HP,
I know from where you come regarding the parents. Mine pretty much announced when the first of their grandkids came along that they were done with kids (they have 18 now). Sure once in a blue moon they've come and stayed with us when MrsGGB was incapacitated due to surgery, but they've never offered (and have pretty much said that it isn't an option) to take the kids for a weekend so we can get away. Mom doesn't seem to care much for kids. Dad likes them, but can only take them in very small doses, then he goes and hides. MrsGGB's parents are F'd up, to the point where she hasn't talked to her father in 17 years, and refused to attend her mother's funeral (Mom was a manipulative alcoholic and did her darnedest to try to break up our marriage) No FOO issues there My siblings are spread across the continent, so they aren't much support either. Anyway, I envy all the folks we know that have a family they can leave the kids with for a weekend, or that they can go visit without it turning into a weekend of praying the kids won't get into anything (Mom refuses to childproof, or even move fragile stuff away from where it is a temptation/target).