To be upset DGP's are taking DC on holiday?

I think it’s an excellent idea. There will be lots of new things and places for them all to do and see which means they won’t be stuck in the GPS house with the Kids getting a bit bored which is when they will start to miss you. With any luck they will be so busy and tired out at the end of the day that they will cope better with you being away.

How miserable are you, why are you so annoyed that they want to take your dc away. They were looking after them anyway, l think its a lovely thing to do. What is up with you? Are you jealous of their relationship with your dc? Surely you want your kids to have a great time while you are away...Live and let live, life is too short. Let your dc make lots of memories...

I'm sure someone has already pointed out (although it was in the OP) that this trip is still in the future. Her parents have told her now and I doubt very much whether OP has already packed the kids' things.

But you could leave them for the weekend and they decide to take the kids to the swimming pool or to a beach for the day? Would you expect them to be asking you before doing that? The kids are in their care so they can surely decide an activity?

That is fabulous. It is better than two day trips for them all.
Give your advice re sun screen and inside during midday sun. Offer some pointers on how never to allow them in change rooms/toilets alone and remind your kids to listen and stay with Granny and Pop.
They will be happy.
Most grandparents would have ran it past you first, tbh.
But most parents would agree to 4 a d 6 year old going to seaside for a weekend with GP.

This. If you've asked someone to babysit, it's on your home turf or theirs. You know you've sorted what's needed. You'll know they know how to make the necessary safety accommodations for young kids. You know the journey/mode of transport. Who they are likely to mix with.

How very weird not to tell you. No family member I trust with my young kids would do this, and I trust them completely.

No issue at all but I’d expect them to have mentioned it but not because they have to ask given they already babysit without issue, It sounds great, they’ll have a lovely time. As will you on your break. Relax!

Do you realise most accidents happen in the home? There is a simple solution to this - don’t go on your weekend away and don’t ask DPs to have your children in future. You really are being very controlling and VVU.

Yes, it would have been nice to be asked rather than told.

If you trust you parents, they are healthy, keep the kids safe, are good drivers (assuming they are driving yo destination) and are good with the kids. It will be great for both parties. I wish my two had that kind of relationship with their grandparents.

Surprised by the responses you're getting.

I definitely think running it past the parents first would be the normal thing to do? Just as a heads up? Its changed the game a bit and increased the level of "risk" (being around water etc). I'm sure they'll be absolutely fine but yes, I think you should have been included in the conversation.

Have a chat to them about your worries, hopefully they will be able to reassure you?

Why are you pretending going on holiday, driving with very young children, going to a strange holiday destination with very young children with no discussion, input or agreement from their parents is the same thing as watching them at your well known home?

Really, why would you try to make this comparison? It's so obviously nonsensical - what prompted you to try to pretend this is a fair comparison?

Because OP is on here naturally worried, as all decent parents would be, about her very young children being taken arbitrarily to a strange destination without her consent and with no discussion at all.

Fixed your comment for you.

In that case, they probably shouldn't be left to watch them for an entire weekend no matter where they are.

Considering op is on here bitching about her parents babysitting for free if she wants her rules she can hire a sitter and pay for it herself

You're anxious which is normal and okay but unless your parents are of an age where looking after kids is too much for them, wave them off with a smile on your face.

Your parents have managed to bring up at least one fully functioning child into adult hood and the dangers now are no different to when they had a young family.

My last Grandparent died over 30 years ago but I have the best memories, especially when I was left in their care for the weekend going to the beach, making cakes, eating ice cream etc. Let your kids make memories, your parents won't be in their lives for that much of their lives.

They will indeed do so. But you're not.

If you let them get away with this, you are setting this precedent. They can take your children anywhere they like, and do anything they choose with your children, without asking, and you will be silent about it. I wouldn't be comfortable with that.

And yes of course they should have checked with you first. Totally different looking after small children in a home and in a holiday environment. The children are very young also.

Honestly this kind of question makes me bloody mad.
Why aren't they all going together?
Because they're not, end of. What's it got to do with anything? People are allowed to have a break from their children or go somewhere without the children!
What a question! What's it to you?

Absolutely nuts isn’t it! Cancelling the trip to stop the kids going away for the weekend?! Mental.

I can also do those things but not all GPs can. There are 2 children and one of the GPs might not be fit enough.

OP, I think all these people saying “if you trust them to look after them at home, you should trust them to look after them anywhere” are totally wrong.

I wouldn’t have been happy about it at all, and I wouldn’t have allowed it. (Having said that, I also wouldn’t not have gone on holiday without my children, so it wouldn’t have occurred).

Obviously beaches, coasts, swimming pools, the sea can be very dangerous places and I could not rest knowing my very small children were somewhere like that without me.

Also, you will have “risk assessed” your own home and your parents home to know that the children are safe there. That is not the case with a holiday stay and can be difficult even if you’re taking the DC somewhere yourself. I’ve stayed in places where I’ve eg had to move loads of glassware out of direct reach of children, where external doors could easily be opened and escaped through, and where there were things like blind cords hanging next to the bed.

The purpose of their GPs looking after them is that you can rest easy knowing where they are and who they are with.

If the children go away somewhere where you don’t know what it’s like and have no control over it then I can’t see how you can have a restful holiday.

I know according to most of the responses here so far that makes me an awful person, but it is definitely what I would have thought when my children were young.

I don’t agree with this. Parenting/caring is far more difficult away from a familiar place with familiar systems and tools.

I’m nearly 70.
I can swim a mile and beat any 7 year old over pretty much any distance

Depends how old you think is ‘old’. To me I’d probably worry if they’re 70 plus, just because it would be difficult for them physically. In their 60’s, not a problem. I see many young parents who struggle with caring for children because they’re obese, obsessed with devices so they’re not actually focussing on child’s safety, lazy. Being sometimes incapable of caring for a young energetic child isn’t something exclusive to older people….