2AM Ramblings

It is TWO in the morning...So please keep that in mind when reading these random ramblings. :) 

So..I know that I have written about my lovely In-laws...but unfortunately I have another rant to type, having to do with them..

Last Friday, Mike's parent's asked if they could keep the three older kid's for the night. This isn't unusual..although it's been close to a month since they've been over there due to Mike's mother having surgery. 

Anyhow..We said YES!! 

Saturday morning..they came home. Jace did not have an appetite (although he did eat Breakfast with them) and was complaining of a stomach ache around lunch time..that lasted through the entire day. When trying to figure out what was wrong with him..we learned that they had a large amount of sugar/candy/junk foods. 

Now...Everyone knows that we  do not allow the children to have much of that AT ALL. Mike's parent's are aware of this as well...but apparently have decided (yet again) to not respect our parenting decisions and to do what they please. Doing what they please meant allowing the kids to eat as much candy/sugar/junk as they desire while over there.

The list of what all Jace ate was enough to cause Mike and I to feel sick to our stomachs. WE couldn't eat all that...so you KNOW that a child shouldn't either. 

ALL of the junk likely made him feel ill..and he ended up throwing up last night. 

The more that these situations occur..the more that I get frustrated and angered over it. These situations make me believe that they don't need to stay overnight with them. I hate keeping the kids from their family..I don't like that and I don't normally think that is appropriate..but what do you do when family can't respect our wishes and parenting plan and follow those same rules over there?

I struggle with this..especially this weekend. What am I supposed to do? 

This isn't the first time that a situation has occurred that shouldn't have...and they KNOW how we feel about certain things and they have no problem NOT following our parenting plan.  It's just not OKAY. 

I know that by us putting our foot down (yet again)..they will likely pitch a fit..but they need to understand that WE are the parents. WE make decisions that are best for the children. They don't raise them..they don't provide for them..they don't cook for them..they don't nurse them to health when they are ill, and they sure as heck don't pay the bills. 

Right now..I believe that the best thing for US to do, as the parent's..is to allow them to have the kid's for a couple of hours..and then return the kids home that night. I don't want to completely keep them away..I don't want to do that AT ALL..but if they aren't going to respect our wishes..then these changes need to happen. 

Frustrating.