To be irritated that my dh couldn’t just buy the kids a souvenir each

[Shitvenir]

Instead of a random plush to share?

He’s been away with work for a week. One FaceTime in all that time. Most of my text’s unanswered (I only sent 3 a day tops). It wasn’t his idea to bring something back for them, I suggested it might be nice so they knew he was thinking of them. A bag of sweets they wouldn’t get at home or something small, even a bloody pen each surely would be nicer than a stuffed animal that neither of them can have in their bed without the other being upset? I just wanted him to be a bit thoughtful.

Oh my. That is embarrassing. I had in my head a sqishmallow type toy.

Three texts a day when you share kids isn't the same as "oh love me, love me, give me attention" texts. DH and I bat more than that back and forth just about the kids and we love together

It’s Snowy from Tintin. It’s more of a collectible than a plush, and at Brussels airport you pay through the nose because it’s a captive market. Alternatives would have been a box of Godiva chocolates for €50, a selection of macarons for €30, or a toblerone for €15. There’s often not a huge choice for “something for the kids”!

Presumably the airport. I agreed to buy my DD a little Nijntje cuddly keyring at Amsterdam airport before I saw it cost a similar amount!

YANBU at all. Not difficult to grab them a toy each and a bag of sweets each! Clueless behaviour...

I doubt he's working 24/7, and certainly no more than OP with the kids and house. A morning text to make sure everyone slept well, one at bedtime me saying goodnight to the kids and checking the day was ok, a quick goodnight at bedtime. Hardly glued to the phone is he

Eh, three texts is a bit much ? 😂🙄

Yet another depressing thread showing some women's standard of expectations of men are on the floor.

What am I reading , some of these replies! Three texts to your husband and father of your children a day is ridiculous apparently 🤯 The poor love, so difficult to receive three texts oh and the strain of maybe replying and the single face time 🙄

I've small cuddly between two is either thoughtless or a pointed gesture that you didn't want to buy anything. It isn't good parenting to teach children and important life lesson

You'll just be told that you should have better kids that can share or give away the toy. But I agree with you. It feels like a pointless gesture

Nobody is so busy that they can't spare five minutes to call home. Even if time zones are an issue, you can record a video message or leave a voice note for your children.

Not contacting home while away on business is a choice. If you're not going to contact home, at least have the balls to admit that that's a decision you're choosing, not one that's forced on you because you're just so busy and important.

But a bit of common sense would say then, don't spend £20 on a single small plush for two kids who probably don't even know who Tintin is, either explain why there's nothing, stop at a service station on the way home, give them a tenner each, offer to take them to Maccies to catch up etc. The single small plushie is the worst option of many

YANBU thats a really thoughtless gift, he would have been better off not getting anything.

Im laughing at the "3 texts is needy" comments 😂 DP works away loads and we text at least every 30mins because with 3 children theres always something that needs discussed 😂

They’re good at sharing, honest. One of them gets the duvet tonight and they’ll alternate tomorrow. The other gets the toothbrush
😂😂😂😂😂😂

3 text a day would be fine with any couples we know, but this is not what you are asking.

Yes, he should have bought something each for the kids back from where he went to work - sharing a teddy is bizarre

Of course he should have bought the kids a toy or sweets each.

Kids LOVE airport/other place shit / and it's part of the fun of being a parent, seeing them delight over sweets with names they don't recognise,

One today to share is RUBBISH, OP. remember that's what he thinks is fine at Christmas - for him!!

Does he normally bring the children something back from a work trip ?

I'm not going to mention the 3 times a day thing 😁

I wouldn't say £20 is a massive amount for a Snowy toy. It's the Belgium equivalent of buying a Paddington Bear toy.

I don’t understand the people saying 3 texts a day is needy! My dh FaceTimes the kids goodnight when he’s working late even though he seen them in the morning. When he works away, he texts first thing, usually when he can throughout the day and phones at night. Nothing wrong with texting your dh!

I don’t think he clearly thought about it, he’s seen the price of the toy and couldn’t justify buying a second when really, like you say, could of just bought two packets of sweets.

Totally not the point but did he go to Belgium? I ask because of the toy, I have seen it many times and might know the shop, if so they have little bears on the counter that say Belgium on jumper for 5Euros.

Oh bore off, of course it's not

He's obviously been shocked by airport prices. Buy another Snowy at a normal price and tell your DH to get a bar of chocolate each in future.

3 texts a day is not 'a bit much' OP. Me and DH message regularly throughout the day even if we're just both in our normal workplaces. Even just a quick emoji or photo of the cat. Not super long convos but it's nice to keep in touch.

The gift side of things is perhaps not ideal but it wouldn't bother me overly.

Could you apply the 'Judgement of Solomon'?

Maybe not.