A woman is rethinking her entire relationship after her partner changed his return flight from their planned vacation without informing her.
The woman and original poster (OP), Reddit user Zealousideal_Food980, vented her frustration on r/AITA_WIBTA_PUBLIC, explaining that her boyfriend was traveling overseas for work and had asked if she would meet him out there for a vacation.
A few weeks later, however, he casually revealed during a dinner outing that he had changed his flight home without discussing it with her.
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The OP wrote, “When I asked why he didn’t tell me before changing it, he replied, ‘I don’t need to tell you before making plans for myself.’
“I asked how that worked since it was a holiday for us (and as I am paying for my flights and his are fully covered by work, the day I fly could be a difference in 100s of dollars) and his response was to double down and say, ‘Oh I made plans to stay on with my family even if you couldn’t come.’
“Then the real kicker… I ask how that is working with my stepchild [his daughter] over the work time as that is his week, to which he replies, we are in a serious relationship I assumed you would be having her while I was gone.
“So [we’re] serious enough relationship to expect me to have the kid but not serious enough to talk to me before changing flights for ‘our’ holiday. I expressed I feel hurt by this all and he’s adamant he’s done nothing wrong.
“Am I wrong to feel hurt?”
Redditors React
Reddit users quickly rallied around the OP, with many criticizing her boyfriend’s dismissive attitude. One wrote, “He can’t have his cake and eat it. Either it’s a serious relationship or it isn’t.
“You are not there for his convenience as bed mate or childminder so tell him you are not available to childmind.”
Another user echoed the sentiment, noting, “He’s trying to have it both ways, but a serious relationship requires communication and mutual respect, not just convenience.”
The Role of Communication in Relationships
Experts emphasize that effective communication is essential for maintaining a healthy relationship. According to an article from Newsweek, misunderstandings and poor communication often lead to resentment, which can erode trust over time.
The article highlights that mutual respect and open dialogue are key in any relationship, with both partners needing to consider how their decisions affect the other.
As detailed by Flourish Together, selfish behavior in relationships often manifests through unilateral decision-making, dismissive responses, and an expectation that one partner will cater to the other’s needs without reciprocation. The article notes that partners who exhibit these traits may not fully recognize the emotional damage they inflict.
Newsweek has contacted Zealousideal_Food980 for comment via Reddit.
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