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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To stop DP going on lads holiday???

368 replies

MummytobeDC2 · 01/05/2013 12:49

DP and I are in our twenties, and I am 13+5 pregnant, due in November. His friends have decided to book a weeks holiday end of August, start of Sept... DP asked if I would mind him going and I said yes as il be 7months gone I have DS to previous relationship so will need the help and money etc... He got upset etc and made me feel exceptionally guilty. So me being me said he should go for a long weekend and come home before his friends, stay 3nights, that way we are both happy! His mother advised us "he should go as it will be his last" and he keeps repeating that now complaining after agreeing to the long weekend he wants to go for the week!

First of all I will be 7months, I have DS I need help with and the money would benefit the baby, flights and accommodation are costing £300 and spending money, well, at least 2weeks wages! We are far from flush!

AIBUR????

Please tell me I'm not insane? Shock

OP posts:
Fairylea · 03/05/2013 07:20

Personally I think it's selfish. Money is tight - the money should be family money, I don't see why he can spend 300 on himself unless you can too without the family struggling - and why can't he have a family break with you and ds??

I split up with my ex over similar things.

My dh wouldn't even consider going on a lads holiday. He'd probably say why would he want to go on holiday without me!

Ledkr · 03/05/2013 07:36

There is a massive difference between a "lads holiday" cringe.
And a golfing weekend or other activity holiday.
Have any of you actually seen guys on these type of holiday because I have (my son reps 18-30) and it really isn't anything I'd want my dh joining in with. I'd not stop him but he'd not be who I thought he was.
I also don't agree with posters suggesting the ops ds is not the responsibility of her dp.
I had severe spd when pg with dh's child therefore he had to take on a lot of responsibility for my existing children because had I not been pregnant I'd not have had.

FiftyShadesofGreyMatter · 03/05/2013 07:39

You all missed my point. I do not imagine for a moment that op has that sort of money readily available, if she did she would have no need of this thread.

The point being that in an equal relationship op's partner would not be expecting that he could do this without agreeing that she could too!

LaQueen · 03/05/2013 08:20

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DontmindifIdo · 03/05/2013 08:48

I actually think, reading more OP, your problem is you have mothered your DP for far too long - you have managed the finances and dealt with bills, so he's always been able to see his money and his time as his to do with as he pleases and has never had to think like a grown up about it - I know several woman like this, and it was completely fine, right up to the point they had DCs and suddenly were surprised these men had no idea what the financial implications of dropping to one wage would be, because they'd never had to worry about the figures.

He can see he has the money, that you might need it to be spent on something else makes sense to you because you are used to being aware what bills are there and what the family outgoings are - but you have allowed him to opt out of the side of being a grown up that involves budgetting for bills, not just for fun things. You've also been fine with him having lads holidays without you having girls trips away, so he's never had to think if this was selfish.

time ot sit down, not just talk about the trip away, but set the bugets for the next year with 2 DCs, get him to do it, ask him to look at all the numbers, what's going out, what's coming in, how you'll cope when you drop to SMP, then when you drop to nothing, or will you have to go back to work then. Get him to have all the passwords and do a spreadsheet. If you can only afford this by going back to work a month earlier, have you asked him if he thinks it's fair that he puts his short term desire to go away above the need of his about to be born DC to have an extra month with you at home. Make him also look at the costs of childcare, what your budgets will be when you go back to work, how much less you'll have coming in and roughly what the extra costs will be.

I would also knock on the head the idea he can never have a lads holiday again after you've had DCs, but this year and probably next year might be unaffordable, but after that, there's no reason why affordable trips can't be continued - it's a case of working out what's affordable, and he might have to push the other "lads" towards a cheaper trip.

But most importantly, stop mothering him, stop letting him opt out of the grown up conversations, then being surprised he doesn't act like a grown up when you want him to.

seriouscakeeater · 03/05/2013 08:51

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DontmindifIdo · 03/05/2013 08:52

oh, and he needs to see that he should give you equal time - you might not want or be able to afford a trip away for a whole week, but regular saturdays where he takes both DCs out for hte day or you just go off and do your own thing without a moment's worry or guilt wil have to become regular occurances to make it seem 'fairer' when he gets time off in a block.

BIWI · 03/05/2013 08:57

I know, Chaos Grin

How stupid of me to post something I thought was helpful!

CherylTrole · 03/05/2013 09:02

Leavenheath I totally agree with you! These threads just show how much some women will do anything to please their husbands. The word doormat sadly comes to mind.
Thing is I think that some people will get into a load of debt because they really want their holidays. Selfish perhaps?
The equality in marriage/relationship should come naturally. You shouldnt have to manipulate everything. Your partner should always think of you, if you have to point things out/ make him think of you its no good.

seriouscakeeater · 03/05/2013 09:08

cheryl I agree it really shocks me! It's now been suggested that op has a few hours off on a Saturday so it seems fairer when he fucks of on holiday?? Wtf? How about sorting family holiday out first then piss arsing about with lads trips away!

DontmindifIdo · 03/05/2013 09:15

Searious - my point was, you can equal time off throughout the year, and even if one person doesn't want to do a week away, that doesn't mean they can't split their share of the 'time off' to lots of little chunks, rather than saying they never get a break.

My DH goes away alot with his sport, and while he's fine for me to do something similar, most of my female friends either can't afford a trip away or are married to the sort of arse that does'nt think you should do separate holidays/weekends away. The compromise is I get lots of days when DH will have DS and just wave me off, over the year he probably gets more time overall than me, but that fact I don't have a sport I want to go off doing or opportunties to go on 'girls holidays' doesn't mean he shouldn't get his trips.

But most importantly, the OP has seemed to be annoyed he wants to go away, whilst also saying she controls the money so he might not genuinely realise what he's asking for financially. You can't say you want someone to be an equal partner when it suits you if you don't treat them as an equal partner the rest of the time.

CherylTrole · 03/05/2013 09:16

Haa what is it with spa dayz and keeping your man happy no matter what?????? Waiting for the book to come out 1001 ways to hold onto your man Confused

DontmindifIdo · 03/05/2013 09:25

Cheryl - because most of the successful marriages are based on both sides trying to make sure the other one is happy and working out between them how to make that happen. One person acting like the grown up saying "yes" or "no" and not giving them a say in any decision making process, and the other one being like a sulky teenager who's trying to get away with as much as possible tends to not work long term, or at least not be happy.

The op has said it's not financially possible, but she holds the purse strings, and just thinks she should inform him and that be it, not actually sit down and do the numbers and get him to work out for himself what would have to be sacrified for this. But most of all, she's also mixing up the not wanting him to have the time away with the costs. It's not good enough for one side to say "we can't afford X" without letting the other one be involved in the money side to make the decision.

It's also not fair to say "I don't want you to go away for a week so even if we could afford it you can't" while also saying her DP would never let her have the time off, but not having a conversation with him about if he would be ok with that, or at least breaking it into 2-3 weekends if a full week isn't going to be an option because of holiday allowance issues etc. She's just said "that would never happen" without having the converstaion with him about fair time off/away each.

It's the martyr/parenting your partner, then being annoyed at them for not having the same plans/views as you that's just silly.

seriouscakeeater · 03/05/2013 09:38

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MummytobeDC2 · 03/05/2013 09:41

Lol serious people just don't get it BlushGrin

OP posts:
Iggi101 · 03/05/2013 09:41

I would have liked a week off from being pregnant.
Some things can't be totted up and made fair. I think carrying someone's baby gives you a lot of extra "credit" to be honest. No point pretending days off/holidays ever make it fair.
(Obviously some people sail through pregnancy continuing their hobbies of sky-diving and pole-dancing, but I don't personally know anyone like that).

olgaga · 03/05/2013 10:46

I think someone who's about to become a father shouldn't have to be told to consider priorities and look at the finances.

If he's been away three times in the past year that sounds like a reasonable last hurrah to me.

He's being completely selfish, but even more worrying, it sounds as though he's trying to act as though nothing of any importance is on the horizon.

I'd be dismayed at his attitude - and the MIL's - if I were the OP. He'd certainly be going down in my estimation, perhaps irreparably.

I think you need to make it clear to him that he needs to man up now - he's about to become a father. His priority is the welfare of the child you will have together, not living it large with his friends.

DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper · 03/05/2013 11:00

Absolutely loving 'repetitive twirlers'. Just wonderful. Grin

And, yes... The. Same. Old. Names.

diddl · 03/05/2013 11:02

They are about to have a baby together-that's some commitment-why shouldn't he take OPs word that they can't afford it?

Has he got so little idea of the money that's available that she might be lying??

Ledkr · 03/05/2013 11:59

To the old gimmers.
Did your dh's go on massive piss up pulling holidays though?
As I said. Big difference between that and having a break doing a sport or relaxing.

Chunderella · 03/05/2013 12:05

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DontmindifIdo · 03/05/2013 12:49

OP - really the crux of your problem comes from this you said: although due to me being better with money I hold both cards to ensure payment of bills on time and I do all food shops etc I also earn more than my DP

you treat him finanically like a child, and you the parent. While most men who are able to become a parent would think can they afford it - most men are involved in the financial planning for their own family as it is. He's used to looking what's in his bank acount and working out if he can afford what he wants from that - you keep control so he doesn't think about what the bills are each month, so hasn't thought about how that will effect your lifestyle when your money drops to SMP etc. Your friends and family might not understand why he doesn't get it, but then they are assuming he's involved in your finances like most couples are.

Rather than getting shouting and just saying 'no' - this could be a good time to actually start treating him like your equal. Holding onto the cards so the bills get paid is just accepting you should treat him like a child - you seem to have reinforced it's ok for him to be crap with money, not address it - and now suddenly you want him to be understanding about your financial position and act like an equal.

The timing is a different issue - if you could afford it, I would said go for it but on the understanding if closer to the date you are struggling, he agrees to pull out of going, but the finances is more of a problem. You're having a DC together, you can't manage with him having to be looked after so the bills will be paid.

AnyFucker · 03/05/2013 13:03

This old gimmer has a husband who goes on golfing breaks

I go on breaks with my friends, not golfing

He didn't do it when the kids were small though, he prioritised his money and time in their direction and not on something that benefited only him and inconvenienced other people

And neither did I

Leavenheath · 03/05/2013 13:12

Really!!

Can we stop regarding this man as a complete dunderhead who is blissfully unaware that maternity leave and a new baby might bring the family budget under strain?

Lots of couples arrange it so that one organises the finances. But that doesn't immediately dispossess the other one of their maths and financial acumen, FGS.

I find these posts about benign wives winning battles but losing wars profoundly irritating but also revealing. The smugness is astonishing and as usual they have an unwritten byline:

My marriage is great because I understand what men want

Yet these same people confess they enjoy their husbands' breaks away because they get to do what they want, when they want.

What sort of marriage is it when you can't/won't do what you want, when you want when your husbands are at home then?

Why the fuck do you behave differently when he's at home?

Is it that you get to drop the stepford routine for a few days and it's a blessed relief? Wink

Ledkr · 03/05/2013 13:16

AF You aren't an old gimmer. Why I do believe we are the same age
Grin