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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mum annoyed that my husband fell asleep at 8:30pm on boxing day after over-indulging

429 replies

Angelcake1991 · 28/12/2025 18:59

Hi,

Just wanted to get people's thoughts on this please.

My mum came over on Boxing day and stayed the night. My husband spent most of the afternoon preparing a meal for us all and drank a little too much whilst doing so.
This meant he missed out on the games we played with the children and he was fast asleep on the sofa by 8.30pm snoring extremelty loudly. I was a little embarrased as was sitting there with my mum listening to him snoring.

When i spoke to mum the following day after she had gone home she said she felt very embarrased and uncomfortable about the situation. She was the guest and he shouldnt have drunk so much that he fell asleep in that state. She said she will not be texting my husband to thank him for the meal he cooked.

What are peoples thoughts?

OP posts:
berightorbehappy · 31/12/2025 00:07

I probably would have woke him and sent him to bed .

Jesstmum3 · 31/12/2025 03:37

Sighohbarn · 28/12/2025 19:01

Meh - it's hardly the end of the world. Your mum is being uptight, and rude not to thank him for the meal.

Exactly. It's not even her house. She should have helped cook and maybe her SIL wouldn't have fallen asleep.

Jesstmum3 · 31/12/2025 03:46

Eyeshadow · 30/12/2025 11:59

Exactly!
Its literally simmering - you don’t include that in how exhausting it is to make.

I am shocked at the backwards attitudes of so many posters saying that as he is a man and he cooked, then that gives him permission to get drunk and pass out leaving the parenting to OP and her mum.

There have been posts saying it’s just what men do and how he’s a poor guy for being so exhausted after cooking, how cooking is knackering and how they would have covered him with a blanket etc.
Its shocking.

I’d be embarrassed that my DH got so drunk that he couldn’t be woken and sat there snoring whilst the kids were playing.
I’m sure OP would have loved to have a sleep on the sofa.

But as a mother I would be upset if this was my DDs DH and he got so drunk and passed out on the sofa and expected her to be the default parent.

I’d probably mention it and remind my DD that’s it’s not ok but drop it if I thought it was just a 1 off, however I am wondering if this is just the tip of the iceberg for this type of behaviour.

I am wondering how many mothers on here regularly drink too much and pass out on the sofa and are not able to parent their DC.

My husband would never be upset if I fell asleep while a family member was over. If his mum made a comment about me sleeping while he was up with the kids he would tell her off amd defend me. As I would him.

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 31/12/2025 05:58

thepragmatic · 30/12/2025 09:10

At home and around family (a good MIL is family not a guest!). Sleeping and not harming anyone is Gross? You'd rather he be out in a pub? Some of you are so hateful and stuck up unfortunately.

Its called being appropriate around guests and children, and being a GOOD parent, not a drunk.

T1Dmama · 31/12/2025 08:36

dynamiccactus · 28/12/2025 19:01

I think your mum needs to chill.

And you should have woken him up and told him to go to bed rather than letting him sit there snoring.

This!

I’d have told him to go to bed…

But I’d tell your mum that she’s being very ungrateful not thanking him…. And god forbid he drink at bloody Christmas.. not exactly the biggest sin is it?!…

maybe she should make other arrangements next year !!

My Dad and brother both fell asleep Boxing Day… way before 8.30 🤣 and with no booze needed… lol

rememberingthem · 31/12/2025 08:37

Your mum needs to get over herself

T1Dmama · 31/12/2025 08:54

My dad falls asleep all the time… snores like a hibernating bear! We all laugh… he can nod off anywhere and often spills his tea on his lap! 🤣🤣 His dad used to visit when us kids were small and he’d lay in front of the fire of snooze! Seems to be a genetic thing (napping during the day) as grandad, dad and my brothers all do it… I’m jealous as rarely nod off in day and when I do I wake up feeling like cral!… I’m not built for daytime naps at all.

Jstarr7 · 31/12/2025 09:19

Give the guy a break. I bet he has been working hard all year. The fact he could relax around your Mum and not have to be on his behaviour is a good thing.

Anon4778 · 31/12/2025 18:19

Merida46 · 30/12/2025 23:53

Your mum is a grumpy ungrateful turd!

Disgusting comment.

thepragmatic · 31/12/2025 20:00

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 31/12/2025 05:58

Its called being appropriate around guests and children, and being a GOOD parent, not a drunk.

How do you make to jump to calling someone a drunk, because they indulged at Christmas whilst cooking for the whole family? You sound so uptight and mean. Have some grace please, none of us can be perfect year-round.

FunMustard · 31/12/2025 20:24

If you couldn't wake him, he must have been very drunk indeed.

