PIL visiting AIBU help!

[NameChangeSunday]

Name change for this one.

I always make sure I contact PIL to arrange visits and they contact me. They come and see us about once a month. They have 5 large dogs at their house so us visiting with a 10 month old is a no.

Anyway my AIBU… Their visit often last 4 hours. I don’t have a problem with the length of their visit it’s the fact they want to come here I’ve suggested play centres, cafes, parks in the past and they say they’d rather come to our house. I’ve suggested splitting it they say no.

My 10month old is very actively trying to crawl and climb on everything and 4 hours stuck in the house feels like torture! When he goes for his nap I feel like going too!

FTM, here, so I’m just trying to find out if this is normal and I should just smile. My parents are up for an hour or two visit then going out or just going out

Please help!

So you are back at work full time and the in laws are visiting every weekend for hours on end?

No. They are visiting once a month. For four hours. Hardly excessive @TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams

you don’t speak for everyone. I had two children who were, at some point, 10 months old. The child/grandparent/activity nexus is different for everyone. Why is everyone so judgmental and bitchy to OP?

I'm wondering if you are working 60 hours a week in a fast paced environment is it possible you are struggling with boredom and not dc?

It sounds like you are used to things being high pressure and exciting and maybe sitting down and relaxing for 4 hours is challenging?

Is dc in daycare during the day? Do they take the kids out a lot?

If it really is an issue of 10 mo getting bored I would just take him out ahead of time to the park to blow off some steam.

The problem is that this isn't what happens. This sounds exactly like what OP would like to happen, but it doesn't.

GPs turn up and sit chatting to OP and DH while the baby entertains himself. Then, understandably, the baby gets a bit antsy so OP and DH play with him a bit while GPs continue to chat to the adults. Sometimes, for a short amount of time, they can get GPs to play a bit with the baby, but not for long. GPs do not want to go for a walk while the baby points out their favourite trees so OP feels stuck.

This thread has been framed as how to entertain her baby at home, but it's really about how to handle GPs who are inflexible and oblivious to the needs of the people they are visiting.

“I’m going to xx at 2pm - does anyone want to come with me?”

then you go out.

If you’re working 60 hours a week OP it sounds like you’re the one who can’t relax at home. It’s once a month - may be see then twice a month for half the time

MN need more posters like you.

You’ve been able to perfectly summarise the issue.

Thank you for not making me feel like a failure! So many posters seem to think it’s unreasonable that our LO can only entertain himself for 20 minutes before needing a change of activity or us intervening. I feel a ten month old being able to entertain themselves for 20 minutes is good. Having them here and being stuck in is draining! New things excite him for longer and keep his attention and it’s easier.