Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband wants to cancel family holiday to celebrate late father's birthday AIBU

602 replies

Celtic1hair · 21/03/2022 10:35

Posting here for advice as I'm at the end of my tether and am not sure what to do. FIL passed away 4 years age, this year would have been a big birthday. For context we have three small children and haven't been away on holiday since 2019. For months my husband has been the driving force to go away this year, saying nothing is more important than somehow affording a holiday for us as a family, wanting to make memories and for the children to enjoy. Booked two weeks off in the summer, and managed to get the same two weeks.
Fast forward to yesterday, he casually announced he would in fact like to visit his family instead to celebrate what would have been FIL birthday. It falls smack bang in the middle of the two weeks, likely meaning we can't go away.
I empathise with him, I know he will always grieve his father's loss and ordinarily I'd do anything to support him, but surely he has to put us first? For context, we have no other annual leave together as have to alternate for childcare. It predictably became a huge row, he stormed out of the car leaving me and the kids to go out for the day on our own. I went back to my parents and we haven't spoken since, apart from a message he sent saying how unbelievably rude and outrageous I was.

OP posts:
PinaColada123456 · 22/03/2022 09:35

@BeHappy91818 I have read them all. All her posts are about her and how she can’t do this, that and wants what she wants regardless.

Then you ever so clearly have NOT read them as it is her husband that is the one who has determined they are staying home and that's it and he doesn't give a flying fuck what the OP wants, or what his own children want, he only cares about himself. SHE is the one who is willing to compromise. So don't make up lies that clearly aren't true.

Stanleystuck · 22/03/2022 09:59

Haven't read it all but it seems to me that your dh wants to be with his family on his dad's big day. He's got his days mixed up. He probably hasn't seen much of them with the covid situation and he wants to be there to support his mum. It's not that hard to understand. I think you'd be better searching for some week long hols than spending time hashing it all over on here. I'd do a week abroad with the kids going on the Friday or Saturday and then book a week or a few days in an Airbnb close to his family home so he can spend quality time with his mum and siblings and your kids get to be with their family too. You can definitely make it work both ways.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 22/03/2022 10:15

@Celtic1hair I really feel for you. My father died six years ago - we raise a glass on anniversaries, Christmas, if we’re all together. My own DH has a real blind spot where his DM and sister are concerned and some of our biggest arguments have been about them. I have to say honestly that it’s made me lose a bit of love and respect for him over time Sad. I don’t know what the answer is but an adult storming off and leaving their DW and DC is totally unreasonable. It’s sad when a parent dies, but 4 years on, if the grief is still all-consuming, that would suggest extra help is needed.

rainylake · 22/03/2022 10:19

My father died this year, and I know that he would have been deeply sad if I let remembering him and honouring his memory get in the way of building new memories and letting my children enjoy life.

As it happened, his birthday (the first since his death) fell in Feb half term. I made sure that we found a way to commemorate it that was compatible with making the most of our family time. So I took the kids to an arboretum (as he loved gardens), which they enjoyed, but I was able to think about him and take a moment to remember visiting places like that with him in the past. And we made a cake and talked about how before he got ill he loved sweet treats.

If we had booked to be away, I would have found a way to reflect and remember in the day, I wouldn't have cancelled our plans and upset my children. I want them to have joyful memories of him and good associations of his birthday.

So as someone still grieving I think YANBU. Grief can be honoured and respected as part of life, rather than life needing to stop forever to accommodate it, and moving on means finding ways to make those milestones positive ones.

LittleOwl153 · 22/03/2022 10:29

Have a look at the Mexican Day Of The Dead. This might be a different way of remembering his father, as well as other family members in a family history kind of way - of family stories and memories rather than memorials.
(Watch the Disney film Coco as a slightly quirky introduction to the idea).

nolongersurprised · 22/03/2022 10:43

Grief can be honoured and respected as part of life, rather than life needing to stop forever to accommodate it

This is very well put.

It seems daft to me that your DH is breaking his promise to his living wife and 3 children to commemorate the milestone birthday his dad never reached because he died years ago. His dad doesn’t know because he’s dead.

The OP’s DH is being quite rigid - there are multiple ways he can honour his dad’s memory and still enable his family to have a much looked forward to holiday.

2022HereWeCome · 22/03/2022 10:53

OP read your updates. two things unclear to me - how much has your DH seen his family over the last 2 years with the Covid situation? Also, did your DH father die suddenly - was it an utter shock? Do you generally see much more of your parents / family?

I do wonder if your DH hasn't been able to grieve in the usual way because of Covid and it's taking him longer to work through it simply because well we've been in a pandemic situation. I know lots of people through my work (health /social work) who are now really, really struggling. It's well known in the mental health field that people can hold it together in a crisis situation but when the immediate threat is over the floodgates open on all sorts of emotions/feelings/ issues that have been bottled up.

It''s all very well other posters saying they were OK after their parents died but you don't know the circumstances behind each death. You also don't know their family relationships

GiantHaystacks2021 · 22/03/2022 12:22

He's quite an unstable character, your DH, isn't he?

