Well, I didn't say that did I? What I did say is that my small child is used to a certain schedule and a routine. When that routine gets tossed out the window - my kid gets cranky and I'm the one who will end up trying to pacify my child in the middle of the night when his bedtime gets thrown off. So if you know about my child's nap time and opt to serve lunch at that time anyway - that is totally fine! We will deal ![]() |
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But it sounds like the only one having a meltdown here is the OP. I bet the kids were just fine. They are resilient and they adjust. There are kids with much more difficult circumstances who thrive. A missed nap is really a first world problem. |
I just had a lovely afternoon with my kids. Weather is gorgeous out. I am chill. I am friendly. We have lots of friends. We had the problem of too many neighbors and friends stopping by to give us gifts. I didn't expect our friends to be so giving and felt bad I had nothing prepared in return. Hate me. Say awful things on a parenting forum. I still had a great day. I am sympathetic to tired moms. I was drowning. I just said that we threw money at the problem. People always get bent out of shape if you happen to drop any hint of race, income, neighborhood, expensive car, elite school or prestigious job that suggests a high income. I have no idea what OP's financial situation is. At the end of the day, I don't care if OP or any other moms return home for nap time. We like to be out and about. I already said multiple times that when I had one child, I was also a nap Nazi. When we had 2 kids, DH and I also often rotated staying home on weekends so younger child could nap. I was glad to get a nap in with the younger child. We also never made afternoon plans since one or both my kids would be napping. I believe OP's plans were in the morning. OP wanted to leave so that her DD could nap. Her DD would have fallen asleep in the car most likely. OP could have taken her DD to a bedroom to nap. OP could have left MIL's house. I don't know if OP is the one with the nasty tone or if it is another poster. |
If someone "screamed" in my face? Not just spoke unpleasantly or sarcastically but actually screamed? You bet your ass I'd never set foot on her home turf again. I wouldn't invite her over either. Actually I'd be sorely tempted to write her off completely and never speak to her again but I'd feel bad for DH. She'd be damn lucky to get invited to meet at a restaurant IMO. You can't treat people like that and expect to maintain their respect and good will. |
It is nice to recognize that around the holidays young parents have other social engagements to attend with their children. Disrupting a young child's nap time and bed time might not seem like that big of a deal in the short term. But when you consider the domino affect and how that child will then be extra cranky throughout the next day ...you realize that it is not just one day and not just your party that they are grouching through. There is a method to our madness! Schedules are important - especially with young children. |
Another mom of 2 boys here. We also had a schedule but were flexible. If we occasionally ate lunch late or nap was pushed, we were fine. Kid(s) would fall asleep in the car. We would pull into the driveway and let kids continue to nap. I am sure that would bother some people as well. You can never win on DCUM no matter how reasonable you are. I posted a week or so about a very late dinner and felt attacked by WOHMs. Having dinner when it is basically bedtime for my younger child doesn't work. Late lunch is fine. Dinner at bedtime isn't. Just do what works for your family. |
The bottom line is--no parent should be judged for the schedule they choose to keep for their child. They know their child best, and know how much they can handle, how much sleep they need, etc. AND, as a PP noted, don't assume your gathering/party whatever is the only one that they had this week--you don't know what else they've already had to be flexible with.
That being said, OP did not protect her family. She should have said "no" to MIL right then and there at the 7:45 phone call. OR she should have *gotten up and walked out with the kids when she needed to,* not made 5 empty hemming-and-hawing "threats" about needing to leave. And she had to deal with the consequences. If you're going to protect the schedule, protect it; don't be wishy-washy and inconsistent. |
Lunch could be delayed a bit but not by much. My kids would get hungry and I could see their happy go lucky little selves starting to get fussy - so I would feed them. Same with nap. When they were little it was like they were on little timers and ready to konk out. I could poke them and set them at the table but that would have been a miserable meal for everyone. Better to just put them down for a nap. It was no big deal. When they got up they were their seem happy go lucky selves. On the upside, I think people were fairly understanding about it and they realized that it was nice to have the little ones in bed at a decent hour so that the older folks could all put up their feet and relax. |
Unless the kids are on no real schedule and staying up late and the adults have no quiet time - AT ALL. That would drive me crazy!!!! |
NP here. You didn't just casually mention something relevant that suggested a high income. You purposely reported your husband's income for no discernible reason other than to brag. That's off-putting, and you shouldn't be surprised that it provokes a negative response. I'm sure you feel good about your situation in life, who wouldn't? But people are not going to bow down to you when you rub it in their noses. They are going to be angry that you rubbed it in their noses, especially if you later pretend that you just can't help that it eeked out. |
Yes, I was purposely obnoxious because the pp was rude first. However, on other threads, any mention of anything that hints to high income gets blasted. It is a fact that we can afford help. This has been fun but I have to pack for our trip to the Caribbean tomorrow. You can continue to bicker on about how rude it was for OP's MIL to want to have dessert with the family or how OP doesn't have a backbone or her DH is the one at fault. Good night. |
If you "throwing money at it" simply means that you hand your overly tired, tantruming kid to the staff to deal with when you get home....you honestly have no right to judge how Op is handling her own situation. You clearly have a unique sort of set up at your house that most people do not have.
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I don't know why I keep checking this thread. I am checking weather for our destination this week and keep clicking back. I never handed off my kid. I lessened my stress by outsourcing cooking, dishes, laundry, cleaning and landscaping. My kid was extremely easy as an infant/toddler. I wrote earlier that he was difficult at age 2. We never made afternoon plans during that time. Pushing lunch/nap was not a big deal. Kids would often fall asleep in the car. DH and I took turns on weekends staying home with napper while other spouse went out with older DS. Our situation was not unique at all. |
Boy have we got your number, sweetheart. Go on your vacation. --Yet another NP who sees right through you |