So I've got a couple of things on my mind that I'm scrappling with trying to figure out how to approach. Thought some of you might have some thoughts.
So I've got a younger brother and a sister-in-law. They've got two amazing kids. Jeremy is 3 and Kalli is 20 months. They're a hoot and I love being around them and being Uncle Damien. Freakin amazing!
So I have to admit that my sis-in-law is not the best parent in the world. That bugs me. The kids spend more time at my parents than at their own home. And my sis-in-law absolutely does not want to be alone with the kids any more than possible. My brother does it quite often and enjoys it. Her...she tries to find ways to not have to be alone with both of them (one time she even said she couldn't handle both of them by herself) and when she has to, she ends up being in a mondo cranky bitchy mood by the time my brother gets home.
So here's the situation. There is this big Demolition Derby at the fairground this weekend. It's a fundraiser for the Relay for Life, which is a Breast Cancer awareness/cure organization. I thought about going cause it's something to do. And there's usually nothing to do. So this afternoon my brother calls me. Asks what I'm doing Saturday night. At first I thought he was gonna ask me to go to the derby with him. Nope. He is on the volunteer fire department and said he was scheduled to work at the event. But the sis-in-law wants to go. But they don't think they need to take the babies, which is probably a good idea. Would I want to watch them that night. But here's the thing. He said if I couldn't, no big deal, he would stay home with them. How much sense does that make?!? He said (and we all know) that if she wants to do something, he's supposed to make it happen or there's hell to pay. If he has something to do...well, you know she can't handle a 3 year old and a 1 year old by herself. They asked my parents but they are out of town next weekend.
So here's the dilemma. I could care less if I don't go to the derby. In fact, I actually thought about getting Jeremy for a couple of hours Saturday. So I told my brother I would keep them for a few hours, but not all night. But that's probably not gonna be enough for her. If it were just Jeremy, I would keep him all night. I know...I'm rambling. But my question is, how would you handle this situation? I really wanna call my brother and tell him he needs to feel his balls and tell his wife that he has to work and if she wants to go, she needs to arrange for a babysitter. It's just stinking ridiculous. I know this really isn't my thing to worry about...not my wife, not my kids...but I know that if she doesn't get what she wants, or has to take care of the kids by herself, she's gonna be hell to live with.
Basically, I'm sick of this crap. How involved should I be in the situation, if at all?