I have family close by and I see them often but they are not at my beck and call. My mom has sometimes watched the kids when I've had doctors appts, that sort of thing. I'm never gone long. Most of the time, I visit her with the kids, I don't just drop them off and go like you might with a sitter.

I can literally count on one hand how many times she has watched my kids overnight (they are now tween/teens) and she's never taken them for an entire weekend. Neither has my husband's parents.

Yes, it is wonderful to have family close by but they aren't there to serve my family. You seem to be upset that sometimes I need to use a sitter, too?

I have family that lives by and we never see them. I could not begin to describe how messed up it is.

Well, heck. Who knew it was disrespectful to ask for a recommendation? Guess you hoard your roofers, plumbers, and electricians too. Get a life OP. Really. You just sound selfish and bitter.

I hear you OP. My family lives 4000 miles away and thinks it's perfectly fine to visit once a year. DH's family lives a 3 hour plane ride away and we see them even less frequently. I find it very lonely to have no family in the area. We spend every holiday alone and I find that incredibly depressing. It is very lonely to have no family around, especially when they have no interest in visiting more than once a year. I envy people who have loving family nearby. I feel sad that our children will grow up without family to be a part of their milestones.

You don't realize that some of us have mothers who are elderly and need our help, rather than have help to give. The "sandwich generation" doesn't have fun, either.

That said, I'm glad mom survived cancer 10 years ago and is around to need my help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What, you think that because my mother in law babysits every so often that I have no right to a babysitter?

You're lucky, my MIL would NEVER babysit.

You are lucky. I wish my MIL never babysat

Anonymous wrote:What, you think that because my mother in law babysits every so often that I have no right to a babysitter?

You're lucky, my MIL would NEVER babysit.

Well, I think we can all see why the OP's family all moved so far away.

I hope you're compensating your nanny for all the extra work you're forbidding her from picking up ... you are a piece of work, yourself.

What, you think that because my mother in law babysits every so often that I have no right to a babysitter?

Wow. I hate that I don't live closer to family and I'm trying to do something about it, but OP sounds like a drunk rant.

Jeez. Get the chip off your shoulder. I know I'm lucky to have my family nearby, but if I ask for the name of a babysitter or to see if your nanny can cover an odd evening, it's probably because I don't want to over burden my parents or they're busy. If you don't wish to share, please say it right up front; I'd rather know the kind of person you are.

Yawn.

Who think they have it so hard.

In other words, please be considerate of others who do not, and are therefor not as fortunate as you. You may not realize it, but you have conveniences that others only dream of. If we have a babysitter, that is it. That is all we have. And we are dependent on their schedule. They are not there for you. So please be considerate.

If we had family close by practically at our beck and call, doing nice things for us, we would not impose on you. We would not dream of calling your close by family to bail us out. We have gone through many, many hoops to find someone who works for us, who might not work for you. Just like your family does for you. Besides, we might have exigent circumstances that you do not know about, and that we purposely do not share with others. You have no idea. Have boundaries. Back off.