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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH just told me he expects me to miss-out on a work thing and deal with childcare so he can go to the pub.

163 replies

Poppyfie1ds · 05/11/2024 21:24

I know this sounds like I'm expecting him to ask permission, but I'm not; quite the opposite in fact. Hear me out. My DH(M39) and me (F38) work for the same company both full time. We have DS (11). Now the company are doing a 'fun day' party type thing at the office in a couple of weeks time. Working at the same company we are obviously both invited. When it was announced a couple of months ago I asked DH if he was going and he grumpily told me it wasn't his sort of thing, so no, he'd stay out the office that day. Fast forward to today, and while I'm cooking dinner, DH gets back from the office and tells me "he can't remember if he mentioned it" (he didn't because it turns out it was only agreed a few hours ago) but after this fun day, some male colleagues and himself are going to the pub. At no time (not even after our row tonight) has he asked me if I'm planning to go to this fun day or show any interest in my plans.

Like a lot of parents, even without the added pub trip there would be the school run to consider if we're both in the office on the same day. So I was super p-off and said "so I guess I'll be doing the school run?" At which point DH picks up my annoyance and starts hypothetically roping in our parents to babysit. I got really annoyed and said that we work at the same place, we have childcare to consider we really need to be talking to each other in the planning stage and not presenting each other with "I'm doing this - it's agreed with everyone except you and the babysitters". DH has a history of presenting me with his plans in this way and if childcare is an issue just assuming the grandparents will step in, without actually checking with them. This fun day thing is a relatively minor issue on its own, but tonight was the straw that broke the camel's back.

DH has called me deranged for being annoyed. He tells me he'll pull out from the pub trip "if it will make me happy" as if he's being the good guy here, instead of the guy who doesn't talk to his wife about any of his plans, assumes others will deal with the childcare and who apparently can't say to his male colleagues 'I'll just check who's doing the school run and get back to you.' DH says that what I'm expecting from him isn't normal. It's not even really about the pub for me, it's about me now not being able to attend a work thing without any discussion - the grandparents won't be able to step in because they don't like to drive in the dark and it will be dark early, and I actually think there is some sort of school concert that evening too, which I've not even bothered reminding him of.

DH routinely presents me with complete 'this is happening' plans that have knock on affects to childcare (not to mention my plans) and I have to either smile, nod and deal with it, or point out some objection and be accused of "stopping him." I'm currently annoyed but remarkably calm. DH has had a complete hissy-fit and says he'll never make plans or go out again and that it's always like this. I am not his mum, I don't want to be presented with his plans for me to grant permission or get in his way, I want DH to be talking to me about his plans as he arranges them, like a grown up who is part of a family unit. I don't event book a hairdressing appointment without checking childcare is covered and it doesn't inconvenience anyone first.

Thank you for reading, that was cathartic. I guess I need to ask, have I got this wrong, AIBU?

OP posts:
Marblesbackagain · 05/11/2024 21:27

He is acting like a complete selfish twit. He knew the plan but he conveniently forgets. Go to your funeral day/evening and tell him it is up to him to sort everything including school concert etc.

Stop being the default parent.

Thelnebriati · 05/11/2024 21:30

This sounds like coercive control;
''DH routinely presents me with complete 'this is happening' plans that have knock on affects to childcare (not to mention my plans) and I have to either smile, nod and deal with it, or point out some objection and be accused of "stopping him."

And this sounds like emotional abuse;
''DH has called me deranged for being annoyed.''

MidnightBlossom · 05/11/2024 21:30

Is he always this immature and self centred?

pikkumyy77 · 05/11/2024 21:30

Family calendar with more than a week’s notice to be given for someone to need childcare arranged?

Purplewarrior · 05/11/2024 21:32

I would call his bluff and say yes, you will have to cancel your pub trip.

fashionqueen0123 · 05/11/2024 21:32

I would remind him that you were going as it wasn’t his thing and so no he obviously can’t go.

GivingitToGod · 05/11/2024 21:33

U have every right to be upset OP; he is being selfish and manipulative.
Take care

SomethingFun · 05/11/2024 21:34

This is his problem- you say I already planned to go to the fun day and you said you weren’t going to the office so you need to sort out childcare if your plans have changed. And let him strop as he caused the problem.

In future you could put your plans in his calendar and then every time you say this is in the calendar already, if you want to do x just put it in my calendar when it’s free. I doubt this is a schedule thing and it is more an entitlement and unthinking attitude thing, but at least if it’s in the calendar you can’t be gaslighted into thinking it’s a mix up on your part.

RedHelenB · 05/11/2024 21:36

Who would be doing the school pick up usually? Think a family calendar is in order as others have suggested

PullTheBricksDown · 05/11/2024 21:37

Yes, from now on everything goes on the calendar for both of you, first come first served. If not on the calendar it isn't happening.

