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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

Is this bad? Can't tell if I'm overreacting but feel as though I'm married to someone who dislikes me.

43 replies

Flintstonell · 24/08/2022 23:19

Such a minor thing but it has been building up for a while. I really feel as though my husband is fine with me until I am in need of help or something goes wrong. His instant reaction is to get annoyed at me or blame me for things but I never feel that way about him. For example, if we were to bump into each other, I would apologise and think it was just a silly accident but he would glare at me and possibly make an angry comment as though I did it on purpose or was the cause of it. It makes me feel quite shit to have my own husband always jump to the worst conclusions about me.

It seems such a non-event, but I am on holiday with husband and kids at the moment. I hurt my foot very mildly yesterday so I have a small bruise on my toe and a couple of grazes. We very rarely get to go out so we've been going to some evening entertainment. I put makeup and a dress on and made some effort. Halfway there I realised that the sandal I had on was really hurting my foot and had opened the cuts on my toe. The walk wasn't far so I kind of held onto the sandal with my toes and hobbled down but it took a while.

We got to the place and sat down. After a few minutes I asked whether he was going to go to the bar. He asked when I was going to go to the bar. So I explained that I couldn't really walk in my shoe and it was hurting. The bar was about 20 feet away so not a big ask. He then asked what my excuse was the night before. I'm not sure what he meant by that because we had walked to the bar together when we walked in and picked up drinks. My husband then wanted another a bit later (but I still had quite a bit of my drink left) so asked if I'd like another. I said yes but then regretted it later anyway and gave it to him. I didn't ask him to go to the bar or request another drink myself.

He refused to go to the bar because he had gone to the bar the previous evening. I thought he was joking but he wasn't. It was either I hobble over or go to the bar without my shoe on or no drinks at all. I mean, my foot wasn't horrifically injured and I would obviously be able to walk about if I needed to, but it made sense to me for the person who wasn't in pain to do it. We just sat there without drinks for about five minutes and then I left. I am so upset. I feel so humiliated that I got all dressed up and tried to make effort to look nice only for him to sit there and refuse to do something so small to make some kind of weird point. I wouldn't think anything of doing that the other way round. I wouldn't have been keeping score. He acted as though I was overreacting by leaving on the way back. I asked whether we were just going to sit there all night in silence without drinks and he said no, obviously he would have bought drinks. But he didn't say that or respond to anything I said. I know that he now won't bring this up and if I want any kind of resolution I will have to sort it all. He'll ignore me for a while and then try to pretend it never happened.

I am feeling really sorry for myself that I'm married to someone who is so petty towards me about something so tiny. I couldn't imagine him treating anybody else like that. I don't know if I'm explaining it very well but it feels as though I always give him the benefit of the doubt and generally think positively about him but he will always jump to a negative assumption about me given the chance. I feel really sad.

OP posts:
MintJulia · 24/08/2022 23:41

Yanbu That's not a normal loving relationship, he's bullying you and labouring the tiniest things. Where are kindness or consideration?

You have children and that makes things so difficult, but I couldn't live like that.

NoSquirrels · 24/08/2022 23:45

I am feeling really sorry for myself that I'm married to someone who is so petty towards me about something so tiny.

I’m feeling sorry for you too, OP. He sounds like a sulky, punishing arsehole. Has he always been like it - how long have you been married?

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 24/08/2022 23:46

He sounds absolutely bloody horrible. And you know what, if you and he split up, he'd be running to the bar for other women as often as he could.

JolieJ · 24/08/2022 23:52

What a nasty man. Any normal person let alone your actual partner wouldn't treat someone this way. Flowers

ThinkingaboutLangClegosaurus · 24/08/2022 23:55

He sounds horrible. And the worst of it is, if you stay with him your children will grow up thinking this is how men treat women. If you have a DD she is likely to accept ill-treatment as just the way life is for women. If you have a DS he will probably treat his girlfriends like this.

dane8 · 24/08/2022 23:56

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

GreyGreyGrey · 24/08/2022 23:59

He is being unkind and you do not deserve to be treated that way.

OovoofWelcome · 24/08/2022 23:59

What a nasty, petty, inadequate little man. It made me sad to read your OP. That’s not a partner, is it? That’s not someone you can rely on.

londonlass71 · 25/08/2022 00:03

He is a prick.

SchatzDME · 25/08/2022 00:05

Your husband is responding to you like he was taught to do. Pay attention to the family interactions he has, especially his Mother.

You will find your husband is only doing what he knows how to do. You will go along with his dysfunctional way of communicating, or you will put your foot down and require better treatment from your PARTNER. Girlfriend, don't be his foot stool 👍🏿

The very best to you

Aus84 · 25/08/2022 00:05

This is really sad OP, you don’t deserve to be treated like that. DH have been together nearly 20 years and even though we argue and annoy each other sometimes, if I was in your situation he would offer the carry me the whole way to the bar and then get me drinks all night.

OldFan · 25/08/2022 00:13

I don't know if we can even necessarily blame his family like SchatzDME said. That might be true, but also some men are just nasty and take their wives for granted. Sad

EmmaH2022 · 25/08/2022 00:16

OP "I really feel as though my husband is fine with me until I am in need of help or something goes wrong"

that is a huge thing, sorry. What did he want in a partner, a perfect robot? What is the point if he doesn't help etc?

crystalize · 25/08/2022 00:27

It's not a minor issue at all. This is not love. He doesn't care about you or cherish you. It seems he gets pleasure from making you feel uncomfortable, giving the silent treatment, being moody. This is deliberate, its emotional abuse and it won't get better. Don't stand for it. I hope you try to enjoy the rest of your holiday by leaving him to it and doing your own thing.

ParsleyPesto · 25/08/2022 00:28

Quite unbelievably petty and mean. How can you be attracted to him?

What was he like when you were in labour?

Facecream · 25/08/2022 00:40

Ah OP. I’m so sad for you.
Have you ever read the book “Why Does He Do That?”. I’m going to suggest you do, whenever you get home

wishing3 · 25/08/2022 00:49

Not in your head OP, he sounds awful. I’m sorry. You deserve better.

Pixiedust1234 · 25/08/2022 01:01

you are not over reacting. He is nasty and bullying you. If he's been like this for years then its either counselling or leave. He won't change. Just think about retiring with this man, kids gone. Just you and him.

AuntTwacky · 25/08/2022 01:03

My DH was like that... now he's my ex

Maytodecember · 25/08/2022 01:38

Well God forbid anything major happens. If he’s this petty over going to a bar to fetch a couple of drinks how supportive or useful would he be if something big happened?

5zeds · 25/08/2022 01:45

Wow. Would a friend do that? Tell him he’s behaving like a dick and to change.

Musti · 25/08/2022 02:50

What a fucking prick. Even if you hadn’t been injured, to be so petty over nothing is ridiculous.

Geppili · 25/08/2022 02:50

Horrible man.

Flintstonell · 25/08/2022 08:37

Thanks for the replies. I don't think I've given quite the full picture - I definitely did say something there and then. I immediately responded quite angrily and brought up a load of other times he's acted like an arse and that's it not ok. He didn't respond. I think he was probably surprised by the strength of my reaction because it was over something so silly. But it wasn't about the bar, it was about him acting as though I'm trying to get one over on him and realising that we don't see each other in the same way. He did say that he'd asked if I wanted to go back and change my shoes on the way down and I'd said no so he thought I must be fine. I said no because we were halfway there and it seemed silly to go all the way back up the hill when i wouldn't be walking around much. Maybe I should have just changed my shoe and it does seem like I was fine until expected to do something? But I can't believe he thinks it was part of some grand plan where I take the shoe rubbing me (or I'm making the whole thing up) just so that I can get out of going to the bar. Why would he think I am that calculating and why would he have married me if he thinks that I'm a calculating person?

I think maybe he was getting at the idea that he's always the one to go and order. There could be some truth to that I suppose, and maybe he finds it a bit uncomfortable? We rarely go out so it's not something I've really thought about. And if that is the case, why not just bring it up at some other point instead of acting like that? Why wait until I'm hobbling in my shoe to decide that the bar visiting ratio needs sorting?

