Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Going abroad against DH wishes.

427 replies

Expatfamily · 20/07/2024 14:27

DH is firmly in the camp that we travel together as a family, and if I’m desperate to go abroad to visit family we’ll use every penny of our savings to go. He understands how much I love my family, he does love them too, but it’s slightly unreasonable to be expected to spend every holiday, every year, visiting my family. He feels it’s fair that we go every other year, with alternate years holidaying elsewhere.

Don’t want to be too outing but my family are British but immigrated to the other side of the world. The place where they live does feel like home to me, I’ve spent considerable time over there and have my own friends etc there too. I do love it over there. My family used to visit over here often but not going into too much detail it’s difficult for them to visit due to their kids in school/costs for all them to fly/not many family members over here to visit/we don’t have a big enough house to host for a prolonged time etc.

It’s expensive for us all to visit them, it’s a long-haul flight away and it’s an expensive country. Before living with DH when I’d visit, as I’ve been many times, we wouldn’t bother doing much touristy things, just hanging out really. The same as what you’d do staying with family here: BBQs/cooking in/watching tele/visiting friends/enjoying the local area/running errands/taking the kids to their activities etc. Stuff that doesn’t really cost that much money apart from the odd day out, getting a coffee in town, getting the odd burger at the street food fest etc.

Obviously when I’ve gone with DH we’ve done the expensive tourist attractions/days out/treating it as a holiday. The last time we went we spent ££££s as spending money. On of the days we spent a ‘home’ DH got a taxi into a different local town as he was a bit bored, and that cost him just over a hundred quid.

I’ve gone on bit of a ramble but essentially I do want to go home. I want to watch tele with my family, share DD with them, and just do normal family things. I know they miss me/DD terribly and everyone in my life keeps mentioning it. I’d love DH to be there, but we’re a bit strapped for cash, and really cannot justify ££££s at the moment.

My family have offered to pay for me (which I/we could afford to just pay for my flight) but when I said about DH joining they said (rightly in my opinion) if we can afford for his flight, why can’t we just pay for me to come over (they’re not loaded by any stretch of the imagination).

The very simple solution is that I just go with DD1 (she’s free until she’s 2). But DH really isn’t a fan, and if anything it’s the first time he’s ever dug his heels in. I think it’s wound him up that everyone in my circle keeps expecting me/us to go over. He somewhat snapped the other day (for the first time ever) that if they were so desperate for us to visit this year they could pay for both of our flights, if not, we’ll hopefully visit next year.

The subject is becoming painfully awkward on all sides (and other family members/friends/acquaintances often mention it as chitchat too).

It would be the first time me and DH would have ever had a real disagreement/either of us has plainly vetoed the others feelings/opinions.

OP posts:
DoreenonTill8 · 20/07/2024 21:26

Sorry @Expatfamily is the abroad place your place of birth or did you grow up there? Or have you never actually lived there?Or when you say 'homesick' it's for family?

Sugargliderwombat · 20/07/2024 21:32

A

Hausss · 20/07/2024 21:32

Expatfamily · 20/07/2024 21:19

I think I’ve overly confused things.

I was trying to put the back story that I used to visit for a month prior to moving in with (now) DH. I did mention somewhere but I think it’s been lost that I’d be happy to visit for 7-10 days with DD just because I’m a bit bored on maternity. It’s only because apart from DH missing us (which i do take seriously/care about) is the only barrier as we could easily afford the £650 all in for me to go. If money was a barrier family would happily pay for me to go.

DH has said he’s happy to visit every other year - and as it will be our holiday that year we’ll be making it one with excursions and mini trips too. I 100% support this as I would like to holiday elsewhere/just the three of us too. He does enjoy it over there, he likes my family and they love him too.

As some posters have pointed out I’m on maternity leave and that’s why there’s lots of talk about me going over to visit as I have the flexibility and time, something in the future I won’t. My family did come over when she was born and we did go over last year. Me going over this summer would be a whistle stop, quick, bonus visit. I wouldn’t see it as a holiday, I would tell people ‘I’m going to see family that week…’

There’s basically a few options here:

A) I go over for a week and let DF (Darling family) pay. I’m not using any family money/annual leave for the visit. DH could be potentially upset with missing us for that week.

B) I accept the offer for them to pay for my flight and explain that we’ll be paying for DH to fly over. I tell DH that we’ll just be hanging out locally and to bring a book. They’d be more feeling guilty for not entertain DH/letting him mull about than not wanting him there full stop.

C) We might as well make it a holiday. Pay for both flights and spend around £3,000 like we did last year doing excursions/eating out/treating ourselves. This would mean dipping into our house renovation savings.

D) We decline all invitations and hopefully make it work next year before she turns two just like we had planned. Give my head a wobble as I’m lucky to go every other year.

E) I pay for my flight, take my £200 spending money for two weeks and quench my homesick feeling that I’ve only seemed to have developed because everyone keeps banging on how I should go because I’ve got the time. I’m also a bit bored as DH works long hours and sensory classes/meeting other mums for coffee only seem to fill a few hours here and there in the week.

