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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU? DP thinks I'm a bad person for doing this

503 replies

youmustneverbreakthechain · 22/07/2018 09:50

Long time lurker, first time poster.

This is long, but please bear with me!

I’m willing to be told IABU but I don’t think I have been. I’d really would like some opinions as my partner is currently not really talking to me, apart from responding to my questions arsely, and thinks I have ‘attitude problems’ with regards to this issue. I wrote this yesterday and he’s still not speaking to me properly:

Background: DP has a lovely grown up daughter from previous relationship (ended over 15 years ago). She has a daughter (6yrs), and is in a relationship with a guy (perhaps for two years now although we’ve known him for around 18 months) who also has a young daughter. My DP and I have a DS, (5yrs). We see my DP’s grown up daughter maybe once every month/6 weeks, either just her with her own daughter, or with her partner and his daughter too (but she has often been at her mums when we meet). We all have a very nice relationship together, we all get on well etc.

My DP’s DD invited our son and us to her partner’s daughter’s fourth birthday party, which is, of course, really lovely. I already had booked and paid for a class/event thing before the invite so said I couldn’t, but no problem, my DP was going to take our DS. I had my plans, he and DS had theirs. All good.

Last night DS is sick. Vomiting etc, and this morning still pretty much high temp, sleepy, unhappy. So he sadly can’t go to the birthday party this afternoon.

However, my DP said ‘you know if he’s not better by this afternoon, I’ll have to still go’ meaning that although he was originally taking DS this afternoon, he now wants me to miss my class (that is non refundable and a one off thing - it’s not something that is planned to be repeated) to look after sick DS, so he could go to his daughter’s partner’s DD’s 4th birthday party.

I said that I already had plans that couldn’t be changed, my class/event was not refundable (materials had to be bought) and was a one off. And that I’d still be going. DP was pissed off and thinks I’m out of order. He thinks it is more important that he go to the party and see his daughter, so I said why didn’t he go up earlier to see them, and come back in time, or go and see them for breakfast tomorrow morning (to which he replied ‘don’t be so ridiculous’ although it’s something absolutely viable).

Anyway, he is pissed off, and leaves the house and says he’ll be home in time for when I have to leave for my event. Transpires he’s going to go up there to see them before the party (which I had suggested anyway).

He gets home, still pissed off with me. I go to my class, come back and he’s still pissed off with me. Not engaging properly when I try and talk to him. I ask him if he’s going to be arsey to me all evening. He thinks my attitude is out of order as I should have cancelled my event (losing my money) as him going to the 4th birthday party trumped my class/event and I should have forgone it and stayed at home to look after DS. Later when he’s had a few beers he says he’s started to hate me (because I’m so out of order).

AIBU to have gone to my class/event? I don’t think I am because my event was 1) booked and paid for before the birthday party invite 2) my son (who was the main reason to go, it being a kids party) was ill and he was meant to be caring for him this afternoon originally and 3) that there were alternatives for him to see his daughter and her family (whilst there weren’t alternatives for re-doing my event and it was not refundable).

I am willing to be told IABU (just be gentle with me!) OR is he BU for saying I’m wrong and thinking I’ve got a bad attitude/I’m out of order (and continuing to be being angry with me)? He's starting to make me question myself, am I a bad person?

The ironic thing being his daughter is lovely and would have completely understood the situation.

OP posts:
Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 12:15

There’s no quality time in any house BEFORE a party.

PhilomenaFogg · 22/07/2018 12:15

Well I can see why he wanted to go to the party cos he's acting like a 4 year old! You suggested an alternative he still went. You still went to yr one off course. Job done. YANBU OP. Let him wallow. So immature.

Hope you enjoyed yr course OPSmile

Botanicbaby · 22/07/2018 12:16

It’s not a hobby, it’s a one-off. Are you being deliberately obtuse?

WowLookAtYou · 22/07/2018 12:16

His massive crime, wanting to go to a family birthday party.

No, his (not really massive) crime was wanting to ditch caring for his own poorly son, on the pre-text of feigning family "lurve" to a distant "relative." One that he barely sees from month-to-month, presumably because he doesn't particularly want or need to.

DistanceCall · 22/07/2018 12:16

There’s no quality time in any house BEFORE a party.

Talk for yourself.

Shumpalumpa · 22/07/2018 12:17

Is this a total over reaction or is there back story other things going on. Only the OP can say. We can all jump in and tell her he’s being an arse, and he can continue on starting to hate her. None of this is good for the OP in the long run.

But OP has given us the back story, which is that she is always expected to cancel her plans when their child is sick.

iLoveSpaDays · 22/07/2018 12:18

Did you pay much for the class?

