Dear Sir, I am married for 10 years and are blessed with a daughter. My wife is very supportive, and we both are working middle class professionals. We usually take our parents along with us whenever we go for any vacation. My mother-in-law and my parents love travelling and openly inform me if they are disinterested in visiting any place. The issue is with my father-in-law. My father-in-law is 80 years and working full time and keeps himself occupied. He is healthy and can walk around easily considering his age. We have visited many places together (both locally and domestic travel) and whenever I ask my father-in-law about his feedback about the place visited/activity performed, he often tells me that he is not interested in any of the activities/places visited and prefers sitting in one place. This really bothers me as to the reason for my father-in-law accompany us and instead, send only his wife would have travelled with us. My mother-in-law is also fine travelling without him. My father-in-law could have simply sat at home or perform his office duties. There is always a cost factor incurred for flight or train travel/stay in a hotel/food/local travel whenever we visit any place, and we could have saved lakhs of rupees if my father-in-law had not visited any of the places. I discussed this with my wife who informed that she feels happy taking her parents and we should not discuss the issue with my father-in-law openly as it will hurt him. If my father-in-law was genuinely interested, I would not have minded spending money, but because of his negative feedback, I feel we could have rather invested the saved money for future use. Please advise.
Ans: It's understandable that you're concerned about the cost incurred for family trips, especially when your father-in-law doesn't seem as interested in the activities. Balancing family dynamics and expectations can be challenging.While your wife has advised against discussing the issue with your father-in-law openly, it might be helpful to have a gentle and respectful conversation with him. Express your concerns about the costs involved and inquire about his preferences for future family trips. Understanding his perspective may provide clarity on whether he genuinely enjoys the travel or if there's an alternative arrangement that could work better for everyoneIf your father-in-law prefers staying in one place, consider suggesting alternatives that may still allow him to be a part of family vacations without compromising his comfort. For example, you could plan trips to destinations with more relaxed environments or activities that cater to his interests. This way, everyone's preferences can be accommodated to some extent. Discuss with your wife the importance of budgeting for family vacations. Consider setting aside specific funds for travel and allocate them wisely to maximize enjoyment for everyone involved. This may involve finding a balance between accommodating your father-in-law's preferences and exploring new destinations or activities that the rest of the family enjoys Ultimately, finding a solution that works for everyone may require compromise and understanding each family member's needs and preferences. Open communication and flexibility can go a long way in navigating these dynamics and ensuring that family time is enjoyable for everyone involved.
