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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

Relationships

New boyfriend snapped at me

108 replies

Salkopetta · 23/01/2023 23:14

New relationship of about 4 months and all going well. I was looking at bf’s electronic device today and he asked me not to interfere with the settings; I was being careful not to and just scrolling through them out of interest. A few hours later, turns out device had an error message. I was mortified and apologies, have offered to help fix when I next see him. For context the error isn’t huge and won’t cost money to fix, just annoying. I suggested various solutions, apologised profusely etc etc.

he snapped at one of my responses (eg - “well I don’t think that’s going to work is it because it will require me being in two different places at once”) and also used the words “I did tell you not to mess with it”. He immediately apologised for being snappy and changed the subject, said he loved me etc.

iys not a massive deal and I accept I’m at fault here but feel like he’s spoken to me like a child. It’s not a big deal in the scheme of things and I have never once spoken to him like that. Not once. He has done some clumsy things at my house, spilt things etc (just once or twice and not a big deal) and I’ve always laughed it off and neevr made him feel bad for it.

how do I take this? Do I thank him for apologising, apologise myself and move on? Do I say anything? I don’t like being spoken to like a child and don’t like the tone be used at me. But he did apologise so don’t want to stew.

OP posts:
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FindingMeno · 26/01/2023 15:18

I'm not sure how some people navigate life being so over-sensitive!!!

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sendbobs · 26/01/2023 15:15

Fortunately ^^

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sendbobs · 26/01/2023 15:14

Formation, it was the first type. Most people have said he hasn't done anything wrong, so maybe you've misunderstood the original post

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AcrossthePond55 · 26/01/2023 15:12

SunflowerTed · 26/01/2023 05:02

This must be a joke?! In our perfect world we can’t snap at our partners anymore if they’re Being bloody annoying Wtaf? !

As I said in my post, there is 'snapping' then there's 'snapping'.

The SECOND two are not acceptable. At least not to me.

DH and I have been happily married 35 years so we must be doing something right. We might 'snap' in the 1st way, but neither of us would accept the other 'snapping' by blowing up and shouting or being disdainful or derogatory. If doing so is fine with you, so be it.

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LHReturns · 26/01/2023 05:08

SunflowerTed · 26/01/2023 05:05

Hilarious

Heheheheheheh…indeed…Sherlock OP can get to the bottom of this.

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SunflowerTed · 26/01/2023 05:05

powershowerforanhour · 24/01/2023 09:38

Observe how he treats his mum. If he's snappy, impatient, patronising or generally a bit high handed with her, that'll be you in a couple of years.

Hilarious

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SunflowerTed · 26/01/2023 05:02

AcrossthePond55 · 24/01/2023 01:22

See here's my thing. In the first days of a relationship we're generally on our 'best behaviour'. If he's 'snapping' at this early stage, how might his anger manifest itself once he feels 'secure' in the relationship and starts to let his guard down? So depending on what 'snapping' is, it could be a red flag.

Just because someone messed up isn't a reason to 'snap' at them, again depending on what 'snapping' is. Someone's 'snap' may be pursed lips and a 'tight' tone of voice. Another person's 'snap' may be a red face, bulging eyes, and 'snarling' comments. Yet another person's may be a look of disdain and a condescending tone. The first is 'ok'. The latter two are not, and would be red flags to me.

This must be a joke?! In our perfect world we can’t snap at our partners anymore if they’re Being bloody annoying Wtaf? !

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Starlitestarbright · 26/01/2023 02:08

Did he snap and fart?

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SamuelBrown · 26/01/2023 01:32

ArmyofMunn · 24/01/2023 19:34

Gosh OP, people really are piling on here!

If you were criticised a lot unnecessarily as a child, of course this will hurt a bit, especially in an otherwise good relationship. I can completely understand that.

It sounds like you've got a nice relationship though, so I guess just move on from this and you should be fine.

Yeah, for keeping good relationship between each other then she needs to accept it.

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ArmyofMunn · 24/01/2023 19:34

Gosh OP, people really are piling on here!

If you were criticised a lot unnecessarily as a child, of course this will hurt a bit, especially in an otherwise good relationship. I can completely understand that.

It sounds like you've got a nice relationship though, so I guess just move on from this and you should be fine.

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Watchkeys · 24/01/2023 16:28

Yes I was really really annoying but he can be annoying too

Well, this is quite a childlike approach. Whether or not he can be annoying isn't relevant to the problem that you're dealing with. Nor is your childhood. You're bringing irrelevant stuff in to bolster your argument, and you seem to think that because everyone knows you were wrong and you've apologised, things should be ok. It just doesn't work like that; that's how kids think things work. As if they did something, so they're owed something. You're also asking for advice on how to deal with a very simple issue. That's quite childlike, like 'Mummy, how do I open this bag of crisps?' If you're going to be in an adult relationship, you need to be able to answer your own questions about how to deal with your feelings and your partner. What would you do if you had a real relationship problem? Are you going to consult us every time? Are you running your own relationship, or wanting others to run it for you?

