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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

DH has done something lovely but I am furious with him about it. Can you help me articulate why???

482 replies

TeaFor6 · 05/07/2014 13:21

Brief background is we have been married 9 years, mostly very happy. 4DC DC aged 8, 5 and 6month old twins.

Previously we have always had at least 1 holiday abroad a year. With the (unplanned) arrival of 2 babies things are obviously a bit tighter money wise. So we agreed we would not go abroad this year but would do days out and maybe a long wknd somewhere for ‘holidays’. I can’t lie- I was a tiny bit disappointed about not going abroad. I know it’s a bit of a first world problem but I do look forward to getting away. But I didn’t make any kind of fuss about it and I am excited for what we do have planned.

Anyway, this morning DH sits me and DDs down and announces he has booked a ‘surprise’ holiday abroad. Due to fly in 3 weeks! He booked it over a month ago. I could just about get over him booking it without telling me but I am livid that he chose to tell me at the same time as the DC’s. I am NOT a bloody child. We are supposed to be equals, partners who make decisions about these things together. Surely I’m not wrong on this???

I KNOW he was trying to do a nice thing for me but I just feel so undermined and patronised! And he just doesn’t think things through. He’s booked us a villa. So has he thought about if its in a practical location i.e. easy to push a double buggy around? Close to restaurants/supermarkets? (self-catering of course, so will he be doing all the cooking/washing up? I doubt it) Are there things for the girls to do? Is the house practical with 2 young babies? No. He hasn’t thought about any of that. Nor the inconvenient flight times (fly out at 1am). Plus I will now have to cancel appointments for that week, and a party invite for DD1 that she had already accepted.

On the less practical side I’m upset because I would have liked to have some say in choosing the holiday myself. I love looking through brochures, choosing where to go and counting down the weeks until we leave and I feel a bit like he’s taken that away from me (very childish I know, but it’s how I feel)
I know some people will say I’m being ungrateful and maybe I am, but I suppose I’m pissed off because its just another example of him making a bloody great decision without discussing it with me and just expecting me to put up with it. (It's not that long since we had a big discussion about him doing this and I thought we'd got somewhere but obviously not. It's like he thinks my opinion doesn’t matter Sad) And it feels like he’s done all the fun bits on his own and just left me to think about the practical stuff as usual Plus it might have been nice to have the fun of telling the DCs together. Now he's SuperDad and I get no credit (again very, very childish I know)

I’m trying to explain some of this to him but I’m one of those people who, when I get angry and frustrated, I end up in tears Blush It’s pretty hard to sound sane and reasonable when your voice cracks into a sob every time you try and say something!

Am I right for feeling like this? He just can’t understand why I’m upset and I feel guilty for being so angry when he really was trying to do a nice thing Sad I'm just sick of always feeling like the miserable one who puts a dampener on everything. I don't want to always have to think about the practical side but somebody has to! How do I get through to him??

OP posts:
StandsOnGoldenSands · 05/07/2014 13:25

I think you are right to be feeling that way, particularly if he has form for making big decisions without you.

You've articulated how you feel very well in your post, can you perhaps copy the text and email it to him? I find writing things down can be a good way of explaining emotionally loaded things (I'm a blubber too).

(I'm not suggesting you show him this thread btw, keep this as a space for yourself to explore your emotions privately.)

MillyDots · 05/07/2014 13:27

Wow. He was trying to do a nice thing for you and the kids. Ok maybe he hasn't micromanaged every last detail in the same way you would have done but can you not accept it for what it is. A lovely surprise. Do any of the other things like location etc matter in the great scheme of things. You will manage perfectly well. Life isn't perfect but we get round things don't we?

Unfortunately you have already had a go at him for doing this so it is already spoilt as far as he is concerned. I don't think he will be planning anything nice for you ever again. He must feel awful. Sorry.

TypicaLibra · 05/07/2014 13:28

You are absolutely right. It is family money and I'd be furious too for all the reasons you mention above.

StandsOnGoldenSands · 05/07/2014 13:28

And if he really doesn't want to work as a team (which is what sharing the decision making is really about) then you have a big problem I'm afraid, it's not trivial at all and don't let him make you feel that it is.
Being a team is the foundation of a good relationship. If he doesn't respect you enough to try and do that, then, well, it doesn't look good I'm afraid.

Greenrexine · 05/07/2014 13:28

I'd want to kill him. I presume he has used family money for his surprise.

HumphreyCobbler · 05/07/2014 13:30

I wouldn't feel guilty about feeling angry, given that you have already clearly discussed why you dislike his making decisions without involving you. I would feel annoyed by this as well, getting the details right when planning a holiday is the key to a successful holiday when you have small children.

Walkacrossthesand · 05/07/2014 13:30

I think you yourself have articulated why. Factors like self catering vs hotel, distance from beach/amenities, flight timings etc etc are actually the things that make or break the holiday. Anyone can do what he did, ie look at the pretty picture and the price, and click 'book'.

If the booking is unmodifiable, I would make it very clear that he is doing most/all of the self catering grunt work, and enforce it. He booked it, you plan to have a nice holiday like you would have done if you'd researched good hotel offers and he can pick up the slack.

HumphreyCobbler · 05/07/2014 13:30

Also, you had come to a joint decision about your finances. How come he just gets to over rule it?

cailindana · 05/07/2014 13:31

I would be livid too. My DH had a tendency to do this on a smaller scale (such as agreeing to let his parents stay longer than planned without asking me) and it made me feel like I didn't exist. He is much better at it now although he still does it now and again.

