Irritated by grandparent videos for toddler

Ha ha. In that case I would be sorely tempted to send them something commenting on the clever camera angles, use of lighting etc and reference a few film directors.

I'm with you op. I honestly envy a time when there was no social media, and a phone call every now and then, and a proper catch up when seeing the person. We don't need constant updates, even now dm will ask how we are the day before she is coming over for the entire day! The irony is dm would have hated this when my siblings and I were little.

They sound pretty demanding and annoying. Just ignore the follow up questions.

Totally agree.

OMG, they want a full critique?
Is your son Barry Norman?

I'd just lie and say he likes the colours.
Rinse and repeat.

eta I wouldn't bother showing him all of them either, maybe one or two a week and only once.

Oh for gawds sake - a 2 minute video doesn't t take a day to watch/respond to. This generation didn’t invent working full time, kids and grandparents. 🙄

I think it's nice they want to be so involved. The know a toddler won't have much attention span for a video call, but probably would watch a video. Their heart is in the right place.

Oh for crying out loud, that's not what's happening here. Perfectly fine to disagree with OP but this is a very unfair comment.

YABVU - this is a way for your parents to connect with their grandchild. Your child loves the videos. I think it's lovely that they are holding their grandchild in mind when they see something they think he will like. I don't get what the problem is. Why wouldn't you support them to connect and build a relationship with your child? You don't have to respond straight away, just when you get a chance.

I do this with my grandson. He is older, but it's a lot of in jokes and he really enjoys them. Sometimes I just send pictures with a comment for his mum to read to him. We then have a little to and fro. He might send video messages to my friends or my friends children if he has a particular question or wants to visit. This is how children communicate with other these days. When I have my grandson he sends videos and photos to his mum using my Facebook messenger.

I agree with other posters who mention that there are always people complaining that their parents aren't interested in their grandchildren. Your parents clearly are!! It's adorable.

I totally understand the frustration.

Maybe say you are trying to reduce screen time, and can they send one on eg a Saturday you can show him before bed as part of your routine?

One day you will be a Grandmother and your child may just throw your love back in your face.

I agree. And on another note, I absolutely treasure those videos now my DM has died. I have a whole collection with her face and voice talking to DC that they ask to watch to see her. I panicked when she died that I wouldn't be able to remember her voice, but then I remembered all the videos she had sent for the children!

I am a grandmother, mother, mil.

I am both over and under involved, apparently.

Just say he loved it.

It’s a phase. You may look back at it fondly. Or not

I really don’t understand the mental / add on list you are talking about! Just reply a quick thank you,he really enjoyed it 🤷‍♀️

I am already guilty of this offence! I sent video of Kangaroos on a golf course in Australia for my Granddaughter to look at . Luckily my daughter was very happy to show to my Granddaughter who was thrilled with it.

Could you do a specific time to show him? So like 'thanks, I'll show him when he has his 'movie time' before his bath!'
Just show him all the videos in one go at a time convenient to you rather than immediately when they arrive, and let your parents know that you save them all up and show them all together?

I suppose I feel like the most helpful thing grandparents can do is take things off your mental/actual to do list. Which they do in many many ways.

I imagine the things they help you with are more time consuming than you sending those few words to say he watched them.

As I said, my DD probably sends more videos that I do, so it's no issue in my family. But if she did mind, I'd hope that she'd remind herself of the many days of childcare, of me stepping in when there's an emergency, helping out with practical things and financial help etc, and get a grip.

I find it MN so depressing sometimes. It seems that grandparents can't do right for doing wrong. I'm very grateful that I have a laid back DD!

My dad dos something similar - but not videos for kids

more like hey when you get a chance can you look up this or that or hotel price on these dates or flights these dates and chases up hey you get a chance to look into that for me

i work full time and have 2 kids under 5 and we are busy running around in the mornings and evenings for drop off pick ups obviously

he’s retired and no issues with using technology so I’ve no idea why he needs my help 😆😆😆

luckily he has a good sense of humour and I’ve blocked him temporarily a few times out of stress of his messages and he’s said at dinner one evening oh sure you she probably still has me blocked after last time I asked her a question 😆😆

I’ve started to just be honest with him and say im
Super busy no time at work and straight to bed once I get kids in bed sorry 🤷‍♀️

I think it's the chasing up which would be most annoying. Just show him then every couple of days and send then heart emoji.

My dad passed away in November aged 71.

What I'd give to receive a funny video from for my kids.

Enjoy it while they're around, because they won't be forever.

It's winding OP up because when you have a toddler you have a neverending list of things to do/avoid/check up on/explain etc. Then to have parents messaging you random videos in case your toddler might enjoy them - there's nothing "wrong" with it per se, but it's another small but irritating addition to the already massive mental load that you're dealing with.

You have to show the toddler, then once the video's done you have to take the screen away (not always easy), and then you have to compose a nice little message explaining what the toddler thought and send it. Meanwhile toddler is cross at having the screen taken away and clamouring for attention/drawing on the sofa cushions/ undressing themselves/ throwing toys across the floor.

I don't think OP is being remotely unreasonable to find this annoying. It's lovely that the grandparents want to connect but it really isn't a convenient method of doing so.

I wouldn’t be encouraging this sort of screen time at that age tbh but the keenness for the involvement in your son’s life I’d try to support as much as possible. Would it be possible to arrange a weekly video call with the grandparents, perhaps before bed, so they could see your son and only share the video during that call, letting them commentate and interact with your son about the content? Then it’s an enriched experience for both but you aren’t getting in the habit of showing your toddler videos.