To not want to sit through IL's holiday photos?

[Hooli]

PIL's have just returned from the holiday of a lifetime to Australia. They've saved for years and been to see family they haven't seen in over a decade so it's all very exciting for them. They've been gone for just over a month so we popped over last night to see them.

We stayed for tea but wanted to get back for kids bedtime. However, FIL had spent two days putting all their photos on a presentation which he wanted to show us. Boring as fuck right?

Not only that, but whilst away, MIL posted every single picture on Instagram AND sent 10+ pics a day to both me and DH on WhatsApp. Ten pictures a day for a month. Of Australian scenery.

Five minutes into the slideshow, I said we needed to go (kids were close to kicking off and knackered). A few hours later I got a message from MIL to say she was really upset, that they'd been looking forward to showing the kids the pictures and talking us through their trip that was so special to them.

WIBU? Should I have feigned interest?? I haven't replied yet...

I can honestly say I've never made anyone sit through my pics, wedding or otherwise, boring as shit to everyone except the wedding couple/holiday couple. I'd text her back and say the kids needed to get to bed and that you had been following the holiday and seen all the pics as she had been sending them to you all month. Sorry she was upset you hadn't sat and looked through them all again and assumed she'd realise this.
Then refer it all over to your Dh and leave him to handle it.

I know what you mean. Other people's holiday photos are always as boring as fuck.

My brother and his wife usually go away for 2 weeks in the summer, and he takes loads of photos. Last time, he took 500!!!! In 2 sodding weeks!

We had to sit through the lot at their house. I swear I was lapsing into some kind of a coma with the boredom! I kept saying "Oh that looks lovely" and "Yes, how beautiful", etc.

I put up with it and humoured them because they're family. He's 12yrs older than me, and the only sibling I've got left.

You’re missing the point, OP. It was the presentation they were showcasing, including FIL’s painstaking editing etc. Doesn’t matter a jot that you’d already seen the photos. They want to explain them.

I imagine you’ll be expecting them to sit through some pretty excruciating school performances at some point. How will you feel if they duck out because they’ve seen it all before?

I think it was stupid of them to try to show you: did fil know mil had sent you all the pics already? I would have mentioned that she’d already sent me every single picture. Who does the whole holiday photos thing anymore? I wouldn’t dream of making anyone sit through my holiday photos.

You really pissed all over the most exciting thing they've done for years. I'm sure it was excruciatingly dull, but It was rude and hurtful to just get up and leave - you should have gritted your teeth and faked a polite interest.

It doesn't matter that you had seen them before. The point is your family were excited to show you something, you should have either sucked it up then or said you were sorry you had to go now but you're looking forward to seeing them another day when you have time to appreciate them.

You were rude and have hurt their feelings.

Q

Sorry, another vote for you being really rude.

There are times with family that you sit through things that are boring to you but really important to the other family member. Those parents brought your DH up and invested loads in him, surely you/ he can pay it back from time to time.

You should have sucked it up on this occasion, it was a massive trip for them and very important.

mine was over 2000 pictures of a 3 week Canada trip and a hour long DVD he made, lots of laminated placemats of various tourist hotspots and weird glittery CANADA t-shirts

You were very rude. You knew that FIL had gone to a lot of trouble to show the photos and left after 5 mins... really quite mean.

I think you were rude, sorry.

It means a lot to them. It’s the most exciting thing to happen to them for years and they want to share it, even if it is several times over. I’d just be nice and let them enjoy sharing their experiences. That’s what family is for!

You should have feigned interest - if you really were too tired, you should have made a definite arrangement for another day before leaving.

Your ILs are probably feeling a bit flat now their holiday of a lifetime is over, and would have looked forward to reliving it with you. They'd taken time to put together a presentation and you snubbed them. One evening's boredom shouldn't be too much to ask for in a good family relationship. I think you should apologise and rearrange for another time.

YWBU

It wasn't about you, it was about them being able to share something incredibly important to them. I'm sure they have done the same in their lifetime for their kids and grandkids.

You should apologise, blame poor timing with the kids being tired and arrange another time for them to show you their photos.

Then suck it up and feign an interest.

You were rude and hurtful.

Another poster made a good suggestion below

I would get DH to call them and just explain it was bad timing, all over tired etc and arrange to see them next time at a better time.

Sometimes in life, we have to grit our teeth @Hooli, this was one of those times. They must have felt very hurt.

I’d call them up and go and sit through the photos with the kids just once. It clearly means a lot to them and Fil spent a lot of time doing the slideshow I would imagine.

You were very rude, but I expect that you won't accept that (overwhelming) response.

Your poor inlaws- are you always so selfish?

Why should DH phone his parents? The Op needs to not him. She should apologise for being a brat.

Another vote for you being rude. I think you should call and say it was bad timing but that you would love to see the photos another time.

I enjoy other peoples holiday snaps though or just taking part in other peoples excitement

Really rude. I feel exactly the same way about holiday photos and the fact you'd already seen them makes it worse.

However, some things you do just suck up. This is one of them. You're an arse.

"I speak as someone whose FIL took them page-by-page through a radiator catalogue, so I feel your pain."

I'm fairly certain we share a FIL! Does he also like to take you through a mental walk-through of his local supermarket?

I'd have sat and watched, not given up after a few minutes. Sometimes we do things that might not be overly exciting to ourselves, for the pleasure of others. It sounds like you were rude. It was a one off surely anyway as you say it was a once in a lifetime trip for them. My suggestion : Apologise, explain the timing was out and arrange a time to give them your attention.

To fair though looking through other people's holiday photos is hellish!!

I would say "Ah mil I am sorry you feel that way, it wasn't my intention, but it was bedtime so to be fair it really wasn't the best time to choose for kids, maybe save them for day time visit and they might like to see some of the photos, I know they are beautiful as I have seen them on I Instagram & what's app already, looks like you had a ball"

You, your husband and your children stayed for tea.
Did you also manage to stay for any gifts from Australia?
Are you always so rigid with children's Saturday night bedtime?
Children's ages not mentioned - however no nursery or school today.
Very rude. Very entitled.
You and your husband need to apologise, and make amends.

You were rude. Sometimes it’s better to give half an hour. I would reply and just say you wanted to wait until the kids were in a better mind frame then arrange for them to come over and show you.