Dear SIL. Being on your own with a three year-old for a few days is not the same....

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

... as being a lone parent for the thick end of 12 years. So please stop whining about it and expecting me to be consumed with concern when you've never once asked me if I need any help. Your DH will be back from work at the weekend and will take over. I don't have that luxury.

Just wanted to get that off my chest. She's a bit thick. :)

She isn't a MN-er either is she? I think MN-ers are aware that this isn't really the same. Is she trying to bond with you, do you think?

Not an MN-er I don't think. Don't really know what point she's trying to make tbh beyond 'poor me'. She's also fond of complaining that they 'never have any money' and 'would love a house with a garden' and yet wouldn't think of looking for a job to pay for any of it. I have a house with a garden and funnily enough it didn't come free with a packet of cornflakes. One day we're going to have the you think you've got problems? convo and it'll get nasty. Thread postpones the inevitable...

What about manouvering her onto MN? "Isn't there a website that can help you come up with ways to deal with a 3 yo for a couple of days? I'm sure I read about that somewhere...." Would help her with a few of those issues, I'd think. Cornflakes comment made me

Because I'm a nice person I've suggested that, if she struggles solo, she could put DN in a nursery for a few days a week. And you get that blank look which says 'I didn't really want practical solutions, I just wanted you to listen to me complaining and say 'aren't you marvellous''. She's quite nice really. Just a bit thick and drippy.