We've got a dilemna in my house about our regular trips to the beach house that my family has. My grandfather and his mother live there, so it's not your typical family vacation house that is empty and clean for 5 days a week and used for two. This is his house, and when we visit we're just that, visitors.<br><br>But. He's a man's man. He has tools all over the house, which is a trait he taught me that has since been beaten out of me for good reason. His mom is 94 and on many meds, which she drops or confuses on a daily basis.<br><br>When we take our toddler out there it feels like we're taking her life in our hands. I closed Grammy's bedroom this weekend and dubbed it the Room of Death and declared it off limits for Abby. But that was before I realized that my uncle had a syringe for his meds on the coffee table. Forcryingoutloud. We're always on edge and never truly relaxed there because of all of the chaos that could happen.<br><br>So, oh wise dads, do I get a free pass to skip out on extended family time? I'm confident that it would not go unnoticed if we just stopped the trips without formal explaination, so I think I'm going to have to address it in some way.

Yep. You sure do get a pass. You can do the hotel room thing, but I'm sure that adds considerable expense. I say don't hesitate to give them the formal explanation. They'll either change the environment to accomodate your stay, or they won't and won't be able to complain (legitimately). Your toddler is your priority one.

Totally agree.

Ditto. If you're going to put your toddler at risk, it's worth it to deal with the fallout of upset ego's. Stay at a hotel or make other arrangements to visit that don't involve staying in the house.

I'm thinking you get a pass on the extended stay part of it, but would still give an explanation.<br><br>Does this house have a front porch? Tea and cookies on the deck sounds nice.