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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to cook a full foreign Christmas spread for people I’ve only met once?

660 replies

KatieBenoiteee · 02/11/2025 20:13

My partner is from another country. His only relative in this country is a cousin who lives with her partner and his brother. In the 3 years we’ve been together I only met her once as she always cancelled meet-ups last minute.

We did meet a few weeks ago, the partner and brother came with and we all went out. They were pleasant enough but spoke their own language a lot (which is understandable but at times I was excluded) and the cousin’s partner made a condescending comment about my job.

My partner has now invited them all to ours for Christmas dinner and I’m dreading it. We’re trying to save for a house and I had already declined to go to my family for Christmas to take away pressure of buying presents etc and I thought we’d have a cosy day. I’ve never cooked a Christmas dinner before so I was going to order some sort of M&S package which has all the necessary ingredients with trimmings etc and was going to bung that in the oven and maybe make a pudding. I had a nice image of us having a cosy day together and watching films etc.

Now he’s invited them he’s expecting me to put on a whole spread of their traditional Christmas dishes. I don’t have a bloody clue where to start and can’t find any English recipes. I’ll also have to make up sleeping areas for them etc etc. I’ve only got Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day off and it will be constant work. I’ve got visions of me slaving away in the kitchen whilst they are all eating (and probably criticising the inevitably crap food between themselves) and getting drunk. I will be completely lost cooking their food, it will be several different dishes he is expecting and I will be overwhelmed. Not to mention I’m 5 weeks pregnant so might be feeling tired etc by Christmas.

AIBU to tell them no and we either visit them or we have Christmas just us? He says I’m being miserable but he has absolutely no intention of helping with cooking as it hates it. In his country they are quite traditional and they will all show up to the house expecting me to have cooked and I’m feeling a lot of pressure. His argument is we’ve had a British Christmas every year at my parents which is fair enough and I’m completely supportive if he wants a Christmas eating his own culture etc, and I’d be delighted to join. But I can’t be expected to do the bloody cooking for it

OP posts:
PinkArt · 02/11/2025 20:47

KatieBenoiteee · 02/11/2025 20:25

It was arranged when we all went out together the other week. As we were parting they all switched to own language and I zoned out for a bit and checked my phone. In car on the way home he said “By the way, I’ve invited them for Christmas”

And he sounds yet worse again. Quite a feat considering he sounded like a total asshole in your OP.
Line in the sand time. No, you won't be cooking specific meals from his country on Christmas day. You will eat them if he cooks them. No, he won't be inviting people to your home for Christmas again, deliberately using a language you don't speak, without full discussion with you first. Decide if you're happy for them to come if he does all the work, but make it clear that you don't expect to be pushed out by language in your own home. So, maybe yes they are welcome now he's invited them but no you won't be prepping the guest rooms, obviously he will be doing that for his guests.
Make it crystal clear what you will accept here and what you won't. If you're on Threads look out for the 'Sherlocked' posts, full of women finally pushing back after years of 'so I'll just have to do X' from shit husbands expectations. Join them.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 02/11/2025 20:46

I must admit, my heart sank when I read you were pregnant.

It's out of order for anyone to invite others for Christmas without first discussing it with the rest of the household. For that, your boyfriend is a prick.

As for him expecting you not only to host in this scenario, but to cook food that you've never cooked before, and don't know much, if anything about, as it's literally foreign to you, well, that just shows you what an utter selfish, sexist, horrible man this is.

He's moody, sulky, treating you like a live in maid. Nah, I know you're pregnant, but I'd be off to my parents for Christmas and re-evaluating this relationship.

You'll be better raising this baby alone, rather than raise it with this selfish, misogynist of a man.

Cakeandcardio · 02/11/2025 20:46

Buggeroffalo · 02/11/2025 20:17

I think you go to your family and leave him to it. If he wants to be the benevolent host then he can do the graft that goes with it. See who's miserable then. Honestly what a prick.

Nailed it

Soonenough · 02/11/2025 20:46

Tell him you will host them but they have to bring the food. You don't know how to make traditional food from a country that is not your own . Or he can do it . You neither have the time nor inclination .

justasking111 · 02/11/2025 20:45

Buggeroffalo · 02/11/2025 20:17

I think you go to your family and leave him to it. If he wants to be the benevolent host then he can do the graft that goes with it. See who's miserable then. Honestly what a prick.

Absolutely go to your mother's for Christmas. Tell him calmly he's on his own over this stupid idea.

LivingTheDreamish · 02/11/2025 20:45

He is being completely out of order. I would be willing to have them for Boxing Day and make an attempt to cook their food, and would even practice it in advance (get his mum to send you some simple recipes?). But this would have to be in an atmosphere of feeling included and taken care of, not excluded and taken advantage of. If he won't budge from his plans, then I agree you should go solo to your family for Christmas and leave him to it. And have a very serious chat about things in the the New Year. Would your folks be supportive if you did that?

softstone · 02/11/2025 20:45

What would he say if you tell him he invited them so he cooks for them? Or are you too scared of him to say that?

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 02/11/2025 20:44

Buggeroffalo · 02/11/2025 20:17

I think you go to your family and leave him to it. If he wants to be the benevolent host then he can do the graft that goes with it. See who's miserable then. Honestly what a prick.

100%

Go to your family
His response to that will be very telling. Is he supportive and understanding? Or will he be a total arsehole about it?

He says I’m being miserable but he has absolutely no intention of helping with cooking as it hates it. In his country they are quite traditional

I'd also be very very seriously questioning if you want a child with a man.
At 5 weeks you are barely pregnant...

CurlewKate · 02/11/2025 20:44

Call his cousin. Tell her what’s happened. If she’s a nice person she’ll understand and you can make a plan together. If she isn’t a nice person, then say to your DP that you can’t and won’t do it and your’re going to your parents. And stick to your guns.

MadisonMarieParksValetta · 02/11/2025 20:43

He sounds like a right prick. You sure you want a baby with a prick?

I'd pack a bag and go to my family. I'd return when his family have fucked off. Infact, I wouldn't return at all.

BellissimoGecko · 02/11/2025 20:43

ElizabethVonArnim · 02/11/2025 20:41

If you’re all in with this man and want the life that is unfolding before you, and don’t plan to chuck him over this, then invite your own family too. You shouldn’t be on the outside at Christmas, and your mum or dad can help you with the cooking, so you can have convivial times in the kitchen. As neither of you will have cooked their traditional dishes, the normal boss/sous chef hierarchy won’t be in place in the cooking and you can just have fun with it and muddle through together.

You’re not wrong to be upset with him over this, but on the other hand, you’re a few years down the line and having a baby together. Only you can know whether this is a big enough deal to follow the LTB advice, and if it’s not, then make the day your own and find ways to have fun with it.

Why the FUCK should her parents have to cook unfamiliar dishes for this tosser, when they have already hosted him for a few Christmases?????? Are you insane?

Eenameenadeeka · 02/11/2025 20:42

You're not unreasonable. If he wants to host guests, he needs to cook. Especially since it's food you don't know how to make. It's fine to want to have his traditions (he should actually ask before inviting guest though!) but if he wants it that way, he can't just expect you to be the one to make it happen.

Yessiricanboogieallnightlong · 02/11/2025 20:42

KatieBenoiteee · 02/11/2025 20:19

It just doesn’t seem fair that I’ve been roped into this but he’s got me over a barrel because he’s had a British Christmas with my parents the last few years and thinks it’s time we had a traditional Christmas for him which is fair enough. But then I’m having to do the cooking, I don’t know where to start.

I will feel like a hired caterer (a very crap, incompetent one)

Edited

Fair enough it’s his turn but he organises not you. Otherwise you get takeaways. Is he a Christian in his culture? Is there a tradition of celebrating it. If so you could ask cousin to bring traditional stuff as you don’t know what it entails

AutumnClouds · 02/11/2025 20:42

Why is it just a given that you will ‘have to’ cook for them? He sounds like a bully, I’d be planning your exit.

5foot5 · 02/11/2025 20:42

KatieBenoiteee · 02/11/2025 20:33

I was already nervous enough to cook a Christmas dinner for the 2 of us but there wasn’t much pressure to that. If I’d have buggered it up oh well, we’d laugh about it and order a pizza. But now it’s going to be so much pressure

Why are you talking as though it is a done deal? Have you not read the responses on here?

If he wants his traditional food for Christmas he cooks it. He prepares for and cleans up after guests and ensured you are not excluded

Or better still, you have a serious think about this man and whether you really want the sort of life you will probably have if you stay with him.

DressOrSkirt · 02/11/2025 20:42

KatieBenoiteee · 02/11/2025 20:19

It just doesn’t seem fair that I’ve been roped into this but he’s got me over a barrel because he’s had a British Christmas with my parents the last few years and thinks it’s time we had a traditional Christmas for him which is fair enough. But then I’m having to do the cooking, I don’t know where to start.

I will feel like a hired caterer (a very crap, incompetent one)

Edited

You are not "over a barrel" unless he cooked you all that British Christmas food (which I know he didn't).

Just don't do it.

Mapletree1985 · 02/11/2025 20:41

What makes him think that you, a person with zero experience of cooking food from his culture, will be able to successfully re-create the Christmas dinners of his childhood?

He is deliberately setting you up for failure. Worst case scenario: you'll slave away for three or four days to make all these dishes, and when everyone sits down to eat they'll complain the food doesn't taste right.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 02/11/2025 20:41

KatieBenoiteee · 02/11/2025 20:19

It just doesn’t seem fair that I’ve been roped into this but he’s got me over a barrel because he’s had a British Christmas with my parents the last few years and thinks it’s time we had a traditional Christmas for him which is fair enough. But then I’m having to do the cooking, I don’t know where to start.

I will feel like a hired caterer (a very crap, incompetent one)

Edited

His traditions, his Christmas, his cooking, surely? It's not as if he had to cook for your parents! Lay a marker down now, OP, it will only get harder if you let this precedent be set now.

ElizabethVonArnim · 02/11/2025 20:41

If you’re all in with this man and want the life that is unfolding before you, and don’t plan to chuck him over this, then invite your own family too. You shouldn’t be on the outside at Christmas, and your mum or dad can help you with the cooking, so you can have convivial times in the kitchen. As neither of you will have cooked their traditional dishes, the normal boss/sous chef hierarchy won’t be in place in the cooking and you can just have fun with it and muddle through together.

You’re not wrong to be upset with him over this, but on the other hand, you’re a few years down the line and having a baby together. Only you can know whether this is a big enough deal to follow the LTB advice, and if it’s not, then make the day your own and find ways to have fun with it.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 02/11/2025 20:41

KatieBenoiteee · 02/11/2025 20:33

I was already nervous enough to cook a Christmas dinner for the 2 of us but there wasn’t much pressure to that. If I’d have buggered it up oh well, we’d laugh about it and order a pizza. But now it’s going to be so much pressure

BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO COOK.

He could cook. He just doesn’t want to.

You don’t want to cook either, and that is absolutely fine.

Take a leaf out of his book and either dump the job on to someone else, or stick with your original plan of buying some stuff in.

BobbieTables · 02/11/2025 20:40

I don't understand why you are accepting the premise that it is you who has to cook when it's him who has invited people over.
Why are you doing this? Are you happy to submit to out dated gender roles? Will you be happy with this approach going forward? Do you know what his expectations are for when you have the baby?
You need to really think hard about what you want from life and have some serious conversations with him. I think Christmas is the least of your worries.

Dammila · 02/11/2025 20:39

I'm married to an Italian and would never ever attempt to single handedly make an Italian Christmas meal for extended family, not even after 20 years together and. 12 years in Italy. Not my idea of fun! If he wants that he can go to his mum's house. Stick to your m&s plan and tell him that's what he's getting and if he has another menu idea, he can cook.

EsmeArcher · 02/11/2025 20:39

I’m sorry but I can’t be bothered to read all of the background! He cooks what he wants. You cook what you feel able to do.
If that’s not acceptable, then he’s a twat.

cestlavielife · 02/11/2025 20:38

If he wants his childhood dishes he needs to cook them
Just say fab idea darling i ll leave you to it

Or maybe you do half and half what you know what he knows

When did you agree to be the sole cook?

Glowingup · 02/11/2025 20:38

You sound very young. Leave this cunt. He’s showing you what a misogynistic arsehole he is and I can guarantee you can do better and within months you will be like wtf was I thinking.