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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:
Squirrelblanket · 28/10/2021 12:34

You are being totally unreasonable to call him a lazy dick, given that you can't drive and expect him to do it all.

I am on his side. We're in the same situation as you in that we don't live near either of our families. We use the weekends in December to visit family then so that when Christmas comes we don't have to go anywhere and can just relax.

If you're not seeing them on the actual day anyway, does it really matter whether you see them on 17th or 27th December? It's just a date.

samwitwicky · 28/10/2021 12:35

It sounds to me like you want your DH to do what you want and there doesn't seem to be any compromise.

Given the fact you don't drive you have no way of knowing how tiring it can be. 4 hours is exhausting, even with stops.

You are being unreasonable here and I think you're lucky he offered to take you to your parents.

Maybe family could visit you this time?

peboh · 28/10/2021 12:36

@minervas1

Sorry - he won't have families visit us during those two weeks either as he wants home to be his sanctuary. This is why I'm particularly annoyed with him as he wants everything his way.

He also won't get the train, so I could visit my own family alone but we still wouldn't see his.

Is it not your home too? You can put your foot down in respects to family visiting
Disfordarkchocolate · 28/10/2021 12:36

I'm team DH. It's bloody exhausting.

HotToddyColdSauvignon · 28/10/2021 12:37

Learn to drive

Biancadelrioisback · 28/10/2021 12:38

It's totally fair enough him not wanting to drive. It's not fair that he's banning visitors.

What do you both do for work? Is his job incredibly demanding? Does he not get much time off?

Bottleofstout · 28/10/2021 12:38

Compromise op! Go by train if you can. Stay in a hotel nearby your respective families. Visit week or so before Christmas. Make it in to a romantic mini break?

Orchidflower1 · 28/10/2021 12:38

Get the train,( on your own if he won’t) - visit your family or get them to come to you first week in December or first week in jan.

Therealjudgejudy · 28/10/2021 12:38

Wow. You sound incredibly self centered and entitled.

Learn to bloody drive!

Chocolatewheatos · 28/10/2021 12:39

I can't drive, never had any interest in learning

I don't know if he's just being a lazy dick here

YABVFU learn to drive if you want to plan 4hr long drives. "Not difficult driving, just motorways" ah yes. The classically well known easy roads 👍

minervas1 · 28/10/2021 12:39

@peboh

Despite everyone thinking I'm some terrible person, I'm not so terrible that I'd invite people over to our house when one of us doesn't want them there. I'd hate if DH did that to me, and I also don't want to run round getting the house ready for guests all on my own.

OP posts:
nurserypolitics · 28/10/2021 12:40

OK no I don't think he gets to unilaterally decide what you both do.

I'd make it clear your preference is to visit both/have both visit. You say you have no kids; do you plan any? Because for us having a relationship with grandparents was really important. If he isn't bothered seeing anyone at Christmas, will he be the same if you have children? Are you ok with that?

We chose to stay home and have people come to us once we had our first, it is relaxing, but we also do a bit of visiting. I think there should be some form of compromise between spending your whole break driving between two families and sitting at home for two weeks not letting anyone visit or going to anyone.

And yes, I do think you need to learn to drive but the fact you can't shouldn't mean you have zero input into this decision.

RampantIvy · 28/10/2021 12:41

I'm sorry, but I agree with everyone else.

YABVVVU

I'm surprised your DH hasn't encouraged you to learn to drive. If you decide to have children not being able to drive will be very limiting unless you live somewhere with plentiful public transport.

peboh · 28/10/2021 12:41

[quote minervas1]@peboh

Despite everyone thinking I'm some terrible person, I'm not so terrible that I'd invite people over to our house when one of us doesn't want them there. I'd hate if DH did that to me, and I also don't want to run round getting the house ready for guests all on my own.[/quote]
I don't think you're horrible, just don't understand how tiresome driving really is.
You need to speak to your DH and find a compromise. If he isn't willing to drive (which is completely understand or) and you really want to see your families then them visiting you is the best option. Otherwise I'd look into public transport.

Perhaps this is your sign to learn how to drive!

TheChiefJo · 28/10/2021 12:42

He's lazy for not feeling upto all the driving? But you don't feel the need to learn?

Let him enjoy his Christmas break.

Laufeythejust · 28/10/2021 12:42

I’m with your DH on this. Sod that, you need to learn how to drive. You’re quite selfish to expect him to do all the driving, if he drives everywhere in the year too maybe he just wants a break.

ilovesooty · 28/10/2021 12:42

You couldn't be bothered to learn to drive. It's up to him if he doesn't want to ferry you around.

You sound like the lazy one. If you don't like his decision get off your backside and take some lessons.

CheshireDing · 28/10/2021 12:43

But you are both (and presumably most of your family are) grown adults. So why can’t you go and see your family before Christmas - they can cope with it not being on THE day.

If he doesn’t want to see his family at Christmas why are you pushing? His family, his choice.

Get the train before Christmas yourself and be back to spend time with your DH over Christmas

I too am Team DH

RampantIvy · 28/10/2021 12:43

and I also don't want to run round getting the house ready for guests all on my own.

Why not? It can't be that difficult or exhausting.

Sailor2009 · 28/10/2021 12:44

It's only October. Get yourself on an intensive course then you can do the "easy" 4 hours of motorway driving instead.

Hemingwayscats · 28/10/2021 12:44

YABU because you don’t drive out of choice so you can’t dictate to your DH where he spends his Christmas holiday as a result. Get the train to see your family if it means that much to you or maybe they could visit you? Why are you two always going to them?

LottaHogs · 28/10/2021 12:45

You need to learn to drive.

No, he’s not a lazy dick. I’m in exactly the same position as your DH - I get annual leave at Christmas time and many years ago my DH & I decided we would not spend our time driving around the country to see family, we didn’t want to host anyone and it was our time to rest, relax and recover from work for a few days.

Let your DH have a quiet Christmas and you can get the train to see whoever you want to.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 28/10/2021 12:47

I don't think your husband is being unreasonable at all, xmas is the one time of year I get to relax on my own and I'm not spending it driving round to and seeing random relatives all over the place.
I can see them at other times of the year.
I've seen so many people running themselves ragged over xmas trying to see everyone, and looking completely miserable.
I just don't get it. And learn to drive, it's a vital life skill.

itsallgoingpearshaped · 28/10/2021 12:49

I think you need to learn to drive, especially if you're having children.

Start now. make it your Christmas present to you from your family.

godmum56 · 28/10/2021 12:49

I am with team DH. Sorry but I am.