Parents complaining they don't see us enough

[bluepencils1]

DM usually looks after DS 2 days a week while I work. I would of put him in childcare those days but she really wanted to look after him and he does have a good relationship with her so I agreed. We saw my parents Christmas Eve and then for half the day the Tuesday after Christmas. She has been in touch today to say it would of been nice to see him/us more over Christmas. I responded to say it's not like she hadn't seen us and that it's nice for us to spend quality time together just us 3 (DP works away mon-fri and I work 4 days a week but both off for Christmas). She was the same when I was on mat leave, wanting to visit all the time despite me going round every Monday for the full day it was never enough. I told her it feels suffocating (maybe I worded it harshly but it was heat of the moment). She says I should give and take a bit more (not even sure what she means by that). Am I being too harsh? How should I handle this. We have DP's family to see aswell which we do weekly so it's nice to have a chunk of time to just spend together which is very rare.

Hmm, I’m a bit torn on this one. My DM does childcare one day a week for our DD (at her own insistence). I try and make a real effort to spend quality time with her outside of this, as I don’t want our contact to be limited to a quick chat at pick up and drop off, and I don’t want her to feel taken for granted.

It’s a bit different as she’s on her own so I do regularly invite her for meals, arrange trips out etc, but the flip side is that she’s not crying down the phone and complaining when we have periods where we don’t see her as much.

It can be difficult balancing family and Inlaws over Christmas, especially when you only get a limited amount of annual leave. It depends on what your usual dynamic is I guess.

I saw my grandparents about once a week when I was younger, I remember they used to collect me from school 1 day a week and take me bowling/swimming. Certainly not as much as they expect to see my DS. I had to message my mum this morning just to remind her DP is off work for the rest of this week so will be looking after DS on one of the days she would normally have him. She text back 'great, that's another week we won't see him'. I haven't responded, I can't be bothered with the back and forth messaging again and her ringing me ranting again which will no doubt happen.

I don't know what she thinks will happen if they don't see him for a week or 2, it's like the end of the world.

I would send her a thumbs up along with "enjoy the break, it's so good for DS to spend quality time with his Dad"