Wide awake kids

[Lulu2106]

My DH took the kids out today to his mothers, he did this so I could have a day to myself and rest a bit as I never get proper time off, he works full time and on the weekends we do things together as a family.

Anyway he said he would be gone all day until bedtime which is 7. They normally fall asleep nicely on the drive home (30-40mins) and everything runs smoothly. When I visit my parents who live very close to my PILs that's how I do it and it works fine.
So I get a message at 6 saying they have left and are on their way home. I'm a bit confused as I'm thinking that's a whole hour before the DC's bedtime but maybe they are extremely tired and he's decided to leave early. He pulls up around 40mins later and guess what... 2 wide awake kids!
I take them straight up to bed and here I am almost 2 hours later with 2 wide awake kids!
I asked him why he's home earlier than planned and he says MIL was tired and wanted to rest after spending all day with the kids.

Aibu to be really really annoyed right now that I really want to let loose on him about his visits to his mothers?!
Every single time he goes there with the kids this happens, she thinks she's being the cool grandmother by stuffing them with sweets and chocolates and other crap (I've seen this with my own eyes, she pulls out tubs of sweets and chocolates) and then sends them home for me to deal with 2 devil kids. They are currently singing in their beds. They should have been asleep ages ago and they have school tomorrow!

I feel like I'm overreacting as I've had a nice relaxed day but at the same time I feel like what was the point of it when bedtime Is taking me almost 2 hours and still no luck!

Have you asked your DH not to let his children have chocolate at his mums house?

@GreatDuckCookery of course I have, he is on board with me and tells his mother not to give them so much. But as soon as we walk through the door there are tubs of chocolates and sweets lined up on the table for each child. And once children see that they aren't interested in anything else! I know she's just being a grandmother and spoiling them but that sugar intake is extreme. I mean I had to tell her no once when I turned around and there she is giving my then 3 year old son lucozade. Do you really need telling that??

I agree that lucozade is ridiculous of course. I don't know how to get around her not giving them too much chocolate then? Maybe DH needs to talk to her again and tell her that she needs his permission every time she wants to give them something?

Sweets don't make kids hyper or keep them up, studies say.

What makes them hyper and keeps them awake is having a day out that hasn't physically tired them. DP and MIL need to take the kids out more on these lovely free days for you.

But as soon as we walk through the door there are tubs of chocolates and sweets lined up on the table for each child.

Then she does not get to see the children when it’s school the next day. Simple. It is affecting their lives, their health, your life and your health, your marriage and your family relationships. And for what? Some sugar.

Visiting on a Sunday if school the next day has to stop. DH can take them on a Saturday and if that isn’t convenient MIL will have to wait for half term to see them. If you need a recuperation day, DH can take them elsewhere. It is your IL’s choice. Respect your boundaries or wait until the holidays to give them the sugar they are trying to buy their affection with.