Honestly it’s no great conspiracy against DH. It’s just because I complain that I’ve got my hands full with DD and a bit bored ‘Hey why don’t you find a cheap flight and hang out here for a bit… we do miss you guys. If money is a bit tight we’ll chip in for your flight as it’s cheaper than us coming over again this year’.

Is hurting him separating him from his very young child not enough for you not to put him through that? Actually asking, I'm not being sarcastic. I know I couldn't do it in your position. Especially as you're 'a bit bored' and they've seen her twice already

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2024 21:35

A or E. If he works long hours realistically how much of his child does he actually see anyway? It’s ridiculous for him not to be able to cope with a couple of weeks separation. He’s supposed to be an adult.

GuinnessBird · 20/07/2024 21:38

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2024 21:35

A or E. If he works long hours realistically how much of his child does he actually see anyway? It’s ridiculous for him not to be able to cope with a couple of weeks separation. He’s supposed to be an adult.

So he can take the child away as well then no problem.

betterangels · 20/07/2024 21:39

DH could be potentially upset with missing us for that week

Bit of a different slant than your OP. Anyway, people agree with you. And you want to go. So go. But don't take your husband, who would sell anything to make you happy, for granted. It rarely ends well in the end.

Every other year seems to be a reasonable compromise.

DoreenonTill8 · 20/07/2024 21:41

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2024 21:35

A or E. If he works long hours realistically how much of his child does he actually see anyway? It’s ridiculous for him not to be able to cope with a couple of weeks separation. He’s supposed to be an adult.

And op and her family are adults and they've seen each other and the baby twice this year, but it's apparently dreadful if she doesn't go back AGAIN this year?

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2024 21:52

GuinnessBird · 20/07/2024 21:38

So he can take the child away as well then no problem.

He hasn’t suggested that, has he?

GuinnessBird · 20/07/2024 21:53

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2024 21:52

He hasn’t suggested that, has he?

No but if the OP can why can't he? After all, he has annual leave he can use.

Omlettes · 20/07/2024 21:56

Hummingbird75 · 20/07/2024 17:34

It sounds too one sided.

Your parents are too busy to come and visit you, and yet you are happy to spend a serious amount of time and money to facilitate them. How is that fair?

I am with your dh on this.
Your family should be coming over to visit you this time. The dynamic sounds really unfair.

They are paying her airfare but cant afford his as well. And perhaps they are elderly?
If its long haul to Australia, its a killer flight.
Its only 2 weeks, is he not an adult, can couples not go on holiday separately or go to visit their parents?
Its not unreasonable by any stretch of the imagination.

Pupsandturtles · 20/07/2024 22:15

Do your family visit you?

do you visit them alone? If you just want to relax and watch Tv… why not do that?

I’m in a similar situation with a DH from abroad and we make all of these options happen, so he can maximise time with them without making our toddler travel too much. Toddlers on long haul flights = actual hell

DoreenonTill8 · 20/07/2024 22:18

Omlettes · 20/07/2024 21:56

They are paying her airfare but cant afford his as well. And perhaps they are elderly?
If its long haul to Australia, its a killer flight.
Its only 2 weeks, is he not an adult, can couples not go on holiday separately or go to visit their parents?
Its not unreasonable by any stretch of the imagination.

They are paying her airfare but cant afford his as well.
No ones asking them to pay his. But they're saying they'll rescind offer to pay hers if he comes as well. Nice people.

Sirzy · 20/07/2024 22:21

BruFord · 20/07/2024 21:00

@Sirzy My impression from the OP’s first post is that it’s more the cost of entertaining her DH while they’re visiting that’s the issue. She says that she’s happy just to hang out at home, whereas he gets bored and they spent ££££ doing touristy things last time.

Perhaps it was also expensive for her family and they can’t afford to do that again? It’s not entirely clear, but money’s the issue, not dislike.

Then you say “we can help but it will have to be scaled back” not “you and your child can come but not your husband”

Sirzy · 20/07/2024 22:25

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2024 21:35

A or E. If he works long hours realistically how much of his child does he actually see anyway? It’s ridiculous for him not to be able to cope with a couple of weeks separation. He’s supposed to be an adult.

Would you expect the same of the mother of a one year old or is it only fathers who are expected to be ok with long separations?

DoreenonTill8 · 20/07/2024 22:28

@Sirzy am shocked shocked I tells you, that you don't acknowledge its more important for the baby to have relationship with their mother's siblings than its own dad..

DoreenonTill8 · 20/07/2024 22:29

And still expecting someone to post the 'go! You'll be happier, remember 'happy mum, happy baby' schtick!

FrivolousKitchenRollUse · 20/07/2024 22:38

Expatfamily · 20/07/2024 21:19

I think I’ve overly confused things.

I was trying to put the back story that I used to visit for a month prior to moving in with (now) DH. I did mention somewhere but I think it’s been lost that I’d be happy to visit for 7-10 days with DD just because I’m a bit bored on maternity. It’s only because apart from DH missing us (which i do take seriously/care about) is the only barrier as we could easily afford the £650 all in for me to go. If money was a barrier family would happily pay for me to go.

