- A mom with two teenagers revealed a horrific family dilemma in a parenting forum.
- She allegedly did not want to go on a family trip this year because of budgetary issues, but her husband disagreed. He booked a vacation for him and their kids without her.
This family of four has taken their annual vacation by train through Europe for the past few years. This year, however, when the mother looked at their budget, she realized that they could not afford it. Instead of cancelling the trip, her husband booked it with the children… without her.
A user by the name of shared this shocking dilemma “Exhaustedpenguin” earlier this month London’s online parenting forum Mumsnet.
The anonymous mom explained that her family always flies on budget airlines and mixes sleeper trains with 4-star hotels. “It usually costs more than a standard two weeks all-inclusive-resort-type holiday because of the cost of eating out, travel, etc, but we love it,” she wrote.
They had to spend about $80,000 on “extensive home renovations” this year. She also said that the couple has no savings, and the cost will be added to their mortgage.
The family of four, including two teenagers and a son, would have to pay for the trip on the husband’s card. She continued, “I suggested that we spend a week at a UK cottage rather than a usual holiday to prepare for the costs of renovations.”
However, her husband was adamant that they would continue to follow tradition and go on their usual vacation. Why? She wrote, “He says that he works very hard and deserves to have a nice holiday.”
The couple had been fighting for weeks over the tension. Finally, he told his children that she didn’t wish to go on a family trip. He told them to choose what they would like to do. The daughter went on vacation and the son decided to stay at home.
That didn’t solve the problem. He is “constantly slapping me in the face” with insults and says that she “doesn’t understand how money works”, and doesn’t work as hard as he does. But he won’t compromise on a less expensive vacation.
It was bad enough that the daily frustration was “unbearable”, but then, the unimaginable happened: “Yesterday, it came to my attention that he booked tickets on the interrail system for the three people, despite my son’s request.”
In fact, he booked the whole family, but not her.
Then, she turned to the forum for help. Confused about how to deal with the situation, she was unsure of what to do. She wrote: “My son insists that he will not go without me.” If I go, then we’ll end up with more debt.” In her post she included a poll asking: “Am I unreasonable?” 87 percent of the 1183 voters said her concerns were justified.
Some commenters were supportive while others questioned the budget and other elements. For example, “You don’t have any savings, yet you go on these expensive holidays every year?” Some commenters have been supportive, while others have questioned other elements of the post, like the budget. Comments such as “You don’t save but go on this expensive holiday every year?” This seems odd to me. Another person added that even the alternative plan she had to stage her show closer to her home didn’t make any sense. I don’t think you’ve calculated the cost of cottage holidays, but you may not find them as affordable as you thought.
Although the poster remained anonymous online, her dilemma sparked conversations.
