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AIBU?

To consider going on my own?

18 replies

AwayForChristmas · 10/09/2011 10:16

Background : H and I have been married for 12 years and have 2 dcs, both still young. I am from another european country. Most of my family is there bar my parents who decided to come and live near me and the dcs.

My parents are going back to our country every other year for chirstmas, mainly so that my gran can spend christmas with family (They have a 'rota' with other family members).
I have always said I want to go back there too as my gran is getting old (over 90yo) and I never know if I will have the opportunity to spend another christmas with her 2 years after. I also want my dcs to have the opportunity to experience christmas there (slightly different ways than here) and remember it.
On the other year, we spend chirtmas here and he has 'free reign' to organize christmas with his family as it suits them. It usually means we spend the 24th with my parents and the 25~26th with his.

H is, once again, refusing to go. Doesn't like the travel, planes too crowded blabla. In 12 years he has been to my country 4 times, twice before dcs, twice at christmas (but has always been a battle).

AIBU to say this year, I don't care, I am going to spend christams with family. You decdide what you want to do (stay here or spend christmas with your W and dcs)

OP posts:

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plupervert · 10/09/2011 10:19

Why not? But make sure he has a special weekend with the DC, and then one with you, to "make up" the time you missed. Just so the "free time" isn't a treat for him.

Takitezee · 10/09/2011 10:21

YANBU. Your dh is being incredibly unfair. Not only do you all get to see your gran at Christmas but the children get to see the rest of the extended family and experience a different way of doing Christmas.

AwayForChristmas · 10/09/2011 10:48

I am going away once a year if that to see family. I know that he sees that as a 'treat' for him. 2 weeks with no dcs!!

Each time I am going back (christmas or not), there are some issues. It's just feels like he thinks the fact my family is abroad is an inconvenience. He isn't family orientated, I am. I also had about 20 years when I couldn't spend christmas with my parents as they were overseas (so I was seeing them about 1 week a year). I do cherish the opportunity to spend christmas as a family even more now.

OP posts:

Talker2010 · 10/09/2011 10:52

I would go but I would take the children too

AwayForChristmas · 10/09/2011 10:55

Oh God, I woud take the dcs of course (and I don't think he would fancy looking after them on his own for a week anyway :()

OP posts:

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 10/09/2011 11:09

I think you should go. Your DH is being incredibly selfish ... Unless you are from Kabul or somewhere similar!

If you don't go and your gran were to die - God forbid - I think you would really resent your DH. You should take your dc and go this Christmas. If he refuses to go then tough luck. I don't believe in spending alternate Christmases with his then her family - too grief! - but you should let your extended family see the dc and let them see what your Christmases were like when younger.

Go book flights now!

Gluttondressedaslamb · 10/09/2011 11:35

Yanbu, your DH is! Perhaps he thinks that because you have your parents living nearby that trips back to your own country are not such a big deal. He is totally WRONG.
This isnt just about Christmas - from what you say in your post he is always reluctant to go to your country. Maybe he feels a bit foreign and out of his depth when he is there, maybe he doesnt understand the language and feels excluded? Whatever the reason, this is not an excuse for depriving you of precious time with your grandmother and other relatives - youre only asking him to go for a short holiday, not live there permanently! <br /> I think it is important for your children to experience Christmas in your culture, understand where their Mum comes from, its part of their cultural heritage. It is also important for you to go back to where your roots are.
If your husband doesn`t understand how much this means to you, make it clear that you will go with or without him, but would prefer to go with him. the ball is in his camp, but you are going !

HairyGrotter · 10/09/2011 11:57

YANBU, your DH is.

I would go, hope you and the DC's have a wonderful Christmas with your family, sounds exciting

Crazybit · 10/09/2011 11:58

YANBU Just go. It is only fair, your DH is being mean.

OryxCrake · 10/09/2011 12:28

YANBU. I think it's important for you and the DC to go and spend time with your family with or without your DH.

It would be great if he could understand why you want this to be a trip for the whole family but personally if he doesn't get it I would leave him at home and go anyway.

Given that you do the whole alternate years thing, he is being unfair and a bit spiteful by the sound of it. Better for him to stay home than to come and ruin Christmas by moping and moaning.

Have a lovely time!

AwayForChristmas · 10/09/2011 12:56

Thank you. Until now I have always gone the line of 'Poor him. So difficult, can't understand the language blabla'.
I have enough tbh but was wondering if I wasn't a bit unreasonnable to do so.

OP posts:

garlicnutter · 10/09/2011 13:02

YANBU :) I think he sounds a bit spiteful, too.

I'm tempted to say leave DC at home - he gets time away from them already, when you go on holiday - but obviously the deciding factor will be what's best for the kids on this occasion.

Happy Christmas!

Gluttondressedaslamb · 10/09/2011 13:12

You will enjoy it better without him if hes so reluctant. My circumstances are similar to yours, and many a visit home to my parents has been ruined because of my DH moaning. And he speaks the language fluently at that!<br /> Your DH can spend the whole of Christmas with his own family, its not as though you would be leaving him on his own. Book your flights and enjoy yourself!

ChaoticAngeloftheUnderworld · 10/09/2011 13:13

YANBU Your DH is being a selfish twat.

Does he ever go abroad for holidays?

Rowena8482 · 10/09/2011 15:40

Go with your DCs and if he comes too, well and good, but if not shrug. Don't get into fights with him about it, or he'll just dig his heels in, just make plans, books up for you and the DCs and tell him at each stage so that if he wants to come too, he can. It would be awful if (God forbid!) your gran passed away before you and the children got one more Christmas with her.

izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 10/09/2011 16:49

YANBU.

There's no issue here. Of course you should spend the coming Christmas holidays with your dgm.

If you won't be travelling with your dps, book flights for you and your dc now; if your dh changes his mind at a later date he'll most probably have to pay a premium - pre-supposing there are seats left on your flight.

Apart from any other consideration, it is in your dcs best interests that they should become acquainted with the customs and culture that are part of their heritage at an early age.

dreamingbohemian · 10/09/2011 17:05

YANBU

This is all part of marrying someone from another country. I'm really shocked anyone could be such an arse about it, that's quite selfish.

aquashiv · 10/09/2011 17:11

YANBu go and take the kids. he will miss you am sure

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