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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

Words and actions don't match

108 replies

ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 07:15

I know the advice in here is always to look at the actions not the words and I believe this is very good advice when someone is promising you everything but delivering nothing or saying they love you but behaving in ways that don't demonstrate love.
Talk is cheap and it's easy to say, "I love you," or "I care about you," and the behave in ways that show contempt or a lack of thought. The confusion and hope is what keeps people in unsatisfactory and damaging relationships for years.

But what about when it s the other way round?

What about when there are no words or love or affection but their actions suggest otherwise?

OP posts:
ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 07:34

Anyone?

I appreciate the thread title isn't very inspiring. I posted without going back to check it 🙄

OP posts:
ILoveShula · 30/07/2021 07:40

Show don't tell?

BigButtons · 30/07/2021 07:42

Well it depends if you’re happy with that. Some people show their love and affection with actions. There was an interesting thread on love languages recently.

Apeirogon · 30/07/2021 07:45

I know love languages always come up on these threads but I do think they are relevant here. I'm the same as you OP - I express love in words, whereas DH expresses his in actions. I have learnt to accept it (as I honestly believe he loves me, which is the important thing) but obviously you need to make your own decision.

Aliceclara · 30/07/2021 07:47

I think actions say it all. Are you wanting to say 'I love you' but it hasn't yet been said? Give us some examples of the actions which seem to show he cares.

ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 07:47

It's very much 'show not tell'.

But that relies on inference on my part and I can't be sure that my inferences are correct. I don't need to hear words constantly but I find the complete lack of them odd and can't be sure that it's a reflection of his feelings amd not just him being kind.

OP posts:
GuckGuckDoose · 30/07/2021 07:52

I struggle with this a bit - DH is hands down the least romantic man on earth, right down to the (very) odd time he puts a photo of me and the kids on social media and captions it with something that reads like an extract from the shipping forecast.

But, he adores both the kids and I and demonstrates this by being infinitely caring and really looking after us - just without any attempt whatsoever to be romantic, or when he does try, it’s like getting blood from a stone.

I don’t know what the answer as I would quite like a LITTLE bit of romance, but then also wouldn’t swap what I’ve got in other senses for anything!

ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 08:19

@Aliceclara

I think actions say it all. Are you wanting to say 'I love you' but it hasn't yet been said? Give us some examples of the actions which seem to show he cares.
I don't know tbh. At this point, I just want him to say something!

OK.

We see each other every weekend and very occasionally in the week. In some contact every day or so. We were bf/gf for almost a year and I ended it because I felt uncertain of what it was and had started to doubt he actually even liked me. We didn't see each other for a few weeks and then started hanging out as friends as we were a bubble. Over the next couple of months, contact increased to previous levels. We do have sex but not every time we see each other. There's no pressure amd spending time together going out and doing things is prioritised over staying in and having sex.

My car broke down last summer. He did all the driving for 6 weeks without complaint, spent a lot of time looking for a suitable replacement and then drove across the country to look at cars with me. He said a few months later that, at the time, he felt I'd taken him for granted a bit. I told him constantly that I appreciated all he was doing but he was definitely more proactive than me in finding a replacement and I think that is what he meant.

We have a similar hobby and when he replaced a piece of kit recently, he gave me his old one. There was nothing wrong with it but he does the hobby on a more 'professional' scale than me and it didn't meet his needs anymore. I've been invited along with him to events when only 'partners' went otherwise.

He is supportive of me and very encouraging but without being complimentary.

I have a 15 year old daughter and he makes a huge effort with her so she don't feel left out. He suggested we all went out for the day together a couple of weeks ago. It was a long drive and one I wasn't really comfortable making given the heat. He only has a 2 seater so offered to do the drive there and back in my car, sorted out snacks, made sure my daughter had everything she needed and was comfortable. Then she was a bit typically 15 when we got there and after all the effort was difficult to engage but he spent a lot of time encouraging her when he might have just thought she was being ungrateful and been irritated. The result was that I ended up with some lovely photos of him doing an activity with her and she enjoyed it in a way she might not have without his input.

He invited me round to watch the football final with his friends. Checked I was OK the whole evening (wasn't ignored for the blokes) and sat next to me and held my hand. He's not really one for hand holding in front of others to the point where I had begun to think he was embarrassed to be seen with me when we were seeing each other.

There are loads of similar examples. He does lots of 'little things' I guess.

He has only actually told me he cares about me once - after we'd split up when I said I wasn't sure he even liked me.

We did have a chat a few weeks ago when he said he felt uncertain of thngs because I'd ended it. I said I'd only ended it because of the lack of affection and not knowing how he felt. He said he should probably make more of an effort then and, tbf, he has.

It's not that I need a lot of affection and in previous relationships haven't needed it but I've never felt that I didn't have a context either. I think that's what is lacking - a context.

He doesn't find it easy or comfortable to talk about feelings or 'the relationship' and, tbh, i don't either so it's not that i want to endlessly navel gaze about 'us' but just a context to underpin the actions or an indication of his thoughts/feelings would be nice.

OP posts:
ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 08:27

GuckGuckDoose

That's the other thing. There is no evidence of us together on social media at all. And that did make me wonder whether he was keen to appear 'single'. To the point where he has taken photos when we've been on a day out and posted them but completely omitted any photos of me or any mention that inwas there too.

But he said he has never put any evidence of his relationships on SM. Which is true.

I'm close friends with one of his friends (pre dated me knowing him) and she said he has always been similar and his lack of outward affection or words doesn't reflect his feelings.

I guess it's hard now because, now we're able to go out again, we are doing things 'as a couple' with couples and people keep asking me if we're back together and I don't know what to say!

OP posts:
ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 08:30

The hobby kit doesn't really sound like a big deal but it's something that I didn't have and he was really pleased because it means it will improve my participation - and he's right. He does practical things like that to support me rather than just saying, "You're great!"

OP posts:
Apeirogon · 30/07/2021 08:33

I think the reason it's ok for me is that I have healthy self esteem so I don't doubt that he does really love me.

Apeirogon · 30/07/2021 08:35

DH is the same re social media too!

We've been married for 18 years so I'm used to it now.

Apeirogon · 30/07/2021 08:36

Honestly OP, why would he bother doing all of that if he doesn't care about you? What would be the point?

Aliceclara · 30/07/2021 08:37

He obviously cares very much about you. I understand though that it's almost as though you're both not wanting to name what you have by declaring how you feel. Do you love him? Perhaps he doubts that you do and doesn't want to put pressure on you by saying the words first?

ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 08:54

@Apeirogon

I think the reason it's ok for me is that I have healthy self esteem so I don't doubt that he does really love me.
Do I love him?

I think I do. I would support him in doing something that was right for him even if it meant I was left behind. The big tell for me is that I need a lot of time on my own and find other people irritated easily (there are reasons for this) but it doesn't matter how low my social energy is or how much he has irritated me, I still want to see him and spend time with him and irritations are easily and soon forgotten. He seems to feel the same about me..?

OP posts:
ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 08:55

Oh didn't actually reply to the comment 🙄

Given that self esteem is about valuing yourself regardless of how others feel about you, I don't see how having self esteem would mean that you assumed someone loved you.

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ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 09:01

Sometimes I feel that he is just being a very good friend. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just the only port in a storm. Sometimes I remember what he has said about his own insecurities and the effort he has made to be more affectionate etc...

Sometimes I feel I don't want to rock the boat and spoil what we have because I do accept he cares about me. Sometimes I feel I want to walk away because at least that would be a certainty.

Sometimes, I feel like I should just tell him I love him while we're having a cup of tea or something. Not a big romantic declaration. Not to hear it back. Just to put it out there.

I've had men tell me they love me before when they haven't shown any where near as much 'commitment' or consideration to me as he has.

OP posts:
ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 09:04

I'm not scared of telling him I love him not hearing it back. And I suppose I feel its fast approaching 'shit or get off the pot' time.

And realistically, I know that, if he doesn't love me by now, he never will and so telling him isn't going to change the material reality.

OP posts:
AppleBlossomTimeNow · 30/07/2021 09:21

I was in a very similar situation & I had to call it a day. I needed to know where I stand, to make plans, feel reassured & not feel our relationship status is in question. I felt relieved & sad when I made that call. I possibly do have low self esteem. I like to feel secure.

AppleBlossomTimeNow · 30/07/2021 09:22

Oh & I told him I loved him...and he didn't say he loved me back. Many times.

ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 09:48

AppleBlossomTimeNow

I just don't want to waste my time. I can see my daughter forming a bond with him and I don't want that to further if he has no intention of sticking around. A relationship ending is one thing but if he knows he doesn't want one at all that's very different.

I don't want to get married or live with anyone - certainly not while my daughter is under 18 so it's not about that.

But are we an 'us' or is he open to meeting someone else? Am I special/important to him?

I don't feel the need to rush anything but are we even travelling down the same road?

OP posts:
billy1966 · 30/07/2021 11:13

I think you need to speak plainly to him.

Until you do, you won't know.

Once you know, you can make a decision.

Trying to interpret his actions will get you nowhere.

You need to do this for clarity because you have a daughter, and for yourself of course.
Flowers

Crikeyalmighty · 30/07/2021 15:15

I’m like your partner OP- I’m not big on words or relationship discussions. I used to be , until I got crapped on and it’s like the words all kind of withered and died within me— so I stick to actions.

wantmorenow · 30/07/2021 16:44

Sounds like my DP. I told him after a few months that I was smitten with him. He looked terrified. He broke up with me, then got back together a few months later. A further 6 months or so later I told him I loved him. Nothing in return, just very awkward silence. Nearly broke me. He is the most caring, considerate and thoughtful man to me and my kids. Always at hand to help ferry us around, fix stuff or just listen when times get tough.

He did say he loved me eventually, we were pissed up on a weekend away and he said it very quietly when I was nodding off. Almost thought I imagined it but he's said it a few times since too.

I proposed marriage to him leap year day 2019. Said I wanted to marry him but not in rush as, like you, not moving in together or wed until my youngest leaves school next year. He declined politely. I said I wouldn't bring subject up again, so he would need to let me know if he changed his mind in the future. No drama or tears.

Here we are 7 years on. Not blended families at all. He proposed about 2 months ago as he reasoned we could have a marriage without the wedding palaver due to covid. I accepted his proposal but not his suggestion to run off and book the ref office for the next free date. We are engaged with the plan to wed next summer.

I tease him that he's just slower than me at cottoning on to a good thing. His feelings are deep, but he just seems to be running behind me emotionally. First few years were tough as I thought he was keeping his options open. Now I know he's totally committed, wedding or not, it's great. Nothing he does or says has changed though in reality, it just took time to realise that he places next to no importance on words and declarations. He wants me me to judge him on his actions and steadfastness. That takes a lot of time.

If he's treating you well and you're enjoying his company then perhaps just take what he does at face value. He's prioritising your happiness and needs along with your daughter's. What more do you want from a partner? He sounds like he has the potential to be a great DP for the long term.

ErstwhileGoth · 30/07/2021 17:42

I'm going round to his this evening. I really want to address this but he's coming somewhere with me next Friday that is a bit of a big deal amd I don't want to ruin things. But, at the same time, I'd really like to know before then 😕

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