To be feeling pretty pissed off about this?

[sevendwarves]

I probably ABU but I need to rant.

My parents are going on holiday in three weeks time for 10 days. They have three dogs and can't afford to put them in kennels. They usually go abroad twice a year and rely on family (usually me, although once my uncle and once my brother) to house-sit with the dogs whilst they're away.

My sister had already said she would be able to look after them as she's on maternity leave at the moment anyway and said (in her own words) she has nothing better to do. This worked out great for us as we're moving house next week and obviously want the chance to settle in rather than stay at my parents house, and also DS will be in his own room for the first time and I don't think it's fair on him to be in his room for 2 weeks and then have to move into my parents house for 10 days.

My mum came over tonight and said that my sister has told her that she won't be able to house-sit because she has a baby(DD 5 months) and doesn't think it's fair. So my mum told me (rather than asked) that I have to house-sit instead.

The reason I'm so pissed off with it is that DH and I had to do it when DS was 4 months old, and I did mention it was an inconvenience but was told as my sister worked 30 miles away it was unfair to expect her to do it. I don't know if it's relevant but will also mention that her DD sleeps through the night already so it isn't like my sister is still in the nightfeed-exhaustion stage.

AIBU?

Can you and your sister not share the 10 days between you? Both inconvenienced at times that are inconvenient to you both, but you share the burden?

Although I think your mum is being very unreasonable, I do think your sister is being unreasonable too.

i cant abide people who have these bloody pets and can find the money to go on holidays and then whine (excuse the pun) about the price of fucking kennels, pets are expensive and time consuming and yes the y do sometimes restrict your freedom, if you feel you have to do it on this occasion tell them its the last time!

Thanks to everyone for your replies and support.

My sister is now going to look after the dogs, I'm assuming my mum laid the guilt trip on her after she realised it wouldn't work on me, I'm still expecting to be whinged at by my sister when I next see her though.

My mum said she didn't want to argue with me but that it's give and take and has to work both ways. I replied that I didn't want to argue either, and that I know it works both ways which is why we've dog-sat in the past but that this time it isn't possible as it's not fair on DS.

Well done for not backing down. And you've left it open to say no in the future. Nice work!