He needs to be sent for counselling.
You don't need to be in there with him. He's a big boy, he can do it himself, just like how he walked off from you and your kids.

Vanderpump · 22/03/2022 12:29

@notacooldad

You are not being unreasonable Some may disagree. Others may say it depends.
Er obviously
DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 22/03/2022 12:32

Sorry if this has been mentioned before and I missed it.

Op its Fathers Day in the UK on Sunday 19th of June (sorry I am making assumption you are in the UK and that you are free that day.
Perhaps it might work if you suggest to him that is a more suitable date to Celebrate his dad as a father even if no longer here as I totally agree that it is rather morbid.
Advantages are that you could all go up to spend the weekend with MIL.. (children included) which she might actually enjoy. It seems to me that it would be a happier more comforting occasion for all concerned, it could be a happier family day for all of you to mark rather than celebrating a birthday his dad couldn't reach.
Could also help the children celebrate your DH who is here and give the whole thing a feeling of continuity.
Also, it would avoid both you and DH each feeling (and possibly from two different locations) miserable and sad on the Fil's actual birthday.

Perhaps he would consider it as Father's day is a special day for all of you and your children. It could be a new tradition.
Because ultimately he has admitted that you have given him a lot of support over the last four years and surely that is what is important, rather than being fixated on a particular day.

LBFseBrom · 22/03/2022 14:46

That sounds like a good idea, re: Father's Day. It is a week before my late husband's birthday so may combine (I don't have the op's situation, I live near my closest family).

LBFseBrom · 22/03/2022 14:56

This is the latest (for the op or anyone interested), about Covid and travel:
www.euronews.com/travel/2022/03/18/what-s-the-latest-on-european-travel-restrictions

Obviously it is regularly updated so need to check daily. I'm sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, op, not intended that way. I was interested so looked it up and thought I'd share.

My adult child had to come home from working in Europe a couple of weeks or so ago because was due to go to Germany but that was postponed until June as not all restrictions were lifted. Seems to be OK now.

I wouldn't book to go abroad this year but that's me. My neighbours are going to Estepona next month with adult children and grands, good luck to them (I'd be happy to have a couple of days in Bognor, am easily pleased :-)).

Celtic1hair · 22/03/2022 15:33

Thanks everyone for taking the time to put forward so many points of views, and being willing to share your own experiences which must be hard. Yes, his behaviour was disgusting, and not acceptable at all. Hard to imagine from him to be honest but any reaction like this would only have been because it involved his family, as I have said he has a complete blind spot to them. No we haven't seen a huge amount of his family over the last two years, but to be honest all contact has been down to us travelling to them to visit. They do not travel to us (a major bugbear of mine but I don't say a word and facilitate the trips). Because any family issues are now a topic we avoid I think perhaps we both walk on eggshells until something blows up, and I'm not going to put up with it any longer. It was the same before covid so thats not had an impact, but he does look at things with rose tinted glasses and if there's any blame to be attributed he blames himself for moving away, completely disregarding any fault that might not be his. I think over time this has built up, and I don't think he can honestly take another burden to carry and is instead projecting this as a need to be with his family on this specific date whatever the cost. Whilst his grief is legitimate of course, I think it's compounded by it all. It was a long illness and he supported his father and family as much as was able, traveling to them every weekend off, any annual leave he had.

OP posts:
Celtic1hair · 22/03/2022 15:37

@timeisnotaline literally you have summed up almost word for word what I said!

OP posts:
notacooldad · 22/03/2022 15:39

*notacooldad

You are not being unreasonable
Some may disagree.
Others may say it depends.

Er obviously
Not really obviously!
You said it as an actual statement that OP is not being unreasonable. I dont necessarily agree with you.

Celtic1hair · 22/03/2022 15:44

@DuckbilledSplatterPuff

Sorry if this has been mentioned before and I missed it.

Op its Fathers Day in the UK on Sunday 19th of June (sorry I am making assumption you are in the UK and that you are free that day.
Perhaps it might work if you suggest to him that is a more suitable date to Celebrate his dad as a father even if no longer here as I totally agree that it is rather morbid.
Advantages are that you could all go up to spend the weekend with MIL.. (children included) which she might actually enjoy. It seems to me that it would be a happier more comforting occasion for all concerned, it could be a happier family day for all of you to mark rather than celebrating a birthday his dad couldn't reach.
Could also help the children celebrate your DH who is here and give the whole thing a feeling of continuity.
Also, it would avoid both you and DH each feeling (and possibly from two different locations) miserable and sad on the Fil's actual birthday.

Perhaps he would consider it as Father's day is a special day for all of you and your children. It could be a new tradition.
Because ultimately he has admitted that you have given him a lot of support over the last four years and surely that is what is important, rather than being fixated on a particular day.

No he is completely fixated with being there to celebrate the birthday, I suggested going up before or after but he wants to be there on the day.
OP posts:
PinaColada123456 · 22/03/2022 15:58

@Celtic1hair What have you decided to do? I'm sorry but I don't think you should compromise on this at all. Not only would you be rewarding him and thus making him think he got away with it and will next time too, but you and your children are paying too high a price.

I asked before does he have any siblings or any best mates that can talk sense into him and make him realise he is throwing his wife and children away for a headstone?

I really think you need to tell him that you cannot ever forgive him if you forgo this holiday, that you marriage will be at stake and he needs to work out if fighting for his wife and children is more important to him. I would suggest that his refusal to come would possibly end up in him causing a marriage split so he needs to way up his priorities - give him an ultimatum date. And that if he chooses you and his children you still feel you both need marriage counselling. Whatever you do, do not back down.

StepBackPlease · 22/03/2022 16:01

@notacooldad That's how AIBU works, though.

Literally everyone on here is stating their opinion, that's kind of the whole point. Some people may give more detail than others, but threads would be twice as long if every post had to have '...in my opinion, obviously' at the end of it as a qualifier...

InaccurateDream · 22/03/2022 16:15

It's strange to me how fixated he is on how his father 'should be there'. His father would've been 70 this year. It's not elderly as such but there are lots of almost 70s who don't quite make it. It's awful and sad that he's gone, but it's not a grievous wrong. To me it's something you'd say about a child. They really should be there to celebrate their milestone birthdays.

He should treasure the time he did have with his dad. Not cut short a family holiday to stand on a particular spot at a specific time. Surely it's not what his dad would've wanted?

2DogsOnMySofa · 22/03/2022 16:17

Can you go away for that week with your dc and your parents? Do the dc know that you were planning a holiday?

billy1966 · 22/03/2022 16:17

I am so glad that you recognise and describe his behaviour as disgusting, because it was.

The irony of him causing a scene, storming off, abandoning his wive and children because he couldn't hold it together in a discussion about his dead father's birthday🙄.

He's a bit of a joke OP, or in MN slang, a drama llama🙄.

He needs to be told just how completely unacceptable his behaviour has been.

He needs to sort himself out because you do not want your children witnessing such a scene again, just because you are not prepared to be dictated to on a whim.

notacooldad · 22/03/2022 16:20

*16:01StepBackPlease

@notacooldad That's how AIBU works, though

Literally everyone on here is stating their opinion, that's kind of the whole point. Some people may give more detail than others, but threads would be twice as long if every post had to have '...in my opinion, obviously' at the end of it as a qualifier...

No shit!🙄
I was responding to Vanderpumpbut thanks for wading in.

WalkingOnTheCracks · 22/03/2022 16:47

The lack of understanding of grief on here is disturbing, though not surprising.

"He's being contradictory." Yes, probably. Grief gives rise to many contradictory emotions.

"It's been four years, for God's sake." It can take longer than that. The passing of time is not a measure of the passing of grief. And, as someone else pointed out, the processes of grief aren't linear.

"My dad died six years ago, and I don't do anything special on his birthday." Okay. Thanks for that.

"He should be concentrating on his family." He is. He's thinking of the family he's always been part of.

"Life is for the living." If we're going to trot out glib clichés, "In the midst of life, we are in death." Neither of those helps much, does it?

"He acted abominably, blowing up at you." Yes, maybe. But that's not relevant to the problem of what to do about this clash of priorities.

"He sounds very unstable." He probably is. Following the death of a close relative, my OH was unstable, unreachable, emotionally absent from me and the kids for about five years. Something had happened that was the emotional equivalent of an earthquake levelling the house. It sounds to me as if the OP's husband has held it all together quite well for most of the time.

OP says that her husband is an engaged, involved, caring husband and father. This 'selfish' kind of fixation, she says, is not typical of him So something's going on inside him that's important - so important that he wants to organise his family's holiday around it.

I think the family should recognise that and accommodate him, not only because that's what families do, but because - as the OP says - he is the husband and father he is because of his dad.

YouOKhun · 22/03/2022 17:09

am so glad that you recognise and describe his behaviour as disgusting, because it was.
He's a bit of a joke OP, or in MN slang, a drama llama🙄

“Disgusting and a bit of a joke and a drama llama”. Something tells me @billy1966 you have never been broadsided by grief though I’m sure you’ll be along to say that yes, everyone you ever loved died yesterday but you’re fine so he should be too. I doubt the OP sees him as you’ve described him. His response re the holiday wasn’t great but perhaps he is really struggling? Does that make him a bit of a joke? Really?

LBFseBrom · 22/03/2022 17:17

I like your post, WalkingOnTheCracks. It's so true. Society has lost all its rituals and not replaced them with anything suitable or relevant. We've all become very me-centred: our home, our job, our car, our holiday, etc.

If we stopped and took a breath we'd realise that, all being well, those things will still be in place or possible next year and probably the year after. In the here and now there are people who need us to give them some priority, maybe only once in a while, but it will mean a great deal to them and they'll not forget.

Swipe left for the next trending thread