My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly a year (In less than a month will be our anniversary) and I can only remember about 11 complimments.
2 of them were when we weren't together. 3 of them have been about my butt/body. 3 about how cute I act and 1 about my face.
I have low self esteem because I was bullied ever since I was 8 y. o. Not hardcore-ly bullied, but I did get called "mummie" and the like for yeaars. It's a sore spot.
My boyfriend broke up with me two times. Largely, due to jealousy. That made me feel like he didn't care about us half as much as I do.
I compliment him all the time. He likes it. He likes it when I'm corny, too.
Thing is he doesn't get corny a quarter 1/8 as much. Nor does he compliment me. I don't expect him to do it as much as I did but, come on, man, at least one honest compliment weekly wouldn't do harm.
I've asked him (Lame, I know) to tell me sweet things twice. He said he would. He did not do shit about it, although he said he'd like to. When he did do it (months later), I felt so awfully uncomfortable. It just feels like he doesn't mean it or as though it were an airbag, to soften sore spots. I told him I didn't know if I wanted to be complimented anymore, and next day he just appeared with some 'romantic' phrases he copied from the internet. And he was chuckling.
It felt so dishonest. I'm not secure enough not to be hurt by it.
Should I tell him to forget the whole thing and just cope using the remembers of when he acted sweet (listening to songs he sent me) and try my best to just feel better about my appearance and forget this? How should I cope? I've said nasty jokes (I cope with jokes) about him breaking up again eventually or him not liking me, whic isn't healthy. I don't want to hurt our relationship with my shit. What would you do if you were in my position? What would you do/think in my boyfriend's? What another way is there to make me feel appreciated?
