to sometimes wish my parents would look after one of my kids?

[chumble]

I have just left DC sports day early as her younger sibling is really tired and needed to come home for a nap. Have left my parents there cheering on DD. However, I really wanted to stay and cheer her on and them to bring DC2 home. However DC2 did not want to go home with them only me and therefore I had to come home.

I just wish sometimes my parents would be more assertive and take younger child off my hands. It is my feeling that they will always take the easier option in this case staying with DC1 .

My parents are always happy to come to shows, nativities, assemblies etc but never keen to actually take kids anywhere or do anything that is like hard work.

I guess I am just p**d off that I could not stay and enjoy DC 1 sports day and they always seem to take the easy option.

AIBU?

you are posting in AIBU, did you expect every one to agree with you??

YABVU, grandparents aren't built in babysitters...........

They have taken the time out to enjoy the sports days and shown their love and support by being there.

They may not be able to read minds so why not ask them in future?? Are they aware that sometimes you may need a bit of help?

I agree with some posters that in the future bring distractions etc for the LO to play with, a blanket or buggy where they could have their nap and you could still enjoy seeing your oldest.

Yes you have a right to be pissed off that you missed some of it but it is far from your parents fault.

Maybe you should be greatful that they are so pro-active in wanting to see the special things that your DS does at school etc, not everyone has that!!!

When I am a Granny, I would hope I'd offer to take the little one home so mum could stay and watch the sports day, if that is what she wanted to do.

Yes, I will have done my stint at child rearing but I will no longer be at the coal face 24/7 so I'd hope to give the parents a bit of a break now and again, as my parents did for me and for which I am very grateful. OK, so I will be under no obligation to do it, but I hope I will want to and will enjoy the time with my grandchildren, a warm fuzzy feeling from knowing I am helping their parents out a bit and, best of all, sinking into my sofa in my quiet house with a cuppa after they've gone home!

However, they perhaps didn't realise how you were feeling and thought, since the little one wanted you to take her, that was the best thing to do - perhaps worried she would cause a major scene if they tried to insist she went with them.

Perhaps next time, you could ask if you can drop the younger one off with them and go to the sports day yourself and explain that you would really like to see it since you missed this year?

"I just wish sometimes my parents would be more assertive and take younger child off my hands. It is my feeling that they will always take the easier option in this case staying with DC1 ."

TBH I think that YABVU with that.

Did you eveb ask them?

And why shouldn´t they take the "easy option" as opposed to you.

Why did you have to take 3yr old home just because they were tired?

"Have left my parents there cheering on DD."

They were spending time with their grandchildren just not the one you wanted them to spend the time with.

I can understand you feel tired and fed up, two kids is hard. However, your parents don't owe you any childcare. I am holding back a bit as both my parents and DH's parents are dead so I am quite envious of the support you have and sad that my children (similar ages) will never experience that. Please be grateful for what you have because you are luckier than you realise.

p.s. Its still OK to be fed up because you missed some of your DD's sports day

You actually sound entitled! Reading it again, you want them to be more assertive? What? Force the issue? MAKE your tired 3 yr old go home with them. so YOU get to stay. Seriously, you would be happy with that?

Where is their dad?

Please be grateful your parents are around and participate as much as they do. My parents died before many years ago and whenever I see grandparents at school concerts etc I can't help feel sad that they will never met my dcs.

Equally there are plenty of people who are not close to their parents either physically or emotionally and they do not participate in their grandchildren's lives at all.

I can understand where you are coming from, but also think that if you had thought in advance you'd have thought DC2 may get tired and should perhaps have asked grandparents to look after DC2 at their house thus allowing you to watch all of sports day?

On the other hand I would love my parents to look after DD2, but they won't.

yes you are a little. The fact is that she didn't want GPs, she wanted you, so them being assertive with an over-tired whingy child would have resulted in a big meltdown. Not pleasant for anyone.

Sympathise though.

Why didn't you give your younger one a snack and nap in the buggy? I wouldn't have left.

I wouldnt have left - thats what buggies are for!

YABU. I have 4 DC (aged 6,4,3 and 14 mnths). Eldest 2 are at school,youngest 2 are not. If there's anything on at school I always have to take the youngest 2 as I've got nobody to have them. Also no family comes to things like sports day so it's always just me and the double buggy :)
I always make sure I take lots of bribes snacks and drinks,and a couple of toys. It's not rocket science. Incidentally this also works for hospital appts and bus trips,of which we do a hell of a lot!!