InterestQ · 05/11/2024 21:37

“I’m going to the work fun thing, you said you didn’t want to go so you’re pegged for the school run and childcare. I said I was going in x month and you said it wasn’t your thing. Ergo, those are the plans.”

facts. He sounds insanely annoying.

NeighbourHitMyCar · 05/11/2024 21:37

Forgive me OP if I've misunderstood but it reads to me like you also never told him you wanted to go to the office fun party thing?

So presumably he didn't know he was due to be babysitting as you say he 'didn't ask if you wanted to go to the fun thing' which suggests you hadn't told him

He sounds like a bit of an arse but perhaps communication all around could be better?

Sorry if I've misunderstood

FLOWER1982 · 05/11/2024 21:39

It’s not babysitting, it’s called being a dad! 🤔

Poppyfie1ds · 05/11/2024 21:41

PullTheBricksDown · 05/11/2024 21:37

Yes, from now on everything goes on the calendar for both of you, first come first served. If not on the calendar it isn't happening.

We have tried this but this he'll be out and make plans (without seeing the calendar) then come back and assume it will be okay because it'll be worked out (by everyone except him.) If I push it he'll have a big huff and begrudgingly offer to change plans but my argument is, why not just run it past us first to check like I do. He makes it sound like expecting that from him is so unfair.

OP posts:
levantine · 05/11/2024 21:42

We have a joint google calendar. If a date is agreed for my running club before DH's band practice then that's how it goes. Obviously there is room for negotiation, but we both recognise that it needs to be fair.

My marriage isn't perfect by any means, but this does work. Your husband is really not being fair here.

levantine · 05/11/2024 21:42

Sorry, x post, I see you have tried this

Backfromswimming · 05/11/2024 21:42

He tells me he'll pull out from the pub trip "if it will make me happy"

Rather than let him guilt trip, I’d smile and say it very much would make me happy, that I was glad he was seeing sense and being considerate.
Don’t give it another thought and feign disinterest if he mentions it in future.

BabyMama889 · 05/11/2024 21:44

Backfromswimming · 05/11/2024 21:42

He tells me he'll pull out from the pub trip "if it will make me happy"

Rather than let him guilt trip, I’d smile and say it very much would make me happy, that I was glad he was seeing sense and being considerate.
Don’t give it another thought and feign disinterest if he mentions it in future.

This. I have done this to my DH in the past. He will huff but will learn. If he acts like a child, treat him like one.

Dishwashersaurous · 05/11/2024 21:46

God he sounds really annoying and ridiculous.

But for a one off could your child simply get himself home, at 11 either year 6 or 7 so able to look after himself for a bit.

So you can then do the fun day

JustMarriedBecca · 05/11/2024 21:46

Poppyfie1ds · 05/11/2024 21:41

We have tried this but this he'll be out and make plans (without seeing the calendar) then come back and assume it will be okay because it'll be worked out (by everyone except him.) If I push it he'll have a big huff and begrudgingly offer to change plans but my argument is, why not just run it past us first to check like I do. He makes it sound like expecting that from him is so unfair.

Then he needs to learn to say "I'll check the dates and let you know" to his mates rather than commit.

My husband will message me to check the calendar if I'm at home and he isn't. It's called communicating.

(Yes we could do an online calendar but I like a paper version)

Poppyfie1ds · 05/11/2024 21:48

NeighbourHitMyCar · 05/11/2024 21:37

Forgive me OP if I've misunderstood but it reads to me like you also never told him you wanted to go to the office fun party thing?

So presumably he didn't know he was due to be babysitting as you say he 'didn't ask if you wanted to go to the fun thing' which suggests you hadn't told him

He sounds like a bit of an arse but perhaps communication all around could be better?

Sorry if I've misunderstood

That's a fair point. No I didn't expressly say I was going in but we talked about it like I was. He joked about me baking a cake for it when he initially said he wasn't going. He seems to assume I was going too, because he tried to make it okay by saying "it'll be over early anyway it always is" to reassure me I could still do the school run and not really miss anything - well except a trip to the pub which incidentally he never thought to invite me to.

OP posts:
Poppyfie1ds · 05/11/2024 21:50

JustMarriedBecca · 05/11/2024 21:46

Then he needs to learn to say "I'll check the dates and let you know" to his mates rather than commit.

My husband will message me to check the calendar if I'm at home and he isn't. It's called communicating.

(Yes we could do an online calendar but I like a paper version)

He doesn't like technology. I mean he knows how to message me and I've pointed that out. He does fall back on being a tech-neanderthal when it suits.

OP posts:
Phase2 · 05/11/2024 21:51

Yeah I think you should have been clear you were going tbh.

Backfromswimming · 05/11/2024 21:52

Exactly @BabyMama889! Mine tried to give me all the responsibility and argued, but I learned to bat back.

Spacecowboys · 05/11/2024 21:52

If he makes plans when he knows you already have, he sorts out the childcare himself. Tell him it’s nothing to do with you as you’d already made him aware of your plans weeks ago. His problem to solve.