Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you said no, stick with it. But I think you should have said yes. She sounds like an easy houseguest, and your parents could suck it up for ONE day.

I agree. You said your MIL keeps herself pretty entertained, your parents really can't hack it for a couple of hours?

I agree too. You prefer your own parents - fine. Having everyone together short-term can't be that big a deal.

But the thing is, her parents haven't seen the kids in months. Mil can presumably come up whenever. Why should the parents have to share grandchild time just so MIL can get her fickle way?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you said no, stick with it. But I think you should have said yes. She sounds like an easy houseguest, and your parents could suck it up for ONE day.

I agree. You said your MIL keeps herself pretty entertained, your parents really can't hack it for a couple of hours?

I agree too. You prefer your own parents - fine. Having everyone together short-term can't be that big a deal.

Anonymous wrote:Since you said no, stick with it. But I think you should have said yes. She sounds like an easy houseguest, and your parents could suck it up for ONE day.

I agree. You said your MIL keeps herself pretty entertained, your parents really can't hack it for a couple of hours?

Nope. No way would I say yes to that, and I wouldn't feel a shred of guilt.

There is plenty of other time your MIL could visit.

Anonymous wrote:Since you said no, stick with it. But I think you should have said yes. She sounds like an easy houseguest, and your parents could suck it up for ONE day.

Why should her parents have to suck anything up at all? And, for some people, house guests come in two varieties-hard and obnoxious, no matter who they are.

Since you said no, stick with it. But I think you should have said yes. She sounds like an easy houseguest, and your parents could suck it up for ONE day.

Is she retired? If so, then she should adjust her days to avoid overlap. Make a bunch of meals in advance (lasagna, turkey chili, or do easy things like steak ceasar salad with the bagged salad kits) so hosting for a week is easier and schedule a cleaning lady if you don't alread use one. That's what I'd do!

Go with your gut. It isn't as if you're saying for MIL to never visit, just not this time.

I'd think it would be easier to have all the hosting duties done & over with rather than having 2 visits say, 3 weeks apart.

"Let's spread out the visits"

But Op, do what ever you want. There's no magic answer.

I'd say yes because it's just 2 days of MIL. I'm like you - I get annoyed with MIL and would rather just say no. But, I try to say yes when the lift is light (I'd consider 2 days a light hosting lift), so that when I have to say no, I can because I've said yes previously.

I'd tell MIL to wait a day and then visit, but only if YOU want to.

What holiday? Will both sides be there on Easter?

MIL actually doesn't sound like too much work. Especially if she's going out shopping on her own (which she might be doing to give you a break. I go shopping when I visit my inlaws to give his parents more time to spend with DH alone)

It really comes down to how much hosting work it will be for you, because that seems like the only downside here. I you are up for it, I say go for it and be generous. If you think it's going to stress you out and make you crazy, tell her to come another time.

I'm getting the heavy guilt trip, DCUM, and I want to ask for the advice of the hive before proceeding.

My parents are planning on coming up and staying with us for 5 days over the upcoming holiday. They live about 6 hours away and has not been able to come and see the grandchildren since December. MIL lives closer (2 hours away) and is able to come more frequently, yet she doesn't. When she does come, she spends a lot of time shopping at stores not available where she lives (without the children) and being on the Ipad (or showing children the Ipad). Despite this, she loves the children and I want to encourage the relationship with them and not be a DH blocker.

MIL has asked to come up for the two days prior to the day of my parents' arrival, with overlap on the day they would arrive. My parents don't really care for her company, and would be nonplussed if they had to share time with her.

Also, this would cause us to have hosting responsibilities for about a week, which means extra strain on me who works part time and handles most of the domestic duties including entertaining company and planning for holidays.

I initially said no because it felt like too much, but am rethinking due to guilt. Should grit my teeth and bear the MIL visit? Or should I stay firm? Thanks everyone!