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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to just f off back home?

1000 replies

BusyMommaOf4 · 03/08/2026 18:36

Day one of a weeks holiday in Spain with DP and DC (age 4, 3 and 0)

Me and DP had an argument this morning which was in my opinion trivial but I know people are different. Basically I was stressed because the 2 older kids had been crying most of the morning as we had a late arrival and they haven’t slept enough (got to hotel at 1.30am and was up at 7.30). Wasn’t working in the hotel room trying to get them to sleep so I wanted to get them out in the pushchair. Partner suggested going to the shops and (I believe he said) then go swimming straight after. Baby was asleep so didn’t get her ready for swimming. DP was taking ages getting ready so I said I’d just walk them up and down to stop the crying. Tbf it was only a few minutes when I came back as he still wasn’t out the room as he was doing his hair. I was unreasonably annoyed, basically in a huff saying I might as well get baby ready as I was waiting for him anyway (but didn’t say that). It was just the stress of waiting around for 2 hours in the room already with them not settling. Then it was an argument over what we were doing basically. Escalated as he said that he was gonna stay in the hotel room so I was fuming because that meant me being left with all 3 kids and I genuinely can’t take them all out by myself very easily. So I got pissed off and threw a hat at him which knocked his water over (that was out of order I know). So he said he was going out before he got angry. This was 7 hours ago. He’s not responding to messages etc so no clue where he is. He’s probably just in the hotel bar. But I’ve had this before where he takes days to calm down regardless of whether I apologise etc. Yes it was my fault but it this a normal reaction?! I can’t stay on holiday like this. There is literally no point me being here because I haven’t been able to take the kids swimming or anywhere really today. Had a walk to the shops (2 in a pushchair whilst wearing a baby carrier. 4 year old is autistic which is why he needs a pushchair for safety) so only a small walk. Got some food etc to cook as I don’t see how I can go to the restaurant with all of them as I can’t leave them at the table. We’re all inclusive and haven’t brought enough money to keep buying food as didn’t think that was going to be needed.
A friend has said she’ll lend me the money for flights home if I want to go tomorrow. AIBU if I do that and just leave him here? I will let him know but he’s not replying to anything even me asking if he was coming back so I could get the kids some food which I think is out of order. Hence the walk to the shops. So I have no clue when he’ll be back. What would you do?

OP posts:
Libra24 · 04/08/2026 17:26

Sounds grim but if the price of the holiday has finally shown you that you can't carry on, I would say it's worth it. Good luck. Hopefully he's the dad you think he is even if he's not the right partner.

HarshbutTrue2 · 04/08/2026 17:28

Sensiblesal · 04/08/2026 15:27

How is being so sanctimonious and judgemental of any help to the OP?

people can choose to have as many or as few kids as they please.

If they can look after them properly. I am not the only poster to mention this.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 04/08/2026 17:29

OP... I hope you are OK and the plane journey is not too difficult. With a bit of luck they will all sleep. Ask for help from the airline staff at the desk and on the plane.

I hope you can contact your kind friend for help at the UK airport end and are soon safe and sound at home again, where you can get them all sorted out.

If your OH has form for 2-3 day punishing sulks, then it was obvious he was going to do this throughout the holiday after he'd stayed out for over 12 hours and woke you all up at 5.30 am packing.

If he didn't have his phone.. he could have come back and got it and gone off again. He is just saying that. He deliberately didn't reply to you, or check on the children, because he was punishing you for your disagreement.

When you told him you'd had enough and would not be struggling on your own for the rest of the holiday.... he suddenly realised how bad that would look for him if you came home on your own. So he's also coming home to look like you are responsible etc.

Ignore that. Once the kids are in bed, have something nice to eat and try to unwind and also see if you can get some RL help with the kids tomorrow so that you have a bit of headspace to think things through. Wishing you all the best xx

HappyInL0nd0n · 04/08/2026 17:31

Yourguessisasgoodasmine · 03/08/2026 18:42

Where the hell do women keep finding these awful men and more importantly, why do they keep having kids with them. It's mind boggling

What an extraordinarily unhelpful and unkind response. The OP is a real person who is clearly distressed, exhausted and trying to manage three very young children in an unfamiliar environment, including an autistic child who needs extremely close supervision. Speaking about her in the third person as though she is some baffling cautionary tale, rather than somebody who is right here asking for support, is incredibly rude.

You have no idea what her relationship has been like, how gradually unhealthy patterns may have developed, or how difficult it is to care for an autistic child alongside a toddler and a baby. Nor does having several children somehow make her responsible for her partner choosing to disappear for twelve hours and leave her stranded without support. She does not need to justify the number of children she has or prove that she is capable of parenting them.

