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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband refusing family Xmas day!

457 replies

Holidaywoes12 · 17/12/2025 21:06

Advice please, both myself and hubby feeling hurt atm.
So I come from a family, although small, have always come together for christmas dinner, it was my favourite part of christmas growing up and anything else feels so wrong. My husband has always had an issue with this and every December would be a big upheavel and upset with him refusing any of my family members over, (my father a widow) before eventually allowing them to come! Every year the same argument. This year, he has gone no contact with his mother and sister, and has told me seeing that he wont be seeing them for christmas I wont be having fanily over. My brother who I only see at christmas has been looking forward to visit and see our children and my father of course will certainly be coming, but not without a whole load of stress and silent trratment from husband first. He says he does not like a crowd and is upset about not seeing his mother and sister. I have explained to him things dont have to be this way and tbh a good adult conversation between them would probably sort it, but he’s not interested. Should I try husbands way of having no visitors at christmas? Something that would work for us both? He knows that my father comong over is a no brainsr because he lives alone, bit its still an argument every year!

OP posts:
Dita73 · 18/12/2025 21:28

If he wants a quiet Christmas then I’d tell him to sod off for the day and he can be on his own. You can have family over and have a nice time

JemimaTiggywinkles · 18/12/2025 21:29

I’m confused at all the people suggesting the OP forced Christmas Day to be her way every year. She has clearly stated that she has hosted in laws or gone to theirs on Christmas Day when that’s what her DH wanted. So however he chooses to see (or not see) his family she facilitates. But he throws a strop every time she wants to have her 2 family members over.

Seriously, OP, I’d be having a think about what your DH adds to your life. It isn’t normal to treat someone you love the way he’s treating you.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 18/12/2025 21:31

I’d also be vary wary of his homophobia. What if one of your children is gay?

edit: I mean, the terrible impact hearing this would have on a gay child. Not that it’s okay to be homophobic if your kids are straight!

oldmoaner · 18/12/2025 21:33

I think it's a bit late to cancel your dad and brother coming to yours, but, you could say to DH we will make it the last one then this year if you hate it so much, then next year arrange to either go out for Christmas Dinner or explain your DH wants a quiet Christmas and may be cook dinner for your dad and brother and deliver it to your dads Christmas eve if dad wouldn't bother cooking himself.
Parents arnt here for ever, is one day a year too much to ask y

XiCi · 18/12/2025 21:34

Just tell the tiresome bastard to fuck off OP. It's one day a year that you spend with your family and thats important. If he wants some peace he can take himself upstairs.

RickertyRocker · 18/12/2025 21:36

I cannot abide grumpiness and silent treatment.

Going against the grain I think always wanting your own Christmas is unreasonable. We decide together.

My family is massive, I don't always get to see them on the day. IL's Christmas is not what I would choose. People start eating and drinks raised before everyone has reached the table. It's not much fun.

I will take turns as long as we do our own thing for New Year.

grindergirl · 18/12/2025 21:44

In spite of some of the drip feed, I am still siding with the DH. When you get together with someone and have children, that becomes your primary family. Nothing wrong with wanting Xmas Day to be just for you and yours. I'm sure the OP does love her Dad, but to others he might well be an annoying old f*er. Being unsociable is not a crime in my view. Those who call the DH 'antisocial' are wrong. Pissing in someone's beer is an antisocial act, and the OP has not indicated he indulges in such behaviour.

Kevinbaconsrealwife · 18/12/2025 21:51

Alpacajigsaw · 17/12/2025 21:18

Gosh, I can’t think why his mum and sister have fallen out with him. He sounds delightful.

Tell him to fuck off

😂

AgingLikeGazpacho · 18/12/2025 22:01

Your husband sounds horrible, does he bring any joy to your life OP?

NotAnotherScarf · 18/12/2025 22:07

Whatsthatsheila · 18/12/2025 21:07

Cos hes a miserable tw@t that doesn’t want her and their kids to spend Christmas with their family?

Having read the drip feed ... Yes you're right. But from the original posts she sounded manipulative, controlling and unwilling to see her husband's point of view....that's because he's a twat which we later discovered.

