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AIBU?

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AIBU to think stepson's holiday questions were tone deaf and unkind?

139 replies

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:17

Hi all, my husband and I have 2 children, both teenagers, my husband is French and he has 2 sons from his first marriage. His son’s mother is Italian and one of his sons dates someone else who is both French and Italian.
Today his son and gf visited, and they’ve really pissed me off.

We can’t afford to travel right now, we will spend a few weeks in France later in August staying with family but our children have only ever been to France and the UK (where we live).

Step son and his gf on the other hand have obviously been to Italy too, and travelled far and wide. They are just back from a week in Germany, they are going to Florence and Ischia soon and South America in the winter.

Step son asked today where were taking the kids on holiday and when I said well just to see family, he asked if they’d been to Italy I said no they’ve only been to France, he and his girlfriend continued listing countries to which I kept saying no like I said only France but then I’d get WHAT NOT EVEN SPAIN, in a shocked tone.
Our teen overheard this and has since asked why her brother travelled more when he was young than she has.
It has made me feel really crap tbh, AIBU thinking this was unnecessary, tone deaf and a bit cruel?
Should I get DH to say something?

OP posts:
ImmortalSnowman · 20/07/2026 19:10

Olink · 20/07/2026 19:01

I didn’t list everywhere they have been, but his gf has been to many places including North Africa, South America, Middle East, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Panama and step son has done many of these too.
So they are very well travelled, even compared to the average French or Italian 29 year old.

To how many of those places did his father take him?

Duckiewasthefirstniceguy · 20/07/2026 19:10

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:33

DH and his first wife divorced, his wife wanted to move back to Italy with the children, he wanted to move to the uk for a job opportunity, it resulted in big arguments and eventually he agreed just for peace as any court order would have kept them both in France which neither of them wanted.

Wow. He chose a job opportunity and ‘keeping the peace’ over seeing his children? And you married and had kids with this man?

user8695940 · 20/07/2026 19:09

Olink · 20/07/2026 19:01

I didn’t list everywhere they have been, but his gf has been to many places including North Africa, South America, Middle East, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Panama and step son has done many of these too.
So they are very well travelled, even compared to the average French or Italian 29 year old.

Do you seriously begrudge your stepson and his gf their travels?

Cailin66 · 20/07/2026 19:09

Olink · 20/07/2026 19:01

I didn’t list everywhere they have been, but his gf has been to many places including North Africa, South America, Middle East, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Panama and step son has done many of these too.
So they are very well travelled, even compared to the average French or Italian 29 year old.

I fail to see the relevance of the GF ? Many wealthy people haven’t been to many of the places you listed there.

I’ve been to two on that list. And have zero interest in going to Russia, Australia or China!

Olink · 20/07/2026 19:01

Cailin66 · 20/07/2026 18:57

A duel French Italian plus British who lives on the continent has been to some places in Italy and France. Plus Germany, possibly Spain. There’s nothing out of the ordinary day in that. Because it’s so easy to get from one to the other.

It’s certainly nothing exotic. They probably have relations or friends to stay with.

I didn’t list everywhere they have been, but his gf has been to many places including North Africa, South America, Middle East, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Panama and step son has done many of these too.
So they are very well travelled, even compared to the average French or Italian 29 year old.

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Scout2016 · 20/07/2026 18:58

I imagine your step son would probably have swapped his holiday in Spain for having his father in his life.

As for your DC, you tell them the truth - they haven't travelled abroad much because you couldn't afford it.

ChiefCookandBottlewasher7 · 20/07/2026 18:57

Surely you do not begrudge your SS his travelling opportunities vis-a-vis your children since your SS was dumped by his dad in favour of a UK job, and your dc have something this poor ss never had - a live-in proper dad and a full family.

Cailin66 · 20/07/2026 18:57

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:27

He is 29, maybe I didn’t word my post well.

A duel French Italian plus British who lives on the continent has been to some places in Italy and France. Plus Germany, possibly Spain. There’s nothing out of the ordinary day in that. Because it’s so easy to get from one to the other.

It’s certainly nothing exotic. They probably have relations or friends to stay with.

Thundertoast · 20/07/2026 18:49

You actually had children with a man who didnt have contact with his children for a few years because they lived in a different country?

  1. Phones exist
  2. Planes exist
  3. He must have had money to pay for flights and accommodation to visit given he managed to find the money to have more children?!?
Pearlstillsinging · 20/07/2026 18:46

Surely it's obvious- the GPs and extended family are in France, so holidays are spent visiting them, funnily enough - in France!