I don’t know whether writing comments like this makes people feel superior or reassures them that something similar could never happen to them, but there is a real and very upset person on the other side of the screen. Words can land heavily, particularly when somebody is frightened, overwhelmed and already questioning herself. A little humanity costs nothing.

OP, having read your updates, I think going home is entirely understandable. You have acknowledged that throwing the swim hat was wrong, but that does not make disappearing for twelve hours, failing to check on the children and then refusing to recognise any problem with that behaviour a reasonable response.

This also does not sound like one dreadful argument caused entirely by exhaustion. You have described a repeated cycle of him withdrawing for days whenever he is angry, while you are left to manage the children and wait for him to decide he is ready to speak again. That is not a healthy or sustainable way to resolve conflict.

For now, concentrate only on getting yourself and the children home as safely and calmly as possible. Ask the hotel and airport staff for practical help. You do not have to be embarrassed if you cry. You are dealing with an enormously stressful situation, and asking for help is sensible, not weak.

You also do not need to make yourself stay in Spain simply to prove that you can manage all three children alone. Of course you can care for your children. That is completely different from being unexpectedly abandoned in an unfamiliar hotel without the equipment, transport or arrangements you would have chosen had you known you would be parenting alone.

Once you are home, give yourself time and support before trying to settle every aspect of the relationship. Let somebody you trust know what has happened. Keep communication with him calm and practical for the moment, particularly around the children and where each of you will stay. You do not have to minimise what happened, but neither do you have to resolve your entire future while exhausted and travelling.

You sound heartbroken as well as angry, and I am sorry. Go gently with yourself. Getting everyone safely home is enough. (I have an autistic son too x).

Voneska · 04/08/2026 17:43

Oh dear, it sounds like he has Engineered a nice relaxing break ( for himself) while YOU manage the children ALONE. Just think ,though, it could be worse: if they were your Step children....then you would realise that he only wanted a Nanny. Anyway, don't feel bad, you're a HERO to expect sa HOLIDAY' with three small ones.

ThatRareGreySheep · 04/08/2026 17:44

Yourguessisasgoodasmine · 03/08/2026 18:42

Where the hell do women keep finding these awful men and more importantly, why do they keep having kids with them. It's mind boggling

Height > literally everything else to women

PunnyPlumPanda · 04/08/2026 17:44

BusyMommaOf4 · 03/08/2026 19:24

You are living being on holiday with the same age kids as me with special needs also? Tell me what you would do with them all on holiday then activity wise. Knowing that I’ll have a baby in a sling and can’t let go of my 4 year old. My 3 year also before you suggest it will absolutely not go to kids club. He’s a big cry baby and won’t be left with people he doesn’t know.
As others have said you can’t compare it to being at home. I parent solely most days as I’m on maternity and he’s at work. And they’re all at home 2 days during the week. I can manage going out certain places if I’m prepared. At home obviously it’s safe and everything is secured.

Sorry. Why on earth would you say your child is a big cry baby???

PunnyPlumPanda · 04/08/2026 17:47

BusyMommaOf4 · 03/08/2026 19:28

And that would take all day? And then just do the same for the next 5 days?

I wouldn’t take the kids home. I’d endure it but that’s because my kids adore holidays so they’d be gutted. Even as a kid I don’t think I’d take them home. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

I think you’ve got to think of the kids. Hard one but for me in my situation I’d stay there

hope you can find an answer soon

MummyWillow1 · 04/08/2026 17:49

What has happened today? Have you all gone home? Managed to get some sleep?

How helpful are the hotel staff? I would be making the best of a bad situation and letting him F off home rather than you. Ask the hotel staff for help, get someone to carry a tray for you and tell them what to put on it for meals, or leave the bigger 2 at the table in the pushchair and pile a couple of plates of food up to take back to the table.

Take them out to play on site - make some friends and you will have someone to help you watch the kids while you are in the resort.

Brokentoes85 · 04/08/2026 17:55

2ndHandLou · 03/08/2026 18:46

Why would you have to leave them at the table in the restaurant?

If it's buffet style you all go up together, if it's waiter service wherea the issue

I wouldn't contemplate buying food if I'd paid for all inclusive

How can they all go up together? A 4yo with autism, 3yo and infant? Yes I'm sure they'll all queue up nicely and hold their own plated and pick up what they want

cornflakecrunchie · 04/08/2026 18:01

Asa previous poster suggested, READ THE FULL THREAD!!! Those of you adding 'helpful' comments at the bottom are days out of date.

