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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Family holiday

28 replies

Dilemma21 · 18/04/2024 14:27

Have been married for 10 years now and have 3 DC. 9 year old son, 6 and 3 year old daughters.

Now our family have been meaning to go on a family holiday for a long while now. I work and booked in annual leave for a week in May a while ago. We have previously discussed potentially going to Turkey in May.

We have not been on a family holiday abroad EVER. There’s always been something getting in the way or excuse after excuse.

DH said with a change of mind that he would rather go on holiday in August due to him saying he can’t contribute financially to the holiday in May but can contribute for August time instead.

Thing is I asked him if he has checked the prices of the holiday in August. He clearly said he hasn’t. I did my research and it’s 2.5k more expensive to go in August. Another reason I wouldn’t want to go in August the debilitating heat of Turkey in August.
And the prices in September are not any better. And before you know it it’s close to winter time and another year has gone by.

Me and DH have been to Turkey many years ago in July by ourselves and the heat was unbearable.

Now my husband says I should just listen to him and respect his decision of wanting to go in August. I have been trying to explain to him the heat and money factor and that if we go in May it’s a couple of grand cheaper and it’s only a week. He is being particularly negative and stating no is no like I am a child.

The children are already aware of the holiday as they have been begging to go for years now. I am even considering going on my own because majority of us have our hearts set on going in May. I HAVE NOT YET BOOKED the holiday it’s literally weeks away as he has been so avoidant but the prices are getting cheaper the closer it gets to May.

My husbands job is flexible as he’s basically self employed so time off work isn’t a problem. I could really do with his help as my youngest daughter can be a bit of a handful and it would be ideal to have another adult with me. I am also considering taking my brother with me as my husband just isn’t budging. The children obviously want their dad to come.

His main reasoning is not being able to contribute financially for this holiday right now. Eventhough we have been planning this holiday for a while. I genuinely don’t know what he does with his money because I don’t take a penny off him and able to look after myself. I said I will pay for the holiday and for him to just pay me back in instalments over the months otherwise to forget paying me back for a while until he can.

His finances is a whole other problem. He also is NOT a hard worker in all honesty. Majority of the time he doesn’t get out of the house until like 1pm after being in bed all night and morning and then works for a couple of hours before calling it a day. He is a taxi driver. I constantly tell him he obviously won’t earn much if he doesn’t put the time into it. And at night he will stay up till 2am playing on the Xbox or watching stuff on his phone and then whenever I want to discuss anything with him such as this he may reply a bit and then go on his way out the house and text me with the real responses of how he is feeling 🤔

This is obviously a very personal matter but do you guys think I should just respect his decision? Or is he being unreasonable?

OP posts:
SeulementUneFois · 18/04/2024 14:29

He's a loser, and a cocklodger.
Ignore him and go on your own (with the kids) with your family.

TruthorDie · 18/04/2024 14:30

Not sure if to say you are being reasonable or unreasonable. Husband sounds like a mill stone round your neck so lm amused about his requests for you to “listen to him and respect him”. Going on holiday is the least of your problems 🤷‍♀️. But yeah Turkey in August most likely will be way too hot with small children

TheSnowyOwl · 18/04/2024 14:30

I wouldn’t want to go in the excess heat either but I also don’t think you should go if you can’t afford it.

Dilemma21 · 18/04/2024 14:33

@TheSnowyOwl I can afford it. It’s just I shouldn’t have to pay for it all myself when we both work and He has known we want a holiday for a long while. And yes it’s far too hot when he wants to go.

OP posts:
Dilemma21 · 18/04/2024 14:35

@TruthorDie Yes I agree going on holiday is the least of our problems but it’s also way overdue and I really want to make the kids happy it’s what they deserve.

OP posts:
TruthorDie · 18/04/2024 14:36

Dilemma21 · 18/04/2024 14:35

@TruthorDie Yes I agree going on holiday is the least of our problems but it’s also way overdue and I really want to make the kids happy it’s what they deserve.

Yes, l see why you want to take your children away. I vote split from him and go on the holiday.

hairychin69 · 18/04/2024 14:37

Can you not pay for it in May, go in May, and he pays you back half in August ?

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 18/04/2024 14:38

hairychin69 · 18/04/2024 14:37

Can you not pay for it in May, go in May, and he pays you back half in August ?

