My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 12 and 14-yr old have been begging for a dog for years but we really don't have the time or the inclination for a dog. DH travels for work often and both kids play sports with plenty of weekend travel. For years, my in-laws have been laying it on thick that "every child deserves a dog!" and how wonderful it is and going on about my DH's dogs growing up. Never mind the fact that my MIL is the one who cared for the pets.

I AM SO MAD. They came over an hour ago and said they had a surprise for 12-year-old's upcoming birthday.
Guess what it was.

A PUPPY.

I...do not...know what to say. They are still here about to have dinner and I ran upstairs to post on DCUM just for catharsis since I may lose it (or guzzle five cocktails). My DH is now super edgy b/c he knows I'm mad, my FIL is just hee-hawing in the corner and my kids are over the moon. I....am...speech-less...

Get a job and travel like your husband. Stop living off of his salary.

Come on.

Oh my.

No this is her dh problem

He hires help and he does
all the work it was his parents who suck

[Anonymous]

Sounds like they’re quitting these travel sports for the next 2 years to devote that time to walking and training and being home for the dog. Oh they don’t want to? Ok then they can tell grandma they prefer to stay on their soccer team and grandma can take the dog back and they’ll visit it at grandma house .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your in-laws are ABSOLUTE F-ING A&&HOLES!!! I am SO MAD on your behalf.

Same

I love dogs this is insane and DH would be out of my house with in-laws if he didn’t fix this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing is... if your kids really want the dog, you are going to break their hearts. And they will remember that forever.

The in-laws are awful people, because you lose either way: you're going to have a dog in your house, or you're going to be the villain to your kids.

I'm really sorry, OP. I assume this is part of a pattern from the in-laws.

No, OP isn’t the bad guy. Her husband is. They’re his parents. She needs to have a come to Jesus with him and he can be the bad guy who sends the dog to live with his parents.

PP you replied to. I meant... in the eyes of her kids. Of course she's not the bad guy. She's the put-upon parent. And the husband shouldn't be the bad guy either. I guess they need to present a united front on this and explain that the in-laws were rude to dump a pet on another household.

[Anonymous]

This is such a horrible thing to do

[Anonymous]

Notice OP never returned?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They made it clear this dog stays at our house. Going back down now.

Tell them it will go to the pound.

Don't do this! It isn't the dog's fault. What kind of dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Notice OP never returned?

She’s probably ashamed to admit she buckled.

I feel bad for her. Horrible situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Notice OP never returned?

It’s been less than 2 hours. I’m guessing they are dealing with the family shit show. Hopefully they will give us an update after they sent the dog home with the in-laws.

OP—dog cannot stay. I would be very clear that you are having a family meeting and discuss options: 1. Your grandparent takes dog back to their house tonight or 2. Kids give up sports and ECs to take care of the dog and pays for vet, dog walker during the day, etc. (they will not chose option 2)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 12 and 14-yr old have been begging for a dog for years but we really don't have the time or the inclination for a dog. DH travels for work often and both kids play sports with plenty of weekend travel. For years, my in-laws have been laying it on thick that "every child deserves a dog!" and how wonderful it is and going on about my DH's dogs growing up. Never mind the fact that my MIL is the one who cared for the pets.

I AM SO MAD. They came over an hour ago and said they had a surprise for 12-year-old's upcoming birthday.
Guess what it was.

A PUPPY.

I...do not...know what to say. They are still here about to have dinner and I ran upstairs to post on DCUM just for catharsis since I may lose it (or guzzle five cocktails). My DH is now super edgy b/c he knows I'm mad, my FIL is just hee-hawing in the corner and my kids are over the moon. I....am...speech-less...

Get a job and travel like your husband. Stop living off of his salary.

Come on.

Pp that is not the right answer. They are a couple sharing expenses regardless of who works outside the home

[Anonymous]

Probably a troll. I can’t imagine anyone would do this. I hope this was made up.

[Anonymous]

Different take here!
When DS was around ten/eleven, he was super interested in dogs and expressed it to us. He read books about them, can name all types of breeds.

To this day, I wished we had gotten a dog for him! He had a tough go of middle school including depression, self harm. If I could go back, having a pet would have helped during that awful stage of teenager years I imagine. He got much better in 11th grade, thankfully!

Yeah, if you can sent the dog to grandparents during weekdays that would be ideal, right?

[Anonymous]

This is like dropping a baby on someone’s doorstep and then leaving!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different take here!
When DS was around ten/eleven, he was super interested in dogs and expressed it to us. He read books about them, can name all types of breeds.

To this day, I wished we had gotten a dog for him! He had a tough go of middle school including depression, self harm. If I could go back, having a pet would have helped during that awful stage of teenager years I imagine. He got much better in 11th grade, thankfully!

Yeah, if you can sent the dog to grandparents during weekdays that would be ideal, right?

And then on the weekends, when OP says they are frequently traveling for their kids sporting events? What then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different take here!
When DS was around ten/eleven, he was super interested in dogs and expressed it to us. He read books about them, can name all types of breeds.

To this day, I wished we had gotten a dog for him! He had a tough go of middle school including depression, self harm. If I could go back, having a pet would have helped during that awful stage of teenager years I imagine. He got much better in 11th grade, thankfully!

Yeah, if you can sent the dog to grandparents during weekdays that would be ideal, right?

I’m all for kids having dogs but this is not the way to do it. OP that dog goes home with them tonight. Period.