Another edition of "this is weird, right?"

[FastHands]

PDQ.
MIL retired I think about 2 years ago, but her H still works PT at the same call center she also worked in before retirement. DS has naturally come up in conversation at this job, pictures shown and cooed over, etc. This place of business is roughly an hour away from our home. MIL has told us to go ahead and pick a day that works for us, and she will come pick us up at our house so that we can all go visit at her H's work. Because everyone really wants to meet him. And we can just make an afternoon of it and get lunch while we're out.

This is fucking weird, right? I mean, it's not happening regardless, but I'm curious if I'm being an asshole. Aside from the inconvenience of it, DUDE. NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO MEET YOUR GRANDKID. They are just making conversation. Plus it's a CALL CENTER. They need to, yeno, be on the phone.

[CajunShrimp]

Would I want to meet a co-worker's grandkid? Nope. But if MIL is old and her co-workers are old too, they might. Old people like babies, even if they aren't related to them.

But yeah, I would not want to go to this at all.

[speckledfrog]

I don't think it's that weird.

[shananagins]

I don't think it's that weird. My mom has taken my girls to see my dad at his work several times. I've said the same thing you did, that no one really cares that much about other peoples grand kids, but dad says they all gush over everyone's kids all the time.

ETA hit post too soon.
Can your MIL take the baby to visit and you not have to go? You could have a free afternoon.
I don't mind my mom taking the girls to see dad whenever she wants to, but I don't want to go make small talk with strangers.

[shopgirl07]

I don't think it's weird. I'd probably do it to make her happy.

[FastHands]

Oct 3, 2015 21:50:28 GMT -5 shananagins said:

I don't think it's that weird. My mom has taken my girls to see my dad at his work several times. I've said the same thing you did, that no one really cares that much about other peoples grand kids, but dad says they all gush over everyone's kids all the time.

ETA hit post too soon.
Can your MIL take the baby to visit and you not have to go? You could have a free afternoon.
I don't mind my mom taking the girls to see dad whenever she wants to, but I don't want to go make small talk with strangers.

Nope, unfortunately they can't handle ds solo (physically). A kid-free afternoon would be glooorious. Haha

[agnes]

I think it's weird, but normal.

My coworkers and family do this.

[FastHands]

Ugh, so I'm an asshole for putting the kibosh on it. I'll adjust my tone accordingly while shutting that shit down. Heh

[scottyderp]

Non-parent here, but sounds like she just wants to show the little one off, and that seems super standard for grandparents.  I can see why you'd feel it was weird, though.  It's kind of... demanding, in a way.  And, they're strangers.  But, again, grandparents showing off the clan seems like the thing to do.

[ECB]

I find it weird. But I've never worked anywhere where people made a point to bring their grandkids into work.

Eta : I'm 45. I've never met any coworkers grandkids. Kids even - AT work, I've met minimal kids.

[Muddled]

I think it's weird.

[shananagins]

Oct 3, 2015 21:57:09 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Oct 3, 2015 21:50:28 GMT -5 shananagins said:

I don't think it's that weird. My mom has taken my girls to see my dad at his work several times. I've said the same thing you did, that no one really cares that much about other peoples grand kids, but dad says they all gush over everyone's kids all the time.

ETA hit post too soon.
Can your MIL take the baby to visit and you not have to go? You could have a free afternoon.
I don't mind my mom taking the girls to see dad whenever she wants to, but I don't want to go make small talk with strangers.

Nope, unfortunately they can't handle ds solo (physically). A kid-free afternoon would be glooorious. Haha

Oooh that's a bummer. Yeah, i totally get why you wouldn't want to go along and show off your baby to a bunch of strangers.

When I take my girls to go visit my grandma she always wants to go up and down the hall and knock on her neighbors' doors and show off my kids (she's in a retirement apartment complex)
I hate it. It is so awkward, and I feel sooo bad that these poor ancient people have to get up and answer the door and listen to my grandma brag about her 'adorable identical great granddaughters'
I've tried to tell her that id rather not bother people, but she insists on it every time, and the girls like running down the hall and ringing doorbells so I'm outnumbered.

[lilibet]

I think it's weird but I've seen people at work have their daughter stop by to show off their grandkid. It seems like the people who go up to see the kids is getting to be a smaller group though. I have no desire to see/meet/know anything about someone's grandkid typically.


But I have to say that I'm mostly going "the germs! the germs!" at the thought of having a group of people gather around a kid. lol

[mariafromnj]

My mother has made me meet her for lunch at her job. She knows I won't go in so she runs out and grabs my son and takes him in for a few. We have done it twice so far and I told her that was enough for now. I thought it was wired but my mom is the best so I don't say no often.

[isabel]

Eh. I brought DS into work a few weeks ago because there were a few people who legitimately wanted to meet him. Like, one coworker rearranged her lunch so she would get to see him.

I agree that probably most people don't really care, but there may be a few that do. I don't think it's that weird, but I don't know that I would go along with it.

[FastHands]

Oct 3, 2015 22:18:04 GMT -5 isabel said:

Eh. I brought DS into work a few weeks ago because there were a few people who legitimately wanted to meet him. Like, one coworker rearranged her lunch so she would get to see him.

I agree that probably most people don't really care, but there may be a few that do. I don't think it's that weird, but I don't know that I would go along with it.

IDK why, but that's different to me. I had a few ppl beg me to bring ds in, and I brought him by after a dr well visit to say hi, but it's MY kid. Lol. For some reason that makes it ok for me and weird for her. No real logic.

[JayhawkGirl]

Sounds like they have a close group of coworkers and would enjoy it. I looked forward to my coworkers' adult kids and grands coming up and have taken my kids to my mom's office many times.

My mom's secretary sent us one of my all time favorite sleepers when we had DS and they were all so sweet when I first brought DD up, cooing over her and offering condolences on the loss of FIL. Mom had missed an extra week to stay with me during all of that and they were all aware of the situation.

I took DS to MIL's school shortly before she retired. Her work friends all knew of him and were very nice to us. Two were such good friends of hers they had been at our wedding.

Our visits have never been more than about 15 minutes.

[EloiseWeenie]

My last visit to MD, I took my son to see my Dad at work (my Dad works at a TV station, and my son wants to be a meteorologist- so it was awesome for him). My Mom also had me bring the kids into the church thrift shop, where she and a bunch of old ladies volunteer. Apparently they talk nonstop about grandbabies and great grandbabies while setting up the shop. It was awkward, but quick LOL.

[isabel]

Oct 3, 2015 22:21:19 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Oct 3, 2015 22:18:04 GMT -5 isabel said:

Eh. I brought DS into work a few weeks ago because there were a few people who legitimately wanted to meet him. Like, one coworker rearranged her lunch so she would get to see him.

I agree that probably most people don't really care, but there may be a few that do. I don't think it's that weird, but I don't know that I would go along with it.

IDK why, but that's different to me. I had a few ppl beg me to bring ds in, and I brought him by after a dr well visit to say hi, but it's MY kid. Lol. For some reason that makes it ok for me and weird for her. No real logic.

Nah, I get it. My mom posts pictures of DS on fb. It bugs me. I actually don't really post pictures of him, but that's not the part that bothers me. It's more that she's doing it and he's not her kid. Anyway, I get why it's different.

[Deleted]

When ds was born mil had me bring him up to her work to show him off.

I got a few gifts and a nice lunch out of it. It was great for me. Lol b

[eb777888]

Awwww, I think it's sweet. I'm socially uncomfortable so I wouldn't be looking forward to this. It does seem a little odd, but I still think it's sweet.

[Deleted]

It's not weird, people do that in my office all the time- even though it annoys the shit out of me, and I always close my door to avoid it, enough people like it that I don't feel it's crazy.

But, no way do I think you should indulge this. Your kid, your rules.

[foundmylazybum]

It's not weird. She's proud of her family. She's offering to drive and take you all out to lunch and you are picking the day that is best for you. She wants to spend time with you.

[achi]

I don't know that I'd class it as "weird" but an unusual request for sure. Maybe if they were local I'd consider indulging her, but not when it's an hour away.

[dizzydee]

Not weird. And I would get on board. They are just proud of him and I'm sure if they've both worked there for a number of years they are pretty close with their coworkers.
We took A up to my MILs work. The ladies went crazy over him and even gave us some presents.

[spellingbea]

Aww, we did it for my MIL, and it made her happy enough to make it worth it. People really did seem excited to see DD, but I think it had more to do with how much people like my MIL.

[birdistheword]

I love seeing babies. I would be excited if someone brought their kid or grandkid into my office, lol. I don't think it's weird, but you shouldn't feel obligated by any means if you don't want to do it.

[redwino]

I don't think it's weird. People love to show off babies and people love to gush over babies. As long as the visit is short, I don't think it's a big deal. As an adult, I wouldn't want to go to FIL'S job to see strangers but I'd be willing to let MIL take the baby in while I sit in the car a play on my phone. These visits are usually less than 10 minutes IME.

[Deleted]

Well, your H still works there so it's his kids coming to visit, right? I don't think that's weird.
I've never had a grandkids visit, but I don't think I'd be bothered by it.

[sequins]

Aww, that's kinda sweet!