I’ve been in a happy relationship with my husband for 20 years. Well “happy” = issues we manage to work through and continue to love each other. My husband has never been big on giving out free complements. I’ve had many conversations with him about this in the past and he’s gotten much better. The thing that really annoys me and actually hurts my feelings is when I give him a compliment, his immediate reaction is to somehow reject it. Either by telling me I’m lying or being a “politician”, whatever that means. Or acting totally childish and making an almost disgusted face. Like wtf! This last reaction pissed me off so much I got angry and told him how hurtful it actually is, to be vulnerable and to tell him something so nice and receive such an awful reaction. It actually made me cry. We ended up in a fight because he wouldn’t acknowledge it and said it’s because “I don’t give compliments often”. Hmm I do, but then I get rejected and not exactly motivated to give more.
Any men (or women) can relate to his experience? What’s happening here? I’m genuinely trying to understand…