S/O: If you are the one 'on vacation' with your kids

[Anonymous]

I would have sent the kids in to wake up Mommy and Daddy and ask for breakfast. If Grandma doesn't pitch a fit when she sees that they have colored all over her walls or done some other destructive or dangerous thing, that's on her. I don't stay overnight with people who don't discipline their children.

[Anonymous]

One perspective -- if your sister and her spouse don't get a lot of vacation time, and they are under some pressure to do but "family" vacations, they might feel like it has to come with some help from the "family." My mother pressures me all the time to visit more and go on vacations with them. But when I come, she doesn't take over on any meals, she sleeps til noon and then wants me to stay up late and watch movies with her (while I get up at 6 with my three kids).... i'm essentially just using vacation time to do what I would do at home but in a different venue without my normal kid-friendly set-up. So, now we don't go visit much. I would not expect help from a sibling who also has a baby, however!

[Anonymous]

Translation: "People are behaving in a way that allows them to have a better time on vacation than I have, but I refuse to bring up the subject with them. Why don't they stop?"

Seriously, OP, grow a damn spine. That goes for your mom, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have sent the kids in to wake up Mommy and Daddy and ask for breakfast. If Grandma doesn't pitch a fit when she sees that they have colored all over her walls or done some other destructive or dangerous thing, that's on her. I don't stay overnight with people who don't discipline their children.

If my sister acted this way, I would have walked right into her room and dumped cold water on her head. And she probably would do the same to me if I was like this. Ditto for my brother. Ditto for my SIL. And vice versa. I don't understand people who don't communicate. Holding it in builds resentment and misunderstanding. If OP tells her sister to get her act together and take care of her kids and she doesn't,then call her out again and put her kids in her room. Right on the spot. Make her parent her own kids. This shit is crazy. I could never deal with a vacation like this.

[Anonymous]

They probably behave this way because you and your mother let them. They realize that if they leave the dishes in the sink, someone else will do them. If they aren't around in the morning, someone else will watch their kids. So stop doing that. If the kids are up and you don't mind watching them, let your sister sleep and suggest she take the morning shift tomorrow. Give her the laundry detergent and tell her you're stuff is in the dryer, she is welcome to wash her towels now. If you let her take advantage of you, she will!

[Anonymous]

I do don't my eh regresses to slight child mode when on vacation in my parents house or his parents house. I pick up the slack but I find it odd - it's like his 17 yo self appears - he does clean kid stuff and would never leave a dirty dish but he tries to hide and read his iPad as often as possible and I have found lots of empty cups laying around ...

[Anonymous]

Were your parents upset when they saw the table? Did you wake up your sister immediately when you came out to find this situation?

I don't see why you can't make a comment about this to these people. They are obviously putting their kids at risk, and I think you can choose to say that or not, but if they expect anything of you, then don't do it and be upfront about it. And if you think they are taking advantage of your mom, then tell them if you feel it's appropriate.