I have a theory. My hubby says passive-aggressive things only when his family is around, not any other time. I think it's men's weird way of showing that they are the MAN. It's a bizarre way of saying "I do this, I do everything, Watch me strut my stuff!" Of course, our initial instinct is to stomp the cr*p out of them, but they are protected because we're in public and our better judgement registers in our brain.
I don't think he said it because he was being malicious, it probably didn't even register to him on how it would be perceived. Talk to him in private and kick him in the you know what... I had to do that, hubby behaves much better now. Just like we have a time of the month, I think guys have that too, and in that period, they're destined to say something stupid. Usually, if I take that attitude and he does, it doesn't bother me as much because I know he was due for one.
EDIT: Wow, I just read this and wonder if I'm coming across horribly! My apologies if so.
