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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to stop singing around my family after their comments?

411 replies

Situationallystuck · 01/04/2026 23:13

I usually sing when I'm happy. Little ditties and bits of tunes, sometimes a full on song. My voice isn't x-factor winning, but it isn't unpleasant. I was in a select choir when I was younger so I know I can carry a tune. I don't make a big deal about singing, and don't try and take centre stage with it at all, more like I'll sing along to a song on the radio or join in with singing at church etc.
Recently on holiday with my husband and teen children, my eldest said that they don't like it when I sing. I understood this to mean in public, which I get, teens don't want their mum attracting attention. I acknowledged this, but then it turned into a session where my husband said he thinks my voice is terrible and I should never sing. That it's horrible when I do. The teens nodded along. I was really hurt. But I figured maybe they got caught up in the situation, later I asked my husband if it was really that terrible when I sing and he told me that my singing should be best kept for when I was alone.
So, today, I didn't sing at all. They all keep asking me if I'm alright because they can tell something is different, but I haven't said a word about the singing and neither have they.
I feel like either the biggest fool in the world for inflicting my singing on the people around me or an absolute arrogant sod for thinking my voice was not unpleasant. I don't want to be a fool or an arrogant sod, so I've decided not to sing again.
I reckon the first time they will properly notice is when my husband has his birthday next month.
I guess my question is, would I be unreasonable to never sing to/with them again, even though I know they will be sad or hurt that I'm not singing happy birthday? They would obviously prefer for me not to sing at any other time.

OP posts:
BambinaCucina · 04/04/2026 15:51

They can get in the bin!

I absolutely love singing. Likewise, I'm not exactly Adele but I'm not horrendous. I sing when I'm happy and I'm happy when I sing.

My daughter, whose bedroom was above the kitchen, would scream and stomp and jump on her bedroom floor if I even dared to utter a few words along with the radio. And I would never be loud!

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 04/04/2026 16:41

Sadly, I think if you ask for an opinion then you get an honest one. I'd not take it to heart, I'm a truly awful singer but I still sing! It's not the x factor, it doesn't matter whether it's harmonious and beautiful or screechy or flat, it's an expression of you and your happiness - just do it anyway!!! I'd stop being so passive aggressive and either;
Ignore their moaning and do it anyway
Express how they've hurt your feelings and see what response you get

Personally, I'd ignore their opinions and do what ever you like, it's not hurting them. Lots of family members have habits/quirks, my voice is terrible, my dh loves doodling but is, God love him, shit at it. Dd loves baking but really it's just icing and every sprinkle she can find. Join a choir, sing when you're happy and tell them to jog on, they can express an opinion when they're perfect at everything.

KookyKoala007 · 04/04/2026 17:09

Yeah I have known many people just like you. In a choir years ago, but voices change as we age, especially if we don’t engage in specialist coaching. However, some suffer from - well I don’t know what to call it- tone deafness of some sort. By that I mean they really don’t hear themselves as others do. You see it with the reality TV singing competitions.

Don be disheartened, whatever your level, very few people have the ability to just start singing along to things and sound great, even professional performers. It easily takes an hour or more to warm up the voice and find the ‘right’ vocal cord position. So this means that without a full professional warm-up, you probably do sound crap. Everyone does.

None of this means you have a bad voice, your voice may just need to a bit of warming up and vocal training to find the sweet spot. There is a huge difference between someone doing a reasonable job of hitting the right notes in the right order and properly using your voice as an instrument.

Either way, it’s a bit cringeworthy to see grown adults singing while they are out-and-about, even if they are really good. I can see why family might tire of it. No need to have a massive sulk and refuse to sing happy birthday. Just keep it as bit of light singing along at home.

Go and get vocal coaching then join a choir if this is important to you. Don’t punish yourself or your family for this new self-awareness.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 04/04/2026 17:19

This has made me incredibly sad. My dad sang when he was happy, annoying to teen me and he always got lyrics wrong (accidentally on purpose). But we knew he was happy. It made us happy. I sing now and again, usually in the car. I probably haven't the best voice, but when I sing its to express joy. If my family ambushed me and asked me to stop id feel so hurt. I'd hide that bit of my personality and id feel that they wanted me to change because they didnt accept me. Op said her kids have noticed shes not herself. Well that was the point. That little corner of her has been knocked off. Eventually all the little corners will be knocked off and it wont be op any longer.

LyssaMoon · 04/04/2026 17:28

Reminds me of my daughter.... I was shocked when I heard her sing on stage as it was so beautiful where as at home, singing to herself, she sounds like a cat being brutally murdered!! And she does sing at home a lot and members of the family will tell her to stop as it's awful ... There's a BIG difference between a performance voice and an at home to yourself voice.... Especially if you also have headphones on as she gets even worse and even louder!

But the whole "he'll only notice when I don't sing on his birthday" sounds really petty and will probably cause an unnecessary argument on his special day and make you the bad guy. If you have a problem, be a grown-up and tell him now.

GardeningMummy · 04/04/2026 17:31

I can’t STAND it when people sing in close proximity to me, it goes straight through me like nails on a chalk board (even if they’re not bad singers). Imagine having to live with someone singing all the time.

GardeningMummy · 04/04/2026 17:31

I can’t STAND it when people sing in close proximity to me, it goes straight through me like nails on a chalk board (even if they’re not bad singers). Imagine having to live with someone singing all the time.

PloddingAlong21 · 04/04/2026 18:57

Initially I thought “that’s mean!” And then I thought some more….

How often are you singing for 3 individuals to comment the same, that’s you’re singing too much and isn’t good? Not one, but three. That’s a lot!

Id my house was like the sound of music, but out of tune, think I would find it annoying too. The fact you’ve been married 20 years and hasn’t mentioned it shows he loves you so has let the cats chorus slide for so long? Just to play devils advocate.

RawBloomers · 04/04/2026 19:15

Seems very petty to not sing Happy Birthday with everyone else just because they've finally mentioned that the singing you've been doing for years for yourself annoys them.

A more measured response would be to sing around them less and in private more but not go all or nothing.

ForeverTheOptomist · 04/04/2026 23:31

Very well done OP! 50/50!!

You have good reason to sing your heart out!

Keep on singing.....

Banannanana · 04/04/2026 23:56

Constant singing can be quite grating tbf, it doesn’t mean your voice is bad.

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