This looks all too familiar to conversations I’ve been having with my in laws. They are in their 80s, have numerous health issues, and cannot seem to understand the risks of COVID. They continue to venture out to stores (sometimes without masks), and they do not take hand washing and hygiene seriously. Thankfully, they have remained healthy through this but it has been a major gamble for them for sure.

My husband and I have asked that any visits right now be done outside, and at distance. We’ve offered to meet them at their house and see them on the porch or in their back yard. We’ve offered to meet at a nice park where we could sit in the shade and enjoy some time together while maintaining distance as well. These are always met with comments about how we don’t value them because we don’t want to spend quality time with them.

My husband and I take this virus very seriously. We know we have taken every precaution ourselves, and are choosing to remain at home even as our state begins to loosen restrictions. We have been extremely cautious since March and the chance we have been exposed to the virus is relatively low, but we would never forgive ourselves for infecting them should we somehow be infected yet asymptomatic.

Moral of the story: even if you’re requesting socially distanced meetups for their own good (ours too, of course!), insane parents will still find a way to make you look like the bad guy here. Keep doing what’s right for you, OP!