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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In laws booked holiday within less than 24 hours

103 replies

Amberlight003 · 16/07/2019 21:14

Just after a bit of advice as I’ve been made to think I’m going mad but a big part of me says I am not!

Ok so you may recall a previous post some months ago about my partner. We’ve tried and I’ve tried, very hard to make things work. Some weeks have been great, others not so great and things revert back to normal.

Anyway, on Saturday the in laws came over. Before mother in law took a seat, she said she had something to tell us...she said, were all going away next year (mil, fil, sil, bil, me and partner and our 2 kids) for fil’s birthday abroad to Portugal. You don’t have to pay we’re paying and you just have to turn up. She very quickly said after that, but of course you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. Straight away my partner said, yeah I’ll go definitely even if I (me) wants to stay and he said it with a face like a slapped arse, very arrogantly and dismissively and didn’t look at me once.

Basically in 10 years this will be the 6th holiday abroad, 5 of which have been with his parents and sister and her partner, 1 of which on our own. His parents have paid for some of these holidays, after of course telling us we are going on them and me getting no say whatsoever.

I wasn’t thrilled and my expression probably showed, however I did try to express some interest as i thought we don’t have to agree to anything there and then and maybe me and my partner could have a discussion. But later that afternoon Mil told partner I didn’t look happy about it. Apparently he again told her he will definitely be going.

We ended up arguing that night as I said I don’t particularly want to go. A long weekend away ok, I can deal, but another 10 days abroad I wasn’t feeling. He said I was an ungrateful bitch and it’s his family and the kids will love it, he didn’t speak to me for the rest of the night.

Bit of a back story, his sister quite literally bullied me silly, for years and years, the treatment was actually shocking and everyone stood by and said not a word. It took me to literally crack big time at her for my partner to finally take my side and he’s openly said to me and his parents numerous times since that his sister was an absolute cow to me for years and it should have been squashed long ago. There was never any reason except for jealousy over petty things and I actually resorted to being a mute around his family, I couldn’t come out of my shell because she was so vile. My partner always said he never knew what to do and totally accepts she was a bully to me for years. This was squashed 2 years ago and I’ve tried my best to put everything aside and forget everything. She hasn’t been that bad since then. But obviously we’re talking 11 years of disrespect against 2 years of just getting along as best we can.

The very next day after the in laws made their announcement, not even a full 24 hours later, they had been and booked the entire thing. Before they actually booked it they called my partner who told them we were having relationship problems at the moment, but he told them to book me a place and I can cancel. They went ahead and still booked the whole thing, less than 24 hours after announcing it. I can’t help but feel that was a bit selfish as they’ve made it clear they want to get all the grandkids abroad, never mind our relationship was in tatters.

Ever since my partner has called me ungrateful, a b*tch, mad, crazy for not wanting a free holiday.

I just feel he’s put their needs ahead of mine, yet again, like with all the other holidays I had no say in going on, while they all stood by and let his sister be vile to me - despite knowing she was being vile! 1 holiday I was told I couldn’t go on as sil didn’t want me there due to jealousy, her partner was allowed to go but I wasn’t. In the end I was allowed to go but I had to fly back after the first week on my own while they all stayed...all because of sister in law. This was many years ago, he says I shouldn’t hold onto it. But it’s this and other behaviour that makes me hold some resentment. Not to mention all of the other issues. He is refusing to talk to me now. We’ve barely spoken in days.

OP posts:
HappyLoneParentDay · 17/07/2019 01:43

Get your kids away from him ASAP

Yeahnahmum · 17/07/2019 04:41

Oh op
You are stuck with an awful husband and similar in laws.
Is this your idea of a good marriage? No. It isn't. Surely you can see that right?

For your kids sake you should try and leave him. Because they will grow up thinking all of this (and your other post ) is normal.

Please try to find the strength to either A. do counseling (and get a professional telling you that your husband is an arse...)or B just bite the bullet and leave him.

If you had a friend in a similar marriage what would you advice them? To leave
.. right? So please do the same.

BoomBoomsCousin · 17/07/2019 04:59

Your in-laws don’t sound too bad. There son told them to book. They really don’t know the ins and outs of your relationship difficulties or what you’re thinking in regards to the holiday. How would them not booking be better? You’d still have relationship difficulties and they wouldn’t have their holiday booked.

I totally understand why you don’t want to go. I don’t think I’d want to go for 5 out of 6 of my holidays with my in-laws and I get on well with them. But I’m not clear on why you want to stop your DH going and taking the kids. It sounds like a lovely opportunity for your children. Will it stop you having a family holiday?

Your DH’s response to you, though, is, to me, the most worrying part of this whole incident. He seems to blame you for the fallout from his sister’s treatment of you, either that or he’s basically looking for reasons to split up - he isn’t trying to understand your perspective at all.

SagAloojah · 17/07/2019 05:35

They all sound horrible. SIL was abusive for 11 years and your partner and MIL, FIL and others all colluded in that abuse. Now you're expected to let it all go? Fuck that.

These people didn't care enough about you to stand up for you to SIL. They chose you over SIL. Your partner was fine with SIL abusing you for 11 years. It took you losing your shit with SIL for him to admit SIL was abusive all those years. He did nothing. He let you down. He is even today calling you an ungrateful bitch multiple times. He has zero respect for you and will put you last.

Put your foot down and say neither you or kids will be going. If dp says he is taking the kids, then in your shoes, I would leave him. He does not support you and will always take his family's side.

SagAloojah · 17/07/2019 05:36

*they chose SIL over you

Mummyoflittledragon · 17/07/2019 06:04

I’ve just read your other thread. He is seriously abusive. Long term daily weed smoking has irrevocably changed his brain. There is no coming back from this. No way would I let my children go away with an addict. I just wanted to leave this comment with you so you can read it again.

