Taking grandma along as "babysitter"

[eeyore45]

My mom was planning on coming to WDW with my daughter and myself once my daughter was old enough to enjoy the experience. Well - my mom passed away before we got there and when we went last summer I would have given anything for her to have been there with us.
So I say bring grandma along - build those memories with her while you have her with you. I wish I had.

That's what I'm thinking!!

I'm just hoping to have lots and lots of love and understanding, coupled with advance planning, sitting down with mom, showing her pictures and prices of places to eat... getting specific with rides, etc, while dd is there saying she wants to do that, she loves this...

My dh knows that my mom can be extremely condesending towards me, and some times she says things that make you go WHAT? For that reason, dh and I do not want dd alone with my mom ... Mom can be 'mean' to dd too.. she just tends to be negative "you are so stubborn" "you dont eat right" I know she means well, but I know better, and try to do better. Its so hard to explain... the bottom line is she's my mom, and she does mean well. My whole life she yells at me that I love my dad more than my mom... I find now that its better if I call her at least once a week with something positive to say about memories, and how important memories of my grandma (her mom) simple things, I made a rhubarb pie, I saw this... etc.

Thanks for the suggestions, and the memories others are posting!!

 

[Donnask8pro]

We take my mom on all overight family vacations. I need those extra set of hands.DH and I pay for everything. She usually picks up a meal or two. W/O her we would struggle. Hershey in Aug, WDW is Nov.

 

[tlbwriter]

I think this may cause more problems... my dad wants to golf, and do Richard Petty, so I've got his vacation all set, and I'm planning on including my mom for our PS to the Princess Breakfast, but she's like "no, you two go along your way, I'll take dgd to see those things"....

I would just tell her that you really appreciate the offer, but you dearly want to experience those things with DD. And then plan a few things for DD and grandma to do together so everyone gets what they want.

I have to confess I had the best of both worlds... my parents paid our way *and* babysat!

 

[Laura66]

I say go for it! Even if you're not crazy about her - your kids and your MIL will remember this vacation for the rest of their lives.
We have taken my inlaws to Disney, Charleston and Columbus with us. Does she get on my nerves sometimes - you bet! Do I get on hers? You bet!
We always pay - because we asked - and it's so nice to pay back for all the things they did for us growing up. They always offered to babysit - but we only took them up on it one night per trip. I would never expect them to always do what we want or be on call to babysit! It's their vacation too - and let's face it. A Disney vacation - even without kids can poop out the most weathered traveler!
They're not up to the Disney trips anymore - but boy am I so glad they came!
I have pictures and beautiful memories that will last a lifetime!
My aunt was 47 when she passed away from a long illness - but the year before she had a terrible divorce and was really in a bad way financially. My hubby and I asked her to come with us and help us with our son.
(who was 1/2 at the time) We only going for 5 days so we asked MIL to watch Matty and surprised her that morning - we knew she wouldn't come if she couldn't watch Matt. It was wonderful!!!!!!!!! She had her own time and hung out with my daughter and Jim and I (DD is now 14) the rest.
She had a blast and the pictues and memories I have of that trip now that she is gone are a huge comfort and joy to me - I really miss her dreadfully.
Laura

 

[agnes!]

We take my mom on all overight family vacations. I need those extra set of hands.DH and I pay for everything. She usually picks up a meal or two. W/O her we would struggle. Hershey in Aug, WDW is Nov.

I just came back from a one-day trip to Hershey Park with my Girl Scout Troop...had a blast, even thought it rained the *entire* day. Make sure you go on the World of Chocolate(?)/"Factory Tour" that is right before the main gates. It was a lot of fun - I wished we could have stayed in that building a bit longer ...plus the free candy bar you get at the end didn't hurt .

agnes!

 

[Donnask8pro]

I go every Aug for business. Family comes along and turns it into a mini vacation. We love the tour. BUt the chocolate bar used to be a big one, now its little. Bummer....

 

[Melissa]

This will be our first trip since our honeymoon that we didn't take my mom.
We didn't really take her to watch dd though. She did do that one night of the trip. If you can afford 2 rooms I'd do that. My dh and Mom get along great, he's her favorite of all of us, it's me who needs my own space! It is fun for the kids to have gramma there. My mom actually paid for the whole trip the first time, since then she pays her stuff we pay ours, if I were taking her to babysit I'd pay for it, it kind of depends on everyone's financial situation as well, can your mom well afford to pay herself?

 

[KristiA]

My in-laws just came with us to Disneyworld in May. They payed their own way.

This worked out really well for all of us. My father in law could only go about half day, and by that time, my 2 yo DS was pooped out. So, the in-laws and son would go back to the hotel and nap and we could stay a little longer at the parks with two older DDs.

We used them one night to watch kids so we could go to Downtown Disney.

I would definitely suggest taking Grandma if you can, just for a few breaks here and there. Worked out great for us.