Working away on boyfriend's birthday

[ShellyT17]

My boyfriend of two years occasionally has to work away in another country and I have no issue with this as all. I show interest. I am currently in my final year of an OU degree, which I started six years ago. I encourage my boyfriend to do things with his friends when I am studying, for example, to book a hotel with his mate and go and watch the rugby.
Today, I came home and explained that I had been asked to support a student on a school camping trip as I have a good working relationship with him and we have a complex set of students going this year. It will be for three nights. He became really annoyed when he thought this might be on his birthday and I became cross. Huge bust up. AIBU?

Since he's such a child perhaps he should go to his Mammy's house on his birthday for jelly and ice cream and the biggest slice of birthday cake

I'd better inform DH about this......
2017 we will be in seperate countries.
2016 my very very good mate bakes me a cake, bought a bottle of champers, and took me and the kids on a picnic. DH was abroad.
2015 he flew out of the country a couple of days before my birthday. Left money on the fridge for me to take the kids to tesco to buy me flowers -they would have been 6 and 4 years old.

Not unreasonable to work away. You are unreasonable for reminding me it's 10 weeks till the OU exams......

Perhaps he knows about OP's inability to sustain a relationship for more than two years, and fears he's on the way out?

How bloody childish he is an adult not a 6yr old whose party you just cancelled!!
Tell him to grow up, work comes first sometimes. You ha e planned something for later what more does he want?

Thanks all. It's reassuring to know I am not being unreasonable. It is work and it will be a very challenging and tiring week supporting a student with very complex needs. I was asked to go because it is thought I am able to best meet his needs. I have invested valuable time with him and we have developed a very positive working relationship.

We have been together two years now and he always becomes grumpy if I am going away, usually just a couple of times a year. I always support his work trips away and encourage him to have fun nights away with his friends when I am busy studying.

Friends and family are trying to get me to 'fix' this relationship but my primary concern is my degree, as I have invested six years into it. I feel I have little left of myself to give... but it needs to go on my studies and I cannot lose sight of the ball now.

In response to: ThePiglet59 Thu 30-Mar-17 15:28:59
"Perhaps he knows about OP's inability to sustain a relationship for more than two years, and fears he's on the way out?"

I see it more as a strength, not an 'inability'. Why stay in a relationship which makes me unhappy?