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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:
Fluffycloudland77 · 18/02/2022 11:01

He went to his school friends grandmas funeral???

Did he though? Didn’t he have to wear a black tie to that or a suit or something formal you’d notice as out of the ordinary?.

Silversprinkles · 18/02/2022 11:04

@ShallWeTalkAboutBruno

Surely, as an adult, even if you’re tired you can control yourself enough to not behave like an absolute twat? I have severe insomnia and a toddler with special needs who doesn’t sleep. If I behaved like a petulant arsehole whenever I was tired, I wouldn’t have any friends left.
Quite. He was obnoxious and spoiled the OP's evening. He behaved like a twat.

He should have told you about the funeral beforehand and given you a chance to reschedule the dinner. Or just attended the wake for a little while and come home to enjoy dinner with his wife rather than spend 3 hours eating and drinking with "old school friends". Hmm.

Too many apologists for the "poor little menz" still in this world.

DetailMouse · 18/02/2022 11:05

I’d hardly call a funeral a “great day out with old friends”

Well neither would I, but I probably wouldn't have gone to a school friend's gran's funeral and if I did, DH would definitely know I was going, plus OP herself said

" him telling me what a nice time he'd had catching up with Tom, dick and Harry and Harry's aunties cousin etc."

There's a few things there, which along with apparently out of character grumpiness, designed to ruin their night out together, make me wonder.

Silversprinkles · 18/02/2022 11:05

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Sorry but you sound really hard work.

You can't remember the last time you went out but it was exactly 7 months ago?

He'd been to a funeral!

And who has their hair dyed to go out for dinner? Are you Joan Collins?

ODFOD. Such a cunty comment. Hmm
BeefSupreme · 18/02/2022 11:12

Do you NEVER communicate with each other? My husband tells me what he's doing. He'd tell me if he was going to a funeral.

It's bizarre to not order what food you wanted.

TonyBravo · 18/02/2022 11:16

Argh. That sounds truly uncomfortable and shitty, especially when you had put so much effort in.

I can't imagine me or DH going to a funeral without mentioning it to the other.
But either way, if I am an adult with insomnia and ASD and even I can recognise when DH has really got his hopes up for a great night and I make the effort to engage and not be a grumpy arse so that's the least he could have given you.

As for commenting on your food. What. A. Prick. I can see why you changed if you were feeling self conscious but seriously it's not on.

I'd be asking for a frank conversation about your relationship and where you both are with it.

caringcarer · 18/02/2022 11:24

He should have told you he was going to a funeral and you could have rescheduled for following evening.

LimeSegment · 18/02/2022 11:26

I just don't think restaurant date nights work for long term couples because it's always something like this. It's never going to be a fun night with sparkling conversation. Go with friends or by yourself next time.

DropYourSword · 18/02/2022 11:32

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Sorry but you sound really hard work.

You can't remember the last time you went out but it was exactly 7 months ago?

He'd been to a funeral!

And who has their hair dyed to go out for dinner? Are you Joan Collins?

Oh stop it! She doesn't sound like hard work at all. She sounds like someone who hadn't been out in forever and was making an effort.

OP - the thing that really stands out to me is a school friends grandma's funeral. It's just so...unlikely. Not impossible. But unlikely! Are you definite that's where he was during the day.

Chilledchablis1 · 18/02/2022 11:40

LimeSegment

“I just don't think restaurant date nights work for long term couples because it's always something like this. It's never going to be a fun night with sparkling conversation. Go with friends or by yourself next time”

I disagree , it depends on the couple . DH and I have been together nearly 40 years and still have loads to talk about and have a laugh . We frequently go out just the 2 of us and I love it .
Oh and @GreenFingersWouldBeHandy
“And who has their hair dyed to go out for dinner? Are you Joan Collins?” What a bitchy comment ! I often have my highlights done or even a blow dry if I am going out .

LimeSegment · 18/02/2022 11:44

Fair enough, it does depend on the couple and I know some couples that love it. But I think there are more couples for whom it's a bit boring and awkward, and the expectation that it's going to be great and you'll laugh and flirt etc leads to disappointment.

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 18/02/2022 11:46

@LimeSegment

I just don't think restaurant date nights work for long term couples because it's always something like this. It's never going to be a fun night with sparkling conversation. Go with friends or by yourself next time.
We’ve been married for 15 years and go for restaurant meals when we can, it’s what we enjoy doing. We go out rarely due to babysitters, but when we do, it’s to a really good restaurant. We manage plenty of sparkling conversation! What would you suggest they do as a date night instead?
Juliauns91 · 18/02/2022 11:51

The communication between you both is poor. Going to funerals (even if you weren't close to the deceased) is exhausting even if you do have a good time with old friends.
He should have told you he was too tired for the restaurant.
However, it was your choice to have your hair and nails done etc -not his and men don't care about that stuff - women do it for themselves.

I'll be honest, no matter how tired I was, i would manage to eat a meal put in front of me and be pleasant to my DH.

Your DH did not want to go out to dinner and clearly did not want to be there, which even if exhausted, is odd. Clearly there is more going on.

LimeSegment · 18/02/2022 12:09

What would you suggest they do as a date night instead?

I don't think date nights of any sort work usually. I think dating is for new couples. Just my opinion though, some couples love it as I said above and that's great. But many others don't and there's no point forcing it.

AlternativePerspective · 18/02/2022 12:09

Sorry but you sound really hard work.
Usually the kind of comment someone makes when they want to just be bitchy.

You can't remember the last time you went out but it was exactly 7 months ago?
Well, if I had young kids who had spent the last several months being ill, while I might know when the last time was I went out I think there’s a distinct possibility I wouldn’t actually remember the evening.

He'd been to a funeral!
A funeral he hadn’t told the OP about, where he was essentially going for a piss-up with his mates, given it was just someone’s granny, but used the “I’ve been to a funeral” line to behave like a twat.

And who has their hair dyed to go out for dinner? Are you Joan Collins?
Bitchy much?

I imagine if you don’t get to go out often and are constantly clearing up after toddlers, then getting your hair done is a nice thing to do.

Actually, I think that you sound like bloody hard work. Hth.

SoupDragon · 18/02/2022 12:38

I'd still like to know whether the OP actually asked her DH before booking.

Brefugee · 18/02/2022 12:42

It all just seems too hit and miss.

So OP - did you tell him you were going to plan a meal out on Thursday or did you wait for him to get home and spring it on him?
Don't you talk to each other about what you're doing? ever? why didn't he tell you about the funeral? is there a history of this?

I don't get why you didn't just order something different? or suggest you go home when it became clear he wasn't up for the meal. he sounds like an arse, but he also sounds like a tired arse who had been afternoon drinking.

You sound a bit like a limp lettuce, if you just put up with that instead of either telling him you were going to eat what you like or going home or making him tell you why he was acting like that.

I don't like people springing things on me either, but i wouldn't even have gone out if i have to be up the next day.

You two need to communicate more and allign with your expectations.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 18/02/2022 12:55

Maybe he didn't mention the funeral because he didn't think it would impact on the evening, he knew OP had booked hair, nails as well as a restaurant so didn't want to ask her to change it. Maybe the funeral went on longer than he anticipated. OP has said it isn't how he normally is, he was just very tired, so why do so many think they need to chuck in ideas that he is lying.

irregularegular · 18/02/2022 13:00

I does sound very disappointing. But at the same time, it sounds like he had a really draining day and it just wasn't the right time.

I think you need to have a chat when you are both feeling better and arrange another dinner out. Preferably on a Saturday. Arrange a paid babysitter (I know they are not cheap but it sounds like you spent quite a lot on eg earrings)

LittleGwyneth · 18/02/2022 13:26

That is utterly miserable and you have every right to be sad. I'm really sorry he wasn't able to pull himself together and make an effort for a few hours. He owes you a do-over.

LittleGwyneth · 18/02/2022 13:27

@LimeSegment

I just don't think restaurant date nights work for long term couples because it's always something like this. It's never going to be a fun night with sparkling conversation. Go with friends or by yourself next time.
This is the most depressing insight into long term marriage I've ever read.
haikyew · 18/02/2022 13:31

I cannot stand those
Who are rude to the waiter
There is no excuse

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 18/02/2022 13:39

This is the most depressing insight into long term marriage I've ever read

That’s what I thought. The suggestion that once people have been married a certain amount of time they shouldn’t bother going out together because it’ll be crap.
My in laws have been married 37 years and still go out for meals/drinks/evenings out etc together, and still enjoy each other’s company!

DetailMouse · 18/02/2022 13:41

DH and I used to look at older couples eating in silence and swear we'd never be them and we never were, in 30 years, but it has to be said, a glass of wine helps.

felulageller · 18/02/2022 13:44

It's so weird that you didn't know he was going to a funeral. I'd be angrier about this than anything else?

Affair?