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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

57 replies

AuntieDiluvial · 01/04/2016 09:19

50th birthday today.

Dh gave me a paperback about the making of Dads' Army. The same book he sent FIL for his birthday last week.

Then went very quiet when I laughed at the April Fools joke I assumed he was playing on me. Then left for work.

And I'm supposed to be cheerful and jolly for everyone else, about an event that does not thrill me in the least.

OP posts:
AuntieDiluvial · 01/04/2016 10:32

Also 100% agree on not spending our money on tat.

I would just like to feel a bit special.

OP posts:
janethegirl2 · 01/04/2016 10:39

I'd sooner go to a local pub than pizza express. However dh would never take me to pizza express so it'd never be an issue.

Hullygully · 01/04/2016 10:42

That is an extraordinarily underwhelming gift.

grannytomine · 01/04/2016 10:45

Reminds me of the year my husband said he was taking me out for a meal for my birthday. He couldn't understand why I wasn't happy when we arrived at his favourite fish and chips shop. Formica tables, strip lights and the local youths messing about. It wasn't quite the birthday treat I had pictured.

You have my sympathy, are men really so useless or is it deliberate?

Hirosleaftunnel · 01/04/2016 10:45

Can you go out for a lovely lunch or tea with friends today or tomorrow? And I would go out at lunch and buy yourself something low let that you have wanted for a while. Like a new outfit or piece of jewellery. Oh and maybe go and get your hair done too and buy yourself some lovely flowers. If no one else is going to spoil you then DIY. That's what I do and it always makes me feel better. Happy Birthday OP! Flowers Cake Wine

APlaceOnTheCouch · 01/04/2016 10:48

Happy birthday!
If you can afford it and you don't want to organise your own party, can you delegate it to someone else eg a friend or sibling? Or use the party money to book a weekend away with a friend?

Don't let your DH's thoughtlessness and cheapness spoil your day. If he doesn't step up by bringing home a better gift then I would take great delight in telling everyone that he bought you a Dad's Army book that he also bought his dad. Sometimes thoughtless people only realise how awful they are being when it's reflected back at them in the reaction of others.

CakeNinja · 01/04/2016 10:49

How disappointing.
Most people don't want 'a fuss' on their birthdays, that doesn't mean they wouldn't appreciate a thoughtful card/present/special breakfast made etc.
What he has done is just put no thought in.
Id be upset with the lack of thought.
And I'd be gutted at pizza express! It's a crappy chain 'italian' that I would take the DC to before or after the cinema - speedy, cheap, no atmosphere.
Don't get me wrong, it's inoffensive and does a job, but really not special.

extralemonylemoncake · 01/04/2016 10:50

You must all live in a different world to me. Pizza Express for four, with wine, is well over £100. Only for v special occasions here

OpenMe, I think it's not necessarily about the price. Pizza Express is just so blah, chain restaurants don't exactly scream special occasion, do they? For the same kind of money you could easily go to a nice small place with a lovely atmosphere and more interesting food.

OP, I'm sorry to hear your DH is being such a thoughtless arse. I would be really disappointed, too. Any chance of surprise party later maybe?
What do you normally do for birthdays? What did he get you last year? Is he generally crap with presents or is this year a particular low point?

extralemonylemoncake · 01/04/2016 10:51

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Flowers Cake Wine

HelpfulChap · 01/04/2016 10:55

Happy Birthday

Surely the appropriate response was 'who do you think you are kidding Mr Husband?'

CakeNinja · 01/04/2016 10:56

Oh, and happy birthday! Flowers Cake Wine

Lellykelly · 01/04/2016 11:43

Fuck 50 is what I say! Play it down! Once I was over 40 I basically stopped celebrating......cards from the kids maybe. I don't like getting old though and have never made a fuss about birthdays.

AuntieDiluvial · 02/04/2016 08:51

We talked. He's upset, I'm upset.

He thought it was a clever, ironic gift. Something he knew I'd like, but not a big deal. I would have felt better about it if I didn't know he'd just bought the same thing for his dad, but that didn't occur to him (he's an incredibly focused, highly practical, geek engineer, with all the associated personality traits).

He feels he can't choose my presents, has misread my reactions in the past and thought that because I left the gift lying around I didn't like it (no, I'm a slattern), and when I did put it away thought I didn't like it because I wasn't using it (no, I tried to be tidy because my mess bothers him). He hadn't noticed that all week I've been wearing the earrings he bought me!

