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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:
Jenasaurus · 22/07/2018 12:48

how is going to the part putting his family (his son) first though Slant

rainbowstardrops · 22/07/2018 12:48

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.

Yet another assumption Slanetylor!

At no point in the original post does it say that it was expensive.
At no point does it say that the OP never wants to do it again.
At no point did the OP say it was her hobby.

You are digging a deeper and deeper hole with your ridiculousness now.

We can all see that the OP has problems in her relationship if her partner thinks it's ok to treat her the way he's currently treating her.

The OP has done absolutely nothing wrong and in fact was the one who suggested to her partner to still go and visit his DD and birthday child!

You're starting to make yourself sound like you're stupid.

BoxsetsAndPopcorn · 22/07/2018 12:49

Grandparents usually get slated on here if they dare state that partners children are not their grandchildren or if they treat them differently.

In this case both wanted to do something that wasn't work so both should have forfeited and stayed home with their sick child.

fontofnoknowledge · 22/07/2018 12:51

And for clarity ... Your DP's, daughters, boyfriends child is not your grandchild. OR your Step-Grandchild by any stretch of the imagination.

Someone somewhere would have to marry one another in order to form at least a tenuous link.

Sallystyle · 22/07/2018 12:52

In this case both wanted to do something that wasn't work so both should have forfeited and stayed home with their sick child.

That is just bloody stupid.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 12:53

Why should both stay at home, Boxsets? Unless the child needs hospitalisation there is no obvious reason why one parent can't look after him. After all, OP was left on her own looking after him for several hours earlier in the day.

WowLookAtYou · 22/07/2018 12:54

both should have forfeited and stayed home with their sick child.

Why on earth should they both do that? Hmm Bloody ridiculous suggestion.

Thatssomebadhatharry · 22/07/2018 12:54

Sorry I’m with your dh. Your son is sick so plans have to change. The family event is important to him and I think family trumps class. You seem to be focusing on step but they are a family and your dh is part of this. He probably has abandonment issues. You are being a little selfish.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 12:55

But if you are calling everyone who disagrees with the OP stupid, you will only get one answer. 2 replies max and end of thread. No further input needed.

itwasallveryfuckedup · 22/07/2018 12:57

Regardless of whether you were U (you weren't) he said he is starting to hate you. I'd take a long hard look at this relationship. He sounds controlling and manipulative.

Hygge · 22/07/2018 12:59

"In this case both wanted to do something that wasn't work so both should have forfeited and stayed home with their sick child."

How is that better than what really happened?

The OP's partner went to see his daughter and her boyfriend's child earlier than planned while the OP took care of their sick son. Then the OP went to her event while her partner took care of their sick son.

That's a grown up and reasonable compromise.

The only issue is that the OP's partner chose to behave like a spoilt brat and apparently spent the afternoon drinking while looking after his sick son, so he was in just the right mood to tell the OP he hates her when she got home.

It's a bit of a joyless existence if all you've got is work and point-scoring on the child care to keep you going.

BaldricksTrousers · 22/07/2018 13:00

This whole situation is just weird. My DD's birthday was a few weeks ago and we had her party on the day my DH was away at a weekend-long art course that I bought for him at Christmas. The dates just worked out that way. It would have been nice to have him there but not essential, aren't parties for the kids anyway? We still had a birthday dinner with her, so no big deal...I would never have dreamed of guilting him into missing his course. And likewise if it was me doing something he would take charge of the party without me. And this is our own daughter.

We used to be invited to our niece and nephews' birthday parties--think mostly school friends and a handful of adult relatives. It was a serious PITA to drive there and just sit on the sidelines while the kids played. Not a situation I would willingly get myself into. We made excuses for the last few and the invites stopped...but we still see the kids regularly and around their birthdays, and it's nicer because it's not a manic party. Why any adult would be so devastated to miss a kid's party when he could see the child literally any time is beyond me.

youmustneverbreakthechain · 22/07/2018 13:01

sorry @slanetylor, but it's really not a hobby. It's a class not a course. Your replies seem to be based on assumptions that aren't true or on things I simply have not said.

No one is slating him either for wanting to go. I understand completely that he wanted to go. This is not about if he BU about wanting to go, that would be silly!!!!! If I hadn't booked the class I would have also gone. It's great he wanted to go. But our son was ill, yet he DIDN'T have to forgo actually seeing them or spending time with them in a birthday context, because he did that by going up there. Because family is important.

Family IS important, hence the reason I suggested a he go up there to see them. Coming to a compromise where you can still celebrate with them - it doesn't make family less important in the slightest. He didn't miss out on seeing them. If he did then I get your point, but really he didn't. Him going up there to see them, and coming back to take over look after DS so I can go to my event doesn't translate into not putting family first.

