Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be annoyed at DH missing family event?

355 replies

Chunkychips23 · 06/02/2025 08:40

It’s my mums birthday lunch coming up, which has been booked in for a while. DH has been offered free tickets for a sporting event at the weekend. It comes with all the bells and whistles and he is super passionate about it. He wants to miss my mums birthday lunch.

Ordinarily I wouldn’t be bothered, but it means lugging our 14 month old on the train and then into a taxi. Again, not that big a deal, but I’m heavily pregnant and struggling with tiredness, sciatica pain and lifting heavy things atm. I’ve tried lifting DC in the car seat as practice and I’m really struggling.

I have checked with those in attendance and nobody has space in their cars for us, so it would definitely be a taxi job. DC HATES being in the car seat also, so there’s going to be that fun to deal with too 😅

DH said it’s my own fault for not learning to drive and then I wouldn’t have this problem. Or my my family should try and accommodate me. He’s saying I can tell him not to go, but he knows full well I have never and will never be that person. I’ve explained what I’d be struggling with and my concerns. I get how much the sporting event means to him. There’s a long family tradition there and it makes him feel closer to his deceased father. So I don’t want to tell him not to go.

He is a hands on father generally and does his fair share of parenting, so it’s not like he’s skipping out after being useless.

My mum has done a lot for us too. Plus my side of the family rarely have gatherings. I know she’s disappointed too but won’t express it. I have to go to all of his family gatherings, know matter what. Or his mum gets upset and then I get grief about it.

DH doesn’t think I have a right to be annoyed or feel let down. I can just ask strangers to help me, it’s not a big deal. I feel bad about being pissed off, as in the grand scheme of things it’s not a massive deal. Am I just being hormonal? AIBU here as it is something he wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford to go to?

OP posts:
angela1952 · 08/02/2025 12:03

Chunkychips23 · 06/02/2025 10:16

It’s usually a non issue. Where we live, everything is easily accessible, he rarely ever gives me lifts. I was planning on taking lessons again, just to give me that more freedom and less reliant on public transport when I do travel further afield. It’s not an aversion or being a passenger princess, it’s just in the last few years when I’ve had more of a need to drive, cost has been a major factor.

They’re all just relying on my mum to sort it and be the one to drive, as per usual. This woman never gets to let her hair down. And yes, I do feel a bit disappointed in my extended family.

Even if you could drive it's unlikely you could drive at the moment, and your DC would be just as upset about being in the car seat in any cases. I'm not sure how long the journey is, but you're just going to have to bite the bullet and get a taxi, ask them to send someone who can help you with the car seat and take a pack of your DC's favourite treats, it's only once. If it all works out OK on the way there you can use the same taxi to get home, give them a time when they drop you off.

Flozle · 08/02/2025 13:31

NeedToChangeName · 06/02/2025 09:13

Being the sole driver in a family is onerous. I can see his frustration. Your choice not to drive is impacting him

14 month old in buggy. Someone would help you on and off the train

Perhaps someone could drop others at restaurant and then come to pick you up at the sration. But, dont take this for granted. Wouldnt be necessary if you learn to drive

She's unlikely to have learned to drive by then, I would think, so that's a pretty redundant statement.

CleansUpButWouldPreferNotTo · 08/02/2025 14:25

BunnyVV · Yesterday 19:58
Honestly you make it sound like your too pregnant to go at all.
you can’t lift a baby seat? C’mon.
stop being a drama queen.
Stay at your mums the night before or ask one of your family to meet you from the station.
theres always a way to work things out when there are lots of family. You’re being a bit silly.

Did you even bother reading any of OP's posts? The only drama queen seems to be the person who posted the above.

NeedToChangeName · 08/02/2025 18:53

Flozle · 08/02/2025 13:31

She's unlikely to have learned to drive by then, I would think, so that's a pretty redundant statement.

I was thinking longer term. I have a friend who doesn't drive. She is grateful for lifts bur it's frustrating for the rest of us that we always have to drive. I think OP shouldn't assume her family are happy lo drive her

chaosmaker · 11/02/2025 18:27

I hope he will now go to your Mum's birthday with you and toddler and this is resolved.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread