Choosing vanilla options, AIBU

[TulipTuloo]

Twice in the last two days I've asked my family (DH, three early teenage children) to choose me a menu option as I was unable to choose for myself (either I was driving/parking or outside holding bags). First instance : ice cream shop with EVERY. FLAVOUR. UNDER. THE. SUN and then some. Lotus, biscoffi, bounty flavour, key lime pie, ferroro rocher, honeycomb, were some of the ones I commented on from the menu I could see. They came out with bog standard chocolate (could have bought chocolate ice cream in the spar shop). Then again this evening, Italian restaurant takeaway. They had various pizzas, some seafood risotto things, guess what? They came home with a tomato and mozzarella dish for me: which was LITERALLY 6 slices of a tomato and four slices of mozzarella. I was obviously dismayed and DH said "yes, yours was the cheapest now I come to think about it", yeah because its clearly a side dish?!? AIBU to be annoyed that they repeatedly choose the most vanilla options possible?! I have no eating disorders or allergies or anything stopping me from trying new things. My personality is reasonably out there, but this is so typical of what they choose for me (don't ask about birthday presents please, because that's even worse).

But if you knew what was on the menu why didn't you specify what you wanted?

I said yabu because you could easily have listed 2 or 3 choices you'd happily have for both ice cream or pizza. If you don't choose, you get what you're given.

But you could of just said what you wanted 😂

I give options if I can't see everything. So like get me something like this or this but not that.

Too many options ends up being too difficult to choose and people default to simple.

Just choose what you want and be specific.
I hate choosing for other people and would probably go for the safe option too.

If you didn't tell them exactly what you wanted, YABU. Next time get your DH to park the car/hold the bags and go in and choose your own ice cream.

Why didn't you go and choose? It's the 'safe' option they're going for

Surely vanilla is the most vanilla option for ice cream, not chocolate

If my husband is doing the buying then I either say exactly what I want or give a few options. He would do the same vice versa.

Sorry, op, but this is ridiculous. There is no reason you couldn't have told them what you want, or at least have given them a direction to go in.

I hate choosing for other people. Choose your own!

Lotus, biscoffi, bounty flavour, key lime pie, ferroro rocher, honeycomb, were some of the ones I commented on from the menu I could see.

Well OP did comment on these. Presumably in a "wow!! So many interesting ones to choose from!" kind of way. Spell it out OP, next time say "get me the most exciting sounding thing".

If you care what you want then say what you want.

Why do you think they chose the most safe option? What is your usual reaction when they get it wrong?

YABU. Tell them what you want

Come on OP you should have given them some idea.

Ice cream - I fancy something fruity or caramel/toffee.

Italian - I feel like a pasta dish/pizza tonight.

It's like you've done that thing where you make the other person guess and are then annoyed with them for not getting the perfect choice, even though you didn't give a single clue!

@WorriedWishingWell

Surely vanilla is the most vanilla option for ice cream, not chocolate

I thought this too 😂

But why not give them some guidance? Choosing for other people - even people you know well - is hard. I’d probably go for the safe option as well TBH. If you wanted a fancy ice cream why not say, ‘get me toffee fudge caramel with extra sprinkles or chocolate brownie mint whirl if they have it?’ Ditto for the Italian. You can’t be passive and then be pissed off that people can’t read your mind.

I wouldn't have bothered getting you anything. I don't understand what's wrong with chocolate ice cream and the cheese and tomato thing? I'd have been happy with that. If you don't say what you want then you have to accept what you're given.

Wow I wish this was up there in my top life problems right now.

What everyone else has said

They went for the safe option of something they knew you liked both times. Going for something exciting would have been a gamble which may have backfired. If you wanted something exciting, tell them what you wanted (especially when you can see an online menu).
This is on you, not them.

Think it’s weird that you all got a takeaway and didn’t just share all the dishes. Seems kinda sad like you all sit there guarding your plates

Yeah I'm afraid I'm with the masses here... You have a voice, use it.

Tell them what you want, give options.

Italian restaurants typically have similar menus so even if you hadn't seen a menu you coiod have said "get me a risotto or a pasta with chicken.... Call me when you're there if in doubt"

YANBU. If I’m choosing an ice cream for DH or a sandwich or something, I’d go with two options that are acceptable to me (and likely to be to him) and let him choose.