ImmortalSnowman · 20/07/2026 18:46

Tell your 15 yo Daddy didn't love his sons enough to be in their lives and by the time SS was your age, Daddy already had a shining new family so he got to travel the world instead.

hollyhocks2 · 20/07/2026 18:44

How did you answer your teen? Maybe tricky when put on the spot but you could explain that we live on an island whereas ‘on the continent’ it’s easier, cheaper and more usual to travel to different countries. Even if the stepsons grew up in the UK presumably their mother had an influence on their travel experiences.

You could say every family is different, different priorities, spends money differently, and some people don’t go abroad until they’re adults. You could say that there are so many great places to explore in the UK and it can be more environmentally friendly.

It sounds like you have taken the stepson’s comments as a personal criticism? He and his partner do sound unaware of different attitudes to travel, holiday and budgets, but presumably they are quite young, are not parents etc. You can rise above it and also make sure your teen knows there are experiences she has had that her brothers might not have had.

user8695940 · 20/07/2026 18:42

OneSparklyGoat · 20/07/2026 18:42

Can you fathom how difficult it would be to see your father who abandoned you raising two other children?

Let it go.

Yeah, seriously this.

OneSparklyGoat · 20/07/2026 18:42

Can you fathom how difficult it would be to see your father who abandoned you raising two other children?

Let it go.

BudgetBuster · 20/07/2026 18:42

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:33

DH and his first wife divorced, his wife wanted to move back to Italy with the children, he wanted to move to the uk for a job opportunity, it resulted in big arguments and eventually he agreed just for peace as any court order would have kept them both in France which neither of them wanted.

He'd rather years of not seeing his kids than living in France?

Re your post - I don't think you really need to so anything. The kids have different lifestyles... it doesn't need to be a big deal. Clearly they aren't very close sibling wise if the SS doesn't even know that the teens usually only holiday in France.

Tableforjoan · 20/07/2026 18:41

Oh well the dh is shit. He picked a job and peace over his children then had a second family he stuck with.

I wouldn’t put it past the older ones to be deliberately winding you guys up then. Pointing out the few things they did get in comparison to your teens.

Poor form to not even go visit his children. What made you fall in love with a deadbeat?

MouldEight · 20/07/2026 18:39

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:33

DH and his first wife divorced, his wife wanted to move back to Italy with the children, he wanted to move to the uk for a job opportunity, it resulted in big arguments and eventually he agreed just for peace as any court order would have kept them both in France which neither of them wanted.

He stopped seeing his kids to keep the peace?? Fucking hell.

TheStateOfThat · 20/07/2026 18:37

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:33

DH and his first wife divorced, his wife wanted to move back to Italy with the children, he wanted to move to the uk for a job opportunity, it resulted in big arguments and eventually he agreed just for peace as any court order would have kept them both in France which neither of them wanted.

So he just didn’t see his children. He chose a job opportunity over his kids. The ex sounds as bad. Why didn’t he go and see them?

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:33

Tableforjoan · 20/07/2026 18:31

Why did he have no contact. Maybe things are not as recovered as they seem.

DH and his first wife divorced, his wife wanted to move back to Italy with the children, he wanted to move to the uk for a job opportunity, it resulted in big arguments and eventually he agreed just for peace as any court order would have kept them both in France which neither of them wanted.

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TheStateOfThat · 20/07/2026 18:32

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:24

Step son isn’t a teenager, he’s 29, DH and I have 2 teens who are 13 and 15, but for a few years DH had no contact with his older sons, so they weren’t around when our children were very small.

Maybe step son did it on purpose as he is resentful of your husband not seeing them for a few years so is stirring the pot.

Tableforjoan · 20/07/2026 18:31

Why did he have no contact. Maybe things are not as recovered as they seem.

blubberyboo · 20/07/2026 18:30

If your step son doesnt already know that his half siblings are not well travelled then they cant be that close. Which presumably means he has had the life opportunity of travel but not of being close to his family.

YABU for not being frank and honest and saying that child rearing and child support which I assume DH was paying meant luxuries must wait.
You should also be straight with your own child about money and expectations. If they want travel to feature then conversations about jobs and prospects /working hard at school to make that happen

Pollqueen · 20/07/2026 18:29

bridgetreilly · 20/07/2026 18:26

Teenage boy doesn’t realise that not everyone’s lives are the same SHOCKER.

Just ignore and move on.

This, surely

Bonkers1966 · 20/07/2026 18:27

29 ain't as mature as it used to be. 🙄

Olink · 20/07/2026 18:27

bridgetreilly · 20/07/2026 18:26

Teenage boy doesn’t realise that not everyone’s lives are the same SHOCKER.

Just ignore and move on.

He is 29, maybe I didn’t word my post well.

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