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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or is DH? Stuck on holiday with him

304 replies

WITWHBIWAGT · 26/07/2024 19:55

Bought lunch in a small supermarket today as per agreement. We are on holiday and needed quick food. I got a shop bought meat sandwich and some bread and hummus. It was slim pickings.

So, DC decided they didn’t want the shop sandwich and I’m vegetarian. So I said to DH, ‘I am afraid it’s the shop bought sandwich for you.’ I said it in a kind of resigned, ‘bloody fussy kids’ kind of way - I thought.

He got cross and asked why does he have to eat it? I said you don’t but DC don’t want it and I don’t eat meat. ‘So why aren’t I allowed bread and hummus?’ - me ‘I’m not saying you are aren’t, I’m just saying no one else will eat that sandwich’ - he continues ranting. I say, ‘it’s fine, we can just chuck the sandwich away’.

Anyway he goes on being cross and telling me how awful I’m being. I get a bit tearful. Oldest DC comes and hugs me. DH storms off and slams the door. Then a bit later comes angrily out and angrily eats the bloody sandwich. I try and make conversation but I’m feeling a bit upset.

DC then go off somewhere so I calmly explain that I wasn’t dictating he should have the sandwich, more was commiserating. He sulkily says thank you for explaining and then says, ‘but can you see how I might think you were dictating what I eat’. I say no I don’t, because it seems obvious to me that I’m saying oh no, you poor thing, the DC are being fussy again and you are going to be stuck with that boring sandwich.

He launches into another tirade about how awful I’ve been (I got a bit irritated with him twice in the last week - I think most people would have but that’s another thread) - called me arrogant. Said my irritation with him was as unacceptable. I asked him if he thought it was ok to speak to me how he was. He didn’t answer. Carried on his tirade until I just sat quiet for long enough. I had a bit of a cry.

Was I being unreasonable and should he say sorry for getting so angry and storming off? To be clear, I stayed calm, didn’t once shout and didn’t call him any names or have a go at him but also didn’t just apologise because he’d completely misunderstood me for some reason.

I’ve got another week of holiday left. I just want to go home but have to play happy families for DC.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 30/07/2024 09:48

Montydone · 26/07/2024 23:46

Sounds like he’s very sensitive to perceived criticism… and then throws the criticism back onto you ten fold in a way that is quite confusing to you!
Did he by any chance experience being criticised and shamed in the past? (I’m not saying this would make it okay btw!)

it also sounds as though they aren't communicating well, and i agree with pp that a holiday under their circs (in councelling) wasn't the best idea.

Having seen OP come and say he didn't use the words "evil nature" leaves me thinking it is bickering, possible on the DHs part hangry bickering. Fussy kids never help and the way the sandwich was dumped on DH - in his shoes i'd have said "meh, i don't want it either". Then the "micromanaging" the stowing of shopping etc?

There are no easy answers here, there is probably a long hard slog to get the marriage back on track. Only OP and DH know if that's worth it.

In the meantime carry good snacks and decide what you're going to do for food in advance. If he's putting the shopping in the car, he's an adult leave him to it. If he's in a convo with the DC - don't butt in unless he's being abusive. DCs can have separate relationships with their parents.

I'd also try to make sure that each of you gets alone time and alone with the DCs time.

WITWHBIWAGT · 30/07/2024 21:52

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 30/07/2024 09:21

It's easy to see it's not about the sandwich at all.

If OP had come on here with a reverse, people would be saying how dare he dictate what she eats, "is he always this controlling".... etc.
She would have been justified in losing it based on the 2 tiffs from him earlier in the week.
But as it's a man, how dare he!

OP, if your relationship is worth fighting for, do that but as others have said, having to be consoled by your kids is damaging to them.
You could have walked away, even if it's to go to the bathroom.

You're both wrong to argue & cry in front of the kids.
Again, it's not the sandwich.

Again, I didn’t dictate what he ate. I made a joke that usually he would make himself. He didn’t have to eat the sandwich.

Yes. It’s shit for the DC. I know.

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 30/07/2024 21:55

MoveToParis · 26/07/2024 22:19

So why would she treat someone she’s supposed to love like the dog she’s throwing scraps off the table to? Why be glib, rather than making sure everyone got something nice.

Because there was hardly any bloody choice!

And if he was that bothered he could have got his own

Nanny0gg · 30/07/2024 22:04

pineapplesundae · 27/07/2024 21:41

Don’t you know what he likes by now? If you were in charge of buying lunch, you should try and please the people you’re buying for. Otherwise, ask them to choose their own sandwich. Don’t create a situation and then cry poor me.

Have you read all her posts?

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