Looking after DGS for 2 weeks

I had my granddaughter for two weeks all in one go when she was 5 and at school. I work full time and had to take her to school every day, which was a drama because I lived further away from her school and the traffic getting into the place was a nightmare. I had to then get myself to the office only to leave again at around 3pm to pick her up again. Luckily I had an understanding manager.
She was ok - but by the end of each week she was exhasuted; getting up earlier and the longer car journey every day.
My daughter was very very selfish and just expected things to happen her way - total disregard to me having a full time job. I did it though, not for her, but for my granddaughter so that she didnt miss school.
I think its very different these days - when my three children were that young, I wouldnt have dreamed about asking my mother to do this.
So no - you are most definitely not being unreasonable - they are!

Definitely not being unreasonable!!! Your husband needs your attention right now, it's your family who are being unreasonable.
Maybe tell them that you'd be happy to look after GC this time next year as your DH should hopefully be fully recovered by then.

Have you had time to put your misgivings to the parents yet Unasmum?
What was the reaction?

Sounds selfish of them to me and uncaring towards their child!

Far too long especially as your husband is recovering. You are not being unreasonable , you're being sensible. And I don't think it would be easy for the child either... far too long without their parents. You could end up exhausted and with a very unhappy, crying little person on your hands

They will need to wait several years before jetting off kid free!!

Can they not change their trip to a later date when your DH has recovered completely and is fit and able to look after your DGC?
I appreciate very much what getting old means, tiredness and fatigue combined with worry for your recovering DH, it will be exhausting for you.
Tell them you are happy to do this but at another time, are there any other relatives?

Be frank. Emphasize that you love them and adore your grandson. Point out that you think he would be traumatised by his parents disappearing for 2 weeks and God forbid should your husband have another heart incident or worse, how on earth would you be expected to cope?

You clearly don’t want to.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!! 🙄

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!

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.

Just say no!

You are being sensible, not unreasonable

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

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.

Just no..

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

Unthinkable.

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

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.