Do you keep your kids from doing fun things with grandparents because "you want to take them later to do it"
My husband and I are both fairly active people (35/49). We like to go out and do things and try to focus more on experiences rather than toys- we reminisce on our own childhoods and the things we did that we remember the most. My step daughter (very much a home body) is constantly saying 'no' to things we want to take the older grandkid (7) to do. She says "well I want to take them do to that" so we offered to take the whole family, but we're told 'no' again because "the baby is too small....we'll wait till we can take them both". By the time the baby is old enough, the eldest isn't even going to be interested in the things we had in mind- they are at the age now that they would enjoy it the most. She won't leave the baby with anyone to babysit yet- so that option is off the table.
This summer, we are planning a little hiking trip to a nearby state park. We'd like to take the eldest, but again, worried she will say 'no- we want to go as a family' or 'i want to be there the first time they go there'... but then they never actually go. We could invite the whole family, but honestly, I have zero interest in day long hikes with a baby. It would just never work and would stress everyone out. And we would like to have time with the eldest- like we had with our grandparents as kids.
These are just 2 examples. And before anyone comes at me- I know this is not MY child and her rules are her rules. We don't break them, we respect them, but it is frustrating. It's not like we're taking them sky diving or leaving the country. It's simple small things that I think shouldn't be a big deal. I can't help but to feel like she is depriving her child of experiences for selfish reasons.
Am I wrong for feeling this way?
As moms - do you let your kids go do stuff with grandparents even if it was something you wished you could have done with them? There were plenty of things my parents let me go do with other families because they could not afford it or didn't have time to do. It just baffles me that we get shot down so much when we're just trying to give the child cool experiences while they're young.