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Husband threatening divorce over a holiday.

383 replies

KiggiCalli · 12/05/2026 14:53

I would like to take my daughter to Africa on holiday. For context, I am Black British and my husband is white. He does not like long-haul flights and is refusing to agree to the trip. His view is that because I visited South Africa four years ago, there is no need for us to travel to Africa again, and that we should choose a closer destination such as Europe instead.
My daughter, who is of mixed African heritage, has never been to Africa and is devastated that she is not being allowed to go.

My husband is threatening to divorce me, should I go ahead and book the holiday?

OP posts:
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SpiritAdder · 18/05/2026 11:51

That’s really controlling of him to refuse on the basis of long haul to go himself or try to forbid you and your daughter from going to Africa when he is perfectly fine with Vietnam.

North Africa isn’t even long haul so there’s several safe countries within just as long as flight as to Greece or Turkey.

Threatening divorce is not ok. I’d personally call his bluff and book for myself and DD to go.

Sandrine1982 · 17/05/2026 20:37

He doesn't like long haul flights but suggested Vietnam? Price wise the flights to Vietnam are also much more expensive than many African countries now. For comparison, direct return flights from London:

  • Hanoi £1,500pp (13h)
  • nairobi £650- 800pp (9h)
  • Kigali £850 pp (9h)
  • Sal (cape verde) £700 pp (6h)
  • Lagos £790 pp (6.5h)
  • banjul, gambia £790 pp (6.5h)
  • accra, £900 pp (6.5h)

and so on....

JHound · 17/05/2026 18:03

BruFord · 17/05/2026 15:53

I’m now fairly sure that this post is a wind-up.
The OP posted three times on the first day and nothing since.

Agreed. The way OP talked about Africa also doesn’t sound like either she or her daughter have African heritage.

BruFord · 17/05/2026 15:53

I’m now fairly sure that this post is a wind-up.
The OP posted three times on the first day and nothing since.

JHound · 17/05/2026 15:48

SquashedSquashess · 17/05/2026 07:53

You being black and your husband being white is a bit of a red herring and not really relevant, because you’re not proposing visiting the country your ancestors are from, so heritage and personal culture don’t come into this discussion. It’s ultimately a debate about holiday destinations.

It’s a bit like if your husband used being white British as a justification for wanting to go to Italy, I think we’d all roll our eyes and think that was a weird justification. Like Europe, Africa is not a monolithic continent, it contains a wide range of cultures and societies.

I agree with others it’s immature of your husband to threaten to divorce, but this boils down to you needing to agree a holiday destination and shouldn’t really be such a drama.

You being black and your husband being white is a bit of a red herring and not really relevant, because you’re not proposing visiting the country your ancestors are from, so heritage and personal culture don’t come into this discussion. It’s ultimately a debate about holiday destinations.

This. It’s really irrelevant as OP said she is not planning to visit the country her heritage is from. So really it’s just a debate about holiday destinations. Although OP has vanished so who knows…

JHound · 17/05/2026 15:43

Flutterby87 · 17/05/2026 06:08

Being British caribbean a lot of us feel a deep cultural connection with Africa, after all our families were stolen from there and forced into slavery so there's going to be some part of history and lineage that's unknown but ours anyway. I want to see where my ancestors came from from. We shouldn't have to justify that. It's weird to me that people keep saying she doesnt come from Africa, well she's a displaced African by desent let's not ignore slavery.

My concern is your husband doesnt want your Dd making any sort of cultural connection to Africa and in part wants to deny her blackness. Thats the conversation. If he's happy to go to Vietnam long haul which is the same distance then it's the country and what that represents to you and your DD that he's wanting to avoid.

Have you suggested visiting the Caribbean and seeing what his reaction is?

Edited

She hasn’t said she is Caribbean. Her posts imply her background is from an African country, not the Caribbean.

JHound · 17/05/2026 15:42

Flutterby87 · 17/05/2026 05:47

I've not seen the term coloured since the 90's and found it very jarring to read. You might want to brush up on how to reference people that are mixed heritage or black. Coloured aint it......

She is using it in relation to South Africa where it is a recognised way of referring to people of mixed ethnicity.h

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-67505674

JHound · 17/05/2026 15:37

Pumpkinpie1 · 16/05/2026 11:47

I think you are both being unreasonable. Why can’t you find a compromise, Vietnam is very beautiful and you have been to Africa not long ago. It’s not like you are wanting to take your daughter to visit her family….
To divorce over holiday destinations sounds incredibly immature of the both of you.

Vietnam is long haul and Africa is a continent not a country.

UhOhRatPoo · 17/05/2026 14:51

This makes zero sense. If his biggest objection to you going on the trip without him is that he “believes families should travel together” then why does he think that permanently breaking up your family is a serious option that he would be willing to see through?

This is not about a holiday. At best he is a stupid drama queen, at worst a horrible controlling man. You need marriage counselling not a travel agent.

Changeiscoming1111 · 17/05/2026 11:53

Do the trip. He is welcome to go on the holiday too. And if he is threatening divorce over going to South Africa once every 4 years then he will divorce you over something else anyway. Sounds like you should consider divorce yourself!

bitterbuddhist · 17/05/2026 09:59

Is he a secret Reform voter, OP?

Wot23 · 17/05/2026 09:11

this cannot be a genuine post
someone is claiming a divorce will occur because a married couple cannot agree on a holiday. Come off it.

catipuss · 17/05/2026 08:08

Did you tell your daughter you were taking her to Africa before you had agreed it with your DH? So she is now disappointed that your DH doesn't want to go or for the two of you to go. That sounds a bit like controlling too. Is he worried about a woman and a girl travelling to Africa alone? There are certainly places that are dangerous, would you be going on a guided tour with other people or solo travelling? Or going to relatives?

Threatening divorce sounds a bit OTT, but some things are two yesses or one no in joint decisions between partners and I'm not sure he is being particularly unreasonable. Could you wait until your DD is a bit older and more able to look after herself?

I travelled quite a bit for work usually with colleagues and there were certainly times I was glad there were men in the party, in some third world countries, women are not always treated with respect. Obviously this wouldn't apply if you know the country well and are with relatives there.

SquashedSquashess · 17/05/2026 07:53

You being black and your husband being white is a bit of a red herring and not really relevant, because you’re not proposing visiting the country your ancestors are from, so heritage and personal culture don’t come into this discussion. It’s ultimately a debate about holiday destinations.

It’s a bit like if your husband used being white British as a justification for wanting to go to Italy, I think we’d all roll our eyes and think that was a weird justification. Like Europe, Africa is not a monolithic continent, it contains a wide range of cultures and societies.

I agree with others it’s immature of your husband to threaten to divorce, but this boils down to you needing to agree a holiday destination and shouldn’t really be such a drama.

Wingingit73 · 17/05/2026 07:00

What are he thoughts against africa. Tbh it isn't very politically stable and the world is a bit of a mess. If it is really just because he doesnt fancy it he should just bow out. I dont think we have all the info.

loislovesstewie · 17/05/2026 06:46

As I understood it the OP is African, but wants to visit a country other than the one she is from.

Flutterby87 · 17/05/2026 06:08

Pumpkinpie1 · 16/05/2026 11:47

I think you are both being unreasonable. Why can’t you find a compromise, Vietnam is very beautiful and you have been to Africa not long ago. It’s not like you are wanting to take your daughter to visit her family….
To divorce over holiday destinations sounds incredibly immature of the both of you.

Being British caribbean a lot of us feel a deep cultural connection with Africa, after all our families were stolen from there and forced into slavery so there's going to be some part of history and lineage that's unknown but ours anyway. I want to see where my ancestors came from from. We shouldn't have to justify that. It's weird to me that people keep saying she doesnt come from Africa, well she's a displaced African by desent let's not ignore slavery.

My concern is your husband doesnt want your Dd making any sort of cultural connection to Africa and in part wants to deny her blackness. Thats the conversation. If he's happy to go to Vietnam long haul which is the same distance then it's the country and what that represents to you and your DD that he's wanting to avoid.

