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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU - Retracted Mothers Day Treat?

302 replies

mummytippy · 31/03/2025 12:20

So a few weeks ago my BF asked me if I’d like to go out for Mother’s Day (his treat) if I had nothing planned with my 18 yo DS who is still a college student and living at home. I said I didn’t know what I was doing as not yet discussed it with my DS. Usually my DS will usually just get me a card as not earning and we don’t go out since my Mum passed away 3 years ago. When my Dad was alive we’d all go out on Mother’s Day and he would treat me, my Mum and my DS. I thought offering to take me out was a lovely gesture from my BF and I was really looking forward to it. As the time drew nearer, I asked him if he’d like to ask his Mum and also if it would be okay to take my DS, so 4 of us. He said he thought it was a lovely idea and even remarked it would be both mums and their sons. He knows I’m struggling since the loss of my parents and that I’m struggling with the menopause in that me and him won’t have children of our own. I also had a miscarriage just before my DS was conceived and I think about that baby on Mothers Day too. My BF has grown up children. He booked a table for 4 at a local pub. This was also the first time my DS was meeting my BF’s elderly parents too. I was really looking forward to it all and felt happier he’d asked his Mum as he is very lucky to still have her and she is lovely. She was also very excited. Anyway, all was well with me until after we sat down, drinks were chosen and he headed to the bar. I went with him to help carry the drinks back to the table but upon being asked if he wanted to pay for the drinks, or open a tab for the table, he asked me what I’d like to do while he secured a tab with his card. As we walked away from the bar I said ‘what do you mean, I thought this was your treat?’ He said he was sorry he had said that and yes it was. This was while walking back to the table. It wasn’t resolved and I was very confused so after we’d all decided what to eat we returned to the bar together to order the food. He said he would get it and I could transfer my share to him? Again I said I thought this was a treat but because now I was upset/shocked/annoyed and still confused (all at the same time) and I’m currently short of money (which he knows) I said I can’t afford to transfer you money so I’ll just get it on my credit card and tapped my credit card. The amount included the drinks. We then went and sat back down and I felt really upset but obviously put a brave face on things as his Mum was there and my DS who surprisingly was very chatty were smiling away. I was so upset I could not look my BF in the eyes. For me the occasion had gone from a treat for me to us now going 50/50 which is what we normally do. From the pub we returned his Mum home and spent an hour there with his Dad too so my DS could also meet him. My DS loved them. Anyway once back at my house I told him how I felt about us splitting it 50/50 when originally it was him inviting me out for a treat, and his answer was that that was if it had been just the two of us. So I asked how could that be, was he going to ask his Mum to pay for herself? Was it because I’d taken my DS? and he didn’t want to pay for him, but I’d asked if I could invite him and he’d said yes. He said he thought I’d have realised this changed things. I told him no I hadn’t. I said unless he’d have said to me that because it wasn’t now just the two of us so would I be happy to now go halves I was left feeling like I’d caused my own Mother’s Day treat to unravel and no longer be a treat. He said he wanted me to see his point of view and apologised. To add to this the pub took a £20 deposit for the table on booking on his card which they have not deducted from the total bill which was £60. He now has to go back to the pub to have the deposit refunded. Am I being unreasonable to think the original offer of lunch out being on him should still stand as I do feel very disappointed. As it stands the cost for me and my DS is £30. My DS wanted another drink so I sent him to the bar with my card to tap for that. My BF currently has the receipt to take back to the pub to get the deposit refunded. Last night I did not sleep as this has upset me so much and I’m feeling very resentful.

OP posts:
applebee33 · 31/03/2025 15:20

you don’t invite someone if it’s someone else’s treat. Terrible rude of you. And not being able to sleep over thirty quid ? Really. Way over dramatic imo

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 31/03/2025 15:27

Bogginsthe3rd · 31/03/2025 12:36

So you thought that however high the numbers of people attending were, BF would pay for all as mother's Day treat ?

She was hardly inviting hordes of people...

Cognacsoft · 31/03/2025 15:35

He's a tight wad.
He wanted to look good in front of his dm but didn't want to actually pay.
Seriously I couldn't be with someone this mean.

Chezxx · 31/03/2025 15:41

God help you if this mean man is all you think you deserve.

Marmiteontoastgirlie · 31/03/2025 15:42

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable to be upset, he sounds extremely cheap? I would expect a financially stable and FT employed man to be more than happy to foot the bill for a Mother’s Day lunch for his mum, girlfriend and one teenager. I think you should reassess the relationship.

commonsense61 · 31/03/2025 15:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Marmiteontoastgirlie · 31/03/2025 15:45

applebee33 · 31/03/2025 15:20

you don’t invite someone if it’s someone else’s treat. Terrible rude of you. And not being able to sleep over thirty quid ? Really. Way over dramatic imo

But it’s not really about £30 is it. She’s obviously having the sudden realisation that he’s either really cheap or hiding debt or something as it’s very unusual of him to not just cover a bill like this on Mother’s Day. OP I hope you find a man with a bit more chivalry and romance in his blood.

arethereanyleftatall · 31/03/2025 16:13

I don’t know your reasons for your financial circumstances. But. If there was anything I was in control of at all, ie second job possibility etc, I would do it. It would be nicer to do that than live a life where a £15 meal out causes such angst, arguments, worry, sleeplessness etc

WallaceinAnderland · 31/03/2025 16:27

He offered to pay for two people - him and you.

You invited two more people without first agreeing who would pay.

Therefore YABU

mewkins · 31/03/2025 18:01

honeylulu · 31/03/2025 12:53

It's a bit of a mess but I would say:

Your boyfriend should not have retracted the offer to treat you.

You should not have invited your son and assumed he would also be treated.

Your boyfriend should have clarified with you when agreeing you could bring your son that he would need to pay for himself or you would need to cover his share.

Your boyfriend was still being vague the first time you asked him whether he was still treating you. He said yes but didn't clarify the position with your sons bill and then wanted you to split the whole bill anyway, so you actually got NO TREAT. He should have covered 3 people (himself, mum and you) and you should have covered one (your son).

It sounds like he changed his mind and conveniently blamed you for confusing matters, despite having plenty of opportunity to address this himself, and he's ended up with a better deal than he originally proposed.

I think this. It was rubbish of him to not offer to pay for you as that was the original offer. He could have paid 3/4 and you pay 1/4. Especially as he knows you're low on money as you told him. Does he ever do anything nice for you usually?

mewkins · 31/03/2025 18:02

WallaceinAnderland · 31/03/2025 16:27

He offered to pay for two people - him and you.

You invited two more people without first agreeing who would pay.

Therefore YABU

Technically she didn't invite his mum. He did. She just suggested it.

mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:09

Moonnstars · 31/03/2025 15:15

YABU. Would he normally do something with his mum like that on mother's day? I just get my mum some flowers and a card, I wouldn't be going out for a meal and treating her (can't afford it/she wouldn't expect it).
I think you changed the idea of him treating you by inviting his mum and your son. He wanted to make the day special for you knowing you had been through a difficult time if you had nothing else planned.
You then turned his gesture into a general get together by saying you would like to invite your son and he should invite his mum. This is a different scenario to him taking you out as a treat and it's now become a whole family meal. I can see why he was surprised you thought he would pay for everyone.

I asked him to invite his Mum as I no longer have mine and wanted to include her as I like her a lot and it was Mothers Day

OP posts:
mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:11

Anneta · 31/03/2025 12:38

Could your BF easily afford to pay the whole bill or was he is being careful not to overspend?
It seems like a misunderstanding because his original genuine offer to treat just you was more than doubled in price when you include multiple drinks too, with your suggestions to include not only his own mum but your adult son. In that scenario you are being unreasonable to expect him to foot the bill for everything.
I would expect you, his mum &/or your son to share some of the costs by perhaps offering to buy a round of drinks each or pay for dessert.

Yes he could easily afford it and it’s currently all on my credit card

OP posts:
mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:16

mewkins · 31/03/2025 18:01

I think this. It was rubbish of him to not offer to pay for you as that was the original offer. He could have paid 3/4 and you pay 1/4. Especially as he knows you're low on money as you told him. Does he ever do anything nice for you usually?

We always go 50/50. He has treated me once before. This was a few months ago to a meal and drinks after a previous misunderstanding where by he had suggested getting a takeaway on the way out to going shopping for the day. Then on the way home he’d said we could use up some leftovers at my house. As a sorry he took me out for drinks and a meal.

OP posts:
mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:20

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

He was suggesting 50/50 as it was no longer just me and him. I didn’t think suggesting he bring his Mum and asking him to invite her if he wanted to would change the original offer. I just wish he’d have said something about my son going too. Now I just feel that the money being saved by him is more important than my happiness yesterday

OP posts:
mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:22

Marmiteontoastgirlie · 31/03/2025 15:45

But it’s not really about £30 is it. She’s obviously having the sudden realisation that he’s either really cheap or hiding debt or something as it’s very unusual of him to not just cover a bill like this on Mother’s Day. OP I hope you find a man with a bit more chivalry and romance in his blood.

Exactly this. It went from him trying to cheer me up on what was a tough day to him making me feel the worse I’ve felt since we started dating

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 31/03/2025 18:25

mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:16

We always go 50/50. He has treated me once before. This was a few months ago to a meal and drinks after a previous misunderstanding where by he had suggested getting a takeaway on the way out to going shopping for the day. Then on the way home he’d said we could use up some leftovers at my house. As a sorry he took me out for drinks and a meal.

