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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:
autienotnaughty · 25/08/2025 07:59

You planned a lunch you knew he wouldn’t like and told him it was ok if he didn’t want to come. You can’t be annoyed he opted not to as it was your idea!

Would you be as annoyed if he planned to spend the day chilling at the hotel or are you worried about the colleague?

PestoHoliday · 25/08/2025 07:59

You are being unreasonable. Do you really think his idea of a fun few days is visiting your family? Of course not. But he is playing along and seeing them.

Then you arrange something he specifically dislikes and say attendance isn't mandatory. Good for him for finding something else to do for the day.

"I'm not paying for him to see someone else" - you do realise you can't rent a person, right? The nice hotel is a perk you paid for. It doesn't give you rights over his time.

KhakiOrca · 25/08/2025 08:02

It's really not acceptable for him to be swanning of with some woman for the day because he doesn't like a buffet.
Sometimes in life we all have to make a sacrifice (if you can call it that) and do stuff we don't like to support our partners.
How embarrassing for you when he doesn't turn up and you have to explain he's with another woman (friend or not) rather than you!

Moonnstars · 25/08/2025 08:02

I don't understand your point about don't want to pay for him to go. Surely he is seeing your family other days and presumably is going to the main celebration.

You wanted to go for a buffet lunch, he isn't fussed about that and would rather meet a friend. If he is spending the rest of the time with your family then surely he can have a bit of time to himself.

It sounds like the issue is you don't like the fact he is seeing another woman. If he was meeting a male friend then I feel like this wouldn't be an issue and you would be fine doing separate things.

Laura718 · 25/08/2025 08:03

You need to accept that visiting family that he barely knows is likely to be a chore for him. He may be too polite to explicitly say this to you but I’d be pretty confident that’s how he feels.

The buffet issue is just an excuse. He wants a bit of time away from everything during the trip. I don’t blame him. Give him some breathing space.

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 08:04

Moonnstars · 25/08/2025 08:02

I don't understand your point about don't want to pay for him to go. Surely he is seeing your family other days and presumably is going to the main celebration.

You wanted to go for a buffet lunch, he isn't fussed about that and would rather meet a friend. If he is spending the rest of the time with your family then surely he can have a bit of time to himself.

It sounds like the issue is you don't like the fact he is seeing another woman. If he was meeting a male friend then I feel like this wouldn't be an issue and you would be fine doing separate things.

That’s correct. I don’t like it.

i asked him if he was really not coming to the buffet (as we had to confirm numbers) and it was jarring to hear him reply:

”nah, I’ve got an old colleague who lives there so I’m going to hang out with her for the day instead”.

It hurt my feelings, although I can’t necessarily put my finger on why.

OP posts:
whatasillygoose · 25/08/2025 08:04

If this was really about wanting him there and the optics with your family, you’d have said something before.

But it only became an issue when he made alternative plans you don’t like which isn’t fair at all and a bit controlling.

So you need to really explore what you’re unhappy about here. You feel uncomfortable about the friend but that’s on you and has nothing to do with him. You don’t get to police his plans because of your discomfort.

FourIsNewSix · 25/08/2025 08:04

You are framing it as "important enough" and "choosing over".

I suppose he took at the face value that he doesn't have to come to the buffet, was thinking what could he do with the day you leave him behind 5 hours from home, realised old friend lives in the area and contacted her.

If you feel uncomfortable because you've never heard about her, maybe ask him? "Tell me about X?"

itsgettingweird · 25/08/2025 08:05

You actively picked an activity he doesn’t like knowing he doesn’t like it - and told him he doesn’t have to go despite him happily travelling 10 hour round trip to spend time with you and strangers.

and now you’re annoyed he’s found something to fill his day whilst you do something you know he doesn’t like?

YABU.

PollyBell · 25/08/2025 08:07

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 07:54

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?

But you knew he wouldnt have wanted to go when you decided to go in the first place, so you are either jealous or not, if you are then tell him 'I'm jealous ypu can't go' would that be ok of he said that to you?

You dont know what you are feeling yet he has to do what you say you think you want?

whatasillygoose · 25/08/2025 08:08

KhakiOrca · 25/08/2025 08:02

It's really not acceptable for him to be swanning of with some woman for the day because he doesn't like a buffet.
Sometimes in life we all have to make a sacrifice (if you can call it that) and do stuff we don't like to support our partners.
How embarrassing for you when he doesn't turn up and you have to explain he's with another woman (friend or not) rather than you!

Or they can say, he has a friend here he also doesn’t see often so wanted to fit in a meet up with them. It’s really not a big deal but I sense the OP is going to make it one.

He’s not ‘swanning off with some woman’ he’s meeting an old friend for lunch who happens to live in the area.

Silverbirchleaf · 25/08/2025 08:08

He’s prioritising her after you. Had he said earlier that Jane lives in the area, and he’d quite like to see her whilst in the area, fair enough. However, he’s choosing her over your family, plus you’ve not invited to meet her either. Plus he’s spending the day with her, not just a coffee meet- up. Plus, he may not like buffets, but that’s not a reason not to go. He should be supporting you, and present as a couple, not ditching you. They never meet Derek from accounts, do they?