He isn't the best communicator and I am much better than him at arguing my point so I think he thinks 'what's the point'. I am mindful of the fact that I could technically win an argument whilst being in the wrong just because he struggles to articulate his thoughts. But I don't think he had a leg to stand on anyway. He is usually great and has many brilliant qualities but his worst ones are definitely being a bit grumpy/stubborn/passive aggressive. He particularly struggles to make eye contact with me or respond when things are heightened. I don't understand it and find it frustrating. Sometimes I've stood there and waited for a response that never comes. I don't know what would happen if I didn't try to sort things out. It'd all get swept under the rug and resentment would build.

He was absolutely terrified when I was in labour. White as a sheet. I had told him that he'd need to advocate for me and need him on my side but I don't think he felt capable. I'm definitely the 'strong' one in the relationship. I sort everything out and make things ok and do all of the emotional heavy lifting. And he more than pulls his weight in other ways, but I worry that things will fall apart if I'm ever not ok. I don't think this has anything to do with his parents - his relationship with his mum was great. She died while I was pregnant so the whole time was very hard for him. I was the one to be strong and cope with everything even though I had a really tough pregnancy but I think that's understandable given the situation. His parents were divorced but I don't think either of them treated the other like this. It seems to be just me.

A couple of years ago I suddenly developed severe anxiety over a specific topic. I couldn't eat, could barely function etc. I feel as though I dealt with it on my own and with the help of my parents. He just seemed annoyed at me. I didn't expect him to be my therapist but i don't feel that there was any emotional support there whatsoever. He would probably say that he picked up the slack around the house and with the kids, and he did, but there was such an atmosphere and I could just sense how angry he was at me for causing this problem. I was trying but really struggling. I contacted the gp and was taking beta blockers and anxiety medication, I got on the waiting list for therapy etc. Then my parents paid for me to find a private therapist immediately because I was struggling so much. So I was definitely trying to help myself, it's not as though I was leaning on him too much. But I remember one night when I was having what I think was a panic attack. I was rocking backwards and forwards hyperventilating and trying not to pass out. Felt like I was going to die. I was trying to talk to him and he was sitting there looking at his phone as though he wouldn't give me the satisfaction of giving me attention. I felt so terrified and at one point I said "please, please help me" and he finally looked at me with contempt on his face and said "do you realise how fucking ridiculous you look right now". It was the only thing he'd said to me while I'd been getting more and more panicked. I couldn't have been that cold to a stranger, let alone the person I'm married to. I've got a bit upset just thinking about that. I don't understand it and I'd never have treated him like that.

I couldn't really deal with it all at the same time as trying to deal with the anxiety so we didn't properly have it out or anything. I think he has apologised since, but only because I've prompted it. But I've never forgotten it because it's not like something mean you say in the heat of an argument. It was cold and uncaring. But maybe I shouldn't bring it up if it's officially been dealt with and talked about. He has since said that he was so worried about me he was struggling to eat himself, but he never vocalised that. I just felt annoyance more than anything. He said that there was no point in him saying anything because every time he tried to tell me everything would be ok or tried to calm my anxiety, I'd counter it, which is probably true. But I didn't want him to fix the problem, I wanted to feel like he had my back and cared about me.

On the other hand, I had a cancer scare during one of the lockdowns and he couldn't have been more supportive. It took me by surprise. I felt really well looked after and he's never been like that with me before. I was referred on the two week wait and had every symptom of a specific cancer. I was so scared and worried and convinced that I had cancer. I also had to have an intimate examination by a male doctor which I found traumatic and was getting quite worked up about. He spent lots of time talking to me and never left my side. He soothed me and tried to keep me positive and cheered up because I kept spiralling. He took over everything with the kids cos I kept getting upset. He completely had my back and I really felt like I could rely on him.

I don't know, I'm getting muddled. Perhaps I'm linking loads of different things which aren't linked and it is just a silly spat over visiting the bar. He's definitely not abusive but I think quite bad at dealing with things.

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 25/08/2022 09:32

Someone who thinks you are out to 'beat' him or get one over on him or 'win' ....that's showing you how HE actually is op..

I wouldn't want to live my life woth someone who views me as the competition. That's not a partner,that's a rival. Why would you want to sleep under the same roof as someone who thinks your whole life is some sort of challenge to his?

Fuck that.
Get out while you're still young.