Also, @HarshbutTrue2 You certainly live up to your username. Give OP a break.

Brokentoes85 · 04/08/2026 18:02

I've read all updates and seen your are leaving.

He sounds like an absolute big baby and useless father. Good riddance.

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/08/2026 18:19

sunshinesuperwomsn · 04/08/2026 16:41

What, when one is SEN ?

People do, believe me, even with SEN (although you didn't mention SEN when you said nobody could manage 3 children without a nanny). Its pointless discussing this though as its irrelevant to the thread. The OP has 3 children and she's currently in Spain.

BeardySchnauzer · 04/08/2026 18:29

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/08/2026 18:19

People do, believe me, even with SEN (although you didn't mention SEN when you said nobody could manage 3 children without a nanny). Its pointless discussing this though as its irrelevant to the thread. The OP has 3 children and she's currently in Spain.

Well she might not be in Spain!!!

I hope that everyone has calmed down and had a sensible discussion about how to make the best of the holiday for the children. If he can’t commit to parenting his children then better to go home but that is a pretty horrible way to behave

those kids will be shattered with all that travelling

ragandbonewoman · 04/08/2026 18:35

PunnyPlumPanda · 04/08/2026 17:44

Sorry. Why on earth would you say your child is a big cry baby???

Omg really?! That’s what you pick out from this whole sorry situation? There is something very wrong with you.

Kd96 · 04/08/2026 18:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Mskittenheels · 04/08/2026 18:42

OP I applaud you I couldn’t do this with 3 little ones. You have been amazing and had a horrendous 3 days.

my ex used to do this me especially on holiday for some reason so he could swan off and get drunk all the time and I’d be at the hotel begging him for a crumb of interaction and I was only looking after one baby.

I think you’ve handled this amazingly you’re a good mom ❤️

HarshbutTrue2 · 04/08/2026 18:43

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/08/2026 16:06

Plenty of people manage with 3 or more without a nanny.

The average woman in the uk has 1.39 children. They plan their families to fit their finances and lifestyle.

Children are a luxury. They deserve to be looked after properly.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 04/08/2026 18:47

You're the one who sounds awful. 🤦‍♀️

Mumtobabyhavoc · 04/08/2026 18:50

PunnyPlumPanda · 04/08/2026 17:44

Sorry. Why on earth would you say your child is a big cry baby???

Let it go. OP is not being malicious.

Blueblell · 04/08/2026 18:52

He doesn’t seem committed to being a father if he can just bugger off and leave you to it for 12 hours! I was also struck by you saying “he offered” to have one of the kids.

I think you got a hard time from people on here throwing a baby’s swim hat at him. Good luck op

Grammarnut · 04/08/2026 18:56

BusyMommaOf4 · 03/08/2026 18:49

He is usually really hands on with the kids. But when he’s pissed off then no, he does check out basically and leave me to deal with it unless I literally go and hand him the kids. It has always been me that’s pissed him off but I don’t know why it takes so long for him to calm down. Same cycle. Silence for a few days and then we’ll have to argue about it again. He does usually reply to texts though and if I ask him for help etc he will. That’s why I’m more pissed off as he knows I’m gonna be struggling with these 3. I don’t care about the whinging, it’s just ruined their holiday too

It's not you. This is a pattern. He causes a row which he then blames you for causing and punishes you with the silent treatment (I know it well). It's abuse. Go down to the restaurant and feed yourself and DC. Whether you take a flight home is your decision though.

Grammarnut · 04/08/2026 18:57

HarshbutTrue2 · 04/08/2026 17:28

If they can look after them properly. I am not the only poster to mention this.

Three DC is fine. What is your problem with this? We need people to have DC.

DaysIllRememberAllMyLife · 04/08/2026 19:00

Check the user name @grammarnut. The op has 4.

Grammarnut · 04/08/2026 19:08

BusyMommaOf4 · 03/08/2026 19:06

But yes I did throw a baby swim hat at him at his suggestion that he fucks off out. Out of order but I think most people would be annoyed to be in this position

Perfectly reasonable reaction to stupid and intended provocation in order to cause a row which you can then be blamed for. And he will ruin the holiday for this. Actually, that is the point of his provoking you. You might have a nice time on holiday but that's not allowed so he does this. Silent treatment is abuse. See if the hotel has some means of finding your P and when he turns up throw the book at him. Sad about the holiday but he is abusive and you need him in your life like a fish needs a bicycle. What nasty person he is. Where on earth did you fish him out from? Please put him back.

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