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Relationships

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BF dismissive, shrugs at me, had a go

113 replies

Calling · 02/06/2025 16:34

I went on a French city break with my BF and I just don't know what to make of his behaviour some of the time. He turned unpleasant to me and I would value some advice about what happened, please. I just saw something emerge that stunned me and I feel punched in the stomach.
We met in the city where I went there before him and I was telling him about the things I had seen, but he wasn't really responding in his usual way, v probably because he had just been very busy and he said that he was very tired. So when he played up, I put it down to that.
We were enjoying a meal when he picked up his phone and took a call for about 15 minutes, then didn't say sorry. Usually we agree never to do that because we say it is rude during a meal in a restaurant.
He has a habit of butting in when I am asking a waiter about the menu and BF justified that by saying that his French is better than mine (it is) but I enjoy the interaction and practice. He continued to do that, despite my asking him not to.
When we were checking out, I put borrowed plug adapters on the hotel front desk and he said "you need to hand them back" - which I was doing, obviously. I diffused the situation by saying "no, I am going to take them home with me" and he shouted at me "no, you can't do that, they don't belong to you!". I was stunned that he shouted at me and patronised me like that. In fact there were other examples of him patronising and also dismissing me.

We went to a cafe in a garden and he went off to buy coffees. I found seats and was chatting to a v nice couple. I couldn't see BF and waved. Eventually, BF returned with a face like thunder. When the couple left, he had a real go at me,
"you should not have chosen to sit with your back to where I was, I was looking for you, its not what couples do, I sent you a text" and went on. He was really angry. It was a mistake of mine.
When we queued to get into a restaurant, he offered to queue for me in the heatwave while I sat in a shady cafe and he would phone me. I got his phone calls but there was no sound so I sent him a text to say what's happening. Then I got up and found him at the head of the queue and he just had a furious go at me: "you didn't answer texts, I waited and now we have to stand aside waiting for the man to let us in'. Why didn't you answer my texts? I said "again, you are accusing me without looking at things. I sent you texts! He showed me his texts and he had sent them by WhatsApp not by text as we had agreed (issues with my phone). He didn't say sorry.

The last day, we met for lunch and he seemed in a better mood and he said he had had a good explore, then I said you seem in a much better mood, that you had not always been and eventually I said that I was upset by his behaviour to me. I really tried hard to have a non-blaming discussion. He said you should have raised them at the time and I said it doesn't matter, I'm raising it now, it's my right to say when I want to". He said things like he was ok with having an argument and I said look, I virtually never have one, I am telling you my feelings, if you want an argument you pick on someone else. He said "I used to be like you, never expressing my feelings", I replied "I have just been telling you my feelings! I am really upset that you shouted at me." I carried on and then he just shrugged in a dismissive way and I pointed that out and he shrugged again dismissively.

I said that I had been upset and cried but he offered no comfort or compassion.
I have been feeling numb ever since I got home (we live apart and not in the same area).
Sorry for the longish post. Is his behaviour enough to leave him? I have a lot to lose by doing so, he had been v supportive before.

OP posts:
Calling · 02/06/2025 18:06

CoffeeFroth · 02/06/2025 17:16

Unless he has a very good reason for his behaviour and apologises I don't think your relationship will last. Why would you want to stay with someone who makes you unhappy?

He didn't apologise and I don't think that he accepts the reasons. Generally, it was all my doing and he just dismissed me and shrugged when I described things.

The more I read and write here, the more I think about ending it with him.

OP posts:
Calling · 02/06/2025 18:26

When we were discussing what happened, he pointed out that he had bought me a piece of tech "to help me get my act together." Me: "thank you for the present, I appreciate it, but saying get my act together is rude!" He: just shrugged.

OP posts:
NCtoavoidsniggering · 02/06/2025 18:32

Calling · 02/06/2025 18:26

When we were discussing what happened, he pointed out that he had bought me a piece of tech "to help me get my act together." Me: "thank you for the present, I appreciate it, but saying get my act together is rude!" He: just shrugged.

