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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:
CSJobseeker · 30/10/2021 17:27

@Briarshollow

North-west Scotland originally, *@AnnieSnap*, why?
I think it was this comment that prompted her question:

in weather that is potentially slightly damper than usual, to likely be a poor driver at all times. December is extremely early winter, it’s very rarely below zero, the average UK temp is 7 degrees

While I appreciated that in many areas of the country December might just be "slightly damper than usual", that's definitely not the case where I live. I expect proper frosts, and ice on the roads in the bits that don't see the sun, in December. Snow in December is unusual these days, but it's cold enough for me to fit winter tyres to my vehicles in roughly mid November each year (it varies by a few weeks if it's a warm or cool autumn).

CSJobseeker · 30/10/2021 17:28

This year has been a very mild autumn though, tbh - my vehicles are still on their summer tyres at the moment.

Briarshollow · 30/10/2021 18:29

That’s why I said UK average. It ranges between 3 and 9 apparently, according to the met office. It really doesn’t get properly cold in the UK until January and February.

AnnieSnap · 30/10/2021 19:01

@Briarshollow

North-west Scotland originally, *@AnnieSnap*, why?
Because you made a sweeping statement that late December is always mild, with no icey roads!
WoMandalorian · 30/10/2021 19:19

If he's said he'd be happy to visit them early December why can't you all just do your christmassy stuff then with his parents? It doesn't matter if you celebrate with them on December 3rd or December 25th so long as you all enjoy your time together.

user1492117463 · 31/10/2021 12:27

Think you are being unreasonable, surely the answer is you host Christmas dinner this year !

Pinkfluff76 · 01/11/2021 15:53

He’s being a dick not wanting to drive, yet you’ve never bothered to learn because you haven’t needed to… how about to help your husband with the annual driving! You’re the selfish lazy one!

Madamum18 · 01/11/2021 19:19

You’re the selfish lazy one!

Confused Dear me!!

LadyOfLittleLeisure · 02/11/2021 09:56

You are being so, so unreasonable.

Greenpolkadot · 02/11/2021 11:13

Look at it this way. You had a great time last year DH enjoyed not driving and visiting ,both if which are very tiring.
I don't blame him not wanting to drive . Let the poor bloke have a bit of rest. Or get your arse on the train.

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