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Relationships

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:
CJMommy · 05/07/2014 14:34

What Mydelilah and Everard said.

QuintessentiallyQS · 05/07/2014 14:34

Wow, a NICE thing would have to let you in on the decision process, not give you more work in terms of cooking and cleaning in a different location than home, for holidays.

I am totally with you. Can he take the kids and go on his own?

Flexibilityiskey · 05/07/2014 14:35

Hmm, if he wants to put you on the same level as the DC's maybe you should stay there. Let him look after all of you for the duration of the holiday. Maybe that'll encourage him to treat you as an equal partner!

JohnFarleysRuskin · 05/07/2014 14:36

Actually, Blush I've just remembered that DH booked a weekend away for us all in october half term and then told me afterwards.
However, it was to a place he knows I like, it means less work for me than more and when we tell the kids we'll tell them together. He doesn't get to be the big i-am.
I can see that your DH was probably trying to do something lovely, but he ignored you in his excitement. I'd be having strong words about that. Still, try to enjoy the holiday too...

Sicaq · 05/07/2014 14:38

Massively controlling behaviour. No-one should TELL you how or where you are going to be spending your time: you are entitled to some say in this.

Was the telling you in front of the kids a way to ensure that you'd have to agree, so as not to disappoint them?

TeaFor6 · 05/07/2014 14:40

He could have surprised the OP in a really lovely way by saying "my parents have given us money to fund an overseas holiday this year. Where shall we go? What shall we do? I can't wait to see the kids faces when we tell them!"

Yes exactly! I just feel like i've missed out on a step but I know thats pathetic really.

Just to be clear, we will go on the holiday and I would never let the DDs see that I am upset over it. They are excited so i suppose thats the most important thing Smile

I think I need to go back to DH and day thank-you for the holiday but we do need to have another talk about how bad it makes me feel when he makes decisions and involves the DCs before discussing with me. I just feel like there's resentment building up in me and I don't want that to spoil the holiday (or our relationship in general)

I'll have to phone the in-laws and say a big thank you as well. It was very generous of them and not their fault it's caused problems

OP posts:
mellicauli · 05/07/2014 14:41

I think it's possible to over-think these things. You can have a lovely time without every detail being perfect. Maybe he finds all the minute details boring? Maybe he's sick of compromising. Say next time it's your turn to make all the arrangements and he can have a surprise.

Everard · 05/07/2014 14:43

He doesn't mean well.

That's the problem.

You know that how, Bruno?

JohnFarleysRuskin · 05/07/2014 14:44

Why did he chose to tell you at the same time as the DCs? Did he say?

Phineyj · 05/07/2014 14:45

I agree with becool. Both DH and I hate surprises and would never spring something like this on each other. Having said that, if it's non-refundable, go, have a good time and make sure DH does more than his fair share of the grunt work.

Phineyj · 05/07/2014 14:48

OP, you are not pathetic - he has treated you like a child, even if with good intentions. Tbh I have come to the conclusion surprises of this nature are often sprung by people who care more about their own feelings than the comfort of others.

GoodtoBetter · 05/07/2014 14:49

What's puppygate? Did he get a puppy without consulting you????

KaFayOLay · 05/07/2014 14:58

If you are too angry to go on said holiday, give me a shout Grin.
I'd be beyond thrilled if my dh did this. My view may be clouded by the fact that he won't go abroad and I would dearly love for the dc's to experience air travel.

Thumbwitch · 05/07/2014 14:59

Oh god, Tea - are you the same poster whose DH came back one day after taking the older girls out and said they'd ordered a puppy??? With no consultation at all? And you with the new twins! You are, aren't you.

He needs to get a handle on this. I'm wondering if he has some kind of impulse control disorder - a friend's DH has, he just shaved the head of their 2yo DS because he decided his hair needed cutting (it didn't) and he didn't put any of the adapters on the shaver, then started with a big sweep over the top of the poor little soul's head - of course, once that's done, the rest has to be done the same and he was completely bald. :( Friends was livid but at least the hair grows back.

Thumbwitch · 05/07/2014 15:01

Oh yes you are - you poor thing! :( Puppygate

JohnFarleysRuskin · 05/07/2014 15:03

Oh no.

Shit. Then I'm not surprised you are furious.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 05/07/2014 15:03

Oooookkkaaaaaayy. There is clearly history here.

Am off it read this link

ContentedSidewinder · 05/07/2014 15:03

I remember puppygate thread here

Basically it looks like he only sees things from his own point of view and not how it impacts on you.

Sicaq · 05/07/2014 15:05

Oh, it's him!

Yeah, this is all about being Fun Dad, purchasing his children's affection. Nothing to do with giving you a "lovely surprise".

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 05/07/2014 15:06

Oh, I remember puppygate. It doesn't sound as though he learned his lesson Sad.

rainbowsmiles · 05/07/2014 15:07

No you are not unreasonably upset. I would be exactly the same for all same reasons. V frustrating. But it's done now. Won't happen again. His heart in right place etc so hopefully the holiday will be fab and it will all be okay again.

StandsOnGoldenSands · 05/07/2014 15:11

Just read Puppygate. Wowsers.

I would go absolutely stratospherically ballistic if I was in your position OP. Wearing his balls as earrings and everything.
He has learned nothing from Puppygate. Nothing at all.
He wants something so he does it first and then thinks about you afterwards. That is not partnership. That is not teamwork. It is being selfish.

rainbowsmiles · 05/07/2014 15:13

Oh no he had previous!!! Id be even more annoyed and not quite so cest la vie.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 05/07/2014 15:33

Houston - we have a problem

Um....oh dear. This appears to be a common theme

I still standby the fact that you should go on the holiday. But - DH is absolutely sharing the packing plus all meals are to be eaten out bar breakfast if needs be.

Then, can you speak to him about this lack of impulse control? What are his reasons?

DoJo · 05/07/2014 15:35

But he must be able to control his impulses to some extent if he booked it over a month ago and has only just shared the secret! He just chooses when to exercise this control and it doesn't ever seem to be at the appropriate moments.