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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

Just writing to get my thoughts straight.

116 replies

Coralsea123 · 08/01/2025 12:03

Yesterday was an awful day and i just need to write it down to help me understand. Fantastic Christmas with boyfriend, effort put in on both sides, visited both families and made sure we checked in on each other during Xmas events. Honestly couldn't have asked for better.

Anyway, Yesterday bf woke up and gave me a kiss. This is how we normally start the day but he didn't say good morning babe/beautiful which he usually does. I cuddled him but he's full of cold and was coughing a lot. I was getting a bit annoyed so just asked him to cover his mouth when he coughed as he was coughing straight onto me. He didn't acknowledge that I'd spoken so I rolled away slightly so not to get his germs and asked if he'd heard me. He said he had heard but didn't respond because it wasn't a question, just a statement. If it was me, I would have just said oh yeah sorry, didn't realise. Will next time etc.
Little later and I'm getting dressed, there's some posh biscuits over on his bedside table that we got as a Christmas present and I fancied one. I go round to get the packet and he gets there before me, snatching it away. He asked what I was doing, I said I wanted the biscuits and he withheld them asking why. I was annoyed now so replied saying it doesn't matter why, let me have them. He was pulling them further away until I told him. I gave up and went downstairs without one. He's never acted like that before, it was completely out of character. I Felt it was controlling. I mentioned it later and he had a different view of it, insisting that he wanted to know why I wanted the biscuits but that he was not pulling them further away and with holding them.

I had 30 mins or so on my own so we could get over what just happened. Then went to give him a hug and a kiss. Thought it might help and be an olive branch. He gave me a kiss back but the hug was limp like he didn't want to really touch me. Later we head out for the day. I asked if he wanted a kiss in the car and whether he was ok. He said I'm happy to have a kiss if you want. So I gave him a quick kiss. Drove to the shops for 1hr in silence. He wasn't making conversation and I asked why, he just said he has nothing to talk about and nothing to say. Which isn't like us, I generally talk more but he would normally say even generic stuff like 'sat nav says we'll get there at xx time' or 'I'm stopping at the next services if you want anything.'

He knew we're going to a big shopping centre as it had been planned and had said he was still happy to go. Got there, he was hungry. Found a quick food place and he just moaned about how long the queue was. He spent the first 30 mins moaning about how busy it was. So after not speaking the first things he says are moans. Ruins the tone of the day and creates tension. We sit for a drink, again in silence because I've asked him not to moan and he barely looks at me. I end up crying in the middle of the shopping centre, because I hate how he is today. I'm sad, confused and upset. I told him this isn't normal and how we normally act. He insisted we were fine, he was fine and there was nothing wrong. I said I don't feel warmth, cared for or loved. His response to how can he try to show that was 'yeah I'm taking you shopping that will show you care and love!' I told him that does not show love. For me I like physical touch and being close. He knows this, I'm open about this and we've been together a few years so he knows this. I tell him I need him to hold my hand, give me kisses and hugs, touch my back, my hair etc. He does this normally when out and about. I'm not meaning pda's or full make out sessions just a kiss on the head, quick peck and holding hands. We go round the shops for a few hours and none of this happens. Can't even hold my hand.
Get home and the house is freezing so we head straight to bed. He's moaning it's cold so I joke best way to warm up is to share body heat. Just meaning a hug. I get no response from this. Normally he'd be all over me giving me a hug.
I can't take it anymore and ask my he hasn't been talkative or touchy feely all day. He said he wasnt feeling it. I said thats fair enough but then why did you not say when I specifically told you what I need from you to make me feel cared for and loved. You should have told me then because I've been open and honest and still not got what I need from you. I asked why he said he was happy to give me a kiss in the car at the start of the day if he wasn't feeling it and he said ,'I was still happy to give you a kiss if you wanted one. I just wasn't feeling it, I've not been feeling it today.' This confuses me. How can you be happy to do something which is physical and intimate (on the lower end of the scale) if you don't feel it/not feeling it.
This is an issue for me, that he feels this way and hasn't mentioned it. He says I don't need to know. I asked him what has made him feel like this and he says nothing. He still maintains the fact that he's fine/acting normally and we're fine as a couple.
He said, sometimes people need space and I'm not feeling it today. He spends most nights at mine as we are slowly progressing into moving in together. But he still has his house with everything like bed, tv, heating etc so why did he choose not to go to his tonight if that's how he feels. It confuses me and as a result I ask lots of questions to try to understand and gain clarification. But then he says its the Spanish inquisition as I ask too many questions.

