When you and Dh want a night out, do you get it?

I have 2 people that I trust with my kids, that live nearby. My cousin, and my MIL. I asked her(MIL, since cousin has plans already) today if she could keep the kids for us so we could take my parents out to a dinner theater. She said "No I can't handle all 3 of them" Which is her answer every time. I cried and got really upset because she told me this in front of my kids. , Rambled on about how thy aggrivated Sully and drove her nuts the last time( which was almost 1 YEAR ago..if not longer) My kids DO aggrivate but not to the extent sh was saying and come on did she have to degrade them in their faces?

So she basically told me she'd let me know, and she called me and said she couldn't watch ANY of them because she has her Dh's company picnic...mind you our dinner doesn't START until 7PM....so how many company "picnics" do you know of that are going on that late...last I heard she never even goes to them.... but boy she going this year!':vent: :vent:
Just once I'd like a peaceful night out where im not worried about them.. and I lost that with even HER.:eyes:

Awww, I'm sorry mama. :( that's really awful she said that in front of the kids, I'd be really upset.

We don't have any family nearby, so we never go anywhere...lol haven't been out alone in I don't know when....honestly. We did go run errands when dh's parets were here a few years ago, but with a baby in tow of course:)

In fact, my mom is only 4 hrs away and the last time she came was for Hunter's baptism when he was 5m old. (he'll be 3 in July.) and has never met Brooke. I haven't even told them about this baby yet...
Makes me sad that she doesn't know my kids, but really, it's her loss. We can't go there as she has cats (5 inside) and my kids are allergic, so they're either miserable the whole time or so doped up on benadryl they don't even rememer the visit:(

i can imagine it's quite a challenge.

We don't go many places with out the baby as of yet. We are lucky to have close friends that will watch any or all of the boys but that hasn't always been the case.

Our parents aren't close but they don't say they are too much. We have gotten to the place that we don't feel like we can leave them with IL's because of health reasons and with my parents it would be hard because my dad doesn't handle them well. If we were leaving them with either my parents or in laws it would be over night and we think it is too much. My mom is really the only one that can handle the boys all at once.

It is hard for me because I remember spending summers with my grandparents when I was little. I want that for my boys with my parents but I really don't think my dad can handle having even the older two (7 and 5) around for an extended visit and my mom still works so he would have to watch them during the day. It just makes me sad for them.

I just feel fortunate in our current situation because we have several different options for people to watch the boys for us. A couple of these families have children too and they know that they can call us and we will watch their kids in a minute so it goes both ways.

I guess I am lucky that I HAVE people I can count on,It is just a SHAME that she had to tell my girls how AWFUL they are to their face (and they aren't ,they are kids!) and then since Sully's been old enough to go with her she only and always takes him,. She never takes the girls anywhere,ever.That is really my rant.... They aask to go to her house for a bit and she never lets them becasue they are "too much" and she tells them so:shake:

I guess I am lucky that I HAVE people I can count on,It is just a SHAME that she had to tell my girls how AWFUL they are to their face (and they aren't ,they are kids!) and then since Sully's been old enough to go with her she only and always takes him,. She never takes the girls anywhere,ever.That is really my rant.... They aask to go to her house for a bit and she never lets them becasue they are "too much" and she tells them so:shake:

I can't believe what some people will say to kids. And I think it is a shame that your MIL doesn't take the opportunity to spend with her grandchildren. My in laws are 9 hours away and my parents are about 10 hours away. They know they are fortunate to get to spend time with the kids and it is almost never one on one time (where dh and I aren't there). If we ever visit and even say we want to run to the store by ourselves they jump at the chance to watch the kids. They think we are strick on the boys and I think they like to be able to treat them a little so they enjoy spoiling them even if it is only for an hour.

My mom is the only one who will watch my children but she will only watch one or two at once she tells me she would go crazy watching them all....I dont blame her 7 can be a handfull :lol:. but she has never said it to there faces that she couldnt handle them. Dh and I have not been out with just each other in over 3 years.


For years my mom only seemed to take the older 2 to her home. It really upset me and my younger ones that she seemed to play favorites. It is just recently that she started taking the others to her home,I think it is a age thing for her,she has a hard time when they are small.

My mom is the only one who will watch my children but she will only watch one or two at once she tells me she would go crazy watching them all....I dont blame her 7 can be a handfull :lol:. but she has never said it to there faces that she couldnt handle them. Dh and I have not been out with just each other in over 3 years.


For years my mom only seemed to take the older 2 to her home. It really upset me and my younger ones that she seemed to play favorites. It is just recently that she started taking the others to her home,I think it is a age thing for her,she has a hard time when they are small.

And see I could see that...but my MIL has a hard time with the bigger ones... she prefers to take the (atm) babies. Once they get over 4 she has no interest.

{{HUGS}} I know it really isnt fair she is doing this to you and the kids.

My MIL doesn't live nearby, but she manages the grandkids well. She had 6 of her own. My MIL and FIL took the 3 older children during spring break (they live in Atlanta, which is a 10 hour drive from here).

My own mother is never overwhelmed by the grandkids (unless she has several different families of cousins left with her all at once, that gets crazy fast!). She raised 10 of her own and she LOVES children (mine, yours, anyones- absolutely, completely and totally, lol), just LOVES them.

I am completely comfortable in knowing that she honestly wants them there and that she can handle it. I try not to take advantage and she is the type to say no if she is not up to it (rarely). So I count myself lucky that we can comfortably leave all of my children with her for the evening, or even overnight. My kids beg to go to Grandma's, and Grandma wants them there.

We don't have anyone nearby. My parents and sisters are 2 hours away and will gladly take the olders for just about any length of time, but the 3yo is still very much a Mama's girl, and it hasn't been pretty the 2 times we have left her overnight. The last time we left her, though, was right before Thanksgiving last year, so she might be ready to try again, with her sisters there, of course. When my in-laws have been here, they will keep the olders so Chris and I can go out, but they haven't been able to keep the little one for more than a quick run to the store for us. If they come at Thanksgiving, we will try again, though. I really understand wanting a break. One of the things that I want the most I can't really have: A night or even a day, out with just DH having fun. I do have friends, but we aren't really the trade babysitting types, because most of my friends have older children or have plenty of family around to watch their kids, whenever.

I feel for you. I hope you can get a break soon!