Smothering or helpful?

[Bobbiebigbum]

Wondering whether I need to give my head a wobble. My parents are in their 70s and we live 4 hrs apart. My parents have bought a caravan less than half an hour from where I live and book it for approx 9 weeks across spring summer and autumn. During this time they come over and 'help'... Which usually means they come over and do some dishes and hoovering and house maintenance. This is obviously helpful. But my dad gets a bit obsessive about it at times and can't just sit down in my home.

I'm a single mum so they are obviously trying to help. They will babysit in a limited way though they don't like me going to group events because covid so what's the point of even going out?

Why am I feeling smothered by them visiting so often. Obviously they just want to see their grandkids.

Am I being a shit head?

I understand. You feel infantilised and it’s irritating. Do you ask them to do these chores or do they just assume? To my mind, help is asked for. Otherwise it’s interfering. If your friends behaved that way, you would find it patronising. Is there any reason why they cannot just visit like a guest?

That's an interesting point about being infantalised. I don't ask them to do any chores at all. I think they do it to be helpful.
Then I have to say thank you all the time.