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AIBU

Looking after DGS for 2 weeks

(82 Posts)
Unasmum Tue 24-Oct-23 08:53:16

My DS and DiL want to go on a 2 week, long haul holiday and leave their 5 year old DS with me and my DH who is recovering from a heart attack.
AIBU to refuse?

Tenko Tue 24-Oct-23 13:58:42

No you’re not being unreasonable at all . Your dh s health comes first !!!
And 2 weeks is too long for a 5 yo . My parents did a few long weekends when my dc were young , that was enough for them and the dc , plus we missed our dc as well .
I’m assuming the 5 yo is at school , so will you be taking and collecting? .
It’s going to be too much for you and your dh , just explain why .

Washerwoman Tue 24-Oct-23 16:20:10

No way could I have left my 5 year old and flown long haul for 2 weeks.We were lucky that DH parents looked after our 3 several times for a weekend and once for a week when they were older so I could accompany DH on a business trip.I bawled my eyes out on the first night in our room because I felt so far away from them !We did then have a nice time.But posting on here shows you really aren't too happy with such a big commitment. Follow your instinct on this occasion and put your DH health and your own first.I hope he recovers fully.

Serendipity22 Tue 24-Oct-23 16:36:09

Whoaaaa YANBU..

2 week with a 5 year old 😲

Greyduster Tue 24-Oct-23 17:19:46

The longest we did with GS when he was four or five was three nights. By day three he was anxious, even though he was a very outgoing child who loved to spend time with us and we had a variety of distractions worked out for him. Two weeks is far too long for him and certainly for both of you. It will seem like a lifetime for him and he won’t understand what’s going on.

NanKate Tue 24-Oct-23 17:20:56

It is an imposition you are perfectly in your rights to say No! Some of our grown up kids think it is their right to have luxury hols away from the children. You need to stand up for yourself, especially as your husband is in recovery. 💐

emmasnan Tue 24-Oct-23 17:25:15

No, they are being unreasonable to ask.
2 weeks is also a long time to a young child.
You need to look after your husband and yourself, if anything they should be concerned about both of you.

V3ra Tue 24-Oct-23 19:06:56

Some years ago I got talking with a lady when we were flying back from holiday.
She was the grandma, she had her own young adult daughter with her plus a four year old granddaughter whose parents weren't with them.
They'd been away for one week.
She said her granddaughter had missed her parents and while they'd all had a nice time, she thought it had been too long.

Chardy Tue 24-Oct-23 19:13:04

I sincerely hope it doesn't happen, but what if your husband is taken I'll suddenly and has to go back into hospital.
(I don't know how old you are but I was 68 when DGD was 5, well-behaved and used to staying with me, I was ves shattered after 2 days

Reubenblue Tue 24-Oct-23 19:26:42

Just no..

What about the remote possibility of small child being seriously ill, how would they return in a hurry.

Unthinkable.

Oopsadaisy1 Tue 24-Oct-23 20:03:28

If you feel it’s unreasonable or have any doubts then you must say No.
Presumably the child will need to be up and out early for school each day and collected, you might find that hard if your DH is unwell.
I looked after our 2 GCs (aged at the time 9 months and almost 2years old or thereabouts) for 10 days or so whilst our DD went half way around the world for a wedding, MrOops had to take some days off work to help as I was up during the night and they were up very early in the morning, in hindsight we should have insisted that they just went for the wedding.

However, we used to have them for all their school holidays as they grew up and we are very close to them, they loved their ‘country home’, of course I was 20 yrs younger than I am now and definitely wouldn’t be able to cope in my 70s.

Oldbat1 Tue 24-Oct-23 22:47:22

Very selfish to even consider leaving a young child for so long. Why is a long haul holiday necessary anyway? Beggars belief.

NotSpaghetti Wed 25-Oct-23 00:06:26

Just say no!