Have you suggested visiting the Caribbean and seeing what his reaction is?

Flutterby87 · 17/05/2026 05:47

emilysquest · 12/05/2026 15:49

"it's one of the most dangerous countries on earth - particularly if you're white". No it is not, black and coloured people in SA are at much greater risk of violence. That statement smacks very much of the racist "white genocide" nonsense that Elon Musk likes to spout. Don't do that.

To the OP's point, I wanted to take my son to SA over Xmas to see his grandparents and to visit the country for the first time. DH did not want to go (he used to be South African but has an antipathy towards the country, for complicated psychological reasons which I am not going to go into now). I booked the tickets and went with my son. We had a great time. If he had told me he was going to divorce me I would have told him to get lost.

I've not seen the term coloured since the 90's and found it very jarring to read. You might want to brush up on how to reference people that are mixed heritage or black. Coloured aint it......

Trillie · 16/05/2026 22:19

I think you need to sit down and have a reasonable discussion about this. He clearly feels very strongly about this and it sounds like there’s something at the root of it. You’ve been married a long time, it worth having one conversation where you listen to each other.

Susied25 · 16/05/2026 20:49

KiggiCalli · 12/05/2026 14:53

I would like to take my daughter to Africa on holiday. For context, I am Black British and my husband is white. He does not like long-haul flights and is refusing to agree to the trip. His view is that because I visited South Africa four years ago, there is no need for us to travel to Africa again, and that we should choose a closer destination such as Europe instead.
My daughter, who is of mixed African heritage, has never been to Africa and is devastated that she is not being allowed to go.

My husband is threatening to divorce me, should I go ahead and book the holiday?

Just because you’re married it does not mean you have to do everything together. You are still two separate people with your own likes and dislikes. If he doesn’t want to go because he doesn’t like long haul flights I would be supportive of that issue for him and just say ok, that’s is fine you don’t have to go but I want to go with our child so she can get to know her heritage and have the holiday. You’re welcome but don’t feel pressured into going
. then the ball is in his court and he can make the decision he is comfortable with and not say he was forced or pressured into it and end up miserable on the holiday anyway
if he is that petty that he wants to divorce seriously over you going then you’re lucky to get rid of him as he should not be stopping you doing anything you’re wanting to do- especially when it doesn’t impact him negatively at all

Lauramfjones · 16/05/2026 20:13

Haven't read the whole thread but having gotten back from Kenya (Diani / Galu) this morning having had the most wonderful time i'm dipping my oar in. I can so see if you were black / mixed race what a special place it would be to go to. To be in a majority black spaces, surrounded by black families, relaxing and enjoying themselves by the sea would be next level experience.

Don't fully understand why husband has had such an extreme reaction, very odd. What's he worried about?

Pherian · 16/05/2026 18:22

KiggiCalli · 12/05/2026 14:53

I would like to take my daughter to Africa on holiday. For context, I am Black British and my husband is white. He does not like long-haul flights and is refusing to agree to the trip. His view is that because I visited South Africa four years ago, there is no need for us to travel to Africa again, and that we should choose a closer destination such as Europe instead.
My daughter, who is of mixed African heritage, has never been to Africa and is devastated that she is not being allowed to go.

My husband is threatening to divorce me, should I go ahead and book the holiday?

I’d tell him that the divorce sounds reasonable given that he’s using it to control you. It’s ok if he does by want to go, but threatening you to control you with divorce is low. Right now it’s this holiday - then what ? I would call his bluff.

Pumpkinpie1 · 16/05/2026 11:47

I think you are both being unreasonable. Why can’t you find a compromise, Vietnam is very beautiful and you have been to Africa not long ago. It’s not like you are wanting to take your daughter to visit her family….
To divorce over holiday destinations sounds incredibly immature of the both of you.

SparklyLeader · 15/05/2026 18:40

@hoxtonbabe Are you 13 years old? Because if not, my post does not relate to you.

JHound · 15/05/2026 14:22

MummyMaryUK · 15/05/2026 10:23

Definitely more to this story than the Op is letting on.

There are many parts of it that make zero sense to me.

And OP has decided to not return so….