DH has said he’s happy to visit every other year - and as it will be our holiday that year we’ll be making it one with excursions and mini trips too. I 100% support this as I would like to holiday elsewhere/just the three of us too. He does enjoy it over there, he likes my family and they love him too.

As some posters have pointed out I’m on maternity leave and that’s why there’s lots of talk about me going over to visit as I have the flexibility and time, something in the future I won’t. My family did come over when she was born and we did go over last year. Me going over this summer would be a whistle stop, quick, bonus visit. I wouldn’t see it as a holiday, I would tell people ‘I’m going to see family that week…’

There’s basically a few options here:

A) I go over for a week and let DF (Darling family) pay. I’m not using any family money/annual leave for the visit. DH could be potentially upset with missing us for that week.

B) I accept the offer for them to pay for my flight and explain that we’ll be paying for DH to fly over. I tell DH that we’ll just be hanging out locally and to bring a book. They’d be more feeling guilty for not entertain DH/letting him mull about than not wanting him there full stop.

C) We might as well make it a holiday. Pay for both flights and spend around £3,000 like we did last year doing excursions/eating out/treating ourselves. This would mean dipping into our house renovation savings.

D) We decline all invitations and hopefully make it work next year before she turns two just like we had planned. Give my head a wobble as I’m lucky to go every other year.

E) I pay for my flight, take my £200 spending money for two weeks and quench my homesick feeling that I’ve only seemed to have developed because everyone keeps banging on how I should go because I’ve got the time. I’m also a bit bored as DH works long hours and sensory classes/meeting other mums for coffee only seem to fill a few hours here and there in the week.

Honestly it’s no great conspiracy against DH. It’s just because I complain that I’ve got my hands full with DD and a bit bored ‘Hey why don’t you find a cheap flight and hang out here for a bit… we do miss you guys. If money is a bit tight we’ll chip in for your flight as it’s cheaper than us coming over again this year’.

Well E is emotional blackmail shit so you can park that for starters,

Adviceneeeeded · 20/07/2024 22:41

@Expatfamily can you compromise and just go for 1 or 1.5 weeks? Would that be more acceptable. Then all go together next year?

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2024 22:51

Sirzy · 20/07/2024 22:25

Would you expect the same of the mother of a one year old or is it only fathers who are expected to be ok with long separations?

Two weeks isn’t a long separation. Military fathers don’t see their kids for months, two weeks is nothing.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 20/07/2024 22:53

I favour "D": "We decline all invitations and hopefully make it work next year before she turns two just like we had planned. Give my head a wobble as I’m lucky to go every other year"

It's what you'd originally planned anyway, it meets the sensible compromise of every other year DH suggested, and in light of them rescinding the offer to pay for your flight if he goes too, it'll bring it home to everyone that priorities need to change now you're married with a family of your own

DoreenonTill8 · 20/07/2024 22:54

FrivolousKitchenRollUse · 20/07/2024 22:38

Well E is emotional blackmail shit so you can park that for starters,

Course it is, but that can be repeated to the dh who sounds like he'll do anything for op, and of course he's of course a selfish, controlling dick for wanting to have any holiday time with his family. He needs to realise his wants/needs/opinion are nothing.

Hummingbird75 · 20/07/2024 22:56

I could tell this was going to end badly for op, when she said it was the first time her dh had got very upset. Of course he is upset. He has been downgraded in the family as not really wanted, his time with his child seems to be an irrelevance. Op's family living on the other side of the world come before him. And yes it is family money op will be spending.

Who wouldn't be upset? Who wouldn't have something to say?

This is exactly the kind of thing that festers in marriages and starts a chain of events that no one could have foreseen apparently.

At some point when you are married with very young children you have to accept that some days will be dull and full of sensory classes and coffees, and the answer is not to hop on a plane to the other side of the world for two weeks when you are bored!

Sirzy · 20/07/2024 22:56

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2024 22:51

Two weeks isn’t a long separation. Military fathers don’t see their kids for months, two weeks is nothing.

But they know that at the time.

would you expect a mother of a one year old to be happy the father taking the child off on holiday when they aren’t allowed to go? That’s the realistic comparison here

Hummingbird75 · 20/07/2024 22:57

And your family op really need to step up and start carrying the load of visiting as well! Bloody CFs expecting you to do it all with a two year old.

betterangels · 20/07/2024 22:57

Hummingbird75 · 20/07/2024 22:56

I could tell this was going to end badly for op, when she said it was the first time her dh had got very upset. Of course he is upset. He has been downgraded in the family as not really wanted, his time with his child seems to be an irrelevance. Op's family living on the other side of the world come before him. And yes it is family money op will be spending.

Who wouldn't be upset? Who wouldn't have something to say?

This is exactly the kind of thing that festers in marriages and starts a chain of events that no one could have foreseen apparently.

At some point when you are married with very young children you have to accept that some days will be dull and full of sensory classes and coffees, and the answer is not to hop on a plane to the other side of the world for two weeks when you are bored!

Exactly.

Swipe left for the next trending thread