Grandparents - what's your experience?

kmm2150 · June 2014

We are lucky enough to live close to both sets of DD's grandparents, and they each take her fairly often for a night - DD is 2.5. When one set has her, we get frequent texts about what she's doing, when she goes to sleep, wakes up, eats etc. When the other set has her, it's all we can do to confirm they are all still breathing and we feel like we are annoying them if we try to check in.

How much info or contact do you get from grandparent when they have your kiddos?

kmm2150 · June 2014

I should add, we trust both sets of grandparents very much, although the less communicative set has more of a tendency to keep her up late and otherwise "bend" our routine.

theseaword · June 2014

Mil watches the kids once a week. She'll send me a few texts: "happy boys today!" "P ate all his lunch!" Etc. Usually one picture as well.

When they watch the kids for date night, they usually won't text unless they have a question or we text them first.

jellybean529 · June 2014

I don't have this luxury now, but when I did I was glad to not hear anything unless there was a problem. Otherwise yay kid free time!

I'm a single mom now and DD is older so I also worry less than I did when she was a baby.

ASmallWonder · June 2014

Oh my god I wish we were able to have grandparents take the kids. We don't speak to my parents but adore my ILs, they just live too far away. They've kept DS1 a couple times (once when we were getting ready to move and had to have it out of our hair) and then a couple times when we've visited them and gotten a hotel nearby for our anniversary

We got a call for goodnights and that was it.

ShakeyJakey · June 2014

When my mom or ILs have him during the day I usually text once to make sure everything is going good. If he's staying the night I text to make sure he's asleep and text when I wake up if they haven't told me he's awake. I have issues about courtesy texting though, so I might expect too much. Doesn't seen to stop them from wanting to watch him so I must not be too annoying.

ravenclaw1 · June 2014

We've had this discussion with my parents and IL's. Neither of us require frequent updates, but if we call, we do expect them to answer.

It's happened with my parents and my mil that they just don't pick up their phones and don't call back. That bugs me.

msdrdg · June 2014

When my parents have him it is usually for a long weekend or next month they will have him for a full week. I typically do not call or text them but my Mom will send a picture or just a quick update or two.

My ILs will never be alone with him. I don't trust my MIL at all (DH agrees) and FIL as sweet as he is, is going deaf and cannot care for DS properly.

DreadLoc · June 2014

i have to pull teeth to even get in contact with anyone who watches the kid. they're free, i appreciate it, but damn, answer one text in 8 hours.

Soxgirl07 · June 2014

No updates from my mom unless she needs something. Random crap from my dad All.The.Time. or random accidental dials from DS playing with his phone. Either way, it's free care, I take what I can get!

Unknown · June 2014

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Wulfgar · June 2014

MIL is our primary care giver and what makes me mad the most is if I get to leave work early and going to pick up our DS I can't get a hold of her. She is slowly getting better at not turning off her phone as soon as she calls someone but still doesn't always answers hers. I can't wait until SIL who is going into the 7th grade gets a new phone so I can call her and get an update.

Since we pay MIL to babysit during our work hours we try to get her to enforce our rules. This doesn't always work so we have to spend some time telling our DS that in our house there are things that he is not allowed to do.

When my dad especially watches our DS he usually starts by sitting in my chair and wait for DS to stop hiding in the corner. My parents are starting to see DS more as he gets older. They live about an hour away and both are "retired" from regular jobs but have a lot of volunteer work that they do and other hobbies that they do.

angelashly · June 2014

Sometimes I will check in or they will send pictures. It's very rare they take her so when they do I want to enjoy my time.

Eta: usually if they are watching her it's because we have something to do. Also yes I give up reigns she will eat and do fun things with them. I know I did with my grandparents

kmm2150 · June 2014

Thanks everyone. I think the one thing that gets to me the most is they pick her up from daycare and don't text to say they've got her...um do you have my kid? Do I need to go get her before daycarE closes and I start getting fined?! Otherwise I generally trust that she's fine, maybe staying up too late and having ice cream for a bedtime snack, but fine.

Pips09 · June 2014

We haven't done overnights, but for a date night, we don't get any updates. I'd only expect them to text or call if something was wrong.

ToastieSimons · June 2014

When my parents watch the kids for short times i don't check in at all.

when we went away and they had them overnight we talked briefly every morning about how the kids were the day before and how they slept. Of course DS1 ended up getting sick so it was a little more detailed. My parents know how to care for my children and would call me immediately if something happened.

bensmommy518 · June 2014

If they have the kids for an especially long time, or if something is unusual like one of them is sick or something, I might text them after a few hours to check to make sure everything is going okay but usually they do not text me unless it is a picture of something especially fun they are doing. I get the recap when I pick them up.

I trust both sets of grandparents but I also know that they do not do things EXACTLY the way I would. They are not supposed to because they are the grandparents, not the parents. Grandparents are supposed to spoil the kids a bit. Not anything dramatic or something that would affect their safety or something, but a few extra sweets, a later bed time, more flexibility on the rules, etc - thats the perks of being grandma and grandpa.

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Grandparents - what's your experience?

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Want a personalized experience?

Grandparents - what's your experience?

Re: Grandparents - what's your experience?

Harry Styles = Life Ruiner

There’s a lightning in your eyes I can't denyThen there’s me inside a sinking boat running out of timeWithout you I'll never make it out aliveBut I know, yes, I know we’ll be alright

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

J. 1.14.13 my reason for breathing

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

There’s a lightning in your eyes I can't deny
Then there’s me inside a sinking boat running out of time
Without you I'll never make it out alive
But I know, yes, I know we’ll be alright