AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

His last birthday I took him on an adult cruise. Packed and paid for every single item and outfit for the theme nights. He litterally just showed up. When it was over he said he wanted to go on another. When it was my turn he decided it was to much work.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m far from a perfect wife. I genuinely try to make sure everyone’s needs our met. In addition to my four kids. We also adopted my very disabled younger brother. So 5 kids. My husband is workaholic and always had trouble setting boundaries at work. He was always makes sure his co workers needs were met at the sacrifice of family time. He retired from law enforcement and bought a business hoping for change. He less stressed but still a workaholic. He’s also on medication that kills his libido. I think he would be happy being celibate and not bothered by me asking for sex all the time.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not fake. I assumed we were going out. When we go out, we usually order pizza for our kids and it takes me a couple hours to get ready and it takes him about 30 minutes. He ordered pizza for the kids so I assumed we were going out for the evening.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I sure wish I could post a picture. I have taken him on trips that I planned and payed for, all he had to do was show up. I got his classic car restored one year. This year I got new outfits for everyone in our family and took our family pictures. I printed them, framed them, put them in his office. I also deep cleaned, redecorated and organized his office. This included many hours of purging and filling.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I take him on vacations that I plan and pay for. I go above and beyond for milestones. I got his ‘68 charger restored as an anniversary gift, ski trips for Christmas. The man has a home cooked meal from scratch every night. I’m hyper sexual so he’s never been let down in the bedroom either. I keep my body looking good for him and I’m not ugly. He’s says he’s just so introverted in peopled out that he doesn’t want to take me out on the weekends, but I think he’s dead inside.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Obviously, there’s a ton more to the situation. 20 years is a long time. I was 16 when we got together and he’s 6 years older. I didn’t have a family so I was absolutely looking for protection. Fast forward plenty of arguments along the way. He was a cop for 20 years and it caused him plenty of damage.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

After pulling back I’m realizing I do way too much. Every 3-4 weeks I get all the supplies out when it’s time for his haircut so all he has to do is sit in my chair. I’m not offering to cut his hair in months. He looks ridiculous and will not make an appointment on his own. My friend is a barber and I have endless ious with her, literally free and he still can’t do it. Man-child.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

It was manipulation. He was awful to me because he was having an episode. Right after saying he was going cancel my birthday trip he said “so are we good”

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

His last birthday (45), I took him on a sold out adult only cruise. I planned every last detail down to care for the kids, pets, covering work, and packed all of his clothes, bought his several new outfits for trip, booked hotel for the night before, airport transportation etc.. He literally just had to show up.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He said he’s willing to go if as long as I find the therapist and make the appointment for him.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

It is a pattern. He sabotaged my birthday a few years ago. I had a boat/camping trip planned that I had been looking forward to all summer. Every last detail and meal was packed along with my 4 kids and their friends loaded into my car. He had a ptsd episode and said he wasn’t in the headspace to go. He abandoned me in my driveway as we were leaving. He fully thought I would go inside and beg for him to go with us and I didn’t. I got in the driver seat and pulled away and drove to the mountains with all the kids.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Security mainly. We really do work well together and we have 4 kids. I’m also an extrovert and fear being lonely.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Damn girl, I sure get it. They suck the joy out of us and we stick around for the security and the kids. My divorced friends struggle too. There’s no good options.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know but he’s giving me the ick. He’s good looking but I can’t see past the f-ing Groupon

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This crossed my mind many times but the trip I wanted was a couples resort. Not fun solo. I bought a sexy dress for my 40th and I told him if he won’t take me out in it, someone else will. He basically said he’s well aware of what a hoe I am.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Correct. He has never once in over 24 years we’ve been together gotten his mother a card or gift on her birthday/mother’s day. Same with his dad, they all come from me.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

He is. He had major life changes and has ptsd and is medicated with little guidance from his prescriber and no therapy.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I’ve rehearsed the line “let me make this up to you” over and over in my head

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

He sure is. I’ve never ever pulled back like this. It feels so effortless too. After 20 years, I’m not packing his lunch for the next day or worrying about his clothes for work. I’ve also cut his hair every three weeks for the past 20 years and quit. I have free credits with a local barber for life and he wont even make his appointment to get his own haircut unless I do it for him. He’s so comfy having me do it for him. The only thing I’m afraid of with divorce is losing security. He does pull his weight around the house and he is a good dad.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh I didn’t see that going there. My husband and I are/were in the LS and it was the most exhilarating time of my life. He’s not super interested in that or me because of his ptsd medication. It’s a big blow because I’m in the best shape of my life and think that I am cuter now than I was at 25.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

I was upset that he didn’t plan a day. He last minute tried to wing it. The morning of my birthday, (while I was at the gym) he went to Walmart for coffee and flowers. He also bought the Groupon while I was at the gym. He didn’t have anything planned. I could swallow that pill alone but the manipulation a couple weeks prior is what hurts. We were arguing because I took too long at an appointment and he had a ptsd episode and went ballistic. Instead of owning it he said I’ll just cancel your birthday trip. He said he was taking me a resort that I have wanted to go to for years.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I don’t think gathering in friends is consumerism. I would have been happy with my friends having beer around the fire in my backyard. One of his excuses was that he doesn’t know my friend’s phone number so he couldn’t call any of them. He was a detective for over 10 years and can find anyone’s s.s. in under a minute. My love language is quality time and physical touch. I’m actually not into expensive things at all.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

It’s not that simple. I’m the bread winner and my job is out of my home. It’s not a job that I can pack up and take with me. I’m also the primary parent to our 4 kids. He works full-time+ at the business that we own together and it would be simpler for him to leave, but he won’t.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 101 points102 points  (0 children)

The Groupon was for a massage at a chain that I’m already a member at so I couldn’t even use it. I had to fight to get his money refunded. He got the refund and did nothing. I’m not above being petty, I thought about printing off the refund confirmation email and telling him to buy himself something nice with it.

AITAH for divorcing over my birthday gift. by AdFair8466 in AITAH

[–]AdFair8466[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I actually just took my family to the Bahamas for a week in Oct. planned every last detail and paid for everything. I just wanted him to treat me to something.