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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:
Cornishclio · 20/07/2024 17:15

Given it is a family visit and they have offered to pay for OPs flight I think you should go alone, it is not going to kill your DH to be without you and DD for a week or 10 days.

betterangels · 20/07/2024 17:16

Cincin22 · 20/07/2024 17:14

I've been in this exact situation, and I say you should go. Life can be unpredictable, and enjoying your dd with your family is time that you won't be able repeat later. Surely dh can handle missing 10days out of dds life?

Because he's just the dad, right? It doesn't really matter. The double standards on this site are something else. He's DD's family, too.

WhereYouLeftIt · 20/07/2024 17:17

Likewhatever · 20/07/2024 17:11

I’ve realised I’ve assumed parents, but the OP hadn’t actually said that. It would be helpful to know what the actual relationships are.

I assumed sibling.

  1. OP has a daughter who is still under 2.
  2. Family "used to visit over here often ... it’s difficult for them to visit due to their kids in school/costs for all them to fly" implied to me that they were able to visit often pre-children.
Which to my mind puts OP and 'family' in the same generation.
ACynicalDad · 20/07/2024 17:18

My wife tries to go home every 18 months or so and me and the kids go with her about every 4/5 years. She sees her family and we don’t have to spend every summer in the same place. Works nicely.

PollyPut · 20/07/2024 17:18

@Expatfamily has DD been over there yet? If not then it's quite nice to go now (and whilst it's cheaper when DD is under 2 years old).

Puzzledandpissedoff · 20/07/2024 17:19

I actually think it's really nasty of your parents to offer to pay for half of a married couple to go alone

As mentioned it's actually even worse than that, in that if DH wants to go they're wondering why they should pay for OP's ticket at all - apparently either ignoring that OP/DH can't afford two tickets or just feeling that they don 't want him there and would prefer to enjoy only OP's company

No wonder he's not over-keen, but as others have said he'll get all the blame on MN what with him being a man and all

HighCholesterolHorror · 20/07/2024 17:19

I think it’s fair to go!

DysmalRadius · 20/07/2024 17:21

So they won't make the sacrifices needed to pay for your flight if your husband goes, but you all expect him to sacrifice three weeks without his infant daughter so you can see each other? It sounds really one - sided, but it's you and your family on one side and your poor husband on the other.

And whatever happens, you either get to see your family abroad or you get a family holiday so it's kind of a win-win for you and a lose-lose for him. What a horrible situation to put him in.

Beth216 · 20/07/2024 17:24

I think you really need to take advantage of the fact that dd is free at the moment. What if you and your family went halves on the flight so it's less of a burden on both of you?

I'd go, I'd apologise to DH for upsetting him but say that this is really important to you and that you hope he understands. Going on a plane for the first time really isn't a babies milestone and the chances are he'd miss any other milestones if you were at home from being at work anyway.

OhmygodDont · 20/07/2024 17:26

If it’s so important to op to visits her family she can go without the infant.

This trip isn’t for the infant. They won’t remember it… so let dad have her while op goes.

LizzieBennett73 · 20/07/2024 17:26

Speaking as a parent, I cherish the time I get to spend with my adult children and even more so when they're without their partners.

I would assume it's much easier for your DH to see his family.... in which case, he has no right to make you feel bad about spending time with yours.

masomenos · 20/07/2024 17:27

I think it depends on where.

If it’s Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles, Japan type distance from the U.K.: doing that trip every year, together, isn’t on. And, when you have a baby/toddler I can understand not being separated for 3+ weeks at a time (which is really the length of time you’d need to be there to get over jet lag etc).

If it’s India, South Africa, east coast USA/Canada type distance: he’s being unreasonable. You can visit these places for a few days at a time, and if something goes wrong there are loads of flights every day.

Likewhatever · 20/07/2024 17:28

WhereYouLeftIt · 20/07/2024 17:17

I assumed sibling.

  1. OP has a daughter who is still under 2.
  2. Family "used to visit over here often ... it’s difficult for them to visit due to their kids in school/costs for all them to fly" implied to me that they were able to visit often pre-children.
Which to my mind puts OP and 'family' in the same generation.

That makes sense.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to prioritise visits to siblings over immediate family holidays.