Jenasaurus · 22/07/2018 12:19

actually op says I am willing to be told IABU (just be gentle with me!)

WowLookAtYou · 22/07/2018 12:19

Is inviting her father to attend and is trying to show the little girls that she’s important.

No, she invited the OP's son, who is a similar age to the party girl. Trying to be nice, probably. Husband/father likely only invited to transport the son. Son can't go, because he's sick, so neither can father.
No big rejection here. Shit happens.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 22/07/2018 12:19

YANBU and he is being a massive dickhead.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 22/07/2018 12:19

Two posts "sum up" the whole thread -
UpstartCrow @ 10.54 + Phuquocdreams @ 11.28
The whole thread is "littered" with inaccurate posts - mainly from not RTFT.
Other threads = intentional "goady tosh".
Best advice for OP is from llanggenith @ 11.36
OPFlowers

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 12:20

Why would anyone go on a one off expensive course for something they never want to do ever again? It’s a hobby of some description.
I’m not being obtuse. Why is your partner starting to hate you? Not over this one thing surely? Unless he is totally dramatic and totally over reacts to every occasion.
If the OP is resentful of being the main child minder, then stop before the feelings escalate even more.

disappearingninepatch · 22/07/2018 12:20

Is "it's not his granddaughter" the new "cancel the cheque"?

YANBU, OP.

MorbidMuch · 22/07/2018 12:21

Slane, the OP isn't your partner or your MIL.

The fact you keep calling her one-off course her 'hobby' suggests that you are massively projecting your issues around your partner and your MIL onto the OP and that isn't fair.

This sounds like this is the one time the OP has prioritised herself and her husband is having a massive strop at having to parent an ill child. He still saw his daughter and her partner's child. He might have even made the party if he'd tried to source other childcare.

DistanceCall · 22/07/2018 12:21

Why would anyone go on a one off expensive course for something they never want to do ever again?

Ever heard of master classes? Workshops given by a visiting expert?

PhilomenaFogg · 22/07/2018 12:22

botanic who are you asking? Not me I hope-you can have a course which lasts for a day.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 12:23

There’s no quality time in any house BEFORE a party.

So he could have gone at another time. His choice. It doesn't mean that OP had to give up her own plans so that he could go during the party and at no other time.

But, in fact, several hours before the party, there is plenty of quality time unless you're incredibly disorganised.

And if there is no quality time before a party, there is definitely no quality time during it.

DistanceCall · 22/07/2018 12:24

Or, for example, this:

www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/yoga-with-adriene-find-what-feels-good-roadshow/

Very famous (and excellent) yoga teacher who gives online lessons to people all over the world comes to London to lead a 90-minute practice. She usually lives in Texas. It costs 45 quid.

It really isn't that hard to imagine, Slanetylor.

PhilomenaFogg · 22/07/2018 12:24

Oh botanic just realised u meant slane! Soz

TheDowagerCuntess · 22/07/2018 12:25

Why would anyone go on a one off expensive course for something they never want to do ever again?

Am I missing something?

The particular course won't be run again. It's not that the OP doesn't want to do whatever it is again

JoanFrenulum · 22/07/2018 12:26

Say what now?! He was on childcare duty that afternoon, if he didn't want to be on duty he should arrange a babysitter.

TheStoic · 22/07/2018 12:27

If the OP is resentful of being the main child minder, then stop before the feelings escalate even more.

That’s what’s happening here. If the OP just rolled over and did what a good wife/mother was supposed to do, this thread wouldn’t exist.

Good for you for holding your ground, OP.

Well pointed out, Slane. So many men who PRESENT as dad of the year, while at home their wives are just part of the furniture. And god forbid they ever step out of place.

NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking · 22/07/2018 12:29

Why would anyone go on a one off expensive course for something they never want to do ever again? It’s a hobby of some description.

I want to do a digital photography course. It’s a one off course and I’d then practice and build on the techniques learnt in that course.

You’re not coming across very well at all Slane

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 12:29

I know it’s not my partner. I’ve never been in a situation like this. I’m not projecting.
The course is a hobby, what’s wrong with that? It’s not belittling.
I will admit that family is more important in my culture maybe so I will have that personal slant.
But I actually do care about the OPs situation. Which is her partner is saying he’s starting to hate her. So something is going seriously wrong. We know nothing about the man. But to me, it seems that wanting to go to the party is putting family first. There might be another reading. He is also in a family that has at least 3 failed family relationships ( or perhaps he’s a widower and is daughter is also a widow) so maybe he sees the importance of family.

SoyDora · 22/07/2018 12:30

There’s no quality time in any house BEFORE a party

There is in ours. We don’t get stressed over parties.