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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being unreasonable asking my husband to not go away for 2 weeks after just having a baby?

184 replies

Watters01 · 24/07/2025 20:37

My DH is a practicing catholic and, around 18 months ago, was asked if he wanted to go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. I didn’t want to be the bad guy for saying no so I thought what the hey, it’s only 2 weeks, I can handle 3 kids on my own. Fast forward a few months and we found out I was unexpectedly pregnant with our 4th child. I casually mentioned about probably not going on the trip now, as we would have a newborn and it’s a lot to put on me, but he kind of brushed it to one side and said about maybe not doing it. This carried on going like this up until I gave birth with me getting more irate and cross.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, he eventually refused to cancel the trip so in about 2 weeks time I am going to be left on my own for 2 weeks with a newborn, 3yr old, 7yr old and 10yr old. All our family work full time so are unable to help me and to top it off it’s the summer holidays so there’s just no break!
AIBU for being really upset about the whole thing? I appreciate it’s a religious pilgrimage but I feel really resentful and quite. disrespected about the whole thing.

OP posts:
ManyATrueWord · 24/07/2025 23:10

He's telling lies. No pilgrimage to Lourdes is two weeks - unless he is walking there.

abricotine · 24/07/2025 23:08

Praying4Peace · 24/07/2025 21:03

All about perspective. I agree that looking after 4 kids on your own for 2 weeks is hard but it has been done for much longer for a variety of reasons.
I appreciate that sounds insensitive but it's true

It’s not insensitive but misguided. I’m sure if OP’s husband had to care for a sick relative or make an essential trip abroad she would crack on like most mums marshalling lots of kids have to. But this is not necessary and it was arranged when circumstances were different. I’m inclined to agree it’s also a bit odd he is so passionate about a fortnight in Lourdes (I’ve also been a couple of times and a short visit was plenty. It’s kind of weird)

Rabbitrabbitrun · 24/07/2025 23:07

outerspacepotato · 24/07/2025 23:05

Is he having a breakdown? OP won't be driving, shouldn't be lifting, and he's abandoning his family to go off on a 2 week trip?

What if she or the baby have complications?

@Watters01, you need to set up an emergency contact or two nearby that can get there quickly in case of emergency. Make sure your 7 and 10 year old can call your emergency # . Put your doctor's # in. Set up something with his church for delivering food and possibly pick up and deliver meds if necessary and assist with transportation and emergency childcare if needed. Let a neighbor know you're on your own.

Sorry your husband is a shameless selfish asshole.

Or, just tell him he’s not fucking going.

outerspacepotato · 24/07/2025 23:05

Is he having a breakdown? OP won't be driving, shouldn't be lifting, and he's abandoning his family to go off on a 2 week trip?

What if she or the baby have complications?

@Watters01, you need to set up an emergency contact or two nearby that can get there quickly in case of emergency. Make sure your 7 and 10 year old can call your emergency # . Put your doctor's # in. Set up something with his church for delivering food and possibly pick up and deliver meds if necessary and assist with transportation and emergency childcare if needed. Let a neighbor know you're on your own.

Sorry your husband is a shameless selfish asshole.

Smokiejoe · 24/07/2025 22:58

SwingTheMonkey · 24/07/2025 20:42

This really should have been sorted out before now. But if it were me, I’d be making it clear that if he put a trip above being a parent and husband when he’s needed the most, he shouldn’t bother coming back.

Exactly this, my DH wouldn’t dream of it but he would not be welcome back if he did. I would’ve made that clear from finding out.

Plantladylover · 24/07/2025 22:57

Awful behaviour.
Couple of days in Lourdes would be fine for him. At any time.Not when he has a newborn and 3 other young children.

I grew up in a strict catholic family and very sad how the religious nonsens is more important than the welfare of a wife and children

Smilesinthesunshine · 24/07/2025 22:57

Jesus Christ what a selfish twat. I would castrate him with the rosary beads. Stop him sowing his selfish seed.

Rabbitrabbitrun · 24/07/2025 22:54

Jesus, I would be fucking livid. So livid in fact that I’d make it impossible for him to go.

nocoolnamesleft · 24/07/2025 22:53

Unless he has committed as a volunteer on one of the pilgrimages for disabled and disadvantaged children, some of whom would not be able to go if he pulled out, he is being rather unreasonable, and not very Christian.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 24/07/2025 22:53

NeedZzzzzssss · 24/07/2025 21:37

Surely a newborn is low maintenance and your 7 and 10 yo will help? You have 4 kids so you're hardly inexperienced. Can he shorten it to a week?

In what world is a 7 yo a net help rather than needing looking after? Or even a 10 yo?

Gosh my life should be a bed of roses, as my youngest is 11. It should be easier than if they weren’t there!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 24/07/2025 22:50

This is horrendous- I can’t believe what I’ve just read!

He’s being incredibly selfish and, as others have said, unchristian! How can he justify this to himself?

UnintentionalArcher · 24/07/2025 22:49

Praying4Peace · 24/07/2025 21:03

All about perspective. I agree that looking after 4 kids on your own for 2 weeks is hard but it has been done for much longer for a variety of reasons.
I appreciate that sounds insensitive but it's true

Yes of course, but that doesn’t make it ok. There are lots of examples of poor behaviour that could be minimised by highlighting other even worse behaviour, but this is still completely unacceptable.

OpheliaNightingale · 24/07/2025 22:44

DorothyStorm · 24/07/2025 21:47

this is not what a pilgrimage to Lourdes is. At all.

2 weeks is extreme.
Is it with the bishop?
op, an you hire help?

It’s abandonment nonetheless. The reason for the absence doesn’t matter in my opinion. It’s a non-essential trip and the timing is the worst. And I wouldn’t mind betting it’s to deliberately avoid looking after his wife, children, and newborn. Men like this are despicable.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 24/07/2025 22:36

I think he should shorten the trip and ensure you have a nanny while he's away.
And /or take the three big kids on the trip with him and leave you and your nanny or mum or friends at home with newborn

Or cancel if none of those compromises work

Brenda34 · 24/07/2025 22:34

How sad that your DH doesn't want to spend time with his own newborn baby and would actively prefer to go off on a trip without you all.
Is he usually such a fuckwit?

pinkfondu · 24/07/2025 22:34

And he would be happy the other way round?

mopping · 24/07/2025 22:31

WWJD? Seriously - tell him to put his family first and stay home till baby is at least 3 months old (then keep the trip to a week only). If he's disappointed, tell him he can offer his disappointment and suffering up for the souls in purgatory or something.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/07/2025 22:31

Crush his balls in the garlic crusher.

He deserves it, and that way there won't be a 5th baby.

Hellohowareyou112 · 24/07/2025 22:29

I’d hide his passport the day before…and I’m a Catholic 😂😂

FlayOtters · 24/07/2025 22:17

Praying4Peace · 24/07/2025 20:43

But if the pilgrimage means a lot to husband and it was preplanned, I think he should go.
Yes, very hard work for op but it is only 2 weeks

oh don't be so bloody ridiculous.

Imisscoffee2021 · 24/07/2025 22:16

Nothing would be more devoted than staying with the family he helped create, Lourdes will still be there but a freshly post partum wife left alone for twonweeks with three other kids ... that's the kind of thing that shakes the bedrock of a relationship. Is he expecting to come back and thinks be hunky dory?

usedtobeaylis · 24/07/2025 22:14

YANBU and this is what they mean when they say things change less for men than for women.

AnotherDayanotherNameChangeX · 24/07/2025 22:13

Two week pilgrimage my arse!

JLou08 · 24/07/2025 22:12

YANBU
If it's affordable I would tell DH to get holiday clubs sorted for the older ones.

99bottlesofkombucha · 24/07/2025 22:11

I would resent him for the rest of my life, and leave once it was feasible. Tell him god will be watching you if you go, and think I gave you a wife and 4 children and you’ve abandoned them when they need you, I have nothing else to give a man who doesn’t deserve my gifts, you Job. Expect your family to desert you because you haven’t been a father.

no more babies op, in case yiu use natural family planning!! Use something else since he might be the kind of asshole who won’t.