PIL want to Skype with GCs while we on holiday with my family

[anotherglass]

I'm abroad for 2 weeks with my DS 8 and 5 visiting my family. I only get to see them once a year so we have a very busy schedule. PIL back in UK asked if they could Skype with GC while we away and I agreed to this thinking once in the fortnight will be enough. This is time for boys to spend with their family here. Problem is that MIL wants more contact. Last night I was skyping DH who has stayed back in UK and MIL in UK saw I was online then tried to call 7 times. This is after after a telephone conversation with the GC night before. I am annoyed with her as I find the contact intrusive as she asks lots of questions and wants to know what the kids have done. This is annoying me and I am on the verge of telling her how I feel. We normally have a good relationship but she gets very anxious when the GCs visit my family. She is expecting us to Skype again this week. Does anyone else consider this level of contact unusual or would you normally keep in touch with inlaws while on holiday? We return home in a week.

What on earth would she have done 20 years ago before Skype etc?

I would find her behaviour very controlling, and would just refuse to keep in touch while you are away. Why do people have to know what family are up to every minute of the day?
Send her a postcard

eugh i would hate this, even if it was my own mother. when i go away on holiday i dont want to have to check in with anyone (if had a partner obviously would call him). i go away for a break from home. unless something is up, i dont want to have to get in touch or talk to anyone. i just want to be totally away for however long my holiday if for.

I think you're sending mixed messages tbh. You're sending pics every day - you're involving her and sort of setting the precedent for daily contact IMO.

Send her a postcard from the GCs and let them Skype once a week - seems reasonable. Set the boundaries and stick to them at your end too.

I agree with everything AThing said.

I leave the pc on whilst we are in the house doing other things - cooking eating dinner etc

I someone called me 7 times whilst I was busy doing these other things with my family I would find it a bit odd. Plus whereas I might be out of bed the children may well be tucked up in bed and not available to talk to grandma - whilst I was catching up with my own parents and not wanting to talk to MIL just because she thinks I am not busy.

Op jsut tell MIL you are spending quality time with your own parents and have a lot of catching up to do and will call her as soon as you get home.

Oh I'm usually one to jump to the defence of MILs, but this is a bit mad, isn't it?

Sounds like she's trying to assert her place as no.1 GM, which is ridiculous considering her actions will make sure she is firmly placed as no.1 PITA.

She needs to back off and let the DCs enjoy their holiday. She doesn't need any contact at all with them while they are away, aside from a postcard at most.

Aside from the fact that she's behaving like scary helicopter granny, part of the fun for DCs going away is coming home and telling the GPs all about their adventures.

Your MIL is not just mad, she's Dagenham Mad (four stops on from *BARKING!)

OF COURSE SIBU!

You are on holiday with YOUR parents, the DC GP, who see them only infrequently! She will see them in a couple of weeks time.

By calling incessantly she is muscling in on the time YOU want to spend with YOUR family.

STOP emailing the pics.

STOP calling.

You will have NOTHING left to tell her when you get home....

How would SHE like it if YOUR family called and demanded to speak to you and the DC on HER time with them?

She is clearly anxious and competitive and insecure. To a degree which is intrusive. How often does she's peak to the GCs in a normal week?

She speak

One call and a postcard is reasonable, imo

houdinihissy.

Dagenham mad is my new phrase of the week...

I know! I love it.

I stole it from my friend's (mummybarrow.com) blog post about Ms Brick...