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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed about DP saying my brother has ruined our holiday?

311 replies

Lisatron · 01/06/2026 20:42

I'm currently away in Spain with DP, DD4, DS1 and my brother (22), I'm quite close to my brother and he comes over often when we're at home.

In the past he has struggled mentally, he's also T1 diabetic and while as a teen he ate alot of sugary things and didn't do his insulin and as a result he was very unwell. He's also got a habit of drinking too much which he can't do and he was once left by his ‘ friends’ when he had q hypo so I do worry about him lot, even though it's well managed he can make silly decisions especially when struggling.

Our mum mentioned to me before we left that he had been acting off again but he was saying he was “fine”, I hadn't noticed anything but I obviously kept it in mind.

We got here Saturday and it was already off to a bad start due to our flight being delayed, yesterday was good until last night when brother disappeared without saying where he was going. It turns out he was in a bar drinking on his own.

Long story short, he had a hypo and was argumentative when I was trying to help him, DP had our children with him and I was with my brother, he was eventually fine but I stayed with him in his room to keep an eye on him. He's spent the day in his room sleeping off his hangover

Dp wasn't pleased about me staying in his hotel room as the baby kept waking and he said “so much for a relaxing holidays” (as if we could get one with kids anyway) and was annoyed that he hasn't joined us so far after we paid for the holiday and has said it's like having another kid but instead we have a manchild acting like a moody teenager so tonight we've argued because he's annoyed that I'm obviously worried about my brother
he's now stormed out too after saying he's ruined the holiday

AIBU here or is he?

OP posts:
Wexone · 02/06/2026 08:50

You are not your brothers mother! You do not need to keep an eye on him nor worry about him. He is a grown adult and doesn't need his mother asking you to keep an eye on him either
What is with people these days not letting children be adults
I would be very p off like your husband on this holiday, annual leave is precious and holidays cost money, though i wouldn't have agreed your brother come in the 1st place. Yes your husband shouldn't be sulking but he doing that because you are not listening to him
Put your brother on a plane home, ignore your own mother and concentrating on parenting your own children instead and your relationship with your husband

PinkEasterbunny · 02/06/2026 08:48

AlternateLook · 02/06/2026 08:45

Your brother's being an unreasonable arsehole who's ruining other people's holidays. No wonder your hubby's in a bit of a mood. Why is the brother even on holiday with you in the first place?

This!

AlternateLook · 02/06/2026 08:45

Your brother's being an unreasonable arsehole who's ruining other people's holidays. No wonder your hubby's in a bit of a mood. Why is the brother even on holiday with you in the first place?

Mossey55 · 02/06/2026 08:43

Put the bro on the next flight home? Apologise to your husband then enjoy the rest of your holiday and don’t take the little bellend on any more of your family holidays

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 02/06/2026 08:43

OP, your brother has behaved dreadfully here, and you don't seem to want to acknowledge that. It is completely understandable that your DH is annoyed.

Your brother is not a teenager any more,, he is a 22 year old adult man who knows that he has T1 diabetes. He knows that he shouldn't be drinking to excess.

He is on a free holiday which you and your DH have generously invited him on, and instead of acting as if he is grateful, he has behaved appallingly. You say that he isn't an alcoholic, but if he doesn't have an addiction problem, then I can't imagine what would make anyone choose to behave so badly.

Of course your DH is upset and regretting the fact that you invited your brother. He has ruined the holiday because of hours selfish behaviour. And bizarrely, you don't seem able to see this.

I am not entirely sure how you're going to recover this one, as your brother clearly can't be trusted and your DH is naturally going to be upset. I'm guessing that he is also going to be quite angry with you for refusing to see why he is upset - you definitely need to apologise and so does your brother.

The only other comment that I would make is that you absolutely can't leave your very young children in the care of your brother at any point. He is clearly not mature or responsible enough to take care of anyone.

PuppyMonkey · 02/06/2026 08:40

You say in your OP your brother has a habit of drinking too much and then later that he hardly ever drinks. So which one of those statements is true?

Daleksatemyshed · 02/06/2026 08:38

sesquipedalian · 02/06/2026 07:51

“dp going off and sulking is ruining the holiday.”

OP, wake up and smell the coffee. Your DB going off and getting drunk is what has spoiled the holiday. You say, “in the past, he has struggled mentally”, he’s “got a habit of drinking too much which he can't do”, he “makes silly decisions”; your “mum mentioned to me before we left that he had been acting off again” and the first day of the holiday he goes off on a bender and has to stay in bed all day sleeping off his hangover. Your DP has quite rightly observed that “it’s like having another kid”, but in spite of all the above, you both think your DB is a suitable babysitter for your DC, so that the pair of you can have “time to yourselves”? Sorry, OP, but no matter how much your DC like their uncle, he simply doesn’t sound responsible enough to be left with your DC. And please don’t blame your partner for what is your brother’s fault.

I agree with every word. Your DH is sulking because his BIL ruined the start of your holiday and instead of apologising he's feeling sorry for himself, worse still you've taken your DB side.

Bikergran · 02/06/2026 08:37

I know T1 diabetic children who manage their condition excellently. Your brother is an idiot, and your DP is correct.

MoonWoman69 · 02/06/2026 08:36

Your husband has absolutely every right to sulk, I'd be absolutely fuming with the pair of you! You for enabling and pandering to a man child and your brother for being an out of control, selfish prick, who needs to grow the fuck up.
If I was your husband, I'd be leaving the pair of you to your weird relationship and going off somewhere else to enjoy the rest of my hard earned holiday, away from the drama you've blatantly created!
If your brother is so good with the kids and you clearly want to be with him more than your husband, then that's the best solution all round. A perfect, albeit weird little family holiday!