The basic problem here is that you did something he clearly asked you not to. You disrespected his wishes. There's no need to bring your childhood into it, unless you're looking to distract by looking at responses, but those all happened after the fact.

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LaLuz7 · 24/01/2023 15:00

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 24/01/2023 11:11

You are still in the honey moon period and best behaviour time - I would not expect to be snapped at during this period.

Would you expect your partner to push boundaries and do the opposite of what you asked them to do?

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SallyWD · 24/01/2023 14:49

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 24/01/2023 11:11

You are still in the honey moon period and best behaviour time - I would not expect to be snapped at during this period.

Sorry I don't agree. We're all human and we all get irritated from time to time.

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sendbobs · 24/01/2023 11:38

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 24/01/2023 11:11

You are still in the honey moon period and best behaviour time - I would not expect to be snapped at during this period.

You're going to struggle maintain a relationship if you expect to never be annoying/annoyed at anyone for 1 year + (or however long honeymoon stage lasts). It happens. He apologised, and we don't all have infinite patience for annoying behaviour in other people. He did nothing wrong at all.

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SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 24/01/2023 11:11

You are still in the honey moon period and best behaviour time - I would not expect to be snapped at during this period.

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tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 24/01/2023 11:09

LadyOfTheFliessssss · 23/01/2023 23:37

I can see myself snapping in this scenario.

I go by the philosophy that sometimes people do lose their temper briefly but as long as they sincerely apologise (and it wasn't abusive), I'll call it quits. I'm not perfect either and I'd hope someone wouldn't hold it against me.

This.

I adore DH but lord, sometimes he pisses me off and I'll be honest I can be a snappy cow. He also has his moments. Especially when under stress.

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Princesspollyyy · 24/01/2023 10:59

He spoke to you like a child because you behaved like one. He asked you not to mess with it and you carried on regardless.

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Laurdo · 24/01/2023 10:56

Outtasteamandluck · 24/01/2023 03:28

This.

How is this weird? It depends on how much time you've spent with someone within that period.

At 4 months I definitely knew I loved my DH. We knew we wanted to get married after 2 months. Just because it didn't happen as quickly for you doesn't make it weird.

What's definitely weird is continuing to do something someone asked you not to then wondering why they're pissed off. What's also weird is having any interest in someone device settings. I wouldn't even be able to tell you what the settings are on my own device.

I can't imagine how OP will cope when there's an actual problem.

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emptythelitterbox · 24/01/2023 10:50

I would be a little upset if someone was messing with the settings on something.
If the other person was interested in how it worked or something, I would gladly show them.

As for the relationship, just be aware if you are repeating past relationships that end up badly.

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FluffyFlower · 24/01/2023 10:32

What do you do? Do not react and move on, these things are bound to happen in relationships, everyone gets snappy from time to time. What's not important to you may be important to him. It is a learning curve. You are still adjusting to each other. It should get better once you know each other's style

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sendbobs · 24/01/2023 10:25

Catnary · 23/01/2023 23:29

He’s telling you he loves you after only 4 months? That’s the weird thing, not the snapping!

4 months is enough time if you see each other more than once a fortnight

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RaiseTheStakesAndMakeTheLastWordDuckhead · 24/01/2023 10:21

OP - just close MN and ignore anything further. You were right to ask the question, you've agreed with the comments, your situation with your bf is fine.

Go enjoy your week! x

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Daffodilis · 24/01/2023 10:04

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 24/01/2023 09:59

Well would you believe it? I thought it was just Prince Harry and I whose bins talked to us but...

amberol.co.uk/bins/educational-bins

(I like the penguin one)

I think I'd just end up arguing with the pingu one 😅

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sillysmiles · 24/01/2023 10:02

Hmmmm I think there is a disconnect in the way you both treat things and each's damaging of those things. You say you don't' make an issue out of when he damages something at yours but he makes an issue out of it you mess up something at his.
My DH is like this, and in the early years there were lots of discussions about how I don't react when he breaks something but he goes mad if I break something.
Accept you should have left it alone, but also have the conversation about the differences early on.

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Biscuits1011 · 24/01/2023 10:00

Catnary · 23/01/2023 23:29

He’s telling you he loves you after only 4 months? That’s the weird thing, not the snapping!

That’s not at all weird. Don’t listen to negative crap like this. If it was 4 weeks fair enough but 4 months you should absolutely know if you love someone by then.

but back to the ops post, I think you should just accept you were wrong to to jeep fiddling when asked not to.. and agree with another poster suggestions to fix it at that point would be annoying. So I think he reacted normally

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