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Grandparents babysitting

post #1 of 14
5/4/05 at 10:35am
Thread Starter 
Let me start off by saying I love my FIL & MIL, I really do. Especially my FIL. But one thing they do that irks me is act like we are asking them to commit a crime by babysitting our kids.

We hardly ever ask them to watch the kids so we can go out for dinner and/or a movie but they act like we ask them all the time. Yeah, my FIL has been watching the kids when I have my OB appointment so Billy can meet me there and we don't have to take the kids, but that's just been once a month for a few hours each time. Of course it'll start being every two weeks soon and then every week until the baby is born, but that's not like EVERY afternoon and a couple evenings a week like my SIL has him watch her kids. And it's not like we're not asking him to go pick up our sick child from school and pick up our other child after her after-school activities, but that's different because my SIL has to work and we could take the kids with us to the doctor appointments and we don't need time alone, so we're just burdening them by asking them once a month or so to watch the kids one evening for a few hours. Shame on us.
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post #2 of 14
5/4/05 at 10:38am
What a crock! It's terrible that they act like that and make you feel this way.
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post #3 of 14
5/4/05 at 10:39am
I know exactly how you feel Lisa. My MIL is the only competent one I feel safe with watching my children. Sometimes I question that also. But really I trust her more than any of the other grandparents.

I don't understand what the problem is that they feel this way. I guess we will have to wait till we become grandparents hey?
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post #4 of 14
5/4/05 at 10:48am
You would think they would enjoy that time with the kids!
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post #5 of 14
5/4/05 at 10:56am
Thread Starter 
I know they love their grandkids and they have fun when they're with them, but it just seems like we're asking them to go out of their way to watch them for us. Who knows. Maybe we're reading more into it than there is.

Thanks everyone!
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post #6 of 14
5/4/05 at 10:56am
No kidding Tara. Shoot they tell us when we come over they are just here to see the kids.
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post #7 of 14
5/4/05 at 11:23am
Just think of it this way, it is their time of the month. I am sorry they are acting this way, just not right. Soon, after you have the baby, they will wonder why they do not get to see the kids very much anympore. Point Blank, we were a burden and I do not want to feel that way anymore and I do not want you to feel my kids are a pain to watch. Sorry Lisa
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post #8 of 14
5/4/05 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, they complain they don't see them enough and then get their feathers ruffled when asked to babysit. I guess they want to see them but with the parents there so they can leave when they've had enough.
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post #9 of 14
5/4/05 at 11:25am
Thread Starter 
Annie! And thanks.

My MIL has already told Billy not to expect her to be an on-call babysitter when she retires this fall. Okay . . . he doesn't do that now to his dad who is retired so why would he do that to her? Of course I'm sure my niece and nephew will be regulars at their house after school and summers.
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post #10 of 14
5/4/05 at 12:07pm
i dont think so my mom and MIL is the same way when dad was here he would watch them all the time but now mom has a problem with my kids except the older one lizzie cause she is the fav anyway my mil acts like we have asked her to commit murder if we ask for some time so we dont ask anymore its tough though but i have a little girl in the neighborhood who watches them now so that problem is somewhat solved i hope it gets better for ya
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post #11 of 14
5/4/05 at 12:13pm
Ugh, that really sucks. I am really lucky with my parents, they're retired and every since we moved back home, they BEG to watch the kids. Every Wed my dad takes the boys while I take Olivia to ballet and when I take my last class this summer they will watch the kids twice a week for a month. I am so sorry your il laws make you feel so crappy. Maybe Billy ought to say something??
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post #12 of 14
5/4/05 at 12:18pm
When we visit SIL in Florida it is the same way. If I want to do something with my old friends, I can only do it after i put the kids to bed, so SIL doesn't have to deal with them. And when you ask, it is like it is this HUGE imposition. I just don't understand! Especially when I see other people who can't keep their kids away from their grandparents!
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post #13 of 14
5/4/05 at 12:33pm
I know how you feel. My in-laws are great and don't mind watching Drew at any time. But they just aren't up to watching Ally, she's just too active. So I don't ask them to watch Drew either. Not trying to be mean, but if you get one you get both.
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post #14 of 14
5/4/05 at 1:07pm
That is not fair for you. Mostly if it is okay for SIL to let her kids be there. Just not right. I mean I know even if they could do it regular, I know you would not take advatange of them. That is just common sense.
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