Update: 'My husband chose the Super Bowl over me': Husband ignores partner's 40th birthday, partner makes plans with best friend instead

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Feb 9, 2025 3:00 PM EST

It's the Super Bowl once again, a time when every football-loving American gathers around the TV to watch who will win the ultimate game. Some head to bars or restaurants, while others pile into their friends' homes to talk and snack while watching the game. Even for those who don't love football, there are always funny and strange commercials, plus the Puppy Bowl, where adorable pets run around and play with toys on a football-themed set. It's one of the most American pastimes out there, regardless of which team you're rooting for. 

This time around, the Philadelphia Eagles are facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs. Go birds! The husband in this story below is also an Eagles fan, and if you don't know about the way Philadelphians act after football games, let me tell you about it. Eagles fans are so crazy about their team that they routinely flip cars and climb street poles with such regularity that police grease them up to make them less climbable. And that'll happen whether the team loses or wins! 

This spouse was upset that her husband seemed to prioritize his love of football over their 40th birthday, but they popped back in with a few updates. Commenters were not thrilled with the husband at first, but you can see for yourself if he redeemed himself in time or not. 

Next up, read about some first dates that flopped hard, like one dude who "brought his mom" along. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10465252608
    via Mick Haupt on Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    AITA for reclaiming my 40th birthday after my husband chose the Super Bowl over me?
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 03
    TL;DR: My 40th birthday is on Super Bowl Sunday. I wanted a small, intimate celebration with my husband, but he insisted on watching the game. I hate football. He made such a fuss I caved. Now, I've booked a weekend ski trip with my best friend instead, and my husband is furious because he'd made other plans for us. AITA for prioritizing my own birthday happiness after feeling dismissed over football?
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 04
    My 40th birthday is this Sunday, Super Bowl Sunday. All I wanted was a quiet, romantic weekend with my husband (I'm an event planner so I like to plan things in advance). I told him weeks ago that I wanted us to go away. He initially seemed on board, but then the Super Bowl came up. He's a HUGE football fan. He watches every game, every year.
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 05
    For his birthday a couple of years ago, I even surprised him with tickets to the Super Bowl in Miami. So, when I mentioned my birthday plans, he immediately pivoted to, "We HAVE to watch the Super Bowl together!"
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 06
    I don't hate football, but I have absolutely no interest in it. It's just not my thing. He knows this. I envisioned a completely different kind of birthday celebration. But he was so insistent like I was trying to rob him of some fundamental right. Honestly, it felt like he cared more about the Super Bowl than my 40th birthday. I told him fine, we could watch the stupid game together.
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 07
    But inside, I was absolutely crushed. I felt like my feelings, my desires, were completely disregarded. This weekend, I was talking to my best friend (who is gay) about how upset I still was. He totally got it. He reminded me that turning 40 is a big deal and that I deserved to celebrate it in a way that made me happy. He suggested a weekend ski trip - exactly the kind of thing I
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 08
    originally wanted to do with my husband. So I told my bestie today to book it, just me and him. We're going to hit the slopes, get massages, and just have a fantastic, drama-free time. I'll be back on Tuesday. I texted my husband about it and he completely lost it. He's saying I'm selfish, that I've ruined everything. He claims he had already made plans for us: dinner with friends on Saturday and brunch with my parents on
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 09
    Sunday. He's acting like I'm the villain here. News to me. I reminded him that I told him weeks ago what I wanted for my birthday, but he was so focused on the Super Bowl that he completely dismissed my feelings. I told him I wasn't going to spend my 40th birthday doing something he wanted, after he ignored what / wanted. I even texted my parents to let them know I was going away, and they were totally cool with it. They just
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 10
    said, "Have fun! We'll see you next week." Now, my husband is acting like I'm selfish But I feel like I was backed into a corner. I tried to communicate what I wanted, and I was ignored. So, AITA for taking matters into my own hands and celebrating my 40th birthday the way / want? Am I wrong for wanting to feel special and loved on my milestone birthday, even if it means missing a stupid football game?
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
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    (My best friend lives in another state and has been travelling for work so He didn't know my Husband had planned anything. He says that ultimately, I should do what makes me happy).
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 12

    Get ready for whiplash from these updates!

    Update: My Husband did plan the brunch with my parents, made a reservation 2 weeks ago at my favourite fancy place. He wanted it to be a surprise. The dinner he planned was also supposed to be a surprise, at a friend's restaurant. We talked and his idea was to do all this and then stay home Sunday night, order in, veg out and watch the Super Bowl. But he didn't tell me any of this and I'm a planner so, if I don't know what's happening, I take the reins.
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 13
    He's an eagles fan for those asking. Update 2: Officially going skiing and the Husband is coming. He saw this post and we talked it out. We're going to watch the game from the bar at the resort. I get to spend my birthday carving clean lines on the fresh powder (I'm a huge skier) so it all worked out.
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 14
    Btw- celebrating my birthday on my actual birthday is a big deal to me and he apologized for the lack of effort (before you chastise me I got him Super Bowl Tickets - for his birthday in 2020 - so fair is fair)
    via u/Beneficial-Shirt216
  • 15

    Maybe the husband and parents should've worked harder to include her friends on the plans so this wouldn't happen

    SunshineInDetroit if you know your spouse is a planner, it's never a good idea to plan surprise birthday parties.
    via u/SunshineInDetroit
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    AP DAY
    via Karolina Grabowska For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    Goldilocks1454 Good grief the super bowl doesn't even start until 6:30 on a Sunday night. Y'all could have went out all weekend and got back by then
    via u/Goldilocks1454
  • 18

    People thought the husband was being totally unreasonable

    chazzyjones NTA. Your 40th birthday is a big milestone, and you clearly communicated how you wanted to celebrate. Your husband dismissed your wishes and prioritized the Super Bowl instead. If he actually had plans for you, he should have mentioned them before you made alternate arrangements, not after the fact.
    via u/chazzyjones

    At least he redeemed himself! 

  • 19
    You're not selfish for wanting to enjoy your birthday on your own terms. You gave him a chance to be part of it, and he chose football. Now he's upset that you're doing something for yourself. Go on your ski trip, have an amazing time, and celebrate your way.
    via u/chazzyjones
  • 20
    Specialist_Chart... Enjoy your 40th birthday! Have fun on the slopes! Don't fret about your hubby, he'll be watching the Super Bowl!
    via u/Specialist_Chart506
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    Downtown_Subs... I hope you're not from Philly. Because if you were, he would probably miss the birth of your 1st child to watch the game, and your entire neighborhood would be watching with him.
    via u/Downtown_Substance36

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game eagles kansas city chiefs super bowl wife surprise husband philadelphia football tickets
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