DH going to the gym on Christmas Day!

In Scotland some of the chains open. The OPs husband is going to a gym in a hotel chain

I think it’s fine unless you have kids who will want dad around on Xmas day

Is it an independent gym?

The chains are shut for sure

Is it an independent gym?

The chains are shut for sure

90 minutes, she's going to be a 'lone' parent for 90 minutes with HER parents on christmas day. Ffs what planet are some people even on?
There'll be millions of peeps on their phones for the majority of christmas day and boxing day while with their family who will be doing the same thing.
Sadly for most peeps, christmas isn't like the movies or bloody tv ads where eveyone is happy and engaged with each other. It's not real life.
No wonder the divorce rate picks up in january, a lot of people are forced into the 'got to be jolly and have fun' with people they don't spend a lot of time with and might not even like.
So glad I don't celebrate this fake fun.

Do tell us what's on your mind.
Bingo card ready, affair, controlling, [hates] inlaws or relaxing [from the pile on of christmas].🤔

They have one child

The OP is going out for 90 minutes. He's not going out all day. How is this spending time with friends over their kids?

Exactly this!

I go to the gym 4 times a week.
On the days I don’t go I do some other form of exercise.

But I would never choose to see friends over my kids on Xmas day.

Why can’t the kids go out for some fresh air and exercise too.

Oh jeez 🙄

Just stop.

You’re being intentionally obtuse and now playing the victim.

Of course there’s something wrong with someone who calls spending 1 day with their kids claustrophobic.
As I said you were raised thinking that’s normal and so it’s not all your fault.

Most parents would not choose to spend time with their friends on xmas day over their kids.
You obviously do which I think is a bit sad but as you say we’re all different.

Why is it always assumed that women do all of the cooking?

Sounds great to me. Why would that be an issue?

It's 90 mins, it's not long, can you not just accept that's what he wants to do? Perhaps he can take over for you to have a 90 min break too! A stroll is lovely on Xmas day.

I used to take the family dog out for a 3hr walk in the morning, then a drive in the afternoon to the Pier in B'ton then go for another walk on the pier if weather was ok.

Where does it say she won't have the same opportunity?

No most don't as its a very unhealthy, co dependent way of living.

Loads of us will be on MN on Christmas day reading about other people's problems while our kids watch crap tv. That is the reality of faaamily time.

The fact that he is going to the gym isn't the problem. Op being told ( not asked) he is going with friends and leaving her as the default parent and she does not have the same opportunity is. This just all leads to resentment and contempt. Do these gym friends have small children?

Fine, if every one else can do the same. Perhaps Mum can do the same while DH gets on with cooking the dinner.

The OP said that he was going reluctantly. I personally don't understand why it has to be so black and white? Going to the gym means you are putting your family second?

Do people have to spend every minute of the festive season together if they are married and have kids

and how would you feel if YOU wanted to go to the gym and your husband was annoyed with you? Controlling or claustrophobic much?

Do you honestly believe that after doing whatever preparations and Christmas activities with the kids you've chosen to do, spending 1 hour outside means you don't put your family first? -and that women belong in the kitchen apparently-

really?

It just boggles my mind that so many people can't imagine spending any time to themselves just because it happens to be December 25th!

Why does taking 90 minutes for yourself mean you're not putting family first? Do the other 14 hours he'll be spending at home with his family suddenly become irrelevant because he's popped to the gym?

It is a special day. I would be annoyed if my husband chose to go to the gym instead of putting the family first.

Assuming he's working full time like most people, surely it makes MORE sense to grab a couple of hours when you are on annual leave than trying to squeeze everything around work/ kids/ life on a normal working day?

Why would you not make the most of Christmas day when you are off work?

Toddlers have to have a routine for eating and sleeping (mine got into meltdown because DH had something more important to do Christmas day ) Plus you have other family members there.

You know what really annoys me? On these threads always about the MAN going out to exercise and be active while MUM just wants to stay home in her kitchen all day.

Meanwhile in the real world, people (men and women) meet to go for their traditional Christmas wild swimming, their Christmas day run, they meet at the gym, they just have a normal life.

But MN is straight from the 50s apparently, where wifey expects her husband to stay meekly on the sofa and cheer her impressive gravy-from-scratch skills. It's very depressing.