Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Did I ruin family day out

282 replies

Prinajdjd · 27/04/2025 15:45

DH, dc and I had just enjoyed a lovely meal and talking about future plans. We were on great terms and had a wonderful day. When we was driving home, we decided we didn’t want the day to end and would find something else to do. As we were driving DH asked for a tissue for his hands. I was distracted talking to dd and placed a handful of them gently on his knee. They fell down by his foot. He suddenly got angry saying “why would I do that? I should’ve placed them in his hand.” I apologised and said it wasn’t a big deal. He then picked them up, crumbled them together and when I looked in his direction threw them in my face hitting my eye. Even if it was meant playful (which it wasn’t due to the sheer amount of force and his tone prior to this), it really hurt my eye and I was upset about it. Dd even saw and demanded for daddy to apologise to mommy. I said instead I wanted to go home and he blamed me for ruining the day over something minor. It rubbed me wrong as he shouldn’t have thrown it at me at all, definitely not in front of kids and he shouldn’t have done it so hard. He keeps coming in the room and asking is this how I’m going to act- I say no I am no longer upset about this and if he apologises we can continue the day. He has stormed out now and refuses to help with dc. So confused and don’t see how this is my fault.

OP posts:
AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 27/04/2025 19:41

Anyone who uses the "funny" emoji as a snide way of getting at other people's obviously neither funny nor intended to be funny posts is not worth bothering with, on the whole.

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 27/04/2025 19:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

@CalleOcho. I really appreciate your support - both of myself and the OP, but please disengage with this sad specimen. It’s not worth your energy, the rise in your blood pressure or the derail of OP’s thread - which is what they want. I’ve been a victim of DV and what OP is experiencing could well be the first step in a pattern of escalation. She has posted for support and in response people are minimising and poking fun. It’s unacceptable, and all the more disgusting when you realise that the majority participants are female.

JackieDaytonaLuckyBrews · 27/04/2025 19:35

Wow, this thread has got very cunty. Seeing as life is quite unpleasant generally for a lot of people, can we not just agree to disagree and get on with it?

Catrionablocke · 27/04/2025 19:33

CalleOcho · 27/04/2025 19:31

Just proves my point. You’re seriously giving “I know you are you said you are but what am I 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪” type of pathetic energy.

As they say, ROFL 🤣 😂

CalleOcho · 27/04/2025 19:31

Catrionablocke · 27/04/2025 19:28

Yes I can tell you do. You're loving it

Just proves my point. You’re seriously giving “I know you are you said you are but what am I 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪” type of pathetic energy.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 27/04/2025 19:30

A husband has behaved unreasonably and in a way which put his wife and child at risk of injury. She is afraid of him and he has an unpredictable temper.

Ho ho ho, what a hilarious joke! Let's ignore the danger and the anger, and argue about whether being hit in the eye hurts!

Stun a stoat sideways, some people on here astound me.

Catrionablocke · 27/04/2025 19:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Yes I can tell you do. You're loving it

CalleOcho · 27/04/2025 19:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

adviceneeded1990 · 27/04/2025 19:27

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 27/04/2025 19:09

Is the significance of the child trying to get dad to apologise to mum lost on you ? Why do you consider OP hard work exactly ? And as I’ve said a few times on this fucking depressing thread. It beggars belief how low the bar is set for some women when it comes to the acceptability or otherwise of mens’ behaviour towards them.

Edited

The child trying to get an apology is the saddest thing about this situation. But it could be caused by several things, for example:

Dad habitually loses the plot, is violent and aggressive, and DD knows this is wrong and wants him to stop.
Mum and Dad have regular arguments where Mum then involves and weaponises the kids “oh look DD isn’t Daddy being mean, shouldn’t he apologise?”
DD has heard Mum asking for an apology in the car and is simply mirroring what she is hearing.

No one on Mumsnet knows if the husband is aggressive and intended to hurt and intimidate or if he simply threw tissues aside while looking at the road which accidentally hit the OP who is now being dramatic. We weren’t there. If he’s aggressive and violent as standard then she should leave him, obviously! If it’s a stupid drama about tissues they should apologise to the DC and everyone should move on. The important thing for me is that no child should be subject to this!

Catrionablocke · 27/04/2025 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

CalleOcho · 27/04/2025 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

You’re really one of the nastiest posters I’ve had the displeasure of reading on here.

What a pathetic individual you are. I’m embarrassed for you.

Catrionablocke · 27/04/2025 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

iamjustwinginglife · 27/04/2025 19:23

His loss of temper isn’t about a tissue, there’s something else…is he stressed about another part of his life?

TheKeeperOfTissues · 27/04/2025 19:22

As kids we spent alot of time trying to appease angry parent or hiding from angry parent because sure as shit it was definitely not angry parents fault they were angry.

Non angry parent did nothing really to protect us from seeing/hearing/being on the receiving end of angry parent and it has had a lasting effect on all of us.

I hope it works out for your children 🙏

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 27/04/2025 19:21

Catrionablocke · 27/04/2025 19:19

Usually, you blink before something touches your cornea, as the purpose of the blink reflex is to protect the cornea, not to wait till it's touched.
(I can't believe people who put "like" at the beginning of a sentence, but we'll let it go this time, as you're overexcited).

Can I ask you a question ? Tissue or any other projectile aside, do you really think that DH’s response to OP was reasonable and proportionate. And given that she’s indicated that she’s actually frightened of his temper, do you think it’s reasonable to make light of it ?