Nantescalling · 31/12/2025 20:52

So what were you doing whilst he slept and snored? Why didn't you shake him and asked him to apologise to your Mum toddle off to bed?
You Mum is being pretty harsh though - would she be the same if it had been your brother?

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 31/12/2025 22:20

thepragmatic · 31/12/2025 20:00

How do you make to jump to calling someone a drunk, because they indulged at Christmas whilst cooking for the whole family? You sound so uptight and mean. Have some grace please, none of us can be perfect year-round.

I've never seen a person with young children, irresponsible enough to get drunk on Christmas, except from relativeswho are alcoholic. Its pathetic. And a sign he has a problem with alcohol.

Lockdownsceptic · 01/01/2026 14:00

Oneforallandallforone · 29/12/2025 22:16

Lasagne takes hours and hours to make.

I'd eat it weekly if it took an hour instead of every two months as its such an ordeal to make it!

I never make lasagne because it’s what I call a two stage meal - you have to cook it then put the whole thing together. If I’ve gone to the trouble of making the sauce we have it as bolognese with spaghetti.

Koalatea13 · 03/01/2026 11:04

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 31/12/2025 22:20

I've never seen a person with young children, irresponsible enough to get drunk on Christmas, except from relativeswho are alcoholic. Its pathetic. And a sign he has a problem with alcohol.

Wow... just wow..

I think this speaks volumes about your own relationship with alcohol, not anyone else's

400rider · 03/01/2026 18:38

My brother in law did similar…many moons ago, drinking while helping my husband in the kitchen as the kitchen ‘porter’ (my husband’s a chef).
BIL fell asleep immediately after the meal and the children gave him full makeover, using old makeup and tinsel…..

He made sure he never did it again.

Squeekylee · 03/01/2026 19:27

How old is your mum she must be young. Not been funny but there must be thousands of men and women that fall asleep after slaving away cooking dinners. My nan grandad mum dad aunt uncles friends and others have fallen asleep after eating Sunday dinners.

Liverpool52 · 03/01/2026 20:01

Our closest couple friends come regularly to stay and us to theirs. We have all at some point fallen asleep on the sofa - whether our own or the others and usually after a few G&Ts. Sometimes it's the one who did all the cooking, sometimes it's the one who found the long walk the most tiring, sometimes there's snoring and sometimes there isn't. We aren't guests in the other's house we're family and if you can't do that in front of family then WTAF. And if you can't even do it in your own home in front of family then where exactly are you allowed to relax?

OneProudAquaFinch · 03/01/2026 20:01

I've spoken to your husband he assured me he was very drunk and tired of your mums voice in is earhole and was waiting for her to clear of home he also said she's not coming next year

RachelBerry03 · 04/01/2026 09:58

Your mum sounds rude, petty and ungrateful. Why the big deal? The man has cooked a meal for his family on Boxing Day and after a few too many tipples, he’s fallen asleep on the couch snoring. So what? Why not just wake him up and send him to bed?

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 04/01/2026 20:43

Koalatea13 · 03/01/2026 11:04

Wow... just wow..

I think this speaks volumes about your own relationship with alcohol, not anyone else's

No, just that in over 40yrs of various Christmas gatherings, my family actually knows how to handle themselves around alcohol, and don't get drunk and pass out around children.

Koalatea13 · 04/01/2026 21:48

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 04/01/2026 20:43

No, just that in over 40yrs of various Christmas gatherings, my family actually knows how to handle themselves around alcohol, and don't get drunk and pass out around children.

Who said he was drunk or that he'd passed out? Having a few glasses of wine, getting tired and getting comfy on the sofa is not the same as being a drunken mess falling around then passing out. I think you're reading into this something that is not there. Plus you can be "drunk" and still well behaved and responsible, I know I can be.

BluesBird19764 · 05/01/2026 18:54

so he cooked a meal and extended an invitation to her, he was in his own home on his own time and she is complaining. How rude, sorry I would be inviting her again.

Ally886 · 05/01/2026 20:16

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 04/01/2026 20:43

No, just that in over 40yrs of various Christmas gatherings, my family actually knows how to handle themselves around alcohol, and don't get drunk and pass out around children.

Imagine being part of one of those square families who are not relaxed enough around your family to a) treat them as guests and b) not be happy enough to nod off after a big meal.

For what it's worth the drink is a red herring

NavyTurtle · 06/01/2026 10:29

Angelcake1991 · 28/12/2025 19:08

I did try to wake him several times but he was so gone that he just kept falling back asleep again.
It was embarassing.

How ridiculous. It was embarrassing - why be embarrassed (very stupid emotion imo) he cooked a meal, had a drink and fell asleep in his own house. Tell your mother to trot on home if she does not like it, oh, and she can keep her opinions to herself. Maybe he stayed asleep as he did not want to listen to her BS

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