DH going to the gym on Christmas Day!

Wouldn’t be happy as you have a child and guests. If you didn’t it wouldn’t bother me

No, if he has a toddler, he doesn’t get to go on Christmas Day.

Can’t see the problem. Just wondering which gym is open on Christmas Day? Bit crap for the staff who celebrate it.

She's got a kid to look after, Christmas lunch to cook and parents to entertain.

Well, it's only 1.5 hrs but if him going to the gym messes other things up, then it's inconsiderate, agreed. But hey, I'll be out walking the dog for the same amount of time after the kids have opened presents and before we eat.

I guess it's about how his absence will impact you. I would be ok with it, subject to timings.

I was thinking exactly the same as mine shuts Christmas Eve x 3 days. We'll all be chomping at the bit to get it on the 27th! I'll make do with a couple of hours dog walk instead.

In which case I think he'll find he is not going, due to the childcare / cooking / PIL entertaining to be done

Not if he wants to enjoy 2026 anyway

Yeah, I do agree actually. It's a bit of a shitty thing to do unless he has cleared it with his wife/the mother of his child that it's OK. (As I said, I would have been OK with him getting out of the way for a bit.)

As you say, no woman would do this. She would be slated and berated by her husband's family if the shoe was on the other foot.

I wouldn't be happy mid morning, sure that's when you're in the height of things with cooking. Unless you eat later and not lunch time.

It'll be nice to for him coming back to his Christmas dinner 🙄

Then what’s the problem ?

To be honest, I would have welcomed the chance for DH to have fucked off somewhere for an hour and a half on Christmas morning (once the gifts are open,) as he was underfoot half the time, following me around, but not helping with anything!!!

Thing is @Wifetobe21 your DP's hour and a half will very likely stretch to much longer if he's with his mates and they can find a bar open!

What gym is it that is open Christmas day though? I have googled it, and I can't find any that are...

I think PureGym is usually open Christmas Day. Members get a code to enter so there are usually no staff there. They are open 24 hours. Just don't have an accident..... , unlike a leisure centre, they'll be nobody to do first aid, call an ambulance, do CPR.....

My gym is in a hotel and I used to go for a swim before family Christmas lunch ...it was bliss.

One of my DDs and I do parkrun every Christmas Day - takes us out of the house for about 2 hours on Christmas morning. My DH and other DD prefer a lie-in. It’s never been an issue.

Op isn't on her own, her parents are coming round

Personally, I'd be quite happy with toddler and my mum for company. It honestly wouldn't bother me if he went and was then around to help out with the rest of the day.

So is he expecting to return home to a lovely Christmas dinner, and happy child and guests, all done by you? Or will he have spent Christmas Eve peeling and prepping and been up at 6 to put the bird in the oven?

If you mean he gets to go and relax with his mates, while you do all the hard work of Christmas, then sod that for a game of soldiers!

I would like to see how many women would immediately think of going to the gym on Christmas Day with a 19 month old. IMO for 1 day he should be embracing tradition, assuming that’s the under standing and joint parent whilst hosting with you.

The fact he seems to think it’s ok to swan off tells you all you need to know. Complete lack of respect for you and your parents.

Perfectly reasonable if you also get 1.5 hours to leave the house and do something you enjoy on Christmas day

Our local gym is open 10-2 on Xmas day. I always go running or cycling on Xmas day as otherwise it’s boring as fuck, so I’m with your husband. If you're someone who works out regularly, you feel a bit crappy if you don’t - I’m a much nicer person after exercise so I get why he’d go. As long as you can have a couple of child free hours on your own at some point then I don’t see the issue.

Are you annoyed because he’s leaving you to do the grunt work or is this a sign of something serious, I.e., he isn’t able to miss even one day of his exercise regime?

I have a relative who has an exercise “addiction” (not sure what to call it, but it’s similar to an eating disorder where the sufferer has to exercise to burn calories). It’s quite disturbing.

Your DH is probably just hanging out with his mates, but if it’s a compulsion, that’s different.

Gosh, people are so ‘Lardy darrr, let him do what he pleases’

that’s okay, 99.99999% of the time - but id be miffed being left on my own for 1.5 hours on Christmas morning, that’s time to be cuddling up watching a film, or eating breakfast with Buck’s Fizz… not being left on your todd while he goes off. I’m on your side. You are NOT unreasonable!

I’d go if it was open but it’s not so I’m going for a 10k step walk instead.. on my own 🥰

Bit surprised it's open

I wouldn't be impressed if I worked there unless the overtime was spectacular

I'm planning on taking the dog for a walk on Christmas day - more for my own head space than the dog's heath. Is there any reason I shouldn't do this?