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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:
Butterymuffin · 22/07/2018 12:30

As pp have said, he assumes you are default parent and you'll always change your plans to accommodate him. YANBU.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 12:30

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

You're fantasising yet again, Slanetylor. Nowhere has OP said this is something she never wants to do again.

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.

We don't know, OP may not know, but that doesn't make it her fault. It's probably either because he is indeed totally dramatic, or because he resents the fact that he can normally palm everything off onto OP but is not able to do so on this occasion.

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

Well, yes, but the issue at the moment is that she's entitled not to want to give up her plans on this occasion. Something you seem to disagree with for some reason which you haven't managed to justify.

Plsbemyturn · 22/07/2018 12:31

Shocking to see some mums expect themselves to be the one who drop off everything to look after a ill child while their husband go out drinking/socialising.

Botanicbaby · 22/07/2018 12:32

@PhilomenaFogg no not to you, there were too many responses by the time I typed it out but it was in response to slanetylor’s post at 12.10 where they keep referring to the OP as having a hobby that was in their words ‘more important’. Now it seems they can’t grasp the concept of people doing one off taster courses or events too Confused

MissLingoss · 22/07/2018 12:34

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

OP didn't say she would never want to do it again. She said she would never have the opportunity to attend an event of this kind again. OP mentioned buying materials, so I assume it's something involving practical skills, but I'm thinking something along the lines of David Attenborough coming to give a talk to a conservation group op belongs to. Which would obviously be a one-off event.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 12:34

Someone was giving out to me about the OPs course. Saying it was a one off thing never to be repeated.
I am saying it is surely NOT a one off thing. That it’s feeding into something else.

DistanceCall · 22/07/2018 12:34

Because FAMILY (even distant family) trumps everything. Including your self-esteem and right to your own interests.

Right.

WowLookAtYou · 22/07/2018 12:35

I will admit that family is more important in my culture

WTF? I've no idea what your culture is, but that is a pretty insulting assumption to make. Family is extremely important to me and mine, but I still wouldn't roll over and take the shit that this bloke is doling out. It's highly likely to be nothing to do with "family" anyway, but he's just pissed off he's missing out on a few beers whilst his son is cared for by someone else.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 12:36

Fine I’m out so.
As you were so. Your husband is upset and has begun to hate you. But you are right. Non blood relatives are not that important. He is being ridiculous.

TheStoic · 22/07/2018 12:37

The OP is not your husband, Slane.

Shumpalumpa · 22/07/2018 12:38

Just because he SAYS he's starting to hate her doesn't mean he actually is.

The subtext of 'I hate you' is 'you are not conforming to the role I have defined for you and therefore I will say words that hurt to make you conform again'.

I suspect working this out requires more emotional intelligence than you possess.

Sallystyle · 22/07/2018 12:40

It is just so simple

OP had plans, they were made before the invitation and her husband was happy with this, as he should be.

Son gets sick. Sucks for the husband and the poor child but shit happens. He was happy for OP going to her event ages ago and he doesn't get to pull out because it hasn't gone his way.

Husband doesn't get to throw a strop because he expects OP to give up her plans because their son is sick.

It is about compromise. OP couldn't compromise on her event but he could and did see the child before the party. OP gets to go to her one off event and her husband got to see the child.

To say you hate your wife because of this and go into a sulk shows that this is a man who thinks OP is the default parent and his plans are more important than hers. He needs to grow the fuck up.

If anyone thinks the OP is being selfish then I think at this point they are just being goady and wanting an argument on a Sunday afternoon.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 12:40

But to me, it seems that wanting to go to the party is putting family first.

To most people, wanting to be with your sick child would be putting family first.

Why would visiting his daughter earlier in the day fail to be "putting family first" slanetylor? What's so important about seeing your family at a child's party rather than on their own? And if you genuinely believe that family is so important to him, how do you account for the fact that he goes for long periods without seeing them?

DistanceCall · 22/07/2018 12:40

The subtext of 'I hate you' is 'you are not conforming to the role I have defined for you and therefore I will say words that hurt to make you conform again'.

I suspect working this out requires more emotional intelligence than you possess.

So the OP's partner is trying to get her to go back into her neat little box as the childminder, but it's up to the OP to "work it out" with "emotional intelligence"?

Shumpalumpa · 22/07/2018 12:40

The course is a hobby, what’s wrong with that? It’s not belittling.

Op has said it's not a hobby.

fontofnoknowledge · 22/07/2018 12:41

To all those who believe the mother is somehow the default parent when the child of both parents is sick, try this for size...

