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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To not move on from how DH handled my birthday

363 replies

Desolee · 09/10/2016 13:15

On Monday I came back from a ten day work trip - time difference where I had been was plus five hours.

Tuesday was my birthday. In the morning I was up at 6, made DH coffee and DD breakfast before leaving for work by 7, birthday unacknowledged.

That night DH had taken DD to a rehearsal before I got home from work. They should have been home by 9, but DH detoured via the supermarket and they arrived home at 10. He'd previously waited outside DD's rehearsal in the car for 1.5 hrs, 5 mins drive from a supermarket, though I guess he will have been taking work calls for some of this. By 10 my body clock said 3am and I'd fallen asleep, but was fully clothed, not in bed.

DD who is 14 had spent the previous few days trying to organise presents and cake as she thinks birthdays are important. However DH's action on getting home was to send her to bed, unfed. (I hadn't made dinner as birthday person never previously has in our house.) Apparently she was very tearful at this point. He roughly woke me up and told me to go to bed. I was initially confused, asking what about DD, then upset and hurt when he said she'd just gone to bed. He didn't offer me even a cup of tea and when he didn't acknowledge my birthday or, in fact, me at all, I went rather tearfully to sleep in spare room, thinking both of them had ignored it.

Next morning he left for a work trip at around 5am. After speaking to DD who was still upset and hearing from her what happened the night before I sent him short message to say unilaterally cancelling my birthday was hurtful and cruel to both of us. A few hours later got a response to say it was crossed wires and he thought I'd fallen asleep for the night.

He came back on Friday night. No attempt to make anything up or reference to the missed birthday. Yesterday he spent out at his hobby though he did do some lifts for DD. Today we should have been going to visit DS 1.5 hours drive away. DS has decided he needs his car at uni so DH was going to drive it up then both drive back in my car. I said I didn't want to go and could he go with DD and get train back and I'd collect them from local station. I wanted to see DS but couldn't face spending the day with DH. I really don't like driving DS's car so couldn't propose the arrangement in reverse. Anyway in the event he has rung DS to say we now can't be bothered to go and poor DS is coming down on the train to retrieve his car.

DH has apparently told DD I am sulking over my birthday. I don't think I am sulking - I genuinely think I am entitled to feel hurt over this. It isn't specifically about cake, which I very rarely eat, or presents - we're not short of money and within reason I can have whatever I want so would never be waiting for nice make up or boots or a specific book or whatever. I just feel so sad that this is the amount he cares about me and DD's feelings. However am I making too much of it?

For full disclosure I'm in my mid 40s so it wasn't a significant birthday. My parents are away and both of my sisters and two best friends also forgot my birthday so perhaps this is skewing my reaction?

OP posts:
Peanutandphoenix · 09/10/2016 13:40

Your DH is being a massive dick head I feel really sore for you and your daughter. He's a prick for cancelling your birthday I would be just as hurt as you are if that happened to me. So here's what you do you cancel the bastards birthday and see how he likes it. Happy birthday btw op Flowers Cake

Hotandcold46 · 09/10/2016 13:40

I can't get over not going to see your son because your in a sulky with your DH, I mean what did you son do. I mean that is one hell of a sulk

Sending DD to bed with no dinner, yes he messed up there but it's not the worst most terrible thing ever. Did he and her to bed? Or did she go to bed? At 14 I assume she can do a pizza, beans on toast, pasta for example

If your so bothered about the lack of birthday stuff then go out and do something with your lovely DD and enjoy yourself. There is still time for you to go out for a late lunch or dinner today 💐

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/10/2016 13:43

I take it this is ds's first year at university. So that's stress in itself. TBH he shouldn't have asked for the car to be delivered. And no, if you're still jet lagged and tearful, you shouldn't be driving. Your dh has been a massive arse all round.

Will your family all be together then? Is the cake in tact? Maybe celebrate today. I think your husband knows what a shit he's been. Perhaps showing your good grace will make him see sense. Or is he usually so crap?

WinchesterWoman · 09/10/2016 13:43

Jeez it's not that bad not going to see your son. And she's not sulky she's pissed off because her husband is behaving like a twat.

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/10/2016 13:43

Whatever happens do something for you and soon.

HandyWoman · 09/10/2016 13:43

The 14yo came back from rehearsal and was SENT. TO. BED!!!

BreakfastLunchPasta · 09/10/2016 13:44

I'd be really hurt, too.
I wouldn't particularly want cake or presents. Just a big hug and a "happy birthday".

It does sound like you both have such heavy work schedules that you barely see eachother: you get back from one trip, he immediately goes on another. It can't be easy to maintain a relationship like that.

What time does your ds arrive? Can you take him and dd out for a small belated celebration?

Atenco · 09/10/2016 13:45

Is this an isolated incident? Because it is weird and unpleasant that he hasn't at the very least apologised sincerely

nicenewdusters · 09/10/2016 13:45

I agree that your son should come home and pick up his own car. Also, like you I wouldn't have wanted to drive back for 1.5 hrs with a miserable git of a dh, who had ignored my birthday and upset my dd. If it was your dd who was at uni would he have driven her car there for her?

I think you have every reason to be upset and disappointed with your dh. You are not sulking, you are upset about a situation he caused and has no intention of addressing.

Go out with your dd's this week for a birthday meal. Don't invite him. Don't even tell him about it. He can find out as you're leaving or when you get back.

Is he always like this or is this a one-off?

MillyDLA · 09/10/2016 13:46

Time to reassess. I am shocked at your week(s). Sounds like a really horrid time. If that is your normal family life I feel very sorry for you all. I say that not to criticise but because expectations of workload in today's society are overwhelming. I think all of your family members deserve more quality time than your recent working week gives. I too work hard, but feel for you all. Perhaps you are all just too knackered and stressed, you away at work , hubby making work calls from his car, daughter not getting chance to sit down to a social meal with her parents. Sometimes the 'extra' ( such as a birthday) is just a step too far in a busy life. Not even time to think about a birthday celebration.

Time to make quality time for each other if that is at all possible.

WinchesterWoman · 09/10/2016 13:46

I know this sounds rather apocalyptic but unless this is totally out of character I would snap out of your pissed off mood in the full and joyous knowledge that you don't need to bother with him anymore. Of course if he starts being respectful then fine. But if not, I would just go your merry way and focus on your children.

CrazyNameCrazyGuy · 09/10/2016 13:47

YANBU to be upset that your husband didn't even acknowledge your birthday.

YANBU to be upset on behalf of your daughter re: being sent to bed hungry (though assuming her rehearsal started around 7pm I'm surprised she hadn't already eaten something).

Your husband sounds a total arse tbh.

I agree with RunRabbit that your son should be collecting his own car not expecting it to be delivered to his doorstep.

WeArePregnant11 · 09/10/2016 13:48

Your actions towards DS are very very unreasonable.

Your DH however was a total jerk. It seems like both of you are hurting your DC instead of confronting each other?

WinchesterWoman · 09/10/2016 13:49

You aren't being unreasonable towards your son. If anything the most unreasonable person towards your son is your husband, who can't be bothered.

WeArePregnant11 · 09/10/2016 13:49

No, wait. I misread. He can take his own car, although that shouldn't be because of your birthday but because he's an adult.

WyfOfBathe · 09/10/2016 13:50

Your husband sounds awful. Did he not acknowledge your birthday at all (not even a "happy birthday"?)

However, I disagree when you say that you're not sulking - you admit that your not going to "move on" and to me, that definitely means that you're sulking.

Your DH was in the wrong, but I think you're being quite immature about it, by not making your DD dinner even after you realised she hadn't had any (you could have taken her some toast or a sandwich, no need to push the boat out) and refusing to see your son.

Sprinklestar · 09/10/2016 13:50

Wow, what a shambles! DH sounds like a prize knob, what a nasty way to behave. Don't go out of your way on his birthday, will you?

As for your DS, there's no way I'd put a silly squabble with DH before helping out my children. You couldn't drive his car? Seriously? It's a car. They're all pretty similar. That bit of the story just makes you sound pathetic.

Your DH owes you an apology but you owe your son one. And likely your DD too. You all sound like you need to grow up. What kind of dynamic are you exposing your kids to here?!

Desolee · 09/10/2016 13:51

Just to be clear I don't think a birthday in itself is a big deal. I do think that dismissing all of DD's efforts, sending her to bed, not catering for her, letting me think she didn't do anything either and chose to go to bed without seeing me etc is. And that most people if they'd genuinely had cross wires as he said would come home with flowers or plans or something, not do absolutely nothing.

At 14 DD is of course capable of getting herself things to eat but she won't do that in defiance of her dad if she's been told to go to bed. And she was crying over not being allowed to acknowledge my birthday, not over food specifically.

OP posts:
WinchesterWoman · 09/10/2016 13:51

I hate it when women get the blame for men's bad behaviour. It's just crap crap crap.

nicenewdusters · 09/10/2016 13:51

Why are so many people getting on the OP's case about not "visiting" her son at uni!?

He's an adult, for starters, and wanted them to come down to bring him his car. Nowhere has the OP said that he was unhappy, in trouble, that it was a long standing arrangement - he was merely using them (sorry OP) as a way to get something he wanted.

He didn't say bring my car down and we'll go out for mum's birthday.

Cherrysoup · 09/10/2016 13:51

YANBU and I would have been devastated at the treatment your DH give you. For those saying she's ur about the car, no, the DS is unreasonable, no way should they be delivering the bloody car to him, is he unable to come and get it? No, so I would have told him that in the first place. I totally understand why you wouldn't want to spend time in close proximity in the car with the DH. He's been a massive wanker.

Aeroflotgirl · 09/10/2016 13:52

Why did you not say anything to dh on your birthday, or sit down to talk to him about your hurt, instead of letting you eat you up like that. Your dh behaviour towards your birthday was dreadful, I would be bloody upset, but you need to see your son, it is not his fault, his dad is a prick.

Aeroflotgirl · 09/10/2016 13:54

Why did you let him send your dd to bed, why did you not say, excuse me, dd has something planned for my birthday, and we are going to do it! After all you have forgotten my birthday it seems.

gillybeanz · 09/10/2016 13:54

it sounds like you are all so busy you don't have time to communicate.
There's so much work and lifts going on there seems little time for you and dh to spend together.
It sounds like you don't know one another very well at all, have you not been together very long?
Maybe, you need to talk more and find time for each other.

Desolee · 09/10/2016 13:57

DH had been on a work trip for the two weeks prior to mine with only one night crossover between him coming back and me leaving so I was stupidly looking forward to seeing him. Can't wait for him to leave now which is due to be weds but am going to suggest he goes tomorrow as at least the house will be less sad without him.

DS sent me a what's app message in our family group on my birthday.

OP posts:
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