AITA for not wanting to call my GF on NYE?

A man’s New Year’s Eve plans take an unexpected turn when a simple request from his girlfriend causes a rift. Will he prioritize his friends or his relationship when the clock strikes midnight?

After spending Christmas with my GF of two years and her family, I decided to take a boys trip to a friend’s cabin for NYE – which my GF has repeatedly encouraged. She’ll be spending it at home with friends or family. Recently, she mentioned that she’d like me to call her when the clock strikes midnight.

I hesitated because I would find it rude to excuse myself from the party with old friends, particularly at that critical moment. She was upset, but agreed that a text earlier in the night would suffice.

AITA for not wanting to excuse myself in order to talk to my loved one at the beginning of the new year?

Here’s how people reacted:

Kinerae

NAH She didn’t know how much she cared about NYE when she agreed to you being away, but she’ll have to live with that. She tried to fix that now that she realised, and you rejected her solution. You weren’t obliged to accept an alteration to an already communicated plan. No asshole move anywhere.

KatsThoughts

YTA. Your SO should be your priority, and everyone else there will be calling/texting people who are not present. Maybe compromise and call her 20-30 seconds after midnight, not during the countdown.

cuttlesnark

NAH How about a compromise. Make her a sweet video and have her do the same. Maybe make the subject your hopes and goals for the new year together. Tell her to save it for the moment on New year’s when she misses you most and she should do the same. You can be thoughtful and caring and still go on your boys trip. In the end, the “ball drop” is a seriously arbitrary moment in time…what matters is that it symbolizes moving forward and fresh starts. Give those things to your girlfriend in a meaningful way and I suspect she’d be happy.

Queen_of_shade

NAH, She wanted to do a special thing with you and its understandable that you don’t want to step out during a party and be rude.

huntingbears93

Critically, NAH. However, you will be to her. I’d be really sad if my boyfriend didn’t make that small effort. I know It may be awkward, but it could just be a short phone call.

impressivepineapple

YTA. If you were together, you’d be each others’ New Years kiss, since you aren’t going to be together the least you could do is call.

But, this is coming from a place where my family has a tradition of calling each other right after midnight, so we can talk to the people most important to us first thing that year. I guess it’s kind of a “you are important to me and that will continue in this new year” thing.

My boyfriend and I so far haven’t spent a New Year’s apart, but I’d definitely want to talk. It doesn’t even have to be a long thing, just “Hi, Happy New Year! Love you! Yeah the party is going well, I’ll see you soon have a good night.” All of your friends would understand that.

ClancyWho

NTA I don’t think it’s appropriate for environment you’d be in to just leave a party and call someone. They may be the person whom you love most but you shouldn’t feel bad about not calling them at exactly midnight.

newportking10

If she’s the “one” you should call her, if she’s just a fling don’t call her. I suspect she’s not that special if you have to ask. You have to treat the woman you care about like they’re special. If you don’t someone else will.

Conclusion

The digital age presents new challenges for relationships, even during holiday celebrations. Will this couple overcome their New Year’s Eve misunderstanding, or is this the start of a deeper conflict?