Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Husband and family holiday

123 replies

Jane798 · 05/08/2022 21:22

Hi all, I posted on here back in January about a holiday abroad and how my husband didn't want to go with my family. I really did want to go so I booked to go with my 2 children and we go in 10 days. Things with my husband haven't been the same since and he uses every opertunity to 'get one back' on me! I feel like it's really driven a massive wedge between us and I am not sure if things will ever get back to normal.
Would anyone on else here even think about doing a holiday with their family without their spouse or am I in a toxic relationship. X

OP posts:
Jane798 · 07/08/2022 18:43

Maray1967 · 07/08/2022 18:38

Make sure you have control of the passports, OP, where he can’t get them. If he’s spiteful enough to suggest he can prevent you from taking them, he might try other things.

Thanks I have already taken them to my Mums house. My daughter came to me and asked of Daddy would stop us going! He is just so passive aggressive eherytime I ask him if he thinks I just should have said no and to the holiday he says he doesn't have a problem with me going but that I am taking his kids away from him for 5 days!!

OP posts:
layladomino · 07/08/2022 18:44

His sulking and guilt-tripping and controlling behaviour are disgusting. Saying that to your child is vile... it shows you that, to him, his feelings (and him being 'right' and 'obeyed') are more important than your child's feelings.

He had every right to not want to go on the holiday, but a grown up on a healthy relationship would have fully supported you and the children going to celebrate your mum's birthday. He is angry because he hasn't got his own way (when he refused to go, he wanted noone to go, he wanted to spoil all of your fun. Now he's realised you're actually going and he hasn't won, he's angry). Angry because you've dared to 'disobey' him. He actually thinks he's superior to you and you should do as you're told.

He is showing an utter lack of respect for you, selfishness to an extreme and disregard for your children's feelings. Apart from what he said to your DD, what father would begrudge his children having a 5 day holiday with their mum and wider family?

I agree with pp - make sure you put yours and the children's passports and any other necessary paperwork somewhere safe, out of the house, or it could well 'disappear' when you're about to set off. I would also make sure he can't disappear off with the children just as you need to leave for the airport. It sounds extreme, but now he's told your DD what you're doing is illegal, it shows he's willing to do rash things to hurt you and to 'win'.

And while you're on holiday, please do some serious thinking. Do you really want to be with someone who sees you as inferior, who doesn't respect you, who sulks, and controls, and is so utterly selfish? You and your children deserve better.

layladomino · 07/08/2022 18:45

Sorry cross post re the passports.

layladomino · 07/08/2022 18:47

And please stop asking him if you should have said no. Of course you shouldn't have said no. And he isn't your boss. He is your equal. Which means you each show the other the same amount of respect and support.

Every time you ask him about it, he will see as a win, a chance to make you feel bad, an acknowledgement that he is the boss. Stop asking, stop apologising. The only person who should apologise is him, for his awful, childish, selfish behaviour.

SleepingStandingUp · 07/08/2022 18:49

Well the problem is the relationship not the holiday. DH would be sad the kids and I were away for a week, but knowing it was an important family thing and the kids wanted to go he wouldn't try to bully me or the kids into not going

BackInBlackAgain · 07/08/2022 18:52

toomuchlaundry · 07/08/2022 01:12

How many on here would go on holiday with their MIL?

I have, and I can’t stand the miserable bat. I did it for DP.

pictish · 07/08/2022 18:53

What a selfish, manipulative wanker.

badbaduncle · 07/08/2022 19:40

Tell the fucker straight 'keep this up and you'll be applying for a court order to see your kids. This stops now or we're separating, do you understand?
What a twat

Bellezza · 07/08/2022 19:44

He sounds awful. Is the problem this holiday or the relationship? My bet is on the latter.

What you're doing is completely reasonable so please don't feel he has any right to make you feel bad about it.

dreamingbohemian · 07/08/2022 19:46

What is your relationship like otherwise ? Because he sounds like a massive prick

You've done nothing wrong

Jane798 · 07/08/2022 19:59

dreamingbohemian · 07/08/2022 19:46

What is your relationship like otherwise ? Because he sounds like a massive prick

You've done nothing wrong

I'm starting to realise it's pretty shir to be honest.
We did a 7 night holiday with his family last year that we all went to and we did a Friday - Monday weekend with my family. He said at the start of the year HE didn't want to do any extended family holidays this year. His Mum is 70 and has invited us on a weekend away (which she is paying for) and my Mum is 60 and has asked us on this holiday. I have said yes to both as the kids want to do both. He has given in and is going with his family but isn't doing my family one.

OP posts:
Brigante9 · 07/08/2022 20:19

dreamingbohemian · 07/08/2022 19:46

What is your relationship like otherwise ? Because he sounds like a massive prick

You've done nothing wrong

Well, that’s extremely unfair of him. Will he actually try to stop you going or is he just being an arsehole? Telling your dc that was shit of him.

Jane798 · 07/08/2022 20:22

Brigante9 · 07/08/2022 20:19

Well, that’s extremely unfair of him. Will he actually try to stop you going or is he just being an arsehole? Telling your dc that was shit of him.

