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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU re. Christmas and family visits?

460 replies

minervas1 · 28/10/2021 12:22

Just trying to sense check if I'm being U or if DH is...

Last Christmas we spent just us two (no kids yet!) and it was lovely, we had a perfect time. It had always been the plan to spend it like that after years of traipsing around between two families (usually 24th-26th with one, and then 27th-30th with another), but obviously Covid rules meant we couldn't visit anyone in the run up to Christmas or around NY as had been the plan.

This year I had presumed we would spend Xmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day alone but visit families before and after. I expressed this to DH, asking whether he wanted to see his Mum+Dad before or after Xmas, and he said he didn't want to do any of that. He said he didn't want to drive around on his annual leave and be guests in other people's houses, and just wanted to relax like last year. We both got a bit irritated with each other, and he eventually said he would do one trip if necessary to my Mum and Dad, but he was only going to do one. I think this is really cruel to his family who we're really close to, and I don't want to miss seeing mine in the festive season either.

Now, here's where I may be being Unreasonable... I don't drive. I can't drive, never had any interest in learning (not medical or trauma related or anything, just have never had to). Our families live quite far from us, so visiting does involve 4 hours of driving, although not difficult driving and mostly on motorway. DH says he finds that exhausting and it makes him tired for Christmas when he is "on holiday", and that travel days eat into festive time. He is happy to see family earlier in December and then just hunker down for the christmas period itself.

I don't know if he's just being a lazy dick here or not, tbh? Is it unreasonable to expect him to do the driving so we can make family happy and have some nice visits, especially as I already feel we're being a bit selfish by having Christmas just us two? Or is he fair enough? Is there a compromise here?

OP posts:
AryaStarkWolf · 29/10/2021 09:47

[quote GreenFingersWouldBeHandy]@crazeelala2u

There is no such thing as CANNOT cook.

There is WON'T cook and CAN'T BE ARSED to cook.

Anyway, original post derailed. Sorry.[/quote]
Totally agree. If you can read, you can cook

CheltenhamLady · 29/10/2021 12:36

I drive OP and 4 hours is a long way in Xmas traffic. Being able to share the driving is necessary these days.

Get driving lessons booked. It is a life skill that is needed by everyone these days.

That said, my OH would do the driving to ensure I saw my family at Christmas. He would also be fine with them staying over too.

You need to sit down and have a discussion about it. if you go ahead with driving lessons then he will see that this year will be the last one that he needs to do all the driving.

AryaStarkWolf · 29/10/2021 12:43

That said, my OH would do the driving to ensure I saw my family at Christmas. He would also be fine with them staying over too.

Her Dh has said he would drive her to see her parents though

Jack80 · 29/10/2021 17:29

You don’t drive so you can’t expect to know what it would be like, me and my husband drive and 4 hours is long. Make a compromise.

janice511 · 29/10/2021 17:30

Driving is exhausting! Being on high alert constantly, reading the road and making decisions, trying to guess what other drivers are about to do, you have no idea! YABVU

Madamum18 · 29/10/2021 17:36

I don't think you are being unreasonable to feel sad about not seeing your family over Xmas. It takes time to get used to that

But I do think that you are turning this into a big hoo ha instead of just quietly sitting down, listening to each others viewpoints and then finding a compromise together

It sounds like your DH is suggesting a level of compromise re visiting just your family but then you are keeping going on worrying about HIS family!! You appear to be seeing it as all your way or all his way...it doesn't have to be. How about agreeing that each year you will visit one family over Xmas period (before/during/after) and visit other family a bit earlier or at New Year?

And remember , be grateful that he wants to spend Xmas with you two hunkering down together ...that is a compliment to you!!

Diva66 · 29/10/2021 17:38

YABU. He deserves a break,

superblondie28 · 29/10/2021 17:43

I don't drive, however I've had lessons and had a go at the practical test four times at least and failed due to stupid things ☹️ as such as my DH is the only driver and it does make me feel guilty. I may resume one day..

My parents live 100+ miles away and so if we go, we stay overnight somewhere so he has a break. Luckily it's Blackpool with plenty of cheap hotels 😀

So, OP, I do think you're being unreasonable and your hubby deserves a Christmas break too, from driving.

superblondie28 · 29/10/2021 17:47

I would also say that even if OP did drive, her DH would still probably drive the long car journeys!! I know mine would do 😉

TidyOmlette · 29/10/2021 17:48

4 hours driving is a lot. Your being a bit of a dick tbh. You expect him to chauffeur you around and like it?!

Tessabelle74 · 29/10/2021 17:58

Driving IS exhausting, even more so on motorways as you have to be practically psychic to guess what other drivers are going to do and at 70mph that's a lot of brain power. YABU

RampantIvy · 29/10/2021 18:00

@superblondie28

I would also say that even if OP did drive, her DH would still probably drive the long car journeys!! I know mine would do 😉
Why don't you share the driving? I know far too many women who don't do any motorway driving because their DPs insist on driving. This just reinforces the stereotype of the helpless woman.

If DH and I do a long car journey we always share the driving. Just as well because since his stroke he can only cope with straightforward journeys where he doesn't need to rely on a satnav. So I have to do all the fiddly bits as well as my share of the motorway driving.

Suzanne999 · 29/10/2021 18:00

4 hours driving in Britain is utter misery. Add winter weather and it’s even more miserable!!!
Compromises: Rent a large property between all of you and spend either Christmas, pre- or post- Christmas with both sets of families.
Have your family and his come to you.
Travel by train.

And consider driving lessons.

Angie1403 · 29/10/2021 18:09

My BiL family live in England and Spain (we are in Scotland) and they have a family Xmas in late November or early December. Turkey, tree, pressies. The whole 9 yards. BiL/wife/kids stay the weekend so everyone gets some leisure time and some wine! Would something similar work for you? What about New Year as an alternative?

superblondie28 · 29/10/2021 18:09

Unfortunately I'm not insured to drive our main car and I'd find it too large and powerful. It's only a Vauxhall Insignia.

I lost my confidence too and am out of practice. I know, from past experience, that hubby is a nervous wreck, if I'm driving beside him and he's passenger.

Pidgylou · 29/10/2021 18:11

Yup you're being unreasonable. I don't drive myself but I'm pretty sure all driving is on a par difficulty wise Hmm and it is tiring. I think that him wanting to hunker down just the two of you is romantic. My mum told me years ago when I marred my first husband that I should be careful about Christmas as its easy to set a precedent and then you're setting in stone your future movements. We ALWAYS spent it with his parents
Now I'd be thrilled to hunker down with my new hubby. If you're planning on having children maybe make the most of what will be peaceful Christmasses as when you have little peeps then the festive season will become crazy. Also might not want to address his Christmas card to a lazy dick jsGrin

Stovetopespresso · 29/10/2021 18:32

I think the learn to drive things is missing the point.

the point is dh has moved the goal posts and op is left high and dry. op is trying to do the 'right' thing by seeing both sides of the family.
saying that, what is your solution op? what are the actions you can take independently of your dh?

notoldjustpastyoung · 29/10/2021 18:33

You don't drive so you use your husband as a chauffeur. Selfish I call it. If you're not going to visit anyone, and that's OK, don't except your own family. Go and see them before Xmas.
Doesn't your husband have any say in this seeing he's the driver. I don't blame him saying NO. YABU

Hesma · 29/10/2021 18:40

I’m with your DH. Let him enjoy his break. Can’t you invite family to you?

Beautiful3 · 29/10/2021 18:48

Driving long journies is exhausting. I don't blame your husband at all. If you did drive and you split the driving, then it wouldn't be so bad, but you can't. I think seeing them before Xmas would be a good idea, saving Christmas to do what he wants. Which is to relax and eat/drink and be merry, and not drive an 8 hour round trip.

Hellsbells35 · 29/10/2021 18:49

I drive and my husband doesn’t. 4 hours is nothing. He’s being very lazy!! Driving isn’t tiring…you’re sitting down

Platax · 29/10/2021 18:58

@Hellsbells35

I drive and my husband doesn’t. 4 hours is nothing. He’s being very lazy!! Driving isn’t tiring…you’re sitting down
If you don't get tired by four hours' concentrating on roads that are potentially icy and with at least part of the journey in the dark, you're not concentrating - and that's worrying.
thing47 · 29/10/2021 18:59

What goalposts has the DH moved? He's just said he doesn't want to make two separate trips over the Christmas period. He has offered the compromise of driving OP to see her family, but she still isn't happy because she thinks they should visit his family too. I'm not too sure why that's anything to do with her…

hotmeatymilk · 29/10/2021 19:00

I drive and my husband doesn’t. 4 hours is nothing. He’s being very lazy!! Driving isn’t tiring…you’re sitting down
Driving isn’t tiring to you. I find it physically and mentally taxing. People are different! HTH

And if it really isn’t tiring, well, OP can learn to drive and do it all herself – problem solved.

RampantIvy · 29/10/2021 19:12

@Hellsbells35

I drive and my husband doesn’t. 4 hours is nothing. He’s being very lazy!! Driving isn’t tiring…you’re sitting down
I call bollocks