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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

getting uninvited as a punishment?

89 replies

SRB450 · 13/06/2020 09:21

My bf's grandma recently passed away. We were making plans for attending the wake and funeral two days in advance of the actual events and the conversation ended badly. I was asking questions about the times to be certain places, what to bring, dress code, etc (I'm new to his family's traditions and to the country) and he kept saying "I don't know". I was getting frustrated about not getting responses so I could plan my schedule over the next two days, but made sure to keep calm. I knew he was going through a lot and I was trying hard to be sensitive despite my frustration. He started getting really frustrated too and claimed I was making things awkward. He was raising his voice. Then he abruptly yelled at me, slammed his hands on the table then left the house and slammed the doors as he left.

And this is what all our disagreements have in common, because this is where the silent treatment starts. It could last days, but the wake was the next day and the funeral the day after. I still had no information. I called his mom for info later that day (I told her nothing of our argument) and got a few more details. I promised her I would watch the family house while everyone left, as robberies are common during funerals and only a small number of people could attend in person due to covid19.

My bf normally calls me when he leaves work, but not that evening. He didn't say hello when he got home (in fairness, I didn't either) and I got no more details about the following days' events. We went to bed in silence and woke up the same way the next day, which was the day of the wake. I didn't hear from him that day either. He ended up going straight to the wake from work that evening and didn't call me, message me or come to pick me up. I had been silently uninvited. He came home very late that night, after I had gone to bed. I still had received no messages or information from him about our plans to travel to the funeral the next day, but I assumed he would definitely still want me to go. The next morning he got up really early and left on his own without me while I was still in bed.

I do not have my own car and the funeral took place in a small rural town about 40 minutes drive from our house, so I had no way to get there - transit doesn't travel to there. It also meant I would have to break my promise to watch the family house since I now had no way to get there. So I called him in the car right after he left and asked what was happening, but it only resulted in more angry words, sarcasm and he hung up on me. So I was uninvited to the funeral as well.

I'm really at a loss here. I'm tired of being made to feel like this when he's emotional or dealing with family issues. He takes it out on me and makes me feel like I'll never measure up to his family. I'm not saying I'm perfect either. I don't always say the right thing in the right way, so I'm not claiming I'm just an innocent victim. But I know the silent treatment just makes things worse. We have talked about taking different approaches to resolving our conflict before. We always agree to do better, but the silent treatment rears its head again and again. I'm sure he feels terrible and I think he's punishing himself more than me in this situation, but I'm also worried his family will think I'm incredibly inconsiderate for not attending the wake and funeral. I have no idea the reason he told them I wasn't there and I don't know how to tell them why myself. Does anyone have advice?

OP posts:
ChangeNameMy247 · 13/06/2020 09:26

I could be completely wrong here as I have been in an abusive relationship in the past but my first thought was that he has done this so he can use it against you at a later date

When my exes grandmother died he just used her death as an excuse to be even more abusive

Whether he is grieving or not it's not ok to give someone the silent treatment and its not normal either. Its a way to control and punish.

If his family ask you say you asked him and he wouldn't tell you. Don't lie for him, just explain what happened

Isthisnothing · 13/06/2020 09:33

Do you have any support network here? You've mentioned you don't drive. I'm worried you are isolated. I would be making plans to leave immediately. Anybody can behave badly in the heat of the moment. But to drag it out over days as he did is cruel and abusive IMO. You deserve far better than this.

Shoxfordian · 13/06/2020 09:37

The silent treatment is abusive
Break up with him

Gobbycop · 13/06/2020 09:44

He's behaved like a complete asshole.

Losing a family member isn't an excuse.

rowrowrowyaboat · 13/06/2020 09:48

He is abusing you. LTB asap

WellThisIsShit · 13/06/2020 09:50

“ I'm sure he feels terrible and I think he's punishing himself more than me in this situation,”

Are you? Why? What evidence brings you to this conclusion? Frankly in other circs I’d say it’s an extremely extraordinary conclusion for you to reach my love... don’t give lots of kindness simply because you can’t conceive of anything else.

It very much looks like he does this behaviour Because It Works. And sadly, because he doesn’t respect you any better than that.

If you find yourself battling to get awarded even the basic levels of respect and kindness that everyone else in his family gets By Right... well, he’s telling you a message loud and clear that you aren’t listening to (because it’s a cruel message). But I think you need to protect yourself and start to ‘hear’ what this man is telling you loud and clear... however much it hurts now, before you get stuck in an abusive marriage / relationship where you are isolated from others permanently and it’s very, very hard to get out..

