A husband was left furious when his wife forgot the date that Father’s Day was celebrated in his home country – despite the fact that the long-married couple had never marked that day before, leaving her totally confused
Big days of celebration unfortunately often come with the odd bit of family tension. From arguments over Christmas roast dinner to passive aggression over birthday presents – sometimes the pressure to be having a good day, all day, can become too much for people, and the celebration itself becomes something of a lightning rod for a good old row.
And one woman was left pretty baffled when her husband accused her of forgetting Father’s Day – on the date it is celebrated in the country he grew up in. This was because, throughout their long marriage, they had never actually marked it before, always choosing to celebrate Father’s Day with the rest of the UK in June.
She took to Mumsnet looking for advice on whether her confusion over his reaction was valid – and what she should do to rectify things.
The mum wrote: “We have lived in the UK for many years and not celebrated European mother’s day or father’s day. He is European but I am British and we did used to live in his country. He’s been off with me since Wednesday and just let me know tonight that he’s disappointed in me for not acknowledging his special day.
“My response was sorry BUT we don’t normally celebrate this so why would I now after 10 years suddenly realise that he wants me to organise a celebration for him?”
The woman added, “I do always make a fuss of him on UK father’s day, gift, special day out. Am I the worst wife ever? Should I cancel mother’s day?”
Her husband is Italian, she also explained, and in his country, Father’s Day was celebrated on 20 March.
Commenters were, for the most part, quick to throw their support behind the woman, saying she hadn’t done anything wrong by not marking the day if the couple never usually did.
“I’d just tell him that you’d planned to celebrate on UK Father’s Day like you do every year, so get over it. You’ve probably got enough to do without pandering to his every whim,” wrote one user.
“We live in Germany. I buy cards for our UK-based parents on the relevant British dates,” wrote another.
“We celebrate the local dates for us because it fitted in with DC preparing cards in Kindergarten and school. Your DH should’ve told you that he wanted to celebrate on his home country’s day instead, or is he assuming you’re a mind reader!” They continued.
Several commenters wondered whether the woman’s husband was purposefully starting an argument right before British Mother’s Day – to get out of having to do anything special for his wife.
“The timing of this is really odd … right before Mother’s Day. Does he have form for ruining your special days?” one asked.
Another echoed these sentiments, saying: “Seems like he doesn’t want to treat you on mother’s day and pulled this trick out lol…ignore him he is being petty”
Do you have a story to tell? Email: [email protected]
