This is exactly my DH''s family we always have to entertain them, and take care of them when they visit us or even when we visit themDate: 9/10/2009 4:16:21 PM
Author: brooklyngirl
TanDogMom, it is quite the shame about your in laws.
It really rubs me the wrong way when parents visit their adult children with little ones, and expect to be entertained and catered to the whole time. It''s a real shame when parents are able to help their children, but are unwilling to do so, and instead take up more of the time their children don''t have by visiting and expecting to be entertained the entire time.
Perhaps it''s just how I grew up, but it baffles me how some people have no desire to help their family. In my family, every grandparent, great-grandparent, uncle, and aunt, has had a hand in raising the family''s children. It''s been that way for generations. My sister''s children are watched every day by one of their grandparents, and on most weeks stay overnight at least once. They cook their meals, help with homework, monitor piano practice, discipline them as they see fit, and a anything else that their own parents would do. When I visit my family I cook, clean, and babysit for my sister and my BFF as much as I can squeeze in on any particular visit. I am not put upon to do any of these things, in fact I love doing them because I see that my family is benefitting from them. I suspect my mom, and my grandmother feel the same way about their contributions to raising their grandchildren, and in my grandma''s case, great-grandchildren.
When I have children, I expect my parents/in-laws to babysit during visits because they should WANT to spend time with their grandchildren. I know how my parents are, but I''m not sure how my in laws are in this regard. However, if they show that they are put upon if asked to watch my kids, you can be sure those visits will be a lot less frequent, because when you visit your family, you should act like a member of it, just MHO.