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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be furious with DH over party

336 replies

SilverBirchTree · 03/01/2018 10:43

Been with DH for over 4 years and currently in the middle of our first ever fight.

We have 3 month old DS and it’s been a rocky few months. Massive trouble breast feeding, and health scares with the baby including an ER visit. In the same period of time we moved house and we now live in an area that is completely new to me and 30-45 minutes drive from family.

I have been looking forward to having him baptised. I was so worried and unwell myself at the time of his birth, so missed the initial joyful ‘the baby is here’ time. I saw his baptism as the event for me to quietly celebrate my beautiful baby and how far he’s come.

My mother lives down the street from our family church. We’ve had family weddings, funerals, baptisms there for decades. Mum offered to organise the baptism then serve tea and cake at her house afterwards. Perfect.

DH said no. He wanted the baptism to take place in our new community. He made a little speech about how we’re adults and we need to throw our own events, how his parents shouldn’t have to drive so far to get to it etc. He said he’d do most of the work. I very very reluctantly agreed to have it in our new area and host our parents and siblings at our new home.

Once it was booked DH tells me that actually he needs to invite all his aunts, uncles and cousins. A week later he says that tea and cake isn’t enough- it has to be a cooked lunch. And his grandparents are too old to eat on their laps so it has to be a sit down lunch. Plastic cups are no good, we have to rent glasses etc etc etc. meanwhile he has done sweet FA to make it happen. I even had to repeatedly remind him to tell his grandparents the time.

Then at Christmas he took to bed with a migraine. The reason - he is so stressed about the party, he won’t be able to ‘help’ anymore. It’s up to me. Oh, but his mother (a whole other story) will ‘help’ instead.

I’ve spent the week beside myself with stress (made worse by Baby induced lack of sleep). I am furious that he insisted we turn down my mum’s offer to host and then left me high and dry with his family’s demands and the mental load of trying to please them all.

Today I finally cracked and accused him ruining something that was important to me. We had a full argument with raised voices and me crying. He continued to spout his views about hosting our own events like a broken record, seemingly not caring that I’m the one doing to heavy lifting to meet his directives.

He’s now off sulking and probably texting his mother about how mean I am.

AIBU? Any advice on what to do now? I’m new to arguing with a spouse and not sure what happens when neither party is willing to apologise.

OP posts:
Dozer · 03/01/2018 12:17

Never arguing isn’t actually good in a relationship.

Whatever you do about the upcoming celebration, seek to ensure fair division of parenting and domestic work. Often men don’t reveal until after DC that they don’t wish to do a fair share.

And don’t be a SAHM - if this is something you’re considering - unless you have 100% confidence that his attitudes and practice on equality are decent. Too many personal risks in being a SAHM with a sexist partner.

TheLuminaries · 03/01/2018 12:18

A big fear of mine when I got pregnant was that we were going to fall into a pattern of me doing all the traditional ‘wife’ work while on parental leave and that would set a dynamic for our lives

OP - it is amazing how you could predict this - yet still not prevent it. It shows how all pervading the pressure is on women when they become mothers. Next you will have reduce your hours/give up work - well he earns so much more, it makes sense, right? So you facilitate every little bit of the families life while his only changes to get cushier. And you then realise you have sporked your career, have no economic independence and no thanks for making everyone else's life easy. You read it all the time on here, predictable yet somehow unavoidable. This is a wake up call on your future.

mamas12 · 03/01/2018 12:18

Leave his mother to him
Any more arrangements from his mother refer her to him dh
Any questions from his mother refer her to him
I know you are doing your best to make the best of it for you so that's what I would concentrate on YOU
arrange that you will just be at ten ceremony holding baby and then if not holding baby afterwards at the party then holding a drink or some thing to eat he is to be the host

timeisnotaline · 03/01/2018 12:18

Assuming you are absolutely not going to cancel
WHich is what he deserves! I like to think I would have that day if I’d realised he was lying about where he was.

timeisnotaline · 03/01/2018 12:20

And do the list of every micro detail and who has done it. . Include getting people tea and hanging around food and clearing Plates (disposable paper plates of course, or just paper napkins) is things that need doing during the event.

RJnomore1 · 03/01/2018 12:20

Isthe cake ordered or not?

I'm actually panicking for you now and I'm not a panicky person!

ferntwist · 03/01/2018 12:21

Well done on salvaging the party but I really hope your husband is made to see how much work you’ve put in. I hope his stress migraine doesn’t set the tone for the rest of your marriage, with you picking up all the work at home while he runs a division at work.

SilverBirchTree · 03/01/2018 12:24

I am planning to return to work. I had a good career and used to earn more money than him so it’s been a real shock to suddenly be dependent on him.

I think it’s all woven together TBH. When we were fighting I didn’t even know what I am most upset about. This ‘wife’ work being dumped on me, my fears about being dependant, the hard time I’ve had with the baby, moving away, not seeing my family as much, his family being overbearing and intrusive. It all blurs together and I feel so angry and sad. So not just arguing about cake etc, there is all this other stuff!!

OP posts:
lunar1 · 03/01/2018 12:25

Have you never argued because there was nothing to argue about or because you were just trying to keep the peace and have just bitten your tongue.

SilverBirchTree · 03/01/2018 12:25

@RJ i ordered the cake before Christmas. My mum was joking because she knows I hate throwing parties. Thanks for worrying though, you’re sweet!

OP posts:
MaggieFS · 03/01/2018 12:27

I love your mum!

I'd tell MIL where to stick the nuggets though. They'll then need a serving dish, people will want ketchup and it will go on. A firm 'no nuggets needed' should suffice and if she has any qualms she can talk to her son!

