AIBU???

Sounds a big ask to me.
We don’t know what sort of weekend they might have had.
The bill might just be her way of avoiding saying no to the request.

BlueBelle

That’s a kick in the teeth if she can’t buy some books and colours hearing and sweets for her neice or nephews
Disgusting

I dusagree your sister lives an hour away, a two hour round trip twice. She had to give up her weekend. To be fair to her maybe she did not want too.Does she think you take the p...

How old are the children? Does she find them hard to manage. Also why did you not provide them with colouring books and arts and crafts? Why did you not take the children to her?

Is this a reverse or are you asking on behalf of someone else? I would have said a hard no under the circumstances.

I really don't like the logic that if someone has a decent income, they can afford to subsidise other people; that's surely a matter for the two people concerned, not a moral rule. But charging for things such as toys or sweets does seem a bit mean. Pay for their needs, of course, but not for non-essential extras which are a matter of choice rather than obligation.

If you ask a large favour like that you expect it to cost you either in cash or in reciprocation. The OP seems to me to be protesting too much.

Cossy

Baggs

Hmm. No mention of the children's father and what is the job that required you to go away for the entire weekend?

Cynical? Who, me?

Errrr she could be a single mum, her own parents might be too old/ill/far away. There could be a DH but who works away?

Yes, one or all those things could be relevant. So why not mention them?

I remain cynical.

Norah

Perhaps this was her way of saying she was felt upon.

Don't ask again.

.. felt put upon ..

Baggs

Hmm. No mention of the children's father and what is the job that required you to go away for the entire weekend?

Cynical? Who, me?

Errrr she could be a single mum, her own parents might be too old/ill/far away. There could be a DH but who works away?

Perhaps this was her way of saying she was felt upon.

Don't ask again.

*said sister Though maybe sad is more apt 🤣😂🤣

If sad sis did not wish to do, then she should have said no!

I have no siblings but when my children were much younger my bestie and I would swap children regularly, and picked them up and dropped them off.

I’ve had DS1 school friend to stay every year for a few concurrent years so his parents could go to the Monaco Grandprix.

I’ve also had a two sisters staying when their parents went to a funeral “ooop North”, we live in Essex.

I didn’t “bill” any of these parents 🤣😂🤣😂

Thats quite an ask. A 2 hour drive 3 nights, 2 full days and then a 2 hour drive to drop them off and bzck hime.

Do you reciprocate? Has she done this for you and lots of times and paid for colouring books etc before. But this time thought nope?
How old are the kids? Their Dad not around? Grandparents?

Perhaps you presumed too much. She took the children to bail you out but was maybe not happy about being asked and feeling taken for granted. It’s about the principle not how much money she and her dh have.

Do you do this often??

I can understand, sort of, the charge for petrol if your sister is driving for a two hour round trip. But the rest is just bizarre. Looks to me like your sister is sending you a rather pointed message inasmuch as she doesn’t want to drive all that way and look after the kids for a whole weekend.
Would pay her the money and not ask again.

Hmm. No mention of the children's father and what is the job that required you to go away for the entire weekend?

Cynical? Who, me?

You don’t sound very ‘close’ to me.

Sounds to me that she didn’t really want to do this for you and it’s her way of saying so. The books and sweets seem a little petty.
Do you often ask her to mind the children?

Sounds very petty to charge for a few colouring books and heating in a bedroom.
Just check she hasn't charged for wear and tear on the furniture.

That’s a kick in the teeth if she can’t buy some books and colours hearing and sweets for her neice or nephews
Disgusting

What did you think the etc may be?

I forgot to mention, they are reasonably well off, her husband has a good, well paid job as does she.