Omlettes · 20/07/2024 17:29

Puzzledandpissedoff · 20/07/2024 17:19

I actually think it's really nasty of your parents to offer to pay for half of a married couple to go alone

As mentioned it's actually even worse than that, in that if DH wants to go they're wondering why they should pay for OP's ticket at all - apparently either ignoring that OP/DH can't afford two tickets or just feeling that they don 't want him there and would prefer to enjoy only OP's company

No wonder he's not over-keen, but as others have said he'll get all the blame on MN what with him being a man and all

Thats madness, its a long haul flight, possiblt to Oz and they dont have much money according to the daughter. He is not their child, I think this is so entitled.

2chocolateoranges · 20/07/2024 17:32

I’m team dh here.

I personally wouldn’t want to not see my child every day, especially at that age, they change so much. I also wouldn’t want every holiday we have to involve staying with/ visiting the in laws. I could manage every second year but not every year.

does your family ever visit you here, back home?

of course your family are going to want you and little one over but you and dh are a team and need to try and come up with a compromise, you also have to remember that it wasn’t you that decided to move that far away!

Jennyathemall · 20/07/2024 17:33

A reasonable response from your dh would be “I’d miss you all terribly but if your parents are paying you would be silly not to go. I can manage on my own for 2 weeks”. He is overreacting and being a little bit controlling and no it wouldn’t matter if roles were reversed. If he doesn’t know what to do with himself for 2 weeks alone then he needs a little bit of a head wobble. If it was me I would be looking to go every year - alternating between parents pay/on my own and then whole family the following year. Seems sensible and reasonable.

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.

Backtothedungeon · 20/07/2024 17:37

If you go could you afford another holiday as a family at some time in the year? If so I think you should go.

Another possibility is if you go for a week alone, then your DH flies out for a second week, and you make that week your family holiday, but you get to just relax with your family first.

RoachFish · 20/07/2024 17:41

OhmygodDont · 20/07/2024 17:26

If it’s so important to op to visits her family she can go without the infant.

This trip isn’t for the infant. They won’t remember it… so let dad have her while op goes.

Presumably it's so that the family can meet their grandchild/niece?

Another2Cats · 20/07/2024 17:43

LizzieBennett73 · 20/07/2024 17:26

Speaking as a parent, I cherish the time I get to spend with my adult children and even more so when they're without their partners.

I would assume it's much easier for your DH to see his family.... in which case, he has no right to make you feel bad about spending time with yours.

From what the OP said it seems to be her sibling rather than her parents. There is reference to her "family" currently having school age children

OhmygodDont · 20/07/2024 17:44

RoachFish · 20/07/2024 17:41

Presumably it's so that the family can meet their grandchild/niece?

They can come here then can’t they. If it’s so important to them since again the infant won’t remember so it’s for them not the little one.

This whole thing is one sided with op always travelling to family the other side of the globe when they left Britain. Her using what will her her annual leave, their cash and savings, taking the child away from one of its parents to please her family.

maybe it’s time they pulled fingers out bum and came here.

Viviennemary · 20/07/2024 17:46

I think there are arguments on both sides here. There isn't right or wrong. You will just have to come to some sort of agreement or compromise.

FantasticFox27 · 20/07/2024 17:49

He's out of order. Instead of allowing you what is essentially a free trip to see family he is insisting he accompany you which is ridiculous. Unless the country is known for high crime and he is worried for your safety or something then he is just being jealous.
This is from someone whose in laws offered to pay for DH to visit their home country and pay for his ticket, and he went with no push back from me. In our case it was a high crime country, but as he wasn't taking our children he could do his own risk assessment and I wouldn't stand in his way

user1984778379202 · 20/07/2024 17:51

FantasticFox27 · 20/07/2024 17:49

He's out of order. Instead of allowing you what is essentially a free trip to see family he is insisting he accompany you which is ridiculous. Unless the country is known for high crime and he is worried for your safety or something then he is just being jealous.
This is from someone whose in laws offered to pay for DH to visit their home country and pay for his ticket, and he went with no push back from me. In our case it was a high crime country, but as he wasn't taking our children he could do his own risk assessment and I wouldn't stand in his way

It's not a free trip now though. When OP told her family that she and DH could pay for his ticket to join her, her family said in that case why didn't she get one ticket herself and come alone. So they've effectively rescinded their original offer. That's part of why her DH is against her going and I can't say I blame him.

Tandora · 20/07/2024 17:53

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...'

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'....?

This!!! I think this is what people on this thread seem to be missing? DH isn’t saying she should miss out of a free flight to see her family, he’s was up for going too, but he’s been actively disallowed to accompany his wife and child, using money as a lever?! I’d be seriously pissed off of my MIL pulled something like this !!