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Parents in Law babysitting

5 replies

riab · 18/08/2006 12:11

HOw do you find it when parents or parents-in-law babysit or do childcare?

I am in my last few weeks of work and due to childcare crises parents on both sides are stopping for a few days (one week each) to help cover childcare.

I know I should be massivly grateful etc etc but I can't help but get narked by my MIL at times. She either does an obviusoly false 'oh I quite agree with you' comment when I say something or she just ignores me and does what she thinks is right. DS has had a bad week with teething so I have made an effort to be at home more at key times - ie meals etc.
I feel i have to go home and feed him because they tend to just assume he isn't hungry and if he doens't start eating striaght away they let him go without food!

I got home yesterday and they had taken him to the park - despite me saying please drive as its a long walk on busy roads they decided to walk, it pissed it down and they had taken his raincoat OUT of the pram and nto taken any jumper or anything so he got very wet and cold. I'd packed him a 'packed tea' and also said if you stop off on the way and get him a cheese pastry as a treat he really likes those and he can eat it whlie in his carseat/pram. Guess what - he got in half an hour after his teatime and hadn't had anything at all too eat.

Its like they don't beleive me about my own child! If I say 'this is how we do things' they are just as likely to ingore it and do something else.

TBH i'll be glad when this week is over as I'm not doing this again!

OP posts:

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trinityrhino · 18/08/2006 12:13

I really feel for you, I can't imagine what that woulf be like, I'm sorry I can't help, my MIL looks aftere my children the way I ask her to with a little spoiling thrown in

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2Happy · 18/08/2006 12:13

I try very hard not to think about what they get up to, because I'd have been very stuck without mil this week. I do know she has a fridge full off ruddy petit filous though

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Medulla · 18/08/2006 12:16

It's hard isn't it, I used to get really upset with my MIL too - especially after she gave my DD jelly for breakfast because she asked for it - arrrggghhhh!!! A friend said to me once though - you have to remember that after you and your husband your parents and in-laws are the people that love your child/children most of all and they wouldn't do anything to harm them - she's got a point

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JessaJam · 18/08/2006 12:16

"Its like they don't beleive me about my own child! "

My dad is just like this! I tell him ds is crying because he is hungry, but he insists on trying to rock him to sleep...I tell him ds is fine eating food with 'lumps' in, then come back to find all the 'lumps' in the food have been left in the bowl...wtf?!

It is difficult, and you have to focus on what is irritating you because it is 'bad' for your child, and what is just irritating because it's not how you would do it...iykwim

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riab · 18/08/2006 13:29

Jessajam that could have been me writing! thats exactly the type of thing.

I do try and shrug of the things that are just different but I was annoyed when he was so cold, wet and hungry.

given that it has rained already that day I would never dream of taking a 16mo out for an afternoon with only shorts and tshirt on. You at least pop a jumper in!