Are you bitter?

I'm bitter about decisions I had to make to keep the peace instead of pleasing myself.

That is a great, great, great answer. I'm right there with you on that

Am I bitter over anything the Federal Government can control in my life ... nope! Is that likely to change in the future (no matter who wins the next presidential election) .... nope!

Am I happy with all the Federal regulations that impact my life ... nope, but I am not bitter either. I choose not to hate and become bitter with respect to matters politic.

I'm bitter about decisions I had to make to keep the peace instead of pleasing myself.

You can get over that by being willing to be the asshole at times. Sure you're the asshole, but you get what you want, and if people don't like it, oh well, that's why you're the asshole. LOL

Try it, it's fun!

You can get over that by being willing to be the asshole at times. Sure you're the asshole, but you get what you want, and if people don't like it, oh well, that's why you're the asshole. LOL

Try it, it's fun!

For people who agree (like SS) you know how hard it is to be the asshole. For me, I'd much rather take the hit and please people I'm in the middle of (mostly family and wife).

Right now, I'm in a tough spot with the wife and my dad. Basically, this year was the first year we've been married and my dad forgot her birthday (let me remind you we've been together nearly ten years) and she was really hurt.

In my life I can't remember one time I've called my dad out, so basically rather than that, I'd rather just suffer and let there be weirdness between my wife and my dad. Am I wrong in thinking that if she has a problem SHE should be the one to address it and not me or is that part of my husbandly duties?

Sure I can see her point, and he should have at least called her or something, but when she gets mad at people she basically cuts them off and thanks to that I've almost estranged a couple of formerly close family members.

Geesh, it's not HIS daughter's birthday. If HER dad forgot her b-day, I could see a reason to be upset but I wouldn't get on your dad too hard about it. Just make sure he knows NEXT year. :D

For people who agree (like SS) you know how hard it is to be the asshole. For me, I'd much rather take the hit and please people I'm in the middle of (mostly family and wife).

Right now, I'm in a tough spot with the wife and my dad. Basically, this year was the first year we've been married and my dad forgot her birthday (let me remind you we've been together nearly ten years) and she was really hurt.

In my life I can't remember one time I've called my dad out, so basically rather than that, I'd rather just suffer and let there be weirdness between my wife and my dad. Am I wrong in thinking that if she has a problem SHE should be the one to address it and not me or is that part of my husbandly duties?

Sure I can see her point, and he should have at least called her or something, but when she gets mad at people she basically cuts them off and thanks to that I've almost estranged a couple of formerly close family members.

IMO, I think your Dad should be given a pass on this one. I'm 34 and my own Dad doesn't call or send anything on my B-day (yeah i know wah wah but just making a point). As guys, occasionally we drop the ball and occasionally we should get a pass. You're Dad deserves a pass especially if he usually remembers her Bday.

For people who agree (like SS) you know how hard it is to be the asshole. For me, I'd much rather take the hit and please people I'm in the middle of (mostly family and wife).

Right now, I'm in a tough spot with the wife and my dad. Basically, this year was the first year we've been married and my dad forgot her birthday (let me remind you we've been together nearly ten years) and she was really hurt.

In my life I can't remember one time I've called my dad out, so basically rather than that, I'd rather just suffer and let there be weirdness between my wife and my dad. Am I wrong in thinking that if she has a problem SHE should be the one to address it and not me or is that part of my husbandly duties?

Sure I can see her point, and he should have at least called her or something, but when she gets mad at people she basically cuts them off and thanks to that I've almost estranged a couple of formerly close family members.
Your dad forgot her birthday and she is upset. I'm lucky and some how someone or something reminds me of my wife's birthday or it could go by and I would have no clue. If your father is single he is just doing what most guys do, forget. I think if you asked my father when my wifes birthday, his grand kids etc... he might remember one of the 4. If your father is single and her parents are married then remind her that her father has her mother to remember all those dates. I know thats how it works for me, my father, Father-in-law and my brother-in-law's. If we were not married we would miss 90% of them.

For people who agree (like SS) you know how hard it is to be the asshole. For me, I'd much rather take the hit and please people I'm in the middle of (mostly family and wife).

Right now, I'm in a tough spot with the wife and my dad. Basically, this year was the first year we've been married and my dad forgot her birthday (let me remind you we've been together nearly ten years) and she was really hurt.

In my life I can't remember one time I've called my dad out, so basically rather than that, I'd rather just suffer and let there be weirdness between my wife and my dad. Am I wrong in thinking that if she has a problem SHE should be the one to address it and not me or is that part of my husbandly duties?

Sure I can see her point, and he should have at least called her or something, but when she gets mad at people she basically cuts them off and thanks to that I've almost estranged a couple of formerly close family members.

Understandable. You're a "harmonizer" personality. Explains why you're fun to be around on the boards, because harmonizers are typically fun people. You try to keep everyone as happy as possible and keep everyone at peace and getting along. Sometimes at your own expense. My wife fits this personality type, so does my brother.

But you're in the proverbial rock and a hard place. If you go with your wife's wishes and call out your dad, you and your dad will have an awkward conversation (and possibly a verbal fight depending on how he takes it). If you protect your dad from your wife's ire by not saying anything, you irk your wife and potentially cause her to do crazy woman things like holding grudges against family members.

Either way sucks, so I say you stand up for what you believe in. One way to go is tell your wife to get over it and she's being ridiculous. Oh she'll be mad, and she'll withhold the sex, but explain that if people cut others off for forgetting birthdays, very few people would have any friends in this world. It doesn't mean he doesn't love her - but sh*t happens, and it'd be a good exercise in forgiveness if she forgot about it and moved on. You could ask her which she thinks is more likely, that he purposely slighted her a birthday acknowledgement or that he simply was preoccupied and flat out forgot? Or if you think your Dad really was being petty and was mad at her for something, tell him that he's too old for that sh*t and is just causing angst in your house (ie less sex for you). He'll understand, dads look out for their sons like that!

Send your wife a belated birthday card "signed" by your dad. Talk to your dad man to man and say "my wife was sad you forgot her birthday, don't worry though, I fixed it. If she asks about it, just go along with it..."

Kinda shady but all you care about is keeping the peace and getting as close to "before this happened" as possible.

OR

Tell your wife she's blowing this out of proportion, men work differently then women, blah blah blah. She'll be pissed but it will set the tone for how to handle future issues.

I'm bitter about 84% of the day. The other 16% of the time I'm either sleeping, eating, or plopping so I'm pretty content.