TBH I would just refuse to go. I know the children will be disappointed but that's not your fault - he sprung it on you and them at the same time, it isn't suitable and you will not be responsible for making it work. It might make him wake up and see that he can't just swoop in an rearrange your life because you are a person not a pet.

Fairylea · 05/07/2014 13:33

If things are tight financially how has he financed this? How have you not noticed the money going from your (I'm hoping) joint account?

That would be my first concern - can you even afford this holiday?

I'd be annoyed like you too. The gesture is nice in itself but all the other bits would annoy me.

Thumbwitch · 05/07/2014 13:34

No I'm with you completely. I don't like "surprises" and if DH had done all that without any reference to me or the practicalities I'd be hopping too.

It's not fair to just land this on you - and do you even have passports for the babies?? If you've only got 3 weeks to go, how are you going to get them in time? The Passport Office is apparently a complete disaster area, and I suppose you will be the one dealing with that side of it as well?

No, this is a very stupid thing he has done, and a wee bit "Disney dad" too - "oh look at me making the grand gesture and aren't I the great man for making you all excited" without ANY thought as to how it will be achieved.

meiisme · 05/07/2014 13:34

Agree that you articulated your upset very well already. But if he genuinly doesn't understand what you're saying, would he understand better if you leave him to deal with the practical consequences of his decision? Ie sort out cancelling the appointments, organise travel, cooking etc. I bet he understands your objections then.

Hoppinggreen · 05/07/2014 13:35

I would be annoyed too. It's a nice but actually thoughtless gesture as he has actually caused you more work and stress. Presumably he will be doing all the washing, packing and other jobs that you need to do before even setting off for the airport? I only have 2 DC and getting ready for holidays can involve a lot of effort so although a holiday is great your DH has just landed you with that. It's also to be hoped that the villa is suitable but who knows?
A holiday is a family decision as far as I am concerned - unless it's a weekend break or similar and he has organised a babysitter.
Do you have passports for the twins by the way? Not sure you will get them in 3 weeks if not

petalsandstars · 05/07/2014 13:35

Yep I'd be livid. Family money used for something probably not very suitable with no input from you. And none of the practical things considered. I'd be very cross and would probably look at cancelling or changing it to something else.

AgentProvocateur · 05/07/2014 13:36

Have you actually looked to see if it's suitable, because it sounds like you're determined for it not to be he tried to do a nice thing; he knows you were disappointed about not going abroad, so he arranged a surprise.

Presumably he's worked out that you can afford it as a family and has arranged it. I think YABU to be so negative. Doubt he'll arrange another surprise for you again in a hurry.

TeaFor6 · 05/07/2014 13:36

Sorry, I've just realised in my haste I missed a very important point in my post Blush

His parents gave him a large amoun of money for the holiday. Not all of it (about 2 thirds. Not including spending money). So he hasn't spent that much money without telling me. I still think he should have consulted me before accepting the money though. His parents are nice people who won't hold it over us, but it will always be there i
IFYWIM.

Sorry, if I gave anyone the wrong impression!

OP posts:
OwlCapone · 05/07/2014 13:37

Do the twins have passports?

SavoyCabbage · 05/07/2014 13:37

I would be mad too as you consciously made the decision that you wouldn't have a holiday this year.

petalsandstars · 05/07/2014 13:38

Oh god yes - passports - good luck with that in July!

Chocotrekkie · 05/07/2014 13:38

I would be annoyed too. He has spent all the family money on something that isn't going to work as well as it could.

He's booked a self catering villa, miles away from anywhere that isn't suitable for 4 young kids with terrible flight times.

See I would sit back and let him deal with it all.

Grumpy overtired child - hand them to him.

"dear the kids are wanting breakfast - you'll need to go to the shop"

"im bored mummy - go speak to your dad"

hand him the buggy and the "I can't walk any more" child - you walk in front ignoring it all.

oh and he needs to rearrange everything for the week you are away. He can deal with the stroppy receptionists.

Quitelikely · 05/07/2014 13:39

I suppose he will never book a surprise holiday again! He's a guy and they don't think about things in the same way as we do. Try to look for the positives in what he has done.

I imagine he is regretting his surprise. But it was a surprise which meant he couldn't tell you about it!

BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 05/07/2014 13:41

I'd absolutely hit the roof and refuse to go. For all the reasons you articulate.

And I would seriously suggest that unless you do exactly the same thing, this kind of thing will just keep on happening. Because he can get away with it.

If you don't want to go that far, I suggest you approach the holiday in exactly the same role as he has cast for you - not as an equal adult, but another dependant child, someone who doesn't get to make the decisions because they aren't in a position of responsibility. Self catering? Oooh, you can't possibly shop or cook - that's what the grownups do, yes? You'll be busy getting the twins ready and going off out for the day, having fun and you'll expect your dinner on the table when you get back, just like the other children in the family that he doesn't need to consult. Entertaining the children? Um, he's the grown up, you got no say in choosing where you are so you're damned if you're going to help out making it fun - you would have chosen somewhere else. He can't have it both ways.

I don't suggest option 2 because your children will suffer far more than if you simply take option 1.

MillyDots · 05/07/2014 13:41

His parents gave him most of the money to help with the surprise.

missnevermind · 05/07/2014 13:42

Depending how strongly you feel about it you could wave them all off at the airport and enjoy a weeks peace and quiet at home?

theDudesmummy · 05/07/2014 13:44

I am afraid I would be furious if DH arranged so much as a dinner party without my having input into the choices involved. A whole holiday? With small children? I would be hopping mad.

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