To Surprise OH At The Airport?

[ladybird30]

My OH is due back from being away for a week, for work.

It's the first time he's been away for more than a few days since we had our LO and I thought it'd be nice to surprise him at arrivals and pick him up.

I've mentioned this to a couple of people and some have said it'd be embarrassing and a bit cringe, as he's away for work with a few guys he works with and they're all travelling together.

Should I surprise him or just stay home?

Well, personally it would irritate me because I'd be travelling with colleagues and still in "work mode" to an extent. I don't want to be met at the airport in that scenario, it just feels odd to me (unless previously arranged).

Some people love surprises, others don't. Unless you are sure he'd love it, don't do it. There will be other ways to express your love and your pleasure at having him home.

Couldn’t agree more!

@CheeseWisely I posted at the same time you did but see my answer on the why.

It boils down to a long week at work, usually bad sleep, airports and stupid people, and just wanting to get home. No patience for anything else at that point in my day.

@CheeseWisely

Your response is tone deaf and mean.

@Doggymummar said no one ever comes to collect her yet you tag her in and respond to her personally by saying your husband is there every time and never misses it. Have a word with yourself.

I wouldn’t bother if he’s only been away one week. Maybe if he’d been gone 3 months it would be a lovely surprise.
But generally if I go away without my family I have already made plans for getting back and often with the people I’ve been travelling with so it would either change the dynamics of that last minute or it wouldn’t and the person greeting me would have to turn around and go home again on their own which would just be a bit weird.
I vote for stay home and greet with a takeaway!

How depressing people see going to meet a loved one at the airport cringey.

Why?

It's not meeting a loved one that's "cringey", it's meeting a loved one when they're on a work trip and travelling with their colleagues that's weird.

If he was travelling alone it would be a different story.

@Moonshine5 And if that's how the poster you're speaking for took it then I apologise to them.

What I meant was that I know how that feels because for 15 years of travelling every couple of months nobody ever met me at the airport, but now it's changed. Things can change.

Because it's a work trip with work colleagues, not a jolly. It just comes across as a bit very weird to me. I'd be mortified if DH did it to me.

If he was travelling alone, fair enough.

Oh god I didn't even meet dh after 6 months in Iraq and Afghanistan x6 and during the last one I had our baby.

Not if he's with colleagues no.

Do a little welcome home banner and party tea at the house to celebrate his return. A reunion he can enjoy without colleagues as an audience.

Lol everyone loves an "if" apology.

Quick thinking on your feet tho

Drip drip drip

Can’t you ask him “Do you want me to pick you up from the airport?” I always pick my DH or DCs up, and they always appreciate not having to struggle on that final leg of the journey. I just wait in the car though, not in the terminal with balloons and party poppers.

I think this is all for you not him. If you want to pick him up wait in the car. It's a week.

Well said!

Same here. After being away for a week, for work..just no.

Yes this. I just got back from a work trip. Plane was delayed both times which would have been horrible for my DH if he’d been waiting with the kids. Plus I collected my luggage with my colleagues and ended up walking out into arrivals chatting to them, would have felt a bit personal having a welcoming party in front of them 😅

@Nightowl1234 A vagina slamming shut? 😂 a penis falling off? I had no idea a vagina slamming shut was a thing. This cracked me up

I wouldn't do it as a surprise. Ask him if he'd like a lift. If not, wait for him at home with a nice meal.

@Findmebythesea1 You win favourite reply. We'd probably be friends in real life, you're my kinda vibe!

This

My dh went away a lot for work - I can’t imagine that he’d have objected. I usually picked him up anyway, though - my car practically went on autopilot to Heathrow.