Just overwork yourself sick until you are one sweaty, 103 fever, coughing, vomiting influenza-ridden mess. Apparently that's what I did to basically make this year's Thanksgiving implode. In-laws are not coming, and SIL, who is pregnant definitely not coming, and my mom who is up there is years, not coming either.

I totally destroyed this year's family Thanksgiving (we were hosting, btw).

Well, my parents sat there entranced at our firstborn, and I didn't mind. Their expectations for the comfort of their stay were low, however, so I did not feel any pressure. And DH helped a lot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You'll miss them when they are gone. Trust me.

Do you mean after this "vacation" or when they're dead?

Not the OP, but I look forward to the days when I can nostalgically miss my parents "when they're gone" rather than deal with their drama and stress. Not everyone has a great family, some of us have dysfunctional abusive family members who make us ill with their stress.

I can honestly say that I don't miss my parents at all. My dad died when I was in my 20s and it remains the best thing that ever happened to me - even better than my DH and kids. Now THAT is a majorly fucked up thing but not nearly as fucked up as my family is.

So, no, I can't 'trust' you they'll be missed. I can tell you what I do miss - having even a semblance of a normal childhood. I used to miss it every day. Now, it's just every once in a while - usually when one of my kids asks me what I did when I was a kid.....

At least it's your own parents; that is more comfortable/easy to deal with than say if it was your parents-in-law, no? That's what I would prefer (i.e., my own mother vs. having MIL and FIL stay with us).

Family is seriously overrated. I don't ever expect anything from my parents anymore, and I don't know about ops but taking to mine honestly goes nowhere. I spent over 20 years trying to improve our relationship, and now my life is better because I just avoid them as much as possible. I'm not inviting them for thanksgiving and I hope they don't invite themselves.

OP hang in there. And post back with any particularly obnoxious behavior!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Show them how to change diapers and how to start the washing machine and dishwasher!

Seriously. They are guests, not maids

Sorry but guests who come immediately when a baby is born aren't guests. These are their parents and they shouldn't expect to the same level of treatment as other guests or if they came when kids are older.

It's reasonable to ask the parents to wash dishes, but they should not be expected to do your laundry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Show them how to change diapers and how to start the washing machine and dishwasher!

Seriously. They are guests, not maids

Sorry but guests who come immediately when a baby is born aren't guests. These are their parents and they shouldn't expect to the same level of treatment as other guests or if they came when kids are older.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Show them how to change diapers and how to start the washing machine and dishwasher!

Seriously. They are guests, not maids

FWIW, when I'm at my parents' house, I still try to help out (as I was expected to when I was a child). Nothing wrong with hoping, even expecting them, to help out on your turf as well, especially with a grandchild. Would be kinda annoying if you had to take the baby back from grandparents every single time DS/DD had a poop or needed to take a nap because your parents couldn't handle it or just didn't feel like doing something other than gazing at your child or shaking a rattle in the baby's face.