Yeah i was going to say this, why can't he just pay you back in instalments over the next few months or wait and pay his share in August.

TheSandgroper · 18/04/2024 14:38

If you have no idea what he does with his money and he doesn’t contribute to the household appropriately, you have bigger problems than just a holiday.

You need a long, hard look at your situation.

WhiteLeopard · 18/04/2024 14:40

I think he just doesn't want to go and the August thing is a red herring. I'm sure he'll find excuses for that nearer the time. You can't make him go on holiday, so I'd give up tbh and start focusing on the other aspects of your relationship (which don't sound great from the info you've given).

Sillysausagedog · 18/04/2024 14:41

I'd go with your brother, in May.

Then on return, LTB. He doesn't seem to be contributing anything financially or any help so won't be much different.

If you can afford it, go, I hope you and your children have the holiday you deserve.

Dilemma21 · 18/04/2024 14:42

@hairychin69 @NeedthatFridayfeeling
I have already suggested this and for him not to worry about the finances until whenever he can pay me back etc. We can easily go on holiday in May as I am able to pay for it however eventhough he says it’s his role to contribute he’s doing fuck all about it 🤔

OP posts:
Whateveer · 18/04/2024 14:42

Hes a total cocklodger, I'd go without him but I'd also be doing life without him too.

Crumpleton · 18/04/2024 14:43

You're married.
It normally comes across on MN that it's all family money, not hers/his.

Just tell him whether he wants to join you or not is his choice, you'll pay for the holiday, and leave it at that.

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 18/04/2024 14:44

😡i'd just go with the kids then, sod him, you've tried. Chances are you'll get to August and he'll still do bugger all and you'll all have missed out. Sorry your dealing with this OP

mitogoshi · 18/04/2024 14:44

How about going in October half term?

Dartmoorcheffy · 18/04/2024 14:47

Just go on holiday without him. You'll have a much better i imagine. Have you thought about thre canaries. We love lanzarote and its absolutely ideal for kids too. And much safer than turkey.

takemeawayagain · 18/04/2024 14:50

Go without him in May, I would have thought you'd be glad to get away from him from what you've said.

NellyWest · 18/04/2024 14:50

Dartmoorcheffy · 18/04/2024 14:47

Just go on holiday without him. You'll have a much better i imagine. Have you thought about thre canaries. We love lanzarote and its absolutely ideal for kids too. And much safer than turkey.

What’s unsafe about Turkey?!

FestivalFun · 18/04/2024 14:51

Go on holiday in May with your DC and without him, check that there is a heated pool.
Yes you’ll be paying for all of it but at least you’ll get your holiday.

JurassicFantastic · 18/04/2024 16:49

You're focusing on the wrong problem. Instead of focusing on the holiday, focus on the fact that he's barely working.

Having said that, I'd just book the holiday for the 4 of you (you and kids, no DH) in May.

AmiShitsaline · 18/04/2024 16:58

His reasoning is bullshit, if you postpone the holiday he will never go, there will always be some excuse

sockarefootwear · 18/04/2024 17:08

Do you think perhaps the real reason he doesn't want to go on holiday is that it would be much harder than at home for him to sleep all morning/stay up all night etc and leave all the parenting etc to you? I suspect if you agree to wait until August he'll find other excuses to put it off again (and again etc). You've already found that August prices are higher, but if you try to book last minute during the school summer holidays it can be even more expensive and family sized accommodation is harder to find.

I think you really need to think about whether you are prepared to put up with a husband who contributes so little (not just money) and doesn't seem interested in what you and your children want. He says that you should respect his decision to go in August- how about he respects your decision to go in May.

If you can afford it, I say go with your brother and the DC in May and use the break to have a really good think about what you are prepared to accept from a husband. Turkey is lovely and children are well catered for but I think if you have another sensible trusted adult who is happy to go with you and help it would be a better holiday for you.

NotSmallButFunSize · 18/04/2024 17:26

But why do you each "pay your half"?? Family holidays come from a joint pot, surely?

I never understand these kind of financial arrangements with a person you are married to - bizarre to me

Shoxfordian · 18/04/2024 17:30

He's a loser, what positive contribution does he have in your life?

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