Rules for Grandma?

Question

Here's the deal... my mother comes to my house to babysit my kids once and a while ( for an hour or 2) while I go to appointments (dentist, optometrist, doctor). When I come home, my house is ripped apart, and my office is a mess because she sits in there on my computer and lets my boys do whatever they please (then my husband yells at me for his office being trashed). She's coming tomorrow to babysit for a bit longer, I have a dentist appointment, and she's making me take her mother (my grandmother) shopping because my mom can't stand my grandmother. Anywho, how do I tactfully and tastefully let her know that the kids are not to be in the office, and neither is she?

There is no door.. we have trust in our house, and the only room with a door is the bathroom. No other rooms have doors, we use baby gates (my youngest is 1.5) to 'gate' the doors the baby isn't allowed in (like the office). I come home and the gate is down.

Answer 1

i think you just need to say it..."please stay out of the office"
...or you could say "by the way, the computer hasn't been working right lately-so please don't try to use it"
....or "we don't let the kids into any of the rooms that are gated, so please make sure they don't go in those rooms"
.....you may just want to find a new babysitter

Answer 2

Tell her that you all have a rule in the house -- no one allowed in the office (other then you and your husband). If she can't abide by the rule then get another babysitter. Obviously, she isn't paying attention to the kids anyway if they are being allowed to trash a room with her sitting in it.

As far as you taking your grandmother shopping -- I'd do it because I wanted to and not because "she doesn't like her Mother." And when I couldn't I'd call a delivery service to bring her food, medicine, etc.

Answer 3

Get a door, and lock it. That I think will communicate it all with some tactand taste. If she asks why you got the door, say "Oh, it's just to make sure the kids stay out of the office."

Answer 4

just explain to her that it is your husbands office and that no one is allowed in there. if she is to be baby sitting what is she doing on the computer any way? when she comes to baby sit give her some things to do with the kids. pick up some of that already made dough for christmas cookies and get some canned frosting and sprinkles and such so she can bake and decorate cookies with them. you could show her where your childrens movies are and suggest that she sit with the kids and watch them. take out some childrens books and have her read to them. games too, there are alot of games that you can buy like candyland and things like that she can do with the grand kids. i hope this works for you. i am the grandmother of thirteen and these are a few of the things i do with my grand children. good luck and merry christmas.

Answer 5

Just tell her that you don't need her. She's obviously abusing the privledge of spending time with her grandchildren. Consider hiring a babysitter for that time, or arrange a playdate for your boys at a friend's house.

Answer 6

Lock the computer room door.

Answer 7

Tell her if she wants to keep babysitting that she can't do this anymore and if it happens again find someone else to babysit.

Answer 8

I know this sounds harsh....I would install a lock on the door that only you can open....or get a new babysitter that respects your wishes....good luck:)

Answer 9

unplug the computer and tell her there is something wrong with it. then there should be no reason for her to go into the office.

Answer 10

lock the door if you can, if not, tell her how you and your husband feel about the mess.