cbt

I have two pieces of advice – grandparent’s gonna grandparent and help them help you.

First, it’s the job of grandparents to overindulge their grandchildren. It’s what’s fun about grandma’s house! It’s what’s fun about being a grandparent! The only quibble I have is the “don’t tell mommy and daddy about this.” Have your wife tell her parents that that is the kind of thing pedophiles say to kids so, please, knock it off. Little jimmy is to tell you everything, especially if an adult tells them not to.

Second, pack little jimmy a special “grandmas house backpack” with some activities for her house: puzzles, coloring books, games or toys. Tell your child “grandma is really good at ___.” Then hopefully grandma will indulge the kiddo by playing (and have a grand ol’ time doing it) and it could feasibly snowball from there.

All in all, extra sugar and screen time are not reasons to ruin your relationship with your in-laws or strain their relationship with their daughter or your kid(s). Take the sugary, loving childcare and run.