Magpiegrave · 02/06/2026 08:36

The best thing to do at this point is put DB on an early flight home so you can get on with the rest of your holiday.

Oncemorewithsome · 02/06/2026 08:30

I think an adult being self destructive and then needing additional care when you have small children to care for them would be very stressful and upsetting for anyone. I’m not saying you did the wrong thing to be with him but I think it’s totally fair for your DH to find it upsetting.

ijustlovecoffee · 02/06/2026 08:29

Theunamedcat · 02/06/2026 08:20

From your husbands POV his entire holiday has been ruined he wanted a built in babysitter and instead had to watch his own children while his wife looks after her brother

Im not sure what your options are OP the men in your life are determined to make your life misery your stuck between a rock and a hard place you couldn't realistically leave your brother alone last night now your getting stick from your husband and the children dropped on you solo as punishment

Moving forward I wouldn't be impressed with either of them

Her husband is bang on. He paid for the brother to go on holiday just for the brother to sulk and drink alone.

ijustlovecoffee · 02/06/2026 08:28

YABU. Why did you pay for an adults holiday?!

Chimen · 02/06/2026 08:27

Lisatron · 02/06/2026 00:13

Brother isn't an alcoholic. He very rarely drinks but sometimes he does want to when out with friends, I have no idea why he drank on his own yesterday.

I don't see the holiday as ruined, tomorrow is only our 3rd full day but dp going off and sulking is ruining the holiday.

Sorry but you too sound a bit like a dick. You should be apologetic too your DP. If I could afford it I would book the next flight back home for your DB. That should teach him.

You are enabling your DB and he will turn into a terrible person if you don’t stop. He is not a child, he is a young man.

Purplecatshopaholic · 02/06/2026 08:26

Duckiewasthefirstniceguy · 01/06/2026 20:46

Your brother is BU. As are you. He’s a poorly behaved adult and you’re enabling him. What is it you think your husband has done wrong here?

I feel sorry for your DH, I’d be pissed off too if it was me. Your brother needs to grow up and you need to stop enabling a grown man.

JayJayj · 02/06/2026 08:22

Your husband is probably “sulking” as you say, because you are defending your irresponsible, adult, brother instead of calling him out. You are on a family holiday and your brother CHOSE to do something he knows will make him ill. Does he simply enjoy the attention??

I would be really pissed off as well. At your brother for continuing to act like a child and you for enabling and defending him.

You need to apologise to your husband and tell your brother to grow up.

Goldengirl123 · 02/06/2026 08:22

Your husband is right.

Theunamedcat · 02/06/2026 08:20

From your husbands POV his entire holiday has been ruined he wanted a built in babysitter and instead had to watch his own children while his wife looks after her brother

Im not sure what your options are OP the men in your life are determined to make your life misery your stuck between a rock and a hard place you couldn't realistically leave your brother alone last night now your getting stick from your husband and the children dropped on you solo as punishment

Moving forward I wouldn't be impressed with either of them

Jackiepumpkinhead · 02/06/2026 08:11

You are being unreasonable. Your brother needs to grow up.

BudgetBuster · 02/06/2026 08:09

Lisatron · 02/06/2026 00:13

Brother isn't an alcoholic. He very rarely drinks but sometimes he does want to when out with friends, I have no idea why he drank on his own yesterday.

I don't see the holiday as ruined, tomorrow is only our 3rd full day but dp going off and sulking is ruining the holiday.

I don't see the holiday as ruined
Because you aren't the one who was left holding the fort with 2 small kids.

tomorrow is only our 3rd full day but dp going off and sulking is ruining the holiday.
Nope, your DP who paid / contributed to paying toward your asshole brother going on holiday to HELP you guys and instead DP ended up being the sole carer for 2 small kids when your idiot brother gor so drunk you had to go babysit him... YOUR DP IS WELL WITHIN HIS RIGHTS TO BE PISSED OFF

The cheek of you saying on here "as if you'd get a relaxing holiday with the kids anyway"... when you weren't even minding said kids. Honestly grow up.

The fact you and your Mother think a 22 year old needs constant babysitting is also a bit weird.

Larrythecatforpm · 02/06/2026 08:07

Chilly80 · 02/06/2026 08:05

Stop blaming your husband and enabling your brother.
Your brother and you owe your husband a big apology. Your brother needs to promise not to touch a single drop of alcohol the rest of the holiday.
No idea why you needed to sit with your brother while he slept off a hangover.
Your husband and children should be your priority.

Hypos while drunk are very dangerous to diabetics thats why she had to stay with him, theres a chance he won’t treat it and die.

Larrythecatforpm · 02/06/2026 08:06

Understand why you need to stay with him, hypos while drunk are seriously dangerous but your dh is right. Your brothers acting like a naughty teenage boy.

Chilly80 · 02/06/2026 08:05

Lisatron · 02/06/2026 00:13

Brother isn't an alcoholic. He very rarely drinks but sometimes he does want to when out with friends, I have no idea why he drank on his own yesterday.

I don't see the holiday as ruined, tomorrow is only our 3rd full day but dp going off and sulking is ruining the holiday.

Stop blaming your husband and enabling your brother.
Your brother and you owe your husband a big apology. Your brother needs to promise not to touch a single drop of alcohol the rest of the holiday.
No idea why you needed to sit with your brother while he slept off a hangover.
Your husband and children should be your priority.

Amiacoolorwarmcolour · 02/06/2026 08:02

If I was your dp I’d be annoyed too.
Make plans with your dh and your db can either join you or do his own thing.

S89 · 02/06/2026 07:54

Yeah, I'm with your husband/ partner on this one, I'd be really pissed off.