Grandparent watching the news

[Chicci1]

My parents see their grandchildren once a week - usually when we visit them on a Saturday for about two hours. Myself and dh usually take turns entertaining the children while we’re there. They’re age 2 and 5. Today after the first hour, they wanted to watch cartoons. After they had watched tv for 5 minutes, my father insisted on putting on the news. There wasn’t any particular news story he wanted to see or anything. He just insisted on putting it on because he felt like watching it. Cue upset kids who had been promised cartoons. Am I unreasonable to feel livid and that I’m not bothered making the effort to visit on a weekly basis anymore.

Typical mumsnet response, it’s their house, they can watch what they like......yeah we know they can. But ffs a once a week visit and the grandad can’t manage to give them a bit of attention, and puts the bloody news on? Yanbu. Some grandparents are absolutely useless.

Cartoons are pretty annoying. Does the telly have to be on at all? Perhaps he was trying to bore everyone into turning it off. Although I would rather listen to the news than Peppa pig.

"Livid" is a massive over reaction.

If they suggested they could watch cartoons, then its mean. He can watch the news 24/7 - anytime. Maybe take some games, jigsaws, puzzles, turn off the tv and get them to play with the kids for the few hours they see them.

Jeeze, you're "livid" over this??

I'm surprised that people think the GF was being reasonable. Why would you put cartoons on if you are then going to switch them off? News is available all day, I would be a bit miffed that someone couldn't put themselves out for guests for 30 minutes of cartoons.

"Livid"

"Livid" seems a bit much.

Don't take them round if you don't want to. Your dad sounds boring and a bit unpleasant, but he is allowed to be. No need to make a massive fuss over it, just vote with your feet

You're all unreasonable tbf.
Your father for not wanting to change his routine when his grandchildren visit, you for agreeing to put them in front of cartoons.

Ha ha! It's lucky your children don't live in the 1980s. The sole TV in the house always, always, always got switched over when the news came on.

And the fact that you say yourself they suggested it to quieten the kids down might be an indication they'd had enough of the racket made by a 2 yr old and a 5yr old.

I wouldn't have the news on when my DGC visit because often it isn't suitable.

If there are no toys there when you visit, do you take some with you?

Can you go out for a walk? Go and sit in the kitchen with your mum? Have them over to you?

I always find it irritating when we are spending time with family and parents let young children start commandeering the television. Nobody wants to be made to watch children’s television. Surely they could have just waited till they got back home.

It reminds me of when I was a young child, pre school age. I didn't see my Dad's mum very often, but occasionally spent the day at her house while my parents went out. I really wanted to watch Postman Pat, buts she insisted on watching Sons & Daughters (popular soap opera from the 1980s). I still remember it now.
I always put children first. Cbeebies always comes before Loose Women!

It sounds as though these visits are becoming a bit of a chore. And you and DH taking turns to entertain DC during the two hour visits is a bit odd.

I'd go with PP's suggestion of shorter visits if you keep going weekly. Or go less frequently. Do the DGPs engage with the DC, or just sit and watch them play?

Your response sounds way OTT. If your children are bored after an hour, then just go home after an hour.

If your father wants to watch the news on his own TV in his own house then that shouldn’t be a big deal. If your children were upset about that then that is the point at which to go home! Which is probably what your father was trying to achieve!

@lovelifehope

Typical mumsnet response, it’s their house, they can watch what they like......yeah we know they can. But ffs a once a week visit and the grandad can’t manage to give them a bit of attention, and puts the bloody news on? Yanbu. Some grandparents are absolutely useless.

Just what I thought, lovelife.

A lot of people are following the news more closely at the moment and it,s his house and lets face it cartoons are ind numbing. yABU let granddad watch the news then watch the cartoons or find something else to do. Choose your battles.

My grandparents used to make us sit quietly listening to the Football Pools results. The news is pretty reasonable on that basis.

Instead of being livid didn’t you just ask your Dad to skip the news or whip out some other device for your DD?

Unfortunately once you have finished bringing up your own DC you become selfish again and feel the right to watch your own TV when you feel like it. I’d actually have let them watch the cartoons in order to keep them quiet but that’s another form of selfishness really.

I'd start going every 2nd weekend for an hour. If they wish to see the grandkids more they can come to you

I'd get them to come to your house so your kids can play with their own toys instead of being entertained by cartoons on someone else's TV.

When I think cartoons, I generally think of things like Tom and Jerry, Road runner etc. Quick things that have finished 5 minutes later. I forget about things like Southpark and Simpsons that are much longer.

They suggested watching, they didn't say for how long.

I don't always put children first. Them hearing no doesn't do them damage. If I was to always put them first it would have driven me crazy not having a life away from them.

Many parents back then also said no because they wanted to watch Neighbours or whatever. Don't blame them, it was a pain in the arse recording stuff onto video.

After they had watched tv for 5 minutes, my father insisted on putting on the news. There wasn’t any particular news story he wanted to see or anything

Do you know how the news works?

You don't watch for a particular story, you watch to see what stories have broken that day!

You were all being unreasonable, actually. The TV shouldn't be on if you have guests round.

They're 5 and 2 they should learn to be entertained and not rely on cartoons
They should be learning to entertain themselves and each other. When did the expectation begin that children have to be constantly entertained?

Today after the first hour, they wanted to watch cartoons.

Or

Just to reiterate - I did not suggest any tv for the dc. My parents did.

These two don’t make sense.

It is even more nonsensical that a man apparently in good mental health offers children the TV to watch cartoons and turns it over 5 minutes later.