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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To let DD go away with Brownies/Girlguides on her birthday?

163 replies

BrowniesGoingAway · 25/03/2024 12:05

She’s 9, almost 10 and a Brownie.

We have a party planned for the weekend before and will do a day out during the summer holidays (her birthday is about 3 weeks before the big summer holiday so we always “delay” a day out until the summer).

Her birthdays the Friday and the entire district have a weekend away planned Friday to Sunday. It’s her dads weekend with her but as it’s her birthday it’d be a shorter weekend (as in I’d have her for her actual birthday overnight then she goes to her dads the next day and does birthday 2.0 with him rather than him having her Friday -Sunday as he usually would). ExH is happy for her to go away for her birthday if she wants to go away and is happy to pay for it as part of one of her birthday presents (as it’s expensive, usually pack holidays cost £40-60 for 2 nights, this is £120 for 2 nights due to the activities their doing).

DD wants to go, it’s all she’s talking about, her best friend who is a Brownie in another pack is going, her Brownies (in her pack) friends are all going, her cousin (on her dad’s side) is going who is a Guide. She literally cannot see a drawback. Brownies have said she can go later so I can do birthday cake/candles with her at home or I can stay for their evening meal and they’ll do cake/candles as pudding if I supply enough cake for her pack to all have some (this is what DD wants me to do) - if I do the latter option I'd just buy cupcakes and DD can have 1 candle on a cake.

The reason I’m asking if AIBU is my family keep saying I shouldn’t let her go and she should realise that it’s a clash and people want to see her on her birthday and the weekend around it. I’m also apparently spoiling her already with a party and a day out (usually it#s one or the other but it’s a big birthday so it’s both this year, next year it’ll be day out, year after party) as she also always gets a day out with Ex-PILs for her birthday. They said by letting her go and ExH paying for it I’m teaching her she can have everything.

She is aware that it’ll mean less presents from her dad, she actually says she doesn’t care about getting things and quote “Would love love love to do all the activities and have an extra special sleepover with all her friends”.

Obviously I want to spend time with her on her birthday but I also don’t want to hold her back or her to resent me for letting something like a date in a calander a big deal. She lives with me 95% of the time (EOWend with her dad) and I work Term Time Only, so I can always celebrate with her properly a few weeks later.

We'd have an hour or so in the car as I'd have to drive her to take her and ExH will pick her up on the Sunday and bring her home but obviously it's not a full blown birthday evening together due to it.

So AIBU to let her go?

OP posts:
PoppingTomorrow · 26/03/2024 10:50

Of course let her go. Your family sound bonkers and petulant

Maraa · 26/03/2024 10:56

Sorry, I voted wrong - I misunderstood and put you are being unreasonable and I meant you aren’t. She wants to go, she will love it

Snugglemonkey · 26/03/2024 10:56

BrowniesGoingAway · 25/03/2024 12:21

@MidnightPatrol They have a thing about birthdays being family occasions, and it being celebrated before or after being the "wrong" thing to do so they won't come to her birthday party (well her same age and slightly older cousins will) the week before as it's not her birthday.

They are batshit. Send her, send cake/cupcakes or whatever. I wouldn't stay for dinner.

Snugglemonkey · 26/03/2024 10:59

TheCatterall · 25/03/2024 15:46

@BrowniesGoingAway frankly this is a ‘them’ problem. You and your daughter and her DF are all happy with the arrangement and that’s all that matters.

if they want to be birthday martyrs that’s on them. Just decide on a phrase or two and roll it out in repeat until they get fed up of discussing it. “As her parents and with her agreement we decided that the weekend socialising with her peers as she wishes is the best way for her to spend this time and she will appreciate the memories and friendships built as she grows up, rather than being forced to miss out on a opportunity due to the unwillingness of others to celebrate her birthday on a different day due to their inflexible mindset…” but then in peri-menopausal and just grumpy with everyone.

Edited

Or simply "it is her birthday, her choice. She is not missing out because you are being batshit".

DottieMoon · 26/03/2024 11:12

Your family are being totally selfish and difficult. Do not put their disgusting behaviour above what would make your daughter happy!

Toddlerteaplease · 26/03/2024 11:19

"It's all she's talking about" there is your answer.

Mamette · 26/03/2024 11:23

DD went to camping with the girl guides on her 12th birthday. Her birthday was the first day so I saw her in the morning and then dropped her off to the bus. She wanted to go so that was fine imo.