It’s (almost) laughable.
You don’t need advice on here to know what to do- Just accept he’s always right, you’re always wrong, say sorry and everything will be fine 😁

category12 · 02/06/2025 19:21

Calling · 02/06/2025 18:26

When we were discussing what happened, he pointed out that he had bought me a piece of tech "to help me get my act together." Me: "thank you for the present, I appreciate it, but saying get my act together is rude!" He: just shrugged.

He seems pretty disrespectful.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 02/06/2025 19:26

Is his behaviour enough to leave him?

Well yes of course. He sounds like a bit of a psycho, frankly. But why do you feel you have to second-guess yourself about whether a partner's behaviour is 'bad enough' to justify you leaving him? You can end a relationship for any reason you want, you know.

Calling · 02/06/2025 20:28

MorrisZapp · 02/06/2025 17:11

I get why he might have found the cafe examples irritating but to express anger over it is pathetic. I dare say he does plenty that annoys you, but I bet you don't explode or have a face like thunder over trivial shit.

You are right, I don't; I only pull him up on more significant mistakes.

OP posts:
Calling · 02/06/2025 20:29

NCtoavoidsniggering · 02/06/2025 18:32

It’s (almost) laughable.
You don’t need advice on here to know what to do- Just accept he’s always right, you’re always wrong, say sorry and everything will be fine 😁

Can you imagine it? The horror!

OP posts:
Calling · 02/06/2025 20:33

EllieEllie25 · 02/06/2025 17:11

Dump dump dump. A holiday with a boyfriend is supposed to be fun, he made this one miserable. If you stay with him, you’ll have a lot more of these miserable moments where he blames you and shouts at you. Why would you choose that.

I was having a good time on my own in France, getting by, talking to the locals (without getting interrupted by Mr Better Frenchspeakerwhomustinterrupt), going to a museum, having a meal and sleeping in if I felt like it.
In future, this is what I will do.

OP posts:
Calling · 02/06/2025 20:36

Now that I am on a roll (a French one), he is a chronic mansplainer.
Of course, all the things I accepted as mildly annoying, I hate now!

OP posts:
ByBlueMoose · 02/06/2025 20:40

You both sound like fucking nightmares and neither of you see it so blame the other and don't take any responsibility so just end it.

You don't need to bore MN with your 'and another thing....'

NCtoavoidsniggering · 02/06/2025 21:07

Calling · 02/06/2025 20:36

Now that I am on a roll (a French one), he is a chronic mansplainer.
Of course, all the things I accepted as mildly annoying, I hate now!

More of a Swiss Roll type myself, mais Chacun a son gout!

Rockdaylia44 · 02/06/2025 21:07

Sounds like miscommunication on both parts but does sound like he can be a potential arse!

Imbusytodaysorry · 02/06/2025 22:28

@Calling Absolutely!
He is a nasty man that’s control at its finest .
Waits untill your in another country and plays with you . No way .
End it op you deserve better.

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 02/06/2025 22:45

Calling · 02/06/2025 17:50

I do fear that I will end up walking on eggshells.

Let's be honest - you already are. And his behaviour is concerning you enough for you to start a thread about it. Seems to me that he is fundamentally not a very nice person. He has slipped back into his old habits, and it didn't work out the last time, did it?

Sorry, but I think you need to call it a day.

pecanpiee · 03/06/2025 06:25

Iranians have a saying, which goes something like if you want to know someone properly, go on holiday with them.
This was supposed to be a fun time for you, and he totally ruined it.
Just imagine what a nightmare it would be to live with someone like that.

DirtyBird · 03/06/2025 07:28

My ex was similar on our last vacation. Very short and irritable with me. Had no sympathy when I got ill, actually thought it was amusing. When I look back I could tell he had nothing but contempt for me. About a month later found out he was cheating.

he Seemed relieved when we finally ended it. He obviously stopped having feelings for me and was showing his unhappiness. But I feel it also made it easier to end things between us.

Lurkingandlearning · 03/06/2025 07:54

Calling · 02/06/2025 17:01

I did wonder whether it was the heat, the city, the crowds and tensions arising on holiday, but all the same, I saw red flags.
I should have looked out for him at the cafe more; I had got into a lovely conversation with the couple. Yes, I did wrong and I apologised to him.
We could've handled things better but I experienced him shouting at me, being dismissive, not comforting me when I had been crying and it has just blindsided me.

