How many days must I entertain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then say so, and make it up to your DIL with some time to herself too.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, they aren't my parents. By day 3 I need to be away from them for a few hours or I will lose my mind. 2 full days (including hosting a full holiday meal for them!!) is plenty of time to spend with ILs.

Your DH probably just doesn't want to have to deal with them himself.

At least in our family, my ILs aren't here to see me, at all. They are first here to see my H, and a distant second, are here to see our kids. Several times they tried to dump the kids on me and cajole my H into taking just them somewhere so they can have him to themselves.

Can't you empathize with their desire to have some alone time with their son? Can you really not imagine ever wanting this with your children when they are grown up and you don't see them much?

Huh? If they really want this, then DH can go visit them alone.

[Anonymous]

After two days of entertaining, all bets are off, especially for households where both parents WOH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After two days of entertaining, all bets are off, especially for households where both parents WOH.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My SIL does this when we visit. Doesn't bother me a bit. She gets a couple of hours to herself and we get to catch up with my brother. I know she enjoys our company. But as a mom with small kids, I know how nice it is to get out alone. I also understand how hard it is to host for a few days. Even if you like your inlaws, you need some alone time.

+1 to this. My SIL puts up w a lot when we swoop into town. She works a demanding full time job. We all encourage her to do her own thing for a bit to get away from us. And yes, spend the time w the kids. It's a win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My SIL does this when we visit. Doesn't bother me a bit. She gets a couple of hours to herself and we get to catch up with my brother. I know she enjoys our company. But as a mom with small kids, I know how nice it is to get out alone. I also understand how hard it is to host for a few days. Even if you like your inlaws, you need some alone time.

+1 to this. My SIL puts up w a lot when we swoop into town. She works a demanding full time job. We all encourage her to do her own thing for a bit to get away from us. And yes, spend the time w the kids. It's a win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, they aren't my parents. By day 3 I need to be away from them for a few hours or I will lose my mind. 2 full days (including hosting a full holiday meal for them!!) is plenty of time to spend with ILs.

Your DH probably just doesn't want to have to deal with them himself.

At least in our family, my ILs aren't here to see me, at all. They are first here to see my H, and a distant second, are here to see our kids. Several times they tried to dump the kids on me and cajole my H into taking just them somewhere so they can have him to themselves.

Can't you empathize with their desire to have some alone time with their son? Can you really not imagine ever wanting this with your children when they are grown up and you don't see them much?

They have plenty of alone time with him when here. We have two young kids who nap every day from 12-3. The kids go to bed at 7. ILs stay up with H until 11. That's 7 hours of alone time with him per day of their visit. I also work full time, and no, I don't really want to drag both kids to the grocery store so that the ILs have every last thing on their list of "needs" that particular day so that they can have my H to themselves for more time. At the end of which they would come home and be upset that I didn't have a piping hot meal ready and waiting for them.

[Anonymous]

You are entitled to take a day for yourself. Everyone will survive. Enjoy.