Why wouldn't your husband ask his family for help?

mrsconn23

Dear Prudence,

My mother-in-law lives with my husband and me. She is probably the best MIL a daughter in law could ask for. She has vision issues but does as much as she can physically and monetarily to help out. However, she has lived with us for a few years, and my husband and I could use a break from her being with us all the time. She has another son, and he never offers to take her for the day or weekend, at least not to my knowledge. She also has a sister who lives not too far away. Would it be in poor taste for me to ask her other son or sister to come and take her for a weekend to give us a little break?

—Needing a Break

banana468

Why can't your H say that you two are planning a trip away and you need someone to come hang out with mom??

mrsconn23

"Hey DH, can you call your brother and ask if he can invite mom to stay for a weekend with him?  Maybe you can suggest that it's a monthly thing?"  

Or "Hey DH, why don't you suggest to your mom that she goes to visit BIL and his family for a weekend?  Or her sister?" 

Also, she's never left in 3ish years and stayed anywhere else? 

short+sassy

Of course the H's brother or MIL's sister should be asked.  But by the LW's H, not the LW.

I didn't get the impression that the MIL needs constant care.  Especially since she can apparently do at least some household chores.  If she doesn't, they could also go away for the weekend.  But I get it.  They might not want to spend the money or just want their house to themselves sometimes.

But what a pleasantly refreshing letter about a happy multi-generational family, with the person needing a place to live doing what they can to help with chores and finances!