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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH wants to go on holiday...without me!

342 replies

whatstheweatherupto · 30/04/2018 11:02

Not really sure how I feel about this situation so wanted some unbiased opinions…

DH and I have been together for nearly 10 years, married for 3, 1 DC who is just about to turn 18 months . We have had our ups and down like all couples but are generally happy. The last couple of years have been a struggle as I don’t think DH was prepared for how much things would change having DC but we’re slowly getting through it.
DH‘s best friend is female. This bothered me when we first got together, as we were all very young and DH wasn’t very good at introducing us and wanted to keep us apart which made things worse, however after all these years I can honestly say that I have no issues with her, I class her as a friend as well and actually find it nice that DH has such a close friend. I have no trust issues with her as I know she Is not remotely interested in DH and has recently started seeing someone

DH and I do not get a lot of time together as we both work full time. He works shifts whereas I work Mon-Fri hours. We share pick ups and drop offs of DC as much as possible, although the majority of childcare and housework falls to me as DH struggles with sleeping being on a shift pattern. However his shifts does mean that every couple of months he ends up with a full 10 days off work. He also plays golf nearly every other Saturday and will use his annual leave to book days off around this schedule. He also plays football some Saturday mornings before golf for a local pub team so some weekend days he can be out from very early until late which obviously eats into the time we have together with DC.

At the end of last week he came home saying he had been talking to his friend and for the first time in years she has the some of the same time off as his (she also works shifts in a similar industry to him but they rarely seem to have more than 1 day off together) and that they have been talking and wanted to go away for a few days. He did ask me if me and DC would like to come as well but unfortunately I cannot have the time off due to work commitments so we wouldn’t be able to.

He told me how much they were looking to spend and then spent the majority of the weekend looking for holidays for them both and they are now on the verge of booking to go away for 5 nights.

For the record my issue isn’t him going away with his friend, its more the issue that he wants to go away and leave us for 5 days when we get limited time together as it is. Yes he would be just sitting around the house on those days off as I would be at work and DC at nursery but we would be back in the evenings and he would be able to pick DC up a bit earlier. There is also loads of work that needs doing around the house. It’s also his attitude to the money he would be spending. They’re looking at spending about £500 altogether (food, drink, airport parking etc) and when I said that could be put towards some new carpets in the house his answer was it’s his money, he works hard for it so he wants to enjoy it for a change!

Not sure what I am looking for her, part of me thinks he is being unreasonable, but then part of me does think he should be able to go and enjoy himself.

OP posts:
yasmin0147 · 01/05/2018 09:05

So you get no time together and he thinks it’s a good idea to go on holiday with his friend? Seriously?
I’d tell him that he’s being unreasonable leaving you to juggle the kids on your own, put your foot down.

GertieMotherwell · 01/05/2018 09:07

If she’s such a great friend, maybe she could look after DS whilst her friend (your DH) has some time away with his wife?

speakout · 01/05/2018 09:12

, put your foot down.

No I wouldn't.

You can't control him, and you can't force him to care for you.

I want a man who chooses to seek out my company and value time with me.

It's not I would demand or even ask for.

But I wouldn't settle for anything less.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 01/05/2018 09:21

I missed the bit where OH and his mistress have already had a sexual relationship

So did I.
In fact I've been back and read the OPs posts and still can't see it.

Dungeondragon15 · 01/05/2018 09:24

OP didn't say her DH had ever had a sexual relationship with the woman. Some wild extrapolation going on.

TheDrinksAreOnMe · 01/05/2018 09:25

So did I.
In fact I've been back and read the OPs posts and still can't see it

Yeah I looked again and I still can't see...

speakout · 01/05/2018 09:32

OK- msorry I took that information about previous sexual from another poster- not the OP. I assume the other poster had read something I hadn't.

downthestrada · 01/05/2018 10:00

I think people are making assumptions because of this DH‘s best friend is female. This bothered me when we first got together, as we were all very young and DH wasn’t very good at introducing us and wanted to keep us apart which made things worse

Although, it would be interesting to know why he wanted to keep them apart.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 01/05/2018 10:02

Although, it would be interesting to know why he wanted to keep them apart.

Probably for the exact reasons seen in this thread. He must have been worried she'd say "no way" and "fuck that", and he'd have to sling his long term friend because of his new partner.

speakout · 01/05/2018 10:18

Probably for the exact reasons seen in this thread. He must have been worried she'd say "no way" and "fuck that", and he'd have to sling his long term friend because of his new partner.

So you are suggesting that most woman are "uncool", like all the "uncool" women on this thread?

Or are simply most women pragmatic- they understand that affairs are sometimes opportunistic. That a combination of a foreign country, too much booze and wife thousands of miles away is possibly not a great idea.

