Dear dreaming715:

I like your insight. Very much! I think you hit the nail on the head with your analysis. Makes a lot of sense: unrealistic expectations. Seems like this has been the main issue all along.

I used to have such expectations, that is that a person will say exactly what I thought he should say! Until not too long ago, as a matter of fact. I can very much relate. And that is unrealistic, to expect that his brain will operate just like yours and come up with the exact words or almost the exact words that come to your brain! After all you are two different individuals with two separate brains formed via different experiences of many years of childhood.

Of course, if you want him to say good night in any particular way, you can ask him to say it your way.

Expecting the man to mind-read you, that is to read your expectation of what he should say is a very common problem. As I said, it is not too long ago that I had such unrealistic expectations myself!

Good job, dreaming715- I am genuinely impressed!

anita