FancyFireplaces · 18/12/2025 22:15

nutbrownhare15 · 17/12/2025 21:10

Go out to meet your relatives and leave your miserable husband at home on his own. Does he have any redeeming qualities? Silent treatment and trying to separate you from family members are indicators of domestic abuse.

Exactly this. Classic sign of domestic abuse.

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 18/12/2025 22:18

FancyFireplaces · 18/12/2025 22:15

Exactly this. Classic sign of domestic abuse.

So is “do what I want or I’ll call you abusive”?

Anonymouseposter · 18/12/2025 22:30

What do you think your day would look like if you did what he wanted? I'm assuming that if your Dad is too old to travel far your children aren't young. Would your husband be pleasant and have a nice relaxing day with immediate family? You would clearly be unhappy and worrying about your Dad. I suspect that your husband would still be miserable if he got his own way, although mildly satisfied. I'm probably not as old as your Dad but I'm mid 70s and widowed. I would rather stay on my own, walk my dog and watch TV than spend the day with someone who resented me and called me a miserable old fucker. Are you near enough to call round to see your Dad and your brother at your Dad's house just for an hour or two. Your husband sounds unkind, he knows he's causing you stress and he's not bothered. Have his own family done something really out of order or is it him sulking with them? Are you happy generally and do you ever have fun and enjoy each others company? Life's too short to let someone make you miserable. I'm curious as to how many children you have and roughly what ages and what their relationship with their Dad is like. I also wondered if your Dad has ever been unpleasant towards your husband in the past which would change my view a bit.

brunettemic · 18/12/2025 22:37

Wait so he’s a dick for not wanting his in-laws over but OP gets to just overrule him and force her family on him every year? Classic MN double standards as always. Sure he’s being an idiot about it but both sides of this argument need to compromise, it seems OP has had her way for years. Christmas Day in our house is me, DH, DS and DD…far better than being descended on by other family members.

SunMoonandChocolate · 18/12/2025 22:40

Everything the OP has said about her husbands behaviour whenever there's an event, reminds me so much of my dear departed Dad, that I am totally on her side. I loved my Dad, but he seemed to actually enjoy spoiling every event ever planned, whether it be a summer holiday, a special birthday party, or Christmas. I did love him, but to my poor Mum he was a bully. He was raised as the only son in a family of 4 girls, (his Dad died in the war), and had been spoiled by his Mum, hence he was so used to getting his own way, that rather than doing it by discussion and communication, he would do it by bullying, shouting, and if all else failed, violence, followed by days of sulking. The weekends we lived through the 'silent treatment' were miserable, and we kids hated them, but my Mum was from a generation who were raised to be stay at home Mums, and so she had no money of her own, and no escape route.

Times have changed OP, you don't have to put up with this, and your DS shouldn't have to witness it either. It doesn't sound like your husband makes you happy, and as you only have one life, you owe it to yourself to make it as happy as it can be. You also owe it to your child to provide him with a safe, secure and happy childhood. So take the opportunity the next time you are alone, and really think about what you want out of life. If you want to stay put and be bullied and controlled for ever more, then fine, that's your choice, but what about your child, does he have a choice? On the other hand, if you decide that this is not the life you want, then start the New Year by ending this marriage, and working to make a happy life for you and your child.

XiCi · 18/12/2025 22:51

grindergirl · 18/12/2025 21:44

In spite of some of the drip feed, I am still siding with the DH. When you get together with someone and have children, that becomes your primary family. Nothing wrong with wanting Xmas Day to be just for you and yours. I'm sure the OP does love her Dad, but to others he might well be an annoying old f*er. Being unsociable is not a crime in my view. Those who call the DH 'antisocial' are wrong. Pissing in someone's beer is an antisocial act, and the OP has not indicated he indulges in such behaviour.

