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AIBU?

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Huge row with DH, I'm a selfish cow and he's packed his bags

377 replies

TheSelfishCow · 17/01/2019 21:58

I'll try and keep it short but I'm so upset.

DH and I both work a lot of hours, both partly from home and also on the road and on outbound appointments. We have two little girls (1 and 3).
On the rare occasions we are both at home together, one will be working from home on the phone / laptop.
We both work 6 days a week and it's very rare that our day off is on the same day, and we both have families who love coming over at the weekend to see the girls so even on those days off we end up spending them with other people too.

We have been talking about / planning a trip away for 8 days in the summer for our anniversary. Not over seas, just a staycation but with no work and just us and the girls. Proper us time as a little family.

DH told me tonight that he's booked our dream trip as a surprise to me - I was ecstatic! So happy, so excited and so looking forward to it. I could have burst with happiness.

He then tells me that he's also invited his parents along with us and they're booked and staying with us. He booked it with them a few days ago.
My face must have dropped, I didn't say anything but my face must have said what I was thinking. He started getting really defensive and talking about how much they do for us and love the kids and they'll be able to help with them whilst we are alway.

I said I was most upset that he hadn't even thought to run it past me or ask how I'd feel about them coming and that our one chance to spend some quality time as a little family unit this year is now not going to happen.

He said I'm selfish, spoilt, ungrateful and a cow.
He's packed a bag and gone to his parents.

I'm prepared to be told I've been terribly unreasonable, but I was so desperately longing for some time as a family, no phones, no work, no one else - just us.

Have I been awful? Should I have just faked a smile and accepted it? This will be the second trip in 4 years we've taken. We won't be able to go another time just us for probably 2-3 years now.

OP posts:
Charlie97 · 19/01/2019 22:27

Having to make a real effort not to cry is not just looking a bit disappointed. You can see people are doing it. It’s being devastated. It’s not being disappointed

Nor is it bursting into tears!

Weenurse · 19/01/2019 22:29

💐

MulticolourMophead · 19/01/2019 22:41

No, she said she tried really hard not to cry - which I took that she did cry.

There's still no evidence that OP did cry. I had occasions when I've tried not to cry and mostly I succeed.

cstaff · 19/01/2019 22:53

Even if she did cry all that proves is that she was upset. That is not the same as packing up and walking out. She was trying to be reasonable. He didn't want to know.

I hope you have had a chat and gotten sorted.

onceandneveragain · 19/01/2019 23:07

as well as all the points made by previous posters re: 'all he had done was a lovely thing for all of us' being not so lovely for you - 'he' hasn't really 'done' that much , though, has he? It's not as though he's sourced, organised and financed the entire thing - you'd both previously discussed when you'd have time off, discussed the place enough for him to know it's your 'dream trip' and as you both work presumably its being paid for out of joint budget? So all 'he' has really done is booked it (which isn't exactly onerous in the days of online booking - just a few mouse clicks).

Motoko · 19/01/2019 23:15

Christ, when did "trying hard not to cry" mean "bursting into tears" and "becoming overwrought"?

What a load of bollocks.

SaturdayNext · 19/01/2019 23:19

No, she said she tried really hard not to cry

So you interpret that as a statement that she burst into tears and was overreacting and too overwrought for reasonable discussion? Not only are you making up facts, Bejam, you're making up your own version of the English language and the ordinary meanings of words.

elle1111112 · 19/01/2019 23:22

Hopefully OP will come back and tell you that they’re getting divorced so that you can all sit back happy with the smug satisfaction you’ve made someone else’s life as miserable as your own

WTF?! If my partner went running to Mummy and Daddy's house every time we had an argument I'd be pretty miserable to be honest. OP deserves to be treated with respect.

Smallhorse · 19/01/2019 23:26

Completely agree with Bejamnostalgia.

Some of the comments directed at the husband on here are disgraceful

elle1111112 · 19/01/2019 23:39

Some of the comments directed at the husband on here are disgraceful

Waaaa. He called the OP selfish, spoilt, ungrateful and a cow. For not being thrilled about his parents coming on their family holiday. That's pretty disgraceful.

TotHappy · 20/01/2019 00:37

Fucking hell, this is a crazy thread

BlackCatSleeping · 20/01/2019 00:56

Has the husband spoken to the OP yet?

I’m dying to hear what he says.

PinaColada1 · 20/01/2019 00:57

@bejamnostalgia good advice I think. The couple have been running around hardly ever crossing paths, so busy, so stressed, they’ve no time to process, to think, to react in any rational way anymore.

They need time and space with each other. They need perspective.

It’s not the time to fuel the fire by screaming that DH is so bad she should be upping the ante. That’s not to excuse him, he acted badly. He ran off. However they may well have a love and security with each other that needs to have the chance to be saved, nurtured and repaired.

elle1111112 · 20/01/2019 01:04

@bejamnostalgia good advice I think. The couple have been running around hardly ever crossing paths, so busy, so stressed, they’ve no time to process, to think, to react in any rational way anymore

This is not a "they're both in the wrong" situation!!!!! She did NOTHING wrong! Stop trying to spin it as though it is.

Inertia · 20/01/2019 09:03

They needed time together BEFORE booking a holiday, so that they could agree where to go and what to do. When one person unilaterally decides to book and invite others it’s a bit too late .

Smallhorse · 20/01/2019 09:58

Elle,
So you calling him a man baby and advising her to leave the bastard is helpful , how ?

billybagpuss · 20/01/2019 10:46

How are you OP?

littlemissmanchet · 20/01/2019 12:36

Some folk are spectacularly missing the point of the lack of contact. It is normal for couples to go a day without speaking, but not usually after a massive blow-out where one of them has packed their bags and fucked off in a tantrum. That's the kind of shit you deal with quick. Communicating like adults.

littlemissmanchet · 20/01/2019 12:37

And no, the OP doesn't need to apologise for anything, Lord Bountiful who ran crying to Mumsy over his grand gesture he hadn't consulted his partner about does.

Workissueshelp · 20/01/2019 16:27

Hope you managed to get it sorted op.

Gth1234 · 20/01/2019 16:33

He's still a mummy's boy, clearly. He shouldn't have done this without agreeing with you first. He shouldn't have walked out. Whether it's bad enough to break up a relationship is different. It might be useful having babysitters on hand so the 2 of you can go out on your own.

I've ead the whole thread, and obviously there are other nuances also.

MistressDeeCee · 20/01/2019 17:54

He was saying they could have the kids so we could go out, but I don't want to take my kids away for a 'family holiday' and then leave them with grandparents so we can go off without them!

I can see his point. Your licws sounds like a work grind. No couple time at all. Not much kids time either, but still.

He should 100% have asked you tho

MistressDeeCee · 20/01/2019 17:54

*lives

MovingThisYearDefinitely · 21/01/2019 15:54

Any news yet OP? How are you? Flowers

aruba786 · 21/01/2019 16:17

Are you ok OP? Have u had chance to speak to DH? Hope you're ok

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