To insist the holiday is cancelled

Bit of an overaction, they will be shit hot when your not in the country as a back up x

The parents were a lot younger then and presumably less ditsy.

They locked you in your own house, left the house without the car seat (why was this removed at all??) didn’t tell you what they were doing, didn’t answer their phone, laughed at the situation and didn’t apologise.

Cancel the holiday. These dithering idiots aren’t responsible enough for a house key and driving a car. There’s no way they should be responsible for a five year old and a three year old.

It sounds your in laws barely spend any time with your children. In this scenario, at aged 3 abd 5 my children would have been very upset to be left with them for a whole week. I’m amazed you’re even considering it honestly. Maybe a night here and there, but a whole week??

What do people think we did before mobile phones? It wasn't always possible to contact people 24/7, you just had to trust people would do what they said they would. And they did.
It also sounds like school is within walking distance, op said she thought she would walk to collect kids and then realised they had taken the keys. So.worst case scenario is grandad dropped granny off (on time) and they walked home.
Even if they had been late, so what? Thw teachers would have kept them, people are late sometimes. It's really not the end of the world, and teaching kids that shit sometimes happens isn't a bad thing.

The grandparents clearly locked the door - that's a good thing! They maybe didn't realise they had both keys. It's happened to me before. It's frustrating, but it shows they were aware enough to lick up as they left.

Go on holiday and enjoy it. Trust they will look after your kids, and whilst routine may be a little different, that's ok.

What do people think we did before mobile phones? It wasn't always possible to contact people 24/7, you just had to trust people would do what they said they would. And they did.
It also sounds like school is within walking distance, op said she thought she would walk to collect kids and then realised they had taken the keys. So.worst case scenario is grandad dropped granny off (on time) and they walked home.
Even if they had been late, so what? Thw teachers would have kept them, people are late sometimes. It's really not the end of the world, and teaching kids that shit sometimes happens isn't a bad thing.

The grandparents clearly locked the door - that's a good thing! They maybe didn't realise they had both keys. It's happened to me before. It's frustrating, but it shows they were aware enough to lick up as they left.

Go on holiday and enjoy it. Trust they will look after your kids, and whilst routine may be a little different, that's ok.

Meanwhile locking OP in so she couldn’t leave the house… 🤔

It was also a reasonable query as to why they didn’t have the car seat and she hadn’t heard from them about it.

I would be most annoyed at the house key situation. What were they thinking?!

And they should have had at least one phone on them in case there was an issue at the school and they needed to call you. And they could have called to let you know they were heading straight there and would get the car seat later.

They shouldn’t laugh at you for making other arrangements based on their previous lateness etc.

The water thing is disgraceful.

A week is very different to a night or two. I would tell DH to change the holiday to add your children. and maybe do a UK night away just you.

'What ifs' happen. OP is prepared for them. PILs are not. OP's call (they wouldn't be picking mine up any time soon).

They picked DD up as agreed. No need for all the panic and what ifs.

They said they would pick up the child from school and they did.

I am confused about the comment “no apology from MIL or FIL.” What should they have apologised for?

But regardless, your DH has booked the holiday and arranged childcare. It might be reasonable to calmly discuss any concerns that you have. To “insist” that the holiday is cancelled is very, very, very unreasonable.

Can you take the kids and ILs on holiday and have a few days/nights out with DH and they can babysit? Get a couple of aparthotels next door to each other?

I don’t think the mistake is a big deal.

But no way would I leave and 3 and 5 year old for a week with grandparents. Certainly not out of the country.

40 years ago.

I can understand your worries, but on the other hand your husband survived.

They cocked up the keys. They cocked up the phones. They cocked up the car seat. All they needed was one little thing to go wrong and they would have inconvenienced others or worse. OP couldn't get involved if she wanted to (or worse needed to) - they'd locked her in. They sound irresponsible and chaotic. OP presumably does not take chances with picking DD up, and has keys, phone and car seat in place. Don't go away and leave them in charge.

No way on gods earth. You must be bonkers to trust them, rearrange for uk based trip.

They had it all under control. You didn't need to get involved

Am admittedly a neurotic parent… but no, I wouldn’t be leaving my kids with PiL during termtime. When kids older - 4&7yo - we did send them to stay with their GPs in the holidays, though. All GPs had to do was eep them clean and fed and, ideally, get them to bed for 10-12hrs kip.

I’d insist the holiday was rescheduled so that Dcs can either stay with GPs at their home, on their terms, or so that they can be added to the booking.

My mother and father in law are exactly the same, it’s got a lot worse since they retired and now seem to have absolutely no concept of time management. I would 100% not be going on holiday with them, a three day trip to centre parcs nearly killed me. Never again!!!

No way on so many counts. It's too long, they don't see the kids much, and they are not that reliable. A week is a really long time with young kids - both from the carers' perspectives and the kids themselves. The thought behind it was kind but as you say, your DH got carried away and it's not an idea I could get behind.

No way would i leave my children with people like that.
I cannot imagine my husband booking a holiday without discussing it, surprise or not.
Not since we have had children for sure.
I cannot stand ditzy people.
They are not dependable.
Not worth the stress.

They ensured that there was somebody there on time to pick up your DC from school and they made sure that they had the car seat to be able to safely drive your DC home.

Not having their mobiles switched on/answering them is irritating, so yes ask them to do this while you are away/have an agreed time that you will check in with them daily.

Have you ever been locked in the house before? I'd be looking to make sure that couldn't happen again.

I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old, and i wouldn't go on holiday for an entire week without them. No chance. And someone who booked it without running it past me would be getting told the same.
And i wouldn't be leaving them for any length of time with people as scatter brained, disorganised and disrespectful as this. Op, you are NOT being unreasonable, despite what other posts are saying.
Also you dont have to rely on them for date night childcare. Just get a decent, dbs checked babysitter with a good background.

Mine are a lot older and I wouldnt leave them to go on holiday for a week. I can't understand why anyone would think this was a good idea or fair on the DC at all.