to think DH might bother to tell me if he isn't going to be home for a pre-arranged family meal?

[misshardbroom]

DH is working in London (about an hour away). He's been working really late all week, then getting home and working in the evenings, etc. This morning he left saying that he was planning to be away from the London office by 4pm so he was home for us to have dinner with the DCs and I (it's a bit of a family tradition that we have dinner all together on a Friday night).

So I make something we all really like for our dinner. I tell the DCs that Daddy will be home in time for dinner with them. By 5.30pm I haven't heard anything from him (he normally calls me to tell me which train he's on) so I call him on his mobile.

He says he hasn't left yet, doesn't know when he will be leaving. So no family dinner (the DCs are 6, 5 & 3, so can't really deal with staying up to eat after about 6pm).

To be honest, I'm not even mad at him for not being home - he's got a lot on and it's not his fault. But I am really cross that he couldn't even be bothered to call me and tell me that he wouldn't be home, after telling me he would be.

And to add insult to injury, while I'm talking to him, I can hear 'clickety-click, clickety-click' in the background, and he's fucking typing! So not only can he not give me the courtesy of a phone call to say he wouldn't be home, but then can't even give me the courtesy of his undivided attention while I'm talking to him.

God, I am so annoyed.

That would annoy me. But tbh I find it better not to let the children think that Daddy will be home in time to see them awake, although it isn't fair on you or the children.

Poor him, he must be stressed out of his brains.

yep, you're totally right. Won't be doing it again.

Well it sounds as if he is really busy tbh. Is not an accountant by any chance is he? Busiest time of year!

Yes it is irritating when they can't 'be bothered' to tell you but sometimes they are stuck in meetings or whatever. And I get DH sending emails while talking to me too. Drives me mad!

I would probably be a bit irritated too but maybe he is just so busy he hasn't realised the time?

Won't comment on the typing whilst talking as this is something I've been guilty of many times in my previous role. I didn't do it to be rude to my DH (as I'm sure your DH didn't mean to be rude to you), I was genuinely so busy I didn't have time to stop to talk/use the loo/grab a coffee!

Hope your DH makes it home in time to see your DC before bed.

YANBU

It only takes a second to phone and say you can't make it home.

DH often very busy at work and does long hours, but does (usually) phone to say that he make a pre-arranged time to be home.

Do remember that he probably wants to be home too though, so don't be too mad with him
It's the weekend tomorrow!

But do you have all weeken d together? Does family dinner have to be fri nites when he's stressed out his head and tired from the week,I know you ate too though
Could it be sat nite and Sunday roast instead?
It's so hard with young dcs isn't it?

No, it doesn't need to be Friday nights, and I'm open to the idea of making it Saturday, for example. I'm just mad that this morning he walked out of the door at 7.30am telling me that he would be home in time, and didn't then bother to tell me that he wouldn't be, I had to find that out for myself.

Besides, today I've taken the children to school / nursery, then worked all day, collected them, taken DD to dancing, come home and made the meal... and although I'm tired, I was looking forward to dinner all together as a family as a way of unwinding from the week and saying 'yay, it's the weekend!'. Thought he might be too.

I didn't mean to sound so jaded by the way but somehow the thought of DH being home when any of the rest of us are awake is unusual at the moment (and he isn't an accountant ).

He should have let you know in time - it is not hard to pick up the phone.