No Overnight

A couple days ago, I suggested some Aden-free time for Richard and I. We haven't had an evening alone for awhile (we used to do something without Aden every couple weeks), and it would be nice. I'd love to go for dinner or something, but since money probably won't allow for that, a movie at home would suffice too.

Richard agreed that it would be alright, and suggested (as per usual) that his mom take Aden overnight. To avoid confrontation, I just ignored that comment and went about my business.

Then, without my okay, Richard brought it up with his mom yesterday. She said, of course, she'd gladly take Aden for a night. I'm a little annoyed by that, for two reasons: a) We never actually planned an Aden-free night -- we merely talked about it for a few minutes, and b) Richard knows full well that I am not fond of that idea ... yet he went ahead and asked his mom if she could watch him anyway.

Don't get me wrong ... it's perfectly fine if his mom wants to watch Aden. She's done it before, and he lived through it, so there's no problem. It's just that having them watch him overnight is not the most convenient choice. If we just had to drop Aden off for a few hours in the afternoon, that's fine -- Richard's parents are probably my first choice for that scenario. But overnight ... that's an entirely different thing.

For one, we'd have to bring over a lot more than we do if my parents watch him. We'd have to bring over the play pen and set it up (whereas at both my mom's house and my dad's house, there is already a play pen there for him to sleep in). We'd have to bring over a lot more food for him to eat too. Richard's parents typically don't buy milk, or fruit, or anything Aden typically eats at home; my parents (either set of them) generally have that stuff in their fridge at all times. Richard's mom would have to go buy milk and something for Aden's breakfast just for him to stay there one night. That doesn't sound very convenient to me.

Then there's the space issue. At my dad's house, there is one bedroom pretty much designated to the grandbabies -- the playpen is in there, as well as some of Wendy's things. At my mom's house, there's room for the play pen in one of my many siblings' rooms, because chances are, they wouldn't all be there when Aden stays there. At Richard's parents' house, however ... where would the playpen go? There's a spare bedroom between his parents' bedrooms (don't get me started) but there's maybe like ... one square foot of space that doesn't have some junk in it. And um ... the play pen does not fit in one square foot.

I know Richard's mom has watched his niece overnight (she's 18 months old), but Aden and Madison are very different. Space isn't an issue with Madison, because she co-sleeps. She sleeps with Richard's mom when she's there, so they do not have to worry about space for a playpen. Aden CAN'T co-sleep. He won't. He won't do it with me or Richard, and he certainly won't do it with anyone else. And he won't even sleep in the same room as somone, even if he's in a separate bed. And I have a feeling that Richard's mom would have a much harder time with Aden than she does with Madison. I'm sure (even if we did find some space in a seperate room for him) that if Aden made a noise in the night (which would most likely be in his sleep), Richard's mom would take him from his bed ... and then he wouldn't sleep all night. She doesn't seem to grasp the idea that Aden is a lot more ... self-sufficient than Madison. He doesn't need as much attention as her, and he CAN'T sleep with, or near, anyone else. Madison requires more attention, and she must sleep with someone. I'm not saying either kid is better, mind you, just that they're really quite different.

I don't know ... I just don't see it going well at all. Like I said, if we just had to drop Aden off for an afternoon, Richard's parents are my first choice. When it comes to overnight, however, my parents (either set) are the obvious choice.

I have a feeling we won't get our Aden-free night for awhile ...