Posted by Dinah on January 28, 2009, at 17:38:54
I always say that, and it almost always means "I'm afraid you'll forget to call me back, or I'll wait anxiously for you to call me back, or I'll get angry with you waiting for you to call back."
But for the most part, I really do want him to call me back.
I did it yesterday, and he returned my call this morning. I was berating myself yesterday that of course he wouldn't call back if I gave him an out. He did call back, but I wonder if he would have called back any earlier if I had asked him to return my call. I think not, actually, which means I'd just as well continue on as I am, so that I won't get angry with him.
I did talk to him about it once. I pointed out that he always tells me to call, but when I do he doesn't call back, or he calls back and sounds like he wants to get off the phone. He insisted he really did want me to call if I needed him. I think we finally compromised on this. He wants to want me to call if I need him. He really does mean it at the time, and he means it in general. But in practice, it is frequently difficult for him to find the time to return my call.
:/
poster:Dinah
thread:876855
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090109/msgs/876855.html