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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:
Charolais · 22/07/2018 15:40

What the living fuck is going on in the U.K?

Disclaimer; I’m from the dreaded evil 50’s and have lived abroad for 45 yrs.

When I was a kid (in England) birthday parties, or just birthdays alone, were not a big deal. I never even had a party myself (didn’t want one) but attended a few. Little girls would show up in their party dresses with no parent in sight, and we’d have the party. We didn’t even know what most of of our friend's mothers looked like and as for dad’s - they were at work all day slaying dragons or some old shit like that and when they were not at work they were doing man stuff in the garden or doing some thing to the car - and some of them whistled happy little tunes while they did it.

I don’t recall a party were mothers attended. Birthday parties were for kids and the birthday child’s mother hosted.

Now grown men are having hissy fits over four year old kids parties!!!!?

lol

AcrossthePond55 · 22/07/2018 15:41

The thing that sticks out to me is his statement "I'm starting to hate you". That implies to me that some resentment been in his head before now, has been increasing, and is now approaching (or has reached) hate.

For someone to say "I hate you" in the heat of anger is usually an emotional 'blast' in the heat of the moment. But 'starting to hate' means negative thoughts and feelings have been lurking before now.

I think there is much more going on here than a child's birthday party.

jacks11 · 22/07/2018 15:44

YANBU

What happened was a perfectly reasonable compromise- you look after your DS while your partner goes over before the party to spend some time with his DD, her partner and his DD's step-daughter (DPs step-GD). He spent a few hours there, gave a present and presumably was able to make a fuss of step-GD (if that was indeed his intention, which is possible but not necessarily the case). He leaves before party but has shown support for his DD (if that's what this was about) and shown affection to step-DG (if that was his concern). He then returns home and looks after his sick DS whilst OP goes to her pre-arranged class.

Why on earth is that not an acceptable compromise, if indeed showing support to his DD's blended family was the reason he wanted to go? Because that is what he did, he made an effort to see his DD and take a gift to step-GD. He then went home to take care of his own sick child.

Cutietips · 22/07/2018 15:47

Actually Bluntness he informed her first he was still going without discussion (see the OP). Then when he didn’t get his own way, he told her that he hated her. It sounds like this has happened before, with the previous abuse. You might not like the drip feed because it doesn’t fit your narrative that the OP wasn’t being reasonable. I think she played it down because she didn’t want to admit it, even to herself.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 22/07/2018 16:02

Hello OP
Would be interested to know what input the little girl's mum has regarding events like birthdays. What happened on her 3rd birthday, (2nd birthday?).
Hope your partner has had time to reflect on the matter - and, that he has the maturity, decency and common courtesy to apologise to you Flowers

melonscoffer · 22/07/2018 16:07

We have several small children in our family who aren't blood.
They are treated exactly the same as all the other little ones.
Over the years it has become an easy going "all welcome" type of family.

The children have wonderful trust and confidence in the adults, I would be ashamed if any adult mentioned that a child is
"not even blood/related/grandchild".

I can't agree with anyone on here who says the birthday party is less important because she isn't a proper grandchild.
There has been lots of nasty comments about this girl/party not mattering because she isn't bonded by blood or marriage to the family.

It isn't nice to dismiss these children as if they don't matter.
Someone said that it was the party of a "stranger".

OlennasWimple · 22/07/2018 16:11

YANBU

And I would bet my bottom dollar that if roles were reversed and it were the DH who had a prior commitment and the DW who wanted to go to the kid's birthday party but without their own, sick DC, it would be near unanimous that the DW should miss the party to stay home

melonscoffer · 22/07/2018 16:14

As for the OP and her husband, one of you was going to be unhappy at the outcome that day.
It just so happens to be your husband.
He'll get over it.

He is wrong to ignore you.

For those who wonder why a grown man would want to go to a four year olds party with no child. Because it is his family. His daughter and his own grandaughter (age 6). Some PP are coming across as if the husband roams around looking for random under fives parties to gatecrash.

amicissimma · 22/07/2018 16:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mydogisthebest · 22/07/2018 16:25

melonscoffer, IT IS NOT HIS GRANDDAUGHTER!!! For goodness sake we are now on page 16 and still posters come along who obviously can't be bothered to read properly.