I don't think he will do anything to stop us going, I think it's more of a tactic to make it known he is unhappy!
He has just told me I am brainwashed by my family and will just do anything they ask me to do!!

OP posts:
Runwalkskijump · 07/08/2022 20:25

Jane798 · 05/08/2022 22:06

Yes both kids his and yes my Mum and Dad are coming with my brother, SIL and nephews.

Tbf I wouldn't want to go either with that many and I get on really well withy IL

Triffid1 · 07/08/2022 22:20

Hds doing a great job.of ensuring you have a terrible time... constantly worried about how unhappy he is and, I suspect, how long he will punishment you with silent treatment/guilt etc on your return.

I ask again... does he attempt.to.control you and keep you on a short leash in other ways?

Re permission - take their birth certificates in case. Some.countried fo require permission from.both parents but it's easily checked. With passports and birth certificates it should be fine.

BronwenFrideswide · 07/08/2022 22:29

toomuchlaundry · 07/08/2022 01:12

How many on here would go on holiday with their MIL?

I would, have done several times in fact.

Op, your husband is being a dick and a nasty one at that.

NegroniNonna · 07/08/2022 22:41

toomuchlaundry · 07/08/2022 01:12

How many on here would go on holiday with their MIL?

I've had loads of holidays with mine, loved them!

billy1966 · 08/08/2022 00:40

You are in a controlling toxic relationship and he doesn't carevif he causes upset to your children.

Your relationship is shit.
He's a shit husband and a shit father.

Talk to your family while onnholiday and get away from him.

Speak to Women's aid for support.

Enjoy your holiday and start making plans.

TooHotToTangoToo · 08/08/2022 07:10

He sounds awful !

How many on here would go on holiday with their MIL

What's the point of this, some would, some wouldn't. Even if you didn't want to go on holiday with your MIL, would you stop your partner going, treat them badly as a result?

YukoandHiro · 08/08/2022 07:16

It's for your mum's 60th and he just decided you shouldn't go as a family - even though your mum is paying? Definitely a DH problem.
Fair enough if he really doesn't want to go he can blame work or whatever to get out of it, but he doesn't get to hold it against you. What a prick.
Sounds like he realises he's made a mistake but isn't mature enough to just say so.

LastWordsOfALiar · 08/08/2022 07:24

He's gone beyond hurting you, now he's trying to hurt the kids. It's cruel and it's not on.

When you get back, I would have to have a serious think about whether this is the type of person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

I also think he's extremely hypocritical to accept him mother's invitation all the while giving you shit over your mum's. They aren't family holidays, they're birthday celebrations. Your partner is controlling.

Theredjellybean · 08/08/2022 07:30

He is a first class twat.
Fair enough he said he didn't want to do any extended family things this year.. His perogative but you do.. So your perogative to chose to go.
I just 🤣 when I hear people say "taking my kids away from me" or "sad and I will miss the kids"... Its 5 days for gods sake.... 5 days... I'd have been bloody thrilled if someone had taken my kids away for five days and left me in peace.
He is cross because he thought you'd fall in to line with his plans for the family this year.
I would be finding his behaviour amusing.. Honestly just laugh at his silly antics. And ignore... Just breezily happily get sorted and packed and go... Ffs stop asking him if he'd rather you'd said no... Of course he EXPECTED you to say no as he the man in charge had said no.
But you are an independent adult capable of making a choice for you and dc.

toooldtocarewhoknows · 08/08/2022 07:39

I was married to someone similar many decades ago.

He would say 'I'm not stopping you going' but in the next breath would say I'd have to go alone without the children.

Your husband isn't wanting to go, but is silently furious as you've not meekly declined the holiday as was his desired outcome. What he means without saying it in full is
'I don't want an extended family holiday so I feel none of us should have an extended family holiday because I want everyone to stay at home with me'.

He's irritated because you took him at his word and decided if he didn't want to come you would still go. He's not got a reasonable gripe so he's being passive aggressive to get his point across. Involving the children is a low blow.

If you do separate over this he'll be a pedantic arse of an EXH. Get your finances and documents and precious photos lined up in a safe place just in case this kicks off.

FairFuming · 08/08/2022 07:42

Op I hope you are ok. He sounds like my ex and these horrible little snips are not nice to deal with. Is he a very involved parent normally? My money is on that he isnt. Is he off work while you are away? Because if he isn't (and even if he is tbh) he's being an utter arse.
Do you feel safe and comfortable raising these issues with him in a calm conversation?

Namenic · 08/08/2022 08:04

he sounds like he doesn’t like family holidays with either his family or yours. But he will unwillingly go on his family holidays. He might be an introvert and dislike crowds etc. I would ask him whether he would like your kids to make an effort to holiday with you when you get older.

Is he v attached to the kids? Is he a v involved parent that he cannot be away from them for 5 days. 5 days is like the length of time some of them might go on a school/scout camp.

in any case, I think he is behaving badly - kicking up a fuss at this late stage (and for a big birthday). As a compromise, you could discuss with him what he would like to do next year and inform both families that you will be blocking off x amount of time for it (so they don’t plan anything in the meantime).