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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to want him to keep his promise on our child-free day a month together

212 replies

Happywhen · 19/04/2026 21:48

Me and my partner had a huge argument last month about time together. We both work in 9-5s and he has hobbies on 3 weeknights, which I don’t begrudge. He has a young daughter who’s with us every weekend (and some days in the week every week) bar 1 Saturday a month. That’s all the “child free” time we have together. I am here every weekend, and go on family days out with his and his daughter which I enjoy - my issue is not with the schedule at all. It’s about time together just “us”

on this one weekend day, my partner was planning hobbies etc up until I reached a breaking point and said we don’t spend any time together. He protested a bit and said that this is normal life and we live together so are always “spending time”. He then said on the one free Saturday a month he’d plan for us to do something. I don’t think this is too much to ask?

turns out next Saturday (the weekend day his daughter is with mum) he’s booked a golf day and will likely be staying overnight. I’ve expressed my upset about this and reminded him of what he said, his replies were:

”is our relationship so fragile we need to plan time together”

“how am I supposed to do what I enjoy if I can’t do anything when my daughters here and now I’ve got to plan this day with you?”

“I booked it because you didn’t plan anything so I didn’t think we were doing anything”

“we have dinner together some nights and go to bed together every night”

Hes in a dark mood now and saying he’ll throw out his golf clubs and quit it entirely (not what I said).

like I said, his daughter is with his 2/3 nights in the weekdays, and even on those days he usually going out after she’s asleep to do his “work” (training for a marathon)

aibu to expect this time together? I love being a stepmum I really do, but it’s hard and sometimes I feel like I’m just a stand in mum rather than a partner. I just want to feel like there’s time when it’s just me and him and he wants to see me as a partner not someone in his family if that makes sense?

im open to being flamed!!!!

OP posts:
ineousa · 19/04/2026 21:52

I think this is difficult. I don’t think either of you are being unreasonable really. Neither of you should have to spend the only child free day you get together every month, but some of them should be. Or the day or evening.

ineousa · 19/04/2026 21:53

By day or evening, I mean if he plays golf and you’re doing whatever, can you ensure the evening is spent together?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 19/04/2026 21:54

ineousa · 19/04/2026 21:52

I think this is difficult. I don’t think either of you are being unreasonable really. Neither of you should have to spend the only child free day you get together every month, but some of them should be. Or the day or evening.

This.

ineousa · 19/04/2026 21:54

Just seen the golf will involve overnight. No, he's taking the piss if this is the first Saturday he's promised this for?

cestlavielife · 19/04/2026 21:55

It is not going to work. Move on

Meadowfinch · 19/04/2026 21:56

You have different expectations of your life.

He sees your shared time as the time you spend cooking, eating sleeping together or being with his daughter.

You see shared time as when it is just the two of you, but he isn't prioritising anything special, and won't going forward.

He can't compromise on his time with his dd, and he resents giving up an occasional game of golf. I think you probably need to throw this one back if you want to be the centre of hi attention, even one evening a week.

Sunshinecraving · 19/04/2026 21:58

You can do better OP

Slightyamusedandsilly · 19/04/2026 21:58

I'd tell him that if he doesn't make the effort to allocate 1 day in 30 to his marriage, that he may end up without his 3 evenings a week unpaid babysitter, and totally lose his training time.

Allmychickenscometoroost · 19/04/2026 21:59

cestlavielife · 19/04/2026 21:55

It is not going to work. Move on

This. You two are incompatible. Lots of women wouldn't accept his behaviour. I'm on of them. He should want to spend time with you.

Happywhen · 19/04/2026 22:00

My issue is that it’s one day a month… he has his hobbies in the evening, so he’s not exactly missing out. I’ve told him before not to plan activities when his daughter is with us as it’s not fair on her! Last weekend he was asking his dad to “mind” his daughter for another planned golf day, which I don’t agree with. I’ve told him that his priorities should be:

  1. daugther
  2. me
  3. spare time/hobbies

is it not usual for parents to have to put hobbies last when a child is involved ?!

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 19/04/2026 22:01

If he wanted to, he would.

