to put up with this for another decade or spend the next few years building a great new life

CalleighDoodle · 01/01/2020 12:24

This is so sad to read. He showed his full nasty self. He showed how he was trying to control and manipulate you. He showed how little he thinks of you. He was emotionally abusive to you, and then he changed his methods, and you are considering it a win.

@CyclingMumKingston please don't look for ways to deal with a man who abuses you. Please look for ways to leave him.

yellowallpaper · 01/01/2020 12:37

He's gaslighting you because he doesn't want to comply with your wishes, which are very reasonable. I hate this tactic in anyone as I was subjected to it for years by exH. Call him out on it. Tape any future conversation where he might say this and confront him on it. He is the one who should,be more reasonable.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/01/2020 12:38

Arums

You are still being manipulated by him as are you still by your abusive husband cycling mum Kingston. I remember your previous thread all too well cycling

SevenStones · 01/01/2020 12:49

He's gas lighting you by telling you you're brusque, resulting in you searching your mind for times when you might have been, because he won't tell you. (Hint: you're not.) And you are treading on eggshells trying to think of ways to talk to him without upsetting him.

He's a selfish, abusive man.

Techway · 01/01/2020 13:25

@CyclingMumKingston, emotional abuse can harm you physically due to the adrenal overload. If you are experiencing so much stress on a regular basis I would highly recommend you find ways to lower stress. Yoga, counselling, meditation etc.

Living with someone who is highly reactive to slights (or perceived slights) leads to you walking on eggshells. I imagine he also has low empathy for you so you will end completely depleted and a shadow of your former self.

aroundtheworldyet · 01/01/2020 13:38

@CyclingMumKingston
I remember your thread. I hope you find a way out in 2020
Don’t let this decade be as the last. Sending you Flowers

YouretheChristmasCarcass · 01/01/2020 15:02

If he truly believes that "he knows he’s in the wrong and what he thinks has caused him to be the way he is", then just admitting it isn't enough. He needs to actively DO something about it. He needs to seek counseling to get at the root cause and find the tools to change his behaviour. Because if this nastiness is ingrained in him (and it is) then he's not going to truly be able to change without help. He may be able to mask the behaviour or shove it down inside himself for awhile, but it will come back.

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