Now an update before I post this. He Wakes up this morning as if nothing ever happened and was acting fine. I said what was yesterday all about, it upset me. He said sorry you felt that way. To me he should be apologising for his actions not how I feel. But he didn't think he did anything wrong. I then explained everything he did that made me feel like that and he still said nothing. He didn't look like he cared and it was only when I mentioned accountability and that he said I'm sorry for my actions/words. He didn't feel like he needed to take accountability or apologise because he didn't do anything wrong in his eyes. I had to prompt him so it wasn't a genuine sorry.

I don't know why I'm posting really, just a vent.

OP posts:
Ginnnny · 08/01/2025 14:12

Your constant need for attention isn't healthy. Your boyfriend was sick, and went shopping all day, I'd be pretty cranky doing that if I wasn't well too.

bigkidatheart · 08/01/2025 14:13

Get yourself a diary or a journal. That was exhausting to read, i'm sorry.

You told him off for coughing because you didn't want his germs then you spend the day moaning at him thats he's not toughing you or kissing you and the bloke is ill, I would have left you in the shopping centre and gone back home to bed. You are lucky he got out of bed and came with you in the first place

He sounds ill and fed up and you sound needy and high maintenance.

BunnyLake · 08/01/2025 14:14

WhydontyouMove · 08/01/2025 14:00

I don’t know why everyone’s going on like he had the plague when the op says he had a slight cold.

Is it normal to eat your food in a bad atmosphere, refusing to look or talk to the person you’re with? I’d have got up and left him there.

Full of cold and coughing a lot.

Chewbecca · 08/01/2025 14:14

Blimey, there is an awful lot of thinking and overthinking of needs here. Sounds to me like you just need to relax and have unenforced, un-judged fun.

Do the pair of you work? Do you have a lot of time on your hands?

OhBling · 08/01/2025 14:15

OP, I've read your update. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say that perhaps you're not as needy as you come across. However, nonetheless, if your relationship is genuinely usually great and lovely and wonderful, how on earth is ONE off day causing you this much angst? In a three year, mostly happy relationship, one day that's a bit off shouldn't even be a blip. So either, you are in fact as needy as you seem OR there's more to this that you aren't articulating.

Mrsknowitall · 08/01/2025 14:16

You sound like hard work tbh he isn’t well, let him have his space and stop nagging him

Barrenfieldoffucks · 08/01/2025 14:17

Glitchymn1 · 08/01/2025 12:12

Well he’s sick by the sounds of it, sick and irritable.
You sound like you are all over him demanding attention, like a dog/cat. I think he handled it well. I’d have had to get up and go in another room for some peace.

As for the biscuits- it was obvious why you wanted them (to eat of course).

Not sure this is a real post… give the man some space lol! Wait until he’s feeling better.

Agreed. I felt smothered and in need of a break just from reading it.

What about what he needs/needed?

ShinyPrettyThings87 · 08/01/2025 14:18

Ok, I have a different take on it. I'm a touchy feely person too and that maybe stems from PTSD. If he's normally more warm towards you, ofcourse you're going to worry a little when it seems to suddenly stop.

For you, I'd recommend finding out why it bothered you so much it brought you to tears. Have you had an ex who treated you coldly and found an affair or something was happening? Do you have past trauma that has made you need to have a constant safe space? If any of this is familiar, definitely look into therapy. Therapy doesn't mean you're a nutjob, it might help you understand yourself better and to be more secure when someone needs to step back a little and to trust everything is still ok.

The biscuits thing is weird. Very weird. I can't think of why I'd be possessive over something incase maybe... I don't know, I was hiding something under the tin?! But he moved it away so it does seem it was more about the biscuits. I literally have nothing on that. It's just weird. Unless you're usually grabby about snacks and he hasn't had a chance to have one, but they were on his side so... Nah, I have nothing.

I'm 13 years into my relationship and we still touch and give alot of affection both ways. Sometimes he's tired and has to prioritise himself and it's only when it's gone on for too long/I feel like I need a bit more, that I'll mention it. I'd call myself needy, but that's the PTSD. I try to manage it and find things outside of the relationship to 'fill my cup up'. Maybe that's something you can do, a hobby or something, to take care of your own needs so that when he's taking care of his, you're not feeling totally abandoned.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 08/01/2025 14:19

We all have bad days but it isn't fair to take it out on the people closest to you who just want to help and support.

