to rant about FIL and his babysitting

[fruitstick]

I know I am really, but can't say it out loud. And this is the second rant about him this week.

He babysat last night and allowed DS1 to stay up til 10pm (he's 5). He was in bed when FIL arrived at 7:45 and we said he could come down and see him.

We have terrible trouble with DS's sleep at the best of times. An ongoing battle. This morning he was up at 6:30 and has been vile all day. Hyperactive, bad behaviour, meltdowns.

Arrrggggghhhhh almost makes it not worth going out .

FIL is the kind of person who just laughs everything off. DH says I'm paranoid that I feel he is always trying to wind me up on purpose. Said 'oh, I suppose I'll be unpopular tomorrow, did you not want him to stay up that late'

I know I know the rule is no complaining about free babysitting but ..........

As you were.

go out later, make sure your DS is asleep before you leave, not brought down to see your FIL before he goes to sleep.

If your FIL wants to see your DS rather than just sit watching TV in your house, can you invite him over for 4pm ish, so he gets some time with DS (and is knackered out by him) before bedtime...

Don't ask him to babysit again and if he asks explain that you can't bear another vile post baby sitting recovery day.

Yes it is free babysitting but obviously you know how much time your boy needs to sleep. FIL should respect that.

Thanks fruitstick I do get a bit grumpy on this subject.
Both DH and I were brought up in the middle of nowhere, so jobs meant moving.
Unfortunately this means that you don't have easy baby sitting.
The village I know live near, is well located for commuting, so many people have been able to stay near their families and I get

I send dd to her grandparents if I need a baby sitter, then if they they let her stay up late, they get to deal with it and I get a lie in

Everyone is assuming that the fil has kept the child up late through choice. Maybe he couldn't get him to go back to bed. It doesn't sound an easy task from what the op has said.