I can't fathom taking care of more children if I'm already taking care of an infant, and a couple of older kids (who should entertain each other and help you, by the way!).

But your executive functioning may be on a higher level than mine.

Anonymous wrote:If the baby often takes the entire focus of the adults in the situation I don't think it would be wise to add 2 additional kids to the mix, that's asking for trouble.
You will have 5 kids to supervise and pacify instead of 3.
I would hold off on friends until baby is older, or if you can bring a sitter for the baby, so you cam have time to enjoy the other kids.
Just by 2 cents.

Seems like the night in the cabin is maybe a bit ambitious yet.

If my 7 yo brought a friend I would worry about what they would think up and plan while we were occupied with the baby. I would stick to only family for the first trip, but you know your children and how they behave.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't take friends. It's a family vacation. That's quite enough for grandma. If your kids can't have fun without their friends there's a problem.

I agree. if I brought my mom or mil camping I would feel bad if the kids were off with other kids the whole time.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:Don't take friends. It's a family vacation. That's quite enough for grandma. If your kids can't have fun without their friends there's a problem.

I agree. if I brought my mom or mil camping I would feel bad if the kids were off with other kids the whole time.

These are your kids and you are paying so you get to decide! If you think it would be easier and more fun for all of the kids brought friends, by all means include the friends! I could see if grandma didn't eant the extra kids at her house, but this isn't her call to make.

Don't take friends. It's a family vacation. That's quite enough for grandma. If your kids can't have fun without their friends there's a problem.

A 7 and 10 year old can entertain themselves camping. Give them a scavenger hunt (2 acorns, 1 white rock, a leaf bigger than your hand, etc). Or just give them marshmallows and a stick.

No friends. That's actually just more work.

Anonymous wrote:If the baby often takes the entire focus of the adults in the situation I don't think it would be wise to add 2 additional kids to the mix, that's asking for trouble.
You will have 5 kids to supervise and pacify instead of 3.
I would hold off on friends until baby is older, or if you can bring a sitter for the baby, so you cam have time to enjoy the other kids.
Just by 2 cents.

I agree with all of this.

My first thought as a parent of an infant and 2 older kids is that the infant should not be taking the entire focus of 2 adults either way (although I totally understand how it happens). Or even the entire focus of 1 adult, if you are in charge of other kids-- that's just part of being a third baby, and often they turn out better for it. If the 5 month old is esp. difficult, you and Grandma may just have to forgo the conversation and even get cooking over the campfire...

If the baby often takes the entire focus of the adults in the situation I don't think it would be wise to add 2 additional kids to the mix, that's asking for trouble.
You will have 5 kids to supervise and pacify instead of 3.
I would hold off on friends until baby is older, or if you can bring a sitter for the baby, so you cam have time to enjoy the other kids.
Just by 2 cents.

but I'm trying to just figure out ...

Own your decisions. All decisions, make a decision and own it. You can ask around for advice and learn if others have a preference - but then you're in charge.
Do not allow someone else's preference to out weigh yours, that just means you'll throw up your hands and say, "they caused just a fuss, I had to do what they wanted"
Not talking so much about this particular event, but learn this is life and all decisions will be easier.

So bring the friends. My parents always let us bring a friend. It was fun.

I am paying... So I can decide but I'm trying to just figure out best way for all to enjoy the night. I love hanging with my kids but now with baby, more often than not, they are entertaining themselves now.

The person who is paying gets to decide. Who is paying?

Grandma in town and we are going on overnight trip to cabin woods ( hour half away). We have 5 month old baby-- and 10 and 7 year old. So I suggested we take a friend for each kid because it will help my kids have fun. I never was fan of taking friends on family vacations- we sure didn't do that when we were growing up. But now I think it would be nice. Grandma says no, just just take family so I reminded her that when we are cooking and wanting to have a conversation or cook over the campfire, we will also be trying to pacify and play with 5 month old and two kids. Often the baby literally takes all our focus. My husband joining us for cookout but has to go to work tomorrow, so he's not staying.
Should we bring friends for each older kid or stick to family?