Flowers
Choccorocco · 13/06/2020 09:50

I’m sorry you’re going through this. It’s probable that he’s having a really hard time of it but hard times come in life and if I were you I’d be asking myself if this is what I wanted going forwards. There are plenty of people who wouldn’t treat you like this, I’m sure of it. Big hugs x

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/06/2020 09:57

Silent treatment is a form of emotional abuse. I would start properly firming up plans to leave this man before you become ever more further abused and isolated. He does the silent treatment on you as well because he can and it works for him. Abuse is about power and control and he wants absolute over you here.

He has a problem too with anger but not in the ways you think. He has a problem with anger, your anger, when you rightfully call him out on his unreasonable behaviours.

You are living somewhere remote too; was that his idea in the main?. Abusers as well often try and isolate their target from being supported.

SRB450 · 13/06/2020 11:30

It's hard to explain a situation without a back story, and I didn't want my original message to be so long so I kept it focused on the recent problem. But here's a bit of back story now: We have a lot of ups and downs, like I'm sure many relationships do. Sometimes we go weeks without disagreeing and we are happy, cuddly and have a lot of fun together. He is kind and generous and respectful. We treat each other pretty well. But disagreeing is where we have our problems.

I am from divorced parents who had a toxic and emotionally/verbally abusive relationship. When I was in my 20s (now nearly 40), I used to yell, call names, swear, break things. I learned this was acceptable from my parents. I realized this was wrong and made the decision to get help when I was 25. I got a lot of counselling on anger management and talked about my family history. I've taken conflict management and communications training to better address how to approach conflict situations. I accomplished all this years before my current relationship (we have been together 4.5 years). I'm still not perfect with the words I choose, but I think I'm doing quite well and am still actively working on it.

My bf is from a very loving, strong, connected family. To me, they seem nearly picture perfect. The only problem is, he claims they never argue or have to "discuss" problems like he and I do. They just get over it and move on. He says he never once saw his parents argue. I don't believe that, but if it is true, I'm not sure that's healthy either. He's also told me I'm his first ever serious partner and the only one he's ever bothered to introduce to his family. So he has no prior relationship experience either. Apparently he's never learned or tried to learn how to properly manage conflict. He has sworn at me and called me names on rare occasions in the past, but after sharing my family history and how I've learned not to be toxic, he seems to have kicked that bad habit. But to this day, the silent treatment remains the way he prefers to deal with conflict. And if I try to discuss our issues too soon, it just results in more arguing. He also refuses to get counselling alone or together. So I did some research and sent him a couple article I liked about dealing with conflict, but he called those stupid too. I've asked him how he would like to address our conflicts and he maintains that they should just work themselves out, like they did for his parents.

Update on my situation: a year ago we moved from Canada to Ireland to start the next chapter of our life together. We were both excited about it. We live in the city but I don't have many friends here yet and there is an 8-hour time difference for me and my family. So no, I have very few connections here other than his family but I'm not exactly isolated either.

OP posts:
needhandhold · 13/06/2020 11:39

Well I’m sorry but if you have no children and aren’t married then I’d be making plans to return to Canada as soon as possible. This relationship is too hard and it’s resulting in silent treatment. Whatever the disagreement that shouldn’t be the result. Studies have shown that results in triggering the same areas of the brain as being punched. You’ve been assaulted with no physical scars. It’s not ok and now he knows it works it will just get worse. He does it rather than have the difficult job of resolution. It’s incredibly difficult to stop. I know because my husband does it to me and it has got worse as time has gone on. Do not be me. Get out while you can and find somebody who can resolve an argument without silent aggression

liann81 · 13/06/2020 11:49

Hi you have done nothing wrong. You have seen first hand what your future could be like and it looks bleek. You need to get out while you still can. Sending you hugs

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/06/2020 11:58

You do realise that the only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is none?.

I feel you should end the relationship and return to Canada.

You learnt a lot of damaging lessons about relationships when you were growing up and these have stayed with you to this very day. Like their relationship, this relationship that you are in now is abusive too and what you describe now is merely another version of what your parents did to each other. This man targeted you OP partly due to your own boundaries that got skewed by abuse, I have no doubts about that at all. its not your fault he is like this and you did not make him that way. He is in his own private based war against you.

Abuse is not about communication or a lack thereof; its about power and control and he wants absolute here over you. You have indeed modified your behaviours to try and fit in with him more and or not set him off. It won't work for you because he will find some other way of punishing you. His nice/nasty cycle of abuse towards you is also a continuous one. Such men also hate women, all of them particularly their mother which is the role you're also now in with this man. Stop sending him articles re conflict as well, he is not interested and you cannot also act as a therapist, fixer, rescuer or saviour in a relationship.

His family of origin are not healthy at all either. His silent treatment is an example of emotional abuse towards you; its being done by him to punish you for some unsaid imaginary transgression on your part. He wants to keep you quiet, uncomplaining and compliant. If you were to
remain within this at all for your own reasons you would be making a huge mistake.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/06/2020 12:07

Abuse like you describe as well thrives on secrecy. You have taken a small but important step in writing about this on here.