I thought he expected me to organise the party, he had no idea of that - thought I'd say what I wanted and we'd divvie up the jobs. If I really want an offsite party, that's what we'll have.

He suggested we not go out for dinner last night, have something special at home instead, like pancakes. In his eyes a special treat, but not a big deal to prepare. I explained that I did not want to make pancakes because it generally works out with me standing at the stove for an hour while everyone else eats. So he cooked, I overdid it on the carbs and feel dire this morning.

So we're not so upset this am (apart from my bowels!), but realise that, after 20y together, we still need to spell things out to each other.

OP posts:
SpaceDinosaur · 02/04/2016 08:57

Well done for talking/
May sound stupid but at least you're both intelligent and invested enough to openly communicate.

Did you tell him that cleaning up after people make you a cake is not a treat?
That of you were to organise a party for him you would organise it, not wait for him to do it?

sallyhasleftthebuilding · 02/04/2016 08:58

Men in general are a bit crap -

Take DH I brought him a lovely soft fluffy dressing gown - which I pinch - tell him how lovely are warm it is - how I'd love one of my own -

XMaS and Birthday no sign of said dressing gown!!!

They are oblivious.

lurkingfromhome · 02/04/2016 09:08

What a ridiculous and stupid generalisation. sallyhasleftthebuilding. Men in general are not "a bit crap". My husband is not. My dad is not. My brother is not. Maybe yours is but how can you possibly speak for an entire gender? How would you react if you read here that "women are generally a bit thick"? Bit reductive, no? Hmm

Ememem84 · 02/04/2016 09:16

sally no. Disagree. Men in general are not a bit crap. The ones in my life aren't anyway.

auntie glad you talked. And happy birthday!!

rainbowstardrops · 02/04/2016 09:22

Calm down lurking! Grin From my experience/opinion most men are a bit crap at this sort of thing. Maybe you're just lucky? Wink

OP, well done for actually talking it through with your DH and I hope you have a fun party now. I'd have been hurt too but then again, I put lots of thought into birthdays/presents etc but it seems not everyone around me shares this. Hey ho.

Must admit, I scoffed at the idea of pizza with Tesco vouchers for your 50th birthday meal as that's somewhere I'd take the kids but even that beats homemade pancakes hands down!

I think you need to sort your own birthdays out from now on Wink Flowers

AuntieDiluvial · 02/04/2016 09:34

The point about the pancakes is that I did not cook them, I did not serve them and I did not clear them up.

Smile
OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 02/04/2016 09:38

Sounds perfect Auntie I was only joking Grin

AuntieDiluvial · 02/04/2016 09:39

I think a surprise party would be dh's idea of a nightmare birthday scenario, so it's reasonable for him to expect me to want to organise my own party.

But I would love someone to surprise me with a party..

OP posts:
AuntieDiluvial · 02/04/2016 09:40

Sometimes dh and I are such complete opposites that we meet on the other side of the circle!

OP posts:
Roussette · 02/04/2016 09:49

Happy Birthday Auntie!

I agree that some men can be a bit crap at all of this and those that are, you can't change them so you have to run with it.

I am married to one. Big birthday a while back. I said to him "do you want me to find something I would like to get for my birthday?" Well... you'd think all his christmasses had come at once. "Yes PLEASE" he says. I found a secondhand diamond ring I liked, I slapped it down with the receipt on his desk a couple of months before the big birthday, money transferred into my account, job done. There wasn't much he could say !

What I'm trying to say is Auntie... you have to deal with your DH in whatever way that suits you to achieve what you want! I knew my DH would be angsting about what to get me so I sorted it and he probably ended up spending far more money than he wanted to! Tough!

lougle · 02/04/2016 09:51

You're talking different languages. You need to give each other a translation manual! DH and I can be a bit like this. He is very literal and sounds a bit like your DH. I'm 'complex' according to him.

It's his 40th this year and about 6 months ago I said 'right, I need to know how you feel about your 40th and I've made the following assumptions. Am I right?' It was far away enough that it doesn't ruin surprises (although DH hates surprises).

DoreenLethal · 02/04/2016 09:53

I have to say that a Dad's Army book and pancakes for my 50th would have me devastated. Fuck that for a laugh.

Mine is next year and we are planning a trip away.

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