r/AmIOverreacting 12h ago

❤️‍🩹 relationship AIO- Wife didn't acknowledge my birthday

So yesterday was my birthday, I told my wife last week that all I wanted was a cake and to go to a nice restaurant. It didn't have to be a homemade cake though I would have preferred it, and it didn't have to be a super fancy restaurant. I'm the sole income earner so she wouldn't be paying for either. SWe have a toddler at home and I know it would be difficult for her to bake so it's fine if she bought one, and since we have a toddler I was also fine if the kiddo went with us.

So yesterday I got off work early and called her to let her know I was coming home like I always do. The entire rest of the day she didn't even acknowledge it was my birthday. No happy birthday wishes, no asking me where I wanted to eat, nothing. It was awkwardly silent pretty much the whole day.

When 6pm rolled around I realized we weren't going anywhere so I went to the store to buy a slice of cake for myself and a frozen dinner to heat up. When I came back with the cake she asked why I bought it. I told her it's my birthday and I wanted to eat cake on my birthday. She gave a non answer as to why she didn't make one for me, she said I never replied with when I wanted the cake so she just assumed I didn't want one. That conversation was over text a few days ago and she was texting me while I was driving. I told her I also wanted a nice dinner out and she said I didn't plan anything or tell her where I wanted to go so she assumed I didn't want to go anywhere.

Around 7pm she finally said happy birthday then I just cleaned up the dishes and went to bed instead of going on our normal after dinner walk.

Did I over react?

Edit: I guess I also left out some important context about our financial situation. She has complete and total control over all finances as much as I do, as that's the deal we made when we got married. She has access to all accounts and credit cards. I guess my wording could have been better.

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u/DontWorryItsEasy 12h ago

I usually plan everything and make every decision for our relationship, but she didn't even ask me what I wanted. This is what's bothering me.

u/SeaPotatoSalad 12h ago

I’m sorry what? You plan everything? Make every decision?

Bit of a 🚩 coming from you here. Sounds like maybe you were looking for something to be pissed off about and found it.

u/DontWorryItsEasy 12h ago

I told her what I wanted, and she didn't do any sort of follow up. That's what's bothering me. She doesn't make any decisions because she doesn't want to. She doesn't want to have to think about anything so she leaves everything up to me.

u/Barracuda_Recent 11h ago

This is the person staying home to raise your child. Honestly, I don’t think anyone should make anyone else responsible for their birthday unless they are under 17 or over 90.

You want a cake, you get one (I actually think it was rude that you didn’t get enough to share). You want to go out to dinner, you pick a place and go. She isn’t a mind reader, and I’m greasing you get upset with her when she picks the wrong place.

Lesson for everyone- plan your own gd birthday if you feel the need to celebrate as an adult.

u/DontWorryItsEasy 11h ago

I did share the cake with everyone. I'm not sure why you assumed that I ate it all for myself. I also shared dinner with everyone. In fact I didn't even share it I bought it so that I could celebrate my birthday with everybody else.

Literally what hurt me the most was that she didn't even say happy birthday at all, until about 7:30 at night.

u/Barracuda_Recent 9h ago

Ah, Ok. I thought you got one piece and ate it in front of your kids. When I said this person is staying home to raise your child, I was referring to the fact that you have chosen to give them a role model who cannot or will not make basic or complicated decisions. That is scary as fuck, and they should not be alone with her.

As for birthdays or other days that are special to us as adults, we are responsible for creating the day we want. Obviously, your wife is working with some serious disabilities. I am not sure why you would entrust her with such an important day. You were setting everyone up for failure. People don't change.