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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:
SoyDora · 22/07/2018 11:01

I can’t imagine the step mother having anything except a small little family party. She won’t know the 4 year olds play school friends or anything

The child’s father could tell the step mother who the friends are? Or even (god forbid) get involved in the party planning and invite the child’s friends himself?!
You’ve made up a pure fantasy world.

LockedOutOfMN · 22/07/2018 11:01

YANBU, OP.

DH is definitely unreasonable to say that he hates you.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 11:01

I wouldn’t tell my partner I hated them.
But if my partner put his hobby ( also expensive and important to him) ahead of something really important to my daughter I’d be very upset about how little he cares.

nellly · 22/07/2018 11:02

Well tbh in our family, family parties would trump some class, guessing exercise or art etc. Unless it was a one off seminar by someone of note the class would lose to the family party!!

We also try not to separate step children vs blood related children ! I'm surprised by people making that distinction. It's not about whether the 4 year old cared it's a family event surely

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 11:03

I think my family is the same nellly. But it’s not universal so.

RabbitsAreTasty · 22/07/2018 11:03

He is being unreasonable obviously, as others have said it seems he sees you as the default parent and looking after his own ill son as a favour to you.

I would be livid if he turned up at my house when there's D&V in his house. I don't need my household catching that. A D&V bug is not the birthday gift we want.

By far the biggest issue is this sulking and hating of you for quite reasonable behaviour. Even if he still thinks you are wrong after discussion, the sulky teenager punishment is completely unacceptable.

Has he ever done this Kevin The Teenager turn before?

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 11:03

Slanety, it's not purely an issue of money for OP, is it? It's the fact that she booked for this course/event a long time ago, was probably looking forward to going, and can't necessarily rebook that easily. When her husband has the rest of the weekend to see his daughter and step granddaughter, it makes no sense whatsoever for her to miss it.

And there is nothing embarrassing about not having family at a 4 year old's party. I don't that at that age my children ever went to a party where grandparents were around, and I'm perfectly sure none of the parents were in the least embarrassed about it.

BewareOfDragons · 22/07/2018 11:04

Why on earth should 'the woman' be the one to drop everything and give up her plans to care for a sick child so 'the man' doesn't have to give up his plans when it was HIS day to have the child?!?!

Let's face it. He wouldn't have even been going to the 4 year old's birthday party if he didn't have a young child the same age ... he was only going because his own child was invited ... and now said child is sick and he needed to take care of his child.

He's being a big baby. Even more so when he had and exercised perfectly good options to see his older daughter and her boyfriend's child and to pass on his best wishes and a present. But sitting around drinking and telling you he 'hates you' now because you didn't drop everything and give up your class so he didn't have to watch his own sick child is just not on.

He owes you a massive, grovelling apology for his shitty behaviour. And a reminder that just because he has a penis doesn't mean you do all the grunt work when things don't work out the way he wanted them to.

Bluntness100 · 22/07/2018 11:04

I think you've both been rather horrible to each other. You "informed him" you'd still be going. Righto.

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

Neither of you is very nice to the other, as such I'd guess your relationship is on the way out. It's basically over bar the shouting.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 11:05

No they both had something they wanted to attend. They were both looking forward to their events. But the partner had to change his plans because the OPs plans cost money.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 11:06

My dad comes to my children’s parties and he doesn’t have a 5 year old.

gamerwidow · 22/07/2018 11:06

Depends really. Is the class something you do every week? How expensive is it? Would missing it have negative consequences for you with regards to future progress?

If its a weekly fitness class that’s about £10 then I think you were U for making him miss the party because it’s a small amount of money and a weekly event rather than a one off important event like the party. My DP prioritising this over my family would piss me off too.

If it’s part of a course which is more expensive and you’re covering different things every week like a college course where your non attendance means you miss vital information and the monetary loss is bigger you’d be more justified in prioritising it.
To be honest though if you were the parents of a currently vomiting child I wouldn’t want you at my party or on my course because you’ve probably got it too.

FASH84 · 22/07/2018 11:07

I do think a grandchild's birthday party trumps a class, a class can be rebooked even if not soon, if you'd contacted the provider and explained your son was sick you probably would've gotten a refund or at least credit for a different/future class. Fast forward twenty years, it's your son's PFBs birthday party, your DP says he's not going because his new partner has a class and won't look after their child who can't make it. Not sure you'd think she (new partner) was in the right, and your son would be hurt his father wasn't there for his grandchild's birthday. Your DP however is being incredibly immature, and rude in his behaviour subsequently and the drinking has made it worse.

flumpybear · 22/07/2018 11:07

It's your husband who is being totally unreasonable - if the shoe was on the other foot I'm sure he say it the other way round.

Your child is ill - your husband is looking after your child whilst you have your day thing booked - so whether that be party, or looking after a sick child those are the plans and he needs to man up

Plsbemyturn · 22/07/2018 11:07

YANBU

I think what has happened is the best solution, he still showed up and you got to do what has paid and planned. He seems to think spending time at his dd's step son's party is more important than looking after his own poorly son or your paid class. Any idea? Is it because he didnt want to miss his drinks/social?

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 11:07

Again, Slanety, this scenario about it being massively important to OP's stepdaughter to have her father at the party is total fantasy on your part, not based in any evidence. I suspect she was far happier not having a spare unattached adult hanging around to entertain. In fact, it may have been quite embarrassing for her if he had attended - other parents might well have wondered what a strange adult with no other child at the party and no blood relationship with the party child was doing there.

Bibesia · 22/07/2018 11:09

No they both had something they wanted to attend. They were both looking forward to their events. But the partner had to change his plans because the OPs plans cost money.

No, the partner had to change his plans because his son was sick.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/07/2018 11:10

Yanbu

And even if you were, he is being totally ridiculously ott in his reaction. Stonewalling is a horrible thing to do. As for "starting to hate you" that's just pathetic

ChasedByBees · 22/07/2018 11:10

I wonder if people think your class was something like a yoga or exercise class rather than a one off event where you learn a skill for example.

YA absolutely NBU and I’m surprised anyone is implying you are.

Your P saying he hates you because he had to look after his own child is beyond unreasonable and completely not acceptable.

Slanetylor · 22/07/2018 11:10

Well being at his step grand daughters party was obviously incredibly important to him. That doesn’t make him a “ cunt”.
It wasn’t more important than his son and no where does it imply that he thinks that.
He merely thought it was more important than the OPs hobby on this occasion.

JustVent · 22/07/2018 11:11

YANBU.

You have booked your event before any of this crap took place.
And the PP is right, he’s having a tantrum over a 4 year old girls birthday party.

What the fuck?

AhoyDelBoy · 22/07/2018 11:11

Daughters partners daughter, oh ffs. Would she give a flying fuck if he was there or not? Does she even know or understand who he is? Dads GFs Dad Confused
YANBU but sound pedantic. I lost count of how many times you said the course/whatever was non-refundable.

Whipsmart · 22/07/2018 11:11

He's completely bonkers. Taking your child to his daughter's partner's child's party was a bit of a tenuous link to start with, but a nice gesture. The idea that HE has to go to this party when your child can't go is utterly ridiculous.

gamerwidow · 22/07/2018 11:12

Sorry OP I’ve read the thread again and I’d missed you saying it was a one off never to be repeated course. In this case yanbu.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/07/2018 11:12

Once again I'm left intrigued by what a class or hobby is and am wildly speculating about it

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