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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Parent and trip away - was I in the wrong?

19 replies

SillySauseage · 16/05/2023 11:17

Hello

I am curious as to what other people think about this.

I am an emotional person and have found myself feeling guilty and even apologising but I dont think I am in the wrong and feel that I shoudltn have to apologise.

my extended family (who live in england) invited me and my brother and our dad to their wedding. Me and DB were allowed to bring a plus one. I've been seeing my BF for a year. He lives a little bit away from me and this was his 3rd time meeting my dad (he has met my DB a number of times as we have been out for dinner and drinks). Anyway, my dad is a character. I have warned bf about this. He has quite shocking views and has no problem broadcasting them. We often tell him to be quiet or that he cant say certain things etc.

Anyways, my DB booked our hotel rooms and we have always split it eqaully as to not put my dad at a disadvantage with costs. My BF pointed out this was unfair and was not happy with this arrangement as it mean the two couples had to pay more for our rooms so we could subside my dads room. For context, my dad doesnt ask for this to happen. Me and DB have always just done this. Obvioulsy when all three rooms were booked by DB the rate was higher as hotel rooms dont split 5 ways. My dad got a shock with the increase of price. Despite DB telling him that me and him would transfer my dad £90 to ofset price, he jokinly went on about it all night. He then went on about it the following day at the wedding. Joking with people that he couldnt afford things because we all owed him money.

Anyway, Friday evening my BF and I travelled seperately to DB, his GF and my dad (we took two cars down). When we arrived at hotel Friday night we all had dinner together and a few drinks so we all spent about 4/5 hours together before bed. The following day, we then had breakfast together at hotel, went to full day wedding where we all sat together the whole time and then after the reception went back to some relatives house for another couple of hours. We got back to our room about 2am.

This is the unreasonable part here...

There was alot of chat about going into manchester for the day on Sunday but no one made any plans (myself included). On the Saturday evening me and BF chatted about a few things we wanted to do. I asked the group what their plans were as my dad said he wasnt going into manchester anymore incase the trains werent running. I asked the group a few times and no one had any plans and said they wanted to go with flow and see what other extended family wanted to do. I then said my and BF were going to Manchester regardless as that is why we stayed an extra night.

As the night went on, all of my family said they would go to manchester but no plan. the next day, we all had a leisurely brunch before getting train into manchester. We must have arrived by 4pm. There were no plans and everyone was happy just walking about. I didnt want to do this. So me and BF said we were popping into some shops and would catch them up. We did 30/40mins later. Still no plans and just walking around. I suggested to BF that he and I pop into this really nice quirky cocktail bar. He agreed. I said this to the group and said we'd catch up. about an hr or so after, we did meet them. They were in a bar having a drink and decided they were going back to hotel (so after 4/5 hours) I then said me and BF would stay out in Manchester. I did maybe say it abruptly.

Anyway, next morning before we all went home my dad was being funny and really quiet. I called him and asked what was wrong. He said he didnt want any arguments but was disapointment in me. He said the weekend was meant to be family time and he hardly saw me. I reminded him that I had seen him the whole jounry and it was only in Manchester that I dipped in and out of the group as I didnt want to just walk around. He disagreed. he said he was suprised when me and BF decided to stay out and not go back to hotel for dinner as he wanted some family time together. He then went on to tell me he is a sick peron and I dont know whats around the corner. I then spoke to my brother about this. He said he was suprised when I stayed out as it felt likle i wanted to be alone with bf and they werent invited. I apologised if I made them feel this way but said I would not apologise for doing my own thing, when there wasnt any plans.

Brother then said my dad isnt the best with words, he had spoken to my uncle on the phone who isnt keeping too well, and because my dad doesnt keep the best with health, he was probably just a bit upset.

I understand this and we spoke again brielfy last night. I feel I did nothing wrong. My dad doenst want to discuss it now and said we cant turn back the clock. I dont want to turn back the clock though, apart from maybe making them feel that they couldnt join us, I didnt do anything wrong.

Please help me if I was in the wrong. I am emotional, as mentioned, so sometimes feelings cloud judgement.

thanks x

OP posts:
dammiejodger · 16/05/2023 11:20

You did nothing wrong. Stop paying for your dad.

LadyDanburysHat · 16/05/2023 11:21

So your family are shit at making plans, can't communicate what they want to you, but you are in the wrong?

