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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel really bloody disappointed (DH)

124 replies

Mayorhumdinger19 · 18/02/2022 08:28

Never go out (know that's the same for lots though especially recently). Can't even remember last time I went out even for coffe and cake, let alone dinner and drinks (7 months ago and that was first time since 2nd Dec 2019!) We've been floored with childhood illness after illness, plus COVID, bday scaled back as I was recovering from Noro, no Christmas drinks/ socialising due to Omi.

So took advantage of my parents being here for half term booked a really nice restaurant that I've been desperate to try. I never really ask for much from DH in terms of presents/grand gestures but one thing I love is a really great dinner and drinks....I'm happy to organise and always make sure it's somewhere he wants to eat also, all I want is for him to turn up and have a nice time.

Now I know a Thurs booking is a slight risk but DH is self emp so can be a little more relaxed.

Scheduled my hair colour app specially, did my nails, took my time doing, my hair and make up, bought new not exactly inexpensive earrings and was really excited. Told loads of people I was going out.

It was one of the flattest evenings I've had in a living memory. DH was clearly knackered. I'd really wanted us to try something which is to share, he'd normally love but he was sneery about it, said it'd be too much food and made me feel embarrassed for wanting to choose it, he wouldn't normally be like that. Instead chose something smaller/simpler and I felt I had to follow suite. He had to be coaxed to choose a drink when we got there, even the waiter looked at bit awkward at his ambivalence/bad mood. Anyway strange eve chat strained. But, I was so determined to have a nice time and a few drinks, they had my favourite cocktail which I had after dinner, it was delicious so ordered another. DH made a point of saying he was sticking with the water (so not like him). And made me feel embarrassed for ordering another then as the waiter left huffed and rolled his eyes....I was so taken aback, he's never done that to me and it had been such a strange eve I burst into tears. He apologised and just said he was really, really tired and thought we were going home - it was 21.05!!

Of course he's tired, we've got kids that don't sleep well and always give us their germs. DH was extra tired though because he'd been at a funeral (which I didn't know about - it was a school friend's grandma.) And then obviously to the wake in the afternoon and to be able to do that he'd gotten up extra early to do work he would be missing in the afternoon. Much of the chat in the evening between him stifling yawns was him telling me what a nice time he'd had catching up with Tom, dick and Harry and Harry's aunties cousin etc. So of course he cba and wasn't particularly hungry by the time we went out, he'd been up at the crack of dawn and spent all afternoon (3 hrs nearly) socialising/drinking/eating buffet food. Now I clearly don't begrudge him going to the funeral at all - but it isn't our family or someone he's seen in years, it was to support his pal and clearly don't begrudge that either...but that supporting also involved 3hrs socialising at the expense of an evening we'd had planned for nearly two months and something nice we never get to do any more. I just feel really, shit, shit because I suspect I am being a bit unreasonable re the wake (but I can't help it) and sht and embaressed that I spent time effort and money and he couldn't be bothered and I had a terrible time. He hasn't even bothered to say he'll try make it up to me as he knows realistically he can't until my parents are next here. I'm also fcking starving to boot as I thought we would really go for it food wise so had barely anything to eat all day yesterday either!!

OP posts:
Brefugee · 18/02/2022 08:35

Sorry your evening fell flat but if he's tired he's tired.

Can you choose the next date/place together?

OwlinaTree · 18/02/2022 08:36

He should have told you about the wake and rescheduled the night out or suggested you take a friend. Sorry you had a crap night, it is very disappointing.

Wilkolampshade · 18/02/2022 08:41

He might be tired but that doesn't mean he has to behave rudely, rolling his eyes and huffing.
It does sound though that you had invested way more hope and expectation for this evening than he had. I think you may have very different priorities and on this occasion, you weren't his. Horrible for you.
Looking back, what's he been like generally?

Rainallnight · 18/02/2022 08:42

I think going out as parents of young DC is always hard. You’re always knackered. And the anticipation of a rare evening out can really raise expectations, which the reality rarely matches.

In your case, it was about communication about the funeral. It was odd he didn’t tell you he was going and doubly odd that he didn’t do so when he knew you had a special night planned.

FWIW, we’ve found that finding a good, reliable local babysitter is an absolute godsend. We can go out more often, so the stakes don’t seem so high. And even so, we tend to stick to something pretty local and low effort as we know it’s all we have energy for Grin

pictish · 18/02/2022 08:44

Sorry your anticipated night out fell flat. It wasn’t at all what you were imagining. I’m sure it wasn’t personal against you. He’d had his fill of social stuff and food unfortunately.