SilverBirchTree · 03/01/2018 12:28

@lunar I would say we don’t fight because we’re both very logical. We disagree amicably sometimes but talk it though, usually it becomes clear that one of us cares more than the other and they usually get their way.

But also some tongue biting on my part, particularly in relation to his family. I don’t see it as kind or constructive to criticise someone’s parents. So I don’t, I just put up with them.

OP posts:
Dozer · 03/01/2018 12:29

Reflect further on what is bothering you and what needs to change, eg division of domestic work; setting “boundaries” with his mother and other family (and yours - eg you seem to have been complaining about him to your mother). DH and I had to do this after DC1: my parents were the issue! It took me a while to see it and this caused arguments, but we sorted it out.

You’re not depending on him: you have both become parents and you currently being on parental leave has enabled him to become a parent and to continue to WoH. So he is depending on you too. It’s great that you have a well paid job to return to.

chocorabbit · 03/01/2018 12:29

You have received really helpful advice from a lot of people here! But I still have some point to make.

First row in 4 years? Sounds great and could be genuine compatibility. However, are you sure that you don't walk on egg shells or avoid arguing of voicing the smallest displeasure for the sake of keeping the peace? I was shocked when you said that he would complain to his mother about you Shock I and DH never slag one another to our parents, siblings, friends etc. This is unacceptable. Anyway we have enough of MIL trying to show how "horrible" we are so us throwing more ammunition in her hands which she can use later to slag us off to FIL and the rest of the family is not on.

Make sure that you don't let him walk over you and if you both work he should also help with housework.

Ensure that you don't always run around doing everything for him either because he has failed or because he expects you to do so. No point scoring but don't let him get away with doing absolutely nothing.

He should also NEVER critisise you to other people (and neither should you) unless there is abuse.

Btw, my mother reminds my father whenever she remembers it and even up to this day how no party was done or food given after my baptism because of his family not being social or him not chasing it up. DF family wouldn't organise any gatherings but it seems that your family do and you could mention it in the future to your DH without any point scoring efforts of course.

Dozer · 03/01/2018 12:30

Criticising his parents, if their actions or words negatively affect you, is fine and sometimes necessary.

SilverBirchTree · 03/01/2018 12:30

@Maggie I coincidentally just texted MIL and said the menu has changed, no nuggets. Please bring a sweet.

I agree, didn’t like the thought of cleaning up after nuggets anyway.

OP posts:
timeisnotaline · 03/01/2018 12:30

The best way to protect him would be to cancel ....

SilverBirchTree · 03/01/2018 12:32

Agree we are both guilty of whining to our respective parents this week. Not great behaviour, you’re completely right.

OP posts:
Dozer · 03/01/2018 12:33

That’s good: MIL was being very rude seeking to bring/cook meat to your house when you’re hosting and are veggie!

If you left your job in the location move beware seeking a lower paid/PT role given the issues that might be emerging.

chocorabbit · 03/01/2018 12:34

A big fear of mine when I got pregnant was that we were going to fall into a pattern of me doing all the traditional ‘wife’ work while on parental leave and that would set a dynamic for our lives

And as pp have mentioned, what was the thing that made you fear that he would behave like that? Surely, he must have shown attributes of such behaviour so maybe there has been more going on that you thought?

C8H10N4O2 · 03/01/2018 12:38

It's a child's baptism. Can't really let it break

That is the one thing which won't happen. Ultimately its the ceremony and the sacrament which matter and nothing else. If the party is completely cancelled the baptism will still be successful.

OP seems to be primarily concerned about the baptism which is as it should be. DH seems mostly interesting in putting on a show - his priest or minister would be with the OP.

I would cancel the party completely or hand him his laptop and tell him to order the sandwiches and paper plates. Frankly I think the OP is more than generous by doing that much considering what a twat he is being. He should also be helping on the day for laying out and clearing up but it sounds like OP and her DM will be doing it.

I agree with PPs - consciously or subconsciously he is testing boundaries. If OP has had this concern before and his family would blame OP for not hosting properly this could well be how he has been raised.

Fontella · 03/01/2018 12:39

I should say that DH is a good person, a great dad, and usually very rational

Really? He sounds like an absolute prick to be honest.

Insists on changing the plans you already had in place, makes it 10 times as much work and then does fuck all himself and dumps it all onto you causing huge anxiety and stress to the mother of his 3 month old son in the process.

If he wants this to happen tell him to get off his sulky, immature, self centred arse and start doing something to make it happen, otherwise cancel it, revert back to plan A ... and tell everyone why, including his mother!

Stickerrocks · 03/01/2018 12:43

The new party menu sounds great. Just to offer even more reassurance, I can't remember a thing about the food at either my own DC's Christening or at any other I've attended - it really doesn't matter. What does matter is that both sides of your family and friends are there together, celebrating your baby. Make sure you get lots of photos of your day and keep hold of your baby, so that DH is forced to top up the glasses/refill his grandparents' plates/ clear up the inevitable spills. Enjoy your day.

ChishandFips33 · 03/01/2018 12:45

How interfering is his mother?

My DH is incredibly laid back until his mother interferes with plans then he gets conflicted and loses all sense of reasoning. He'd rather argue with me than upset her!

It sounds like he had his ideas then probably mentioned it and then the invite list escalated (sounds like it could have been suggested by MIL) and other dynamics were added (sitting at a table etc) and he couldn't action his idea of starting the new family tradition

You could both end up so far away from the day you wanted - make sure you both get a memory of it you want to treasure and tell everyone else to back off!

Good luck hope it goes well

Partypopper123 · 03/01/2018 12:47

Fucking hell, hark at the man who runs a division of a company yet can't order a sandwich platter, and must be protected from even discussing it as it is 'too stressful' and induced migraines.
How do you cope with such a pathetic man child??
I'm not surprised you are furious.