Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would, sure. What is the issue for the person who is disagreeing? You haven’t mentioned that the grandparents can’t take care of the child, which of course changes everything. What is special about the week before school starts?

The issue is they have already seen their grandparents for two weeks in July and I don’t see the point of going to see them again during the hectic week before school starts. DH and I both woh and there’s still a lot to do for the kids before they start school.

Also in-laws won’t take them anywhere except McDonald’s and they will be bored out of their mind. But yes, they can take care of them.

Why didn’t you put this in your first post? It’s pretty relevant to the question you are asking, no?

Depends. Grandparents on one side are still in their 50s and love to do outdoorsy stuff. We let them travel, bike, hike, camp with them. Grandpa and grandma are still in better shape than us. (They haven't missed a workout day in a decade)

Other side are late 70s and starting to develop health issues. They couldn't handle multiple days. Even just one day seems to be tough for them.

Mine are doing this (going to the beach with the grandparents). I did ask that they come home Thursday afternoon because our school has open house on Friday next week. My youngest is starting K so I think it's important for him to go to that. So he is!

Completely up to the kids at that age, since they can stay home alone if they prefer during the day. But I would have no problem with it (with either set of grandparents, even the ones I don't care for).

Grandparent relationships are important. It's a change of scenery for the kids. There's nothing we HAVE to do that last week - we can buy school supplies and clothes before they go. And it would be nice for the to be out of the house for a week so WE could have some peace and quiet!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids do not want to go and they’ve already spent two weeks this summer with grandparents. It’s not a petty reason to say no and saying no is not mean. If grandparents were so fabulous then the kids would want to go.

Tweens have their own opinions and I wouldn’t force them to give up their last week of summer either.

Give up their last week of summer to do WHAT exactly? Nobody will answer that question.

My kids always asked to do nothing the week before school starting in upper elementary school. Our summers were always busy with traveling and the various camps they chose. My kids just wanted the previous week to hang around with the dog, play with their own toys, ride bikes with friends, go to the pool, build legos, watch TV.

It’s not comfortable staying at someone else’s house for a week, not having your stuff, not being able to do stuff with friends etc.

You should respect your kids’ wishes when deciding to accept an invitation.

Just read they are 12 and 13. No way I’d make them go. They are old enough for their opinions to matter and you said they don’t want to go. Let them relax at home before school starts.

Why is it a week or nothing? Can’t they go for 3 days and then you guys go pick them up? NJ isn’t that far.