If any man declared my dad an annoying old fucker and thought they could leave them sat on their own on xmas day they would be booted out. You can tell a lot about a person from the way they treat their family and friends and the love and compassion they show them. Family is everything and the idea that as soon as you get married you form a different family and fuck off your birth family is repellant. And of course the DH is antisocial. Pissing in someones beer is not the definition of antisocial 🤣🤣

Blades2 · 19/12/2025 00:00

Why are you still with this abusive prick?

Thalia31 · 19/12/2025 04:58

Holidaywoes12 · 17/12/2025 21:06

Advice please, both myself and hubby feeling hurt atm.
So I come from a family, although small, have always come together for christmas dinner, it was my favourite part of christmas growing up and anything else feels so wrong. My husband has always had an issue with this and every December would be a big upheavel and upset with him refusing any of my family members over, (my father a widow) before eventually allowing them to come! Every year the same argument. This year, he has gone no contact with his mother and sister, and has told me seeing that he wont be seeing them for christmas I wont be having fanily over. My brother who I only see at christmas has been looking forward to visit and see our children and my father of course will certainly be coming, but not without a whole load of stress and silent trratment from husband first. He says he does not like a crowd and is upset about not seeing his mother and sister. I have explained to him things dont have to be this way and tbh a good adult conversation between them would probably sort it, but he’s not interested. Should I try husbands way of having no visitors at christmas? Something that would work for us both? He knows that my father comong over is a no brainsr because he lives alone, bit its still an argument every year!

His behaviour sounds extremely abusive. Silent treatment, ignoring your wife and a lack of communication and wanting to isolate you is concerning because he doesn’t have contact with his family, no one else should.

Whatsthatsheila · 19/12/2025 04:59

NotAnotherScarf · 18/12/2025 22:07

Having read the drip feed ... Yes you're right. But from the original posts she sounded manipulative, controlling and unwilling to see her husband's point of view....that's because he's a twat which we later discovered.

Yeah I mean it was a massive drip feed tbf.

I just got an off vibe from her comment about her not respecting his wishes. Like super manipulative vibe

Thalia31 · 19/12/2025 05:02

YourZippyHare · 17/12/2025 21:24

You know, if a woman posted that she'd had to have her in laws over every single Christmas Day at her husband's insistence... most people would be saying it's reasonable to not want to do that every year. I'm team DH - compromise is needed here and it sounds like it's all been your way so far.

Well, that is because the hosting, cooking and arranging fall solely on the women. In this instance, he just has to show up. That is the difference I hope that helps.

Whatsthatsheila · 19/12/2025 05:09

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 18/12/2025 21:08

So why don’t her family host and pay and he gets the quiet Christmas?

why can’t he just F off and leave. Then he can have a nice quiet Christmas on his own every year!

either way - He’s still a tw@t.

FourCatMama · 19/12/2025 05:19

Why in the ever lovin' hell do you put up with all this HORSESHIT??? He sounds like a complete dick with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

caringcarer · 19/12/2025 05:40

nutbrownhare15 · 17/12/2025 21:10

Go out to meet your relatives and leave your miserable husband at home on his own. Does he have any redeeming qualities? Silent treatment and trying to separate you from family members are indicators of domestic abuse.

This is a good solution. Remember your DH is not the boss. He sounds like Grinch.

thepariscrimefiles · 19/12/2025 06:19

Holidaywoes12 · 18/12/2025 20:35

Its not been ignored, its been noted a number of times thank you, but in the same way I will not leave my father on his own for Xmas, I wont leave my husband on his own either.

But unless your dad is also a horrible person, your DH has no reasonable grounds for refusing to let you invite your dad on Christmas Day. I presume that you do all the work and also that you did this willingly for his family before your DH cut them off.

Your dad hasn't done anything wrong to warrant your husband's attitude towards him and calling him 'that fucker'.

You are obviously a much nicer person than him.

Dramatic · 19/12/2025 07:51

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 18/12/2025 20:56

So he should pander to her and host festivities again he doesn’t want in his home?

She wants her elderly father (who would otherwise be alone) to come for Christmas dinner, it's hardly like she's inviting 20 people round. And from what she's saying I think her husband would be annoyed even if she invited her family round on Boxing Day or at all over the festive period