FourIsNewSix · 25/08/2025 08:09

KhakiOrca · 25/08/2025 08:02

It's really not acceptable for him to be swanning of with some woman for the day because he doesn't like a buffet.
Sometimes in life we all have to make a sacrifice (if you can call it that) and do stuff we don't like to support our partners.
How embarrassing for you when he doesn't turn up and you have to explain he's with another woman (friend or not) rather than you!

In this case all the embarrassment would be self-inflicted.

You could just say "DP won't join us for the lunch today, he wants to catch up with some old friends while we are in the area"

phoenixrosehere · 25/08/2025 08:12

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!

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?

Plenty of people are not keen on them, usually it’s sanitary and food safety reasons.

Thisismyalterego · 25/08/2025 08:18

If my DH didn't see his family often, arranged a meal with them he knew I didn't like and then told me I didn't have to go, I'd take that to mean he would like some time with them without me there and I'd find something else to do instead. I'd assume they would probably spend their time reminiscing about things that didn't include me and would actually be grateful not to have to sit and listen to stories about Great Uncle Fred during The War or cousin Jane and her scandalous lifestyle , especially if id already heard the same stories previously. This used to happen with DH and his mother and I always felt very cut out of the conversations as I obviously didn't share their memories, yet felt rude if I went to do anything else.
Anyway OP, unless you have a good reason not to trust him, I wouldn't have an issue with your dps plans for that day. And next time, be honest about your expectations.

OffTheHookAtLast · 25/08/2025 08:21

I’m assuming this isn’t the main celebration or get together for the weekend? If not, I think it’s fine for him to skip it. Would you be ok with him skipping it if his friend was male? He sounds like a pretty reasonable man so I think you should try to be equally reasonable with him and let him do something else on one of the days. It’s not his fault you have chosen a place you know he won’t like and it’s turned into a whole day out.

SaltAirAndTheRust · 25/08/2025 08:22

YABU. You said something you didn’t mean and now you’re upset he’s not coming. That’s not his fault

Bitzee · 25/08/2025 08:25

SummerFrog25 · 25/08/2025 07:44

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

Well obviously. But it’s still a meal. That she knows he will hate. Whether it’s the actual cuisine he objects to or the mode of service doesn’t actually matter does it? He won’t like it, she knew that but booked it anyway and then she said he didn’t have to come. So the fact that he’s not coming is on her for suggesting it!

OP as for your family ‘Ben has old friend in the area he’s catching up with so he’ll meet us later for drinks’ should just about cover it. Next time be clear about what you want and if you want him to go to a meal or wherever then blimming say so! Also it would probably help if you booked somewhere you know everyone will be happy to eat at.

Delatron · 25/08/2025 08:30

I think in a relationship sometimes we have to do things we don’t enjoy - for the other person. I mean it’s a buffet, he’s not going off to war!! Hardly a hardship.

You shouldn’t have given him the get out option though - of course he’s going to take it. I think you can say you’ve changed your mind and it is important for him to come to the family meal. No I would not like him
hanging out with some woman from work all day…

JLou08 · 25/08/2025 08:31

You shouldn't have said you don't have to come. I never understand why people throw around phrases they don't mean and then expect people to be able to read their minds and realise they didn't mean what they said.

5128gap · 25/08/2025 08:32

If a relatively new relationship told me I didn't have to go to a family thing, I'd assume they were fine with me not going. Because I'm not a mind reader. I'd not spend the day with another man, but that's because those sort of things are known to cause tensions in relationships and even if I knew it was platonic, so often they're actually not entirely, at least on one side, so I'd understand a relationship being a bit put out by that. I think the horse has probably bolted now so you're going to have to accept the day as is. But for the future, you really need to say what's on your mind.

Imbusytodaysorry · 25/08/2025 08:32

How long have you been together ?
Do you live together ?

Lafufufu · 25/08/2025 08:36

"Hi DP,
Look I've been a bit of an idiot here. I said i don't mind if you come but actually I do. It's really important to me.
I know its awful of me to ask you to cancel your plans and I know you hate buffets but please come.
Also in the future i promise I'll behave like a normal person and not expect you to mind read me."

phoenixrosehere · 25/08/2025 08:36

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 07:54

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?

As another poster said, you could ask about the old colleague. Plus, would you have had an issue if he was going out alone? He could have not told you his plans at all and if he is so selfless and such a good DH, why are you uncomfortable with him meeting an old colleague he hasn’t seen in years? Do you think he will cheat? Either you trust your husband or you don’t.

You told him he didn’t have to do go and he took you at your word. You know he doesn’t like buffets yet he should know he should go anyway for you even when it is not the main event for your family and he’s going to be around them the entire time except this one lunch?

Instead of telling him he didn’t have to go, you should have said,
”DH, I know you aren’t keen on buffets, but I’d really appreciate it if you came to this one with my family.

If he had said no, THAT would have been choosing his friend over you.

He didn’t choose his friend over you, he simply didn’t read your mind and took you at your own words.

Dancemomma · 25/08/2025 08:37

Imbusytodaysorry · 25/08/2025 08:32

How long have you been together ?
Do you live together ?

18 months and yes we live together.

OP posts: