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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:
StaunchMomma · 20/07/2024 16:32

In my opinion, what needs to happen here is for your DH to put you and DD first. You have been offered a free flight, FGS! The only reason for you to not going is what HE WANTS!

If this would be your DDs first flight then I take it you haven't been able to take her to see your family yet? If that is the case then it's absolutely in her best interests for you to go so they get to see her at this young, especially when she will fly for free.

He needs to get out of his feelings and see what's best for others.

coupdetonnerre · 20/07/2024 16:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Callalllaaammma · 20/07/2024 16:34

I think you should go as you have the opportunity and it will be a wonderful experience for your baby to get to know her grandchild. It is unreasonable to say we will only see them every 2 years if you have this chance to go.
My mum lives in France and I used to go on my own with the children and sometimes husband would come but it was nice to go on my own as well.

OhmygodDont · 20/07/2024 16:35

StaunchMomma · 20/07/2024 16:32

In my opinion, what needs to happen here is for your DH to put you and DD first. You have been offered a free flight, FGS! The only reason for you to not going is what HE WANTS!

If this would be your DDs first flight then I take it you haven't been able to take her to see your family yet? If that is the case then it's absolutely in her best interests for you to go so they get to see her at this young, especially when she will fly for free.

He needs to get out of his feelings and see what's best for others.

From ops posts it sounds like the dh does always put her first. She said he would sell everything he has to make her happy. He would be sad but do it.

that’s not a selfish man. That’s a man who would do anything for his family.

he hasn’t said she can’t go either. He would just rather go all together.

Tohaveandtohold · 20/07/2024 16:36

On this occasion, DH is unreasonable because this is not putting him out in any way, your family are paying for you to come and it’s not as if you’re using your annual leave as you’re still on maternity leave.
However in the long run, going to them every year will really take its toll on you and your immediate family. I know this because DH and I are in this situation ourselves. We’re the only ones living in the United Kingdom. We moved from our home country here 12 years ago, my mum is still in our home country, one of my siblings live in Canada, his parents and 2 siblings have migrated to the other side of the world, siblings are all married as well. However we’re always expected to come and visit them. We had to put a stop to it because frankly, we realise they don’t really care how much the visits cost us. Their lives are not impacted in any way, the last time we went, they didn’t even take annual leave and we were just slotting into their routine really and I can’t be bothered with that. you seem to love that though but I don’t.
If they really want to see us, they can save and save like we always do and come over but they won’t. They basically go abroad on fancy holidays whilst we’re expected to come to them.
We realise that most of our holidays are spent going to see family so we had to put a stop to it and none of them have bothered to come see us, we’re always talking on Skype anyway and the cousins have a relationship. We’ve said well only go visit anyone now for special occasions like PiL’s 70th in a couple of years

ilovesushi · 20/07/2024 16:37

At this stage I wouldn't overly worry about setting in stone a long term future routine for visiting abroad. Things change and you adapt. The point is that right now you have the time - maternity leave - and the money - from your parents for you and your DD to make the visit. Presumably your DH will be working not twiddling his thumbs at home crying about your absence. In the future, work, school, finances, other stuff is going to get in the way. Everything is aligned now for you to go. I absolutely know that if I were in your position, my DH would be happy that I had the opportunity. But then he is a big believer in the saying Happy Wife, Happy Life.

Lavenderandbrown · 20/07/2024 16:37

Op second marriage for me…I prefer to see family alone or with my dc (not dh). We do just like you….talk talk talk cook shop redecorate each others houses watch Netflix shop some more swim sun go antiquing read books look at magazines together. My DD/ Dsister say its like 2 college girls rooming together. None of that is interesting to my DH. Go abroad and enjoy your family. Establish this is normal and continue to go even when you pay for DCs. Use technology to call him face time and send lots of pics. If course he will miss you and DD but that’s ok. Of course he can and will do the same with his family and you will be ok with it too. My family has to move due to jobs…there’s no well you moved far we can’t see you. Talk about it and say conversationally but firmly ….Im going. I want to do it inexpensively and I want to have it be low key local and not touristy. God I love getting on a plane alone knowing my family is waiting for me at the other end.

GuinnessBird · 20/07/2024 16:37

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Really?

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 20/07/2024 16:38

@Expatfamily come on folks! a trip across to the other side of the world is not cheap!! and even if family will pay for her flight, you cannot just go there for a weekend!! husband is right/ every 2 years will suffice!! so who is over there? gran and grandad? or sis? did you come back or did you just not go with them??

Lilacapples · 20/07/2024 16:38

You’re his wife not his child so you don’t need his permission. Your family have offered to pay so get yourself over there!

AcrossthePond55 · 20/07/2024 16:39

I''m in Camp Go. I moved from my hometown when DH and I were married. My mum's family has always been close knit and my folks moved to be near us when our children came along. My DH loved my family but spending his entire vacation with them wasn't exactly at the top of his list.

So my folks and my children and I went to see them every year for a couple of weeks in the summer and DH only came every few years. It was fine. We enjoyed the same 'back in the family routine' as OP enjoys and DH was able to use his vacation time for his 'outdoorsy' hobbies. Did he miss us? Certainly. But it wasn't like we were gone for 6 months. And this was before internet and video chatting (which OP and DC could do), so DH had to 'make do' with phone calls.

As the DC got older, they were given the option to stay with dad, but really didn't start taking advantage of that until they were in their teens and wanted to be with their friends. Before then, they loved being with their cousins.

I'm in my 60s and still go every year for 2 weeks by myself. One of my cousins is my BFF and we love getting together, shopping, gossiping, drinking wine, etc. DH would rather chew glass than follow us around bored stiff for 2 weeks.

OP's DH needs to put on his big boy pants and realize that it does the OP good to be with her family and that's quite important. And OP needs to realize that if at some point DH decides to do something similar, then she needs to do the same.

Dahliaaaa · 20/07/2024 16:39

I'm on the side of DH. You cannot be taking his daughter away from him for weeks without his agreement, not only is it child abduction it is morally wrong. How would you feel if he took her away for weeks without you and without your agreement?
You should be recognising how lucky you are that he has agreed to going over every other year. I assume as it is the other side of the world it's not a 1 week trip and there is a good chance it takes up most of your annual leave meaning you then have no leave to take as a family

KhakiShaker · 20/07/2024 16:40

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 20/07/2024 16:15

Well he can look after her at home and his wife can go visit her much loved and missed family.
Except op has given no indication he will miss either of them - he just doesn’t want her to go because he’s a selfish fuck.

RTFT

OP says exactly that in her follow up posts. That he will miss them and doesn’t want to miss his daughter’s ’firsts’ including her first time on a plane. Totally understandable, but I guess it doesn’t matter because he’s only the dad huh

Pipsquiggle · 20/07/2024 16:41

I don't think either of you are being unreasonable.

I do think you and DH need to think a bit more strategically about costs over the next 4 years (pre school) and then after that.

Going now will be the cheapest it's going to be as DD is under 1, when you get to factor in school holiday prices, I think going less often is more sensible

HarrietTheSpyglass · 20/07/2024 16:42

My husbands family live in a European country. He visits 2-3x per year alone.

HollyKnight · 20/07/2024 16:43

It's quite sad and surprising how so many women must be used to men who aren't bothered about being away from their young babies for weeks.

UneFoisAuChalet · 20/07/2024 16:44

He’s being ridiculous and controlling.

My family also live a long haul flight distance and my husband doesn’t always join me because, similarly, it’s boring for him. I just want to ‘live’ when I’m back at home. Shopping, watching tv with family, cooking, hanging out with friends etc. my husband would rather have a holiday so he only joins us when there’s a big event like a wedding. It’s cheaper because I have no desire to do touristy things and the kids are happy playing with cousins. Beside the flights, the cost is probably less than what we would spend on a daily basis in the UK.

When I was teaching I would take the kids for four/five weeks during the summer holidays. It was a fabulous time for the kids and my husband knew how fortunate the children were to have that experience. I also would go when I was on maternity leave and the kids weren’t yet at school.

You’re married not conjoined twins.

SoupDragon · 20/07/2024 16:44

Leaving aside all other arguments, I couldn't accept a free flight from my family when it meant they had to sacrifice something in order to pay.

ginasevern · 20/07/2024 16:44

BarbedButterfly · 20/07/2024 14:34

I'm on his side tbh. If you are strapped for cash you shouldn't be going full stop. Every other year seems reasonable to me also. How often do they come to you?

I agree. The OP's family is now her DH and child. God, I've heard it said so many times on Mumsnet that men should put their wife and child first, not their mothers. Is it OK when it's the other way round? I think it's perfectly reasonable, and normal, that the OP goes every other year. This isn't a controlling situation (that word is bandied around far too often). Marriage is about compromise and this is clearly one of those situations.

circular2478 · 20/07/2024 16:45

I'd be away. I regularly took dd with me to visit family and dh stayed at home. The longest was 3 weeks. Of course he missed us, but he knows how important it was for me and dd to spend time with family. Plus he wouldn't want to use AL going to visit them.
Now that we've moved we live near my family and have to travel to see dh family. I get annoyed that he never wants to take dd on his own, always wants me to go with him. It's annoying as I'd love a week with no responsibilities :-)

If your dh doesn't want to go then that's his choice but he can't tell you that you can't go.

betterangels · 20/07/2024 16:47

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

I mean, she could. And he could decide that he shouldn't bend over backwards for someone who doesn't ever seem to prioritise him at all regarding holidays and free time.

DoreenonTill8 · 20/07/2024 16:48

I think the weirdest thing is the husband would go to as they could afford one flight as the dd is free, but her family have said 'no, if he comes then we won't pay your flight'....?
Wonder if while over there they'll do the 'look how much better it is here...leave him and move here to us...'

Sirzy · 20/07/2024 16:48

circular2478 · 20/07/2024 16:45

I'd be away. I regularly took dd with me to visit family and dh stayed at home. The longest was 3 weeks. Of course he missed us, but he knows how important it was for me and dd to spend time with family. Plus he wouldn't want to use AL going to visit them.
Now that we've moved we live near my family and have to travel to see dh family. I get annoyed that he never wants to take dd on his own, always wants me to go with him. It's annoying as I'd love a week with no responsibilities :-)

If your dh doesn't want to go then that's his choice but he can't tell you that you can't go.

But it’s not that he doesn’t want to go. It’s that her family have said they will pay for things when there if she pays for her flight but won’t do the same if they pay for both of their flights.

OhmygodDont · 20/07/2024 16:50

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I mean maybe ops husband should find a new wife who appreciates him.

Then he can apply for a court order too, stop the child leaving the country for anymore than two weeks or at all as a flight risk without consent.

As women are told on here hide the passport and never allow it incase she doesn’t return with the child.

GuinnessBird · 20/07/2024 16:50

DoreenonTill8 · 20/07/2024 16:48

I think the weirdest thing is the husband would go to as they could afford one flight as the dd is free, but her family have said 'no, if he comes then we won't pay your flight'....?
Wonder if while over there they'll do the 'look how much better it is here...leave him and move here to us...'

Yeah and I wonder if that is what the DH is thinking.