My husband and I have a 5yr old son together.
My husband has a long standing arrangement to spend the day at an art course. He paid for it months ago, he's really been looking forward to it. It's a one off masterclass with a well known artist as tutor and has cost him £150 all in.
My adult daughter has had a boyfriend of the last couple of years , (we all get on very well). The boyfriend is throwing a party for his child. We know his child but do not see them very much - however they have kindly invited our son.
I explained that my husband has a pre existing arrangement- but I would love to come with my younger son. (My son would have fun and I would have the added bonus of seeing my daughter).

Unfortunately, my son is sick and can't go to the party. I want to go but my husband REFUSES to cancel his arrangement to look after our child .
He says he would look after him before or after his course and that I can go anytime to see my daughter and her boyfriends daughter.
Because he refused to cancel , I had to do that. I took a present and saw them both but was t there for the actual party of my daughters boyfriends child.

AIBU not to speak to him for his utterly selfish behaviour?

TheDowagerCuntess · 22/07/2018 12:41

Slane you're obviously Irish. I don't think family is necessarily any more important in your culture than others. Or at least not to the extent that the OP is being unreasonable in this particular scenario.

Shumpalumpa · 22/07/2018 12:41

DistanceCell, my post was directed to Slanety.

Aralyop · 22/07/2018 12:42

Hmmm.
I’ve experienced this kind of weird dynamic when (briefly) dating a guy with kids.

It’s almost like there are some deep seated anger issues that come out ?

I’m fairly laidback and pragmatic and (really ha ha!) a nice enough person, but it’s almost like they’re looking for a chance to say “YOURE JEALOUS OF MY CHILDREN AND WANT TO SABOTAGE MY RELATIONSHIP “ and snap, when there is no rational evidence of this?

It’s like maybe they’re bitter/resentful/hate that they didn’t have the perfect family and the perfect child and the perfect relationship with their high achieving child the first time round. But it’s easier to “blame the new woman” for everything rather than face their own demons.

It’s also a control thing. Sulk and make up some lunatic story about how the new woman is “jealous” of you’re children and hopefully she’ll end up Knowing Her Place which is to take on an extra job to finance your children or moving out of her bedroom so the children have a nice place to stay and don’t throw tantrums Grin (all of which I’ve known stepmothers be forced into doing)

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 12:43

Someone was giving out to me about the OPs course. Saying it was a one off thing never to be repeated. I am saying it is surely NOT a one off thing. That it’s feeding into something else.

OP presumably knows whether it's one-off or not. And it's incredibly likely that the "something else" can't happen unless she's been on the course.

Hygge · 22/07/2018 12:45

YANBU. He's being a dick so are some people on this thread

Him saying you have attitude problems and telling you he's starting to hate you, just because he had to make different arrangements is awful.

Was he really pissed off because he had to visit his daughter's partner's child slightly earlier in the day instead of during her birthday party or was he pissed off because he thought he had a suddenly child free afternoon to get drunk at a child's birthday party while you missed your event to take care of his/your sick child?

His attitude and his drinking (and his attitude while he is drinking) sound like far bigger problems OP.

I hope you are okay.

AtrociousCircumstance · 22/07/2018 12:45

YANBU.

He’s being a twat. He was caring for your DC and the onus was on him to alter his plans.

And the ‘beginning to hate you’ comment is so harsh and nasty and unloving and spiteful that a whole load of MNers are beginning to hate him.

SoyDora · 22/07/2018 12:45

Someone was giving out to me about the OPs course. Saying it was a one off thing never to be repeated

The particular course won’t be repeated. That’s why she wants to do it.

Sallystyle · 22/07/2018 12:45

Op, bottom line is your partner has said he has started to hate you due to your behaviour, this isn't something someone says normally to someone who is always the one giving in

Bluntness It isn't something a decent person would say, no. Doesn't sound to me like he is the hard done by one. He is just acting like a spoilt baby and if I was to make a guess I would guess that OP is the one always giving in and he can't handle the fact that this time he didn't get his own way.

It sounds like something my teens might say to me when they don't get what they want. But lets blame the OP for her husband's shitty comments.

DamsonPie · 22/07/2018 12:47

Are step relatives really so much more unimportant than blood relatives?
The child isn’t a step relative. She isn’t a relative at all. She’s his daughters boyfriend’s child who he’s met probably half a dozen times over the course of 18 months. And who he’d never see again if his daughter dumped her boyfriend.

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