Should I Let My Sweet But Clueless In-Laws Babysit My Baby? This Bride-to-Be Is Torn!
This post is going viral because the specific, almost unbelievable examples of the in-laws' lack of common knowledge are both hilarious and concerning, sparking a relatable debate about the practicalities of family childcare versus the emotional benefits.
In Korea, it's very common for grandparents to help raise grandchildren, especially if both parents work. This can be a huge financial and emotional support, but it can also lead to intergenerational conflicts over parenting styles or, as seen here, basic knowledge and safety.
A bride-to-be (or *yesin* as they're called in Korea) has sparked a heated debate on Nate Pann with her dilemma: her future in-laws are incredibly loving and offered to babysit their grandchild, but their grasp on basic common sense is, well, a little shaky. This post has Koreans weighing the emotional benefits of family childcare against some truly wild examples of generational knowledge gaps. The future parents both have career ambitions, and while they appreciate the offer, the *yesin* is having second thoughts after a series of head-scratching incidents.
From wanting to refreeze defrosted LA galbi to insisting strawberries don't grow in Korea, the future mother-in-law (*sieomeoni*) and father-in-law (*siabeoji*)'s quirks are numerous. The *sieomeoni* once tried to refreeze meat that had been left out, while the *siabeoji* genuinely believed adding water to strong coffee would make you drink *more* strong coffee, even if it was decaf. He also worried about turning off their home's circuit breaker at night, fearing it would cut power to the entire neighborhood! Beyond these, they call all red flowers "roses," water cacti in summer because they might be hot, and even worried about eating rosemary from a cafe drink, thinking it was a poisonous "tree branch" from a TV show. They struggle with basic spelling, can't read most English letters, and need their daughter (or *sinu*, sister-in-law) to place online orders for them on KakaoTalk.
Despite these moments, the *yesin* emphasizes their immense kindness. She recounts a time her *siabeoji*, despite having had two knee surgeries, carried her across a large apartment complex to the main gate when she fainted from anemia. Her fiancรฉ agrees they can babysit but wants to hire a professional sitter once the child starts talking and learning letters. However, the *yesin*, who was raised by both a sitter and her maternal grandmother, cherishes the bond she had with her grandmother and wants her child to experience that familial warmth, even if it means hiring help for the in-laws' household tasks. Her own parents, though highly educated, are too strict to be childcare options. Now, she's asking the internet: given their loving nature but unique understanding of the world, would *you* trust them with a baby?
Korean Netizen Reactions
10Omg the strawberry part ใ ใ ใ ใ ใ 'Strawberries don't grow in Korea' is wild. Like, what?! That's a huge red flag for teaching a kid basic facts.
No way. Absolutely not. Their kindness is one thing, but a baby's safety and development are another. What if they give the baby something wrong or don't understand an emergency?
I'm torn too! My in-laws are super loving but also a bit... out of touch. It's hard to say no to family help, but these examples are pretty concerning. Especially the electrical one, that's not just 'โฆ
The coffee one made me snort! ๐คฃ 'More strong coffee' lol. But seriously, if they can't grasp simple concepts, how will they explain things to a curious child? You'll be correcting them constantly.
The fainting story is so heartwarming though, they clearly adore you. Maybe they can be 'playtime grandparents' and you hire a sitter for the actual caregiving and teaching? Best of both worlds.
It's a tough situation. On one hand, the love is undeniable. On the other, the potential for misinformation or even minor accidents due to lack of basic knowledge is high. Your fiancรฉ's idea of a sittโฆ
My parents are similar with tech and some general knowledge because they worked so hard and didn't have time for other things. It's a generational gap. But for a baby, you need someone who's sharp.
Refreezing defrosted meat? That's a health hazard, not just a 'quirk.' And the rosemary as a poisonous branch? They might genuinely panic over harmless things or miss actual dangers.
Honestly, the fact that their own kids are highly educated shows they raised them well. Maybe they just focused on work and didn't have time for general knowledge. But still, for a baby... I'd lean toโฆ
If your own parents are too strict, and the in-laws are this... unique, then a professional sitter seems like the safest bet. Grandparents can still visit and bond, but without the full responsibilityโฆ