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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

Neurodivergent partner doing my head in this week

155 replies

CosmoQ · 03/09/2024 21:58

He is high functioning and does have a tendency to lecture every so often. His dad has given him a bollocking for it in the past.

Anyway we spent 10 days together, the longest amount of time ever so far, and he was disagreeable about 30% of the time.

Examples:

  • we were talking about a Robert De Niro film and I said 'yeah I like him but prefer Al Pacino'. Him: what's the point in preferring him, why can't you just appreciate each actor separately?
  • me: well most male birds are more colourful than female birds for mating reasons. Him: hmm I don't think you can say that for sure without the stats
  • why are you having sugar in your coffee?

Last night I finally said I'd had enough of being disagreed with all the time as it made me feel undermined. He said he'd take it on board as he doesn't want to upset me but this morning was at it again!

We've had such a lovely relationship so far and I don't understand why he has to oppose me all the time.

OP posts:
carrotcard · 04/09/2024 18:52

HeyPrestoAlakazam · 04/09/2024 16:41

I'm autistic. I know we aren't one homogenous person, but she is expecting him to completely change an innate trait of his autistic personality. I see it all the time...NT OPs or posters wanting autistic people to be a bit less autistic. And I'm sick of it. If you don't like ND traits, you know where the door is. You can't expect someone to mask their entire lives.

Edited

Totally agree with that point

Catsmere · 04/09/2024 22:13

LuckySantangelo35 · 04/09/2024 11:43

@Catsmere

sorry, tagged you by mistake!

No worries! Looking back I realised which comment you meant to respond to, and yeah, I agree - "gets" what?

ChunkyTrees · 04/09/2024 22:44

Surely, given he is wrong about the birds, the actor thing is subjective and whether you have sugar or not is hardly a "right or wrong" situation, I think everybody saying his autism causes him to need to correct/clarify are barking up the wrong tree.

You can be autistic and insufferably condescending.

Sounds like he is going into conversations assuming you are probably wrong, it's a basic lack of respect.

Catsmere · 05/09/2024 00:01

You absolutely nailed it, @ChunkyTrees. This reads to me like bog-standard insufferable male know-it-all behaviour, autism or not.

HauntedbyMagpies · 05/09/2024 01:34

Singleandproud · 03/09/2024 22:42

He has a social and communication disability, you being upset with how he communicates is like being upset about someone using a walking aide moving slowly.

You've spent alot of time together this time so it is far more likely than this is him, that previously in short bursts he was able to mask or cope with things better.

DD is autistic, there is right and there is wrong for her and very little grey in between. Everything needs to be backed up with facts and evidence which of course is exhausting. Nothing is ever taken in the spirit of the meaning but rules have to be followed. That is why it is a disability and why it can make forming and maintaining friendships and romantic relationships in particular difficult

Edited

As a parent to a child with autism I disagree with your first paragraph. It's nothing like that! Having autism doesn't mean it's ok to have no respect or understanding WHATSOEVER of your partner's feelings or opinions and only your own opinions count. Life doesn't work like that and if I let my DC think it did, I'd be doing her a disservice!

Just because a loved one has Autism doesn't mean they can’t be hurtful and/or difficult or that they can’t learn how to treat people they love.

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