Me and my DH have been married for 13 years, together for 16 years. We have two DD together, aged 7 and 11. Every 2 years, a group of university friends meet at a week long music festival. 7 years ago, I decided I'd like to go. We only had 1 DD at the time and she was 2 years old. Me and DH discussed it, he agreed it was fine for me to go and he'd get his Mum to help with DD. I booked the ticket but then he changed his mind. We had a big row about it, I eventually decided it wasn't worth it. I sold the ticket but said I would go in 7 years time.
7 years later it was cancelled anyway (COVID). Last year my time finally came. Again he wasn't happy but I went and had an amazing time. He looked after our kids and because his Mum lives with us now (not as bad as it sounds, as we get on well together), she helped out.
The festival is normally every 2 years but as it was cancelled during lockdown, they're doing it again this year and I'd like to go again. Again, his Mum will help looking after the children. He doesn't want me to go. He thinks it's bad for the family and traumatising for the children. They missed me last time and I missed them but we all got over it and I came home refreshed and happy. I don't see what the big deal is.
He said it was so challenging looking after them last time (the festival is during the school summer holidays) that he's going to take the week off work and take them somewhere nice. I thought that was a great idea. But then he said he doesn't want to come on our family holiday and we may as well have separate family holidays. I accused him of emotionally blackmailing me. Last year we still went on a family holiday. I've already booked accommodation for this years and told the kids about it, they're looking forward to it.
I conceded and said I wouldn't go. But then thought about it some more over the weekend and got more and more angry about the emotional blackmail and so changed my mind. I said, fine, he can stay away from the family holiday if he likes, I'll still take the kids and hope that he changes his mind about coming. I've offered to reciprocate and he can go away somewhere nice with his friends for a week but he doesn't want to. Equally, he doesn't want to come to the festival as he doesn't like camping or festivals.
Now he's saying he wants a divorce. He says we fundamentally want different things from a marriage. He thinks I want to 'carry on having a single life' while he wants to focus 100% on the kids. He doesn't want to be 'left to do everything alone at home' for 'weeks at a time' while I go off and do what I want. I asked him at what point he will think it's ok to go away without them for a week. He replied when they're at University, which I think is unrealistic. For context, I'm not some wild party girl who is always out. I'm not really a drinker. I'm a health nut who is always at the gym and prefers early nights and cultural events. The festival is a hippy, trance one with lots of yoga, talks on spirituality vegan food etc... I go out about once a month to meet a friend/friends for dinner/go to the theatre/art galleries etc... Last year's festival was the first time I'd been away from the kids in 10 years. I take the kids to my Mum's house one weekend a month and also for 1 week per year and he doesn't come with us so he gets lots of alone time to relax. But he's said he doesn't ask for this and he's right.
My issue isn't really about the festival. Of course my marriage is more important than a festival and if it was just this, I would skip it for this year. But I feel if I give in to this, I'll never be able to go on any of the other things I want to do in the future. Me and DH are very different and have different interests. But I've never thought that was a problem as long as we didn't stop each other from being who we are as people. I feel like he's trying to make me be someone else. AIBU?