Can I vent a little?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Can I vent a little?
2
Tue, 08-05-2008 - 9:45am
DH has an habit of commenting negatively on everything - people on TV, ads, junk mail. You name it, he'll grouse. Think Walter Matthau in Grumpy old men. Most of the time I can handle it, but I'm not doing well with the early morning stuff. I like to have my tea in front of the TV and catch up with what's going on. Sure, it may all be repeats and fluff pieces, but I need this time to come alive. DH gets up at daybreak, does his email, then comes up to join me. It's a non-stop one-sided monologue from him. I can feel my blood pressure going up. Today I moved into my computer room to check my mail to read my mail AND get away. He comes in, looks around, and asks if I've found the sewing machine book I was looking for yesterday. I said no, but I will eventually and he doesn't need to start going thru the cabinets, as I know it's exact size and color. Then he starts in with the "it's probably gotten shoved to the back and you need to organize better. This from a man who's basement work area always looks as if a tornado hit it! I told him he was aggravating me and he stormed out with a "just trying to help" retort. This the one part of retirement that is bugging me. Dare I put a do not disturb sign on my door? I'd really rather relax in the living room, can't ban him from it, but want him to stop with the comments. He says I just want to shut him up and he won't. Argh.
Avatar for daggs170
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 08-05-2008 - 1:07pm

Awww Jacquie, I'm sorry to hear that and of course you can vent.

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Avatar for m6artha
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 08-05-2008 - 5:29pm

He's got to get something to do outside the house. Any volunteer work you can get him to do? Or you could start nagging him to do chores-- and then he'll seek private space once in awhile.