Allmychickenscometoroost · 19/04/2026 22:01

Happywhen · 19/04/2026 22:00

My issue is that it’s one day a month… he has his hobbies in the evening, so he’s not exactly missing out. I’ve told him before not to plan activities when his daughter is with us as it’s not fair on her! Last weekend he was asking his dad to “mind” his daughter for another planned golf day, which I don’t agree with. I’ve told him that his priorities should be:

  1. daugther
  2. me
  3. spare time/hobbies

is it not usual for parents to have to put hobbies last when a child is involved ?!

He doesn't have to put his hobbies last because he has you on tap as free childcare. Move out, be less available, just stop doing the free childcare

GingerdeadMan · 19/04/2026 22:02

You can't force someone to want to spend time with you. That is the sad fact.

You've explained what you'd like to happen, he agreed to it to get out of trouble, then instantly reneged and is trying to blame that on you.

He should be apologising profusely instead he's trying to weasel out of taking any responsibly for letting you down/ going back on his word.

Its not going to get better.

Dozer · 19/04/2026 22:05

His top priority is his hobby.

Probably was with his ex. Still is now.

His DC second.

women third.

It works for him. Crap deal for you.

Happywhen · 19/04/2026 22:05

The comment about “is our relationship so fragile?”

im asking for one day a month, im finding it hard to see that as excessive!

i have family time with him all the time, id just like a day where i feel like im actually in a relationship with him and not a parent (I know im not a parent, but thats what it feels like)

OP posts:
Northermcharn · 19/04/2026 22:06

cestlavielife · 19/04/2026 21:55

It is not going to work. Move on

My thought too. It sounds like he's happy to have OP as a stand in mum to help him out (I'm sure), but doesn't give her much himself. Chuck him back OP. It won't get better.

ineousa · 19/04/2026 22:06

Happywhen · 19/04/2026 22:00

My issue is that it’s one day a month… he has his hobbies in the evening, so he’s not exactly missing out. I’ve told him before not to plan activities when his daughter is with us as it’s not fair on her! Last weekend he was asking his dad to “mind” his daughter for another planned golf day, which I don’t agree with. I’ve told him that his priorities should be:

  1. daugther
  2. me
  3. spare time/hobbies

is it not usual for parents to have to put hobbies last when a child is involved ?!

I think it’s entirely normal to a parent to ask a grandparent to babysit their child for a day. Can’t see why it bothers you at all.

Dozer · 19/04/2026 22:07

The ‘fragile’ comment was manipulative and dismissive. Your request wasn’t U.

don’t provide childcare for him. Don’t live with him. Probable that if you do those things he’ll end the relationship because you’re not facilitating his leisure.

ineousa · 19/04/2026 22:07

Allmychickenscometoroost · 19/04/2026 22:01

He doesn't have to put his hobbies last because he has you on tap as free childcare. Move out, be less available, just stop doing the free childcare

He didn’t ask OP. He asked his father.

Helpboat · 19/04/2026 22:09

Allmychickenscometoroost · 19/04/2026 22:01

He doesn't have to put his hobbies last because he has you on tap as free childcare. Move out, be less available, just stop doing the free childcare

This. He’s with you for the free childcare and other labour you’re probably providing for free. Bounce. V quickly. DO NOT have a child with this man.

Helpboat · 19/04/2026 22:11

ineousa · 19/04/2026 22:07

He didn’t ask OP. He asked his father.

Read her original post, she is parenting with him on the days he has his child.

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 19/04/2026 22:11

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 19/04/2026 22:01

If he wanted to, he would.

This

WinterSunglasses · 19/04/2026 22:12

If he can't make you any kind of priority even for one evening now, it's never going to happen. You're there primarily to pick up the slack for him and facilitate him doing things he enjoys. Tell him this is a deal breaker.

ellerman · 19/04/2026 22:14

Can I ask why he has custody more than 50% of the week?

Happywhen · 19/04/2026 22:18

ineousa · 19/04/2026 22:06

I think it’s entirely normal to a parent to ask a grandparent to babysit their child for a day. Can’t see why it bothers you at all.

Not every other weekend because you want to do a hobby on your own… not because you want to spend time with your partner! I asked a year or so ago if we could do an anniversary meal and the reply was his daughter was with us.. he didn’t ask his dad to mind her then

OP posts: