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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want a free ticket to a ball?

50 replies

Housemum · 13/11/2013 19:18

DH has a job where corporate entertainment is a part of it. He has been asked to go to a charity ball as some other couple dropped out - he asked if I wanted to go and I said I didn't want to (I'm going out for the day with DD2 the following morning and I know it will be a pretty long day so I thought that would be the end of it)
Apparently no one else is available to go, and I have to go as it would be bad form otherwise - I did suggest he could just say that I'm ill (we live miles away so no one will be any the wiser). The whole thought of squeezing myself into a dress that doesn't fit fills me with dread (can't afford to buy a new one so have to find one from a work do many years back when I had an office job) and he knows that I do not go to these events as I hate making small talk and being surrounded by people who are more glamorous/thin/well off than me. Also, DD2 is excited by her day out on the following day and will be a nightmare for a babysitter to get to bed so I will spend my time worrying that she will be a tired ratbag the next day. I just do not want to go and DH is in a total foul mood saying that it is really bad form as these tickets have been paid for an an empty space looks bad - I never said I wanted to go or that I would go!

But IABU I am sure as it is free except for paying for raffle tickets so come on and heap the guilt on even more...

OP posts:
hermioneweasley · 13/11/2013 20:15

MyLovely, she feels very alient in corporate life, her work is in a very different space. She hates small talk. Doesn't see why my work should impinge on her time.

I will let you know the next one! I've just had 2 in the past month so might be quiet fr a bit. TBH I have a better time if I'm not worrying about whether she's enjoying herself (which she woukdn't be)

Housemum · 13/11/2013 20:23

Can't cancel the day out, it's only on that day and I would lose the respect I've been working on getting from her if I can cancel a reward (yes she should be punished if she plays up but that would be too harsh)

OP posts:
Preciousbane · 13/11/2013 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Housemum · 13/11/2013 21:35

Did think of that, but it's nearly 2 hours away, dinner at 8. Can't imagine (assuming speeches) that the dining part will be finished much before 10 so leaving early means getting in at near midnight.

OP posts:
Housemum · 13/11/2013 21:36

I have gone to these events before even though DH knows I hate them, it's just the combination of fancy dress and timing that means I REALLY don't want to go to this.

OP posts:
DontmindifIdo · 13/11/2013 21:39

Your DD will be fine and the sitter will be fine. The dress will be fine, the bit that won't is: being surrounded by people who are more glamorous/thin/well off than me and lack of time to psyched myself up for it - you are worried about yourself on the night, the rest is excuse making because you don't want to say you're scared.

Look, your DH loves you, there might be more glamorous, thin, better off people in the room, but you know what, you don't need them to think you're great, the only person in teh room who's opinion matters are your own and your DH's. He won't see this as an issue because to him it's not an issue.

This is a self confidence thing, and needing time to prepare for something that scares you. You can do it, it'll be fine. go on the understanding you can leave early, DH drive back so you can sleep in the car. it won't be as terrifying as you think - and not all the other woman will be thin, glamorous and rich, and even if they are, so what?! They won't be judging you. Only you will be judging you.

The more you run away from these situations, the harder you'll find them, it's your confidence that's the problem, not the lack of notice, or the day out or your DD's behaviour for a sitter, or the lack of dress (although that could help your confidence), it's that you are nervious. But it'll be fine, worse case situation, it'll be dull. Best, it'll be a fun night out with your DH. But it won't be people being rude to you and making you feel bad. Go, you might be really glad you did. and there might be more fat frumps than glamorous skinny minnies

Financeprincess · 13/11/2013 21:57

In your position, I'd go. Not because it's a free posh dinner but because your DH really wants to go. I'd move heaven and earth to do this for my DH if it was important to him.

TheCraicDealer · 13/11/2013 22:05

I thought from the title that this was one of those threads written by a fictional character, in this case Cinderella. Disappointed.

Mylovelyboy · 13/11/2013 22:13

Corporate events dont have to be dull. Small talk, work talk etc etc. If you are just yourself and don't be serious you can have a real scream. You don't have to be all serious and sensible at these do's. I know, I worked in the City. People actually prefer it if you loosen up and have a good old giggle. You dont have to talk business all night. These corporate 'types' are human and would rather people having a good old knees up. That's what do's are all about. Corporate or Private.

webwiz · 13/11/2013 22:19

I'll go - what's not to like, dress up, free dinner and a whole new audience for my sparkling wit Smile

Financeprincess · 13/11/2013 22:22

You are funny.