This man sees his daughter about every 6 weeks so hardly close to her is he? To go to a party without his young son is pretty odd I think. I doubt the little girl would care one jot whether he was there or not

I8toys · 22/07/2018 16:26

YANBU - he's acting like a child having a tantrum because its not gone his way.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 22/07/2018 16:29

@melonscoffer
Agree with the points you have written, but what's relevant here, is the OP had another arrangement on the day and had already indicated she wouldn't manage to the little girl's party. Her partner was taking their son. Son is unwell - OPs partner is child's other parent = continuity of care.
Also, no thought given to possibilty of spreading whatever the little boy had, to the other party attendees.
Also, the little girl's care is shared between her parents.

Shumpalumpa · 22/07/2018 16:34

I can't agree with anyone on here who says the birthday party is less important because she isn't a proper grandchild.

No one has said this.

There has been lots of nasty comments about this girl/party not mattering because she isn't bonded by blood or marriage to the family.

And no one has said this.

The people pointing out that she is not his granddaughter are doing so to point out that the DH has only known the girl for 18 months, he SOMETIMES sees her (OP says they see DH's dd every 6 weeks but not always with the girl). So in all, the DH has met this girl around 6-8 times tops. Do you really think they are that close that this 4yo girl will even notice that her step-mum's dad is not there?

IndependentRetailer · 22/07/2018 16:35

YANBU

youmustneverbreakthechain · 22/07/2018 16:37

@melonscoffer I completely agree with some of your points - she is obviously is no less important. We treat them completely equally - we have been out with her a handful of times when she’s not at her mum's and we ensure attention is equal. We ensured gifts at Christmas were equal, and my parents who haven’t even met her bought her a gift at Christmas as they buy my DP’s granddaughter one each year. It is all very much inclusive. This is down to circumstances of our ds being sick and a compromise being made that in no way would make her feel less important

OP posts:
WowLookAtYou · 22/07/2018 16:38

his own grandaughter

However inclusive your own family might be, melonscoffer, it does not change the fact that this child is not his "own granddaughter."

liverbird10 · 22/07/2018 16:38

YANBU. Your partner needs to get a grip.

Choice4567 · 22/07/2018 16:39

@LavenderDoll @Gardenpicnic genuinely interested in why you think OP is being unreasonable

youmustneverbreakthechain · 22/07/2018 16:41

And my DP’s daughter is an incredible lady and has always treated them the same. I honestly and sicerely think him going to see them earlier and not to the actual party will not effect her in anyway in the sense she feels less important.

OP posts:
Tistheseason17 · 22/07/2018 16:52

YANBU
He planned to take his DS to the birthday party of his DD's step son.

His DS became ill and he decided that attending the party of his DD's step son was more important than you going to your class. So he decided that YOU needed to change your plans to suit what he wanted.

It's a shame he did not think he should stay home with his poorly DS - he is one of the parents, it's called being a parent.. or does he think that is your job solely, OP?

YADNBU to attend a one of event and expect the father of your DS to look after his own child!

fc301 · 22/07/2018 16:55

He's got a lot of work to do to come back from the 'hate' comment TBH. I would struggle to get past that.

wagil · 22/07/2018 16:55

His "own" GD aged six would presumably have been there as well, it just wasn't her party. It was his DD's boyfriend's DD's party.

There'll be plenty more parties I expect where he won't have to miss a thing, if his DS is unwell next time then OP will undoubtedly stay at home, enabling him to go and spread a few germs around.

CaledonianQueen · 22/07/2018 17:07

What surprises me, is that a man actually wanted to go to a child’s party! I am disabled and often it is my dh who has to take our dd to parties. Thankfully she is now at the age where he can drop her off and collect her but when she was 4, he absolutely hated children’s parties! A room full of noisy, screaming four year olds, party music and the cliques that are often at these parties, was hell for dh! It was bad enough with our own children’s parties! Other fathers he has spoken to have all said the same thing!

Given the chance to escape a kids party, even to look after our dc would have been jumped upon! Especially as you gave your dp the option of still seeing his dd and her sd in the morning!

Is your dp very traditional aka chauvinistic? Is he hands on? Or were all nappy changes, sickness bugs etc dealt with by you?

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 17:10

I can't agree with anyone on here who says the birthday party is less important because she isn't a proper grandchild.

I think most people are saying that the birthday party is less important full stop. Because it undoubtedly is less important than looking after his sick child.

Poodletip · 22/07/2018 17:24

Can anyone remember who came to their 4th birthday party?