OH hates my new accent...

downhillfast

Now I know this sounds ridiculous but this is actually becoming quite a problem!

I'm originally from the East Midlands and when at university (many years ago) nobody could ever pinpoint where I came from by my accent - very neutral I guess and I did annunciate well!

After finishing uni I ended up living and working in Birmingham for 9 years - I remember not having lived there that long when my grandad pointed out that my accent had changed...

After Birmingham I moved slightly east but still in an area of a pronounced west midlands accent... at this point I also started working in London where everyone just assumed I was a brummie!

Almost 3 years ago now we moved to the south coast (again everyone thought I was a brummie) However, over the last 6 months or so my OH has started interrupting me mid sentence to point out that I am sounding like a farmer - that is the accent she associates with where my family are from... but the thing is I rarely have contact with my family or anyone from that area so I'm not exactly sure why my accent is changing again... and why it's changing to an east midlands accent when most of my contact is with southerners (who incidentally still think I sound like a brummie!)

Now to most people this wouldn't be a massive problem but to my OH it's as if it's the end of the world - she says I sound 'thick', like a 'farmer' and is convinced I am doing it on purporse to annoy her - she is very easily annoyed as she has (undiagnosed) misophonia

It's actually getting me quite down as I'm trying to stay strong for her as our first baby is due any day now, but I'll be busy trying to say the right thing at the right time only to be shot down for 'how' I am saying it!

Has anyone else ever had a problem like this? I just wish I could go back to my uni accent where I didn't sound like I came from anywhere!

enjoyyourshoes

Didn't realise all farmers have the same accent


Will have to check my farmers accent out.

downhillfast

enjoyyourshoes wrote: »

Didn't realise all farmers have the same accent


Will have to check my farmers accent out.

Her words not mine!

sinizterguy

Just pick another more annoying accent to mimic. And then pacify her by returning to the 'farmer's accent' (whatever that is).

Probably just pregnancy hormones. Women are not the most logical/sensible/tolerant/tolerable at this particular stage.

downhillfast

sinizterguy wrote: »

Just pick another more annoying accent to mimic. And then pacify her by returning to the 'farmer's accent' (whatever that is).

Probably just pregnancy hormones. Women are not the most logical/sensible/tolerant/tolerable at this particular stage.

I'm sure her hormones have got a little to do with it at the moment but I know her sensitivity to it won't change... as it hasn't with her misophonia (this has gotten progressively worse over the 9 years we've been together)

GlasweJen

What does she expect you to do? It is your own accent after all, it's not as if you've went Irish overnight or something

pollypenny

It's probably hormones and nerves at the moment.

As for 'undiagnosed misphonia ', are you sure she's just not a fusspot!

I'd be tolerant at this time, but if her comments persist, I'd point out her nastiness sharpish.

Is she perfect?

onlyroz

Has she sought help for her misphonia? There might be therapies which would help her overcome it.

My husband has habits that drive me absolutely bonkers but ultimately I understand that they're my problem and not his, and I'm trying to find ways to help me to tolerate them.

onlyroz

pollypenny wrote: »

It's probably hormones and nerves at the moment.

As for 'undiagnosed misphonia ', are you sure she's just not a fusspot!

I'd be tolerant at this time, but if her comments persist, I'd point out her nastiness sharpish.

Is she perfect?

It's oh so easy to dismiss unusual conditions as "being a fusspot" or "nastiness". It's usually more productive to be supportive and to encourage the sufferer to seek help, if their condition is preventing them from leading a normal life.

Hoipolloi

Hopefully, when baby is born, your OH will be so absorbed with the little one that she forgets to be snarky about your accent. It sounds a petty thing to nag you about, she liked your accent enough to make a baby with you afterall :beer:

Georgiegirl256

onlyroz wrote: »

It's oh so easy to dismiss unusual conditions as "being a fusspot" or "nastiness". It's usually more productive to be supportive and to encourage the sufferer to seek help, if their condition is preventing them from leading a normal life.

I can see why pollypenny put what she did. If she's been suffering from this for nine years, then why doesn't she go and get diagnosed and then get some help with it?

Bit rude to suddenly interrupt you mid sentence OP, and I'd be telling her that.