What's the dumbest..... (inspired by nhmomx2)

[SleepyatDVC]

My MIL & FIL retired last year (young) and moved to Houston in October to be near their daughter and family. While dh & I definitely don't miss them (too high manintenance), I do feel sad that out 2 girls don't see the grandparents as much as they use to.

Well, we flew down to their new place in Houston for a big Thanksgiving get-together and then onto OKW (2-bdrm) for the week after. We had invited them along so they could have more time with the girls. Besides, all they do is travel now since retirement. We even gave them 5 day hopper passes as Christmas/Birthday presents.

MIL was sick as a dog over T-day. She was running herself to the ground getting the new house ready for T-day and helping her daughter take care of her 1 year old while he was out of daycare for having a running nose. (He was a handful - I got tired just observing him)

Dh's uncle (MIL's younger brother) also flew down with his youngest daughter (10) to join us at Disney for a few days. They were great to have around. Uncle was very laid back and his daughter kept my oldest (2 3/4 yr. old) occupied. Well, they are invited any time, especially, Amanda! Heck, we'll even pay for her. Unfortunately, she has school.

Anyways, I think that distance does make the heart grow fonder because MIL seemed more laid back this trip. And I have to admit that they were a great help with the girls. They helped feed the baby, get the girls ready to go out, stayed back with the baby when we took the older one out and even took the older one out to the MK with uncle's family when we stayed back with the baby.

The girls got sick (probably from Grandma) while we were at Disney so I spent a lot of time taking care of them. I DON"T expect other people to take care of MY sick kids when THEY are on vacation too. When they were feeling well, they spent time with the grandparents. I still did a lot of the feeding and changing 'cause they are MY kids = MY responsibility. Besides, I thought my MIL needed a break. She had been so tired and sick. After 8 relaxing days, she was almost completely recovered.

Well, I thought that the in-laws had a great time. They spent time with the girls and also with MIL's family. What happens when I get home!! My Mom tells me that my MIL calls her the next day and spent HOURS complaining about us - how we HOGGED up the kids and didn't let them take care of them - how they only went because of the kids and they EXPECTED to be FULL TIME BABYSITTERS - and how she wasn't sure they would go again if we didn't "loosen up."

I guess I should have made my MIL get up at 3am to clean up the bathroom and hold my vomiting child. Or feed the baby at 5am. Maybe I should have had her walk the teething baby or do the laundry generated by two active kids. She should have told me earlier! I plan vacations to be WITH my family not FROM my family. Although, if that's how she felt, I could have just handed the kids off (like some people) and enjoyed some much deserved freedom from parenthood and made everyone happy. Excuse me for being considerate of others and being a responsible parent!!!

I was so mad!! My Mom told me to calm down and told me to let my MIL "help" more with the kids next time they come with us to Disney. DH and I agree that "next time" will be a long time coming. We'll be spending family vacatiion AWAY from his parents for a while.

Seems like you just can't win!!

 

[cgcw]

We have yet to invite anyone with us. However, I can guarantee that we will never invite any family member with us. I can't imagine spending that much time with either of our families. Maybe a couple of friends but we would have to be in separate units. I give you credit to anyone who chooses to spend that much time with family. In fact, we are going to WDW next Christmas just to get away from them all.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Dw and I are 42 with both our sons off to college. We go to WDW 3-4 times a year now by ourselves and totally enjoy being ALONE. We don't HAVE to do anything or BE anywhere. Our trips are totally laid back, commando days are distant memories. Recently we have been discussing the "What if's" and "Who would we's" of a possible group trip. DW has 8 bro & sis, I have 3, combined we have 26 niece & nephew,plus God children. Our families are at various income levels,we're probably near or at the top. Dw and I are very frugal in our everyday lifestyle for the very purpose of spoiling ourselves on vacation. We don't think we could stand vacationing with our bro & sis' because cause we can't stand the "well,what do you want to do now" discussions nor do we want to worry about some members spending what we know they can't afford. We've kinda come to the conclusion that the best thing to do would be to take a couple nieces or nephews at a time till,maybe as they reach a certain age. Kids will honestly tell you what they do or don't want to do,we don't have to be mindreaders. The best reason we could think of would be to just watch their faces. They would love the trip 10 times more then their parents.

 

[Margie J]

Back in the years when I still got park passes with a stay I booked a two-bedroom unit in July for my cousins and their kids. They wanted to plan this big WDW trip before all the kids got too old and were off to College, etc. I gave up almost all my points for the year to help them out.

I did all the booking and off they went. Can you believe I never even got a phone call from them! I had to call them to make sure things were ok. When they came back I never got a thank you from any of them. Free room, free tickets ... no thanks! Not even a pin or something from them. Nothing. Oh, but they had all these wonderful pictures to show me of all the fun they had.

Even my Mom told me "don't you ever do that again".

