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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want my husband to go to the wedding

335 replies

scb2021 · 10/03/2015 23:13

I am a SAHM to three children, age 3, 2 and 3 months (I know before you say it, mad!). Needless to say I'm finding it really hard going - I don't have any help and my husband works long hours. His (childless) friend is moving to the US to marry his American fiancee and has asked my husband - one of his oldest friends - to be a groomsman. The wedding will be in the US in July and my OH will have to go from Friday morning to Monday night. Basically, I think he should say no. I understand that he wants to go - he is saying that his friendship will suffer if he doesn't - but the only thing that keeps me going all week is the thought of having his help and support at the weekend, and I can't stand the thought of effectively having a 12 day stretch with no help. Behind my back, he asked his mother to come and spend the weekend with me 'incase I said yes' to him going to the wedding. I went mad and told him that all childcare arrangements should be discussed with me before being discussed with his mother. I know that they are old friends, but our children are so young and it is such hard work (the baby doesn't sleep through the night so we're both exhausted) that I feel like his commitment should be to me and the children. He says it's only one weekend and I'm being unfair. Any advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
derxa · 13/03/2015 10:49

Oh please let him go to the wedding

TheRealAmandaClarke · 13/03/2015 11:34

Yes, if he generally comes home most nights and doesnt live like a "single bloke" you should be grateful for the sacrifices he is alrady making.
Also, maybe you should pack for him and make sure his clothes are nicely ironed.

nequidnimis · 13/03/2015 13:15

I agree with you storm. It shouldn't be a competition of who is the hardest working, it sounds like they're both stressed and equally deserving of a break. Definitely OP's turn next time I reckon.

expatinscotland · 13/03/2015 13:57

The man's had three fucking holidays away on his own in the past year or so, but the poor lamb, toiling 14 hours a day in the pits, needs another one. And poor soul, all that flying to get to another party, it's a real sacrifice, not a lot of fun. Bless his cotton socks, being so thoughtful as to hit his mother up for money for the latest jolly and rope in some babysitting, too, never mind if the OP likes her or if the MIL is even the helpful sort.

All she needs to do is suck it up, magic up some money for temp nannies and then some more to swan off for her 'turn'. Problem solved.

Never understood how utterly stupid some people act over a wedding.

TendonQueen · 13/03/2015 15:18

So maybe he could wait until the OP has had two holidays away on her own before he goes on another himself? Just a thought. Hmm

nequidnimis · 13/03/2015 18:47

I think it depends whether OP has been invited to hen weekends and weddings really. If she has but turned them down, or her DH said she couldn't go, then I'd agree it's unfair.

If she hasn't been invited to any in the past year then I don't think she's being unfairly treated. You can't magic up a couple of weddings for the sake of fairness. Her turn will come I guess, when one of her old friends get married.

BathtimeFunkster · 13/03/2015 19:26

Why do wedding related events get some kind of special status?

They're just parties.

OP already said she would turn down a similar invitation because she doesn't think it's a reasonable use of precious family time or money.

I'm far more sociable than my DH. And my work involves travel.

If I wanted I could have excuses "opportunities" to be away from our children every weekend of the year and leave him alone to deal with everything.

But I don't.

DejaVuAllOverAgain · 13/03/2015 21:16

Why do people keep banging on about the mil? Maybe the OP doesn't want to spend the weekend with her mil. Personally Iwould have rather bungee jumped naked into a pit of rattlesnakes than spent the weekend with my ex mil.

nequidnimis · 13/03/2015 22:48

I disagree that seeing a friend get married is just a party.

Just because OP doesn't see the value in attending an event doesn't mean that everyone, including her DH, has to agree.

It isn't impacting family finances and if he takes the suggested couple of days leave beforehand in lieu of the weekend then it isn't impacting OP's free time either.

So I fail to see the problem, it all just sounds like petulance.

derxa · 15/03/2015 09:14

My DH says OP should get the MIL to babysit on the Saturday and go on a 'girls' night out'!

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