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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My birthday

43 replies

Southerngirl789 · 02/06/2024 18:21

So to set the scene I have just organised a family holiday for four of us and planned and booked everything to hopefully make it a great holiday. My birthday was due so I planned to come back the day before so the holiday was not about my birthday. I'm not too bothered about expensive gifts or being made a massive fuss of just want to feel appreciated. We got back in early hours of my birthday. We all had a lie in. My partner was offering to go to the shop when we woke up (unusual) and I twigged he hadn't got any cards. I said if he was going shopping for cards on my birthday at 12pm it was a little late and not to bother. Some delivery flowers turned up later (I'm not into flowers which I've told him many times before would rather have a bottle of wine I like). We usually go out for tea or get a takeaway when it is one of our birthdays. There was no suggestion of doing this and the boys went off to cricket training for the night. I was really upset that my partner didn't preplan cards before we all went away (he had plenty of time as doesn't work due to poor health). Am I being unreasonable to be upset? All I wanted was a card and maybe the suggestion of tea out as a treat as im the one that cooks (I would normally pay for tea out so not about the cash)

OP posts:
OhHelloMiss · 02/06/2024 18:53

@BeaRF75 here on mumsnet some women are very v precious about their birthdays.

MissyB1 · 02/06/2024 18:52

It's mumsnet, you aren't allowed to have a nice birthday where anybody does anything for you. Apparently that is being precious /high maintenance, and grabby. You must set the bar very low and just be grateful that you have a dh and kids. Same goes for mothers day and Christmas.

Meanwhile in the real world......

BeaRF75 · 02/06/2024 18:51

You had a holiday! What kind of adult even bothers about their birthday? Very odd.

Itiswhysofew · 02/06/2024 18:51

YANBU. He was thoughtless. It doesn't take much effort to buy/order a birthday card before the actual birthday. Also, ordering a gift that you've told him you don't like, equals zero effort on his part.

Londonscallingme · 02/06/2024 18:48

You are going to get lots of different views here. I used to be into birthdays in a ‘minor’ way but my OH does not do birthdays at all so I had a decision to make;

  1. Break up with him

  2. accept his very substandard birthday efforts

  3. moan about it every year.

I chose option 2 bevcause I love him and he’s unbelievably kind, supportive and generous in every other way I can imagine.m outside of birthday celebrations.

i have a cousin who takes a different stance which is to prescribe exactly what she wants from her OH… that works too.

edit to add - I think other posters are being quite mean. I do see where you are coming from, I’ve just decided to de-prioritise birthdays in favour of an otherwise very good relationship.

CottonPyjamas · 02/06/2024 18:47

It would appear I'm not in the majority here, but I don't think you're being unreasonable. It's not about receiving gifts/cards, or having a meal, it's about the lack of thought. Nobody thought, "it's OP's birthday after the holiday, I'll get a card and put it to one side." And, the one thing you did get, you've said in the past you don't like. I wouldn't buy someone something I've been told they don't like. Again, it's the lack of thought! I assume you take on the mental load for their birthdays and plan for them, and just want the same courtesy from them on yours.
Happy birthday OP.

WishIWasYourSexyBacon · 02/06/2024 18:42

I’m with you OP.

Mrsjayy · 02/06/2024 18:42

Oh no he got you flowers how inconsiderate! He probably ordered them on.holiday he might have got you wine if you "allowed" him to go to the shops.

NewName24 · 02/06/2024 18:41

I'm with everyone else (in the comments).

I wouldn't want to go out for a meal on the day/ day after I got back from holiday.
I wouldn't want my dc to miss out on a 2nd week of cricket practice.

Plus, he was going to get you a card and you told him not to.

TakeOnFlea · 02/06/2024 18:37

Did you want them to miss cricket training after a week away?

Mrsjayy · 02/06/2024 18:36

rubyslippers · 02/06/2024 18:34

Also why didn’t you celebrate your birthday on holiday or extend it? If we’d just had a holiday with all the associated expense and treats I don’t think id moan about not having another take out or meal out

This you could have had a meal out on holiday to celebrate.

rubyslippers · 02/06/2024 18:34

Also why didn’t you celebrate your birthday on holiday or extend it? If we’d just had a holiday with all the associated expense and treats I don’t think id moan about not having another take out or meal out

leopardski · 02/06/2024 18:33

I think you’re BU considering it’s right on the tail end of a holiday. It wouldn’t have bothered me if he’d then popped out today to grab bits for it. I think you give men too much credit to have pre planned that before a holiday 🤣
Happy Birthday!

rubyslippers · 02/06/2024 18:33

You’re being totally unreasonable
flowers - ordered in advance
hes been ill, so went to get a card but you turned it down
unless there’s a huge back story I think you’re being a bit OTT

luckylavender · 02/06/2024 18:30

You sound very precious

Mrsjayy · 02/06/2024 18:29

You sound a nightmare and I love my birthday you didn't want your holiday to interrupt your birthday is what you mean not the other way around, your poor husband being scolded because he hadn't bought a card a fortnight ago!

OhHelloMiss · 02/06/2024 18:27

Oh my! Another moan about a birthday!

Meal out straight after a holiday!?

Graciiee · 02/06/2024 18:26

Yes you are being precious, he was about to go and get you a card but you threw a strop and told him not to bother.

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