https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:41:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746970 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 16:32:32 +0000 SweetiePie 2746970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: ditto was going to mention a repeater.<br /> Also my husband is a CTO (translation - uber tech geek) and he loves Eero. We have it in our apartment which is a dead zone. And he got it for my parents for Christmas last year since basically every room but their family room was a dead zone. My dad couldn't even work from his office because he had no wifi service down there and he's just not tech saavy at all. My husband was so annoyed staying there every Christmas for just 3 days because he had no wifi in our guest room so he felt like he had nothing to do. EXACTlY what your issue is, but he actually likes my parents a lot - he just didn't want to spend hours on the couch with them every night.<br /> Anyway, My parents are in shock and awe that they haven't had any wifi outages at all in any part of their house since he set it up.<br /> And you definitely don't need to be a techie to do it. They give very easy step by step instructions. </p> <p>And ditto a kindle fire or just an iPad mini would both be great for your needs. And cheaper than a laptop. Netflix and Hulu 🙌🏼 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746953 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:37:14 +0000 looch 2746953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: get a kindle fire....it's how I watch my shows on Netflix or amazon prime at night. And you can also get a repeater to strengthen the wifi signal, they plug right into an outlet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746936 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:06:49 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2746936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I agree, throw some money at this problem if it helps. Get yourself a laptop! </p> <p>Also if eating out while the ILs are here, pick a restaurant a night and order-in! Maybe you can send her links to the menus before arrival? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746926 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:55:30 +0000 Corduroy 2746926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone. Sound like I need a laptop and wifi that will reach the bedroom. That's what's keeping me from retreating to my room now but I'd throw some money at this problem. </p> <p>My parents are an 8hr drive away and come every other month for 4 days (Thurs-Mon usually). Fairly frequent visits but they don't expect us to visit them. We've only been to their house once in five years. </p> <p>My inlaws are halfway across the US and visit twice a year and expect one visit. Each visit is about 8 days. This time they're in the area for 10 and doing two nights elsewhere. After every visit DH and I agree to do shorter visits because we're done after 4 or 5 days. But DH changes his mind when it's time to book the next trip. I've even shown him email or chat logs where we agreed to shorter visits and he goes back on it when he sees airfare because flights are so expensive or the drive is so long. I told him the next time we visit he can take the kids 3 days earlier and I'll catch up. We talked shorter visits for the inlaws too but the itinerary always arrives with the 8 day trip. </p> <p>I'll try scheduling more things. We actually bought a minivan to assist with getting our frequent guests out and about without the stress of caravaning. My inlaws still don't budge much and I've come to accept that. I shouldn't let it stop me from doing what I want to with the kids Sat &amp; Sun. They have M-F. </p> <p>I'll also communicate with MIL on the meals. Maybe DH has some ideas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746759 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 11:02:44 +0000 Shantuck 2746759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: We did this over my in-laws' last visit and I think it was a win-win for everyone. We got a free babysitter and they got time with their grandkids when we weren't looking over their shoulders or hovering. I highly recommend.</p> <p>It makes me feel better that others dine out or get quick serve meals when the in-laws are around. I don't know why but I feel guilty that all we do is order take-out but it's hard to host a group, make a meal, and watch the kids while spending the days at work (I don't usually spend precious vacation time when they are in town since their visits last so long and my vacation days are numbered). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746746 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 10:50:12 +0000 erinbaderin 2746746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, could you take advantage of their visits and go out on dates? My parents stay over sometimes and basically every time they do my husband and I go out for dinner or to a movie. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746729 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 10:27:36 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2746729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Hahaha I love your comment about the death stare. DH has tried to do this as well, or leave me stuck in the kitchen while he and FIL go fix something and I'm usually like heck no. </p> <p>I agree with avoidance. Use the IL visits for time for you and DH to each get some solitude time. Go walk around target alone one night. Let DH go out to dinner with some guys if he is over the ordeal of home cooked meals. Its great now that my kids are a lot older that when the ILs come over/stop by, its easy to just peace out into my room for a few minutes even. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746723 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 10:23:56 +0000 Banana330 2746723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@psw27: yes! so much talking! my MIL never stops and it's not useful conversation it's just talking at you.... drives me up the wall! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746720 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 10:22:19 +0000 psw27 2746720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man I'm so sorry and I totally get it. My parents are fine but DH has 4 parents (divorced and remarried) and they both tend to come for long periods of time. They all eventually drive both DH and I nuts. Just the constant questions and the lack of space. The only way I've been able to cope is to just leave the house or peace out. Like if dinner is over I help clean up and I go to my bedroom - or if the baby needs to nurse I do it alone in my bedroom so I can just chill. I just can't deal with the constant talking. DH tends to work through these visits and that annoys me but I don't blame him. I'm already dreading his dad's visit later this summer. He just stays too long.... and I'm not working right now so it's constant. Sigh. I'll be making a lot of plans with my girlfriends and appointments to get out of the house!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746707 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 10:08:25 +0000 Banana330 2746707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Man I feel you. My inlaws come for 3-4 weeks at a time (but only once a year really). They stay will us cause it would be annoying and expensive for them to not. We try have have them break the trip up by doing a few days away to a nearby city or place for our sanity. </p> <p>last visit I was at my breaking point in the first week. I had a lot on my plate with work, toddler, aging parents, and being pregnant and I was getting frustrated that they were always in my space. I found one breakdown night really helped me deal with it, as did going out with some friends one night and not feeling like I needed to entertain them. </p> <p>They aren't as helpful as we imagined they might be with DD or even around the house. The only meals they cooked were roast dinners for DH (I'm veggie.. so that went over well). It drove me crazy they they spent a lot of time doing puzzles or playing on the ipad rather than leaving my house and doing something fun. But my husband said it's their vacation let them chose what to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746640 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 08:15:26 +0000 looch 2746640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I've done it all when it comes to my inlaws visits and what has worked the best for us is for both my husband and I to take the time off from work and be on vacation with them. It's not always possible, I get that, schedules are what they are and can't always accommodate. The daily juggle was just too much and in the end, I wished I had just taken the time off and enjoyed my son enjoying his grandparents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746626 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 07:32:03 +0000 Ajsmommy 2746626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>WOW, I am so glad to read that this causes tension with others too. I mean not "glad" in the sense that I'm happy LOL&gt;. but my DH turns into a huge nightmare when my family visits. His family is closer so they don't spend the night when they visit but my mom is out of town and so are my aunt's/uncles. DH loses his mind and we've had some of our biggest fights during these times. My mom thinks DH is a "tyrant" bc he is so grumpy and cranky when she's around. It's a nightmare. Honestly. I wish I could have my mom stay in a hotel but that wouldn't float.... but she also undermines (wrote a venting post about this recently) us when she's watching the kids to the point where I almost don't want her to visit/watch them!! I dont' think there is any way to fix it, other than to not have her visit :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746624 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 07:23:55 +0000 ShootingStar 2746624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my ILs are local so they don't stay with us, but when my parents visit there are a couple things we do to stay sane. For one, we don't really cook. We'll do take out, go to restaurants, or I'll go to Costco and pick up a bunch of things everyone likes - rotisserie chicken, fresh baguettes, pre-made chicken salad, blue corn chips and crab dip. Not super cheap but the food lasts for days and I don't have to worry about having additional lunch items around. </p> <p>Also, we pretty much go upstairs at 7pm and leave my parents to watch tv or use their iPads in the living room. We do bedtime with the kids and then watch tv in our room. We used to awkwardly all try to find something to watch together, which never worked. So now we get a little bit of space at the end of the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746616 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 04:38:33 +0000 ElbieKay 2746616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: at a broad level, you need to decide what your boundaries are, and then you need to enforce them. Otherwise your family's relationship with your parents and ILs will continue to degrade. The behavior you described would drive me crazy, but it sounds like you are just letting it build resentment rather than communicating effectively about it. Most of the suggestions here are really ways for you to communicate, but you and your husband will have to figure out the best approach for your family.</p> <p>For example: The dynamic with you babysitting your IL's tv watching. A boundary might be that once your kids are in bed, you need alone time. You can enforce that boundary by announcing that you are retiring to your bedroom for the night. A different boundary might be a house rule of no tv after a set time. You can warn your ILs in advance and suggest they bring an iPad and headphones.</p> <p>Separately, if your husband is leaving you to entertain his parents every evening, you should call him out on that. Let him know that you are planning to stop doing that because it's not your job. If you think there may be fallout, then you should warn him in advance so he knows he needs to step in. If he continues to play video games and ignore them, and they complain because you have started ignoring them too, then leave it to him to solve that problem. You said they already think you're a b**ch, so no big deal.</p> <p>Ultimately, unless you take steps to change the dynamic by setting boundaries, you will never have a good relationship with them.</p> <p>Oh and next time your FIL tries to take your seat at the table, just smile and say, "That's my seat! You must have thought I was done, but I haven't finished my breakfast yet!" And don't drop it if he pushes back. Stay polite but put him on the spot to make your point.</p> <p>Basically, these people are too comfortable and feel entitled to take over your home instead of behaving like normal guests. So raise your expectations and communicate that to them. It's your home, and it is ok to expect them to respect that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746590 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 22:18:25 +0000 gingerbebe 2746590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I think you can approach the meal thing with your inlaws by saying that you are really trying to institute a family meal time and push for your kids eating what the parents eat so no comments about what you do and don't like - otherwise you may negatively influence your kids in saying they don't like this or that. Say you would like to come up with meal plans that may work for them and tell them what times you eat and that they are welcome to join, but otherwise the kitchen is closed. TV I would say just watch Netflix in your room on a laptop with earbuds and just say goodnight and let your DH handle them.</p> <p>Meals may work with a theme night - Mexican, Italian, Grill Night - and you can make both vegan and paleo things that work within that framework and it still feels like everyone is eating the same meal.</p> <p>With your parents I would just say flat out its disruptive to your husband when he works from home so on those days they will have to make do with simple meals or eat out or reheat leftovers. I think it's valid to say something is affecting his work negatively. </p> <p>One thing with my inlaws (we also stay with them for up to 2 weeks at a time) is that I've gotten real comfortable with being "off the clock" at a certain point. If my kids are napping,<br /> I'm off the clock and may hole up in my room. If my kids are in bed, its night night time for me too. </p> <p>Whether they visit us or we visit them, DH and I are always teamed up, we don't check out on each other (unless there's a work thing that has to get done or we are dividing and conquering kids), and we have a clear schedule for each day. Like when my inlaws visit I have a schedule for each day down to what activity we are doing, what restaurant we are eating at, and what the menu is for any meal cooked at home. We brief the inlaws in the morning what the plan is and execute. My FIL thinks I'm a drill sargent but everyone is happy at the end of the trip.</p> <p>No joke these are my screen captures from my calendar this recent visit: </p> [attach=1472/17/orguk7.337x600.IMG_4767.PNG] [attach=1472/17/orguk9.337x600.IMG_4768.PNG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746578 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 21:31:33 +0000 JCCovi 2746578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard of people who take the opportunity to catch up on work while their in-laws are in town. So if the in-laws are in town 4 nights they might work late 2 of them. Working late could also include going out with coworkers? I wouldn't recommend totally avoiding them, but work is generally an acceptable excuse! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746562 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 20:53:57 +0000 hellobear 2746562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have the same issue with my IL, we tried to limit their stays but they would extend, change dates without telling us. which would make me ragey and mad the whole time they came... so now we ask them to stay at a hotel when they come. we do pay for their stay though... this helps cement the dates and we get our own space.. we live in the city and couldnt take all the city in front of the tv for hours chit chatting in our tiny apt.. now we we usually meet up late morning, play with kids, eat lunch, separate for "naps", and then do dinner together and try to limit the lingering afterwards... one thing that has helped is when we visit them we make them short weekenders instead of staying a whole week that they want us to. it has actually helped me deal with them ALOT. it has helped my DH also, they just have very different lifestyles from us and we dont want to have a negative relationship with them but we need to set limits for our own sanity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746554 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 20:26:36 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2746554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I were you I would watch tv in the other room and leave dh with his parents. He can deal. I would also not cater to their eating and ignore all comments. Cook for your family, they'll figure it out. </p> <p>I'd tell your parents that dh is struggling with the meal prep when he's home working, and either do the meals yourself or suggest quicker options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746547 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 20:05:03 +0000 Alba4 2746547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally get it! My mother sleeps over once a week to watch the baby and my inlaws sleep over once a week to watch both boys. We feel like we have lost privacy and both sets of parents refuse to sleep in our finished basement (that has a bed and a private bath). Instead everyone takes over our freaking living room. </p> <p>We put up with it because 1. We love free daycare 2days a week 2. Our kids are very close with their grandparents</p> <p>Ideally all grandparents would live 20 minutes away so they wouldn't have to sleep over, but that's just not a reality. We are lucky to have their help.</p> <p>We are counting the days until my older one starts K (14 months). Luckily I have summers off where we get to regain our sanity and enjoy our little immediate family! Ahhhh, did I mention how much I love summertime?!?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746533 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:31:22 +0000 Grace 2746533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: how long do they stay? My in-laws come for 3-4 days at a time. It does drive me batty, but it's short, so I can put up with it. Having to watch TV with them while my husband buggered off would drive me crazy. His parents - he should entertain them! If you have a tablet or phone, maybe you could go to bed early and watch TV on the device in your room? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746530 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:29:28 +0000 SweetiePie 2746530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ummm, I am not a "my husband isn't allowed..." type of person. But I am sure AF that he would never be in another room playing video games while I sat on a couch wth my inlaws. Hell to the naw. When my ILs visit (which is weekly. Yay for me!) I am the one who peaces out as much as possible. When we go to their house a few times a year my husband will try to sneak off like "oh I have to go fix their computer..." and he either gets the death stare or I follow him. It's just not gonna happen that I'm sitting there with them when he doesn't even want to sit with them.<br /> That's what I'd say to your DH. If you don't want to sit with your parents why the hell should I? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746523 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:17:54 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2746523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: also.. how long and often are they there? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746521 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:14:45 +0000 erinbaderin 2746521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just want to say that you're a saint for not responding to all these passive aggressive digs - I wouldn't be able to bite my tongue. Instead of watching tv with the in laws in the evenings could you go to your room and watch Netflix or something on a computer? That might give you the down time you're missing. The meals thing would make me crazy - would it be possible to come up with a meal plan for his parents in advance so you're only cooking one meal? And I think your parents are going to have to relax their standards a bit on the days your husband works from home, if it came from you would they understand that he finds all the kitchen bustling around very distracting?</p> <p>When your FIL moved your food I would not have been able to resist saying "Oh....I guess I'm done?" Or saying "Actually, do you mind sitting somewhere else, I need that seat so I can help LO with breakfast" or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746520 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:11:20 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2746520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh and fwiw I'd give a pass on the breakfast seat thing. Maybe they genuinely don't care where they sit and didn't think you would either? Still weird and somewhat questionable behavior though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746519 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:09:39 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2746519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: how long are they all there? Can your husband take over more with his parents (figuring out meals, entertaining post bedtime) since it sounds like you do a lot of cooking cleaning and entertaining for your parents? </p> <p>I agree with pp that your in laws are being kind of rude. 