But she didn't communicate directly how his actions made her feel.
Actually, she did. He responded by lashing out at her, taking no responsibility for his actions, threatening to leave and making a show of packing, then apparently waiting for her to react and give him attention/beg him to stay or something (clear narcissistic drama queen behavior here). Shutting off the wifi was petty of her, no doubt. Then he left with his stuff. Then he ignored her calls. Then when they finally spoke, she said something quite cruel. And she as an adult has the integrity to recognize that and regret saying it.
Now to your comment, let's just be clear that if we rewind to when she DID communicate her feelings, he chose not only to dig in his heels, but also to escalate the situation to an absurd degree. So let's put some responsibility on him, mmkay? How many times did he betray her trust throughout that day as her husband before it ever got to her comment? That can't be normalized or invisible here. You write as though they had a simple spat and she responded by jumping directly to a cutting comment at her angelic, blameless husband. On the contrary, his behavior was consistently intolerable. Yes, she said something that hit where he was vulnerable, but her vulnerability is wanting him to be present. Now go back and look at all the ways in which he betrayed her trust. Both of them messed up, not just her. But not nearly to the same degree. I hope she gets the hell out of this relationship. This man is a disaster.
Ex-boyfriend.
But she didn't communicate directly how his actions made her feel.
Actually, she did. He responded by lashing out at her, taking no responsibility for his actions, threatening to leave and making a show of packing, then apparently waiting for her to react and give him attention/beg him to stay or something (clear narcissistic drama queen behavior here). Shutting off the wifi was petty of her, no doubt. Then he left with his stuff. Then he ignored her calls. Then when they finally spoke, she said something quite cruel. And she as an adult has the integrity to recognize that and regret saying it.
Now to your comment, let's just be clear that if we rewind to when she DID communicate her feelings, he chose not only to dig in his heels, but also to escalate the situation to an absurd degree. So let's put some responsibility on him, mmkay? How many times did he betray her trust throughout that day as her husband before it ever got to her comment? That can't be normalized or invisible here. You write as though they had a simple spat and she responded by jumping directly to a cutting comment at her angelic, blameless husband. On the contrary, his behavior was consistently intolerable. Yes, she said something that hit where he was vulnerable, but her vulnerability is wanting him to be present. Now go back and look at all the ways in which he betrayed her trust. Both of them messed up, not just her. But not nearly to the same degree. I hope she gets the hell out of this relationship. This man is a disaster.
Move on like he did. He's coming back because he has to not because he wants to. And you're better than that.
Keep the convo simple and don't let him think you give a damn