Is it really that hard to follow my rules?

I realize that grandparents are supposed to spoil the kids and dad will always be the fun one, but when people don't follow the guidelines set down by mom, the kids and mom suffer.

I recently went back to work, just on Fridays.  My husband is home on Fridays.  I knew his skills would need some fine tuning, but he and the kids would survive.  The first couple of Fridays were rough.  Dad was all fun all day and when I got home and laid the smack down, it was melt down city.  Tony quickly realized that Mom's way is the only way.  He also realized that the 3 year old can't keep a secret.  Paddy will throw you under the bus in a heartbeat.

Today, Tony had to work, so we called on his mother to watch the boys.  Not my first choice, since she has never watched them, but it was a last resort.  I dropped them off with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and toys all packed.  I set up the pack and play in one of the spare bedrooms for Micky to nap.  I had already discussed with Paddy, yes the 3 year old, the rules (lunch at noon, nap at 1, no snacks til veggies and sandwiches are eaten, etc).  They had the sunscreen on and I told my Mother-in-Law that she could probably just sit on the shaded porch and let them scooter up and down the long driveway till they wore themselves out.  Basically, all she had to do was let them run till they drop, feed them lunch and toss 'em in bed for a 3 hour nap.  When I got to my in-laws', I was greeted by 2 salty little boys who hadn't napped and had done pretty much whatever they wanted all day including watching 2 hours of TV.  Well at least, Paddy told me, they didn't have their pretzels until after their broccoli and carrots, and peanut butter sandwiches...Then they had fruit snacks and a cookie, eh whatever.

So what happens when my kids sit and watch TV, do whatever they want with no consequences, and don't take naps?  Well, Paddy was delirious, demanding, fresh mouthed and exuding attitude that even time out couldn't contain.  Mick fell asleep on the floor while I made dinner and woke up so he could cry and scream his chubby little face off...So that was a fun meal.  The kids were miserable, I was miserable, Tony was miserable (especially since he had already learned this lesson).  So please, if you ever watch my kids, just run them like the little jackals they are, feed them like they're bottomless pits (because they are), and for the love of Pete, give them naps!