In laws booked holiday within less than 24 hours
TwistyTop · 17/07/2019 06:09

Your DH sounds fucking vile. Get away from this man ASAP.

He can't take the kids out of the country without your permission. Please get some legal advice today. Good luck xx

urbanlife · 17/07/2019 06:26

I would not be going on holiday

I would not be staying with a man as damaged as your dh

Think of your children and leave him. Take their passports with you, and do not agree to any of his demands. Legal advice this morning on the way forward and how you can protect yourself and him.

I suggest you elicit some proper support from your own family and friends, and distance yourself from his.

The issue isn't the holiday. It is him.

urbanlife · 17/07/2019 06:27

**Protect yourself and children - not him obv!

anothernamechange123 · 17/07/2019 06:31

I was verging on thinking you were being a little unreasonable until I read your last thread.
My goodness op I'm so sad to hear that you are experiencing this. He is using you as a verbal punch bag.
Please leave. Get you and your kids away from him any way you can. Xx

Nyon · 17/07/2019 06:35

Think about what you’re inadvertently teaching your children about relationships - is this dominant, aggressive vile behaviour from him what you want them to emulate or have to deal with? Why exactly are you staying OP?

ImogenTubbs · 17/07/2019 06:37

It sounds like the holiday is a red herring - you're not really upset about being offered a free holiday, you're upset about being insulted, patronized and degraded by your H and this is just the latest in a line of things that make you feel this way. I'm sorry you are gong through this - your H is not respecting you and that would be a dealbreaker for me.

BeanBag7 · 17/07/2019 06:41

The in laws booking a holiday isn't really the issue. It can be booked or you can just not go and they lose the money - that's their problem to deal with.

Your issue is your partner who doesnt listen to you and is verbally abusive. If he is your partner and not your husband it will be easier (legally, perhaps not emotionally) to leave him. He might take the kids with him on this holiday if you split but he might do that anyway even if you're still together! Dont use that as an excuse not to go through with it - it will be better in the long run for your children not to be with this abusive man all the time.

If you decide to split the likelihood is that he will send you threatening messages etc. He probably already has. Keep these as evidence to use against him at any custody hearing or when he asks to take the kids abroad.

LittleFairywren · 17/07/2019 06:45

I just read your other thread. He's abusive, controlling, jealous, nasty, and he calls you vile names in front of your young daughter for doing nothing more than sitting next to another man. Please please leave him. He's going to destroy you.

treenu · 17/07/2019 07:01

Please leave. No one deserves this - you are normalising this really sad situation for your children.

Do it for them.

Get legal advice as soon as possible. Can your family help? Your SIL?

treenu · 17/07/2019 07:02

*SIL on your side.

littlecabbage · 17/07/2019 07:21

OP, just to echo others - your previous thread describes a shockingly abusive relationship. I can understand how it is not obvious to you, as it probably changed gradually over time, but to an outsider it is horrendous.

You deserve, and can have, a happy life with your children if you leave him. With the support and advice of women on here, please start making plans to leave this relationship. Consider contacting Women's Aid for help.

Mix56 · 17/07/2019 07:28

The holiday is the least of your problems.
Why are you still with him ? Don't say you love him. It's not for the benefit of your children. What's left ? Nice house ?
You need to get out, your anguish comes from being mentally tortured by this Abuser.
You need to call Womens Aid & talk to a professional, they will confirm this is Domestic violence, get informed, make a plan & Get out

Xenia · 17/07/2019 07:38

Just don't go. It's not a big deal. Have a loverly 10 days just going to work and free evenings without children! Bliss.

I don't think booking in 24 hours is bad though - in our family ( I took 9 of us away in June on a similar kind of holiday) once people have said yes then I book almost immediately sooner than 24 hours sometimes!

Myriade · 17/07/2019 07:59

Hmm I’m in two minds about it.

On one side, your DH is vile and clearly isn’t ready to make any efforts to make things easier for you or to save your relationship. Your PIL followed your DH lead, rightly or wrongly.

On the other, side, I would be furious if DH was trying to stop me from spending time with my parents and my own and go away on hols, all paid by them. I would tell him he is ungrateful too tbh. (Fwiw DH wouldnt come to a 10 hols with my parents but not because they don’t get in together - they have communication issue due to them not speaking the same language)

I think your issue there isn’t the hols, it’s your relationship. And from your DH reaction, I’m wondering if there is anything left to save tbh

gingerbiscuits · 17/07/2019 08:35

What an utterly vile family & spineless, cruel, selfish husband- I'd leave ASAP! Life is too short to be bullied like that. All the best to you.

Suebnm · 17/07/2019 09:28

You say partner so it is safe to assume you're not married.

Whose surname do the children have? Is your boyfriend on the birth certificate?

Peralta · 17/07/2019 09:55

After I read this thread I thought what a horrible man. Then I read your previous thread and an horrified. You deserve so much better.

Leaving him will be the hardest time of your life, but a year down the track you will see it as the best thing you have ever done.

GemmeFatale · 17/07/2019 10:32

Realistically if you say you aren’t going but he’s welcome to take the children would he? I mean holidaying with kids is hard work if you’re the designated adult.

Assuming you think they’d be safe with the extended family group let him take them. Ensure he does all the wife work that involves - shopping for swimwear and sun cream and what have you. Packing it all in the suitcase(s). Planning how he will entertain two excited kids at the airport/on the flight. Managing them for ten long days while everyone else gets to enjoy late morning starts, a good book by the pool, and sipping wine at night.

ohcanada · 17/07/2019 10:35

Leave your husband and get far away from that family. Book yourself a get away with your own family or friends, or even just by yourself on the same week!

Get your life back instead of going from bully to bully.