He supported his DD by going up there. He took our gift. If he couldn't have spent time with the family and child then the whole situation changes. Again, I repeat, we all agree family is important. The important bit is that he still was able to see them. Nowhere in my OP says I think either a 'hobby' (which mine isn't) or money is more important than a child.

He would have been talking to adults at the birthday party, not the birthday girl, so I think yes it's better quality time beforehand.

OP posts:
BaldricksTrousers · 22/07/2018 13:01

In this case both wanted to do something that wasn't work so both should have forfeited and stayed home with their sick child.

What the actual. So as a parent is my only hope work or childcare until the day I die?

Isawthelight · 22/07/2018 13:03

Communication is key in a relationship. You simply forced him not to go and he's being horrible as he resents you for it

What a lot of nonsense. What was the alternative? Let herself be walked all over by the husband who clearly thinks caring for their sick child is OPs dept.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 13:04

The thing is, Slanetylor, that your disagreement with OP rested almost entirely on the mistaken premise that her husband's presence at this party was massively important to her stepdaughter because it was the first one she had arranged for her boyfriend's daughter; and you've come up with a number of other completely unjustified assumptions. You won't even have the grace to admit the facts.

No-one is suggesting that it is stupid to disagree with OP, but maybe it is just a bit dim to disagree with her (and virtually everyone else on the thread) because you've totally made up the facts, isn't it?

mydogisthebest · 22/07/2018 13:05

Slane, is family so important that going to visit when you could well pass on a sickness bug is the right thing to do?

I am surprised more posters haven't picked up on that.

WhatIsWhistlingAnyway · 22/07/2018 13:06

The thing is, it's a difficult situation. There's not always a right and a wrong answer. OP is justified in wanting to go the class she has paid for, and her partner is justified in wanting to go to the party.

What we do in these situations is try to compromise as best we can. To me it feels like the partner going to see his family before or after the party was the best compromise.

And his behaviour is childish and U no matter what the decision was, tbh. Sulking like a child. Eugh.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 13:07

The OP says he supported his daughter by going up.
The OP says it was important to go up.
So it wasn’t the first birthday party. It must have been a very serious relationship if the daughter has thrown the last 2 parties.
Parties are actually important, why would anyone bloody bother otherwise.

BewareOfDragons · 22/07/2018 13:12

fontofknowledge that's rather exactly how I envisioned what happened in OPs case, genders reversed. And I am completely on OP's side in this. Her husband is being a stroppy, entitled baby who didn't want to do the grunt work on his day with his child. He wanted to go to a party and wanted his wife (OP) to give up her even earlier made plans to accommodate him. It's bollocks.

DamsonPie · 22/07/2018 13:12

Grandparents usually get slated on here if they dare state that partners children are not their grandchildren or if they treat them differently.

When everyone is committed and together for a long time or married, then everyone is family. But the child of a bloke your daughter happens to be dating at present is not your grandchild. By that definition you could have a new “grandchild” every time your daughter goes on a date!

TheStoic · 22/07/2018 13:12

Your replies seem to be based on assumptions that aren't true or on things I simply have not said.

Slane’s replies are based on the fact that she is in an emotionally abusive relationship herself.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 13:16

Parties are important to the birthday child. Birthdays are important to the birthday child. Seeing relatives on their birthday may or may not be important to the child. What is not important to the birthday child is having their father's girlfriend's father at parties. They're much more interested in their friends, playing games, eating party food, getting presents and everything else.

Isawthelight · 22/07/2018 13:17

He probably has abandonment issues. You are being a little selfish

Christ all fucking mightyHmm...that's the most ridiculous comment I've ever read.

HolgerLowCarbingLoser · 22/07/2018 13:19

Oh my god what an arse. And what a lot of dim witted people on this thread. Wrapping themselves into all kinds of mental pretzel shapes and making up all kinds of utterly inaccurate shit about this scenario, all in order to maintain the line that it should always fall to the woman to be the default parent and woe betide any woman who has a healthy life and identity outside of parenting. Poor man who had to actually parent!

He’s not stropping because he couldn’t go to the party. He’s stropping because he had to actually look after his own son. He doesn’t like it that sometimes the mother of his child, whom he supposedly loves and cares for, might have plans for something that matters to her, that she wants to do, and that she won’t always back down and defer to his preferences. And now he’s ‘starting to hate her’.

In other words, he’s a selfish, entitled arse.

I really would not be letting him get away with this. I’d be instructing him very clearly that I expect much more from the parent of my child and a man who I am supposed to be able to respect.

I pity those of you to whom this kind of behaviour seems normal. You must put up with a whole lot of shit from the men in your lives.