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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want DH dad and sister to come to the zoo.

188 replies

Sulking · 11/06/2025 07:34

I know this is going to be controversial.

But me, DH and the kids have always had the tradition of going for a family day out to the zoo on the same weekend every year. My parents took me and my siblings to the same zoo every year growing up and even into our teens/adult lives until we had families of our own we started taking our own families.

anyway; one year DH invited his dad and sister and I thought yes that’s fine, one year every so often won’t bother me..

ever since, they’ve asked which day we’re going and will come with us; I did say last year to DH that the next time I would like to go just as our family again as I feel like it’s not our day anymore. The kids end up going off with DH sister and it just doesn’t feel the same.

Come to this year; they’ve asked again what day we’ll be going. DH doesn’t want to say anything and feel awkward now; and so do I.. but I just want us to have that special day of just us back again. I’m not saying they can’t come again another year but I feel like they’ve intruded into our families day 😅

DH dad and sister come to our house nearly every weekend at some point for a catch up and coffee. So it’s not as if we never see them. We arrange other days out through the year with them so it’s not as if I’m trying to not see DH family. But I just want this day for us without them, but it makes me feel like I’m being a cow. I can’t explain it.

OP posts:
Sulking · 11/06/2025 07:49

TasWair · 11/06/2025 07:46

I do get this OP, and it's tricky. Do you get on with them? I'd explain what you've explained here- it was your family's tradition with your parents and you'd like to go on with that tradition this year. But I'd have something else planned to do with them, maybe a theme park or aquarium or different zoo. I'd be coating this in a lot of "I know it may seem a bit silly!" and "We're looking forward so much to spending time with you in the theme park!"

Yeah we get on with them great which I think makes it harder! The kids loves them too and k think DH is using that as a bit of ammunition against me to avoid saying no 🫣

I know I need to say it myself, and they shouldn’t be offended as it’s not meant to offence at all. But as it’s been 4 years now it feel a bit awkward to be like “actually can you not come because this day was meant to be just for us?” Obviously said nicer than that 🤣

OP posts:
Rubyupbeat · 11/06/2025 07:49

Go on a different day just for the 4 of you, surely that's an obvious thing to do.

pizzaHeart · 11/06/2025 07:47

Your feelings are absolutely fine. It’s not like you deny your in-laws to have some traditions with your kids. I think you need to downplay it a bit saying: Oh we would rather go by ourselves ( without mentioning that it’s your special family day) And then move the conversation.
Has someone of you mentioned last year about special family day ? They probably misunderstood and thought that they were included as a family.

Sulking · 11/06/2025 07:46

KeineBedeutung · 11/06/2025 07:41

The zoo trip is our special family day.
I'm sure we could arrange something else where we all get together though - what about [insert whatever you might fancy]?

This is exactly what I’ve suggested DH say (I’m a really anxious person and am not able to face this kind of confrontation on my own 🤣) but DH said he feels bad and isn’t keen on letting them down 😟

OP posts:
TasWair · 11/06/2025 07:46

I do get this OP, and it's tricky. Do you get on with them? I'd explain what you've explained here- it was your family's tradition with your parents and you'd like to go on with that tradition this year. But I'd have something else planned to do with them, maybe a theme park or aquarium or different zoo. I'd be coating this in a lot of "I know it may seem a bit silly!" and "We're looking forward so much to spending time with you in the theme park!"

Sulking · 11/06/2025 07:44

So, there’s a specific event on a specific weekend, which is why we go on the same weekend every year. So we can’t really go twice because it won’t be on.

but I do agree, and as mentioned in the OG post we do have other days out with them and I suggested to DH that we go somewhere else with them the following weekend instead but they’re continuing to ask which day we’re going to the zoo. I don’t want to be mean to them but they can go by themselves if they actually enjoy the event. But they’ve said in previous years they won’t go if we don’t.. so I’m a bit put out by it now 😫

OP posts:
ZImono · 11/06/2025 07:42

Just say lets go to the aquarium!

Go to the aquarium.and the next week go to the zoo.

If they ask say its something your parents did with just you as a child its a tradition you want to keep so you do one family onky trip each year.
They are welcome to take the kids to the zoo with your dh in aug/ sep whatever if they want

titchy · 11/06/2025 07:42

You say we’re having our sulking-household only trip on the 5th, but if you’d like to join us for a zoo trip we could make a date next month for all of us if you like?

KeineBedeutung · 11/06/2025 07:41

The zoo trip is our special family day.
I'm sure we could arrange something else where we all get together though - what about [insert whatever you might fancy]?

heldinadream · 11/06/2025 07:41

Um- you can go to the zoo twice - or three times - or as often as you like! If it's expensive can you get a membership so you can literally go as often as you like? Then one visit a year with them and at least one without.

B1anche · 11/06/2025 07:39

Can't you just go to the zoo by yourselves on a different day? Does it matter if you do two trips to the zoo each year?

BIossomtoes · 11/06/2025 07:38

Why not start a new day out “tradition” for your own family and continue to invite them for this one? They obviously had a lovely time. It feels mean to exclude them from something they enjoy.

purpleme12 · 11/06/2025 07:37

Well there's no way around it

You need to say sorry this is our family day, special tradition.

And for what it's worth, I think it's fine to say this to them and to feel like this