Some couples take separate holidays. I wouldn’t like that. To me holidays are one of the highlights of having a partner. Holidays are rarely perfect and if you can’t overcome hiccups and disappointments together, make the best of it and not take things out on each other then holidays are likely to be stressful, which is rather a waste of time and money. If you want a partner who you can enjoy holidays with, look for someone else. But I’m guessing he is just as crabby when things don’t go the way he wants them to regardless of location. Just end it.

Calling · 03/06/2025 07:58

pecanpiee · 03/06/2025 06:25

Iranians have a saying, which goes something like if you want to know someone properly, go on holiday with them.
This was supposed to be a fun time for you, and he totally ruined it.
Just imagine what a nightmare it would be to live with someone like that.

@pecanpiee That is so true. The challenges of travel abroad, when there is a heatwave and it's difficult to get around, shows how we cope and how we help each other - or don't!

OP posts:
Calling · 03/06/2025 08:03

junebirthdaygirl · 02/06/2025 16:57

A few things you did would have annoyed me. Why weren't you watching out for him coming back with the coffee? My dh is always looking in another direction and l always have to search..that is annoying. Obviously he was calling you to come that he was in top of the the queue..kindly waiting in the heat..just go to him and at least check. So both of you are a bit off.
Sometimes travelling/ heat/ new places can cause stress so wondering what he is like normally.

@junebirthdaygirl I agree that I should have handled the café and restaurant situations better and I have learnt from that. However, I don't function so well in a heatwave or when I am dehydrated.
It was thoughtful of him to wait in the queue, but he copes fine in heatwaves. The concern is the shouting, the telling me off, etc.
He doesn't shout at me normally although he does show the other traits, which I call him out over.

We were talking about going to Cairo, ha ha.

OP posts:
ICantBeDoingWithThat · 03/06/2025 08:11

I don't think he sees you as an equal, but more like a child who needs organising.
I would call it a day, OP. It's only going to get worse, sorry.

Calling · 03/06/2025 08:14

DirtyBird · 03/06/2025 07:28

My ex was similar on our last vacation. Very short and irritable with me. Had no sympathy when I got ill, actually thought it was amusing. When I look back I could tell he had nothing but contempt for me. About a month later found out he was cheating.

he Seemed relieved when we finally ended it. He obviously stopped having feelings for me and was showing his unhappiness. But I feel it also made it easier to end things between us.

Edited

@DirtyBird so sorry he did that to you, especially when you were ill abroad. Unforgivable.

OP posts:
Calling · 03/06/2025 08:36

ICantBeDoingWithThat · 03/06/2025 08:11

I don't think he sees you as an equal, but more like a child who needs organising.
I would call it a day, OP. It's only going to get worse, sorry.

@ICantBeDoingWithThat That's it. He has slipped into a sort of father/controller role, which I didn't ask for. Equality is the way to go.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/06/2025 08:42

But he does not want equality. He wants you to always be subservient to him with you in addition being "wrong" all the time whilst he is "right". You are with Mr Wrong here and he is showing you yet again the nice and nasty cycle of abuse which is a continuous one.

What is preventing you currently from dumping him?.

Calling · 03/06/2025 08:53

@AttilaTheMeerkat he can put on the charm and niceness, as part of the cycle. As to what is preventing me from leaving him, that is a very good question. Time to work out the best way to do it. But being with him has great advantages, which should not outweigh his flip side.
Maybe he was particularly bad the last morning because I did not respond to his advances, which I have never done before.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/06/2025 09:00

What great advantages do you get in being with him?. From what I've read this man likes to belittle and otherwise mistreat you when you are together. And yes he can be nice sometimes but that is really part and parcel of the nice/nasty cycle of abuse which is a continuous one.

Is this truly what you deserve from a relationship?. Did you see similar behaviour between your parents at home?. Stop making excuses for him because he knows exactly what he is doing here. And why would you at all respond to an abusive person's advances anyway?. That is why he was pissed with you the last morning.

Better to be on your own than to be badly accompanied as the French say.