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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think he should come to the lunch?

127 replies

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 07:33

I want to start by saying my partner will always put my wishes first, but I do specifically have to ask him….

My partner and I are travelling to another part of the UK (about 5 hour drive) to visit my family. He’s only met them once as we don’t get there often.

It’s a close cousin’s 50th and a few people are driving/flying down for a long weekend. We’ll stay in a hotel and I’ve paid for DP and I to stay somewhere quite nice.

On one of the days we’re all going for a lunch buffet, a drive away from where my family live. The buffet was my choice as I loved the place when I was younger. We’ll make a day of it with the group while we’re out.

DP is known to hate buffets, and I didn’t think much of telling him “you don’t have to come if you don’t want”.

To be honest I thought he’d come along anyway.

He told me last night that not only was he not coming, he was planning to see a (single) female friend that he used to work with, who happens to live nearby. We’ll be gone a lot of the day so he said he’d “hang out with her for the day” apparently. I’ve never met her and actually never even heard of her

I’m pretty pissed off to be honest. I don’t like the optics of having to tell my family he isn’t coming at all (although originally I told him it was fine), but particularly to spend a day with this woman I’ve never even heard off, who is single by all accounts. And it’s worsened by the fact we rarely see my family and only have a few days with them.

He doesn’t have a jealous bone in this body so it literally wouldn’t cross his mind that this would be an issue. Nor would he give two hoots if I skipped something I didn’t feel like doing with his family.

AIBU to tell him I’ve changed my mind and I’d like him to join us? Or at least tell him I’m uncomfortable with his choice of alternative activity.

He’s never given me any reason not to trust him and he tends to always put my wishes first. This just won’t have occurred to him as an issue.

OP posts:
OhNoNotSusan · 25/08/2025 07:34

that is very disappointing,
and rude to your family

PersephoneParlormaid · 25/08/2025 07:36

You said he didn’t have to, so YABU.

Iocainepowder · 25/08/2025 07:36

I think YABU to order him not to see a friend just because she is female and single.

BabyCatFace · 25/08/2025 07:36

I think it's fine. He'll be seeing your family on other occasions over the weekend right? So catching up with a friend while he's in the area seems fine. And the fact she's a single woman shouldn't make a difference, you know it shouldn't.

Spies · 25/08/2025 07:37

It seems quite unkind to choose something you know he doesn't like such as the buffet and then try to force him to come. You'll be with family and it's one day and just because the friend is a women and single doesn't mean he shouldn't spend time catching up with her.

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 07:39

BabyCatFace · 25/08/2025 07:36

I think it's fine. He'll be seeing your family on other occasions over the weekend right? So catching up with a friend while he's in the area seems fine. And the fact she's a single woman shouldn't make a difference, you know it shouldn't.

I do know it shouldn’t! Hence I am posting here for some rational views rather than acting on unfounded concerns.

OP posts:
HeronPond · 25/08/2025 07:42

You told him he didn’t have to come to the lunch, despite expecting him to know you didn’t mean it, and now you expect to dictate what he does instead?

Bitzee · 25/08/2025 07:43

Well you did arrange a meal you know he hates and then tell him that he didn’t have to come. So I don’t think you can exactly be annoyed that he’s taking you at your word!

SummerFrog25 · 25/08/2025 07:44

I think it's really rude of him not to go to your cousins birthday & it makes it very awkward for you. He's travelled all that way, but is chiding not to go to the family celebration. Rude!!

so he doesn't like buffets much, he can suck it up for one event.

as for spending the day with some never heard of female who just happens to live near where you are going? I think not!

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 07:44

Spies · 25/08/2025 07:37

It seems quite unkind to choose something you know he doesn't like such as the buffet and then try to force him to come. You'll be with family and it's one day and just because the friend is a women and single doesn't mean he shouldn't spend time catching up with her.

I have little nieces and nephews who also love the place, so I did choose it but with them in mind too.

OP posts:
SummerFrog25 · 25/08/2025 07:44

Bitzee · 25/08/2025 07:43

Well you did arrange a meal you know he hates and then tell him that he didn’t have to come. So I don’t think you can exactly be annoyed that he’s taking you at your word!

It's not a meal he hates, it's just a method of serving.

legsekeven · 25/08/2025 07:46

You go and have a lovely time with your family. If they ask after him just say he’s catching up with an old friend. Don’t make this bigger than it needs to be

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 07:46

HeronPond · 25/08/2025 07:42

You told him he didn’t have to come to the lunch, despite expecting him to know you didn’t mean it, and now you expect to dictate what he does instead?

I really said it in a jokey way, without giving it much thought. I did realise afterwards that I’d quite like him there. But definitely when he told me his alternative plans I felt uncomfortable (which I know is probably unreasonable).

I can’t help but feel like I’m not paying for him to come with for him to disappear for a day to spend the day with another woman. I absolutely know that’s unfair and dramatic, but the less reasonable side of my brain is going there.

The more reasonable side has led me to post here before acting on it!

OP posts:
Thepeopleversuswork · 25/08/2025 07:48

I’m not really understanding the phobia for a buffet: a buffet is just a different way to display the food. You could have literally any kind of food at a buffet. Someone not liking buffets in general doesn’t really make sense?

I think it’s pretty rude to have travelled to the other end of the country for a family event and to piss off with someone else. But you didn’t help yourself by telling him he could duck out!

OhNoNotSusan · 25/08/2025 07:49

i would tell him, you are upset and hurt that he wont come,
is he always so self centred?

AnotherDayAnotherDog · 25/08/2025 07:50

The buffet is irrelevant. You said he didn’t need to come and we’re fine with him deciding not to. The issue is seeing another woman hes never mentioned before but suddenly wants to spend a day with. Are you suspicious? If not , Whats the problem?

GreenAndWhiteStripes · 25/08/2025 07:51

Obviously it was silly of you to tell him he didn't have to come (what were you thinking?!), but given that's done and can't be changed I think YANBU to apologise and say that actually you're gutted and would really like him to be there after all. I'd frame it more in terms of spending the day with your family rather than not wanting him to see the female friend.

Sirzy · 25/08/2025 07:51

You booked something you know he doesn’t like. Him meeting with a friend while you go and enjoy it makes sense.

You have the rest of the trip to spend together.

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 07:52

OhNoNotSusan · 25/08/2025 07:49

i would tell him, you are upset and hurt that he wont come,
is he always so self centred?

No. That’s why it’s even harder. He is the most selfless person I know. But he also takes things on face value and he wouldn’t view this as selfish.

OP posts:
ishimbob · 25/08/2025 07:52

It sounds like:

you chose a place you knew he wouldn't like
you thought you would get credit for.saying he didn't have to come
but thought he would have no other options for the day so would come anyway
And you're now pissed off to find he does have a plan

Not convinced that this is reasonable

It would have been fine to ask him to come to everything at the start

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 07:54

AnotherDayAnotherDog · 25/08/2025 07:50

The buffet is irrelevant. You said he didn’t need to come and we’re fine with him deciding not to. The issue is seeing another woman hes never mentioned before but suddenly wants to spend a day with. Are you suspicious? If not , Whats the problem?

I’m not suspicious, I guess. Just uncomfortable? I know nothing about her, the history or nature of their friendship, or why she’s important enough to spend the day with.

If I really think about it, I don’t think he’s going to run off to do anything untoward for the day. I’m struggling to articulate what’s bothering me. Maybe his choosing seeing her, over the meal with us?

OP posts:
springruns · 25/08/2025 07:54

Just be honest and tell him you’re uncomfortable with it and would like him to come. Suggest another day he can spend with his friend

Imbusytodaysorry · 25/08/2025 07:56

@Dancemomma id be annoyed stop picked a buffet when you knew I hated it and expect me too go .
Would I think it’s ok to then book to see an opposite sex friend all day ( never heard of) hell no.

Id honestly say you would like him there and sorry for booking the buffet without consulting but it’s a place all the family especially the kids like , and after all you are there to see family.
If he says no tell him best he stays home altogether . ( I wouldn’t pay for a trip for him to see a mystery women)

Ivenoname · 25/08/2025 07:58

I want to start by saying my partner will always put my wishes first, but I do specifically have to ask him….

It seems to me you must rather take it for granted that he will usually do what you want him to do.

If he really does " hate" buffet lunches and you knew this when you arranged it then your expectation that the poor guy would do what he usually does and just fit in with your plans was actually quite contemptuous of him .

Perhaps his arranging his day out with this female friend who he has apparently kept under wraps from you is him making a play for independence?

AbzMoz · 25/08/2025 07:58

Is it more that he’s missing one lunch during your multi day trip or that he’s seeing a female (shock horror) friend who you repeatedly say is single (gasp) in your OP…. Would you be as miffed if he’d taken himself off to the lawnmower museum or was watching a game of croquet on tv?

Or compromise and say cool he’s seeing a friend for lunch but could he now be available from 3pm as you’re going to the arcades / playing cluedo as a family afterwards.