Having good communication in a relationship isn’t exactly easy when he’s gone silent. Whether he’s mad, not listening, or just too proud to dignify your question with an answer, it’s so damn irritating to deal with him in these scenarios:
- When you ask him for input on something important We’ve all been there: you’re having a hard time making a decision on something, and you just can’t make up your mind. You’ve been vocalizing your frustration for the past fifteen minutes out loud while your guy sits only feet away from you. When you finally asks what he thinks, you hear nothing. That’s because he hasn’t been listening, so he just looks at you without saying a word. Ugh.
- When the convo hits a snag I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty damn awkward when you’re getting to know a guy and the conversation screeches to a halt. It’s normal since you’re still getting a feel for each other. But when silence hangs in the air for too long and instead of fixing it, he smiles and looks around the room — or worse, uses his phone as a distraction — it’s frustrating as hell.
- When he’s pissed off Arguments are unpleasant, draining, and best avoided in general. But they’re also inevitable, and they make it easy to toss harsh words back and forth. Before you know it, he’s so pissed off that he’s stopped talking to you. In his mind, it’s the only way to keep the argument from progressing. But the reality is he’s only preventing you from talking things out.
- When you’re pissed off It doesn’t even have to be his fault. I’ve noticed that a lot of guys will steer clear of saying anything if a woman is completely infuriated. We can all agree that it’s good to vent and have your partner just listen. But after a certain point, you need to hear some words of affirmation and sympathy.
- When his family asks you inappropriate questions Hanging out with a new partner’s family is always anxiety-inducing, especially if it’s the first time you’re meeting them. You’re trying to be as diplomatic as possible while still being your true self. Unfortunately, some of his family aren’t playing by the same rules. After the fifth inquiry into your sexual past from a close relative of his, you’re hoping he’ll jump in and save the day, so it’s downright mind-boggling when he chooses to keep his lips zipped.
- When his friends are disrespectful I can’t stand when my partner’s friends cross the line and he says absolutely nothing. From making themselves the third (or fourth, or fifth) wheel on what was “date night, to just acting like asses in general, it’s enough to make you scream. Listen, I can appreciate a good bromance, but being quiet when your friends are out of line is entirely unacceptable.
- When you’re sharing an intimate moment Some women might disagree with this, and that’s okay — different strokes for different folks (sometimes literally). But when I’m in the bedroom with my partner, I need to know he’s having fun. A quiet sigh or a grunt here and there just isn’t going to cut it.
- When he’s lost and you ask him if he needs directions If you ever wondered about the old trope involving guys not wanting to ask for directions when they’re lost, I can confirm that it’s rooted in truth. On a long distance trip with my boyfriend at the time, I got no response every time I asked if he needed GPS assistance. We eventually found our destination, but it drove me insane that his pride got in the way so much that he wouldn’t answer me.
- When you ask him if he needs help with something I understand being an ambitious person and wanting to figure things out for yourself. Hell, I’m the same way. But if I’m stumped, I know when to throw in the towel and ask for help. Ever been around a guy who clearly hit a wall but refused to acknowledge your offer to help? I have. And it drove me crazy.
- When you ask him about the future I have no idea why it’s hard for some men to talk about the future with a long-term partner. Sure, be a little weirded out if you’ve only been together for a month — it’s a bit too soon. But if you’ve been together for years, it’s only natural to talk about where you see yourselves down the road.