 

[QueenAnne]

My DS took me and my DH to HH last August. We had 4 adults and 3 children (2, 4, and 8 all girls) in a 2bdrm We planned this vacation until we could plan no more! I think that it what made it a success. We were not members yet and they took us on thier points. The only down fall was my DD was the worst behaved 2 yr old on the planet, it was like she saved all her energy for that one week and then exploded. But besides that things were great. She set the rules out and we followed them. We were going to pay for 1/2 of food and 100% of everything else we wanted! Turned out kinda nice because about 2 weeks after the vacation, I asked how much I owed my sister (she paid for everything and we agreed I would pay at the end) and she said nothing, they came out under budget and treated us!! Lucky us! We also be DVC members while we were there so they got a bonus through DVC as well!!

My DH and I are taking his family to VB this July, should be interesting. My DH "accidently" invited his SIL, who I can't stand, to go with us. It was just supposed to be his DM and DD. I wouldn't doubt if she invited someone to go, but I would put my foot down at that! I'm sure you'll hear all about that trip when it's over!!!!!

 

[Lesley]

OMG you folks have me afraid! We are taking my mom and step-dad this December....I think it will go well, since I kind of have a good idea what our issues might be (mom is a militant smoker...though generally a polite one...she'll complain about all the "restrictions".... also she generally hates Disney music, isn't a real animation fan either, and hates crowds. Step-dad will have a great time in the parks, but will be in sticker shock the entire time about the cost of things...he's quite frugal. My mom, however, is not frugal in the same way...enjoys nice things and knows how to have a good time without worrying about money). We have told them that they can "pay us" by watching the kids for an evening...my dh and I haven't enjoyed WDW alone since 1994.

We have offered a trip to my SIL and her dh, and my BIL and his dw, in 2004. We have basically told them when we will be going and that they are welcome to come. As time to make the ressie draws near I will insist upon a definite yes or no. I'd like to try to get a GV at OKW, but my dh seems much more in favor of a 2br and a studio...togetherness in his family can get a bit trying at times. My dh says that we will be going our own way this trip....basically doing what we want and if they want to join us they'll have to fit our time table or catch up later. I'm a bit apprehensive. And I actually have this nagging feeling that a month or less before the trip they'll cancel on us...so I have backup plans in my head about who we could invite last minute...I have some friends who are generally free to pick up and go...or we might try taking a couple of my young cousins who are close in age to my kids or are babysitting age.

Oh, and one of the ground rules my dh has set already is that we always get the master br with the king bed!

 

[DVCajun]

QueenAnne, you had me confused for a minute there-- I was trying to figure out how your SON (DS) could be old enough to have points and take you to HH! Then I figured you must be talking about your sister.

I'm sure we'll have to invite the inlaws one of these days, but I dread the thought. They won't appreciate it at all, and will think it's all too expensive. FIL is one of these types who only likes two foods: pizza and hamburgers, and even those as basic as they come. We have stopped trying to get him to try anything new. Taking him around the World Showcase will be hell.

Maybe if I put it off long enough it won't have to happen. I don't want to "contaminate" the most perfect place on earth.

 

[Granny]

Isn't it incredible that something that's supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable like vacation can turn into such a mess?

For some people, it's "all about me", and unfortunately, many of us are related to people like that. They can add stress to family gatherings, Christmas, and even going to the Happiest Place on Earth.

And so many allow themselves to be guilted into inviting them or not setting things straight when these folks invite themselves.

Oh well, like I said on the rules thread....only one rule for DW and I.....DON'T TELL ANYONE WE OWN DVC!

 

[newarknut]

My wife and I have talked about inviting friends and family along for a trip. My biggest fear is that they would want to do "everything" together. It's very hard to stay as a group and see any amusement park, let alone, the "happiest place on earth"!

When you all have friends and family join you, do you go your separate ways, or try and stay together?

Our vacation time is very precious "family" time for me, my wife and our two kids. I don't cherish the thought of sharing that time. It sounds a little selfish to say, however, it's the truth.

Newarknut

 

[Margaret64]

I started reading this thread a couple of days ago and have alternated with laughing and genuinely feeling for some of the awful experiences. Ha, never thought I would be posting re the same. This is the story of a trip that never will happen.

We are scheduled to "return home" mid March. My husband has a much younger half-sister (age 14) who lives in another state. As a treat, we paid NON-REFUNDABLE tickets to have her fly here. We live in a Washington DC suburb. Then we all have NON-REFUNDABLE tickets to fly to Orlando. My FIL called last night to say that SIL needs to cancel her trip because her HS colorguard team is having a competition. I asked if these were tryouts to join or stay on the team. No, just a city-wide competition. Argh!!!!!

I don't know which disappoints me more. That she will be missing her only opportunity to visit WDW (never has been) or that she will be missing the 4 days after that we were going to show her the sights of Washington DC. Both are opportunities that everyone should experience. The only saving grace is that we are 36 days out and we were able to switch from a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom.