Mom’s travels upset dad

Dear Amy: My mother is a beloved member of our family. Because Mom is so great and such a fun person to be around, whenever one of my siblings or I travel with our families, we will often invite Mom and pay her way.

My father, who has no interest in coming along on these trips, has a problem with this arrangement. He says that we are being disrespectful and that we are treating Mom like a glorified nanny, especially if we take her up on her offer to watch the kids one night so we can go to dinner with our spouses.

So I ask you, are we not treating Mom properly? She doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem and neither do we.

Wondering Daughter

Dear Daughter: You, your siblings and your mother have arrived at an arrangement that seems to work just fine for almost everyone.

Many families compensate grandparents for baby-sitting, and if this means these valued and valuable family members are “glorified nannies,” then that simply demonstrates that there is “glory” to be had in warm and wonderful child care.

Your father feels left out. Your parents should work it out between themselves.

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