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AIBU?

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Original poster

DH is on holiday for the next three weeks

223 replies

Nopenotrightnow · 12/12/2023 22:24

... and neither of us knows what he is going to do with his time! It's "forced" time off, his employer has insisted he takes paid holiday. He has no hobbies, turns down any suggestion I make if it doesn't involve walking our dogs. We have no family or friends close by. He has no interest in anything other than work or sport on TV. I am dreading the next few weeks.

OP posts:
BruceAndNosh · 12/12/2023 22:25

Paint the bedroom.
Batch cook for the freezer

SussexLass87 · 12/12/2023 22:26

Very kindly OP, but why is it your job to arrange things for him to do? If he's turning down all of your ideas then I'd just step back and let him walk the dogs and entertain himself.

HeadacheEarthquake · 12/12/2023 22:27

Can he go visit some of the friends/family that aren't close by?

houseonthehill · 12/12/2023 22:27

Or let him put his feet up. Sounds like he’s earned it.

NorthernAttitude · 12/12/2023 22:28

So it's his holidays he can't take at another time? Does he organise your holidays when you're off?

PepsiCoco · 12/12/2023 22:29

Sort the garden for winter. Decorate a room. Visit an elderly aunt. Get a puppy. Last minute holiday.

GreyCarpet · 12/12/2023 22:29

Why is what he does during his time off a 'we' decision?

My partner and I both have 2 weeks off over Christmas. We'll spend most of it together but the dates don't coincide exactly. Neither of us has given a seconds thought to worrying about what the other will do during those days!

Let him do what he wants!

XpelairHamPortal · 12/12/2023 22:29

Sounds like he needs a veeeery long list of DIY jobs to keep him occupied and out from under your feet. Win win.

00100001 · 12/12/2023 22:30

Leave him to it

SussexLass87 · 12/12/2023 22:30

PepsiCoco · 12/12/2023 22:29

Sort the garden for winter. Decorate a room. Visit an elderly aunt. Get a puppy. Last minute holiday.

"Get a puppy"

You can't be serious?!

HouseChainDrama · 12/12/2023 22:31

Book some play dates with his friends?

Soft play?

Messy crafts?

The 'H' was a typo for 'S' right?

Flamingogirl08 · 12/12/2023 22:31

Can't he just relax, watch TV and walk the dogs then?

Dweetfidilove · 12/12/2023 22:31

He’ll relax and if he gets bored I presume he can remedy that 🤷🏽‍♀️.

Time off doesn’t need to be scheduled, with every minute accounted for. He may be perfectly happy to just go with the flow for a while.

TomatoSandwiches · 12/12/2023 22:33

Just leave him to sort himself out, you're not his mother you don't need to micromanage his schedule.

SadlyACupOfTeaDoesNotSolveEverything · 12/12/2023 22:33

I certainly wouldn’t get a puppy to pass a three week holiday 🙄.

Perhaps just take the time to recharge, walk the dog, watch some sport - perhaps go see something in person, coffee, a few date nights and festive activities?

CyberCritical · 12/12/2023 22:33
  • Clean out the shed
  • Clean out the garage
  • sort through collection of crap in loft/under stairs cupboard
  • Wrap all the Xmas presents
  • Clean the skirting boards, doors and any other woodwork and freshen them up with a coat of paint
  • sort through food cupboards/pantry/condiments collection in fridge for out of date items
  • volunteer at local food bank
  • volunteer to be Santa at local library
  • check for miscoloured grout in kitchen/bathroom tiles, and clean it or re-grout. Same for sealant around bath/sinks.

Give him that list then see if he comes up with any novel ideas of his own for how he can spend his time.

PonyPatter44 · 12/12/2023 22:34

Don't you work? Is your DH a bit slow, that he can't come up with anything to do off his own bat?

MyFirstLittlePony · 12/12/2023 22:34

Why is it a worry to you? Does he cramp your style? Do you work from home and he gets in the way?

Nicknacky · 12/12/2023 22:34

Why is this such an issue? Surely he has had annual leave before?

TedMullins · 12/12/2023 22:34

Another one failing to understand why this is your problem?

Dweetfidilove · 12/12/2023 22:34

HouseChainDrama · 12/12/2023 22:31

Book some play dates with his friends?

Soft play?

Messy crafts?

The 'H' was a typo for 'S' right?

😂😂😂.

Curlywurlycaz2 · 12/12/2023 22:35

Why is it your problem? Its also Christmas is in a fortnight, so he will have some stuff to pass the time.

LoveTheDarts · 12/12/2023 22:36

Watch the Darts 🎯

CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson · 12/12/2023 22:36

CyberCritical · 12/12/2023 22:33

  • Clean out the shed
  • Clean out the garage
  • sort through collection of crap in loft/under stairs cupboard
  • Wrap all the Xmas presents
  • Clean the skirting boards, doors and any other woodwork and freshen them up with a coat of paint
  • sort through food cupboards/pantry/condiments collection in fridge for out of date items
  • volunteer at local food bank
  • volunteer to be Santa at local library
  • check for miscoloured grout in kitchen/bathroom tiles, and clean it or re-grout. Same for sealant around bath/sinks.

Give him that list then see if he comes up with any novel ideas of his own for how he can spend his time.

If I had time off work and my husband gave me a jobs list with even half these things on I'd tell him to fuck off to be fair...

Op you're not his boss, or his mum. Let him do what he wants with time off that he's presumably earned

Original poster
Nopenotrightnow · 12/12/2023 22:42

Thank you all so much for your help. I now understand why Mumsnetters are known to be so helpful. I hope you all have a nice holiday period, don't need any advice and if you do, I hope you all find someone as helpful / snarky as yourselves.

OP posts:
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