Children's Grandparents Demand Parent to Come Get Kids Across the Country, Despite Parent Warning Them the Children Would Be a Handful

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Aug 7, 2024 10:00 PM EDT

Well, you were warned.

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  • As a parent, taking care of your children is not always easy. They whine about not receiving their favorite snacks constantly, cry when things don't go their way, and make sure you hear every living second of it. But hey, parenthood is never only sunshine and rainbows. Luckily, a lot of parents are lucky that they have their parents to watch the grandchildren so they can have some much-needed time away. Bonus points if the children's grandparents insist on taking them longer than you thought — until they go back on their word and demand you travel across the country to retrieve them (even though you warned too much time away would be a bad idea).

    The parent in this story has children whom they characterize as “quite a handful”. But hey, children will be children, right? No matter how much they expressed this to the kid's grandparents before a kid's vacation without mommy and daddy, the grandparents insisted that they take the kids for an extra week. This parent canceled their car rental and hotel reservation as the children's grandparents insisted that they bring the kids back after the vacation. Fast forward to a few days later, the grandparents call and let this parent know the kids have to be picked up – from across the country. It is a four-day round-trip drive but the parent feels as if they have no choice. Read ahead for the full story.

  • 01
    AIO my parents took my kids for 3 weeks against our advice, want me to travel cross country to get them.
    via Critical-Arm-1865
  • 02
    For context my family has a home on the easy coast. My parents asked to take two of my kids with them on a trip, which we were okay with. We suggested a week, maybe 2 because our kids are a handful. I was supposed to go meet them
    via Critical-Arm-1865
  • 03
    this week and they said they were overwhelmed with guests coming down, they would bring the kids back to me. They asked for 3 weeks, which we said okay but also asked them if they were sure because our son can be quite a handful.
    via Critical-Arm-1865
  • 04
    I canceled my car rental and hotel reservation and planned to stay home and begin my vacation. Fast forward to this morning, I get a call saying Johnny (name changed for privacy) wants to come home he is being really difficult and has dug heels in about going home.
    via Critical-Arm-1865
  • 05
    I have been video chatting with them regularly and showing them things they have waiting for them when they come home and they seem to be having a good time when they are there. They asked me to talk to him to see if I could convince him to stay one more week and come home next weekend, which I did.
    via Critical-Arm-1865
  • 06
    He agreed to stay the week, be good and come home when they do. I get a call 5mins later saying please come get him. Now the rental has gone from 215- $720 and the hotels are 250 each instead of 150. Plus the gas to get there an back (approximately $400). Also seemingly had it turned on me when they said he has been like this since he saw you outside and talked about the things that will be here when he comes back.
    via Critical-Arm-1865
  • 07
    Needless to say I am frustrated because I told them it was too long and they said we will be fine and can come back early if they want to come back and now they don't want to bring them back and I now have to drive 4 days (2 there and 2 back). Am I overreacting with my frustration and anger?
    via Critical-Arm-1865
  • 08
    Spinnerofyarn - 20 hr. ago I'd tell them if they want you to come get him now, they can either pay for the whole thing or at least pay for the difference in what you would have paid versus what it is now. This should also be the last time they get to travel so far with the kids on their own. It should remain a half day/full day drive or local only.
    via Spinnerofyarn
  • 09
    CherryblockRedWine 18 hr. ago If you go this way, insist on getting the $$ FIRST. Venmo or Zelle.
    via CherryblockRedWine
  • 10
    Simple_Bowler_7091. 21 hr. ago Call them back and tell them to work through it, you're not busting the family budget to bail them out when you told them it was too long to begin with. They need to bring your kids back now or keep them the remaining time and bring them back then.
    via Simple_Bowler_7091
  • 11
    TaroPrimary1950 - 20 hr. ago Tell them no. They wanted to keep the kids for longer than what you agreed upon. Also, why is it now your child's decision on when he wants to go home? None of the adults here are able to put their foot down?
    via TaroPrimary1950
  • 12
    • SicklyChild 18 hr. ago Sure, I'll come pick them up if you cover the difference in expenses for the rentals I cancelled based on the decision I warned you not to make. That's the bare minimum. I may have refused and reminded them that I warned them but they insisted. Give it another week and this will be an r/ohnoconsequences post
    via SicklyChild
  • 13
    Reddoraptor 20 hr. ago Agree with other commenters, tell them no, the trip would now cost twice as much or more and they insisted against your advice. Absolutely not going to blow an extra $1000+ because they don't want to do what they said they were going to do, after you warned them specifically. Nope, bring them back yourselves if you want, you're not now imposing this cost and journey on me after insisting. No ####ing way.
    via Reddoraptor
  • 14
    Midwest MSW . 21 hr. ago Tell them you aren't spending an extra $$$ because they wouldn't listen. If push comes to shove. You aren't taking the kids again because you can't handle them and you don't listen and aren't open to feedback.
    via MidwestMSW
  • 15
    YoshiandAims · 19 hr. ago • I'd say No. I'd say "I warned you. I now can not come get them, logistically it's an impossible nightmare, and everyone is trapped. From now on, 1 week only, maybe not at all. We tried it didn't work. I'll see you in a week."
    via YoshiandAims
  • 16
    I'd also have a talk with your son, without pressure, why was he so adamant, after you talked him down, five minutes later he's desperate?" It's likely nothing, anxiety, you gave him fomo, whatever, just check in, without his grandparents nearby.
    via YoshiandAims
  • 17
    Critical-Arm-1895 OP 19 hr. ago In the future we will go with them, they will not travel alone. He was fine after talking him down, my parents weren't fine with keeping him longer. They called me 5 mins after talking to him and said come get him. Not him saying he still wanted to come back. Regardless, they won't be doing it again.
    via Critical-Arm-1865
  • 18
    BadPom 18 hr. ago • I'd tell them to put the kids on a plane, on their dime.
    via BadPom
  • 19
    dragonbait1361 · 18 hr. ago No. They begged and insisted the kids stay longer, they stay. Why in the is a kid making adult decisions for themself and up two households? If you run to go get him, you are enabling the entire situation and have no one to blame for the frustration but yourself. Quit letting your kid call the shots and quit letting your parents walk on you.
    via dragonbait1361
  • 20
    Fickle_Toe1724. 14 hr. ago They wanted him, they've got him. I would tell the parents no. They can bring him home. They had you cancel your plans to go get the kids. Now, they are stuck. They can bring him home now, or in a week. Up to them. I would never let them take the kids more than one night again.
    via Fickle_Toe1724

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