They sound like hard work. If your Dad wanted family time he should have said so. But also, you are an adult and allowed to do what you want.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 16/05/2023 11:25

What a hoohaa over absolutely nothing. Dont give any of it a second thought.

SapphOhNo · 16/05/2023 11:27

You've done nothing wrong. It sounds like you have a history of going along with how they are and the minute you exercise any independence you're "in the wrong".

Try not to sweat it but if they bring it up again I would clearly articulate you did nothing wrong.

HolyFuckerRooney · 16/05/2023 11:27

They need reminding that you are an adult and can do what you like without their permission
You can't read minds

SillySauseage · 16/05/2023 11:30

Thank you all. I am trying really hard to see it from their point of view. Apart from being abrupt, I didnt do anything. So what if I dipped in and out of the group and done my own thing. I said I was going to manchester regardless, and there was a 50% chance I was going home that day anway but decided to stay.

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 16/05/2023 11:32

SillySauseage · 16/05/2023 11:30

Thank you all. I am trying really hard to see it from their point of view. Apart from being abrupt, I didnt do anything. So what if I dipped in and out of the group and done my own thing. I said I was going to manchester regardless, and there was a 50% chance I was going home that day anway but decided to stay.

What was the issue though? Why speak to them abruptly?

SillySauseage · 16/05/2023 11:33

I dont think I was rude but I think looking back maybe I was a bit short. I walked to the train station with them and then said "actually, me and BF are going to stay out".

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 16/05/2023 11:35

But why were you being short with them? Im trying to understand if I have missed something.

SillySauseage · 16/05/2023 11:36

I didnt realise at the time but looking back perhaps it was said a bit short

OP posts:
Catspyjamas17 · 16/05/2023 11:36

It's hard to spend much time with people in a big group with partners there, and I hate wandering about aimlessly without plans also. Your dad needs to accept that you are a grown up with your own life. But also I'd try and see him separately. And stop paying for him.

SillySauseage · 16/05/2023 11:37

and I have apologised if that is what they felt .. so no back story I'm afraid, that is it.

OP posts:
SillySauseage · 16/05/2023 11:37

I do see him seperately though. I try and pop round once a week and I call him every few days.

OP posts:
bussteward · 16/05/2023 11:46

What a load of drama llamas who are simultaneously flaky no-plans people. If your dad wanted it to be family time he’d organise beforehand with a WhatsApp group chat or similar: “Since we’ll all be together, shall we make a day of it in Manchester? Brunch at X place then a walk before we all have dinner at X.” I couldn’t be bothered just wandering aimlessly not knowing if there was a plan at all.

PinkFootstool · 16/05/2023 11:54

Your dad is very hard work and your brother is following him.

Fuck that. Ignore the lot of them, live your own life. And stop subsidising your Dad on trips away unless he really can't afford to attend and you really want to travel with him.

NBLarsen · 16/05/2023 12:01

Good grief, a whole family of non-communicating drama llamas, including you!
Your boyfriend doesn't get a say in whether you pay for your dad's hotel or not.
If you wanted time alone with your boyfriend you would have done better to be open about that instead of drifting along seeing what everyone else was doing. What does it matter what other people were doing if you and boyfriend were going out?
I gave up when I read that you all had brunch but still didn't manage to get to Manchester until 4pm!

ShimmeringShirts · 16/05/2023 12:06

I do think it’s rude to have ditched the group like that, I’d be upset about it too. But you don’t feel like it’s an issue or that you should have to apologise and the rest of your family don’t wish to keep discussing it either so I don’t see what the problem is? It’s perfectly acceptable for someone to tell you that you’ve upset them.

SillySauseage · 16/05/2023 12:12

yes I did think it was slightly off however, I usually do just go with the flow and follow the group. They had plans for dinner and what they wanted to do - I wasnt part of those plans. I was more than welcome to go along with them but didnt see the point of being in manchest for a few hours. so I stayed out.

OP posts:
Quinoawoman · 16/05/2023 12:14

I really hate wandering about with no plan. I would have either had to take charge of the whole group and force them to do what I want or go off on my own like you did. People need to say what they want - if your dad wanted family time he should articulate that! He was quick enough to articulate being pissed off about it the next day so can't be too 'bad with words'!

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