Ahole · 13/11/2013 22:24

I feel a bit bad for him.

My dh doesn't like small talk either and often doesn't come to parties and things with me and it does make me a bit sad to see all the others with partners with them.

I would like him to meet people i am friends with or work with. It would be nice for me, but he gets out of it whenever he can. It means in a group of female friends we had everyone got to know the husbands except mine! The husbands all got quite friendly except mine!

And then of course he didn't want to go to stuff because he didn't want to make small talk, but if he had gone before then he'd have got to know them and small talk would no longer be necessary.

Its irritating and lonely being with someone anti social sometimes.

pianodoodle · 13/11/2013 22:38

I have gone to these events before even though DH knows I hate them, it's just the combination of fancy dress and timing that means I REALLY don't want to go to this.

That sounds reasonable enough to me. You go to things some of the time, so it isn't like you always refuse.

It's short notice, you have plans the next day and chances are you'll end up being later home than you think. You'll feel uncomfortable not being in fancy dress is everyone else is,..and you really don't want to go.

Don't go :)

Mylovelyboy · 13/11/2013 22:43

Thing is this. Once everyone has said their polite hellos. After a few glasses of champers or whatever, the mood then lightens. I have been to loads of corporate do's and have always had a good time. I think If you go there thinking you have to be all stuffy and serious then it will be dull. You dont have to be all 'corporate and serious' People like people that are fun and quite frankly act the giddy goat and have a laugh. Not saying you should be rolling round the floor paraletic. Think of it as a party and not harp on the word 'corporate' which sounds stuffy and is actually not. My old directors were a right old scream. Luckily not stuffy at all and they were 'proper posh'.

Nanny0gg · 13/11/2013 22:48

Think of it as a party

Dunno about the OP, but I hate those too.

No reason you have to go OP, I'd refuse if I were in your shoes too.

Financeprincess · 13/11/2013 22:52

I really want you to go, and I don't even know you or your DH! Go! Make it fun! You could do that game where you find lookalikes in the room. Every event has at least one Jesus and a Queen mum.

whois · 13/11/2013 22:52

I think you're being unsupportive and a bit dramatic.

It wouldn't kill you to help your DH out and go with him.

Staying up till midnight before a day out with your child? Don't get the problem.

Making small talk? Cheer up you might find you get in with some people.

If you go to these kind of things with a positive attitude it's amazing how much fun you can have!

Mylovelyboy · 13/11/2013 23:00

You can have so much fun OP. Just turn up in a fun mood and dont be serious about it all. Its a work do at the end of the day. Have a couple of drinks before you go to loosen up. You will be whizzing round that dance floor before you know it. Might meet some nice wives who actually dont really want to be there either and you can have a laugh together. You might be suprised.

Mylovelyboy · 13/11/2013 23:01

Finance that is such a great game. We play that on the tube Grin

ImagineJL · 13/11/2013 23:01

OP I'd hate it too, and I wouldn't go.

ImagineJL · 13/11/2013 23:02

And 4 hours travelling for something you don't want to go to. No way.

Mylovelyboy · 13/11/2013 23:10

OK final post after re-reading again and again. I think this is making OP miserable, all this pressure by him. I think she should let this one go. She obviously is not feeling all that great about herself at the moment. But in future maybe try and make an effort. And the husband needs to give more notice. Good luck OP x

OldRoan · 13/11/2013 23:11

Where is it? I'll go with him, I love a bit of a fancy dress. And I promise not to run away with him and lead him into a secret life of flash parties and free flowing champagne.

DP's works events do not have +1s. I never know if I am meant to be disappointed or relieved!

ukatlast · 13/11/2013 23:15

YABU - your DH has asked you to attend - maybe as 'moral support' for him, you could attend, your child is 10 years old. You are merely making excuses it seems to me.

ravenAK · 13/11/2013 23:31

She doesn't have to make excuses, though, ukatlast. She doesn't work for her dh, or his employers.

She has no obligation to waste an evening on some ghastly corporate dullfest just because her dh has failed to dodge an 'invitation'!

It would be generous of her to agree to help him out by accompanying him, but she's in no way obliged to if it's inconvenient & doesn't fit in with her other plans.

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