Looking after DGS for 2 weeks

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?

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?

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!!

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

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.

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!

Agree with everyone who said no …. 2weeks is a long time for a little one and far too long for you as Curly surly said if your husband needed to go in to hospital …You both need to relax .🩷

Wow 2 weeks, really!! YANBU definitely not - they are being very selfish!!!

That’s terrible, they either take their child with them or defer the trip until he is much older. How selfish!

DITTO to all those who are saying NO YOU ARE NOT!!!!

Sad that they want to leave a 5 year old for 2 weeks they are the ones unreasonable to even ask if it were a family emergency yes but just because they fancy a child free holiday I would say no as the physical aspect and the responsibility on top of your dh health is selfish of them to ask

Yanbu, More entitled parents! Long weekend ok fair enough but two weeks. And your husband not in good health. Tell them NO.

You should have lost your temper with them as soon as it was suggested. And told them why you thought them irresponsible and unthinking about the health of yourself and husband. Let alone leaving a 5 yr old to be looked after by elderly people with health problems. If either of you became unable to cope with the child, didn’t they realise that he would be taken into care? And what would Social Services think of parents who would leave a 5yr old for 2 weeks ?

I hope you told your son that he is being insensitive and inconsiderate.

HIS Father is recovering from a heart attack! This is no time to have a five year old staying even overnight, and certainly not for a fortnight. (Which is far too long for a five-year old to do without his parents, anyway.)

You are tired after the shock of your husband's heart attack, at least I imagine so, and a visit from your grandson will be tiring.

You don't say you have a district nurse coming in, or a home help, so if you are looking after a convalescent husband all on your own, you certainly cannot look after a five year old as well.

If you are afraid of offending yourthoughtless son and DIl, just say that your husband is taking all yoru time, and that it would neither be fair to him, nor to your grandson to have the boy staying right now.

Has the child no young godparents or aunts and uncles who could look after him? Or maternal grandparents? Or have they all wisely said, "Not on your life"?

Far too long. We've had our 7 year old GS for about 6 days (half terms) for past few years. He's a good boy who loves staying with us and we love having him. However, don't think we could cope with 2 weeks.

No it's not your responsibility to look after 2 children. They can be hard work at that age and if your husband is recovering from a heart attack neither of you need the work or stress involved.

I'll never understand how parents could be away from their child for two weeks

I agree with others, two weeks is a long time to be left with a five year old. It would be especially difficult if there were two weeks of school runs to do.

What do YOU think Unasmum ?

I think this might be a school’s out thread, no response from OP.

Somebody my husband knows sent out an e Mail asking if anybody could look after her grandson who had come from America with his dad for a few days . She wanted to go to a wedding abroad while the son going to a conference abroad leaving the boy aged 6!!! My husband replied that we could do it !!😟. I said it wasn’t suitable as we didn’t know the boy at all and fortunately they all got covid . Stern words later my plonker ( sometimes) husband agreed he would never do that again -especially without even asking me and I know it would have been me doing most of the care like it is with our own grandchildren . They are apparently very intelligent people - really ? Unbelievable and I would never have done that to a grandchild of mine .

eh, safeguarding ???

sungliq how on earth could anyone even consider asking that or going that to a child!! How awful

Unasmum
Have we helped you at all with your decision?

Selfish parents. Tell them it’s not on and to ask again in 5 years.