You are being sensible, not unreasonable

Nansnet Wed 25-Oct-23 04:19:21

Good grief, 2 weeks with a 5 year old?! I only have to have my 5yo GD for a few hours and I'm absolutely exhausted. You can't possibly feel happy about the prospect of having your GS for 2 weeks, as well as taking care of your DH. I can't believe your DS and DiL would even consider a two weeks long-haul holiday without their own child. What if he became ill, or something was to happen to him, and they couldn't get back quickly? It's not right that you should be put in that position of responsibility, regardless of the fact that your DH is not in full health. For the health and well-being of yourself, and your DH, I'd be saying no to this request.

SueDonim Wed 25-Oct-23 07:06:40

I can’t imagine wanting to be away from a 5yo child for two days, let alone two weeks. We didn’t have a night away from our children until the oldest was fourteen. And now I come to think about it, we couldn’t have been away from all of them even then because I was breastfeeding so the baby must have come with us!

Madgran77 Wed 25-Oct-23 13:50:22

Unasmum

My DS and DiL want to go on a 2 week, long haul holiday and leave their 5 year old DS with me and my DH who is recovering from a heart attack.
AIBU to refuse?

Good heavens. What ARE they thinking! Say no ...and point out that someone recovering from a heart attack is NOT a minor thing, needs rest etc and a 5 year old, however lovely, for 2 weeks rather than little visits is not an appropriate mix!! 🙄

TerriBull Wed 25-Oct-23 14:21:24

Was the request put in after the heart attack? if so, pretty damn mind boggling, that's before being prepared to leave your 5 year old for two weeks for self indulgent reasons, surely that child should be factored into family holidays, otherwise why bother having a child in the first place. We had to wait till ours were well grown and off loaded before we had the "adult" holidays. That's life! you know what Mick Jagger said "you can't always get what you want" or at least not at other people's expense! So a big fat No would be my response!

ElaineI Wed 25-Oct-23 22:32:41

Didn't leave a DC alone for our holiday (taking younger sibs) till she was 17 then a girl nearby was murdered and my grandmother had to come and stay as DC was terrified.

ElaineI Wed 25-Oct-23 22:38:41

Oh and DGS2 is 5 and bursts into tears when Mummy is not in the house when I bring him home from school. Mummy comes home about 15 minutes later! He would be distraught if she was away for that length of time. He has stayed with us twice now overnight for 1 night only without problems but longer definitely not. Other GC 6 and 9 have stayed more often but longest 2 nights and there are 2 of them.

Katyj Thu 26-Oct-23 05:28:34

Elainel Just shows how different children can be, our 5 yr old DGD cries if her mum is home, she feels our time together is spoiled.
Having said that they stayed with us for four days recently, and she cried on the last day it was definitely long enough.

CoolCoco Thu 26-Oct-23 07:41:50

I would only do this in an absolute emergency. Way too long for both you and the child.

Grammaretto Thu 26-Oct-23 08:24:03

My in-laws, who were young GP and still working, they ran a B&B used to take 2 of ours for a couple of weeks each summer. Never just one and never all 3. The boys were aged 10 and 6 when that began and they went every year until the eldest was 16.
They travelled from Scotland to the Suffolk coast by train, by themselves which was part of the adventure.
They loved it and often talk about those days. I was left with the youngest to entertain.
What I'm trying to say is to not say never but not now as it doesn't sound as though you will enjoy it.

NotSpaghetti Thu 26-Oct-23 08:33:29

Ours used to stay for a few days in twos also Grammaretto after a long train journey (no changes). Roughly the same age as yours.
The rest of us would drive down and spend another couple of days and then bring everyone back.

I can't think we left anyone anywhere for a fortnight though to be honest.

Obviously would do it if it was an emergency.

granfromafar Thu 26-Oct-23 08:43:41

Presumably the 5 Yr old will be at school during the week? Even so, this is not a good arrangement for the little lad. Has he stayed with you on his own before? Can't understand parents wanting to leave such a young child for more than a night or two.

Bella23 Thu 26-Oct-23 09:21:54

I would say no. The little chap will want his parents and your focus must be on your husband getting well.
We have had a 8 year old for five days to help with school holidays. It was hard work. Luckily it was a good summer and we have lots around us to take them to.

Quokka Thu 26-Oct-23 09:25:06

You clearly don’t want to.