Help and support with what?! Going shopping?

The more someone nags for affection the harder it can be to give it. One could argue that you were taking it out on him, too.

Starlight1984 · 08/01/2025 14:19

So let me get this straight, you told him to cover his mouth while he was coughing to not spread germs... But then got angry with him for not kissing you and being close to you....?

LasagneLasagne · 08/01/2025 14:21

Analysing the minutiae of 'why didn't he hold my hand and kiss my hair', 'why was his hug limp' and weeping in public over it is the sort of nonsense one might do as a teenager. The point of these actions is that they are spontaneous and driven by affection. If I had someone needling me all day like that, the last thing I would want is to be affectionate.

The man is feeling ill. The poor sod must be further exhausted with your demands and neediness.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 08/01/2025 14:21

@Coralsea123 he wasnt feeling well but you sound like really high maintenance!!! and you do seem to really like pda! that would make me sick if I was to see a couple acting like that in public. it is embarassing especially if, as you say, you are not young!!!

VictoriaEra · 08/01/2025 14:22

username299 · 08/01/2025 12:22

He obviously does care about you because I would have left you in the shopping centre.

"I need you to do this and do this and do this in order to feel loved and you're not doing it all and I need this..."

Then you continued at home as well. Were you whining all day?

Agreed.

DaringLion · 08/01/2025 14:23

What’s all the touch my hair and back when we’re out all about , you were going shopping

Pumpkinpie1 · 08/01/2025 14:27

OP did you take a breath when writing this ?
You come across as controlling and entitled.

Tomorrows another day, start again , with less demands and a bit more kindness.

VoltaireMittyDream · 08/01/2025 14:28

I’m ill with flu at the moment and if anyone tried to kiss or cuddle me I would be consumed with rage, I’m afraid. Give the man some space.

Also - you don’t want his germs through coughing but you’re constantly after kisses?

GirlOfThe70s · 08/01/2025 14:29

I need this, I want that ... laundry list of all the stuff you need/want him to do and then you start to cry in the shopping centre like a spoiled 5-year-old because he's not kissing your hair, holding your hand, kissing your feet, blowing smoke up your arse. You sound unbelievably needy, self-centred, and unreasonable. You said he was well enough to go out with friends - well maybe they just give him some space and aren't sulking because he's not kissing their hair, holding their hands, and having tantrums. Grow up.

ladymalfoy45 · 08/01/2025 14:37

@Differentstarts or Florentines. Not technically a biscuit but still.

username299 · 08/01/2025 14:47

The king of biscuit selections is M&S Belgian chocolate. I'm not surprised he was guarding them if that's what they were.

MaltipooMama · 08/01/2025 14:55

I actually think it was really good of him to go on the shopping trip as planned, I don't think I would've gone if I was full of cold and coughing and spluttering, and I wouldn't expect my partner to either.

I really don't think this guy has done anything wrong here, he wasn't up for kissing your head and touching your back and it sounds like he communicated his boundaries in a respectful way, I really don't think he's got anything to apologise for. I hate to say it but you should really be the one to apologise to him for being on his back to do so, asking him a million and one questions, relentlessly blaming him for you feeling unloved and uncared for, and then crying in the shopping centre. That's a lot for anyone to contend with and I would feel completely smothered and overwhelmed if I were him, not to mention frustrated and annoyed. I think his reaction for being "sorry that you feel that way" is generous tbh, what the situation really needed was a "oh no you still don't sound/look great, we'll knock the shopping centre on the head today, get some rest and let me know if you need anything". I really do think you should apologise to him for being so over the top and let him know that next time you'll respect the fact that he's not feeling up to it and not be on his back.

LetThereBeLove · 08/01/2025 15:01

Mrsknowitall · 08/01/2025 14:16

You sound like hard work tbh he isn’t well, let him have his space and stop nagging him

This 100%. You sound like a teenager, not an adult.

Livinghappy · 08/01/2025 15:01

When your feelings are hurt, it doesn't automatically mean there is someone to blame.

Re the biscuits, one incidence of not letting you have biscuits isn't controlling, it's petty but not controlling.

MyBirthdayMonth · 08/01/2025 15:07

Differentstarts · 08/01/2025 13:32

Definitely got to be foxes 😋

I bet they were M&S Extremely Chocolatey Gingers.

MayaPinion · 08/01/2025 15:08

Are you a golden retriever puppy?

NeverHadHaveHas · 08/01/2025 15:10

You sound like you could cause drama in an empty lift.