😳 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746511 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 18:57:08 +0000 Anagram 2746511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: ah, see, I think your examples show some really bad behavior on your inlaws part. The little comments and taking seats stuff and insulting the food you cook is pretty crazy. I can't imagine my inlaws or my mother saying anything negative like that, ever. I actually have the opposite problem with my in-laws. Sometimes I will make some random recipe and they will say it's really good, so I'll make a bigger batch the next time so we can have leftovers....but then they avoid the leftovers, haha. So it makes me wonder if they secretly don't like it but are afraid to tell me. </p> <p>When you say your parents are old school with cooking, are they the ones doing all the cooking and your dad washes dishes, too? Cause if is, I would think that's a pretty sweet deal. =) =) Even if your husband can hear them from his office.</p> <p>But it seems like each of you are annoyed by the other's parents, so I guess to be fair, you'd have to ask each set not to stay with you anymore. I think some families are okay with that. Our families would assume that meant we didn't want to have a relationship anymore--it would be insulting to ask them (they are all retired and on fixed incomes) to spend thousands of dollars for a 1-2 week visit on a hotel--they would just not come anymore, and our relationship would suffer immensely. But it works for other people! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746510 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 18:52:58 +0000 gotkimchi 2746510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: the things that have helped me the most is avoidance - i.e. Trying to do my own thing and leave my husband with the kids and his parents</p> <p>Speaking up - just telling them having guests is too much right now </p> <p>Stopping being so nice - so I correct them when they're annoying and rude and don't make excuses for their behavior or my feelings</p> <p>I'm not sure any of this is right/helpful but I feel a million times better </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746501 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 18:26:15 +0000 Corduroy 2746501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@reverie: I don't think you're crazy. Little comments add up. This morning when DD and I were headed out the door MIL said "DD, you have your lunch and mommy has her... whatever that is." Got it, you don't like my food. You could still call it my lunch or not say anything. </p> <p>That was after FIL sat in my seat at the table when I got up mid breakfast to grab LO2 some milk. He had been in the room the whole time, there were to other spots at the table open, so I have no idea why he sat in my seat and moved my breakfast aside. I finished breakfast standing up because I honestly could not figure out what was going on. DS kept saying "mama seat" and MIL told him "it's ok, mommy is sharing." Umm, no she's not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746494 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 18:10:36 +0000 reverie 2746494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My in laws are overnight guests several times a year. It was annoying before kids and I can hardly stand it now that they are around. I just HATE the little comments here and there. Last time she was here she insisted my 4 year old loved swimming because one time he swam for 15 minutes with her at their uncle's house. It seems so little but it's just the constantly being told how my kid "is" when I see him every day and you live 4 hours away. </p> <p>When I had my daughter they stayed in a hotel at my request and it was worlds different... I just feel bad having them put out several hundred dollars every time they want to see their grandkids. </p> <p>Also just so you don't think I'm 100% crazy the example above is just a little thing that bugs me on top of all the other normal stuff and the fact that they are nocturnal and we are not. It's hard to lose our basement (where they sleep) when they come over b/c it's also the main play room. Also my kid hates pools, even baby pools, trust me I'm his mom ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dh-amp-i-cant-handle-ils-anymore#post-2746466 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 17:01:07 +0000 Corduroy 2746466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: My parents are the old school made from scratch 3 square meals a day type. Everything takes forever. Cooking all day. Hors dovouers before dinner. I'm fine with it but it drives DH nuts because he WAH three days a week and his office is near the kitchen. My mom is vegan at home and we're Paleo most of the time so our diets don't really match but we both flex to make it work. My dad washes the dishes when they're here. </p> <p>My ILs eating style doesn't jive with mine. They eat at unpredictable times, skip meals, and have so many foods they don't like that I can't remember. I can't count the number of time my MIL has announced she doesn't care for something I served. i have a hard time not taking it personally. As a result we eat pretty independently. Often at least two meals are cooked. DH washes the dishes when they cook. We have three take out places everyone likes and we've already had each of those this trip (including pizza twice). </p> <p>Neither set of parents just sits around. My FIL helped me change my tire when I had a blowout last week (so thankful). My parents are busy constantly, much to my husband's annoyance. My inlaws chill and watch TV - which I'm admittedly a little territorial about because that's my post bedtime chill location. DH plays video games in another room so it's me and them watching whatever show they pick. I won't watch anything in front of them because they'd pick it apart even though I know it's crappy tv to start with. </p> <p>We're in a 3bd 2ba house. The kids are learning to double up so we're not too cramped for sleeping anymore which helps. </p>