PIL on holiday.

[redboxerclub]

I am being unreasonable but PIL are very kindly taking us on holiday. But they are 78 and 80. They holiday several times a year. But they insist in taking a lot of luggage. They also insist on an extra cabin bag for medical equipments. So they have two medium cases two cabin case and two back packs for a week. So this means that FIL is navigating with two large cases and a backpack full do medicine and MIL has two cabin cases, a backpack and a handbag around her neck. and occasionally a walking stick

This means that we will have to really squeeze to get four suitcase two cabin case four adults and four backpacks in the car. I think a case and a backpack each is plenty.

inevitabley I will end up taking over steering one of the large cases and a back pack on top of my own to speed things up.

It’s like they want to take a much as possible to get their moneys worth.

would it be awful to suggest they dont need that much?

No, it wouldn't but don't expect them to listen. I have no idea why people need to take so much on holiday.

Drive separately? Or if you don’t like it then don’t go on the free holiday

I mean no... but also its kind of up to them what they take. Yes it sounds excessive but if its what they want to do then 🤷‍♀️

Its also free for you so personally I wouldnt say anything. They clearly enjoy their holiday their way and although it may inconvenience me a little its up to them.

Could you get a large taxi to take you to the airport? Is that an option or a faff?

I’d drive and take a separate car!

I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than go on holiday with parents or PIL.

This is really quite easy to solve. Go in a separate car.
You say they travel a lot, so they know how to handle their own luggage. Leave them to it. Help if you want but stop getting so worked up about it.

Thanks for the replies. I am over thinking this

They can do what they want and I don’t have to help them as long as it fits in the car

they are lovely kind people and we are luck to have them. I suppose it could be the other way and we could either not have a relationship or it be strained.

its a long drive, it’s 6 hours and I would want them to drive that far. They would usually get a coach.

Then you and your husband do the driving. One of you can drive their car and the other can drive your car, so still enough space for everything. We’ve done that in my family when the older generation couldn’t manage the longer drives anymore. Someone would drive their car for them. You’re going to say it’s too far to drive without being able to swap over and take turns, but I’m a single parent so have done all the driving when my kids and I go away in the UK and would have no issue driving 6 hours 🤷‍♀️.

I wouldn’t comment on the baggage -
they are travelling at a ripe old age - good on them
if they need a ton of stuff to enable them to have a good holiday - so be it !
who knows what it takes to be able to travel regularly at that age -
medications etc different layers, comfort aids etc

yes, you can’t suggest that. They can take what they like on a holiday they’re paying for. You could reframe it to being grateful that two of the space taking items are you and your husband. Maybe if they don’t like driving, then as it’s you who doesn’t like the squeeze, then you pay for the extra hire car and you drive one and your husband the other.

No that is a grand idea! I like it!! Not sure if they will as the car is days old 😂 no it will be fine x I can take MIL and he can drive FIL

Yea this is how I feel too now. I just like helping people but I need to step back.

it’s always mildly entertaining to see FIL with two case and a backpack and a bumbag (I forgot that) in his elasticated jogger getting slowly lower and lower and the have to stop and hitch them up every 100 metres.

I suppose I know my limit and we travel so much that I limit self to a backpack and a case for ease.

Id save my breath