DH wants to miss SIL’s anniversary lunch for Arsenal parade?

[Thegoldenoriole]

As you may or may not know (or care), Arsenal won the Premier League yesterday. DH wants to go to the parade in a couple of weeks. However, we have his sister’s 10th anniversary lunch booked in already, and it would be impossible to attend both.

I think it’s probably reasonable to go to the parade, given it could be literally the only opportunity. Or it could happen again next year! But I’m concerned DSIL won’t feel the same way… DH is a fan, but not to a major degree - he only started following them at uni influenced by his flatmate and I think he’s been to two live arsenal games in his life! The rest of the family aren’t football people at all. I only care insofar as it affects DH.

Thoughts? I would still go to SIL’s lunch and take the kids - they are small and after what happened at Liverpool last year I wouldn’t want them going without me.

It’s absolutely unreasonable to go.

I like football as much as the next person but you cannot allow it to overtake your family responsibilities.

Don’t be silly. It’s his sisters anniversary not his!!

I’ll be at the parade 🥳🥳

Grow up.

It’s a family obligation. You didn’t win anything.

I think he should go to the parade. This is a big thing for an Arsenal fan. I'm not a football fan myself. A lunch for somebody else's wedding anniversary isn't a big priority IMHO.

Read update everybody.

I’ve read it.

It’s still childish and pathetic from OP’s husband. He has a family, and that comes first.

I don't think it's unreasonable for your DH to prefer to go to the parade. Sounds more fun than watching his DS and BIL coo over each other about how happy they still are. Especially if he's a big fan of Arsenal and spent a loy of money and time supporting them.

I agree with PPs, it's up to your DH to tell his DS he won't be going to her anniversary do.

Glad that DH made the call and it is all resolved. Hope that the washing machine is not getting too fed up with washing Arsenal shirts, if he is anything like the work colleague who wore one to a Teams call and has ten club shirts over the years to choose from!!

I'd put celebrating winning the Premier League over an in-law's anniversary any day, and I'm not an Arsenal fan

Hopefully they will have many more anniversaries in the future. The Arsenal parade has been a long time coming and might not happen again for a few years. Let him go! (I'm not an Arsenal fan BTW I follow Manchester United but I would miss almost anything if it was my team.)

I have followed my team since 1967 and I have not been to many matches. It's too expensive for me now. However I watch every match on TV and I have missed hundreds of occasions because my team comes first 95% of the time. I won't even answer my phone if the match is on. You either get football or you don't :it's religion to millions of people

Arsenal fan here! 100% with your husband, why would anyone want to celebrate someone else's 10 year anniversary?

Go to the lunch with the kids and let him explain to his sister why he prefers the parade. The parade is prob once in a lifetime so I can understand why he wants to go to that.

I'd definitely prioritise celebrating my team winning the league. But then I think a wedding anniversary is a celebration for the married couple that nobody else needs to be part of.

Why? He isn't involved in the marriage but actively supports the football team.

Arsenal are also in the Champions League final. Which is a bigger deal, hence the delayed parade, they'll be hoping they have two trophies. I've still never watched Manchester United play, even though I've lived in Manchester for over 25 years. I did make the journey to the parade when they did the treble in 1999.

I remember years ago on This Morning, Richard and Judy were interviewing couples who had got married the day England won the World Cup, lots of stories of receptions with groups of men huddled around transistor radios.

i mean we can have an opinion on a 10th anniversary celebration but ultimately it’s a family get together and if he accepted then that’s what he should be sticking with - surely a family occasion with people he knows and loves is more important than a football parade?! Assuming he does get along with his family and no issues etc

Glad everybody is understanding, and happy with what they do.

I don't understand why so many people are sneering at the idea of getting people together for a lunch on their 10th Anniversary.
No, it isn't 'traditional' and no, I didn't have one (had too much going on at that time with small dc) BUT it is nice to get family together now and then, and pretty normal to hang it on to some sort of reason. We tend to invite family round on our birthdays. Many MNers sneer at adults celebrating birthdays. As far as I am concerned, it isn't that my birthday is important, or dh's birthday is important, but it is just a reminder to have people round again, rather than 'meaning to get round to it but continually thinking we'd do it the next week / month'.

I love how many people are saying how odd it is to celebrate someone else’s marriage success but don’t find it strange to be celebrating a team’s success 😅
You’ve said your husband has only been to a couple of matches but now wants in on the big party! If I was SIL I’d be a bit annoyed- but if I were you I’d keep out of it and let him do the explaining!

You go to the lunch and he goes to the parade. Easy. Take kids with you to lunch or get a babysitter

I was expecting the anniversary lunch to be a biggie, silver wedding etc. and that he was U. However who has a 10 year anniversary family lunch? How ludicrous. I don’t blame your husband for wanting to sack it off.