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Original poster

Things my DH has found to do while we are trying to leave for Christmas

234 replies

Bluebells81 · 22/12/2025 12:40

6hr car journey to PiL today. Thought it would be good to leave in morning. Stop for lunch etc So got everyone packed and ready yesterday, or so I thought...

So far DH has filled the morning with:

  1. Buying special fuel for garden tool.
  2. Filling said tool with fuel on allotment.
  3. Buying Xmas present for child that I could have bought yesterday if I'd known he hadn't done this.
  4. Vacuuming (he never vacuums under normal circumstances)
  5. Winding DCs up with playfighting to the point that everyone got sent to separate rooms.
  6. Buying (separate shopping trip) extra food for pet and present for next door neighbour.
  7. washing and drying a load of laundry.

I can't even pack the car because he keeps using it for his errands.

There is no end in sight to this sudden domesticity. Nearly 1pm... still a 6hr journey ahead.

OP posts:
DrMickhead · 22/12/2025 13:26

MrMickhead has to deal with this shit from me. Im a bloody nuisance.

clinellwipe · 22/12/2025 13:23

My husband has ADHD and he always does this, drives me mad

lalaloopyhead · 22/12/2025 13:13

Good grief - you must have the patience of a Saint, I really couldn't cope with that!
Did you agree on a time to leave? What does he say when you say 'We were supposed to be leaving at 9.30am, why are you doing that??' I would have lost my cool at the first chore started let alone any further down this list....
At this point I would be saying 'If we don't leave in the next 15 minutes I am not going at all'

Bournetilly · 22/12/2025 13:11

YANBU he’s clearly stalling and doesn’t want to go. Was it his choice to go there?

wombat1a · 22/12/2025 13:07

Dunno about this one, for a 6 hr journey i'd either leave at around 4am or 8pm, certainly wouldn't drive in the middle of the day.

gamerchick · 22/12/2025 13:03

chipsticksmammy · 22/12/2025 12:59

I am told again and again ‘Don’t rush me’. This is code for DH delaying and delaying so he doesn’t have to use a public toilet on the journey.

I go sit in the car with the kids.

We left 1 hour and 15 minutes after we should have the other day. I blamed his bowel movements as soon as we arrived. I’m sick of being late due to his behaviour.

I understand bowel anxiety and long journeys. That's what imodiim is for though.

Screamingabdabz · 22/12/2025 13:03

I agree you sound passive - I would’ve bitten his head off with sheer impatience by now. What an absolute irritating numpty. Makes me so glad I’m married to a grown up.

Pineapplewaves · 22/12/2025 13:01

I’d leave him to it then tell him it’s too late to go now so you’ll be leaving at 8 am tomorrow morning instead.

Mylovelygreendress · 22/12/2025 13:00

LVhandbagsatdawn · 22/12/2025 12:56

Didn't you agree a time to leave? Why don't you just get the children in the car and go?

Pretty sure the OP will say she doesn’t drive.

chipsticksmammy · 22/12/2025 12:59

I am told again and again ‘Don’t rush me’. This is code for DH delaying and delaying so he doesn’t have to use a public toilet on the journey.

I go sit in the car with the kids.

We left 1 hour and 15 minutes after we should have the other day. I blamed his bowel movements as soon as we arrived. I’m sick of being late due to his behaviour.

LadyKenya · 22/12/2025 12:57

It does not sound like he really wants to go, does he? Unless he is always like this when going away, and if that is the case, then that is obviously just the way he operates.

gamerchick · 22/12/2025 12:57

JingleMyBellsChristmasSmells · 22/12/2025 12:50

Oh no! I think I would have thrown the 'special fuel at him'!
Absolutely not on but you sound very passive about all this. What actually stopped you getting the kids coats on, suitcases in the car and just basically being ready to go?
You do have to take some responsibility here, do you drive? I would have set off without him tbh🤷‍♀️

Because he keeps fucking off with the car?

LVhandbagsatdawn · 22/12/2025 12:56

Didn't you agree a time to leave? Why don't you just get the children in the car and go?

Wingedharpy · 22/12/2025 12:56

I have a tendency to do this too - because I know the journey will be hellish so put off setting off for as long as possible.
I know it makes no sense to delay it, but.......
The difference between me and your DH though is I'm not holding anyone else up.

gamerchick · 22/12/2025 12:56

Does he not want to go?

Tell him to stop fucking around and cancel on his parents if he's that bothered and stay home.

Or get your jarmies on and tell him he can go by himself. It'll put a rocket up his arse.

TheNightingalesStarling · 22/12/2025 12:54

O feel sorry for your PILs here... they've been busy preparing for guests but silly stuff is more important

Beamur · 22/12/2025 12:53

Oh dear. I sympathise because I suspect I am a bit like this.
I have a need to finish things off before going away and leave the house clean and tidy. My DH has commented that he's never known someone take so long to leave the house.
Hope you have a safe journey and a nice Christmas (when you get there)

Sartre · 22/12/2025 12:53

My DH does this so often DC and I joke about it with one another saying things like “well it is time to go but first we’ll wait for Dad to make his coffee, do his hour long poo, complete a James Joyce novel, tackle world poverty…”

I think he does it every time we need to go anywhere to be honest. It’s got so bad I have to start coercing him to leave an hour early. Sometimes I have been really tempted to drive off without him. No advice really, just know that I feel your pain.

ShawnaMacallister · 22/12/2025 12:52

Go tomorrow. Staying with ILs as early as the 22nd is madness anyway, surely cutting it by a day is better for all?! Is it an unconscious act on his part to delay arrival? Any backstory?!

MYOB12 · 22/12/2025 12:50

Put your feet up with a glass of wine! I wouldn’t be going at all now.

JingleMyBellsChristmasSmells · 22/12/2025 12:50

Oh no! I think I would have thrown the 'special fuel at him'!
Absolutely not on but you sound very passive about all this. What actually stopped you getting the kids coats on, suitcases in the car and just basically being ready to go?
You do have to take some responsibility here, do you drive? I would have set off without him tbh🤷‍♀️

ChristmasHug · 22/12/2025 12:50

Did you agree a time to leave?

I'm terrible for suddenly feeling the need to clean the fridge when we're going way or a couple of days but I'd still be ready on tie.

Everleigh13 · 22/12/2025 12:50

How bizarre. Are PIL expecting you for dinner?

Rosealea · 22/12/2025 12:49

My hubby does this too 😂

Magpiecomplex · 22/12/2025 12:49

Mine memorably decided to clean all the windows the day we went on holiday, one year. You have my sympathy, OP.

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