Catrionablocke · 27/04/2025 19:20

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 27/04/2025 19:19

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 27/04/2025 17:02

I agree otherwise pillow fights would be illegal.

😂I would be in the jail by now

Catrionablocke · 27/04/2025 19:19

Megifer · 27/04/2025 18:35

I can't believe people don't understand how tissue/paper/any other supposedly light material can hurt someones eye.

Like, I don't even know if it can be explained it it's so basic 🤣

I found this though that might help

  • "The blink reflex: The blink reflex is exactly what it sounds like — an automatic response that makes you blink when something touches your cornea."

Just a simple Google search.

Usually, you blink before something touches your cornea, as the purpose of the blink reflex is to protect the cornea, not to wait till it's touched.
(I can't believe people who put "like" at the beginning of a sentence, but we'll let it go this time, as you're overexcited).

CalleOcho · 27/04/2025 19:13

adviceneeded1990 · 27/04/2025 19:06

Is this normally how your family days out go? Your poor kids! You sound like hard work and he sounds like he’s got a short fuse which I’d worry could escalate. Have either of you ever had counselling around communication styles? It might help. Your DD trying to get Dad to apologise to Mum is telling - is she often witness to or involved in your altercations? I feel sorry for her as she witnessed this nonsense and had her day ruined!

Why do you think the OP would need counselling for communication styles?

Also, what gives you the impression that the OP is hard work? I’m genuinely curious.

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 27/04/2025 19:09

adviceneeded1990 · 27/04/2025 19:06

Is this normally how your family days out go? Your poor kids! You sound like hard work and he sounds like he’s got a short fuse which I’d worry could escalate. Have either of you ever had counselling around communication styles? It might help. Your DD trying to get Dad to apologise to Mum is telling - is she often witness to or involved in your altercations? I feel sorry for her as she witnessed this nonsense and had her day ruined!

Is the significance of the child trying to get dad to apologise to mum lost on you ? Why do you consider OP hard work exactly ? And as I’ve said a few times on this fucking depressing thread. It beggars belief how low the bar is set for some women when it comes to the acceptability or otherwise of mens’ behaviour towards them.

LavenderHaze2004 · 27/04/2025 19:08

He’s being a dick. You’ve done nothing wrong. He’s overreacted aggressively, just the act of throwing something (anything) in your face is unacceptable.

There’s something more to why he behaved like this. He’s got issues and hopefully he’ll apologise and explain what his problem is.

X

adviceneeded1990 · 27/04/2025 19:06

Is this normally how your family days out go? Your poor kids! You sound like hard work and he sounds like he’s got a short fuse which I’d worry could escalate. Have either of you ever had counselling around communication styles? It might help. Your DD trying to get Dad to apologise to Mum is telling - is she often witness to or involved in your altercations? I feel sorry for her as she witnessed this nonsense and had her day ruined!

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 27/04/2025 19:05

KilkennyCats · 27/04/2025 18:24

I knew you had skin in the game.
Sorry to hear that, but it’s probably colouring your viewpoint, somewhat.

Nope. Not colouring it at all. I just recognise the red flags. Most posters are choosing to ignore the significant anger control issues OP has related, and the fact that those anger issues are enough to make her afraid of him. And posters who have not experienced it for themselves are unlikely to recognise that this is how it starts.

In the aftermath I volunteered at a womens refuge and I can’t even begin to tell you how many people l came across who were in similar situations to myself, and similarly OP. It’s a depressing pattern of an argumentative spouse who has trouble controlling their anger. Nitpicks issues out of nothing and starts with little digs and pokes here and there, which escalate into arguments and throwing things, which indicate an inability to control anger or frustration.

Next thing you know he considers it fine to throw something at you when you say or do something he doesn’t like, or administer an open handed slap when he considers you ‘deserve it’. It could be the food is not to his liking, or the house isn’t tidy enough. And from there it’s being treated like a punchbag whenever he feels he has reason - and each and every time he’s beaten you, collapsing in tears and promising it’ll never happen again. Like he’s the victim.

Skin in the game doesn’t even begin to cover it. So forgive me if posters who have no idea what some women have to live with choose to post laughing emojis and poke fun. MN makes me ashamed to be female sometimes.

NovemberMorn · 27/04/2025 18:58

OP, you are not being unreasonable, your husband sounds as if he has a very short fuse. Maybe he needs anger management therapy, and him saying he would never hit you, doesn't really cut it. His outbursts must be scary for you and your child, sudden violent actions, even if they only involve chucking a tissue in your face, are not nice to put up with.

CalleOcho · 27/04/2025 18:58

housethatbuiltme · 27/04/2025 18:48

What you did was really dangerous, if he had crashed you could have had much bigger issues in your life.

You have then massively overreacted to him being rightly irritated that you did something stupid and dangerous. He has to concentration on the road so he threw the risk out of the way which is the correct thing to do. I don't believe for one second he personally 'aimed' it at you while driving in the scenario you've described because I have been in a similar scenario (no passenger the item fell) and you just have to move it as fast as possible theres no logic to where it lands as thats not the main risk.

What on earth would possess you to balance something on the knee of a driver though?

What a nice community Mumsnet is.

When a woman, who has experienced her husband being angry, argumentative and abusive towards her she comes online for support- a forum for mothers.

Yet she is picked apart, laughed at and patronised all because she placed a couple of tissues on her husbands knee.

Jesus wept.