Have a look at this website as well:-

www.womensaid.ie/help/coercive-control.html

monkeymonkey2010 · 13/06/2020 13:05

I called his mom for info later that day (I told her nothing of our argument) and got a few more details. I promised her I would watch the family house while everyone left, as robberies are common during funerals and only a small number of people could attend in person due to covid19

So you offered to house sit during the wake or the funeral - or both?

SRB450 · 13/06/2020 13:15

@monkeymonkey2010

I called his mom for info later that day (I told her nothing of our argument) and got a few more details. I promised her I would watch the family house while everyone left, as robberies are common during funerals and only a small number of people could attend in person due to covid19

So you offered to house sit during the wake or the funeral - or both?

I learned there were only a few family allowed at the funeral mass, so I offered to house sit for that time period. Not the wake. And I still planned to go to the graveyard and the post funeral get together after.
OP posts:
copycopypaste · 13/06/2020 13:22

Op he's verbally abusive during arguments and he's emotionally abusive by giving you the silent treatment. Leave him, this behaviour will only get worse

billy1966 · 13/06/2020 13:24

OP

Thank god you don't have children with this abusive man.

Make plans to return to your own country.
This will NOT get better.

This is who he is.

It's not nice.

He knows you are very far from home and he is being extremely nasty and dragging it on.

Accept that this is a bad relationship and move home.

Otherwise your future is going to be absolutely shit, lonely and sad.
Flowers

DelphiniumBlue · 13/06/2020 13:25

He doesn't see you as part of the family. You've moved continents to live with him and his family, but you don't matter enough to be "allowed" to grandma's funeral. In Ireland, where funerals and wakes are a really big deal, everyone goes, and it'll be remarked on that you're not there. He didn't want you there, didn't want your support.

I'd say he's made it very clear where you stand. I don't think this is about his arguing style, I think he doesn't really care if you're there or not, doesn't care if you integrate or not. It would be a deal breaker for me.

LannieDuck · 13/06/2020 13:41

That feels like the end of the relationship to me?

bubbleup · 13/06/2020 13:45

Everyone goes to funerals in Ireland? At the moment? No, they don't.

If he's like this all the time then leave but tbh if my mum had died at the moment and my sons girlfriend just assumed she'd be coming to the funeral and started pressuring for times and details and "invites" I really wouldn't appreciate it.

Why would you go to the funeral of a person you barely know taking up a precious space for someone who knew and loved her? Sounds to me like they didn't want to offend you and your boyfriend didn't know how to say no to you. When he told you it was difficult or tried to avoid hurting your feelings by telling you that, actually no, it's not appropriate for you to attend at the moment, you massively overstepped and rang his grieving mother Confused

paisleydaisy · 13/06/2020 13:54

I was asking questions...he kept saying "I don't know". I was getting frustrated ...He started getting really frustrated too and claimed I was making things awkward. He was raising his voice. Then he abruptly yelled at me, slammed his hands on the table then left the house and slammed the doors as he left....I called his mom for info later that day... I have no idea the reason he told them I wasn't there and I don't know how to tell them why myself

I am not saying he is in the right here, by any means, but I think that your behaviour was a little bit demanding in the face of what it was really about, a death of a loved one in his family. As to your request for advice re his family, I wouldn't do anything at all, be led by him if you want or just leave it if you decide to leave.

I don't approve of silent treatment but I am not sure that how he reacted was silent treatment here or more to do with him being really angry and wanting to be on his own? Which is a bit different from silent treatment which is an act of intentional aggression. Do you think it is usually an act of callous intention with him? If so you should leave.

Either way, you don't sound suited to each other though, I am sorry - it is a long way to travel to find that out Flowers I think you might need someone who wants to discuss things and talk more, who uses words to resolve conflict, who understands you and that you need to know what is what, what is happening when. And there are cultural differences between your native Canada and Ireland, it might be that too.

As you say him calling you names is not ok and is abusive, but he has stopped that?

paisleydaisy · 13/06/2020 13:56

My post crossed with bubbleup

bubbleup · 13/06/2020 13:59

"I learned there were only a few family allowed at the funeral mass, so I offered to house sit for that time period. Not the wake. And I still planned to go to the graveyard and the post funeral get together after."

When you learned that it was just going to be a few family members you should've backed off. Not offering house sitting (since you're not meant to be in anyone else's house for a start), not going to the graveyard etc.

You were basically clawing at any way to get involved when they just wanted to grieve together. It wasn't about you.

Oakmaiden · 13/06/2020 14:04

It sounds to me, from your op, like you were both giving the silent treatment to one another.

Not a healthy relationship dynamic.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 13/06/2020 14:06

Canada is nicer than your dp.

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