I see the " cool " wives as a bit wet behind the ears.

Adayindisney67 · 01/05/2018 10:28

Yeah I'm sorry but she is still another woman and he is making more effort for her than you! Fuck that!

Fflamingo · 01/05/2018 10:40

I want a man who chooses to seek out my company and value time with me
But one has an 18 month old in tow and the other hasn't so hardly eeksy peeksy, the fact it is his 18 month old he won't be seeing whilst holidaying abroad docks a few more points off his total imv.

jammydodgersssss · 01/05/2018 10:46

Why don't you go on holiday with "her" boyfriend OP? 😇

stopthecavalry · 01/05/2018 10:52

Men have female friends that they don't keep apart from their new partner. IME a reluctance to introduce them indicates a history - even if it was just a few snogs. Or they know their new partner is insanely jealous and possessive which doesn't sound like the OP.

Lethaldrizzle · 01/05/2018 10:55

Because Op's already married to her boyfriend !

theyoniwayisnorthwards · 01/05/2018 10:55

My DH is about to go away for a long weekend with his best friend who is female and it honestly never occurred to me to be pissed off about it (she's gay but the principle is the same if you are sure there's no attraction between them)

Raising young kids is exhausting and I think little breaks from the grind rejuvenate people and can be good for your marriage.

As an occasional thing I think a trip away it's absolutely fine, different if he wants to go away a couple of times a year. There will always be something the house needs or something else to spend your money on but self care is important too and life is short. Of course all of this only applies if you get the same luxury, same time away and same spending money.

I just had 3 days by myself at home when DH took the kids to see his family, got some proper sleep, relaxed and saw my friends and I feel like a new woman.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 01/05/2018 10:58

So you are suggesting that most woman are "uncool", like all the "uncool" women on this thread?

Not at all. Early in relationships, new partners can be a bit jealous or suspicious in me experience.
It's not unusual to keep some details back and reveal them later.

Helmetbymidnight · 01/05/2018 11:00

I'm always surprised when people say 'You either trust them or not' Or 'There is either attraction between them or not.'

For me, both trust and attraction ebb and flow. In fact, when it comes to attraction, for most people, I think, it is not fixed, but grows with time/proximity.

GertieMotherwell · 01/05/2018 11:32

I agree helmut
It can also wane with time/distance

GertieMotherwell · 01/05/2018 11:33

helmet

Jayne35 · 01/05/2018 11:42

As long as you are free to book a similar length break away with friends while he looks after DC then I don't see a problem.

If you completely trust that they are just friends then I wouldn't see an issue with him going with a female either.

My DC are adults so no childcare issues but DH and I do something separately every year, usually only a long weekend but he is going abroad for a week this year, unfortunately I have no holidays left but I'm looking forward to booking a week away with friends next year.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 01/05/2018 11:46

Has your husband ever been in a relationship or even had a ONS with this friend @whatstheweatherupto ?

clumsyduck · 01/05/2018 12:01

Hmm I have no issues with the odd seperate / kid free break away to be honest

But if I'm being totally honest I couldn't get on with this because she's a woman who he seems to be putting more effort into spending time with than you

downthestrada · 01/05/2018 12:15

As an occasional thing I think a trip away it's absolutely fine, different if he wants to go away a couple of times a year. There will always be something the house needs or something else to spend your money on but self care is important too and life is short. Of course all of this only applies if you get the same luxury, same time away and same spending money.

I agree with this, but in this situation the DH is not doing his fair share in the house or with childcare. Surely, all the home issues should be sorted first. Here, they could both have their time away but the OP is still left with managing everything and he gets to go to hobbies and only worry about himself.

And, it appears that he's putting more effort into spending time with his friend rather than his family.

veggiethrower · 01/05/2018 12:36

People are quoting all sorts of examples of holidays they or their partners have been on without their OH - groups of friends, "hobby" holidays, someone's DH went away with his best friend who is a lesbian, a trip to listen to a band with two male friends etc.
These types of holidays are not comparable with the OP's 'D'H who is planning a holiday with his female best friend for 5 days. What are the sleeping arrangements and where are they going? Can't imagine them booking separate rooms - especially when the entire trip is costing 500 GBP - that's not a massive amount for 2 people for 5 nights with flights, food, drink, accommodation etc.
In a lot of places in Europe there are very few rooms with twin beds - most are either doubles or a large bed frame with two mattresses. They are most likely going to be sleeping very close to one another.
I think it isn't acceptable and that's before taking into account the fact he doesn't seem to be making much time for the OP and the DC in everyday life and they don't seem to be rolling in money as things need doing in the house.
He should be taking his wife and child away on holiday first or at least organizing some fun days out for them.

And I do think it is good to have some time apart from your partner from time to time but this situation stinks. Sorry OP.

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