On Friday, my exp was meant to be picking up dd (6) from school but couldn't due to work. I had already arranged to meet a friend ages ago. I said to exp I would cancel or if he wouldn't mind my now dp could pick her up. He said this was fine.
My dp and I have been together for well over a year, he is a good guy and as we all have an amicable relationship, him and exp get on. He knows dd very well, we effectively live together, but this is the first time I have asked him to look after dd on his own. I have no concerns about him at all / he is a great guy.
He bought tickets for him and dd to see the lego ninjago movie and dd was super excited about this. However, when they got there, as the showing was at 3.40, they were the only two people in the cinema. They watched the film for a bit, but dd (6) said she didn't like that it was only two of them in the cinema and that she didn't want to stay. Dp completed respected this, so they left, bought pizza and played in the park before heading home. He also, called me to let me know this had all occurred. I took the call, and at the same time spoke to dd to make sure she was ok, and she was fine. I thanked dp for not being cross with her, and said I would refund the ticket cost. Fwiw, she is usually really well behaved and easy going.
However, when I spoke to me friend, you could tell she thought dd was being an ungrateful brat! She said she should count herself lucky for having the cinema to herself - and what about all the money dp had wasted!
Just to reiterate, I have NO concerns about dp, I think dd just got freaked out about being in the dark almost alone bar dp (she is having a "ghost story" phase with her little friendship group and she sometimes gets freaked out by the dark etc) However, the wider message I feel is that I don't want to teach her that if she ever feels uncomfortable, for any reason, in any situation, she shouldn't have to stay in it just because a man has spent money on her. This is especially pertinent what with all the HW stuff coming out recently I feel, and do completely agrees. I also told exp about the situation and he was fine with it, knowing what dd is like with the dark and stuff etc.
So who is being unreasonable? Me or my friend?
My perspective is that I'm even more convinced dp is a keeper, as he totally respected dds boundaries, didn't make a fuss about the "wasted" money on cinema tickets, and also kept me in the loop?