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Original poster

To Surprise OH At The Airport?

162 replies

ladybird30 · 21/09/2024 15:54

My OH is due back from being away for a week, for work.

It's the first time he's been away for more than a few days since we had our LO and I thought it'd be nice to surprise him at arrivals and pick him up.

I've mentioned this to a couple of people and some have said it'd be embarrassing and a bit cringe, as he's away for work with a few guys he works with and they're all travelling together.

Should I surprise him or just stay home?

OP posts:
lololulu · 21/09/2024 17:12

Oh god I didn't even meet dh after 6 months in Iraq and Afghanistan x6 and during the last one I had our baby.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 17:09

BirthdayRainbow · 21/09/2024 17:06

Why?

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Because it's a work trip with work colleagues, not a jolly. It just comes across as a bit very weird to me. I'd be mortified if DH did it to me.

If he was travelling alone, fair enough.

CheeseWisely · 21/09/2024 17:08

@Moonshine5 And if that's how the poster you're speaking for took it then I apologise to them.

What I meant was that I know how that feels because for 15 years of travelling every couple of months nobody ever met me at the airport, but now it's changed. Things can change.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 17:07

TeenLifeMum · 21/09/2024 17:05

How depressing people see going to meet a loved one at the airport cringey.

It's not meeting a loved one that's "cringey", it's meeting a loved one when they're on a work trip and travelling with their colleagues that's weird.

If he was travelling alone it would be a different story.

BirthdayRainbow · 21/09/2024 17:06

sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 17:00

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me it just comes across as being a bit inappropriate.

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Why?

TeenLifeMum · 21/09/2024 17:05

How depressing people see going to meet a loved one at the airport cringey.

TheChosenTwo · 21/09/2024 17:04

I wouldn’t bother if he’s only been away one week. Maybe if he’d been gone 3 months it would be a lovely surprise.
But generally if I go away without my family I have already made plans for getting back and often with the people I’ve been travelling with so it would either change the dynamics of that last minute or it wouldn’t and the person greeting me would have to turn around and go home again on their own which would just be a bit weird.
I vote for stay home and greet with a takeaway!

Moonshine5 · 21/09/2024 17:02

CheeseWisely · 21/09/2024 16:40

I'm always scanning the faces waiting for people hoping there's someone for me. Never is tho

@Doggymummar I happened to mention to my DH when we were dating that nobody ever picks me up from the airport (we live offshore and I travel for work so I fly a lot). I've never arrived home without him being there to meet me since ☺️

@CheeseWisely

Your response is tone deaf and mean.

@Doggymummar said no one ever comes to collect her yet you tag her in and respond to her personally by saying your husband is there every time and never misses it. Have a word with yourself.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 21/09/2024 17:02

@CheeseWisely I posted at the same time you did but see my answer on the why.

It boils down to a long week at work, usually bad sleep, airports and stupid people, and just wanting to get home. No patience for anything else at that point in my day.

Sidebeforeself · 21/09/2024 17:02

saltinesandcoffeecups · 21/09/2024 16:59

I’m voting to greet him once home and not at the airport. Has nothing to do with cringe but more to do with me being sick of people and don’t want to fuck around trying to get home.

After a week traveling for work all I want is to get home. My DH knows that if he picks me up he waits in the cell phone parking area until I call then he’ll drive up to get me. No hugs or kisses as I sling my bags into the car and say let’s get out of here! Plenty of time for smoochies when we’re home.

Couldn’t agree more!

sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 17:01

CheeseWisely · 21/09/2024 16:58

Why on earth would someone you love coming to pick you up from a trip away irritate you?

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Well, personally it would irritate me because I'd be travelling with colleagues and still in "work mode" to an extent. I don't want to be met at the airport in that scenario, it just feels odd to me (unless previously arranged).

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 21/09/2024 17:01

Some people love surprises, others don't. Unless you are sure he'd love it, don't do it. There will be other ways to express your love and your pleasure at having him home.

Sidebeforeself · 21/09/2024 17:01

@CheeseWisely It would irritate me because I will have already made plans to get home etc and someone’s just decided for me. I love my DH very much but he knows not to surprise me!

anxietyaardvark · 21/09/2024 17:01

I travel for work and it's exhausting. I wouldn't want an unexpected reunion at the airport with colleagues around. I just want to get home.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 17:00

BirthdayRainbow · 21/09/2024 16:54

Why on Earth would it be embarrassing just because he's coming back with colleagues? People are weird.

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me it just comes across as being a bit inappropriate.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 21/09/2024 16:59

I’m voting to greet him once home and not at the airport. Has nothing to do with cringe but more to do with me being sick of people and don’t want to fuck around trying to get home.

After a week traveling for work all I want is to get home. My DH knows that if he picks me up he waits in the cell phone parking area until I call then he’ll drive up to get me. No hugs or kisses as I sling my bags into the car and say let’s get out of here! Plenty of time for smoochies when we’re home.

CheeseWisely · 21/09/2024 16:58

Sidebeforeself · 21/09/2024 16:55

@DoIWantTo Not everyone saying no is saying it’s because of what people would think. Personally it would irritate me but I wouldn’t be worrying about what others think.

Why on earth would someone you love coming to pick you up from a trip away irritate you?

Sidebeforeself · 21/09/2024 16:58

@Discombobulated2024 It’s not my opinion, but some people might be embarrassed because it makes them look like they have to be collected from school ,or they are being checked up upon, or they don’t like showing affection in public etc. Lots of reasons why people might not like it.

Zone2NorthLondon · 21/09/2024 16:57

It’s a nice idea best kept in mind not acted upon.Its twee and cringey if he’s with colleagues

treadingonlego · 21/09/2024 16:56

Message him the night before he's due back with a surprise offer for a lift home from the airport? At least then he'll know to be looking for you!

Sidebeforeself · 21/09/2024 16:55

@DoIWantTo Not everyone saying no is saying it’s because of what people would think. Personally it would irritate me but I wouldn’t be worrying about what others think.

Discombobulated2024 · 21/09/2024 16:54

MagentaRavioli · 21/09/2024 16:00

No, don’t surprise him if he’s asked you not to. Because then it’s not a nice surprise.

But he hasn’t asked her not to come?

I don’t understand most of the replies on this thread. On what planet is it ‘embarrassing’ for colleagues to witness a surprise? It’s not like they are all 17 and their mum is surprising them.

I wouldn’t do it if there is any chance of the arrangement going wrong or if it would unsettle the baby’s routine (there’s nothing worse than a grouchy baby in a public place) but all mature adults know their colleagues have a home life and anyone who found this ‘inappropriate’ would be a bit of an oddball IMO. I would do it!

BirthdayRainbow · 21/09/2024 16:54

Why on Earth would it be embarrassing just because he's coming back with colleagues? People are weird.

DoIWantTo · 21/09/2024 16:51

@herecomesautumn because they care more about it being “cringe” and “ick” than anything else. Miserly that grown adults care more about what strangers think than their own loved ones.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 21/09/2024 16:49

If it was like 3 months yes but one week?! No way

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