Beamur · 26/03/2024 11:23

I've been on Guide residentials as a helper and it's great fun when they have birthdays on camp. The girls get special treatment - cake, badges etc and it's really lovely and memorable.
Plus it means you get to celebrate twice when you go home and have a party with family.
If you don't let her go, she'll enjoy the family one less as she'll be thinking about what she's missing.

celticprincess · 26/03/2024 11:32

Definitely let her go. Ignore the family moans. Including how much you’re doing for her. I wouldn’t have said 10 is a big birthday however I would say it’s entirely up to you how you celebrate and how much you spend and that has nothing to do with other people. I’ve spent years making sure my kids are around to see family for their birthdays as well as being able to see me and their dad separately however this year I’m taking them abroad over both their birthdays and (birthdays close together) and it’s just how it is.

Lucytheloose · 26/03/2024 11:32

The relatives sound weird and nasty. Do you really want them around your child at all?

HMW1906 · 26/03/2024 11:36

So your family want to ruin her birthday by not allowing her to do the one thing she wants to do?? It’s unfortunate that the dates for the trip have fallen on her birthday but that’s life. Let her go on the trip, it sounds like an amazing opportunity for her!

HeadInTheSand0324 · 26/03/2024 11:43

I’ve just missed my son’s 10th birthday because he was away with his school for 7 days (camping).

I would never have dreamed of making him miss the experience just because it was his birthday!

That’s a totally crazy way of thinking!

I’m glad you’re letting her go OP 👍

MumofReggie · 26/03/2024 12:13

Of course you are not being unreasonable. Your daughter will remember this birthday forever, it will be so exciting for her. If she does more or less the same thing every year, birthdays blur and memories aren’t made. Let her go. Don’t even join in for cake. You can do that again when she gets home - along with an extra big hug and a lot of dirty washing!

JPGR · 26/03/2024 12:26

Your family sound bloody crackers. They need to mind their own business.

Cocothecoconut · 26/03/2024 12:27

Let her go, my DS was often away with cub/scouts as his birthday falls as the schools break up for summer and scouts went for the first week of the summer holls

Jaybail · 26/03/2024 12:46

It's her birthday, not your family's. You would be unreasonable to tell your daughter that what she wants to do doesn't matter because other people have a bigger right to decide her actions! It's what she wants and both you and her dad are happy with her choice, so just let her enjoy her birthday with her troop.

westcountrywoman · 26/03/2024 12:52

Oh let her go. For the whole thing. Do cake / candles for breakfast. Nobody says cake is only for teatime. Invite granny / aunty Maud to come for breakfast if they want. It'll be very special for her.

PurplGirl · 26/03/2024 14:33

Your instincts are correct and your family are wrong. Your DD will absolutely love having a fuss made and being with her friends on her birthday. The first night of pack holiday is so exciting! As for the rest, it’s your choice how and when you celebrate, days out, presents etc.

StormingNorman · 26/03/2024 19:27

Let her go! Your family are being selfish and to be fair, she’s not going to enjoy sitting around with a bunch of aunts and uncles while she has FOMO for the Brownie trip. I wouldn’t expect my nieces and nephews to give up a trip over their birthday to spend time with me.

EvelynBeatrice · 26/03/2024 19:56

If your daughter's father thinks it's a good idea for her to go and you're at worst neutral about it, then it seems odd / wrong that any other view should be prioritised. If I were him I'd be a bit peeved if you accord greater weight to extended family views as to what is best rather than the child's father and the child! The extended family seem over involved and rather free with their opinions. ( I do see the irony of a poster on this forum saying this about anyone else!)

Other opinions are pretty irrelevant. It's what you, your child and dad want that matters. For what it's worth, I'd be very disinclined to prevent my child spending her birthday as she chooses. It sounds great fun

Newnameshoos · 26/03/2024 22:01

I was in a guide orchestra growing up. One of our residential weekends away was always on my birthday weekend. I took a cake every year and it was great. We had family celebrations the weekend before or after it. Involving more cake. Nothing not to like!
If your Brownie wants to go on pack holiday and her father isn't in a strop cause it's his weekend (he doesn't sound to be in one!) ignore anyone else. It's possibly her last pack holiday if she's going to be 10. Let her enjoy it.

BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 26/03/2024 22:24

I can imagine this being a problem if it was her dad with the problem, as it’s his weekend with her, but as he’s happy with it, then I don’t see what business it is of anyone else

CarrotCake01 · 26/03/2024 22:27

It would be a real shame for her to miss out on the trip.

Daisyblue77 · 26/03/2024 22:34

She should go, its her birthday so its up to her, your family are making it about then, a day out and a party is not spoiling her, your family are being selfish

Daisyblue77 · 26/03/2024 22:46

BrowniesGoingAway · 25/03/2024 12:21

@MidnightPatrol They have a thing about birthdays being family occasions, and it being celebrated before or after being the "wrong" thing to do so they won't come to her birthday party (well her same age and slightly older cousins will) the week before as it's not her birthday.

Thats ridiculous. In my family birthdays are a big deal. But we would never expect anyone to nit go away and have a good time just because of this.

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