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AIBU?

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AIBU to feel annoyed my father blocks plan for Christmas abroad

167 replies

spanishsangria · 25/08/2026 19:26

I appreciate it's August, but it's a Christmas AIBU.

Every year for Christmas I travel up to Glasgow to be with my family. It's me, parents, and younger brother. For Christmas day we see grandparents for a while but they do their own thing.

DH and I have never spent Christmas together. His elderly mum lives in Cape Town. DH and her usually spend Christmas away somewhere warm, this year it's Mauritius.

I suggested to my parents and brother that maybe we could also go to Mauritius and rent our own villa for Christmas. My brother was very keen as he wanted to try a Christmas in the sun. My mother was also keen, but my father said absolutely not as he "is not leaving his family at Christmas" and he wants to "spend Christmas with family". I appreciate we have elderly relatives, but they are not infirm and my family see them multiple times a week. We can all afford it so money not the issue.

AIBU to be annoyed by this?

OP posts:
Hatty65 · 25/08/2026 19:40

I'd be going with my DH.

I can understand your Dad doesn't want to spent the money, time and travel to spend Christmas in Mauritius if it's not his sort of thing. I don't think I would.

But then he can't complain if you decide to go. I find it odd that you and your DH seem to have previously spent Christmas apart.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 25/08/2026 19:40

He is set in his ways. You don’t have to be, you’ve made the offer, it would be lovely to spend the Christmas away with your DH and MIL.

If you feel guilty, visit your family every second Christmas.

I hope your brother and mother decide to join you in the sun, set a new tradition.

Toucan123 · 25/08/2026 19:39

You're a grown adult and what your father wants to do for Christmas shouldn't have any bearing on whether or not you go abroad with your husband. No need for you to be annoyed with him for not wanting to go with you.

MelonSorbet · 25/08/2026 19:36

No way would I be going home to my family for Christmas if Christmas abroad with my partner was an option!

Tryagain26 · 25/08/2026 19:36

Why don't you and your husband go ? You don't have to do what your father wants.

Holeymoley28 · 25/08/2026 19:35

I don’t understand why you haven’t ever gone with your husband.

Nofeckingway · 25/08/2026 19:34

If he doesn't want to why should he change to suit you . Nobody forces you to go to Glasgow . Everyone can do whatever they want . Except the elderly grandparents . But you can see them before or after Xmas ?

PinkyFlamingo · 25/08/2026 19:33

Just go surely? I wouldn't want to spend Christmas abroad so you can't be angry at him.

bridgetreilly · 25/08/2026 19:30

YABU to think that your plans are in any way affected by theirs. Of course it’s fine for you to spend Christmas with your DH. Just do it?

thistimelastweek · 25/08/2026 19:30

You are being unreasonable.
His choice is for him to make.
Doesn't stop you from making a different choice.

Smartiepants79 · 25/08/2026 19:29

Go with your husband. Your brother can come along if he wants.

AnneLovesGilbert · 25/08/2026 19:29

Huh? Spend Christmas with your husband and MIL. You don’t need your parents to go with you. He doesn’t want to go abroad, I wouldn’t want Christmas away either, but he’s not stopping you from going anywhere you want to.

AbzMoz · 25/08/2026 19:29

Book to go with your husband. Make clear that your parents and brother are welcome along too. It’s their choice if they do or don’t. The only thing you can control is picking the Xmas you want.

AggroPotato · 25/08/2026 19:29

So just go...? I don't see the issue personally

Lulu1919 · 25/08/2026 19:29

Go with your husband and anyone else that does want to go - sounds lovely !

Cooshawn · 25/08/2026 19:28

Why are you annoyed? Him not wanting to go doesn't stop you going.

ACynicalDad · 25/08/2026 19:27

Go with him, you don’t have to go to your parents’.