What did he do ‘wrong’ that time?

Moonnstars · 31/03/2025 18:28

mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:09

I asked him to invite his Mum as I no longer have mine and wanted to include her as I like her a lot and it was Mothers Day

But did he actually want to invite her?
It sounds like he wanted to do something with you. Not everyone makes a big thing of mother's day. I think he was trying to show empathy specifically to you knowing you would find it tough.
As I said, you changed the dynamic as you thought it would be nice to invite his mum (and also your son). This was not the original plan, so therefore the idea of treating you was scrapped and a new plan of a family meal was created (in which it is reasonable to expect to pay half).
I get that you are upset as he said he would treat you, but I don't think he is being unreasonable (regardless of whether he has money or not...you don't know how tied up that is or if he is having a difficult moment financially) because the treat was meant to be for you, and you alone. Maybe he is a bit pissed off you wanted to invite his mum along and your son, maybe he feels you didn't really want a day with just him.

Sofiewoo · 31/03/2025 18:30

mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:16

We always go 50/50. He has treated me once before. This was a few months ago to a meal and drinks after a previous misunderstanding where by he had suggested getting a takeaway on the way out to going shopping for the day. Then on the way home he’d said we could use up some leftovers at my house. As a sorry he took me out for drinks and a meal.

You got upset that he didn’t want to buy a takeaway anymore?

mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:30

AlwaysPerfumed · 31/03/2025 15:07

@mummytippy You say he could easily have afforded to pay for all four of you.

If that is the case, why do you think he didn't? He seemed determined not to do so, so what point do you think he was trying to make?

I would have thought that when you said you couldn't afford it but would have to use your credit card, at the very least he might have suggested that he pay and you pay him back next month but he was determined not to pay, even though it was embarrassing.

I would think about why he was so set on this and base my conclusions and whether I was prepared to continue on that conclusion.

Was he annoyed that you had invited your son? Maybe he thought that your son should be making a fuss of you-making you breakfast, buying you a bar of chocolate or packet of biscuits-and setting you up on the sofa to watch television or read all day.

It's possible that when he saw that your son wasn't going to make a fuss of you, he felt sorry for you and stepped in and was then flabbergasted when you asked if, the same son who wouldn't do those things, could join in on the treat he was providing.

It's possible that his mum told him that he shouldn't be paying for your son.

It's possible that, despite what you think, he was a hard up at that moment in time.

It's possible he thought he was being used by you to get him to pay for you and your son.

It's possible he is a tight man.

You must have your idea as to why he behaved like this and you will have to judge and act accordingly.

Thank you for all of your possible scenarios. I honestly don’t know what his reason was but he gave an example of had it been him with his son’s, he would not have expected me to pay for them. My reply was that if I was already taking him out as a treat, I would have either been clear and said he needed to pay for them but I’d still pay for him or if short of money like I am currently, I would have paid for them so as not to upset him. I used Father’s Day as the example.

OP posts:
mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:32

Sofiewoo · 31/03/2025 18:30

You got upset that he didn’t want to buy a takeaway anymore?

I had spent 2 days over Xmas cooking and we were on the 3rd day of Turkey sandwiches. It was supposed to be so I got a rest out of the kitchen but instead we had turkey sandwiches again.

OP posts:
mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:37

ToKittyornottoKitty · 31/03/2025 18:25

What did he do ‘wrong’ that time?

The takeaway was meant to give me break out of the kitchen after 2 days of cooking over Xmas. But he drove past the takeaway after suggesting it earlier and said we can use up the last of the turkey so there I was calving off the very last bits from the turkey once we got home which was fairly late.

OP posts:
MuddyPawsIndoors · 31/03/2025 18:38

My DS really likes my BF and they get on really well so as nothing was said by him about costs I did think my BF would cover him too… £15

This is probably why he put his foot down.

It's not the money, it's the being taken for granted.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 31/03/2025 18:40

mummytippy · 31/03/2025 18:37

The takeaway was meant to give me break out of the kitchen after 2 days of cooking over Xmas. But he drove past the takeaway after suggesting it earlier and said we can use up the last of the turkey so there I was calving off the very last bits from the turkey once we got home which was fairly late.

Why didn’t you just buy a take away anyway?

EasyTouch · 31/03/2025 18:46

OP, men who" pocketwatch" tend to be arseholes.
Plus you are too old to be dallying around with a man who cannot value the bargain of four people being fed in a sit down meal in a restaurant on a special day.....all for sixty quid.

"Fifty Fifty" is a con that a lot of tight men subscribe to.
Similar to idiot women and women hating men who think that Equality means " the same".

Get rid.

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