if I don't want to spend May Bank holiday waiting to see a blimmin' steam train?!

[bohemianbint]

ILs are getting a steam train a few miles from one town to another. They want us to bring DS and watch them get off the train.

Here's my ishoos:

1. I'm not remotely interested in trainspotting, much less watching the in-laws getting off one and would rather spend the weekend getting out to the countryside and spending time together as a family.

1. DS isn't going to enjoy being strapped into his pushchair for half an hour looking at a train, he's too bouncy and will want to run all over the place (which is not good on train platforms!)

1. Station is yards from where I used to work and I'm currently suing my ex-employers for sex disctimination. It is just the kind of thing they would spend their weekend doing and I really don't want to bump into them there.

1. I know I'm pregnant and have a child and don't ever get to go out partying or being rock and roll anymore but I'm only 31 and not quite ready to turn into Roy Cropper just yet!

Ok, I might be being a bit grumpy (I'm pregnant dammit!) but weekends are sacred and I really don't want to spend my Sunday afternoon wrestling with my son at a train station when there's much better things to be done.

Can I get out of it? Or do you think am being a curmudgeonly old bint?

Oh God! I seem to spend half my life getting on and off steam trains - the DSes love them. They wouldn't put up with just going to look at one though - I don't know how old your DS is, but I would bet he'll want a ride. So YANBU from that point of view -or as regards the possibility of bumping into your employers.

But I don't think everyone who goes on steam trains is an anorak - hope not anyway

They want you to bring DS and watch them get off the steam train? Why??

I don't blame you for not wanting to go. That is no fun!

Should have added that DS is only 19 months, so it won't really be for his benefit!

I'm sure steam trains were a much more romantic way to travel than great western, but I still don't want to have to trek over to this other town (where I used to work) to look at people getting off one!

I'm glad I've not been flamed for being tight to the in-laws! They are a bit odd, I'm not sure why they think any of us would want to do it. Unless DP is a closet train spotter and he's been keeping it under wraps...

YANBU, why do they want you to watch anyway, do they need a lift or something? The only steam train I would go to see is Thomas the Tank engine, DS thought he had gone to heaven when we saw him! I once saw 'Thomas' from the window whilst on a normal train and shrieked 'Oh look, Thomas the Tank!' to the whole carriage, forgetting that DS was not actually with me!! Can you get out of it by claiming you had promised DS a trip to somewhere more interesting, eg watching paint dry?

Syrupent - you made me laugh, that must have been mortifying!

Just to complicate matters further, DP's sister is coming to stay at some point on that weekend, not sure when. She lives abroad though and might want to go and see the parents even if it is doing something rubbish. Perhaps the whole family are barking mad train spotters?

On the upside, she's just had surgery on her knee, and I've got sciatica/PGP or sommat, so perhaps it won't take much getting out of...

whats the fascination with steam trains?Great if the inlaws are into it but why drag you all onto the platform, for what exactly? So you can make sure your son is stapped into his pushchair and hope that he dosent whine too much cos hes bored! YANBU at all. definitely not. Stick to your guns. like you said weekends are precious and you should be doing something that you will ALL enjoy. Life is too short.
What are they going to do if you don't go to see this grand spectacle? Probably very little. know doubt there will be more opportunities in the future when your son is older and may have an interest to see them get off a steam train! Until then, do what makes you happy

Why don't you get your dp to take ds and then you can have some time free to yourself.

I'd say no.

Why can't they take him on the train themselves?

TBH I think their request is a bit odd but fairly harmless. Do you not have reins? Are you sure your DS would have no interest in trains (he is heading towards the train loving age IME)? I don't see why weekends are so sacred that half hour of them cannot be spent with eccentric grandparents. So I think YABabitU.

I don't think it's wrong to spend time with them but not in the way they've asked, it's just odd imo.

I wouldn't use reins either, I don't like them.

They haven't offered to take DS on the train. TBH it probably wouldn't be the best idea as he really won't keep still and would have to be trapped into the pushchair the whole time or he'd be up and down causing havoc (and they're not that young to be chasing him). I find him quite hard work which is why we generally avoid going anywhere/doing anything that involves him sitting still in one place for long, because he just doesn't!

And Bozza, it wouldn't really be spent with the grandparents. We'd drive to this town, watch 'em get off the train, and drive back. They would be more than welcome to come here, or us all go to the park if they want to spent time with us!