Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sitter..problem solved. As for my child wouldn't handle. Yes they would..they can handle so much more than you know. Experienced sitters can handle the worst tantrum and most kids by three are in some sort of preschool anyway. As for electronics at the table..god if you are trying to make this dinner work..loosen it up for one night. So many crazy parents on this site lately.

If you want to leave your child screaming in a strange hotel room with a strange sitter, I suppose that is your call. Not something I'd be comfortable with, though.

WTF with this statement?! I have used resort babysitters, in fact some of the sitters I use in DMV are the regular sitters for the Four Seasons (Weesit) and they are great. Why do people think resort sitters are scary, mean and horrible? The last resort sitter I used was last month in California, the woman was a preschool teacher and brought all kinds of stickers, coloring books, books, and toys. She was wonderful.

If you are in the resort at the same time as the sitter, why all the anxiety? You can check in as much as you like. Having a separate meal at a buffet is just plain stupid. Have a nice dinner out without your kid. Turn this around, go 25 years into the future, this is your son and his wife making this request at your special dinner. It's dumb, take one for the team, get a sitter, go to the formal dinner. Stop digging your heels in that everything revolves around "your" schedule and rules.

Either get a babysitter or take your kid. My kid was able to do long dinners easily at that point. Bring crayons, stickers, and for when the situation gets desperate, an iphone/ipad with headphones. If you don't like those ideas, then let your husband go, that way they will probably resent you the same, not more than they likely do now. Oh and if you bring your kid but have a bad attitude, your kid will misbehave - I promise!

Is the formal cocktail hour before the dinner? I would skip that and save my 3YO's stores of good behavior for the dinner. And I might have to duck out if he couldn't hold it together, but I would shut up about being pregnant as a reason.

Anonymous wrote:Give your son a chance and listen to the people that have kids over 3 and have been there, done that. Your son may very well be able to make it through the dinner or at least most of it. Also, you need to expose him to these kind of activities now so he can become a functioning member of society. Ask your husband to sit next to your son and handle him (be good for both of them).

+1. Having dh sit next to your son at the dinner is a really good idea. Go and have fun, OP.

Give your son a chance and listen to the people that have kids over 3 and have been there, done that. Your son may very well be able to make it through the dinner or at least most of it. Also, you need to expose him to these kind of activities now so he can become a functioning member of society. Ask your husband to sit next to your son and handle him (be good for both of them).