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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:
nocoolnamesleft · 22/07/2018 17:28

YANBU. The compromise was sensible.

One parent had a prior commitment. Their child was invited to a children's birthday party. The other parent, who was already meant to be looking after the child that day, agreed to take the child, as it was a distant step(sort of) relative on their side. Unfortunately the child became ill. The parent who was meant to be looking after them had a tantrum about not being able to go to a children's birthday party with no child. Despite being able to visit the family earlier in the day.

There is absolutely no reason that it should always be the mother that drops everything when a child is ill. Father should do an equal amount of sick child wrangling.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 17:30

Well it does depend on whether the child is considered a grandchild or a distant relative.
The OP implies they see her as a grandchild.

pictish · 22/07/2018 17:42

Ach what nonsense some people are talking on this thread. Of course you aren’t being unreasonable. Your dh has been a prick to you because he thinks he is more important than you are and he’s furious that you didn’t agree and let him have his own way. How very dare you stick to your pre-booked plan when he wanted to change it prioritise himself!

What an arsehole.

HolgerLowCarbingLoser · 22/07/2018 17:48

He’s just the same selfish twat he’s always been, and I expect that if you look back more closely on the years since the counselling you had, there will be plenty of evidence to show that actually, he’s not changed his ways much at all and the reason why it’s supposedly been better is that you usually defer to his wishes. That’s likely why he’s so pissed off that you didn’t do so on this occasion.

pictish · 22/07/2018 18:00

Absolutely...you were supposed to step down and take the hit so his wants, whatever they were, would take automatic priority.

Starting to hate you = shocked and dismayed that you didn’t back down!

Your ‘behaviour’ = reasonably sticking to your plan.

KokoandAllBall · 22/07/2018 18:01

Of course you weren't unreasonable. Your DS has two parents, one was busy, one wasn't. And he still got to go up and visit.

I am the one who always has to change my plans if DS is sick (take time of work etc).

So he sees you as default carer when DS is ill. Is he the kind of man who thinks his balls might fall off if he has to take on a caring role?

It is a big red flag that he would say he's "starting to hate you" over such a minor problem. His reaction to all of this is the most unreasonable thing. Are things usually fine between you?

Rebecca36 · 22/07/2018 18:09

I think it wouldn't hurt you to miss your class for once, it would have hurt him not to see his other family at a happy occasion. He would have liked to take your son too. It's a sad situation but one in which I feel it would be right for you to especially generous.

pictish · 22/07/2018 18:12

IT WAS A ONE-OFF CLASS! A SINGLE EVENT, NOT PART OF A COURSE OR SERIES!

Sorry to shout but that has been clearly established several fucking times for fuck’s sake.

Caribbeanyesplease · 22/07/2018 18:12

I have no opinion on thebnread as not read it

But this...

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

Shit way to parent in my opinion. It’s not about what they will remember. It’s about the here and now.

Sallystyle · 22/07/2018 18:12

I think it wouldn't hurt you to miss your class for once

Maybe you should read the thread for once? It was a one off event.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 18:17

I don’t anink anyone can give an informed opinion here because there’s lots of unspoken backstory. We’ve no idea what the course was.

I was coming at it from my own point of view. That I would be upset if my new partner wouldn’t step in so I could go to my granddaughters birthday party.
But lots of people don’t consider the girl a real relative or that birthdays are important. They’re important to me but not to others.

So it depends on whether these events are important to the OP or her partner or if it was a control thing or some sort of abuse.

pictish · 22/07/2018 18:28

The OP has already established that they don’t see a lot of the daughter’s boyfriend’s daughter. I am sorry if that doesn’t fit in with your agenda but we can only go on what the OP says seeing as she is the person actually involved and would therefore know.

melonscoffer · 22/07/2018 18:29

WowLookAtYou Sun 22-Jul-18 16:38:34
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

Did you miss the (age 6) in brackets in my post.
I have made it plain that I am referring to his own grandaughter (age 6). He would see her and his daughter.
This obviously is not the party girl who is having a 4th birthday party.

pictish · 22/07/2018 18:32

And it doesn’t matter what the ONE-OFF CLASS NOT A COURSE was. It could be making macaroni necklaces with string for all I care. The point is, it was booked and paid for before the party was an issue and there was no need for OP to cancel it, seeing as her h was free.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 18:32

Rebecca36, RTFT. OP is not missing her class "for once", it's a one-off, if she misses it she will not have another chance to do it. He only sees his family every 4-6 weeks, if he's that desperate to see them on happy occasions he could just visit more frequently.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 18:33

The IP has said she considers they girl as their granddaughter and treats them both the same. Sorry if the OPs relationship with the girl doesn’t fit your agenda.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 18:34

Well it does depend on whether the child is considered a grandchild or a distant relative.

No, it doesn't. Sick child trumps grandchild's birthday party every time, especially when you can visit grandchild earlier in the day.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 18:36

I would be upset if I couldn’t be at my granddaughters birthday party.
I wouldn’t be upset as an abusive power move. I’d just be upset.

melonscoffer · 22/07/2018 18:36

mydogisthebest Sun 22-Jul-18 16:25:23
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

I agree with the "cant be bothered to read properly".

That is exactly what you have done - not read my post properly.
If YOU could be bothered to look at the OP properly you will see that he has a grandaughter aged 6.

You can stop being so rude and re-read MY post where I clearly refer to HIS Grandaughter (age) six.

Who is quite obviously not the party girl having a 4th party.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 22/07/2018 18:38

Some of the posters are being classic examples of why it's not a good idea to drink (alcohol) throughout the day. Or, perhaps, shouldn't drink alcohol at all.

pictish · 22/07/2018 18:39

“To clarify for some posters above - it's not his granddaughter. It's his daughter's partner's child. We don't see her often.”

Yes they are polite and buy her presents and make her feel included...they are not fuckwits clearly. That does not mean they think of her as a granddaughter...they don’t.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 18:42

We’ve no idea what the course was

Irrelevant. The point is that OP wanted to go and had paid for it, and her partner had agreed to look after his child. His child's sickness didn't change any of those facts, nor did it suddenly mean that he need not keep to his agreement.

I would be upset if my new partner wouldn’t step in so I could go to my granddaughters birthday party.

New partner? They have a 5 year old child, FFS! And he was only supposed to go to the party originally in order to take his son there. He was at the previous year's party, he saw his daughter's boyfriend's daughter that morning, and he obviously isn't that close to her otherwise he would see her more frequently the rest of the time. I would be upset if my partner expected me to give up a long-planned unique class I wanted to do for such a weak reason as that.

Bluesrunthegame · 22/07/2018 18:43

OP

You are not being unreasonable, he is.

Hope you enjoyed your course. Sorry his attitude may have spoiled your day.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 18:46

New partner as in not his Old partner , mother of his daughter.
He wasn’t going to the party as the driver of his son. In that case why did the son need 2 drivers the previous year.
Why did OP go to the part of a total stranger last year if her partner can drive on his own.

pictish · 22/07/2018 18:49

“I would be upset if I couldn’t be at my granddaughters birthday party.”

Might be relevant if that’s what was happening here, but it’s not. Added to that, he was able to pop along on the day anyway so no fucking hassle is it? I’m quite sure he’s not that desperate to attend the fourth birthday party of his daughter’s partner’s daughter...he just thought his agenda should trump OP’s and he’s taking huge issue with the fact that it didn’t. Like an arsehole does.