RedHelenB · 18/02/2022 08:45

Women doing it again, just stop being a martyr and order whatever food and drink you like! If he just wants water and a small.meal fine but why let that mean you go home hungry?

SoupDragon · 18/02/2022 08:45

So took advantage of my parents being here for half term booked a really nice restaurant that I've been desperate to try

Did you ask him before you booked it?

pictish · 18/02/2022 08:47

@RedHelenB

Women doing it again, just stop being a martyr and order whatever food and drink you like! If he just wants water and a small.meal fine but why let that mean you go home hungry?
Yes I do agree with this.
Simonjt · 18/02/2022 08:48

Why do you have to order food or drink to match him, thats just bizarre.

We’re knackered, baby who doesn’t sleep, six year old with cold after cold, restaurants are fairly boring, so we’d both be half asleep if we spent a few hours in a restaurant, especially once we had eaten.

DetailMouse · 18/02/2022 08:50

You should have ordered the food you wanted

Had be been drinking at the wake? He should have told you the date was inconvenient and rearranged. It's odd to think he was going to a funeral and hadn't mentioned it.

If the behaviour really is out of character though, I'd let it go as a culmination of unfortunate timing and arrange another night out soon

MangoBiscuit · 18/02/2022 08:52

I don't agree with the "if he's tired, he's tired" sentiment. He's tired because he double booked himself, and had to overstretch himself. Given that he didn't even mention it to you, let alone ask to reschedule, I would say that was self-inflicted. To then ruin your night because of it is pretty damn selfish. I would be annoyed too.

cansu · 18/02/2022 08:53

Honestly you would have had a better time out with a friend. Arrange to do some things without him.

EmbarrassedAllOver · 18/02/2022 08:57

So you think he was just tired? Seems odd behaviour, being tired doesn't mean you lose your attitude or don't want a drink.

MiddleParking · 18/02/2022 08:57

I would think my husband had taken leave of his senses if he went to a funeral without telling me. And yes I’d be utterly fed up and cross with him for ruining your night. Tbh I’d have said something at the first sign of him being off with you.

EmbarrassedAllOver · 18/02/2022 08:57

*Do.

YANBU, he ruined what could have been a great night.

Chestofdraws · 18/02/2022 08:58

I don’t really understand why you couldn’t order the food you wished to eat. Is there a cultural element where you need to only eat the same amount as your husband and not allowed to eat more? I can’t really understand it to be honest.

DetailMouse · 18/02/2022 09:01

Actually if this is really out of character and he's in a foul mood after a great day with old friends, I might be wondering who exactly was there....

Wedonttalkabout · 18/02/2022 09:02

Why didn't you know about the funeral?

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 18/02/2022 09:02

Yeah I completely get why you’re fed up OP. We have 3 young kids who have been ill all winter, no babysitters and are constantly knackered so an evening out would be a rare treat to be savoured!
Arrange to go out with your friends next time.

TheMadGardener · 18/02/2022 09:05

Yanbu to be cross with him for the huffing and eye rolling. Have you made it clear to him that you feel he spoiled your meal with his behaviour and that he should have told you about the funeral? Or are you just fuming in silence?

But yabu for going home starving. Even if he didn't want much, you should have ordered yourself enough food and told him to shut up with the huffing so you could eat in peace.

In future, leave him with the kids and go out for a nice meal with a friend.

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 18/02/2022 09:05

@Chestofdraws

I don’t really understand why you couldn’t order the food you wished to eat. Is there a cultural element where you need to only eat the same amount as your husband and not allowed to eat more? I can’t really understand it to be honest.
If someone is making pointed comments about how they couldn’t possibly eat something as big as the thing you want while they’re ordering a salad, it does tend to affect your enjoyment of the food.
Hankunamatata · 18/02/2022 09:07

Better communication is needed. Didn't you both talk about the fact he needed to be up early and likelihood of him being knackered?
You put lot of expectations on one evening. What would you have said of he wanted to cancel?

Hankunamatata · 18/02/2022 09:08

Slightly puzzled why you just didn't odnt order the food you wanted.

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 18/02/2022 09:08

@Hankunamatata

Better communication is needed. Didn't you both talk about the fact he needed to be up early and likelihood of him being knackered? You put lot of expectations on one evening. What would you have said of he wanted to cancel?
The thing is, when you’ve got young children and babysitters are scarce (we get one evening out a year usually) then it does tend to put a lot of expectation on to one evening.
MsTSwift · 18/02/2022 09:08

You need to get your mojo back and find some local friends!

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